Bulk Pickup

My fine town offers a very convenient service - bulk pickup. Every other week, in addition to normal trash pickup, they send another truck by to get items that won't fit in your trash can, such as brush, bags of leaves, and boxes.

About a year ago I had an old treadmill that I'd been trying to decide what to do with. Believe it or not, this was not a dusty, under-used treadmill, but a thoroughly worn out one. Over the past 7 years, I actually wore a hole in the belt and the engine was basically defunct. It was clearly time for it to go, but where? What do you do with a treadmill?

For the first couple of weeks, I honestly couldn't think of any good options, because I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the trash company would never take a treadmill. As I was driving home one night, though, I saw the curbside evidence throughout the neighborhood that bulk pickup day was just around the corner. The thought slowly crossed my mind, "Maybe they would take a treadmill!" That was followed seconds later with, "Never going to happen my friend."

The next morning, I finally gave in. I called the trash company and asked, "Would you pick-up a
treadmill?"

"Sure," they said.

"Like a real treadmill? Over 5 feet long? Heavy? Lots of metal?"

"No problem."

I couldn't believe it. This was great news! I moved it out of my apartment and down to the curb (wheels are cool). But as I stood looking at it, so proud of this solution, the thought hit me - this looks awful. Can you imagine driving through a neighborhood and someone has a treadmill sitting by the curb? How embarrassing. I actually thought about moving it back until the last possible minute, so most of my neighbors wouldn't see it, but it was too much work.

When I came home later that day, it was gone! All that was left was the green grass next to the curb. If you timed it right, you never would have seen it at all.

And that's when it hit me.

This bulk pickup thing is exactly what it feels like when you've messed up. Not just a little mess up, but something you'd never want to say out loud. Have you ever done something and you thought, "There's no way God can forgive me for this? I mean, this isn't just your run-of-the-mill slip-up. This is BIG TIME. If my neighbors, friends, family knew about it, I could never look them in the eye again."

And you go on for weeks and weeks, wondering what to do with this thing you're carrying around with you, sure that you're past the point of no return. And finally, one day, you give up and say, "God, can you forgive me?"

And He says, "Sure."

And you say, "But did you hear what it is? This is BIG...HEAVY...A REAL MESS."

"No problem."

And it's gone, as if it was never there.

New State Slogans

These were so funny, I had to post them. I have no idea who wrote them, but they're hilarious:

Alabama
Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names

Alaska
11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!

Arizona
But It's A Dry Heat

Arkansas
Literacy Ain't Everything

California
By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda

Colorado
If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother

Connecticut
Like Massachusetts, Only The Kennedy's Don't Own It Yet

Delaware
We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water

Florida
Ask Us About Our Grandkids

Georgia
We Put The 'Fun' In Fundamentalist Extremism

Hawaii
Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru (Death To Mainland Scum, But Leave Your Money)

Idaho
More Than Just Potatoes ... Well Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good

Illinois
Please Don't Pronounce the 'S'

Indiana
Two Billion Years Tidal Wave Free

Iowa
We Do Amazing Things With Corn

Kansas
First Of The Rectangle States

Kentucky
Yes, We Have Electricity

Louisiana
We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign

Maine
We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster

Maryland
If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It

Massachusetts
Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's (For Most Tax Brackets)

Michigan
First Line Of Defense From The Canadians

Minnesota
10,000 Lakes ... And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes

Mississippi
Come And Feel Better About Your Own State

Missouri
Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work

Montana
Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-Wing Crazies, And Very Little Else

Nebraska
Ask About Our State Motto Contest

New Hampshire
Go Away And Leave Us Alone

New Mexico
Lizards Make Excellent Pets

New York
You Have The Right To Remain Silent, You Have The Right To An Attorney...

North Carolina
Tobacco Is A Vegetable

North Dakota
We Really Are One Of The 50 States!

Ohio
At Least We're Not Michigan

Oklahoma
Like The Play, Only No Singing

Oregon
Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner

Pennsylvania
Cook With Coal

Rhode Island
We're Not REALLY An Island

South Carolina
Remember The Civil War? We Didn't Actually Surrender

South Dakota
Closer Than North Dakota

Tennessee
The Educashun State

Texas
Si, Hablo Ingles (Yes, I Speak English)

Utah
Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus

Vermont
Yep

Virginia
Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?

Washington
Help! We're Overrun By Nerds And Slackers!

Washington, D.C.
Wanna Be Mayor?

West Virginia
One Big Happy Family ... Really!

Wisconsin
Come Cut The Cheese

The Bible in 30 seconds

God made.
Adam bit.
Noah arked.
Abraham split.
Joseph ruled.
Jacob fooled.
Bush talked.
Moses balked.
Pharaoh plagued.
People walked.
Sea divided.
Tablets guided.
Promise landed.
Saul freaked.
David peeked.
Prophets warned.
Jesus born.
God walked.
Love talked.
Anger crucified.
Hope died.
Love rose.
Spirit flamed.
Word spread.
God remained!

Star Wars Episode III- Final Verdict

So we saw Star Wars Episode III yesterday afternoon and it was awesome. I'm sure hard core fans of the original trilogy would still rate it below those films but for me it was at least on a par with them and certainly eclipsed the first two episodes. The action in this movie was almost unrelenting, with a sense of urgency and building climax that was maintained throughout the story. And the scale of the battles, the villains, the duels and the personal drama was far above anything we've seen in Star Wars before. And in the midst of all this, George Lucas managed to weave enough in political, religious, and philosophical themes to keep any person looking for a deeper side to the film happy. This was always going to be the movie to tie up all the loose ends and bridge the two trilogies, and it was amazing how effortlessly it all just fell into place. None of the plot seemed contrived or forced to make it fit the original trilogy - it really for the first time looks like this was the story that was there in the beginning 30 years ago, before any of these movies were made, rather than simply a prequel that was added on later. The final scenes of the movie flow seamlessly into "A New Hope" - the title of which now really genuinely makes perfect sense.

The acting was a touch above what we've seen in the last two movies, and although the Anakin-Padme romantic dialogue was a bit syrupy, the romance itself was more like a Shakespearean tragedy. Hayden Christiansen did fairly well as Anakin, but the actor who truly shone was once again Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Like Harrison Ford as Han Solo in the original trilogy, McGregor is the heart and soul of the prequel series, especially in this movie where he gives a brilliant performance. In fact I'd probably say he's one of the best big screen actors going around today full stop.

So see the movie. If you're already a Star Wars fan I don't need to tell you this, but if you found the last two movies disappointing, hopefully Lucas has redeemed himself, and the series, with this amazing movie. A perfect climactic close to the films that have helped define a generation.

[Currently playing in my IPod: Time and Space by Groove Armada]

Think you know everything?

Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

Two-thirds of the world's eggplant is grown in New Jersey.

The longest one-syllable word in the English language is 'screeched'.

All of the clocks in the movie Pulp Fiction are stuck on 4:20.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

'Dreamt' is the only English word that ends in the letters 'mt'.

All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.

Almonds are a member of the peach family.

Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.

Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.

There are only four words in the English language which end in 'dous': tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

Los Angeles' full name is 'El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula'.

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10.

Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.

The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life.

A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.

A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.

It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world.

In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.

The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.

'Stewardesses' is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.

...now you know everything

Time with God

The enemy tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink men's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God.

It has always fascinated me that those who speak so passionately about the differences in the Body of Christ would turn around and prescribe the same time and relationship with God to everyone. Could it be our best times with God come as unexpected experiences throughout our lives?

Don't hear me wrong here, I'm not saying avoid spending regular time with God - I'm just saying dump your agenda when you do - plan to take time, but don't plan what will happen during that time. I've found that, when I set aside this kind of unplanned time for God, He fills it differently - miraculously - every day.

Sometimes I spend long periods of time in the Bible - others I don't even touch it. Sometimes I pray and pray - others I just listen to the silence and open my spirit to His guidance. Regardless of what happens during this time, it focuses my soul for the day.

[Currently playing on my IPod: Wash Away by Vertical Horizon]

1-800-ASK-KEITH

OK, here's how this new feature of my blog works. I've joked with my friends for years about the fact that people should call me before they make decisions in their lives.

Sometimes it's over trivial things--like whether or not someone should have selected the outfit they are wearing. Sometimes it's over bigger things--like whether or not someone is a good fit for the job they're pursuing. Sometimes it's over stuff that makes the news. That includes items that are legitimately newsworthy and items that wouldn't even qualify for the 10:00 pm newscast on Dallas television.

Well, here's the beauty of blogging--whether someone wants my opinion or not, I can offer it. You can choose to agree with it or not, but it's still my opinion and I can post whatever I want. After all, it's my blog.

So, without any further delay, here's the first (and maybe last) edition of 1-800-ASK-KEITH. These are the people that should have called me first this week:

Cameron Diaz -- You can do better than Justin Timberlake. Don't marry him.

Phil Jackson -- Take the job with Cleveland. You'll have the chance to coach one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and you'll get the opportunity to build a program from the ground up.

W. -- It's a good thing when the first lady has a chance to say what's on her mind. People like that.

NHL-- Come to an agreement soon, stop being so greedy. You are not the NFL.

Simply the Truth: Galatians 2:19-20

"I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a 'law man' so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not 'mine,' but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that."

Galatians 2:19-20 (The Message)

God-sized dreams

How powerfully could the Spirit move through our lives, families and ministries if we all started out dreaming above and beyond what we thought ourselves capable of doing? How rich would our lives be?

Too many times I find myself dreaming Keith-sized dreams; and God always takes them beyond that to greater things. But what if I dreamed God-sized dreams and watched where He took those? Wow!!

[Currently playing on my IPod: Captivate Me by Delirious?]

Character- A leader worth following

Sometimes I feel like God has got the wrong guy. It is likely that God will use all of us in areas beyond what our character seems ready for. Too often the temptation is to cover our flaws, hoping they are as elusive to others as we pretend they are to ourselves.

The problem here, is that character is personal, but it is not private. Eventually the truth comes out. I think it’s interesting that we think God put us in our position for the good of a task, rather than the good of His Spirit in us. Could it be our character is stretched not so we can cover it and accomplish what we have been given, but so we can have it transformed through the journey the Spirit is leading us on? Could it be the very things we are struggling with are they keys we are searching for to unlock what God has called us to do?

I think so often we fail in accomplishing the vision God has given us, not because of a lack of competence, but because of our disinterest in developing our character as priority before accomplishing the vision. You can lead without character. But character is what makes you a leader worth following. We are always one decision, one word, one reaction away from damaging what has taken years to develop.

Those who choose to follow you want you to be a leader worth following. They will judge you not so much for where you led them, but how you led them. Their stories will always include their personal estimation of you as a person, not just your leadership skills. The truth is that those who choose to follow you will expect more from you by way of character than they expect from themselves.

[Currently playing on my IPod: Spin by Lifehouse]

Good exercise and good food

I received this from a friend this morning about health and eating. It's hilarious....

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have body fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO .. Cocoa beans ... another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets and remember, "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Coca Cola in one hand - hamburger in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming - WOO HOO! What a Ride!"

Mysteries of the universe

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are dead?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

What is the speed of darkness?

If you send someone 'Styrofoam', how do you pack it?

If the temperature is zero outside today and it's going to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on bigger suitcases?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up about every couple hours?

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

[Currently playing on my IPod: Elevation by U2]

Nothing Says You Care Like Cheap Toilet Paper

Okay, I admit it. I'm from Texas and sarcasm is my preferred form of humor. But that is exactly what I thought when I went to my gym this morning and went into the bathroom. The toilet paper had definitley been downgraded by a bean counter who cared more about the money than the customer who might actually have to use the toilet paper he downgraded.

Now, trust me, I'm going somewhere with this. In the world of customer care, the quickest test of customer care in any establishment is . . . the bathroom/restroom facilities. Why? Because restooms are a cost center, not a revenue center. In other words, the only reason anyone would ever spend money on restoom facilities (other than having a basic toilet and sink combo) is because they actually care.

Don't believe me? Do your own investigation. Go to a nice restaurant, then a cheap one. Go to a nice hotel, then a cheap one. Go to a nice church, then a cheap one. It really doesn't matter. If someone is willing to spend money on nice bathroom fixtures, nice lighting, nice decorations and nice toilet paper, then they care about you—not just your wallet and their bottom line.

So, how about you? What do your bathroom facilities say about you or your church? Is it time to upgrade to a nicer toilet paper and to let your bean counter know that you won't sacrifice on your commitment to excellence? I hope so.

[Currently playing on my IPod: Galaxy Bounce by The Chemical Brothers]

Two Kinds of People

"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened." ~C. S. Lewis - The Great Divorce

[Currently playing on my IPod- Gotta Get Thru This by Daniel Beddingfield]

Identity Crisis...

Why do we have an identify crisis?
1. We look at who we are and not at who He is
2. When we receive correction from God & others we become insecure
3. Other peoples opinions
4. We lack confidence

When your identity is in Christ…
1. We don’t need to tear others down to build ourselves up
2. You can live with an inner conviction not an outer toughness
3. Gifted and successful people are not a threat
4. You take a MESS and turn it into a MESSAGE!

Peter, ‘You are Christ the Son of the Living God’ - When Peter knew who Jesus was he knew who he was. Simon became Peter.We need to look into the mirror of God’s word to discover our true identity.(2 Corinthians 5:17) - A new creation(Galatians 2:20) - I no longer live, but Christ lives in me(Job 3:10) - Let the weak say I am strong!

Darth Vader's blog

Ever wondered what it's like to be a Dark Lord of the Sith? Ever wanted to see the world through the tinted visor of a shiny black helmet? If you have, then you might want to take a look at Darth Vader's Blog, The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster

[Currently playing on my IPod: Holiday in My Head by SmashMouth]

American Idol shocker

Each week on American Idol, just when you think one of the contestants has dug themselves into a very deep hole, they get spared. Case in point, last night, Scott & Anthony were both horrid while Constantaine was merely ok, not great, but not horrible either. What happens? The worst performer of the night (in my humble opinion,and Simon's...Scott) was in the top 3 and Constanaine was sentg packing. It seems as if America is bent on voting in the worst singer as the next "American Idol".

[Currently playing on my IPod: More Than Life by Hillsong]

The loss of monarchy

Yesterday while sitting in the park after lunch, I was thinking how we may have lost something with the decline of monarchy in our world. Now don't get me wrong I'm not an ardent monarchist... that debate is not what this post is about.

What I was thinking is that in comparison to previous generations where there was a strong, respected monarchy, we are missing out on something. There is very little grandeur or majesty in modern Western society. We can no longer relate so well to what it is to revere a monarch and perhaps this detracts from our worship of God.

In times gone by the trappings and regalia and status of the King helped provide an earthly image of the way in which humanity related to the heavenly King. The monarch in those days was someone held in such high regard, put on such a height that common folk could never aspire to reach. So the people would have an idea of how to relate to a sovereign all powerful God.

Conversely, the thought of a King who would become one of them, befriend them, and even die for them, would have seemed all the more incredible and amazing to these people than it would to us with our modern view that all humans are equal.

It seems to be now that we no longer have the experience/knowledge of what it means to relate to an earthly monarch, we may have lost a valuable way of comprehending what it means to worship God. Although we sing about God "our King" still, does that phrase have any real meaning to us anymore?

"Amazing Love, how can it be, that you my King would die for me?"

[Currently playng on my IPod: Shaking The Tree by Peter Gabriel]

Top of the 90's?

I was thinking about music yesterday - that it's not all that easy to select who might be the greatest band of the nineties. In my mind the preceeding decades each have an obvious candidate (though I'm sure others may disagree)...

50s - Elvis Presley
60s - The Beatles
70s - Led Zeppelin
80s - U2

For the nineties I found it harder to pick just one band. I could quite easily choose a top 5, and from that narrow it down to 2 or 3, but found it very hard to narrow it down to just 1.

My top 5 would be Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, No Noubt and REM. All of these bands started out in the early 90s (except REM) and all had some degree of longevity. I can't really think of any really stand-out bands that surfaced in the latter half of the 90s. All of these bands have their own unique sound as well which I think is an important factor - you instantly know it's them when you hear one of their songs.

If I had to pick, I would probably go with Radiohead just simply because of their massive popularity and influence without really much airplay. I obviously exlcuded what many consider to be the best band of the era (Nirvana) but to me they are not that creative or original.

What do you think?

[Currently playing on my IPod: Everywhere I Go by The Call]

A bit of cultcha (culture)!

* Q: What do bullet-proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A: All invented by women.

* Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A: Honey.

* Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase 'goodnight, sleep tight'.

* It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month or what we know today as the honeymoon.

* Last but not least: In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

[Currently playing on my IPod: Light by Hillsong United]

Enhanced awareness and Life in the Bubble

It's funny how you don't notice something until you start thinking about it yourself, or, conversely, once you are in the market for something or pondering something you begin to see it everywhere. For example, you never notice how many laptops there are about the place until you are looking to buy one yourself, and then you see them everywhere. Or you never notice how many pregnant people there are in the shops until someone in your family is pregnant. Or you suddenly start to see how many 4WDs there are on the road when you are looking at buying one.

Something like that happened to me this morning. I read an article in the Dallas Morning News today that said this:

"Even without the white wires you can tell who they are. They walk down the street in their own MP3 cocoon, bumping into others, deaf to small social cues, shutting out anyone not in their bubble."

And then, while walking around in the city this morning from the train to my office, it seemed that every 3rd person had white wires trailing down from their ears, locked inside their MP3 cocoon. I'd never seen so many people with earphones before.

Of course I must admit that it wasn't just the Dallas Morning News article that made me so acutely aware of the iPodders, it was more the fact that I myself was amongst them, white wires leading from my ears down to that magical white device in my bag, surrounded by people, but in my own little bubble of private sound. And I felt a strange sense of kindred with those other coccooned ones as well, knowing that we shared the same experience of isolation in public - very weird.

[Currently playing on my IPod: Vertigo by U2]

Dual Disc

Bruce Sprinsgteen's new album is being released as a Dual Disc format with normal CD audio on one side and then DVD video on the other side. I'm surprised it took them this long to come up with this idea since double sided DVDs have been around for ages.

The only concern I have is that if this becomes widespread what will happen to the traditional concept of a music album?? - will video content become obligatory and thus will music artists end up being made more and more into video/movie stars?

Also why did we never see double sided audio CDs? For many years we've been getting double albums with 2 CDs in the one case. If this sort of thing is possible why did no-one ever invent a double sided CD, or if they did, why didn't it take off?

[Currently playing on my IPod: Still Here by Vertical Horizon]

The curse of consumerism

This quote from Brian McLaren about consumerism vs contemplation, captured an idea that's been nagging at the edges of my consciousness for a long time :

"one acquires more and more things without taking the

time to ever see and know them, and thus one never truly

enjoys them. One has without truly having. The consumer

is right - there is pleasure to be had in good things, a

sacred and almost unspeakable pleasure, but the

consumer wrongly thinks that one finds this pleasure by

having more and more possessions instead of possessing

them more truly through grateful contemplation."

I know I'm a victim of this trap - caught in a cycle of materialism and acquisition, without really taking the time to savour the things which I am lucky enough to acquire.

For me the clearest example of this is music. When I was in my teens and had no money, when I was able to save and buy a CD it was a big deal to me - I'd listen to that CD over and over again so that I would know much of it by heart (and that includes some pretty crappy CDs now that I look back) - nowadays I probably buy more CDs, but get to listen to them once or twice while doing something else at the same time (like driving, or reading, or computer stuff) so I never really get to know and savor the good thing that I have got. And the same goes for many other things in my materially blessed existence. Perhaps there is something to be said for a more ascetic, contemplative lifestyle, where one can take the time to truly appreciate and contemplate the simple things which God has provided for us...

Sharing Life with God

As I was driving to mid-week church yesterday, I had some interesting insights about how God wants us to share our daily lives with him. I thought it was quite powerful so I stopped and scribbled some of it down.

Below is an extended version of what I've been thinking about :

Imagine you are an artist, and you've produced a masterpiece. How do you think you would get the most satisfaction and pleasure out of your art? I'd suggest that it would be when standing alongside someone else who is admiring and appreciating what you have created. Or put yourself in the place of a master-chef (or home cooking enthusiast), producing a seven course culinary treat. Which do you think you would prefer - to receive a cursory "Thanks. The food was good" at the end, or to sit down alongside the diners and watch as they savour the delicious meal? To see the delighted reaction on their faces as they taste each new piece of food, and to hear their satisfied "mmmm's" as they eat and nod their appreciation for what you have prepared for them.

Finally, imagine you are an expert gardener (this is a big stretch of the imagination for me). You have spent years crafting a wonderful garden, carefully selecting and planting each tree and flower, positioning them exactly where you want according to your master plan. You include paths and fish-ponds and all sorts of other special features which make this garden a wonderful place to explore. Now certainly after all this time and work, you yourself would be able to get immense pleasure from this garden, but don't you think this would be amplified even more by walking through it with another, sharing in their surprise and enjoyment of what you have built.

Now take the big step of trying to put yourself in God's shoes for a moment. It's impossible for us to comprehend just what it's like to be God, to have an constant awareness of everything in the vastness of the created universe, simultaneously being in tune with huge supernovae many billions of light-years away and the movement of a single bacterium here on earth. And of course not forgetting that He is also interested in every moment of every life of the six billion or so humans on this planet of ours. That kind of existence that God has is just too mind-blowing for our little human brains to even start to understand.

But on a simpler level God can be compared to the artist, the chef, and the gardener I mentioned earlier. He has created something amazing, and part of His reason for creating it is for us to enjoy and appreciate it, along with him. And part of his reason for creating us is so that there is someone else to enjoy all that he has made.

If we look at Genesis chapter 1, after God completes each step in the creation of the world, we see the line "and God saw that it was good" It's almost like an artist stepping back from his canvas and nodding his approval. But what artist would want to paint a picture that no-one sees? And what chef would create a meal that only she or he gets to eat? So God moves on from there to create humans, beings in the image of God, who can share in his appreciation and enjoyment of creation. He puts man and woman in His garden, where He walks with them and participates as they explore his creation, discovering animals and putting names to them. In the perfect world God shares in the life of his people, walking alongside them and getting pleasure from their enjoyment of his world.

Now let's switch metaphors to that of a parent with a child (there's no metaphor that can adequately encompass all the complexities of a relationship with God, so using multiple ones is the best we can do). Parents long to be able to share in the lives of their children. It's an amazing feeling in the heart of a parent watching as your child explores and learns about the world that we've brought them into. But as children grow, often the amount of their lives that they share with their parents decreases. The inevitable grunt of "nothing" in answer to the question "what did you do at school today?" As they grow up through childhood and adolescence the child becomes more and more independant and the parents can only share in that child's life to the extent that the child chooses to let the parents in.

And our relationship with God is similar to this. He longs to be a part of our lives and share with us as we walk through the world which he created for us, but only does so to the extent that we choose to let him in. And there's a wide variation in people's responses here. Some are like a child who leaves home at the earliest opportunity, going off and living their life without maintaining any contact with God, even to the point that they deny his very existence. And for these people God, like the father of the prodigal son, patiently waits against the day that they choose to come home into his loving arms. Even when they are far from Him, he still maintains his love for them, although he grieves that he is not invited to share in their lives.

Other people acknowledge their parents, and if asked would say they are indeed thankful for all that their parents have done for them, but then as they 'grow up' they go off and live their own busy lives, independantly and without much contact with their parents, aside from the occaisional visit because of guilt or a sense of duty. Probably a great majority of us Christians relate to God in this manner most of the time. We send up prayers to him occaisionally, even every day, and go to church on Sunday and maybe do other church activities, but for 95% or more of our waking time, we don't give God a second thought.

I think God wants something better for us than this. I don't think he wants to be like the cook (or the parent) who creates a sumptious meal only to get a cursory "thanks, that was nice" in response at the end. I think God wants to share with us as we consume every morsel of the great feast of life that he has prepared for us. He wants to walk alongside us as we stroll through his garden, and he wants to share with us the highs and lows of 'growing up' rather than being a distant, unappreciated parent. And the thing with God is that this is actually possible. Unlike a human parent, God is always present at our side. He doesn't just live up in the sky in heaven so we can call up to Him once in a while - rather his existence fills the universe and He is actually proximate to us wherever we go.

So prayer doesn't need to be like a letter to someone in the sky, or an email, or even like a phone-call (which seems to me to be the metaphor most of us have of prayer - like God's waiting on the end of the line - we pick up the phone and talk to him in the morning and hang up when we are finished, and he sits there waiting until we decide to phone him again - there actually was a very geeky 50s song called 'Royal Telephone' which captured this picture nicely). Rather prayer is talking to a friend who is right there beside us, sitting next to us on the couch or in the car, or in our office or where-ever we are. And if we properly appreciate this metaphor for prayer, then we can truly begin to share every moment of our lives with him, the ever-present friend who walks beside us through the garden of life which he has created.

A similar concept is expressed by Brother Lawrence, a Catholic monk from a few hundred years ago, in a book called "Practicing the Presence of God." Brother Lawrence saw life and prayer as a continual conversation with God, throughout every moment of every day of his life. And this truly is the way in which God wants to share our lives with us. He wants to enjoy his creation through my eyes my life, to savour it with me and share in it's delights. Just as Jesus invites us to share in his body and his blood in the communion supper, we should invite him to share in our body and blood and accompany us through life. Communion is not just a symbol of death and sacrifice - it is also a symbol of a life shared. God came down to share his life with us, and he wants us to share ours with him.

The challenge for us is to consider how we can invite God to share in our daily life, and how we can be more aware of his continual presence at our side. This is certainly not an easy habit or mindset to get into, but I think it is what God wants for us and will allow us to truly experience life as He originally intended.

Generous lives

I spent a few minutes this morning meditating on Proverbs 11:25, which says:

A generous man will prosper;
He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

This verse is profoundly challenging to me because I find I don't naturally lead a "generous" life. I think it's also interesting that the link is drawn between people who live generously and the observation that those around them are refreshed.

I found myself asking, are people refreshed when they have been with me? Are they refreshed by my speech? My life?

What do you think?
- What does it mean to lead a generous life?

-How can we, as leaders, foster environments where generous people refresh non-Christians and worshippers when they come into our communities?

Happy Birthday McDonald's

McDonald's is 50 years old this week.

Well, sort of. Dick and Mac McDonald opened their first drive-through, in San Bernardino, California, in 1948.

The birthday being marked today was the result of a meeting the brothers had with a milkshake-mixer salesman called Ray Kroc, six years later.

Mr Kroc was the creator of McDonald's unique way of doing business. "What Henry Ford did for cars, McDonald's did for burgers," says John Williamson of branding agency Wolff Olins.

This demanded intense attention to detail. In 1961, for example, Mr Kroc opened Hamburger University, granting bachelor degrees in hamburgerology.

It's now in 121 countries, more than half of which were added during the 1990s.

FACT - no two countries with a McDonald's presence have ever gone to war.

Dignity

One of the things that I admire about the Saviour, was his discipline, exercised under pressure. Under fire. Under injustice.

From time to time I guess, we all feel that we are being mocked, belittled or persecuted to varying degrees. In our humanity, we will do it to others. We question their motives, although in Truth, we do not really know them.

Too often I fail.

In a tempest, my fast and hard words of anger or wit fired at an antagonist to cut straight to their very core with the objective of bittersweetly evening up the score.

As I grow older and (hopefully) wiser (a result of my own mistakes), I am more frequently choosing silence over an unbridled tongue. Choosing restraint over fiery passion.

And in this time of percieved weakness, electing to abdicate ownership of a certain victory, there one finds true strength and comfort in silence. Leaving vengence to serendipity and ultimately to the Father.

....And of course it's never a good idea to dignify a fool with a response.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man
of understanding is even-tempered;
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue".-Proverbs 17:27-28

Blah

I slept horribly Saturday night. I left early from having pizza and watching a movie with my hometeam members, so I could get plenty of sleep for my busy Sunday. For some reason a fever hit me right after I got home, and I was miserable all night. I felt de-energized all of yesterday as a result, then a migraine came on last night around 8pm. Thankfully all of that has passed, and I am doing a lot better. Wonder what brought it all on?

Free Agent

I just registered for the Fellowship Church volleyball league as a free agent. That means I have no clue who's team I will be playing on, but I kind of like that since it will give me the opportunity to meet some new people. League play begins on May 19th and goes all the way until Sept. 26th! It will be a long, and fun season!

Been thinking

When God created the universe, He spoke it into existence. Some even say He sang it into existence. The very sound of God's voice created everything that is. He spangled stars over blackness like diamonds on velvet.
But, when He created us, His children, His image, He got His hands dirty. He dug His fingers into the clay and formed us from the earth. Kneeling down over the man-formed mound of dirt, God placed His lips on Adam's and breathed life into him. "And man became a living soul."

Our anthropology doesn't start with 'the Fall' - it starts with 'a Kiss'. We are the descendants of Adam. We are God's very image walking around on legs... all of us. The good, the bad and the ugly... His image!
The problem is, we've been infected with a virus called sin and that virus has been passed down from generation to generation. But our Heavenly Father has found the cure and delivered it Himself... a blood transfusion. His blood. It was the only way He could reconcile His creation back to Himself.

I've heard well-meaning preachers raise their voices (usually when their outline got weak), pound on pulpits (usually when a deacon fell asleep) and proclaim that we are "dirty, low-down, good-for-nothing, sinners." I believe the message I heard (more from their tone than their words) was that I was sin itself - the sin that easily beset me was who I was. Yes, I am a sinner but I am NOT sin. And neither are you. We are the image of God. Broken? Yes. But His image, nonetheless. And He didn't think we were 'good-for-nothing', in fact, He sent the best He had to rescue us. He came Himself. "He thought it not robbery." He felt good about the deal: His life for ours.

I believe inside the DNA of every human there is something that remembers Eden. A faint recollection of footsteps crushing leaves beneath them in the cool of the day... our hearts jumping for joy as we ran to our Father. He always came in the cool of the day. You could count on it. He never missed. He would throw us in the air and catch us (like parents have been doing with their children ever since.) He walked with us and talked with us. Then, we were infected. We sinned. All of a sudden, we knew we were naked. We felt ashamed.

After we sinned, He still came in the cool of the day. We hid. But He still came. He didn't come because of our goodness, or because of our sinfulness. He came because we were His.

There's an ache inside of me that longs for Eden. And, every now and then, something will remind me of Home. It's almost like a 'thin place' - where the veil between this life and the 'other side' almost become one - the dark glass (that Paul referred to) clears for a second. And, for a brief moment, things make sense.

Something tells me our greatest days are ahead. And, it's going to be wonderful... beyond comprehension. A thousand Walt Disney's couldn't imagine it. I know it's there. I know it's real. I know it's Home. And everything will be clear. Perfectly clear. Where we're headed is even better than Eden. It's The New Jerusalem. Where, once again, we will hear His footsteps in the cool of the day. The God who came for us... walked with us... delivered us... and brought us back Home.

Charles Schultz Philosophy

You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read this straight through, and you'll get the point that it is trying to make!

Take this quiz:
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last six Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name six heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.
It's already tomorrow in Australia."- Charles Schultz

Pick Me! Pick Me!

Remember the scene from Shrek where Donkey is jumping up and down shouting....pick me, pick me!

Here’s a great poem written by a schoolboy…

When we pick teams in the playground
Whatever the game might be
There’s always somebody left till last
And it’s usually me.

I stand there looking hopeful
And tapping myself on the chest
But the captains pick the others first
Starting of course with the best.

Maybe if teams were sometimes picked
Starting with the worst
Once in his life a boy like me
Could end up being first

The reality is that many of us have never left the playground, we still secretly believe that God will only love us when we do well.

The mind-blowing concept of grace – God’s unmerited favor towards us – is hard for us to grasp in a society so used to earning love and acceptance.

Because of God’s amazing grace we’re on the team! First name on the team roster!!!!

The Final Analysis

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Forgive them, anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind, anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed, anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank, anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.
Build, anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy.
Be happy, anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good, anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give the world the best you've got, anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them, anyway.

Eight of the original Ten Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith, 1968. Adopted by Mother Teresa and posted on the wall of a children's home in Calcutta

New Toy

Just picked up the new Nokia 3220 on Thursday. It's the first phone that I've ever had with the capability of taking video. Some of the ring tones are ridiculously loud. I was in the mall Saturday and had the phone set to the "Fire Alarm" ring tone. A call came in, and I kid you not, everyone within a 50 foot radius stopped dead in their tracks. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be able to have the phone set to that particular ring tone while I'm at the office...mass chaos could result!

Lessons from Mother

My mother taught me RELIGION:
"You better pray that it will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me TIME TRAVEL:
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

My mother taught me REASON:
"Because I said so, that's why."

My mother taught me LOGIC:
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

My mother taught me FORESIGHT:
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

My mother taught me IRONY:
"Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS:
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM:
"Will you 'look' at the dirt on the back of your neck!"

My mother taught me about STAMINA:
"You'll sit there 'till all that spinach is finished."

My mother taught me about WEATHER:
"It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

My mother taught me how to solve PHYSICS PROBLEMS:
"If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming toward you, would you listen THEN?"

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY:
"If I've told you once, I've told you a million times - Don't exaggerate!!!"

My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE:
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION:
"Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY:
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do!"

My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION:
"Just wait until we get home."

My Mother taught me about RECEIVING:
"You are going to get it when we get home!"

My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE:
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD:
"If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job."

My Mother taught me ESP:
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you're cold?"

My Mother taught me HUMOR:
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT:
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

My Mother taught me about SEX:
"How do you think you got here?"

My Mother taught me about GENETICS:
"You're just like your father."

My Mother taught me about my ROOTS:
"Do you think you were born in a barn?"

My Mother taught me about WISDOM OF AGE:
"When you get to be my age, you will understand."

And...My Mother taught me about JUSTICE:
"One day you'll have kids... and I hope they turn out just like you!"

How to Start a Blog

Many of my friends have asked me what a blog is and how do I start one.

Are you thinking about starting a blog? Maybe you have started down that path, but pulled back because it is too confusing. Maybe you think you need to have some technical skills?

Mike Hyatt wrote the best “How To” post about starting a blog that I have ever read. If you are thinking about starting a blog, this is your one stop shop. Mike Hyatt is the head of Thomas Nelson Publishers, one of the big guns in Christian publishing. Here's the link:

http://michaelhyatt.blogs.com/fromwhereisit/2005/04/how_to_start_a_.html

Must be doing something right

The following is a post from my friend's blog about Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas. I used to sing here on the praise team, and it's awesome to see how many people were reached...anyway here's the post:

Now that the cat has been publicly let out of the bag about Fellowship Easter numbers I can put them out on my site. I have been peppered with emails asking what our numbers were, so here it is!

Without a doubt, Easter and Christmas are our two biggest weekends at FC. This year for Easter we had many cards stacked against us. 1) Spring Break and 2) Horrible weather. Two scenarios that were not good for us. However, it turned out great. God showed up in a great way and made the very best of a potentially bad situation. Just for you to know, we had a total of 18 services over our 4 campuses over 3 days. Crazy! Here is how the numbers break down.

Alliance: 1,415 (Easter Sunday was the grand opening for this satellite)
Uptown: 1,345
Plano: 3,199
Grapevine: 28,542
Adding up to a grand total of 34,501

Yes, 34k is a lot of people, but the amazing thing to look at is the incredible turn out at our satellite campuses. We are praying that this is a launching pad for us to reach those communities.

Also, it is very important for us and everyone to remember that behind each and every number is a person. We now are completely focused on connecting and reaching those people and getting them involved in the life of FC.

Advice Taken

It looks like the Monterrey Bay Aquarium took my advice. I guess my Marine Biology degree is good for something. Here's the link to the article http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/03/31/shark.release.reut/index.html

Stories With Bite

Since I have a degree in Marine Biology, I found these stories very interesting.

One Englishman is lucky to be alive while attacked by a Great White - this time in South Africa...On the subject of Sharks and South African's - this man has to be crazy!

Also, in case you are at all interested...it seems that the only Great White in captivity at the Monterey Bay Aquarium has literally had its nose put out of joint...and is attacking other sharks in the aquarium. Maybe they ought to put it in it's own tank, or better yet, realease it.

Joke of the Week

A man went to one of the local Independent Baptist churches and asked to join.The preacher said, "Okay, but you have to pass a Bible test first. The first question is: Where was Jesus born?" The man answered, "Longview." The preacher said, "Sorry. You can't join our church."

So, the man went to another Baptist church and asked to join. The preacher said, "We would love to have you but you have to pass a Bible test first. Where was Jesus born?" The man said, "Tyler." The preacher said, "Sorry. You can't join our church."

So, the man goes to the only other Independent Baptist church in the whole county and asks to join. The preacher said, "We welcome you with open arms."

The man said, "I don't have to pass a Bible test first?"The preacher said, "No."

The man said, "Can I ask you a question?" The preacher said, "Sure." The man said, "Where was Jesus born?" The preacher said, "Palestine." The man mumbled to himself "I knew it was in East Texas somewhere."

Society in decline

On the train ride home yesterday, a group of kids got on the train, and for the short 5 minutes they were on the train, I think I may have heard more foul language than I've ever heard in my life. And these were just kids people, 10-14 years old. Back when I was a kid, we dared not even utter something like that under our breath in public. Why? Because we'd been taught it was wrong, and we knew we'd get caught by our parents or another responsible adult whom would report it to our parents. Where have our values gone?

Casualties of War

"There must be (on the spot) excellent doctors, skilled in healing wounds and extracting missiles, equipped with the appropriate medicines and instruments..." Philo of Byzantium, 3d Century B.C".Via.

This morning I was reflecting on a comment made on Phil Baker’s Blog (which always provides food for thought) that people in the Church should be less focused on their own needs, and more focused on service to Christ and what they give to the Kingdom.

This is so true in our "'Its all about me' ―Consumer Culture".

However, if people in the Church are to be compared to an army of soldiers who go in "boots and all" as per the correct analogy used, (noting that "onward Christian soldier" is a a great driving analogy that somewhere in our recent history we seem to have lost) then possibly the Church could learn much from the great armies of history.

It occurred to me that one of the factors that made the Roman Army, so great was the fact that it had trained medics that would go right into the warzone caring for their fallen and wounded – those who need food or drink, those who are metaphorical Prisoners of War, those left without shelter, in the cold, sick or lonely.

"The importance of medical support in military campaigns is documented throughout the history of civilization. The Sumerians, 4000 to 2000 B.C., may have been one of the first of the world's armies to provide organized medical care to forces in the field. Chiseled into the Stele of Vultures (a monument dating to 2525 B.C.) is a picture depicting the collection of wounded and the digging of graves for those who had perished. Perhaps the Sumerians were also the first to recognize the need for surgeons to be close to the action.

There exists text documenting the complaints of soldiers that the physicians remained in the rear areas to avoid capture or harm.

It was, however, the Roman Empire that put the word "medic" in our language. The Roman's unit level medical officer was known as the "medicus" and their equivalent of today's enlisted medic was called "medicus ordinarius". The medicus ordinarious was drawn from the ranks of soldiers and trained by the Roman army. Our own armed forces traditionally train and employ technicians to care for troops in the field just as the early Romans did. Today they are called "medic, corpsman, or med tech." The simplicity of this word, medic, is underscored by the immense contributions made for their brothers and sisters in uniform. The military medic's history is richly diverse - with many tales of personal sacrifice and valor".

It’s great to send cards, emails and gift baskets, but we must take more risks, get better and perhaps a little more courageous in caring for our own casualties. We need to take risks and get out of the comfort of our base camps and into the warzone. I need to get much better at it myself.

Take time to place a call, or to personally visit, to provide meal, or baby-sit kids.

When we care for our casualties of war – we do in fact care and serve Christ himself "boots and all". (Matthew 25:34-39).

Well I certainly had no idea...

According to the banner hanging outside the grocery store, it's national frozen foods month. So stock up on TV dinners and fish sticks!

Ahhh, the wonders of technology!

"I love technology"...as spoken by Kip from the movie Napoleon Dynamite. I am currently sitting here at The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano at their Connection Court. There's free wireless internet here, huge plasma screen tv's everywhere with CNN on (I wish it was ESPN though) and a Starbucks that is (pardon the pun) brimming with activity.

2o years ago, we thought it was cool to have these new things called compatc discs that we didn't have to rewind when the song was over. Now everyone has IPods.

It's a great day outside, 75, light breeze, sunny, and I am about to go enjoy it and take a walk. Time to be low-tech for a while!

Finding rhythms

Finding God rhythms in my work, relationships and life is a constant pursuit for me. How do the many roles I am called to participate in flow seamlessly and with energy... meeting the constant demands of people, work goals and achievement as well as valuing family and close friendships- not to mention the need for solitude. Learning how to prize wholeness.

In the gospel of John and in chapter 15, Jesus says: "I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch in me that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (NIV) And then he goes on to say this: "I am the vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing." (Msg)

The issue then in light of Jesus' teaching would become not so much about my busy-ness or my settling back, not even about my doing and how hard I would be serving the Lord and counting the cost. Perhaps though, the answer to my question then rests in the level of intimacy of my relationship with Christ Jesus.

Intimacy and fruitfulness - nothing to be said here in John 15 about busy-ness. It's choosing to be like Mary when so often our tendency is to be like Martha. In considering these thoughts, let me pose the question: What do you need/what do I need to ensure that our relation with Jesus Christ is intimate and organic? What will it take for you to truly care over this relationship? For each of us there will be a different answer - the important thing is intimacy in our relationship with the Father. Does it take more time than we have been giving? Will it take stopping a task, or slowing down a notch or two to take time to consider God in all of our doings? What will it take for me to live a life of intimacy with Christ?

Abiding can only come through prayer and obedience to the Word of God. Out of that place of intimacy where we remain in Christ, our lives will bear much fruit and fruit that is of the highest quality. Indeed, out of intimacy, we can not but help to live lives that produce much fruit for the sake of the Father's glory!

March Madness

It happens every year about this time. And I have made my picks through the first two rounds. Why is it that my alma mater, Texas A&M, can never make it in to the tournament?

I do have the University of Texas going down to Nevada in round one. Sorry Longhorn fans!

Which Napoleon Dynamite Character Are You?

Those of you who have had the privelage of watching the hysterical movie, Napoleon Dynamite, will want to take this quiz at: http://www.quizilla.com/users/retromex/quizzes/Which%20Napoleon%20Dynamite%20character%20are%20you?

It basically tells you which character you most resemble. It's not scientific of course, but for those who liked the movie, it is quite amusing.

By the way, the quiz said I was most like Napoleon himself...SWEET!!! I guess this means I have excellent bowhunting skills, quick reflexes, killer dance moves, and a bunch of gangs are trying to recruit me.

Enlarge your vision!

I have just begun reading Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen. It's about living to your full potential and how to go about it. I read the first chapter on the train ride in to work this morning. It talks about changing your attitude and enlarging your vision. This is what caught my attention this morning:

Ephesians 2:7 says that God wants to pour out "His far and beyond favor." God wants this to be the best time of your life. But if you are going to receive this favor, you must enlarge your vision. You can't go around thinking negative, defeated, limiting thoughts.

Joel Osteen puts it this way: "To experience the immeasurable favor, you must rid yourself of that small-minded thinking and start expecting God's blessings, start anticipating promotion and supernatural increase. You must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it. In other words, you must make room for increase in your own thinking, then God will bring those things to pass. Until you learn how to enlarge your vision, seeing the future through your eyes of faith, your own wrong thinking will prevent good things from happening in your life. God will not pour fresh, creative ideas and blessings into old attitudes."

Ouch!

How Rich Am I

This may be a little shocking.
According to this website, I am in the top 0.779% richest people in the world.
There are 5,953,222,435 people poorer than me. We are more blessed than we know.

See where you are at http://www.globalrichlist.com/

Fallen

Why is it that we wait until the bottom falls out before turning our lives over to Christ? This life would be a little easier if we did it before that. But I of course learned the hard way like a lot of others. This song by Sarah Mclaughlin, "Fallen", so accurately describes what it feels like to be at the end of your rope. It's been playing over and over in my head (and on my IPod) all day. I pray that we as Christian brothers and sisters, are sensitive and supportive to those who struggle looking for the answer. And that we can lead them lovingly there...

Fallen by Sarah Mclaughlin

Heaven bent to take my hand and lead me through the fire.
Be the long awaited answer to a long and painful fight.
Truth be told I've tried my best, but somewhere along the way,
I got caught up in all there was to offer.
And the cost was so much more than I could bear.

Though I've tried, fallen, I have sunk so low,
I messed up, better I should know.
So don't come around here and tell me I told you so.

We all begin with good intents when love was raw and young.
We believe that we could change ourselves, the past can be undone.
Though we carry on our back the burden time always reveals.
In the lonely light of morning, in the wound that would not heal.
It's the bitter taste of losing everything that I held so dear.

I've fallen. I have sunk so low.
I messed up, better I should know.
So don't come around here and tell me I told you so.

Heaven bent to take my hand, I've nowhere left to turn.
I'm lost to those I thought were friends, to everyone I know.
Oh they turn their heads embarrassed, pretend that they don't see.
That it's one misstep, one slip before you know it.
And there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed.

Though I've tried, fallen, I have sunk so low.
I messed up, better I should know.
So don't come around here and tell me I told you so.

Why I am a Christian

1). Because everyone is a believer in something. (Or else they are a complete ignoramus).

Just last night I was watching an interview with the author Bill Bryson (author of a short history of nearly everything). By his own admission, he is not a Spiritual man - but God he stated, is equally a plausible reason for the existence of every thing as any scientific explanation. To prove something scientifically, one must by definition provide irrefutable evidence that is observable, measurable and repeatable. The evolutionist and non-believer alike place their faith in their assumptions. Evolution by default is a faith. The odds of creating life and in particular humankind are extremely remote - even by the standards of an evolutionist. It takes faith to believe. It takes faith to disbelieve.

2) The Historical Evidence:

The Dead Sea Scrolls, and the number and consistency of the number of (historicity) of manuscripts close to the source and time of there authorship, provides me with a strong indication that the scriptures existed from the beginning of the early Church and that they have been transcribed accurately. Entire books have been written on this topic such as "Evidence That demands a Verdict" by Josh Mc Dowell.

3) Because of the human condition it makes sense.

The message of the Bible makes sense. I am fallible. I aspire to perfection and an "ideal me" but my own lack of discipline, imperfections, selfishness (sin) prevents me from being who I am called to be. I know I need a Saviour. Because all of us are the same, no matter how good we are - the world is in a mess. We need a Savior - a superhero (so to speak) to save us form ourselves. One author put it this way: "If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior." No other religion I know of offers this.

4) Because "Grace Works" - it makes sense.

"Grace overpowers karma. Grace rewards where rewards are not justified." - Bono (U2), 2000

Our natural instinct when we are wronged is for justice or revenge. That sits right with us. We naturally believe in 'Karma', or 'we believe we sow what we reap'. That is natural justice but, that is never enough. It never satisfies.We long for something more - forgiveness. But faced with hurt, we naturally don't want to forgive, we demand justice. That's why (as Phillip Yancey termed it), to exercise Grace and forgive or give without merit - is supernatural. Grace is what would solve the problems in the middle - east. People laying down their 'rights' to justice and to revenge - and totally forgiving. Grace.

IPod Mini

I have officially entered the world of MP3's! I picked up the new 2nd Generation Ipod Mini (in a flashy metallic silver) yesterday at the Apple store in Plano. It's been charging, so I haven't gotten a chance to really play with it yet. I'll update more later!

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

My favorite song so far on U2's new album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb". Probably the best album, in my opinion, to come out last year. Worth checking out at http://www.u2.com/

Hard to believe

This year is already found it's way into March...man, time sure does fly when you're not looking!

In just a couple of weeks it'll be Spring Break around here, and then a couple weeks after that Easter will be upon us.

Seems like we just had Christmas!

Where's the anti-bacterial hand soap?

It seems like everyone around me is coming down with the flu, sinus infections, colds, bronchitis, and all sorts of airborne illnesses. I had my fair share of them for almost the entire month of December and on into January. Of course I resisted going to the Dr for as long as I could, otherwise my sinus infection would've been short lived.

I am not taking any chances this time however. I've been washing my hands just about every hour!

Friendships

"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships".
-Author: Abraham Lincoln (1809-65), 16th US President, Republican

Blogging is a great past-time.

You people see a side of me, perhaps in someways a little less fallible, and in others a little more. It is here that I anonomously express those thoughts frustrations, doubts and also those dreams about who I would like to be.

I also am grateful to God for authentic friends I see in flesh & blood, who are by nature a lot less intense than me - but alot more fun!. Some of the guy's I have known since school, or just a little later, and one is as close as a Brother. They are my "best men", and also those to whom I am honored to be a 'God parent' to their own children. These are men I know I can trust.

It's good to have that inner circle. It reminds me of that "Circle of Trust" Robert DeNiro refers to in "Meet the Parents". That's a wacky illustration, but it's true.

Joke of the week

It was getting crowded in heaven, so, for one day it was decided only to accept people who had really had a bad day on the day they died. Peter was standing at the pearly gates and said to the first man, "Tell me about the day you died."The man said, "Oh, it was awful. I was sure my wife was having an affair, so I came home early to catch her with him. I searched all over the apartment but couldn't find him anywhere.

So I went out onto the balcony, we live on the 25th floor, and found this man hanging over the edge by his fingertips. I went inside, got a hammer, and started hitting his hands. He fell, but landed in some bushes. So, I got the refrigerator and pushed it over the balcony and it crushed him. The strain of the act gave me a heart attack, and I died."

Peter couldn't deny that this was a pretty bad day, and since it was a crime of passion, he let the man in.He then asked the next man in line about the day he died.

"Well, sir, it was awful," said the second man. "I was doing aerobics on the balcony of my 26th floor apartment when I twisted my ankle and slipped over the edge. I managed to grab the balcony of the apartment below, but some maniac came out and started pounding on my fingers with a hammer. Luckily I landed in some bushes. But, then the guy dropped a refrigerator on me!"

Peter chuckled, let him into heaven and decided he could really start to enjoy this job."Tell me about the day you died?", he said to the third man in line."OK, picture this, I'm naked hiding inside a refrigerator..."

Trainspotting

I rather enjoy my twice daily train ride into the City. Its a time to talk to new people, and sometimes reaquaint with old friends that you have not seen in the best part of a decade.

But most of all its a place to think, read and reflect.

This is time, precious time that can be used to grow. Interestingly, the majority of Sojourners aboard the train will fill their minds with lessons on 'how NOT to do life' from the tabloids. I hope they are learning too.

Oftimes, the train is so full that I don't get to read. This morning was one of those mornings. So today, I was a more than a little presumptious and could not but help but read from the pages of a book of a young lady seated near me. (I still fell guilty, - hearing my mother's voice echo in my ears "reading over anothers shoulder is the height of rudeness").

But it was the pull quote that caught my eye:

"If we live in the light of eternity, we cannot help but live with a different set of values".

It's funny, that this one sentence has being playing on my mind all day.

And this thought has been hung, drawn and quartered by other things that I have seen and heard. Including the lyrics of a Robbie Williams number "I want to live before I die" amongst other things. (Does God speak through these things I wonder or is it just the strange and random musings of a distracted mind??).

As trivial as it all is, I just wanted to capture the thought here.

2 kinds of people

I have observed there are two types of people - two types of Christians:

1. The person who lives their life with an attitude of gratitude. They seem to have an engine of thanksgiving, amazed at life & God's goodness.

2. The person who is always living as if God were holding out on them. So it's the next big thing they're waiting for, the next conference, meeting, blessing etc. while missing the wonder of now.

Shout out to Clark!

I just finished listening to a tape a friend had sent me of Pastor David Carr from Renewal Chrstian Center (www.renewalcc.com) in Solihull, UK.
It was about finding our area of ministry. He made the point that what we do in the first 20 years of life is often what God uses in our Ministry for him. He then llustrated a few things from the life of David:

1. He was obedient to his Father.
2. He Learned to Kill a 7ft bear therefore Goliath was only a 2ft problem.
3. He was anointed.
4. He carried an anointed man's shield.

Awesome!

Also, my friend Clark McDaniel asked me to give him a "shout out" here on my blog today. So here goes....HEY CLARK! Can you bring me my chapstick!

Things God is teaching me this week

1. How we worship God determines the kind of people we become.
2. Doris Day was wrong, the future is ours to see.
3. Life is for living...have fun!
4. Get a clear vision of what God wants, not just what you want.
5. Your vision will be your guide in the night season.
6. Sing.
7. Live from vision and not from duty.

A question

This question doesn't really have an answer, but I was thinking about it today. Why do people write blogs? Who are they communicating to? Is it a way to just get their thoughts out of their heads and onto virtual paper? Is it for friends to hear what's going on with them?

Some people get into very personal aspects of their life on their blogs, to the point of "wow, I can't believe they said that in public!" I generally don't do that, instead talking about the strange things that I notice. But I am considering becoming more personal, especially in living out my faith for others to see. It's kind of difficult to live that out over a blog, ya know? I'll have to figure out how to do that one. My "Bout with Doubt" blog entry back in January of this year was a step into that direction though. Expect more of those!

A related question is why do people read blogs? Do we enjoy peeking into other people's lives? Do we want to see ourselves mentioned on one of these blogs, to kind of validate our existence? I'm always shocked that people actually make time to read the rants and raves on my blog!

My plea to Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds did not, all by himself, make the periodic table part of baseball's stat panel. There are others who must answer for the game's atomic asterisk as well. But if he continues in his pursuit of the remaining home run milestones -- with 703, he's got Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron in his sights -- he will surely be the point man in what promises to be an ugly debate on the chemical perversion of performance.

If he stays, every at-bat will be a call for suspicion, every home run a reminder of corners cut, the game cheated, fans fooled. Every record he reaches a sad, cynical testimony: Crime does too pay.

Bonds, because of generational timing and an apparent willingness to ingest rocket fuel, is a kind of test case for our moral tolerance. His prime was in that sordid sweet spot, right after the explosion of hormonal additives and right before baseball's belated decision to start testing for them. He and more than a few others fattened up during this era, taking advantage of both an illicit science and a three-monkey commission that seemed to have seen nothing, heard nothing and certainly said nothing. The home runs were thrilling, the records astonishing. Bonds's devotion to self-improvement was ... what? Pretty much wrong, apparently.

If Bonds does continue, now past his synthetic prime, it will only serve to invite shame. Did we really go along with this cheating for the sake of a home run chase? Did we really enjoy all those blasts, sort of knowing they were forged with everything but artificial coloring? We're going to feel really cheap. It was one thing to marvel at a physical specimen just coming into his own in his mid-30s, his hat size climbing along with his home run totals; it's quite another to condone the underground chemistry that placed everybody else at a disadvantage.

Here is my modest proposal: Barry, leave now. Spare us the hangover from our home run binge, save us from a season of regret, rescue us from the guilt of being entertained by your fake power. Do not linger for the purpose of surpassing either Ruth's total (714) or Aaron's record (755), both of which will only draw attention to your own character failure.

This is not only doing the right thing, it's doing the smart thing. We'll not forget the excitement you brought to the game just walking to the plate. Even knowing that you were juiced, which you admitted in grand jury testimony, does not entirely diminish the theater of each moment.

Even if you leave now, you're not going to get away with everything. The scarlet "S" will hang from your neck, like so much negative bling, for as long as you're remembered. But you will at least prevent the kind of postscript that dooms you to historical villainy or, worse, buffoonery. You don't want to play clean and hit, let's say, 18 homers, do you? You'd regret this season far more than we would, trust me on that.

You will not enjoy the run-up to Aaron's record either, during which your chemical enhancement will come to be seen as a surprisingly large and unfair influence on your achievement. In fact, anything you accomplish from here on will be in the context of an extended con. And anything you don't will refocus your deceit. Really, you can't win.

Up & Down Temps

Sunday, Monday, and today have been awesome. The high is 82 here today. Tomorrow, however is a different story. The high is supposed to be 55. I guess since it's technically still Winter for another 4 weeks, it's allowed to do that.

American Mullet

This has to be the funniest site of the week. Be sure to visit the gallery where you can see Jerry proclaim that his mullet is "a symbol of freedom".

http://www.partyintheback.com/

Mobility!

I picked up my new laptop this weekend. All I need now is to hop on over to Fry's and pick up a wireless network adaptor and I'll be all set. You know, it's amazing how well the earth got along without email and cell phones 10 to 15 years ago. When I was in college, no one had them. Now you can't get by without 'em! In fact, I don't even have a land line at home any more. It's much more cost effective to just have the cell phone.

Best SuperBowl Ads

Best Superbowl Ads

1) Cat and spaghetti sauce

2) Bud Light / Skydiving

3) Anything with chimps

Watch them all at:
http://dyn.ifilm.com/superbowlads/

New notebook

My older brother, Todd, called me today and told me that the laptop that he had ordered for me was here. He was able to get me a Compaq EVON-610C notebook with Pentium 4, CD/DVD ROM, the works. He was able to snag a terrific deal on it, which I promised him that I would not divulge. So let's just say that I am extremely grateful for what he was able to do for me. I'll pick it up this weekend. WOOHOO!! Thanks older brother!!

Heartburn

I have never had the privelage of experiencing this medical phenomenon until this week. And let me tell you that it stinks!

Winter Wonderland

Well, it usually happens this time of year, so I can't say that I'm suprised. Just a week and a half ago it was 79 degrees, and this afternoon, we are going to get anywhere from 2-4 inches of snow. It's not anywhere near cold enough to stick (it's about 38 degrees right now) and it won't get below 32. It could be worse though. Boston had 3 feet of snow I heard last week. If that happened here in Dallas, there would be mass panic everywhere. We wouldn't know what do to with ourselves!