Saturday, August 27, 2005

I hate SPAM

I must admit, when it comes to canned, processed meat-product foods, I like SPAM the best. Although, Vienna Sausages would be a close second.
What I HATE is email spam, internet spam and the like. On my little blog, viewed by few, I have already experienced SPAM in the form of computer generated comments. They were easy enough to delete, but why should I have the hassle? So to prevent this in the future, I have turned on the word verification for commenting.
If you read and want to comment, it's an added step in the process, but worth it to me.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Thinking...

From Uncle John's Band - The Grateful Dead
Words: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia

Think this through with me
Let me know your mind
Wo-oah, what I want to know
Is are you kind?

1 Corinthians 13:4
Ephesians 4:32
Colossians 3:12

Ripple

Here is a song that has been in my head the last couple of days.

Ripple - The Grateful Dead
Words: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air

Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of man

There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone

Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow

You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home

Bumper Sticker

Just saw this bumper sticker:

ARE YOU FOLLOWING JESUS THIS CLOSE?

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Measuring Up

A few days ago, I returned home from my early morning job to find my son happily bouncing on his bed. Not jumping but sitting there, bouncing. A good way to start the day, I'm sure.

I kneeled down in front of him and gave him a big hug and just held him a moment. His quiet giggling was interrupted as he said to me, "Daddy! Look! I grown up so fast!" (I had to agree with him in my mind.) "Can you get a measuring thing and measure me?"

Reluctantly - due to time restraints before my departure for my regular day job - I measured him. "You are 42 1/2 inches tall."

"Does that mean I'm five years old?"

Apparently, right now five years old is the magic age. His closest girl friends are both five (one recently so). His closest little buddies will be five soon. He thinks he will run faster, jump higher, play better once he is five years old. To be five is his highest aspiration. Things will be SO GREAT when he is five.

"No, son. How many inches you are has nothing to do with turning five. You will be five in September."

I could tell he was somewhat disappointed. Measuring is measuring after all, and what's the real difference between years and inches anyway? Don't they both represent the same thing?

He just let it go and was happy to annouce "how long" he was to Momma. I know he'll get that concept somewhere along the way. We all do. We start just that way and learn so much so fast. These kids and their learning. It's enough to make your head spin.

Sometimes I wonder if we don't make God's head spin with our own desires of what will be SO GREAT in our lives. We come before Him with the "measuring thing" of our choice hoping to find out just how far we've come. I prayed a lot today, God - I studied through 4 chapters in the Bible and even pulled out the cross references - I read in one of those inspirational books for better insight - You know I didn't swear in my anger today - I helped those customers find everything they needed - So, how am I doing? Am I there yet? Am I good enough yet? When will I be SO GREAT?

I find myself there sometimes, hoping against hope that I have performed well: that I have done something to earn His love. He tries to let me know, Son, that's just not how it is. Those things aren't related. They aren't even close. I love you. Plain and simple. Let me love you. Let me show the world that I love you and that I love them also. Then we'll be there. You probably won't be good enough but we'll still be there. We'll be where everything is SO GREAT.

So I try to leave my set of measuring things aside. I try to just let God love me. And to let others know that he loves them. And as I do, things really do become SO GREAT.

There is no measuring up to a love like the Love that is GOD.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

from "Coach Carter"

Last night, we watched the movie Coach Carter. Overall, I would say that it was a very good movie. Be warned there was some language and a little violence and sexuality.
Twice through the course of the movie, Coach asked one of his players a question - What is your deepest fear? The player eventually answered him with a prepared speech. It was pretty nice. Upon further investigation, I found that it was indeed someone else's work and that some lines had been omitted. Here it is:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

a return to love - marianne williamson
Think about that a little bit.

Look for It

Do you remember the old Ray Steven's song Santa Claus is Watching You (He's everywhere! He's Everywhere!)? I know its a little early to be pulling out the Christmas Season stuff, already. Just bear with me...

There is a comment from my high school days that has stuck with me. The gist of the conversation from my friend is a bit on the crass crude side, suffice it to say. You'll understand in a minute. At the end of this little dialogue came this comment: "After all...It's all pink on the inside." Yes, he was talking about sex and such as many teens are apt to do. I must say, I was a bit shocked at that moment for several reasons. 1) He was a friend I looked up to and I never expected this type of statement to come from him. 2) It just seemed to be a very pathetic and unconcerned view to have on something as important as sex. Apparently he was quite the swinger and just wanted me to know.

The thing is, he was right. "It's all pink on the inside" is a true statement. And if you change it up just a bit (It's all pink on the inside - We're all pink on the inside - We're all the same on the inside) there is a universal truth with great importance.

Truth is like that.

It is where you find it.

It's Everywhere! It's Everywhere!

And so is God.

The challenge for us often times is seeing the truth through the current situation. It can be hard to recognize what is there for what it really is. We are often so caught up in ourselves and our own agendas that the truth and presence of God eludes us. I was too blinded by that comment at the time to recognize the truth behind it. Only later, through a different perspective did it come to me.

So, as I walk down the path set before me I must remember to always be on the look out for it. Regardless of the person, their choices, their struggles, their current salvation status, what the weather is like, where I am at, what music is playing, what movie is showing, what activity is going on - regardless of everything - be on the lookout for truth. There is always a glimmer of truth and of God's touch that we can see if we will.
Just look for it.