During the week of Thanksgiving our son, daughter-in-law, and their two children, and my mother all were at our home. We have the traditional good time of eating way too much delicious food, watching too much bad football, and just enjoying being together.
The youngest of their two children is not quite seven months old. He is our youngest grandchild. He reminded me of how joy and innocence are interconnected. He was never troubled by the news reports regarding the economy. He never was in a rush to get to the stores and get any Christmas gift specials purchased.
He was content with a bottle of milk, some strained foods, a few colorful toys to chew on, periodic naps during the day, and someone to occasionally rock him. When he woke up from a sound slumber, he would slowly open his eyes, look around, and break into a big grin. He was happy and no world crisis, stress of a holiday, or schedule pressures of adults had much impact upon him.
He still lives with so much innocence in his young life and his life is so full of joy. My thought today is that I am envious. I wish we all could reclaim some of our lost innocence and at the same time restore some of the original God-given joy with which we were born.
As we go through the month of December, maybe that should be our intent as we approach Christmas with the wide-eyed innocence of a young child observing the Babe in the Manger new and fresh, experiencing the joy that comes from seeing Him.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
A Milestone and A Beginning
A couple of weeks ago I completed my 15th year in my position as Executive Director of Denton Baptist Association. That is a milestone for me and for the association. This is the longest period of time that I have served in any one job by a couple of years and it is about twice as long as anyone has served in this position for the association.
It is fun to look back and to recall what has happened in 15 years. But in truth, the real excitement of a job or of life itself, is not what has happened in the past but the anticipation of what will happen in the future. As I begin my 16th year, I believe that there are far greater things coming and yet to be done than have any been considered, much less accomplished, in the past.
My life is really like that as well. My wife and I have been married 40 years. We have lived in six different communities during those 40 years. In addition, both of us have separate towns where we spent our "growing up" years. I hear people struggle with where is home for them. That has always been a simple question for me. Home is where I am living today. Home is not where I was born or went to high school. Home is not where both of our children were born. Home is not where we lived for 27 years. Home is where we are today.
Holding to that philosophy means that new driving patterns, new shopping locations, and making new friends in the neighbor are all part of home being where we are today. Sure I have memories, wonderful memories, of all the other places we have lived, but they are no longer our home.
I wonder when the last time was that you seriously gave thought to where your home is. The answer for you might be just what you need to get excited about the future.
It is fun to look back and to recall what has happened in 15 years. But in truth, the real excitement of a job or of life itself, is not what has happened in the past but the anticipation of what will happen in the future. As I begin my 16th year, I believe that there are far greater things coming and yet to be done than have any been considered, much less accomplished, in the past.
My life is really like that as well. My wife and I have been married 40 years. We have lived in six different communities during those 40 years. In addition, both of us have separate towns where we spent our "growing up" years. I hear people struggle with where is home for them. That has always been a simple question for me. Home is where I am living today. Home is not where I was born or went to high school. Home is not where both of our children were born. Home is not where we lived for 27 years. Home is where we are today.
Holding to that philosophy means that new driving patterns, new shopping locations, and making new friends in the neighbor are all part of home being where we are today. Sure I have memories, wonderful memories, of all the other places we have lived, but they are no longer our home.
I wonder when the last time was that you seriously gave thought to where your home is. The answer for you might be just what you need to get excited about the future.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Teach an Eagle to Fly
This morning a report aired on Good Morning America about teaching an eagle to fly after it had been in captivity for 14 years.
As I watched the report, I was at first startled by the fact that an eagle would have to be taught to fly. The gracefulness and the might of an eagle causes be to just assume that all eagles have flying down. Of course, fourteen years of captivity could certainly put a strain on current flying techniques - even for an eagle.
But then it occurred to me - if an eagle has to be taught how to fly, what about all the things that the rest of us need to be taught. Far too often we believe we have all the understanding and knowledge we need. We believe that we are too advanced to learn from the young, the old, or our peers.
The reality of life is that we can never afford to stop the learning process in our own lives. Certainly there is a flood of new knowledge and information that is produced on a daily basis. There are new situations and circumstances that occur that cause us to realize that the old solutions don't always work and that we must find new ones. Even in the realm of medicine, germs mutate resulting in an immunity to previously used antibiotics and neccessitating the need for the development of stronger and different antibiotics.
No one person has all the answers. That is why those in government must surround themselves with the best of advisors from many different fields. Those advisors have advisors who consult with those working in research and those working in the marketplace. We all need to keep on learning.
Several years ago I read a little adage on a poster that stated "How can soar with eagles when I work with turkeys?" Maybe the answer to that question rests in my response to learning. A turkey stays close to the ground content to not soar the heavens. An eagle can soar high into the heavens but only after it learns to fly. If someone can teach an eagle to fly, I wonder what all I could still learn!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Opinions Abound
The Presidential Election for 2008 is only about a month away. Already we have heard the first presidential debate. Tonight, we will hear the two Vice Presidential candidates in their prime time debate. Will we have a clearer view or understanding of the issues or of the candidates themselves? Who knows? The candidates themselves will choose how much to reveal or how precise and detailed to be in their answers.
Many people are struggling about their personal choice in this year's election. The two Presidential candidates and the two Vice Presidential candidates are four distinct individuals and personalities. Each of the four hold some views in common with all four; some views are held in common with only their running mate; and some views are unique to the individual candidate. Does that help you decide? Maybe or maybe not!
Thrown on top of this election campaign are the specific issues that are happening concurrently with the campaign. The American economy, the world economy, the war in Iraq, the threat of terrorism, and healthcare costs are only a few that appear on our daily news outlets.
I guess my one big concern about this election is really not just about the 2008 candidates. It is about all the candidates and all the elected officials of all the campaigns over the past 20-30 years. My humble opinion is that the issues never seem to change. The promises to fix things go unfilled. The blame is always placed on the other side.
I just want the opportunity and privilege of voting in a local and a national election in which the winners will actually fix the issues that they said they would fix. If that happened, I would gladly vote for those same candidates again.
Of course, I have a long list of projects that I have been promising my wife I would work on or fix for some time now. Maybe I ought to get a thing or two fixed myself this week!
Many people are struggling about their personal choice in this year's election. The two Presidential candidates and the two Vice Presidential candidates are four distinct individuals and personalities. Each of the four hold some views in common with all four; some views are held in common with only their running mate; and some views are unique to the individual candidate. Does that help you decide? Maybe or maybe not!
Thrown on top of this election campaign are the specific issues that are happening concurrently with the campaign. The American economy, the world economy, the war in Iraq, the threat of terrorism, and healthcare costs are only a few that appear on our daily news outlets.
I guess my one big concern about this election is really not just about the 2008 candidates. It is about all the candidates and all the elected officials of all the campaigns over the past 20-30 years. My humble opinion is that the issues never seem to change. The promises to fix things go unfilled. The blame is always placed on the other side.
I just want the opportunity and privilege of voting in a local and a national election in which the winners will actually fix the issues that they said they would fix. If that happened, I would gladly vote for those same candidates again.
Of course, I have a long list of projects that I have been promising my wife I would work on or fix for some time now. Maybe I ought to get a thing or two fixed myself this week!
Let Me Introduce Myself
The title implies a self-revealing portrait of who I am and what I do. The title is misleading. This is just my first posting since July 31st. I almost feel like a stranger in my own blog and need to reacquaint myself with the process. With so many things going on in our world right now, I do have some thoughts and will try to express them more frequently.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Alpha and Omega
No, I not writing a deeply theological treatise. It is just a recognition that the last post I wrote was on July 1 and here it is already July 31. Those are the first and last days of July and Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Thought you might want to know that.
Actually, there is something significant about the first and the last as it relates to my personality and work habits. I enjoy and am energized by the beginning of a project - particularly the early development of ideas and concepts - the brainstorming and the dreaming of it. Likewise, I find great satisfaction in the completion of a project or a task. There is something very pleasing about standing back and admiring a fresh coat of paint, a newly mowed lawn, or even a new post on a blog.
But there is a great amount of time and effort that exists between the first and the last, the beginning and the end. I am grateful for people who find great satisfaction in taking the dreams or plans of someone else and bringing them to life. They are energized by figuring out what is required to make the project real and then go to work to make it happen. On the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, the crew and particularly Data figured out how to make it work. I found my role model in Captain Picard who would listen to various scenarios and then make a decision. He would follow the decision with a great phrase - "Make it so!"
I am blessed to be privileged to work with so many great people who know exactly what it takes and are more than willing to "Make it so!" The Greeks didn't just have the two letters Alpha and Omega in their alphabet. We do not have just an A and a Z. It takes all of them to write words, put together sentences, and communicate. It takes all types of people to complete the project. Together we get it done.
Actually, there is something significant about the first and the last as it relates to my personality and work habits. I enjoy and am energized by the beginning of a project - particularly the early development of ideas and concepts - the brainstorming and the dreaming of it. Likewise, I find great satisfaction in the completion of a project or a task. There is something very pleasing about standing back and admiring a fresh coat of paint, a newly mowed lawn, or even a new post on a blog.
But there is a great amount of time and effort that exists between the first and the last, the beginning and the end. I am grateful for people who find great satisfaction in taking the dreams or plans of someone else and bringing them to life. They are energized by figuring out what is required to make the project real and then go to work to make it happen. On the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, the crew and particularly Data figured out how to make it work. I found my role model in Captain Picard who would listen to various scenarios and then make a decision. He would follow the decision with a great phrase - "Make it so!"
I am blessed to be privileged to work with so many great people who know exactly what it takes and are more than willing to "Make it so!" The Greeks didn't just have the two letters Alpha and Omega in their alphabet. We do not have just an A and a Z. It takes all of them to write words, put together sentences, and communicate. It takes all types of people to complete the project. Together we get it done.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Can I Make It All Fit?
The issue of how much luggage to take on a flight used to be centered on only one point - do I want to check or just do carry-on? But all that has changed. The question now centers around how much luggage am I willing to pay for on the flight? Suddenly, we have all become interested in how much we can cram into one small carry-on bag.
But none of this is really new. We have all be paying extra for storage for a long time - even though it may not have been on an airplane. Consider our houses - after filling our closets and the space under the beds, most of us have floored the attic, moved cars out of the garage, added storage sheds in the backyard, and even rented extra space at self storage businesses.
My father-in-law has always taken most everything he owns in the trunk of his car for a road trip and still proclaimed - there's plenty more room in there. Well, that has not been my case. I always yield to my wife. She can make so much more fit in any space than I possibly can.
But then there is one other dimension that gets over looked. In terms of daily, weekly, monthly, and even annual activities - how much can I fit into my life? The truth is that most of us seem to want everything and therefore only rarely deny ourselves anything. But there are only so much time in a day; only so many dollars in a bank account; and only so much energy in a person. One of the hardest things is to maintain a schedule and involvement level that allows participation in the best and says no to the rest. Maybe this hot summer month of July is a good time for me, and maybe some others, to rebalance the schedule and do a better job of leaving some breathing room in this living luggage.
But none of this is really new. We have all be paying extra for storage for a long time - even though it may not have been on an airplane. Consider our houses - after filling our closets and the space under the beds, most of us have floored the attic, moved cars out of the garage, added storage sheds in the backyard, and even rented extra space at self storage businesses.
My father-in-law has always taken most everything he owns in the trunk of his car for a road trip and still proclaimed - there's plenty more room in there. Well, that has not been my case. I always yield to my wife. She can make so much more fit in any space than I possibly can.
But then there is one other dimension that gets over looked. In terms of daily, weekly, monthly, and even annual activities - how much can I fit into my life? The truth is that most of us seem to want everything and therefore only rarely deny ourselves anything. But there are only so much time in a day; only so many dollars in a bank account; and only so much energy in a person. One of the hardest things is to maintain a schedule and involvement level that allows participation in the best and says no to the rest. Maybe this hot summer month of July is a good time for me, and maybe some others, to rebalance the schedule and do a better job of leaving some breathing room in this living luggage.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Our Shrinking - Expanding Globe
Growing up in Texas, my memories of family vacations usually centered around going to Lake Buchannon in the middle of the state for fishing, playing, and eating. Once we took a family trip to see some relatives in Kentucky. After being in Texas with short trips dominating my life, Kentucky seemed like it was either 100 miles or a million miles away.
Today, I heard on the news that a Belgium beer company is trying to buy the U. S. beer company that makes Budweiser. I am not a beer drinker. There are only two things that even interest this Texas boy in this business news at all. One interest point is that a corporation in another country located on another continent is knowledgeable and agressive is seeking to buy a U. S. corporation. When I was growing up, that would have been a great rariety. Today it is commonplace. We definitely live with a world economy in which globalization effects every part of life. Our globe has shrunk.
The second reason I have an interest in this particular possible business transaction is that our daughter, her Air Force husband, and their two children (two of our four grandchildren) will leave the United States in a week and a half to live in Belgium for three years where our son-in-law will be stationed with NATO. This is their fifth assignment with the Air Force - four different states and now a different country on a different continent. My parents never considered living anywhere more than 20 miles from where they grew up. While I have visited some other countries and have considered living in other states on occasion, I have just moved around in Texas for sixty-one years. But our children and grandchildren live with far more choices. Our globe is expanding.
Interestingly enough, my wife and I can drive about 20 miles to the DFW Airport; board a plane; make one stop in the U.S. and change planes; and arrive in Belgium far quicker than my family made a drive from Temple, Texas, to Mayfield, Kentucky, in 1957 (and that car had no air conditioning, of course, neither did our house). Our globe is shrinking.
Our grandchildren will be bussed from Belgium to The Netherlands to attend an international school. They will have the opportunity to study different languages each year they are there. They should come back to the U. S. with a fairly conversant ability in French and Flemish based on the village (small European town) where they will live. I doubt that their parents will pick up the languages so quickly. So the roles will be reversed. Our grandchildren will be able to speak to each other in languages their parents don't understand and they won't even have to spell out the words. Our globe is expanding.
As parents, we are both excited and anxious for them. What an opportunity that awaits them in new friends and neighbors, new customs, new languages, and Belgian chocolate! But they will be so far away! Of course, we both have our passports and I check for ticket bargains almost daily. Our globe is shrinking and expanding.
Putting on my professional hat for a moment, I wonder if the followers of Christ in the U. S. and the churches they attend have taken time to notice what is happening to our globe. I know that some have because I see their international involvements while at the same time ministering to the internationals who just moved in next door to the church property. Will everyone take notice of our changing world? Of course not! Everyone never does the same thing. But, maybe more will take notice as their lives are personally touched by a globe that has the current characteristic of shrinking and expanding both at the same time.
It is time to close this entry - I need to go and check to see if any airlines are running a special on Belgium any time soon.
Today, I heard on the news that a Belgium beer company is trying to buy the U. S. beer company that makes Budweiser. I am not a beer drinker. There are only two things that even interest this Texas boy in this business news at all. One interest point is that a corporation in another country located on another continent is knowledgeable and agressive is seeking to buy a U. S. corporation. When I was growing up, that would have been a great rariety. Today it is commonplace. We definitely live with a world economy in which globalization effects every part of life. Our globe has shrunk.
The second reason I have an interest in this particular possible business transaction is that our daughter, her Air Force husband, and their two children (two of our four grandchildren) will leave the United States in a week and a half to live in Belgium for three years where our son-in-law will be stationed with NATO. This is their fifth assignment with the Air Force - four different states and now a different country on a different continent. My parents never considered living anywhere more than 20 miles from where they grew up. While I have visited some other countries and have considered living in other states on occasion, I have just moved around in Texas for sixty-one years. But our children and grandchildren live with far more choices. Our globe is expanding.
Interestingly enough, my wife and I can drive about 20 miles to the DFW Airport; board a plane; make one stop in the U.S. and change planes; and arrive in Belgium far quicker than my family made a drive from Temple, Texas, to Mayfield, Kentucky, in 1957 (and that car had no air conditioning, of course, neither did our house). Our globe is shrinking.
Our grandchildren will be bussed from Belgium to The Netherlands to attend an international school. They will have the opportunity to study different languages each year they are there. They should come back to the U. S. with a fairly conversant ability in French and Flemish based on the village (small European town) where they will live. I doubt that their parents will pick up the languages so quickly. So the roles will be reversed. Our grandchildren will be able to speak to each other in languages their parents don't understand and they won't even have to spell out the words. Our globe is expanding.
As parents, we are both excited and anxious for them. What an opportunity that awaits them in new friends and neighbors, new customs, new languages, and Belgian chocolate! But they will be so far away! Of course, we both have our passports and I check for ticket bargains almost daily. Our globe is shrinking and expanding.
Putting on my professional hat for a moment, I wonder if the followers of Christ in the U. S. and the churches they attend have taken time to notice what is happening to our globe. I know that some have because I see their international involvements while at the same time ministering to the internationals who just moved in next door to the church property. Will everyone take notice of our changing world? Of course not! Everyone never does the same thing. But, maybe more will take notice as their lives are personally touched by a globe that has the current characteristic of shrinking and expanding both at the same time.
It is time to close this entry - I need to go and check to see if any airlines are running a special on Belgium any time soon.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Wonder of Technology
Technology - computers, wireless connections, IPhones, IPods, flat screens, and HD - how could we possible exist or accomplish anything without all of these wonderful, timesaving, problem solving devices. Normally, I am a loyal fan and supporter. But there are days . . .
When something inside a compute decides to reject the current password or when we owners decide to switch providers or hosts or change email addresses or when someone buries a chicken under the rock by the dead tree at midnight under a full moon while drinking an RC Cola, the world of technology can become far less than wonderful. Oh, don't misunderstand. I am neither angry or upset - frustrated, that is a possibility. Someday I will learn to leave well enough alone. Until then, I will continue to be lured into techno change because a new product was faster, brighter, smarter, or came with a free gift.
There really is no point to be made or moral to be conveyed in this entry - just needed a nice, safe place to come and calmly express some feelings before SCREAMING!!!
When something inside a compute decides to reject the current password or when we owners decide to switch providers or hosts or change email addresses or when someone buries a chicken under the rock by the dead tree at midnight under a full moon while drinking an RC Cola, the world of technology can become far less than wonderful. Oh, don't misunderstand. I am neither angry or upset - frustrated, that is a possibility. Someday I will learn to leave well enough alone. Until then, I will continue to be lured into techno change because a new product was faster, brighter, smarter, or came with a free gift.
There really is no point to be made or moral to be conveyed in this entry - just needed a nice, safe place to come and calmly express some feelings before SCREAMING!!!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
A Change in the Routines
Routines are a way of life for most of us. Life can get very confusing and complicated when we step out of some of our routines. A few days ago my morning was anything but routine. The reasons are insignificant at this point but my regular pattern was altered. The result: because I cleaned my body in the shower before shampooing my hair - I forgot to rinse the shampoo out of my hair and had to enter the shower a second time; because I finished getting dressed before brushing my teeth, I forgot to brush my teeth; and because I left my watch in the kitchen the night before (of course, I had left it there while doing the dishes - my normal routine, but don't tell my wife that I wrote that), I forgot to put on my watch and so I spent the day with unbrushed teeth while looking at my naked wrist every 15 minutes or so.
Well, our home routines are about to make an even bigger change than the order of personal hygiene habits. Tomorrow is my wife's last day as an employed public school teacher. After 31 years of loving and molding and shaping the lives of 6 and 7 seven year olds and mentoring and encouraging fellow teachers, she is retiring. She is still very young (you can tell her that I wrote that). But she is ready for a change. That change may involve staying home some and taking it easy. It may involve some volunteering in the areas that she cares about deeply. And it may involve a part-time job in the future that doesn't require taking things home at night to have finished by the next morning.
I do know what changes are certain - (1) she will not be getting up at 5:00 AM; (2) she will not pity me as I leave for work and she stays home; (3) she will enjoy her new found personal time; and (4) she will miss seeing the bright eyes of children as they catch the excitement of learning to read (her special area for the last 16 years has been working with first graders who lacked reading skills and helping them "get it.").
But that is the way it is when we change our routines and begin a new direction. Some things end and other things begin. That is really the way life is in all of its aspects. Individuals, families, corporations, and churches - they all experience change in that way. To begin a new direction requires that an old path be abandoned in order to follow the new path. One of my favorite poems is Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken." In that poem the author comes to a place where the road he has been walking divides. He must choose which of the two paths now to follow. He knows he can only choose one. While he thinks he can always come back some day and try the other path, he knows that it will never happen. He finally chooses the path that seems less traveled and states that that choice has made all the difference.
Our family has a change in the routine because a choice has been made to travel a different path. It will make all the difference. Just wondering if you have any routines to alter, new directions to go, and choices to make!
Well, our home routines are about to make an even bigger change than the order of personal hygiene habits. Tomorrow is my wife's last day as an employed public school teacher. After 31 years of loving and molding and shaping the lives of 6 and 7 seven year olds and mentoring and encouraging fellow teachers, she is retiring. She is still very young (you can tell her that I wrote that). But she is ready for a change. That change may involve staying home some and taking it easy. It may involve some volunteering in the areas that she cares about deeply. And it may involve a part-time job in the future that doesn't require taking things home at night to have finished by the next morning.
I do know what changes are certain - (1) she will not be getting up at 5:00 AM; (2) she will not pity me as I leave for work and she stays home; (3) she will enjoy her new found personal time; and (4) she will miss seeing the bright eyes of children as they catch the excitement of learning to read (her special area for the last 16 years has been working with first graders who lacked reading skills and helping them "get it.").
But that is the way it is when we change our routines and begin a new direction. Some things end and other things begin. That is really the way life is in all of its aspects. Individuals, families, corporations, and churches - they all experience change in that way. To begin a new direction requires that an old path be abandoned in order to follow the new path. One of my favorite poems is Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken." In that poem the author comes to a place where the road he has been walking divides. He must choose which of the two paths now to follow. He knows he can only choose one. While he thinks he can always come back some day and try the other path, he knows that it will never happen. He finally chooses the path that seems less traveled and states that that choice has made all the difference.
Our family has a change in the routine because a choice has been made to travel a different path. It will make all the difference. Just wondering if you have any routines to alter, new directions to go, and choices to make!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Welcome to the Family
Last week we welcome Matthew to our family. Matthew is our 4th grandchild and the second child of our son and his wife. Their first born is two and still making up her mind about her new brother. All I can say is that they are both great children born to great parents. Of course, I would say the same of our other two grandchildren who belong to our daughter and her husband. They also have a boy and a girl. Not wanting to put anyone down but there is no doubt that we have been blessed with the four best grandchildren, two best children, and two best children-in-laws in the world. I know that is hard for some people to accept but the truth is the truth.
However, Matthew does carry a little extra burden than the other grandchildren. He is the only boy destined to carry my family name at this point in time. With a name like mine, it does carry a burden. Afterall, it is long, often mispronounced, and easy to make fun of.
But before we put too much pressure on him, I must remind all of us that a family name is not the burden or responsibility of one person to carry. It is the responsibility of the entire family to carry that load.
I think that is also true in a church. It is not the responsibility of the pastor to bear the full load. It is the responsibility of the entire congregation. Too often a church will shift all blame to a pastor because there is a lack of growth or because finances are tight. I have always wondered why the manager or coach of a sports team gets fired and replaced when it was the players who played lousy and lost the games. Churches do that a lot. The members refuse or fail to participate and so the pastor is replaced. Somehow we seem to have that quite mixed up.
Our family is not going to do that to Matthew. He is one of us. We will bear the load of the name together. That is what families do. Maybe churches and sports teams should try the family approach.
However, Matthew does carry a little extra burden than the other grandchildren. He is the only boy destined to carry my family name at this point in time. With a name like mine, it does carry a burden. Afterall, it is long, often mispronounced, and easy to make fun of.
But before we put too much pressure on him, I must remind all of us that a family name is not the burden or responsibility of one person to carry. It is the responsibility of the entire family to carry that load.
I think that is also true in a church. It is not the responsibility of the pastor to bear the full load. It is the responsibility of the entire congregation. Too often a church will shift all blame to a pastor because there is a lack of growth or because finances are tight. I have always wondered why the manager or coach of a sports team gets fired and replaced when it was the players who played lousy and lost the games. Churches do that a lot. The members refuse or fail to participate and so the pastor is replaced. Somehow we seem to have that quite mixed up.
Our family is not going to do that to Matthew. He is one of us. We will bear the load of the name together. That is what families do. Maybe churches and sports teams should try the family approach.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Ducks in the Swimming Pool
One of my frequent driving paths takes me through a neighborhood that has an "amenity center" for the residents. A good size neighborhood swimming pool is part of the center. During the summers, children, families, and mothers and tots, occupy the pool most of the time every day. Mothers and tots have a stronghold on the mornings, children (supervised of course) take over the afternoons, and families grab the evenings and weekends.
The management keeps the pool filled and pretty clean year round even though it is closed in late fall through late spring (yes, it does get cold enough in Texas to not swim year round - remember the snow pictures).
Over the last few weeks I have noticed that the pool is occupied once again even though it has not officially opened for the summer. The resident swimmers and sun bathers are not the usual crowd. They do have two legs but their feet are webbed. They are colorful and skilled at both swimming and flying, but seem to be a little skiddish if someone wanders too close to the fence surrounding the pool. Several Mallard Ducks have found themselves an "amenity center" well suited to their liking. They swim and then sit (or stand or maybe waddle) around the pool to keep their tan lines even, I guess. And before you ask, I don't know how the clorine in the water affects them!
What concerns me is not that ducks are swimming in a pool designed for people. Rather, I am concerned about how many things that were intended for one significant purpose are now being used for lessor purposes. A few come to mind rather quickly - guns designed for protection or for war being used for crime and random shootings; drugs developed to save lives being taken illegally and resulting in the loss of life; sex created as a means of intimacy in marriage and for the procreation of the human species being used as a profitable business or desire for popularity; and the computer created so that we could do things faster to have more time for relationships but the result has been we use the computer for everything, even emailing our co-workers and playing games or working at home instead of time with family.
Am I just getting old (I did just have another one of those birthdays go by) and beginning to complain about everything or are our improvements and enlightenments really not so improving or enlightening? The truth is that some days I think there are ducks swimming in the pool. Maybe soon I will take some time and write about getting the right use of things, afterall I just wrote five paragraphs expressing my thoughts to WHOM? Maybe just to me!
The management keeps the pool filled and pretty clean year round even though it is closed in late fall through late spring (yes, it does get cold enough in Texas to not swim year round - remember the snow pictures).
Over the last few weeks I have noticed that the pool is occupied once again even though it has not officially opened for the summer. The resident swimmers and sun bathers are not the usual crowd. They do have two legs but their feet are webbed. They are colorful and skilled at both swimming and flying, but seem to be a little skiddish if someone wanders too close to the fence surrounding the pool. Several Mallard Ducks have found themselves an "amenity center" well suited to their liking. They swim and then sit (or stand or maybe waddle) around the pool to keep their tan lines even, I guess. And before you ask, I don't know how the clorine in the water affects them!
What concerns me is not that ducks are swimming in a pool designed for people. Rather, I am concerned about how many things that were intended for one significant purpose are now being used for lessor purposes. A few come to mind rather quickly - guns designed for protection or for war being used for crime and random shootings; drugs developed to save lives being taken illegally and resulting in the loss of life; sex created as a means of intimacy in marriage and for the procreation of the human species being used as a profitable business or desire for popularity; and the computer created so that we could do things faster to have more time for relationships but the result has been we use the computer for everything, even emailing our co-workers and playing games or working at home instead of time with family.
Am I just getting old (I did just have another one of those birthdays go by) and beginning to complain about everything or are our improvements and enlightenments really not so improving or enlightening? The truth is that some days I think there are ducks swimming in the pool. Maybe soon I will take some time and write about getting the right use of things, afterall I just wrote five paragraphs expressing my thoughts to WHOM? Maybe just to me!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Seeking Significance
Recently I was reminded of the report that states: "For the first half of our lives, we seek success; for the last half of our lives, we seek significance." Since the oldest, documented living person currently on planet Earth is 115, I am definitely in the second or last half of my life. And life the results of the report, I, too, find myself wanting to do those things that will make a difference - things that will have a significant impact upon people and upon institutions.
I mention institutions because my profession is largely about working with churches. The role is varied and includes helping start new churches, helping revitalize decaying or declining churches, and encouraging healthy churches. In the fabric of our culture, churches have held places of significance. Our culture has looked to churches to provide moral and ethical leadership, to provide spiritual stability and strength, to develop children and adults as morally upright individuals, and to care for those in need.
It is true that such a view of the church has not been continuous in our history. In fact, this may not be one of those time segments when our nation views the church in such high esteem. But it is because of that possibility that I feel a need to help encourage churches toward a renewed reality of significance in these days.
My desire in this last segment of my employed life is not to help churches and church leaders become what the culture wants them to be but rather to help them become what God has stated He wants them to be. Whether we look at the Old Testament in the Bible and see God using the nation Israel to reveal His purpose and love, or in the New Testament with the emergence of the church as the Body of Christ, we see that the real significance of the church is in the transformation of lives by the power of God. Significance is not in the amount of property, size of budgets, or weekly attendance. The significance of the church has always been in God's transformation of people who come to Him in faith through Jesus Christ.
I mention institutions because my profession is largely about working with churches. The role is varied and includes helping start new churches, helping revitalize decaying or declining churches, and encouraging healthy churches. In the fabric of our culture, churches have held places of significance. Our culture has looked to churches to provide moral and ethical leadership, to provide spiritual stability and strength, to develop children and adults as morally upright individuals, and to care for those in need.
It is true that such a view of the church has not been continuous in our history. In fact, this may not be one of those time segments when our nation views the church in such high esteem. But it is because of that possibility that I feel a need to help encourage churches toward a renewed reality of significance in these days.
My desire in this last segment of my employed life is not to help churches and church leaders become what the culture wants them to be but rather to help them become what God has stated He wants them to be. Whether we look at the Old Testament in the Bible and see God using the nation Israel to reveal His purpose and love, or in the New Testament with the emergence of the church as the Body of Christ, we see that the real significance of the church is in the transformation of lives by the power of God. Significance is not in the amount of property, size of budgets, or weekly attendance. The significance of the church has always been in God's transformation of people who come to Him in faith through Jesus Christ.
Where Have I Been?
Time passes so quickly, particularly when you are having fun or it is Saturday. I was searching through a stack of bits on my computer and found my blog buried deep in pile of documents, emails, spreadsheets, calendars, and organizational planning. I haven't spend any time with my blog since April 1st. I don't suppose that changed or altered anyone else's life in any way, but I committed myself to writing an entry at least weekly - obviously it has been more weakly in April.
We all get caught up in a variety of responsibilities that call for our urgent attention. Tony Dungy, the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, states in his book, Quiet Strength, that while he was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he gave instructions to all the coaches and players that when they lost a game (often) their response was to be "No explanations, no excuses!" Well, that is my story and I sticking with it. That is a lot easier than trying to explain the past 21 days.
We all get caught up in a variety of responsibilities that call for our urgent attention. Tony Dungy, the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, states in his book, Quiet Strength, that while he was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he gave instructions to all the coaches and players that when they lost a game (often) their response was to be "No explanations, no excuses!" Well, that is my story and I sticking with it. That is a lot easier than trying to explain the past 21 days.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
What Makes Me Laugh?
Laughter is so relaxing, and yet at the same time, exhilarating. I know that not everyone laughs at the same things. Some people seem to find little to no humor in anything. In a way that makes me laugh.
I like jokes, slapstick, video, sight gags, and yes, even puns. The truth is that I don't believe we laugh nearly enough. We take ourselves and everyone and everything else far too seriously. Medical science has even discovered that laughter can result in the dimishment of pain for a period of time. Of course, the Bible stated that a long time ago in Proverbs 17:22 by stating "A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Young children like to laugh and do so at the antics of adults - I think they really laugh either at the way we look or the baby language we try to speak to them. What does "goo-goo, gaga" mean anyway? They even start trying to tell jokes just so they can laugh more (because we adults never seem to get the joke.)
Last Saturday I saw two women riding Harleys. Nothing too unusual there except for the fact that they looked like they were on their way to a wedding and one of them happened to be the bride (yes, she was already dressed for the wedding!).
People really do go to work wearing unmatched shoes or socks; have toilet paper stuck to the bottom of their shoe; get their shirttails caught in their zippers; look for their glasses that are on their heads or around their necks or worse, on their eyes; lose their cell phones that are in their hands; answer the phone with the receiver upside down; reverse letters of words; and remind us all that Aggie jokes and blonde jokes and all the other labeled jokes, are not jokes at all but the recounting of true, or at least almost true, stories.
The video clip below is about dogs rather than people, but it should bring a laugh to your day. It did to mine when a friend sent it to me. OH, DON'T FORGET TO READ THE COMICS EVERYDAY - IT MAKES THE FRONT PAGE MORE BEARABLE!
I like jokes, slapstick, video, sight gags, and yes, even puns. The truth is that I don't believe we laugh nearly enough. We take ourselves and everyone and everything else far too seriously. Medical science has even discovered that laughter can result in the dimishment of pain for a period of time. Of course, the Bible stated that a long time ago in Proverbs 17:22 by stating "A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Young children like to laugh and do so at the antics of adults - I think they really laugh either at the way we look or the baby language we try to speak to them. What does "goo-goo, gaga" mean anyway? They even start trying to tell jokes just so they can laugh more (because we adults never seem to get the joke.)
Last Saturday I saw two women riding Harleys. Nothing too unusual there except for the fact that they looked like they were on their way to a wedding and one of them happened to be the bride (yes, she was already dressed for the wedding!).
People really do go to work wearing unmatched shoes or socks; have toilet paper stuck to the bottom of their shoe; get their shirttails caught in their zippers; look for their glasses that are on their heads or around their necks or worse, on their eyes; lose their cell phones that are in their hands; answer the phone with the receiver upside down; reverse letters of words; and remind us all that Aggie jokes and blonde jokes and all the other labeled jokes, are not jokes at all but the recounting of true, or at least almost true, stories.
The video clip below is about dogs rather than people, but it should bring a laugh to your day. It did to mine when a friend sent it to me. OH, DON'T FORGET TO READ THE COMICS EVERYDAY - IT MAKES THE FRONT PAGE MORE BEARABLE!
Monday, March 24, 2008
A Word of Encouragement During March Madness
March Madness is not a new virus that is seeking to destroy mankind. Rather, it is the term used for the frenzy that accompanies the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and Championship. This year's tournament is highlighted by teams like Kansas, North Carolina, Memphis, UCLA, Texas, and Tennessee. One of these, or one of the other lower ranked teams in the tournament, all have a shot at being the 2008 Champion. They would join a list of some great teams from the past like UCLA, with its tremendous number of championships under Coach John Wooden; Duke, with its consistent return to the tournament year after year under Coach K; or a surprise team like North Carolina State in 1983 under Coach Jimmy Valvano.
Virginia, with two-time player of the year Ralph Samson, North Carolina, with All-Americans Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins, Georgetown, with All-American Patrick Ewing, and Houston, with Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon, all had the better claims to be the best in 1983. But North Carolina State played at an inspired level and ended the tournament as the Champion.
Jimmy Valvano, also known as Jimmy V, was the coach of the North Carolina State men's basketball team that won the 1983 NCAA Championship. He died in 1993 after a bout with cancer. It was during his battle with cancer that his name and legacy increased beyond the basketball arena. He spoke often to groups and individuals about life and about never giving up. His love for family, his zest for life, and his faith stand out in his speeches.
In 1993 he was awarded The Arthur Ashe Award at the Annual EPSY Awards. His speech is contained in this video. It is a word of encouragement to us today whether we fight a battle of physical or emotional health or live a life that is filled with struggles and stressful challenges. Basketball is an exciting game to watch. The 1983 NCAA Championship Game is still one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament. But Jimmy V's words offer encouragement that will last well past March Madness.
Virginia, with two-time player of the year Ralph Samson, North Carolina, with All-Americans Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins, Georgetown, with All-American Patrick Ewing, and Houston, with Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon, all had the better claims to be the best in 1983. But North Carolina State played at an inspired level and ended the tournament as the Champion.
Jimmy Valvano, also known as Jimmy V, was the coach of the North Carolina State men's basketball team that won the 1983 NCAA Championship. He died in 1993 after a bout with cancer. It was during his battle with cancer that his name and legacy increased beyond the basketball arena. He spoke often to groups and individuals about life and about never giving up. His love for family, his zest for life, and his faith stand out in his speeches.
In 1993 he was awarded The Arthur Ashe Award at the Annual EPSY Awards. His speech is contained in this video. It is a word of encouragement to us today whether we fight a battle of physical or emotional health or live a life that is filled with struggles and stressful challenges. Basketball is an exciting game to watch. The 1983 NCAA Championship Game is still one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament. But Jimmy V's words offer encouragement that will last well past March Madness.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
After the Big Day
As a Christian, Easter Sunday is a "Big Day" for me. While Christians live daily with the hope and promise that comes with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter Sunday is a focused day commemorating the anniversary of Jesus' Resurrection and celebrating all that it means in the lives of Christian believers.
But like all "Big Days," midnight comes and a new day begins. The focus, not the reality, changes. The truth of the Resurrection remains the next day and for all days thereafter, but the "Tyranny of the Urgent" (as Stephen Covey refers to it in his 7 Habits) becomes the focus. Important things, and some not-so-important things, call for immediate attention. Alarm clocks, drives to work, meetings, email, calls, and decisions quickly fill the day and one's mind.
Wouldn't it be great if we could hold on to the celebration and realization of the significance of the "Big Days" while having to deal with the urgent? Wouldn't it greatly influence the people around us if we could we keep the power and the goodness of the "Big Day" present and touching the people we work with, those we call friends, and our own families?
Somehow I know that tomorrow will be different than I would wish for it to be, but maybe this time I will be less overwhelmed by the urgent and stay more in touch with the truly significant. I wonder if anyone else has these kinds of thoughts.
But like all "Big Days," midnight comes and a new day begins. The focus, not the reality, changes. The truth of the Resurrection remains the next day and for all days thereafter, but the "Tyranny of the Urgent" (as Stephen Covey refers to it in his 7 Habits) becomes the focus. Important things, and some not-so-important things, call for immediate attention. Alarm clocks, drives to work, meetings, email, calls, and decisions quickly fill the day and one's mind.
Wouldn't it be great if we could hold on to the celebration and realization of the significance of the "Big Days" while having to deal with the urgent? Wouldn't it greatly influence the people around us if we could we keep the power and the goodness of the "Big Day" present and touching the people we work with, those we call friends, and our own families?
Somehow I know that tomorrow will be different than I would wish for it to be, but maybe this time I will be less overwhelmed by the urgent and stay more in touch with the truly significant. I wonder if anyone else has these kinds of thoughts.
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Emotions of Change
Over the years I have heard many people make observations, tell jokes, or share their personal experiences of "going through the change of life." While I know that our bodies are created in such a way that we do go through various physical changes (yes, both men and women), and that those changes can have a great impact upon one's emotions, I am discovering that life can bring a whole series of changes at once that greatly impact both our physical and our emotional aspects of life.
In my life there are 5 specific changes that are in process that will all reach their apex by June of this year. Some of these bring great, positive blessing to my life. A couple of them are troubling at this point in time. Combined, they send my emotional stability into a roller coaster ride that requires a constant awareness that the God who created me is still in control rather than the roller coaster being in control.
A co-worker and good friend has been in either the hospital or a rehab facility since the end of January working hard to recover from a severe case of encephalitis. At the end of March, I will complete a preaching interim of a little over a year. In May our son and his wife will give birth to their second child and our fourth grandchild. In early June my wife will retire with 31 years of teaching in the public schools of Texas. Finally, in late June our daughter and her career military husband and their two children will leave for their next assignment in Belgium. And that doesn't even include that we had a new house built and just moved into it in January.
Now, I did not list those things for any readers to respond with either "poor thing" or "how exciting." The truth is that life is like that for most of us all the time. As a result, we experience stress, withdrawal, excitement, celebration, elation, depression, laughter, and tears. And yet, we make it through.
How do we make it through? We do it by love of family, encouragement and help of friends, words of information from a variety of sources, personal prayer, and an abiding faith in the same God who created us. To give each of these helps a good opportunity to function properly, I am going to take a few days of vacation to allow the physical side of life to catch up with the emotional side or maybe it is the other way around. Regardless, I want to be living in such a way that my body and my emotions are functioning properly, healthy and strong. I know what that takes for me. Do you know what it takes for you?
In my life there are 5 specific changes that are in process that will all reach their apex by June of this year. Some of these bring great, positive blessing to my life. A couple of them are troubling at this point in time. Combined, they send my emotional stability into a roller coaster ride that requires a constant awareness that the God who created me is still in control rather than the roller coaster being in control.
A co-worker and good friend has been in either the hospital or a rehab facility since the end of January working hard to recover from a severe case of encephalitis. At the end of March, I will complete a preaching interim of a little over a year. In May our son and his wife will give birth to their second child and our fourth grandchild. In early June my wife will retire with 31 years of teaching in the public schools of Texas. Finally, in late June our daughter and her career military husband and their two children will leave for their next assignment in Belgium. And that doesn't even include that we had a new house built and just moved into it in January.
Now, I did not list those things for any readers to respond with either "poor thing" or "how exciting." The truth is that life is like that for most of us all the time. As a result, we experience stress, withdrawal, excitement, celebration, elation, depression, laughter, and tears. And yet, we make it through.
How do we make it through? We do it by love of family, encouragement and help of friends, words of information from a variety of sources, personal prayer, and an abiding faith in the same God who created us. To give each of these helps a good opportunity to function properly, I am going to take a few days of vacation to allow the physical side of life to catch up with the emotional side or maybe it is the other way around. Regardless, I want to be living in such a way that my body and my emotions are functioning properly, healthy and strong. I know what that takes for me. Do you know what it takes for you?
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The Weather in Texas
I live in Texas. That's not bragging, it is just plain fact. One of the chief topics of discussion in Texas (except for the Presdential Primary Election which is today March 4 in our state) is the weather. In Texas we say things like: "If you don't like the weather in Texas, wait a minute and it will change." We say things like that because they are true.
On Sunday, March 2, 2008, the temperature was between 75 and 80 degrees depending on your specific location in Texas. Sunday night and Monday morning it stormed with large amounts of rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Monday night it snowed. And now Tuesday morning is highlighted by sunshine and warming temperatures.
I wonder if when God created the world, He determined that He would like to have a labratory to use for weather experimentation. If that was part of His plan, I believe that He chose Texas as that lab. Now, realize that other than observation I have no factual information to substantiate this claim. But then most of us don't really need facts to tie down our opinions or even beliefs.
The emails that arrive in our inboxes everyday that we in turn send to others who send them to others who send them to others (spam is so appropriately named - no offense intended to the lovers or makers of Spam) come with no pretense of verifiable information but they often supply their own verification so that we won't check for ourselves. If we saw it on TV, got it off the internet, received it in an email, or read it at the checkout lane at the grocery store, it must be true. (Anyone need a Brooklyn Bridge? Get them while their hot. Only a few more remain. Today they are only $19.95. If you act in the next hour, you will get a second one free. This may also come with a set of knives used to chop down trees and slice tomatoes)
It disturbs me that we buy into lies so easily and yet we reject the truth just as quickly. I wonder how much truth I may be rejecting. I also wonder how much truth you may be rejecting (actually I wonder about you more than me).
The weather in Texas does keep changing a lot. Maybe it is a sign of God's gift of variety to us. Truth stays consistent. A person telling the truth can repeat his account multiple times without hesistation because there are no changes to create in the truth. Lies continually change because the teller cannot keep up with the story consistently because it did not happen the way he tells it. Today is an election day in Texas (and some other states as well). I hope the voters are sorting out truth from lies and voting for the candidates that best exemplify the truth.
On Sunday, March 2, 2008, the temperature was between 75 and 80 degrees depending on your specific location in Texas. Sunday night and Monday morning it stormed with large amounts of rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Monday night it snowed. And now Tuesday morning is highlighted by sunshine and warming temperatures.
I wonder if when God created the world, He determined that He would like to have a labratory to use for weather experimentation. If that was part of His plan, I believe that He chose Texas as that lab. Now, realize that other than observation I have no factual information to substantiate this claim. But then most of us don't really need facts to tie down our opinions or even beliefs.
The emails that arrive in our inboxes everyday that we in turn send to others who send them to others who send them to others (spam is so appropriately named - no offense intended to the lovers or makers of Spam) come with no pretense of verifiable information but they often supply their own verification so that we won't check for ourselves. If we saw it on TV, got it off the internet, received it in an email, or read it at the checkout lane at the grocery store, it must be true. (Anyone need a Brooklyn Bridge? Get them while their hot. Only a few more remain. Today they are only $19.95. If you act in the next hour, you will get a second one free. This may also come with a set of knives used to chop down trees and slice tomatoes)
It disturbs me that we buy into lies so easily and yet we reject the truth just as quickly. I wonder how much truth I may be rejecting. I also wonder how much truth you may be rejecting (actually I wonder about you more than me).
The weather in Texas does keep changing a lot. Maybe it is a sign of God's gift of variety to us. Truth stays consistent. A person telling the truth can repeat his account multiple times without hesistation because there are no changes to create in the truth. Lies continually change because the teller cannot keep up with the story consistently because it did not happen the way he tells it. Today is an election day in Texas (and some other states as well). I hope the voters are sorting out truth from lies and voting for the candidates that best exemplify the truth.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Good Morning!
Some people are genuine morning people. They open their eyes before the alarm goes off and quickly their feet are on the floor. They greet their spouse, their children, and their pets with smiles, laughter, and exclamations of "Good Morning!" spoken as if it is a statement of fact more than a profunctory phrase of greeting.
As you might expect, I am not one of those people. I am more of the "Wha'", hit the snooze button, head-under-pillow, don't-speak-to-me types of persons. I can use the phrase "Good Morning" as a statement of fact, but usually that would not occur until afternoon when the morning's activities can be accounted and evaluated.
But when I lay aside my desire to sleep in and consider the new day realistically, I must admit that it is not only a "Good Morning," it is also a "Good Day." Why would I say that? Because that is what the Bible states. The Psalmist wrote "This is the day Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm118:24 NIV) That puts a whole different perspective on the morning and the day. God has created a period of time that we have labeled in terms of seconds, minutes, and hours. His purpose in creating this day was not to give me a forum for complaining or whining but rather to give me a time period in which to rejoice.
What will I rejoice about today? Well, for certain I rejoice that the same God who made the day, made me and loves me. I rejoice that I have a family in which love and acceptance are at the top of who we are and what we do. And I also rejoice that I have a job that I greatly enjoy and am privileged to work with some of the finest people God ever made.
Is my life perfect - absolutely not? I make enough mistakes in a normal day to convince anyone that I am not perfect. My life has bumps and mountains that take the form of aging parents; illnesses that will not go away in the lives of some family members; the usual struggle of more month than money; and the uncontrollables that affect friends and family equally.
When I really consider the day and lay aside my slow response to the morning, I must state with conviction and as a fact - GOOD MORNING!
As you might expect, I am not one of those people. I am more of the "Wha'", hit the snooze button, head-under-pillow, don't-speak-to-me types of persons. I can use the phrase "Good Morning" as a statement of fact, but usually that would not occur until afternoon when the morning's activities can be accounted and evaluated.
But when I lay aside my desire to sleep in and consider the new day realistically, I must admit that it is not only a "Good Morning," it is also a "Good Day." Why would I say that? Because that is what the Bible states. The Psalmist wrote "This is the day Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm118:24 NIV) That puts a whole different perspective on the morning and the day. God has created a period of time that we have labeled in terms of seconds, minutes, and hours. His purpose in creating this day was not to give me a forum for complaining or whining but rather to give me a time period in which to rejoice.
What will I rejoice about today? Well, for certain I rejoice that the same God who made the day, made me and loves me. I rejoice that I have a family in which love and acceptance are at the top of who we are and what we do. And I also rejoice that I have a job that I greatly enjoy and am privileged to work with some of the finest people God ever made.
Is my life perfect - absolutely not? I make enough mistakes in a normal day to convince anyone that I am not perfect. My life has bumps and mountains that take the form of aging parents; illnesses that will not go away in the lives of some family members; the usual struggle of more month than money; and the uncontrollables that affect friends and family equally.
When I really consider the day and lay aside my slow response to the morning, I must state with conviction and as a fact - GOOD MORNING!
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