A Defining Moment

I'm going to add a new piece to my blog.  It's going to be a weekly entry called "A Defining Moment".

It will take a look back at the week & identify a moment that seemed to be: bigger than the moment itself...special for any number of reasons...a moment to remember - again for any number of reasons.

It will find a moment that stands out as being "defining".  Something that makes the week more alive.

Normally, this will be done on Saturday.  I think.

I woke up early this morning reflecting on a very special moment that I'd like to share with you.

It happened January 16th, last Monday.

The event - reserving the spot for Kyndall & Jorden's wedding.

The place - Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore.  More specifically, a restaurant named Aqua.

Even more specifically - a sanded beach on the Chesapeake Bay.

It was me, Shawn, Kyndall & her very excited younger sister Taylor.  Ashton had school - or he too would have been with us.

The actual meeting was to hand the money over for reserving the spot.  It was pretty non-eventful.

The real event was - what the day stood for.

It was, my "baby" reserving the spot I'll give her away.

WOW.  That hits me just typing it.

As we stood there, outside Aqua, chatting with the Host, I watched my baby walk away from us.

She didn't walk away, to leave us.  No.  She walked over to the spot.  The spot where she will get married.  She took some pictures...sent them to special people in her life.  I watched her (no one knew) as she stood - kind of taking it all in.

The 4 of us then went to lunch together.

We went to an old barn that had been converted into a very nice place.

Again.  Nothing special about the lunch - other than it was really nice.

It was the day.  It was the conversation of the lunch.  It was seeing my baby & knowing deep within...she was smiling...as was I, Shawn & Taylor.

It was special in many ways.

I'll never ever forget the trip we took together...to reserve the place I'll give my baby away.

Proud of you baby & Jorden too.

Life is incredible!

b (aka pops)

2nd Chances...Deserved or Not?

What's your take on the phrase "2nd Chances"?

Do you personally believe everyone deserves one, or are you of the opinion that not everyone deserves one?

Actually, I don't really care if you believe in them.  What I really care about is this.

Are you someone that offers them?

It's a huge question.

Not only huge.  It's a revealing question as well.

I'm well aware that there are people on both sides of this belief.  Some believe in & offer 2nd Chances & some don't.

But, more importantly, what I really think people believe in is - both.

What I mean is this.

I think most people (perhaps all) do believe in & offer 2nd chances.  However, I also think most people don't believe in 2nd chances for everyone.

More specifically.

I think we all believe there are people deserving of a 2nd chance...

But I also think there are filters they have to get through to "be deserving".

For instance.

1 - We all have a list of "no-no's".  If said person committed one of our personal "no-no's", then they are disqualified from a 2nd chance.  Period.  Period meaning, we settle this issue & are ok without revisiting our stance on it.  What's done is done.

2 - We all play favorites.  If it's a family member of ours or a close friend...or even someone of our choosing...then, they rate higher on the 2nd chance scale.  We are more likely to believe they deserve a 2nd chance than perhaps someone we don't really know or like...or someone we decide is undeserving.  It's not a very objective process.

3 - If the said "no-no" hits closer to home...2nd chances are less likely to be offered or deserved.

4 - It seems like we are pretty comfortable with our personal stance on offering 2nd chances.  Meaning, what we believe...or stand for (or against)...how we treat another...etc...we are ok with it & rarely change from that position.  No matter, there might be other ideas...opinions...truths...teachings...etc.  We don't move much off where we are & have been.

5 - We tend to offer 2nd chances disproportionate from the way we'd like to receive a 2nd chance.

6 - Ironically, some people just read #5 thinking they don't need, nor ever will need, a 2nd chance...

By the time someone gets through our personal filters - it's a limited self defined group or person that really "deserves a 2nd chance or not".  And we act accordingly.

Anyway.

How you answer the question is going to have ramifications all of our lives.

It determines how we will treat others needing a 2nd chance.

It also determines...

Whether we forgive others or not.

Whether we are able to move into the future or not...or allow another to do the same or not.  Or, we kind of do & kind of don't.

Whether or not we will carry out our own form of judgment or not.  Un-forgiveness or not.  Anger or resentment.  Even, a shallow form of "holier than thou".

Whether or not we will carry some mutated form of grace around - for special occasions or people.

So.

What say ye?

Does everyone deserve a 2nd chance or not?

Be careful how you live this out.  It will come back to you or someone you love one day.

I guarantee it.

peace

b

Our Dinner Table

Changing gears...

I love our dinner table!

Not the piece of furniture - the events that take place there.

Actually not our dinner table, we really don't eat in the dining room - other than for the annual New Years Family Dinner...Christmas something or another...and if we have some crazy special thing...we don't eat at our dinner table nor do we eat in the dining room.

We eat in the "breakfast nook" at our breakfast nook table.

Almost without fail, we have to bring in an extra chair or 2 to accommodate the number of people eating.  Sometimes it's 3...4...5 or even 6 of us.

But, we eat dinner - as a family together almost every night.

With our 2 oldest kids having college, careers & other things of their own going on, sometimes it's me, Shawn & Taylor - but no matter, we eat dinner together.

People who study "families who eat dinner together", say that it's one of the most important things you can do as a family.

I'm not sure where it is on the "one of the most important things" - but for us it's a really important part of our home.

It always starts with a prayer of thanks...offered by anyone of us...eventually over a few dinners, it will have included each of us.

It always includes catching up on each others day...life...other...

It always includes some humor...something that connects us on a regular basis.

It always includes us - being a family...together.

I love our dinner table.

I love us sitting together...talking...connecting...sharing...

It's something that definitely keeps us closer together.

Whether it's talking to a 10 year old about something pretty easy to solve.

Or, a 19 year old talking about what he's going to do with his life.

Or, a 22 year old figuring out her wedding plans.

Or, talking to Shawn about something in our life.

I love our dinner table.

If you haven't sat down as a family for dinner recently, I sincerely encourage you to slow down...come together...pray...laugh...connect...and even more.

They say it's important.

I agree.

peace

b

I Quit Church...

I really did...

I was D.O.N.E. with it.  Actually, done would be the wrong word - "over it" would be a better one.

I had a huge "church value" in my life...so, I couldn't be done.

However, I was over it.

Over the people specifically.

I was angry.

I felt like the very thing I desperately believed in - failed me.

IMO, it really doesn't matter how we got there.  I say that because, to say "here's why Bob...", I think stinks of religious jargon.  To feel that we, as Christ Followers are ever justified in any circumstance to be part of the fail, is part of the churches problem anyway.  But, I might not be the right one for that opinion.  However, I represent a part of the church that is simply walking away from what we do every Sunday.

And, other people simply don't come to join with us - because we don't treat each other any differently than the world treats one another...maybe at times we are even worse.  Well, no maybes about it - we are definitely worse at times.

That's not why I'm writing though.

I'm writing to simply say, that I have been on the "I don't go to church" side of this thing in life.  Not only did I not go, Shawn & my kids didn't go either.  As a family, our home didn't go to church...for quite some time.

Ironically, it was during a time that we so needed to be in a church.

I'm not talking about the building...nor the habit of going...nothing like that.

I'm talking about our need to be with others that were trying to go in the same way with their faith.

Towards God.  Towards healing.  Towards freedom.  Towards love...life...more...

We did visit a church or 2...during this time.  Other than 1 church - we never felt compelled to go back to any of them.

What were we looking for?  What was it that we knew we didn't find?  What is that something, that "hits us" & we know "this is what I've been looking for?"

What are people looking for - that we need to have...

What are people looking for - that is seemingly missing in so many churches...

What are we supposed to be doing on a weekly basis when we gather together...

What makes it "worth getting up for"..."saying no to other things for"...etc.

Do me a great favor - hit like & comment below - let's keep digging.

You never know who might find some help from your words.

b

Church Attenders ONLY...

K.

This blog comes with a clause... "For Church Attenders ONLY".

If you don't really go to church - perhaps there will be something you can help me understand as well.  But, I'm really wanting to hear from the church attending part of the world.

Here's the Question.

Why Have we gotten so used to just not going to church on a regular basis?

It seems like for many of us - church attendance is more of a "I'll go if it's convenient" thing, than it is an "I'll go because it matters" thing.

I don't think "are you going to church?" should be a question for Christ followers.  Period.

I don't get it.

And, obviously, those that have gotten into this mode - are completely fine with it.

Attend if there's nothing else going on.

Attend if there weather is not messy.

Attend because we haven't been in a while & we need to show up...so they know we are not dead.

I'm completely serious.

What the HELL?

Has church become that irrelevant to your journey?

Has your church become that unimportant to your spiritual life & growth?

I seriously doubt it.

I don't think it's the church at all.

I mean - is it possible that some churches are irrelevant...unimportant or whatever.  YES.

But, is it possible that ALL the churches are?  No way.

I think it's us.

We have gotten to where we are absolutely comfortable with a more shallow walk with Christ.

We have gotten to where we are no longer disturbed by this in & of ourselves.

We see church as an option to our faith.

We see church as being "not convenient" to the rest of what we do.

I get it, when there are legitimate reasons for not being there.  I get it, that there are times other things prevail.  I get it, that sometimes there's a good reason for not being there.

I don't get it, when that's the norm for someone or their home.

It's so easy to get out of the "church on Sunday" habit...then so hard to get back into it.

I don't know.

I'm looking for answers here.

I'm looking for some real, honest feedback on this.

Because I'm bothered by it.

Part of what bothers me is this.  I didn't have a church for almost a year.

I know what it feels like to "not have a church" to call home.

I know what it feels like to "want a place to call home".

So.

When you have one...why is attending it unimportant?

I'm not meaning to rant.  I seriously don't get it.

It bothers me at a personal level...because my family & I have been "churchless".

It bothers me at a pastoral level...because I care about your growth in Him.

It bothers me at a passionate level...because IMO, there's something not right in your passion for Him.

Anyway...

help me understand.

b

Lines & Borders & Other Containments...

SO.

Today, I'm not sure why.  But, I was thinking about boundaries in life.

I'm not talking about confinements - where you feel like you are being suffocated.  I'm talking about the healthy borders in your life...

Those that keep you from "going too far" or "going where you just don't belong".  Whether in a conversation...friendship...marriage...some struggle in your life - where boundaries help keep you free from something destructive...etc.

Rules.  Where you just know the rules.  And those rules - whether spoken or implied, are part of what keep you free from something.  Keep you "in bounds".  Or keep you from going "out of bounds".

KEEP YOU FREE

An easy example.  In your marriage.  Knowing that you are just not supposed to EVER get violent.  EVER.

This is probably never "stated" as a rule - but you know it's there.  Well, maybe your wife's father brought it up in some fatherly way...letting you know - if you cross a boundary - he's going to cross one too.  But, other than that - you just know.

We grew up with it - you just don't hit a girl - period.


You don't hit a lady.

But - way before you ever go there (violence)...there are lots of "other boundaries" that keep you far from crossing the violence fence.

Again - never spoken...just implied.

Like.  Don't raise your voice at each other...a border...a rule...a fence.  However, once you do...once that fence is crossed, that "new" area is now the starting point of the next "fight".

But, no fear.  There are still more boundaries in place.

Like.  Never cussing at each other.  Again, just an implied rule.  You just wouldn't talk to her like that & you don't want talked to like that either.  However, if not careful, now that you are over the raising voice fence...in an area once off-limits, you can cross over into the "cussing at each other" area as well.

Again.  Nothing to fear.  Still fences in place.

The problem is right there.  Once you cross ANY fence in life...it becomes the starting point for the next "whatever it is" that got you into the off limit area to start with.

We move the fences...we change the rules...we get comfortable with the new normal...we accept it as the way it is now...

So

She better shut up...she better quit saying that word to or at me...Then - BAMM.  I didn't mean to grab her that hard.  But, if she would have shut up...if she would have quit pushing my buttons...I would have never...

How did I get here?  How did I get into a place I thought I never ever would have gotten to.

By crossing 1 fence...breaking 1 rule...at a time.

That's how.


Now, what was once so far from you...you end up in a place you never thought possible.

Boundaries.  Whether spoken or implied - they serve to keep us free from something.

Addictions...Sins...Failure...

They exist in all areas of life - both spoken & implied.

Once crossed - if not VERY careful...they become easier & easier to cross.

Once crossed, we are now next to another fence...another area "off limits".

What the Heck AM I saying?

Pay attention to the Boundaries in your life...no matter the area they are in.

If you've crossed any of them.

Go back.

Acknowledge the breach.

Rebuild the fence.  Bigger...Better...Stronger.

If you have not had a fence in your life "in that area" for a while...you already know what "off limit territory" feels like when you get too comfortable...and don't know how to get back on the right side of life.

Tell someone...

Find a REAL friend...

Pray...

Run...

Be Honest with yourself & with others...

Do whatever it takes to get the boundaries back in place...

You never know, how much trespassing might cost ya...

You never know, how much freedom might be enjoyed...

I'M FREE...

thank you Jesus...

just thinking...

b

ps.  for the record - I've never been violent with Shawn.  Ever.  It's an illustration only.

Some things about the Ole Blog called Journey...

K.

I'd like to share a few things regarding my blog.

1st - I really enjoy "blogging".  I happen to like the whole "this is where I am" thing...

2nd - Thanks for reading my blog.  I made a choice a long time ago, to write for effectiveness rather than popularity.  So, thanks for finding it valuable.

3rd - I feel very called to continue to see where this blog will end up.  I definitely see it as a "tool" that's being used outside of a Sunday morning only kind of ministry.  The number of people reading it is very humbling in & of itself.

4th - I feel it is meant to become even more of something.  I'm not sure what that means yet, but I feel it has a positive place in life.

5th - That's why I'm writing this blog.  If you see it as something valuable...will you help me make this more effective?  Will you help me get this out to more people?

How?  I'm glad you asked...

A few ways.

1 - If you have FB & like any blog you read.  At the bottom of that blog now will always be a "Like" button (with the thumb up icon) from FB.  If you would simply click on it - it will post on your page...then anyone you are friends with can check it out as well.  This one step has been a main way of getting this "out there".

2 - If you have someone specifically come to mind, you can "send" it to them via FB.  That button is right beside the "Like" button.  Also, there are other icons below that for sharing as well.  Whether FB, twitter, Google +1...etc.  Use accordingly...

3 - Up at the top right side of the blog - there is a "Subscribe to my blog" box.  You can sign up for a feed from the blog anytime a new blog is posted.  By subscribing, you don't have to check it out - it will let ya know there's something new to read.

4 - Right below that, is "Most Read Blogs".  The top 5 are automatically generated by which blogs have been read the most by the readers (you).  If you've not read them - they are worth reading...IMO.  I must have hit a nerve on that series - for the top 5 are all from the same series called "The Cost".

5 - If you follow this site on a regular basis, consider joining the blog.  That's found under the blog listing on the right.

6 - I'd love for more people to comment on the blogs.  I've tried to make them easier to comment on...but I haven't been very successful at it - yet.

Lastly (but not least) - If you believe in prayer...would you pray for me...my marriage...my family & the ministry God has allowed us back into.  Specific to this blog site, pray that I will know how to be used in it's content to make a positive difference in lives I may never meet.

thanks

b

Too Much Good to Trip on the Bad

Nothing earth shattering here today....well you decide.

Shawn & I spent last night at the hospital with some dear friends of ours - Brandon & Laura.

They were having their 1st baby (baby Cooper Laine)...although pre-mature (being born at 27 weeks & 2 days)...although he weighed in at 2lb 4 oz...although Laura (the momma) had to deliver early because of the fact that she is the proud owner of a donated kidney - which is struggling a bit to find normal blood levels right now.  And, although it took in-vitro x2 to  get here...last night & early this morning was a beautiful chapter being written in some friends' long story of both triumph & pain.

But that's not why I'm writing.

I'm writing because in the midst of the hospital...& their friends & family...& all the other prayers, worries & concerns...

I was reminded that the world is FULL of LIFE & LOVE.

I mean FULL of it.

No matter, whether it's a person that comes to your side in difficult times.  Or, a phone call from someone far away. Or, some kind of message getting sent to you - saying someone cares.  Or, a loved one crying with you, because they too are touched by your reality.  Or, someone putting their arm on your shoulder, that says, without a word being spoken, "I'm here for you until...".  Or the words, "I'm praying for you...".

The world is FULL of Life & Love.

Goodness is everywhere.

Look around.

Even in the hospital at 2:38 am - it's there.

How much more, is it there in our homes...families...marriages...life...world...

It's ALL around.

It's everywhere.

Do you see it?  Feel it?

SO

Why would we choose to focus on the "anti life" "anti love" campaigns of life?  Why waste so much good energy on the hating side...Or, waste precious time, even worrying about the haters.

All around there is LIFE & LOVE.

So

My friend.

Those tears that came to my eyes somewhere during the night...they were not tears of sadness...fear...or anything like that.  As a matter of fact, no one even knew they were there - other than me.

No, they weren't tears of sadness at all.

Quite the opposite.

They were tears, full of wonderful emotion, that were realizing that all around me - there is LIFE & LOVE.

I sat quietly, taking in the full landscape of my life...marriage...family...friends...all of it...every single piece of it.

AND

Right there - I knew what it felt like to be surrounded by love...AND how to surround someone else with that same love when they needed...

A hug...

An arm around their shoulder...

A prayer...

A word of encouragement...

A smile...

A joke...

Silence...

Life...

Love...

And I knew, that that place last night was full of LIFE & LOVE.

Open your eyes, for your world is exactly like that...FULL of LIFE & LOVE.

peace

b

ps - Lil baby Cooper is doing well...keep him & them in your prayers.

Doing What You Can...Doing What You Can't...

I Like going to the gym.  I've been going for a number of years now.

My take on going to the gym is this:  You do what you can - so you can eventually do what you can't.  IE You lift a certain weight in order to lift a heavier weight down the road.  OR, you run a certain distance in order to run a greater distance...etc etc etc.  You do what you can, so you can do what you can't.

Here's something I have to be intentional about.  There are certain exercises that I have NEVER liked doing...there are certain body parts I don't like to train at all...there are certain ways of training I just do not like at all.

SO

If left to my own exercise program, it will be ONLY those things I do like.  Which, you might say, is ok.  And, I agree, it is, in a very limited way.  The problem with only doing what I want or like is this - there will be areas of weakness that NEVER get challenged at all.  They will remain under-developed...weaker than other areas...lagging...etc.  Ironically, they will become more obvious as other areas strengthen.  AND, they will eventually become a weakness to the other "stronger" areas.

SO

How do I deal with this?  I make myself do programs that I don't design.  I make myself do those exercises & other things, that everything in me is fussing about.  I push myself.  I talk to myself in these "I hate this exercise" moments.

WHY?

I do what I can - so I can do what I can't.

OK

Here's my point.

I have been thinking about this at a higher level.  As in LIFE.  As in SPIRITUAL development.  As in ANY area of life needing developed or matured.

Spiritually.

What if there are certain "disciplines" that I just don't like at all?  Like - praying...giving...kindness...silence...other.  And, like in the gym, I'm not good at them at all either.  And, like in the gym, I'm not going to do them easily or naturally.

What if - I took on a "Develop More Fully Spiritually (or Insert the Area of Life needing developed) Program"?  Where I'd do what I can - so I can do what I can't.

What If - I took on a particular "less than favorite" discipline & made myself work on it.  So that it was not a glaring weakness. And, it wasn't going to lead to an overall weakness - even among the other strengths.

WELL

That's exactly what I think we are meant to do.

Exercise.  Not only those things/area in life we like doing, or that come more naturally.  But also, those areas that we tend to avoid...or struggle with most.  The ones that we are just not going to do, unless we take on a program we didn't design ourselves.

Make sense?

What if we took 1 area a month & made it a more focused area to work on...or strengthen.

Say - like "not talking about people"...or "reaching out to the less fortunate"...or saying "I love you" more often to those in our life...You pick the "weak" area & intentionally work on it.

How much stronger of a person would we be - if we worked on the areas we tend to skip?

Join with me in this effort of - learning to do what I can't by doing what I can.

peace

b

Random Stuff on the 13th...

K...


From time to time I have a lot of mess rambling around in my brain...nothing earth shattering - just stuff that stays on the radar...stuff that makes me pause & think...etc...


Here's some of what's running around in my brain...


The Cosmos.


When I was in grade school - we had 9...no wait 8... planets we had knowledge of.  Well, we now know there are a few more...as in 100 BILLION planets in the Milky Way!  WHAT?  They say that every star has a planet now...what the...


Well - it's not that part that messes with me.  It's the whole theology thing that I have to put in a drawer & leave alone.  Because, this is crazy huge to fathom.  Not like 9 planets & all the cosmos was any easier...it's just that it's tough to believe that we are the only planet with life.  So far - that is what we know...so no harm - no foul.  BUT... hypothetically - they say there has to be other life out there.  If not, it's a crazy waste of creative space.  If so, how does that play into the whole gospel thing?  See - I have to leave it in a drawer titled "Do Not Open".  But, I read every article that catches my attention on CNN...just to see if the drawer has been cracked open by anyone.


The World.


Specifically, the other side of the globe.  Syria...China...Iran...Iraq...Afghanistan...North Korea...and one or more that seem to be less than stable in the big global front.  IMO, the way the world has become so connected & yet so disfranchised at the same time...we have to see a World Leader take the helm one day.  This is the other side of the Cosmos thing.  The Bible speaks of a World Leader eventually coming to the scene.  I think it has to happen...


A side note - not in my life time or my kids (I hope) we will have to stabilize this earth.  We can't keep growing to billions & expect mother earth to sustain us.  How we do it, or how earth does it remains a mystery yet.  But, we see glimpses of this when some crazy storm..wave...earth quake...etc - knocks the population down in some region quickly...


Like I said, stuff running around my brain.


NOW


Let's go somewhere else in this random journey.


Christians.


Why do some of us feel so justified acting so UN Christlike?  I have mentioned this before.  But, I just don't get it.  It's like we feel completely at peace being so ugly...cold...indifferent..etc.  It's like if it's a person or sin we are at odds with - we feel completely right being completely wrong.


Moving ON


Extremes.


I watch too many people live in the extremes of life.  It's like we are either really on our game or really off our game...but seldom just staying in the game.  For example, I get a call from someone who is going to "get their life together".  So, they come of the gate screaming "game on".  Only to run out of breath in the 1st round...quit...go back to exactly where they were before.  Or, I see it with marriages...homes...and in other examples of life.  Why not learn to take steps we can perpetuate, rather than steps that we can't keep up with.  I see it all the time...


Well...


There was more about 3:30 this morning...but it doesn't sound like something to write about now.  Perhaps some clarity has awakened now, that wasn't there at 3:30.


Anyway...


Traveling On...


b


Also, I'm trying to learn how to use the LIKE button below.  If you don't mind hitting it - it would help me see how this thing works (& if it works).  Thanks.

HEY YOU...

At the risk of sounding a bit narcissistic...

I'd like to know who is following this blog...from where & if I do or don't know ya personally.

Really, I just want to know how God is using this blog.

I've chronicled a long journey thus far & will continue to do so...I will continue to share my journey - inclusive of our marriage...home...family...ministry...etc, as deemed helpful in that regard.

AND, by the numbers blogger tracks - it looks like it has become pretty far reaching.

Which, IMO, is part of what this is meant to be anyway...a ministry that lets each of us know that we can get back up...we can recover...we can live again.

So...

If ya don't mind - either on comments below or on fb - reply accordingly...I think it's set up so that you can simply click on "Add/post a comment" below & reply.  That would be great...


I don't need anything real detailed - just a 1st name...city...& how we know each other - if we do or not.  If you'd like to add any further comments - that would be great too.

It would mean a lot for you to reply...


Please & thanks...

bob

Change & the Dreadful New Year's Resolutions

I mentioned this recently in another forum...but it's already January 10th.  That's crazy to me.

What's so crazy about it is this...any planned changes we were going to make 10 days ago - we should be working feverishly on already.

However...

If you are anything like me, getting to the changing part is hard to do.

For me - there are a few specific reasons this is true.

1 - I place way too much stock in the New Year.

It's like the New Year has some gold dust it's going to sprinkle on me or something & make all those changes so easy now that it's a New Year.

Well...NOT.

Putting too much trust in the calendar...and so here I am, waiting for a good day to start.  Somehow allowing myself to forget, I had 2011 to make said changes...

There must be some pretty strong reasons or habits that are holding me back from getting going.

Dang...New Years Resolutions - you have let me down already.  I thought this year it would be easier than it was last year.

2 - Not Making any Small Changes to Allow for the Big Changes.

Again

I keep hoping that it's just going to happen.  I'm going to wake up & for some strange reason - it's going to be so easy that I simply begin.  Problem is - I've woke up 10 days now - it hasn't happened.

I sit here now - tying this out...knowing a day has almost gotten away from me already - no real change.

Somewhere, I have to make the changes to allow me to make the real changes.

This leads me to the 3rd one...

3 - Not Really Being Committed.

If I really want it bad enough - I'm going to make it happen.

So, rather than this being an annual effort that is slowly getting away from me already...I have to commit to making myself better every day.

AND

If I fail to live up to that in a given day...I get up the next & try again.

I will not allow this year to get away from me...for tomorrow I will rise again & start over.

peace

b

PUSH Through

It's January 5th already!

Not only January 5th...the 5th is pretty much over.  So, the 6th is hours away.

Just a few days ago it was Christmas...then New Years.

Out with the Old - in with the New.

Whether you make the claim or not - we all approach the New Year with some goal - stated or not - we all have something we hope we are going to change...possibly many things or area of life.

Resolutions were made by many of us - just 5 or 6 days ago.

So

How are you doing with the changes?  The resolutions?  Out with the Old?  in with the New?

It's humorous - in a bad way - how quickly those "new" things become good ideas instead of new habits or changes.

So

Here we are only days into the New Year...

I simply wanted to encourage you - don't give up...

If it was something you intended on changing - stay with it.  The year is not even warmed up yet - so keep going for it.  PUSH through the difficult spots...

I too have some things I'm working on & haven't done so well myself - yet.

peace...

b

Living "In the Woods"

K...

So, I wrote about feeding the homeless recently.

Well, this past Sunday, when it was warm enough to wear a t-shirt outside, me, Shawn & 3 other couples went out into the woods.  Not just any woods.  We went where the homeless live in Tents...kind of like little Tent Cities - each made up of 2, 3 or more tents...plus a few other "living areas" - depending on the particular "city".

We went - to give them blankets, gloves, chap stick & to feed them a hot spaghetti meal.

So...for a couple hours, we went from one Tent City to another...5 or 6 in all.

Here's a little of what we saw that day.

The 1st Tent City.  There were 2 men there when we got there.  "There" was a place off Military Highway.  A place where we were all trespassing.  We actually had to have the vehicles driven away so we could "sneak" into the woods undetected.  The Tent City was on private property too.

These 2 men had "just finished a game of horseshoes" when we got there.  There was an aroma of bacon in the air - they were cooking "something good".  The one guy said, "everyday he wakes up is a blessing".  Plus that day, he had found "a turkey & 2 chickens...it was a good day".  Of course, found means he had climbed in a dumpster somewhere...he calls it blessed.  On a tree - they had a mirror hanging - not sure what they need that for - but maybe it makes 'em feel a little more normal.  The guy wanted to show us in his tent - he had just installed "wall to wall" carpet...he called it "nice".

As we walked away - I asked "why are they there?"  "Lost his job...don't know about the other guy" was the answer.

The Next City was right beside a Grocery Store.  We didn't actually see anyone there, they were out, most likely looking for some "blessings" in a dumpster somewhere.  The most memorable part of that City was a piece of garland wrapped around a small pine tree.  That was their Christmas decorations.  We left their food under a basket turned upside down, so no animals would get it before they returned.  Blankets & chap stick on top of the upside down basket...

The Next City - was down the tracks.  Literally, we walked about a 1/4 mile or more down some railroad tracks, escorted by the citizens of the City we were going to.  They had 3 dogs chained up to guard their "city".  2 pit bulls & some kind of a mix breed.  Suffice it to say - you will not sneak up on them.  Their city was a bit more elaborate.  They not only had a few tents, they had ropes all across the trees - holding a "roofing" system made of tarps.  It had the most people we ran into - inclusive of a woman, who says she's a mother to twins.  One of the guys there, told me "they were using their military survival skills" to make it.  This place was also right behind a neighborhood...though it was the most elaborate, it was more like a garbage pit as well.  Apparently, they have lived their a long time.  We all stood in a circle, holding hands & had prayer with them before we left.  They walked us back out...thankful we came.

The Next City had no one there...at 1st.  After "talking into the air", the guy somewhere in there (the woods), must have been convinced we were safe.  He came out to see us, but took a little bit of a "sneak up on them route" - just in case we weren't who we claimed to be...?  This city has a little bit of the "tarp" system too.  I was told this City & the last were in some kind of tiff over something.  I found that to be very strange.  Like the others, we gave him food, a blanket & chap stick.  At the empty tent , we left the food, blankets & chap stick just like before...I learned, that the upside down basket trick is common in the Tent City.  Oh, I almost forgot this place was full of cats...they were everywhere.

The Next & Last - was behind some stores...behind some homes...beside railroad tracks.  It was a nothing more than a tent & a mattress.  Someone lived in the tent & someone lived "on the mattress" - with no cover at all.  They weren't "home".  We left the stuff under & on "the basket".  The most memorable, almost eerie, part of this City was the memorial set up.  It was a stick in the ground with a pretty nice flower arrangement attached to it (much like you see on the side of the road where someone died).  It was placed there in memory of someone who had actually lost their life, right there - in the City.  Only what really got me was that we knew the lady who had died there.   Years ago, she had attended the church I used to Pastor.  Now, in a Tent City, there was a stick with some flowers on it - to remember her by.

When it was all done...we each got in our vehicles & drove home.  The drive home was almost surreal...

One thing that got me is - we really don't know (or want to know) that those people are right behind our neighborhoods...right beside the grocery stores...right beside the roads we drive everyday.  That is the reality of the world in which we are a part of & are meant to help in.  Several of them - simply lost their job...now they are living in a Tent City - right near our homes.

So, today, when it's so cold outside, I couldn't help but think about & pray for "those that have none"..."those that live in tents & call it home".

peace

b

Speed = Shallow...

Bill Hybels tells the story of riding on the Autobahn...going extremely fast...actually too fast.

He says that when he first got into the car - the conversation was meaningful...had substance to it.

However, when the driver hit the Autobahn & reached speeds in excess of 120 - the conversation became meaningless...nothing more than him answering in one syllable words, grunts or moans.

Then, when the speed decreased, depth came back to the encounter.

His story is really tied to the pace of our life.

He talks about how we tend to go so fast, that we seldom connect with others, or even ourself, at a meaningful level.

He mentions that our conversations become shallow...superficial.

He teaches from this real story, that we all need to slow down.

For it's when we slow down - we are able to connect with others...even God.

So - how will you slow down this year?  How will you make meaningful time for those that matter most in your life?  For God?  For yourself?

Unless you slow down & connect - you will be living in the shallow parts of your thoughts...dreams...visions...love...conversations...etc.

Downshift...

Connect...

Become significant...

Mean something...

Find yourself...

Discover that which has been lost to the speed of your life...

Rediscover that which you've forgotten all about...

This year - live deeper - not faster.

b


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