Month: February 2011

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Stuck On One Thought

Wow What a game. I was thinking today I would write about the great Steeler comeback (FAIL), or the awesomeness of the commericals. However, outside of a devoted beaver, a epic theft sequence of some car, and the resurrection of grandpa thanks to some Doritos, there was just not much else there to write about.

So today, there is just one thing on my head. It was stuck there yesterday morning as I heard an outstanding lesson about the women at the well from John 4. The part of this that has stuck with me is the end of the conversation between the women and Jesus here:

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” John 4:25-26 (New International Version, ©2010)

Man, I just can’t this this out of my head. This dude Jesus, says that he is the Messiah, the Savior of the World that was predicted, and then those around him claim that again later in the chapter.

42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:42 (New International Version, ©2010)

This thought is so oustanding, so complex, so motivating and so uplifting, that this has just stuck with me for the last day. These words cannot be dismissed. There is something that you have to do with these words. Some decision must be made. Contemplate this and think about what you will do with these words.

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Change the World

Last night I had a sobering experience.  I traveled a very familiar road after work across town.  Like I have any many nights, I worked my way through East Chattanooga, squeezed through the tunnel,  watch for bullets as I drove past Kanku’s, and turned past the trailhead at the Levee.  I pulled in to school and parked in front of the Kindergarten classes and walked into Amy’s classroom as I have done on countless evenings.  What I didn’t realize was what would await me as I walked into the cafeteria, sweet tea in one hand, and a Chick-fil-a sandwich in the other.

For the next hour, I sat across the school cafeteria table from my oldest son and listened to the high school guidance counselor discuss high school class scheduling, college preparatory classes, scholarship funding and a four year plan to get your child through high school.  I sat among friends, having shared experiences with many of the other parents since pre-K, and yet as I looked across the table, I could not help but to feel excitement for him and sadness for myself.

I am sitting at the end of my time of directly leading him as I shift to a different leadership position in his life, but he is on the precipice of the 8 years that will really start to shape him and
although he is reluctant to admit it, he has a lot of dreams and aspirations in his head.

When I returned home, I was checking out my task list and noticed I had a task to check out this mini-movie called Change The World.

It seemed so appropriate. As he heads off with dreams I can only imagine floating around in his distracted teenage head, I can only hope that he holds on to those dreams and remembers what he was created for. And I hope that he continues to dream and to follow those dreams despite the difficulties that will lie ahead for him.

Most of you are past that point in life, and maybe your dreams have been extinguish. I hope you can spend a little time remembering the dreams of your youth and that despite the callousness of the world, you will find the motivation to not settle and to keep pressing on.

Are you willing to dream? Are you willing to capture that energy and excitement of your youth again? Are you willing to day by day change the world? It’s what you were created for.

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:6-10 (New International Version, ©2010)

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Blue Collar Post

This is blue collar post – I will go ahead and get that out on the table.  A blue collar post because of it’s seemingly lack of ingenuity and vigor.  It’s just a daily post that keeps this daily blog being daily.  A post that is strong, hardworking, reliable and present.  A post that just get’s the job done. Sound familiar?

16 But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.   Psalm 59:16 (New International Version, ©2010)

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Happy Groundhog Day

Last night I was discussing some things with the family and needed to go back and find some old digital pictures that were not on my “spinning disk”.  Confidently, I thought to myself that I had all of those old images, documents and the like from computers gone by archived nicely on a set of compact discs.  So, I started to go look for them, and that’s when panic sat in.

Hours later, after digging through several CD’s I now have recreated the digital photograph history of my family from 1998 until the present time and have plans for tonight to archive those in a much more organized and accessible way.  Even though I discovered the pictures I needed were actually taken with film – whatever that is  – and I will have to search though another box to find those, I still learned a few things about myself.

First, the rate of technology change is absolutely amazing.  The first set of pictures in 1998 were taken with a digitial camera that required a 3.5″ floppy disc, the last ones in the set, on a camera smaller then a deck of cards with the ability to store over 1200 very high definition photographs.  Secondly, the rate of change in my life’s activities is absolutely amazing.  Yes, there is the radical change in the growth of the children, plus there are these two odd skinny kids that show up in the pictures which are supposedly Amy and I, but for the most part as I scanned the backup documents my life has been boringly similiar today at its core.

There are some parts of that that are good!  There are some parts of that that are bad.  But overall, I was able to see patterns change and some that is as drastic change  as the technology change when comparing start to finish.

It reminds me on this Groundhog Day, of the movie with the same name.  In that film, the star is stuck in the same day over and over, until he learns to change his ways.  For a time he doesn’t realize the issue, and then once he does he fails over and over again, as he learns the changes in his heart that are necessary.  There’s a great lesson in that about transformation.  We also need to be able to identify those areas in our life that need changed and realize that we will not wake up tomorrow and see that change.  It may take several failed attempts to make it happen, but eventually and gradually the transformation occurs.

So on this groudhog day, don’t be afraid of your shadow and have another go at transforming your spirit, and each day little by little things can change.  It may take 12 years, it may take 1 more day.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)

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The Month of Love

It’s the first of February.  Wow, where is the time going?  It seems just yesterday we were gathering around the tree opening presents and then one week later making all those resolutions. So it’s been one month into the new year – how are you doing with those resolutions?

If  you resolved something about strengthening your marriage or your relationships and you live in the Chattanooga area, then maybe you check our First Things FlowerFest.  I can’t imagine an easier way to support a great organization and bring home flowers.  If you live outside of Chattanooga, sorry, you’re on your own!

So with it being the Month of Love ( I guess), its interesting to see that February is also “Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month”, “Beans Month”, “Marijuana Awareness Month” and “Pull You Sofa Off The Wall Month”.  Needless to say there is a lot (of wackiness) going on!

But back to those resolutions.  We are a month into the year, and some of you have given up or not even started on making whatever changes you wanted to make.  Don’t give up, there’s not better day then today to renew yourself and get started on transformation.

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31 (New International Version, ©2011)