Month: May 2010

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Intoxicating

This place is intoxicating – if you let it.  Its really strange, so much luxury, so much comfort, so much “playing”.  It even smells luxurious.  The amount of temptations are actually overwhelming.  Its really the most interesting, but yet the most bewildering place.  Yes I am still talking about Vegas.  I mean, even this morning while I was running I saw a truck with a billboard on it that proclaimed that there were ladies here that wanted to meet me!  I couldn’t believe it.  Those ladies really want to meet me!  I didn’t call them….

Anyway, the thing I noticed is the the temptation is so blantantly obvious that its seems that you are either going to jump right in with both feet or you can very easily guard yourself.  The extremeness of it is so different then the real world – where you have to be on guard all the time.  And that is my message for all you unfornunate souls who are not spending two more days in Vegas.  Be on guard.  Be strong and show others the greatness of the living a life of hope.

 6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7 (New International Version)

Oh by the way, Bally’s still has the sign up.   hm.. …Buffet of buffets,.. whatever.

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Offended

This morning I went for a run down the strip in Las Vegas, and lets just say, I  am deeply offended. I was running along, enjoy the enormity of the buildings, checking out the over the top decorations and even reading all the video displays when there it was.  Right on the side of Bally’s Resort and Casino was a huge sign. The sign covered 10 stories of the resort, and it said “Enjoy the Buffet of Buffets”.  Let me tell you that took me back.  This blog is the Buffet of Buffets. Right?  I am still in a little bit of shock!

Anyway, yes I am in Vegas today, and that is why this post is a little late, besides finding a good internet connection, I am a little off on what time of day it actually is.

I was a little apprehensive upon my arrival here, I was not sure what to expect, but I can tell you that the sheer size of everything is absolutely amazing and a little overwhelming.  I fell a little like Jacob in the promised land – those grapes are the size of my head!

So enjoy whats left of the day on the East Coast, and remember how big and how great and how enormous is the gift you have been given!

9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth. Ps 57

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How He Loves

Since I will be missing a few mornings with Andrew this week, I decided to sit down and eat a bowl of Trix cereal with him this morning.  Yes, Trix are for kids – what does that tell you?  Anyway, Andrew, usually a morning person, was a little grumpy this Monday morning, and really found my company to be more of a nuisance then a pleasure. (watch your thought there – especially Mrs Patty Z!)

But really, I was looking at him in his grumpy state and thinking about me, who was willing to do anything, talk about anything, and listen to anything – just generally wanting to share time with him. And as I watched his overall rejection of the idea, I could not miss the parallel to our larger lives staring at me.

It’s a Monday morning – the time when reluctantly we get back to the “work-a-day world”.  Usually we are so caught up in ourselves that we  very easily reject the goodness that is sitting at the breakfast table with us.

So today, take a moment to glance at the sun rise, notice the mountains off in the distance, feel the cool of the breeze on your skin, hear the rustle of the wind in the trees and remember that the Creator of all of this loves you more then any bit of the creation.

Of course, that reminds me of a song, one that  I have been listening to a lot this weekend, How He Loves, in which the second stanza says this:

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

Remember His Love for you today, remember he is there for you. Let that impact your day as you impact those you touch!

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Anxious for Something

I am anxious today.  No it’s not because its No Pants Day.   It’s not the fear that my reoccurring dream will come true. I mean when its no pants day it’s OK to end up in the office in your underwear!

No, I am anxious, and stressed, and I am not sure really why.  It’s funny how life will to that do you.  Sometimes like today, the worries of life, the pressure of work, the amount of things that have to “get down” are choking me.  I am so anxious and I can’t really even tell you why.

And so I turn back to the pages of the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew, where I have found myself drawn this week.  Right there in chapter 6 it screams this at you:  ( I don’t think Jesus actually screamed this, but I bet it was emphatic).

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Yep, this anxiety, it has no value.  It’s a trap.  I still find it amazing what reading these words can do to change you viewpoint on the day.  So that’s it, for today.  Look at the birds, don’t worry and seek him first, and enjoy no pants day, after all it will be over 90 today.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

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Prayer Day

It’s the National Day of Prayer ( yes, these days just keep on coming!).  You would be surprised to find out that almost every day is some sort of observance.  First instance, today is also Nurses Day, No Homework Day, No Diet Day, National Day of Reason, National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, and Joseph Bracket Day ( A Mainer who wrote the song Simple Gifts – one of my all time favorite songs).

But any way, back to Prayer Day.  It is the National Day of Prayer, and despite the constant emails and Facebook postings that Barry O canceled it, it’s still happening.  It’s good to take a day and pray especially for the country.  There are lots of challenges we face as a people, and I think that its good to take those to God.

Its also good to take your personal challenges there.  I mean check out 1 Peter 5:6-8 ( it is also a good verse for Joseph Bracket day, since it speaks of humility)

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.  Prayer is not just some ritual done to appease our own spirituality, we do it because He wants to hear it. Did you ever think about that. The Creator of the Universe wants to hear about your anxieties, because He cares about you!

That’s sort of the crux of this whole “I’ll follow Jesus” thing isn’t it.  He cares about you and wants  you to follow him and to talk with him and to share with him.  Its nice to be wanted isn’t it!

So enjoy the Day of Prayer and remember “‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free!”