Month: November 2010

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Boston in the Fall

Despite what the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything say, I have made it to Boston in the fall.  I made it even though my travel agent evidently decided that I didn’t in fact need to have hotel reservations. :).  Oh the joys of business travel!

On the bumpy plane ride up here I was finally making progress in the book I have been trying to read for the last few months – The Kite Runner.  It is acutally a very intriguing and interesting story about growing up in Afghanistan and the changes to the country by the 30 plus years of war that it is had.  But interestingly enough the section that I was reading yesterday describe the main characters reentry from America to Afghanistan, a Taliban controlled Afghanistan.  The descriptions of the poverty and descruction were heart wrenching.

It was this on my mind, that I arrived in Boston and finally checked into a very nice “luxury” hotel, and proceeded to eat a very overpriced meal, although the company was great.   It was just one of those odd juxtapositions that has my mind racing today.  The thoughts in my mind are probably too premature to share, but I did stumble upon a few verses this morning that I think help bring some sort of order to my wavering mind.

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:8-9

Let us always remember to be content and to realize that the stuff around us does not make us who we are.  Enjoy the physical blessings you have been given today, but remember to share them as it is appropriate and remember who gave them to you!

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Just for Funsies

Many of you know that over the weekend, I teamed up with 11 other guys and ran a 195.5 mile relay race from Chattanooga to Nashville. Each of us had 3 legs ranging between 3.8 and 8.9 miles, with out total mileage between 12 and 22 each. The relay started Friday morning , went all night, through the dark and cold, and we continued until we reached the finish line in downtown Nashville late Saturday afternoon. It was a crazy night, our team with 160 other teams running through no where Tennessee with head lamps and reflective jackets. However, through all the decorated vans, sore hamstrings, bottles of Gatorade and packets of Goo, the one thing that continues to surprise me was one question. There was one question I was asked repetitively in the weeks leading up to the race, during the race and even after the race. “What do you do this for? What Charity?”
Every time I was asked I paused and then with regret said “None, it’s just for funsies.” I felt bad that I wasn’t raising money or raising awareness of some cause. But really it wasn’t just for funsies, although I did find it to be a great time. It was more about challenging myself, using the gifts that God has blessed me with and “buffeting my body” each and every day. I think it’s good for us to continue to find things that help strengthen our bodies for service to Him. For me, being able to push my body physically and keep it fit, helps me realize the spiritual strength that is also available to me, although it’s manifested in another way. For you, it may be something different, but all us need to remember that this physical body is a gift from God and something that we need to use for his Glory

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, New International Version

So why did I do this, I did it to in some sort of weird way to bring honor God by keeping my body fit and ready for service. Today, keep finding ways to buffet your body, and bring it under subjection both spiritually and physically, and bring glory to your creator.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 ESV

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Another Reason I Love My Truck

I love my truck for lots of reasons, but mostly because when we bought it Amy told the sales guy before we test drove it that we would be buying this when we returned. So, usually when I spy it across the parking lot and walk towards it I always think about her.
But, I yesterday I discovered another reason to add to the list of reasons that I just love my truck.

So yesterday, I am rushing to pick up the forgotten uniform and get it back over to my eldest before his game when in front of me is stop and go traffic. So much for rushing – all I can do is just roll along at a slow rate of speed and stop every so often. Then it happened. I rolled to a stop and Boom. Yep, the car behind decided my bumper was a better way of stopping then the breaks. No way! As the traffic pulled off in front of me, I pulled to the side and looked in the rear view mirror to see an upset young female driver. No way! Not only am have I been rear ended, but now I am on the side of the interstate with a crying teenage girl! As Filch from Harry Potter would say in his snarly voice, “ohhhh, we are in trouble”.

I jumped out, made sure she had her car off the road completely and tried to assure her that it was ok. What had happened happened. There was nothing to be done about it now. She decided to call her dad. The damage was surveyed, the TDOT assistance vehicle stopped by, the CPD eventually came.

While we were waiting for the PD to come, one of this young ladies high school coaches who was following close behind her had stopped off to help her – which was a blessing from above!
This lady noticed the Boyd-Buchanan sticker on my vehicle and started talking about some mutual people we knew that she went to church with, included my wife’s old principal. This got me thinking. What if I had come out of the truck angry as a hornet? What if this was the time I decided to leave Christ in the passenger seat? How would that have completed destroyed any ability to show Christ. It’s in these moments when we are able to let our lights shine. I hope that I was able to be kind and gentle in that stressful moment for that young lady, and I hope that when she think back on his first collision that that part stands out, and that in some sort of way I was able to point her towards my leader.

As you go about today, remember you never know who is watching and who you are influencing.

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-17 (New International Version)

Oh why is this another reason that I love my truck – no damage. 🙂

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Because its Christmas

Last night Amy came home from shopping and with a box of Coke cans.  On the box there was a picture of Santa!  Later in the evening she was skimming the online guide for something to watch on the television and while going through the music channels noticed that all 50 ( that may not be far fetched) of the Christmas music channels are now available – Hip hop Christmas, coffee house Christmas, classic Christmas, 50’s Christmas, Christmas Message – you name it.

It happens every year. And as much as I love Christmas, I still can believe that the Christmas season starts the day after Halloween. It seems so rushed, it seems so typical of our fast paced society.  Now, I am all for real time information, fast internet connections, doing more in less time etc, but the rushing and pushing of time seems to be just too much.  John Ortberg wrote one of my favorite quotes in his book “The Life You’ve Always Wanted:

We must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives.

(Boy I wish I could write that I have attained that!)

Don’t you wish the saying “As slow as Christmas” still had some real meaning! Today, I give you a reminder to not blast through the next 50 days and rush headlong into Christmas.  Enjoy November.  Enjoy November 4th.  Look and see what blessings are waiting right here for you.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34 (New International Version)

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Freedom Expressed

It is good to reflect the day after election day on how wonderful a process the elections are.  No matter who won, we have the ability to express our beliefs and vote for who we want.  This freedom is such a blessing.  So today, red or blue, be thankful for the peaceful way we express our desire for leaders and the controlled way the exchange will happen over the next few months. Following that theme here are two mini-thoughts for this post election Wednesday

I think it was interesting that the verse of the day at Bible Gateway today is this from Romans:

“[Submission to Governing Authorities] Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”- Romans 13:1

Whether your man (or women) won or lost, remember that God has established the authorities, and we should give them the respect that is espoused in their position.

The second mini-thought today is about freedom.  Like I said above it is such a blessing.  Today relish in that, and realize that is a gift, however, don’t use it for selfishness, use that freedom each and everyday to bring glory to god.

13-17Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government. (1 Peter 2:15-17, The Message)