Category: Daily Post

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Work, Couches and a Guest

Wow, its one of those weeks were my mind is so occupied by big design sessions at work that my creativity is zapped.  This morning while still in the comfort of my covers, I found myself- due the the glorious wonders of technology- corresponding with my co worker who was already hard at work in an country where the sun rises much earlier.  Even last night I feel asleep on our Bush Couch ( the couch we purchased by GW’s first money hand out years ago) while thinking about how to solve a “serious software design problem”.  Anyway enough of that. ( but something has to fill this space right?)

Sometimes its better to have a guest blogger and today its David.  That’s right King David and his blog/song we refer to as Psalm 32 about the joys of forgiveness.

Psalm 32 (New International Version)

Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.

1 Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the man
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Selah

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD “—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.

7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.

9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.

10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the man who trusts in him.

11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Rejoice, your forgiven, that always good stuff.

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Blue Collar Day

Today is one of those Blue Collar Days.  Do you  know what I mean?  No real deep thoughts, no real challenging questions – not even any goofy pictures from the past – just a cold winter day in February.  One of those days that reminds you are still deep in winter, after you been teased by spring.  Its a day that you just get up, and ‘do what you got to do’.

Its sort of like my Facebook status lately – or lack of Facebook status.  Just living life, no cool trips, no out of the ordinary funny thought that will get someone to comment. Its a Blue Collar Status –  “Just Living Life”

So, to check this out this morning, I interrupted my beautiful wife’s morning routine and asked her for her favorite verse. After getting a brain dump on the unit she is going to teach and her lesson plan for the day – as she was deep in thought – deep in just doing it thought.  She said, I don’t have a favorite, but how about Phil 4:13, its something about being content!  How fitting.

10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I 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. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:10-13 (New International Version)

Get ‘er Dun

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Supershooter Champion

Yes, yes I am.  I am the 1983 Supershooters Champion.

That’s me on the right hand side of the picture. Yes sir! 42 points – Winner!  Not only did I win my age group, but I would have won the whole “shooting match”  is that cheater in the 16-18 age group wasn’t there.  Look at him!  He looks like we was in college.  Next time you see me, bow before the Supershooter!

Yes, that is an accomplishment for a lifetime.  Something that I should be able to hang my hat on, and just kick back and rest of my laurels the rest of my days!

Do you think so?

Well probably not.  But I think sometimes we get to that place in life, where for some reason we become content with what we’ve done and who we are.  We left go of training and discipline and a desire to grow and change.

But you know, I am no longer a sharpshooter. When I get to the gym, I send up more air balls and bricks then hitting “nothing but net”.   I also used to be able to run 5 miles in under 27 minutes and 5K around 16 minutes.  I can’t do that now either.  Although age has some impact on these things, the reason I can’t do either of those things now has more to do with my dedication and the choices I have made.  If I shot the round ball everyday, or if I trained aggressively everyday, I would stand a good chance at still be able to do some of those things.

That dedication to our spiritual growth is exactly why I write everyday.   Although our works do not save us, God expects us to do something.  He expects that we will react to his free gift and will work and do and dedicate ourselves to his service.  We can’t find ourselves content to say, I used to be a good servant, or a used to count it joy when I was in trials, or I used to be humble, etc.   Each day, we strive and grow and buffet our bodies  – our spiritual bodies.

I am going to try my hand at a 5K this weekend I think.  It will not be anywhere near 16 minutes.  But its a start at physical training again.  You see its not too late to train – physically or spiritually.  So, lets remember the championship accomplishments of yesteryear, but lets keep moving towards more growth and more service to our master!  Keep training.  Keep loving, keep glorifying your Lord with your service

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25

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Busy Busy Busy

When the alarm sounded at 6am this morning, I was immediately filled with dread.  I had already peeked at my schedule for the day, and I knew what lie in front of me, and the how long the day would be.   It’s not just that a day of work was on the horizon, but a day of rushing.  From the moment I opened my eyes, until I lay in the bed tonight, even as I write this post, its rush.  Its hurry, its multitask, its push as much into each moment as possible. And that stinks.  I am not talking living and getting as much out of each moment in life, I am talking about getting through it as fast as you can so you can get to something else.  Thats just not right.   Then there’s two sad things to be said about this, first tomorrow will be the same and second my life is probably not much different from yours.  My days call to my attention the sower and the seed

…but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Matt 13:22

So the challenge today is this – and its more of question to you then an answer – how do we deal with this crazy life.  It seems we have to either radically change our  lives or figure out how to maintain this riducilous lifestyle and not be choked.   So yesterday I heard someone mentioned 2 Peter 1. So in the midst of this busy pushed composition, a took a look over there. Somehow we have to continue to add to our life these elements:

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

And look just above this in 2 Peter.  He tells us that to get out of the trappings of the world, those are the things that you need.

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

and then after that list of traits he tells us this

8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

So today, I am going to try to not focus on the busyness of the day, and somehow try to “make every effort to add” the things that Peter listed to my life.    I hope that bring some calmness and control to a schedule that feels insane.  What do you think?

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Pushing Through the Falls

Last night, once I finally got home from late night basketball, I sat down and watched a little bit of the Fall-a-lympics.  Did you notice?  In the women’s snowboard, fall after fall.  Men’s skating – fall, fall, fall.  So many falls, that I eventually “fell” asleep, kicked back in my favorite chair and missed the great victory last night in men’s skating (disappointing ).

Anyway, while I was still awake, I was asking my lovely and multi-talented wife why she thought there were so many falls.    We both through out several theories, including that they tired ( like us), they didn’t get enough practice, or that is was Bush’s fault. (ok just kidding on the last one).   But ultimately we settled, and I think this is true, on that fact that they are having to push so hard because there is such a small separation between Gold and last.  They push so hard, and when you push yourself, sometimes  you make mistakes.   All of these athletes are capable of pretty incredible athletic accomplishments, but on the world’s stage we see them falter. They could pull back just a little and finish their event without a fall, but would fall would be any chance at a medal.  So, they go for it, they push themselves a little past what they can comfortable do, and when it works – its awesome!

So it is with our lives – physical and spiritual.  We can live in our comfort zone and never make a mistake, and never reap the reward.  Live it out on the edge.  Push yourself in your life.  Accept that you will not be perfect, but at times, things will work out in a way that you just can’t even imagine how awesome the reward will be.

This is why I love the Olympics.  It so inspiring, its so motivating, its such a microcosm of life.

So, lets take some risks, lets live a little bit crazy, step out of the place of comfort and lets impact others by pushing on the edges.

And then find your safety in God.

New International Version (NIV)Psalm 4:7-8

7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.