pick a little, talk a little

One of my favorite movies is the "The Music Man", don't know why, I just do. I guess any movie that is funny, has a romantic tension (that gets resolved), and music is right up my alley. There is a song in the movie called "Pick a Little, Talk a Little", and it is representative of the women in the town being "chatty" about the goings on in the town. Not much to the song other than the occasional verse "Talk a lot, pick a little more". Anyway, I just kind of feel like all of my talking is just like these women, talk for the sake of talk.

I think I am done talking for a while (and writing).

I am ready to listen.

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Amen.

wanna talk about me

I have been taking some time reading other people's blogs lately and enjoying most of them. Most of the blogs I have been reading have been open, honest and real communication. On one hand am really encouraged that people are starting to get real, on the other hand I am concerned that they are getting real with an anonymous audience, but still posing in their real relationships. Don't get me wrong, we are all posers, but my point is that if you are willing to get real and take off the mask online you should be MORE than willing to do it with real people.

Imagine how much true healing could take place when we realize that we are ALL posers and we all need Jesus. And when we realize that Jesus is the ONLY way to truly heal and become whole.

As I mentioned in one of my earlier entries, I want this to be about experiencing God and finding God in our daily lives.

I don't want this to be about me.

I said that I enjoyed most of the blogs. One in particular just didn't float my boat. I won't mention the blog, and I don't want to come across as one of those critical people who just try to find something wrong with Christianity, Church, Beliefs etc...

But. . . .

One christian blog writer is consumed with their "accomplishments" in life. The accomplishments are solely around, travel to unique places, feats of strength and endurance, and other things deemed important (to them). Nothing wrong with getting out and doing something, but I feel like it is more about differentiation not glory. When I say differentiation, I mean ways that I am better than others. For me that is a ton of work to keep up with, because guess what. . . there is always someone who has done more, looks better, has more things, knows more people and on and on.

I want to show people that when we know Jesus, I mean truly know Jesus, and we trust Him with our lives that none of these accomplishments matter. We point to His one accomplishment that takes care of all of us.

It makes life easier.

When I thought about my "accomplishments" I thought of a few things.

Putting new shoes on Ukrainian orphans, who didn't have any.

The reconciliation with my father, and the strong relationship we now have.

The long discussion with Deon (a homeless guy) about Christ.

I am not trying to be self righteous and that I am better because of my acts of service. I just think we need to be pointing to Jesus, and glorifying God in everything we do.

That's the point!

Crazy Love

I mentioned a phrase in my last post "Crazy Love", I have to admit I got that from a new book I am about finished with. Crazy Love by Kenneth Chan has been an interesting read and I have enjoyed his thoughts on being overwhelmed by a relentless God. Even more interesting was going to his website and watching some of his videos.

http://www.crazylovebook.com

He has videos that correspond with every chapter, plus he has some "big picture" types of videos. Kenneth Chan is a surfer which, for me, made it all the better. Not real deep stuff, but enjoying to watch and read.

I like the phrase "Crazy Love". If you think about what ALL God has done for us it is amazing and crazy. He deserves a crazy love in return. The symbol on the cover is one arrow pointing up and one arrow pointing down. Reciprocal love. Not because we loved Him, but because He loved us first.

Looking froward to a nice vacation, so I will write again when I return.

what happened??

Wow!

I looked at the last date that I wrote something here and I was amazed at how long it has been. I think I fell asleep by a tree and woke up with a beard. It has been a challenging, exhausting, emotional, and somehow thrilling last few months. In one of my last blogs I wished for more time, oh how true that is!

Well after my long nap I feel rested, rejuvenated and restored.

I feel the passion again.

I feel the freedom.

I feel the crazy love, that is loving God.

There will still be obstacles to overcome, and pain to endure for the sake of the battle, but I am ready to fight, and ready to win.

I was listening to Peter Gabriel's song "Big Time" this week and some lyrics struck a chord with me (no pun intended).

"and I will pray to a big God
as I kneel in the big church
big time - I'm on my way-I'm making it
big time - I've got to make it show yeah
big time - so much larger than life
big time - I'm going to watch it growing"

It's time to go big, larger than life, making it show and then watch it grow!

I have to take a moment and say a special thanks to my wife for all of the wisdom, knowledge and love that she has shown to me. She is the one who taught me about going on a journey with God to see who he really is. It was all of the books that she gave me, the long talks at night, and the times where she would tell me that what I really needed was God, not her. She has given herself up for me and for my children and for that I am eternally grateful! Thanks Mo!

Hopefully I will eek out a little time during the week to keep writing.

something so right

Listening to some great Paul Simon music the other day and I ran into a song I wasn't that familiar with "Something So Right". I stopped and took the time to listen to the lyrics carefully. God whispers sometimes to me to just stop and enjoy. Well the lyrics were pretty profound. I wish I could include all of them, but I copied in the last part of the song (the break) and the final chorus. They meant the most to me, because I think we all struggle with this from time to time.

For some of us it is our deepest longing.

"Some people never say the words I love you
It's not their style
To be so bold
Some people never say the words I love you
But like a child they're longing to be told, mm

When something goes wrong
I'm the first to admit it
I'm the first to admit it
And the last one to know

When something goes right
Well it's likely to lose me, mm
It's apt to confuse me
Because its such an unusual sight
I swear, I cant, I cant get used to something so right
Something so right"
- "Something So Right", Paul Simon

Be bold, tell someone you love them today!

Do it even if they never return the favor.

i wish i may....

I wish I had more time to sit down and write. I wish I had more time for everything. I wish my hair wasn't falling out so quickly. I wish my old bones could keep up with my youthful spirit! I wish I iTunes was all free, so I could just get what I want when I want it.

I think I just nailed it. I want what I want, when I want it!

And Now!

Wouldn't life be just a little easier, more enjoyable, and certainly tolerable if we all just got what we wanted. I think the bigger question really is, do we really know what we want? I was watching television the other night and I saw a new reality program that basically was a makeover show that fulfilled your greatest fantasy, well kind of. I think. Anyway, I think there was a girl that got to become a cheerleader, and another who was a model. I never got the name of the show, but the point is that we can all associate with that show in one way or another.

We want something we don't have - or- we want to be someone other than ourselves.

Guilty!

That was then this is now.

I wish now for transformation, redemption, healing, and a truly intimate relationship with God. That is all I need. I find it because He finds me.

feeling sad and tearing my clothes

I guess I have to admit I am feeling very sad this week.

How do I know I am sad? Well I have been to the mall twice this weekend, baked two batches of cookies, nachos and a plethora of other comforting foods. I know where I go to numb the pain. Shopping and food! These things comfort sometimes, but really only mask the pain.

I was reading in the Old Testament last week and I noticed the term "tore their clothes" more than a few times. Very interesting thing to do, if you think about it. Tearing, or destroying something that is designed to protect you! Each time I encountered the term it was a symbol of great mourning, or sadness. I would argue that when we are truly sad in today's culture we want more protection, not less, more culpability, less grieving. Would anyone really tear their $85 Brooks Brothers shirt?

The symbol of them tearing their clothes is actually a very beautiful thing. I picture David (2 Samuel 1:11) standing before God with his outer (physical) protection torn, damaged and ragged, weeping and fasting in sadness.

Not blaming anyone, just sad.

It reminds me of wrestling with my kids. We wrestle (or tickle), and when they know they are beaten or they just can't take anymore they say "Daddy I Got Nothin". They know that physically they can't do anymore, so they surrender. As soon as they surrender we just hug.

They know that they have my heart. And I love them.

I like the idea of tearing my clothes because sometimes the process of grieving is just standing naked before God with no protection, with no one to blame and just weeping. We live in a fallen world and God weeps because of it.

So today, I am tearing my clothes (figuratively) and crying out, Daddy I Got Nothin!

Then me and God just hug!

back in the saddle

Well, after two plus years of a hiatus from blogging I guess I am back. I really enjoyed writing but it became too time consuming. Do I have any more time now? No. Really, no!

I was having lunch with my friend Dave this afternoon and he encouraged me to start this up again. On the way home I realized that I haven't been in the "creating" mode lately. I used to do woodworking, and I created cabinetry and furniture. I used to play my drums and created my own sound (trust me it was my own, because no one else would have called it music). We are all created in God' image and I believe part of His image in me is that of creator. When I create I find myself shutting the world out.

I find myself just being. Not comparing. Not competing.

Just being exactly what God created me for. I start to find out WHO I am when I create. I look forward to finding out a little more about me and a lot more about God in this whole process. I don't want this to be about me in any way. I want it to be about finding God in everything.

How He shows Himself to us.

How He blesses us with beauty all around.

How He whispers to us in our thoughts, in our music, in our books, and in our relationships.

Happy to be back and looking forward to a wonderful journey.