"Dr Phil's" best seller

"Imagine if you will..." a book. A book that was started in the year 400 A.D. by a man who was the "Dr. Phil" of that century. It is a self-help book that explains not only how and why people act the way they do, but also leads the readers to a clear understanding of how to avoid the pitfalls in life. It gives the readers clear advice on how to obtain the proper thoughts and actions required to live a more abundant life...a life more successful. But the only problem is this "Dr. Phil" of the 5th century could not complete this book. In fact the book required over 1600 years to complete and about 40 different "Dr. Phil's" to write. But even though each author worked independently of the other, the words were written as though they all shared one mind. Each author complimented the other 39 authors without any conflicting thoughts or needless repetition. It is as if they were all in the same room while writing the book, even though they were separated by time, nationality, social standing, and education levels. In the end, the result will prove to be the best literary body of work this world will ever see. People will read this book and never be the same again. Lives will be impacted in such a way that this book will be shared and studied daily for many lifetimes, and the full benefits of it's truth never completely tapped out. Needless to say, it will hold the place forever as the world's best selling book. So "Imagine if you will..." that this book was started 1608 years ago and it's due for release today. Would you take the time to read it?

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. I have three people who play a role as a mother in my life, and I wish to honor all three in this one post. I recently heard the story of David Lloyd George. He was the British Prime minister from 1916-1922 and in his life he had many great accomplishments. The reason his story is relevant today is because of his mother's love for him. When David Lloyd George was a baby, his mother, while carrying him in her arms, got caught in a bad snow blizzard. The journey, combined with the weather, proved to be too much for this young mother to handle. The rescuers eventually found the lifeless mother's undressed body lying over her baby, who was wrapped in her cloths for protection. She assumably could have left her baby to save herself, but she chose to sacrifice her life for her baby's. I can't help but wonder what her last thoughts and last words were to her child as she slipped into unconsciousness... I would guess she was saying and thinking "I Love You!" That's what being a mother is all about, and I'm proud to have Mothers that love like this in my life. That's how we know what love is, that one would lay down their life for another (1 John 3:16 /John 15:13). So thanks should be to God for the gift of mothers...In His infinite wisdom He introduces us into this world in the arms of not only the one that will protect, provide, nurture, educate, and love us, but the one who will give her life for our well being. In fact, "her life" is often given daily. Thanks Revonda, Angela, and Mom! I love you all very much!

What is beauty?

Now seems to be the time of year when people are frantically working to get them self into beach body shape. Since I've been working out at my gym for the past 9 months, I've noticed this gradual increase in members within the last month or so. I assume this sudden increase in the popularity of the gym is due in large part to the fact that swimming suits are starting to come out of the closets. And I must confess, I'm glad I have had my nine month head start this year. There's no doubt I started my new health kick just so I could be healthier, happier, and God willing, be around to watch my children become adults. But I also can not deny my desire to have a healthy looking body, and I wonder if it's my vanity that's truly motivating my discipline. I would venture to say that everybody has this curse that is vanity. And indeed it is a curse! But is the look we all strive for a look that is truly "perfect", or just our "perception of perfection"? What I mean by that is, where is this standard of "beauty" established? I looked up the definition of "beauty" just now and found:

1. the combination of all the qualities of a person or thing that delight the senses and mind
2. a very attractive woman

That's a pretty broad definition (no pun intended). So as I watch all these people (myself included) striving to be recognized as one of the beautiful people, I'm trying to imagine what a world would be like without a "standard" of beauty. I guess I'm trying to imagine Heaven.
Donald Miller wrote a couple of my favorite books: "Blue Like Jazz" and "Searching For God Knows What". If you're looking for reasons why Jesus Christ is relevant to someone living in today society, and you don't see the answers in the typical routines of Sunday morning and Wednesday night church, then I would encourage you to read Donald Miller's books. He helped to start my journey of knowing Jesus the way God wants me to know Jesus, without the barriers (in my mind) of the man made traditions and rituals. I bring up Miller because in one of these books he talks about this idol that is "beauty." But in typical Miller fashion, he looks at the situation from a different perspective. He paints this scenario of a circus show where the main attractions are the people who normally would be outcasts. In fact it's their lack of appeal that makes this circus show so appealing. There's the world's tallest lady, the world's smallest man, the bearded lady, the man with three arms, the 200 lbs. 8 year old..you get the picture. Miller portrays this group as a typical group of people who work together, just like any other group of peers. But he adds to this already established group, a new "circus freak" that begins to steal the show. Let's say the new member has webbed hands and breaths with gills (I can't remember the details of his story). Miller goes on to describe the jealousy and envy the other performers begin to have as this new member is getting all the attention...all the love. They all begin wishing they had the webbed hands and gills. So it doesn't take long for the reader to realize it's not "beauty" we're after, but the attention that comes with "beauty." If having webbed hands and gills brought us love and affirmation, then webbed hands and gills would be our desire. Miller took this whole worldly perception of beauty and identified it for what it actually is: a disconnect from our original source of love and affirmation, a disconnect from God.
So we are definitely cursed in this world of ours, and we will continue to try and cover these "wounds" with band-aids. But maybe we should try and think of each pound of fat, each wrinkle, each gray hair, and the ever growing bald spot as God's gentle reminder that He's drawing us to Him. Drawing us to the place where "beauty" doesn't bring us love, but rather, where the "Love" is the only beauty we need!
BEAUTY = 1. the combination of all the qualities... that delight the senses and mind

Favre in the "Windy City"

Over a month ago I predicted David Cook to win American Idol and all signs point to my prediction being right on. So I'm going to make another prediction just to see if I have special powers! If this one comes true, then I'll be looking at ways to start my own 1-900 phone number to profit off my future telling skills. But until then let me tell you all the way I think Brett Favre's future will pan out.
I think Mike McCarthy (Packer's head coach) wanted Farve to retire. I think this rookie coach didn't want his successes to be credited to Brett Farve. And that's exactly what would happen in any success gained in Green Bay under the leadership of Farve. So I think there was tension in the organization. And I think Farve felt this tension, and "retired" as a result. But he still can play, and he knows he still can play. I think he could easily sign a 3 year deal for probably 8+ million a year. So for him to leave the game, would be him leaving 24+ million sitting on the table. That ain't ESPN analysis' money! I believe he'll entertain offers as soon as Spring training camps are over. And I believe one of the most likely teams to look him up would be the Chicago Bears. So there you have my prediction. I think Farve will take the field this year as a Chicago Bear! That's too good of a story not to pan out. And the NFL knows that would spark some interest, and the NFL is really no more that a glorified circus side show. The game is for our entertainment, and the players are our entertainers. I'm sure Farve knows this role well, and I believe he'll give us the best show he can. Now we just have to sit back and wait...
Wouldn't it be cool to see #4 on a black jersey?

The Clock and Chair

I apparently had a lot on my mind back in March, with 15 different post on this blog. April has proven to be quite the disappointment to my many loyal readers (that's you Kim and David L. ). I had a number of people (2) ask me this month "why have you quit writing?" Well, I've been writing, but just not in this forum. Writing is turning out to be one of my favorite hobbies. Who would have guessed the kid who graduated high school with a "D" in Language-Arts (English) would find enjoyment in reading and writing? I realize my grammar and spelling might reflect my high school grade average, but my desire and passion do not. I guess that goes to show that who we were when we were 18 isn't necessarily who we "grow-up" to be. Thank God! It is like we get to live several different lives in this one gift of "our existence."
I had a conversation with Angela the other night about two of my lives that have unpredictably overlapped. As I was sitting at home in a rocking chair that once belong to my grandparents, I remembered that this is the same chair where I once sat as a child on my Grandfather's lap. We would look together out his back window at his well maintained yard, with the red VW bug and his camper parked in their usual spots. We would be listening to "How Great Thou Art" or "Old Rugged Cross" playing in the back ground while my Grandma was in the kitchen fixing either a ham sandwich with butter, her ever popular lemonade, or her equally appreciated fudge. And at the same time I remember her working to stay in the conversation with us even though she was in another room. And my grandfather would always find a way to start his two finger walk on my leg that ended with him attacking me in a flurry of tickling. I remember my laughter, but my memory is more of him laughing after this tickle attack. He had a laugh that wasn't fake. His love for me and his love of life were evident, even to, and perhaps especially to a child. Now I'm sitting on this same chair, and my kids are now the age I was in this memory. And Angela and I are also looking at a clock on our wall that once shared the room with this same chair back in Iowa. I never remember a time when this chair or that clock wasn't a part of my life. The clock today is reading 2:00 pm right now. It has read 2:00 pm about 13,850 times in my life and, God willing, I could see 2:00 pm another 13,850 more times. But when my last 2:00 pm does come, I feel quite confident in the fact that the fond memories of my grandparents will become realities again...I can almost tasted that ham and butter sandwich and I can almost feel that two fingered tickle march starting again!

A success story

A month ago I started the story of my brother-in-law's (Dave) training for the Cooper River Bridge run. Well Dave has finished the race. He didn't place in the top 10, but mainly because of the participants who traveled from Kenya and Ethiopia...all the top 10 runners were from these countries and finished the race in under 30 min. That's less than 5 min per mile! I couldn't run to my mailbox at that pace, yet alone 6 miles straight. I do have to admit that Dave did much better than I had expected. I kinda expected him to cross the finish line in an ambulance. But he finished the race in full stride and, according to his wife, he had a big grin on his face. That's a success story to me! So although he didn't shock the town of Charleston with a top ten finish, he did shock his family with his rightfully owned 19,859th place finish. Trust me, that's much better than it sounds. Congratulations Dave!

Trying new things

As a Christian in today's modern world I think it is important to keep up with the current trends in today's culture. So often the Christian community shuns modern culture to the point of alienating ourself from the people who might need us most, like the people wrapped up in drug addictions. So for those of you who haven't noticed yet, I tend to think a little "outside the box" when it comes to my spirituality. So my lastest effort to reach out to people might seem a little controversial, but I hold my assurance by remembering that some of the greatest people in history have been accused of being controversial. So how am I going to try and connect with a culture that is getting farther and farther removed from the church? I'm going to try some methamphetamines! I better let y'all have time to let that one sink in a little............
Alright, here me out. First, this is one of the fastest growing, and most distructive drug problems in the U.S. It is one of the most easily accessible and cheapest illegal drug on the streets. So it's obvious why kids (and adults) are getting hooked. And the fact that it ages a person so quickly by ruining the skin and rotting the teeth through severe malnutrition, only proves to me that this must be an experience worth trying at least once. After all, if it helps people alleviate some of our deep rooted feelings of vanity, then maybe they're on the right track.
I have no intention of getting hooked! I just feel to better understand the "buzz" of this product, I need to experiment with it in a controlled enviroment (like my house or in my car). And then, hopefully, when I'm armed with the knowledge of the drug's effect on my brain, body, and emotions, then I'll be "one" with the methamphetamine community. I can infiltrate their lives for their benifit. I can be a light in the darkness!
I don't expect much support from the traditionalist. I don't expect much support from my family. But I am a pioneer! I'll fight the good fight! I'll be the modern day martyr! And before you discount me as someone who has gone past the point of rational thought, remember what today is...It's not a day to be timid. It's not a day for complacency! And it's not a day to crawl into our bunkers and hide from the enemy!.............It's April Fools Day!