A Little Help – Please

You’ll remember Chester.  

He’s our sweet dog – saved from the dark confines of the local animal shelter.  He’s been a great companion.  He’s alway eager to greet us when we return from our day at work, a morning at church, or a dinner out.  I even took him to Montgomery Bell for a run recently.  Other than a few minor mishaps with the leash – he ran the trail with ease.  Yesterday, as the temperature rose above freezing – I decided to join Chester for a game of fetch.

Here’s the ultra-cool, glow-in-the-dark ball that we used.

And here is Chester’s response.  Webster defines fetch: to go or come after and bring or take back.  

 

We need to work on the “bring or take back” part.  He’s fast.  He’s quick to close the gap between himself and the ball.  It’s the returning the ball to me component that we’re lacking.  Any ideas?  Do you have to teach a retriever to retrieve.  Or is our dog a little slow?  A little help – please.

The Basics

It was a disappointing weekend for me.  The Titans, Panthers, and UNC Men’s Basketball team all walked away from their respective match-ups in defeat.  For the Titans and Panthers it’s the end of the road – at least for this season.  For UNC – after a strong November/December effort – they now start conference play at 0-2.  Not a good start.  Especially given the notion by some sports commentators that Carolina could go undefeated this season.  During last night’s loss to Wake Forest I caught/heard something curious that the coach shared from the bench.  Reading the lips of a head coach can be a little risky.  They can speak some harsh things.  However, on this particular occasion his words were “box out.”  His team was 13-0 going into the game with UNC.  They are a young team but certainly talented.  They’ve drilled.  They’ve practiced and scrimmaged.  They’ve watched tapes of their own play and that of others.  They’ve gone head-to-head with many opponents.  These guys know the drill.  They understand the game.  Their coach gets paid plenty of money.  The players are on scholarship.  It’s a tight game.  A worthy rival is on the ropes.  And what instruction does he provide?  BOX OUT.  I could have told you that.  I tried out for my middle school team.  I got cut during the first round.  I sat the bench in a church league.  I’m not much of a player.  But I understand the need to box out – to hold a position – to put my body between the basket/ball and another player – to deny the rebound to my opponent.  It’s basic stuff.  A fundamental of the game.  A well-coached elementary school kid can understand and execute the effort.  So all this got me to thinking.  Why do we tend to overcomplicate things?  Why does life need to be so convoluted, hectic, and out of sorts?  Are there some basics to which we can return?  Can we simplify?  Can we strip our routines of the clutter and anxiety?  Can we seek first His kingdom and trust God with the rest?  What do you think?           

A Fresh Pursuit

As I’ve entered 2009 – I’m once again making the effort to read through the bible before year’s end.  I started a new reading schedule/plan two years ago and never finished it.  I’m hopeful that this year will be different.  Today’s reading took me to Romans and the Psalms.  Here are a couple of passages with which I took some extra time to process…

Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another before yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people in need.  Practice hospitality.  Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.  Romans 12:9-13, 16

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.  The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  Psalm 19:7-8

~1200 Miles Later

I’ve been on a writing sabbatical of sorts.  To sum up my absence…

Kidstuff Christmas Program

On Sunday, our children will be leading us in the Kidstuff Christmas Program.  They’ve practiced for weeks and are very excited about the time that we’ll share together.  Come and join us at 10:10am on Sunday, December 21st.  Here are a couple of photos from a recent rehearsal.

A Word from Eugene

Here’s something that struck me during a recent “devotional” reading:

My feelings are important for many things. They are essential and valuable. They keep me aware of much that is true and real. But they tell me next to nothing about God or my relation to God. My security comes from who God is, not from how I feel. Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about him or myself or my neighbors. “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people (Psalm 125:2 RSV).” The image that announces the dependable, unchanging, safe, secure existence of God’s people comes from geology, not psychology.

God’s Message For Each Day by Eugene H. Peterson

So what do you think?  Is this overstated?  Understated?  On target?  What’s the right or proper place for feelings as they relate to God and our understanding of Him?

Sweet Tunes

Last week I joined a group of our students for an event known as Winter Wonder Slam. The evening included the music of Relient K, Family Force 5, and Toby Mac. It was one of those occasions where I realized that I’m getting old(er). The music was too loud, the artists too energetic, and the stage was too far away for me to see. Here are some photos from the night.

I think this was Toby Mac.  It may have been Elvis Costello.  They both wear funny hats.

The stage appears to be on fire.  They didn’t evacuate the building – so it must have been planned.

Here is the Aurora Borealis as seen from the Sommet Center.

Christmas Cheer

I recently exchanged a series of text messages with a friend that shall remain nameless.

 

Ben Goolsby: Dude – Your house looks terrible. Get some spirit.

 

 

Me: One word – Recession.

 

Ben Goolsby: I bet your neighbors aren’t worried about this recession.

 

 

Me:  Apparently not.  Though I think they’re running extension cords from our outdoor outlets.

 

Ben Goolsby:  Are you being serious?

 

Me:  I was just kidding.  No Hatfield-McCoy situation on Center Avenue.

 

So here’s my response to the critique.  If you look real closely – you’ll find little candles in the windows downstairs.  There is also a wreath on the front door.  Ben, thanks for the inspiration.

 

A Sea of Shoeboxes

On Friday,  I (along with Rhonda and my parents) had the opportunity to serve at one of Operation Christmas Child’s Processing Centers.  Each of the donated shoebox gifts are inspected before their shipment abroad.  Roughly 700,000 gifts will be inspected at the Atlanta Processing Center over the next several weeks.  It was a great experience.  Many, many children will hear about Christ because of these simple gifts.              

Habitat Update

On Sunday, the local Habitat for Humanity home was completed.  It was a privilege to share in the construction process along with the Cross Point family and Dickson community.  It’s a pretty good looking place.  I couldn’t have built anything nicer – especially given the two-week time frame that Habitat successfully managed.  Who am I kidding?  I couldn’t build a house like this even if i was given ten years.  I’m not so handy around the tool box.