Happy Thanksgiving!

Busy, busy...

Soooo, Lots going on. Where to begin?

We had a great service today - for me. I was very touched because someone I respect shared about his own tendency to be a people-pleaser. Then I got convicted. The Lord has dealt with me on this issue before - I usually refer to it as either the need to be "liked" by everyone - or the need to "perform" - not necessarily to excel at things - but leave my mark. I continue to be the class clown in certain groups, which can be both bad and good, I guess since I have the ability to loosen people up at times and get them involved. I also have trouble saying "no" - and find myself doing things or being involved in things not because I should - but because I feel that I would be letting others down if I don't.

Today though, it kind of hit me. People pleaser..... Where does that come from?

Growing up I had no real problem getting along in my family. I got plenty of attention. Why would I feel the need to get attention or to have others like me or accept me? Where does that insecurity come from? One thing I have found is that there is an INVERSE relationship between my busy-ness and my relationship with the Lord. So, I'm in process right now - rethinking this whole thing in my life, which is a healthy thing. I thank the Lord that he continues to remind me that my relationship with Him is the most important thing - not all the stuff I do in His name, or even serving His people that can be a distraction. Like I said, I'm in process - and this afternoon I'm on my way to: Play practice for the childrens' choir, youth worship team practice, preparing for a skit(practice) that we're going to do tonight at a children's event where the youth worship team will be leading two songs........ but first I'm gonna take a nap!

Does it have to mean something?

Soo,

I am probably overthinking this one a bit. Help me out here. I've become a little more reflective lately. This is a good thing (I think) as I have usually been the kind of person who doesn't notice much - really. There was a time in the notso distant past when I didn't realize my wife had cut and colored her hair for at least two days. I just knew she looked really great - I didn't think about how or why. So, yeah.... where was I? Back to overthinking things.

Speakiing of haircuts - I got a really bad one on Friday. I actually had to get scissors out and even things up around my ears when I got home. I then proceeded to get out my beard trimmer and accidently hacked a huge swath of fur out of my goatee! Yep. For those who know me - I have only shaved this thing twice in the last 12 1/2 years - for work both times. I started growing it while at Fuller Seminary the day my son Bryce was born (3/12/96). Not only do I feel naked without it - but now I'm reflecting on why I have worn it for so long. Woe is me! Now for the reflecting and possible overthinking part. Here goes...

• Why did I grow it in the first place? Am I hiding something? (except for a very pronounced set of jowls and a swell cleft in my chin?


• Do I grow it back, or go naked for awhile? (Actually, according to Beth - I think its coming back - real soon!)

The point of all of this - (Yes Virginia, there is a point here). I don't ever want to do something even as minor as growing facial hair, unless I am willing to do some self-examination in the process. Here's some of what I mean.:

• How important is style to me? I don't want to get caught up in being "stylish" or trendy for trendy's sake.


• Neither do I want to let myself go to the point where I don't care. I think both extremes are a bad testimony. I usually err on the side of letting myself go a bit.


• Also, the question of whether I am hiding something, or rather - hiding from something is a valid one. Do I somehow feel more comfortable with a little bit of fur between me and the rest of the world? Why?

Maybe this is a bit overanalytical (probably so), but I think it is healthy to do some self-examination once in awhile. So, I've been asking myself these questions - and pondering. Maybe there's something to it.....the goatee. Maybe I grew it as a statement of rebellion - or wanting to hide, or feeling the need for a barrier or cushion between myself and the rest of the cold, prickly world.

Or, maybe (most importantly), it could just be that my wife likes it. (She does!)

A Classic if there ever was one!

Any thoughts?

So what does it mean to be good? Who decides?

What do you think? Sound off.

Thoughts on dealing with the past...

O.K., so I've started posts like this a few times already, but gave up because my thoughts weren't all that clear. But, I think I've got it now, so here goes...

There's a very common, yet true illustration that history professors use and it goes something like this. Our historical perspective is a lot like looking at a distant mountain range.



When you look at the mountains what do you see? If you are close - you see different shapes and some distance between peaks. If you are far away, they look flat - like one big blob all squished together. In either case, what you don't see are the valleys between the peaks. Regardless, the further you get from the mountain peaks - the flatter they appear.

So it is with my own personal history. As I look back at my short life (I am currently 39), I can see a lot of big events - mountain peaks. Some of those events are significant milestones in my life - like getting married, or the birth of our children. Some of those peaks are accomplishments and realized goals - like earning a degree or taking on a new ministry position.

In other cases they were tragic events like the death of my father, or a job loss - or maybe a broken relationship. These are all events that stand out in the past. For me, when I look back, some of these events run together. Don't get me wrong, they haven't lost their overall importance, but over time, my perspective has changed. These events take on more (or less) meaning in relation to other experiences and "peaks" in life.

Changing Perspective...

As my perspective changes, these events - the mountain peaks, begin to look different - rather I view them differently. With any big event, fortunate or tragic I can easily become overwhelmed by it. The event consumes my entire field of vision. This isn't necessarily always a bad thing - I often call it "focus" or chalk it up to my own personal diligence. What I don't do is put this all-encompassing event in its proper perspective. How can I? - It is currently the most important thing in my world! This has been a big problem for me throughout my life - my tendency to get overwhelmed.

The Space Between...

Over time though, the biggest thing I have lost sight of is the space between the peaks. That is where my faithfulness (or lack of faithfulness) is fleshed out. The space between; the valleys, the dull dry spots, even the times in "recovery" from a tragedy or the let-down after a huge exciting event - these are the times that really count. These empty spaces are usually the places where I set myself up for my biggest failures. It is in these empty spaces where faithfulness and tenacity can dictate potential fruitfulness (or lack thereof) down the line. I have always had the tendency to rest on my big fat laurels a bit too long after every little accomplishment, and I am also too slow to recover after a let-down or tragedy.

The Apostle Paul tells us very plainly,

"... Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which

God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:13,14 (NIV)

Paul didn't say to just forget about the bad stuff behind us. There's good stuff that happened too! Earlier in his thoughts he said that all of his religious accomplishments amounted to nothing more than POOP! (If you don't believe me - look it up!) The message that I (continually) need to learn is that I cannot let the bad stuff hold me back. Those things are history. I need to learn what I can from them, forgive, and allow the Lord to heal me. Likewise - I can't rely on the good stuff to carry me through. Anything that I may have accomplished in the past is just that - it's in the past. I have to be diligent in the here and now and press on.

"Not that I have already obtained all this,

or have already been made perfect,

but I press on to take hold of that

for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Phil. 4:12 (NIV)

Update...

Soooo, I am not going to weigh in on politics until I feel the need. I can hear the collective sigh of relief from all two faithful readers...

Here's a sample of what's happening in our little world:

Mom's Birthday - November 4th - Happy Birthday Ma! (Yes, I did call) You don't look a day over 90... We Party Tonight!

Austin (my youngest) won the part of Edmond in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which will be performed lat Winter 2009 for the Jacksonville Theater Guild. Pretty Cool!

Hunting News - Last weekend I went out with my buddy Mike K. to see if we could burn a little powder and bring home some small game. We were looking for rabbits and upland game birds. Not much luck - but he wanted to get some squirrels while we were at it. I shot one squirrel, he got a quail. Being the generous fellow that he is, he let me keep both (thanks a lot!).

My mom always told us - "If you shoot it, you eat it." So, ...... I did. I must say - the quail was no problem - love it, love it, love it! I was reluctant about the squirrel - but it was pretty good. Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid to cook rabbit, and I've eaten a lot of other game, I was just a little iffy at first. But, it was really pretty good. I'm not eager to go out and get more any time soon - but it was really quite moist, pleasant and tasty. The cliche rings true - tastes like chicken! I have noticed one thing though... my tail seems to twitch now when I hear loud noises and I've been craving peanut butter.

I'm O.K....

We have a new President Elect. I am going to be o.k. with that..................................................................................................................................................................................................... Eventually...

This is a bigger issue than most of us realize...

Take a minute to watch this. This is a very serious issue. We are at a time in our history when it is deemed criminal to have a Biblical view of marriage. This is being dubbed "The civil rights issue of our time" - so as to equate same-sex marriage with racial equality. However, defining marriage legally as being "between a man and a woman" is NOT the same as upholding Jim Crow laws, burning crosses in lawns, mass lynchings and the like. This is NOT a hate-crime, and those who define marriage in a traditional way should not be painted with this same hate-brush.

Check out this video about a father who went to jail just because he wanted his children's school to give him proper notice about what they were teaching his 5-year old. Watch it - then PRAY for our nation.



BTW - if you live in CA - Please vote YES on Prop. 8