Monday, November 29, 2010

"Finally"

1:05 p.m Monday November 29th, 2010... the wait is now over!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

"Scope"

So Monday is the first day of rifle season here
in Pennsylvania. And as I sit here and watch
the "Wizard of Oz" for the who knows how
many timeth of my life, I began to think about
how much four children really know how
to hoard a tree with ornaments.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. The artificial
Christmas tree went up downstairs
on Friday; and the whole house
was transformed from a
turkey/fall decor to a
Christmas themed
one.

Today, Saturday, the last thing to do to
complete the decorating process was
go cut down a real one, bring it home
and put it in the house... mission
accomplished.

Now all that's left of the Thanksgiving
weekend, is NFL football on Sunday,
and 2 days of sitting in a tree stand
hoping the BIG one decides to come
strolling by.

And really, that's how it's got to happen.
There's nothing to the hunting I'm about
to do on Monday. I don't actually
"hunt" down the deer; they just happen by.
Sure, I do feel that I've done enough knowing
about the location to give myself the upperhand;
but if they don't come, I get a good days
rest 15 feet above the ground.

It'll be good. A chance to do a lot of
reflecting and praying and napping.
What more could I ask for?

Anything to avoid the Lollipop Guild I guess.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

"THANKS=GIVING"

I read this today. (click here)
And then, as I was about to add
another blog to my promised
series of things I'm thankful for,
some thing hit me like a wrecking ball:
the construct of the word Thanksgiving.

Two parts.
Thanks.
Giving.

I wonder, how much more Giving
would be in my life if I truly awoke
each day with Thanks in my life.

Put this way: The more I give Thanks,
the more I should be Giving.

What spurs me on to do the Giving
things in my life? Is it my goodness?
Absolutely not!

I have no natural goodness in me.
Sure, I may stumble into doing
something good... Giving some thing
good. But that's not really in me.

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Romans 7:18

How then, can I carry out continual Giving?

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh
but are in the realm of the Spirit,
if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
they do not belong to Christ.
But if Christ is in you, then even though your
body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life
because of righteousness.
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from
the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ
from the dead will also give life to your mortal
bodies because of
his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:9-11

And in there is my reason to be Thankful...
what should be my daily focus of Thanks.
Thanks for God's grace.

God's grace... to life.. to be Spirit-led...
to do the Giving things I cannot do on my own.

Thanks...to Giving!

Monday, November 22, 2010

"Cleaning Brush"

I know this might not fall under the previously
declared "Thankful Things" string of blogs I
intended to blog about. But in a way, it does.

I know that I did write that I am thankful
for my children. Here's another short story
why:

Yesterday during the Steeler's victory, my
daughter informed me that she was unable
to properly use the bathroom because here
2 younger brothers were occupying the space.
SO, I went to check it out.

I found the four-year-old trying to do his
personal business, while the 2-year-old
sat across from him (only about a foot away)
on a stool. I guess he was pretending to
do "number two" like his big brother.
I don't know what he was really doing,
but I quickly evacuated him from the
bathroom.

Thinking all things were now okay for
the 4-year-old to complete his task,
I returned downstairs to the game.

20 minutes later, when said four-year-old
hadn't returned downstairs after finishing
his business, I went to investigate again.

This time I found the two-year-old
trying to nap with his mother. But also
found the bathroom door locked. So I knocked.
And after a flurry of sounds behind locked
door that didn't sound very good to me,
the four-year-old opened the door.

The following is the conversation that ensued:

Me: What are doing?
Luke: I was pooping.
Me: Are you done, cause your sis...
what's that in the toilet?
Luke: I don't know.
Me: Why is that brush (cleaning brush, not hair brush)
in the toilet?
Luke: I don't know.
Me: Did you put that in the toilet?
Luke: No.
Me: You didn't put that in the toilet?
Luke: No.
Me: How did it get in the toilet?
Luke: I don't know.

Now at this point I thought I would take the funny father
approach.

Me: Did you poop that into the toilet?
Luke: Yep.
Me: That brush came out of your butt into the toilet?
Luke: Yep.
Me: Really?
Luke: Yep.
Me: You pooped that brush out of your butt into the toilet?
Luke: Yep, I pooped it into the toilet... out of my butt!

Well, we had to have a conversation about lying.
And I banished him to his bed for a few minutes.

Later when mom asked about the incident, he said
he was just "trying to clean away the stink."

Thank you, Lord, for my children. As always,
you remind me that some times I try to "clean
up my stink" when I am in reality unable to
do it.

Friday, November 19, 2010

"6 More Days Until Thanksgiving"

11-19-10: Prayer Warriors

God's people who spend time in prayer.

Not just talkers to the Lord, but folks
who carry their sWORD with them
onto their knees to fight for others.

Those who partner with the Holy Spirit
to lay out a distinct battle plan before
the Father and see to it that plan is
carried out, not by their own will, but
in accordance to God's will.

People who have prayed for me, my
family, my friends, whom I never
knew were.

People who are persistent to the point
of stubbornness in prayer.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Suppose one of you has a friend. Suppose you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. A friend of mine on a trip has dropped in on me, and I don’t have anything to serve him.’ Your friend might answer you from inside his house, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I can guarantee that although he doesn’t want to get up to give you anything, he will get up and give you whatever you need because he is your friend and because you were so bold. Luke 11:5-8 GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION

Thursday, November 18, 2010

"One Week Until Thankgiving"

My hope at the onset of writing this is force
myself over the next 7 days to write about
something each day that I am thankful for.
That being said...

11/18/2010: Family.

I am so thankful for my wife,
who loves me despite.

I am so thankful for my children,
who remind me everyday that this
life is not about me.

I am so thankful for Parents and siblings,
laws and in-laws, who support us in so many
tangible and intangible ways.

I am so thankful for the family of God,
who teach and preach, who pray, who
encourage not only me but also my
entire family.

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.
1 Thessalonians 1:2

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

"Raising Hope"

A golden nugget written into what may
be the most outrageously raw and crude
comedy show on TV:

"If you're not dreaming, you're just sleeping."

In my life, I'm snoring.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Friday, November 5, 2010

"November"

The beauty of fall has given
way to the prequel of winter.
Cold rain and cold winds
mark each day as the last
hold outs of the great oak
hang on for their final release.


Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Monday, November 1, 2010

"I Like My Bubble"

In my bubble I am safe;
protected from the world.

Yes, I rely upon my bubble,
fragile as that may seem.

In my bubble I can't escape;
protected from myself.

Yes, I rely upon my bubble,
it's my safety zone.

In my bubble you can't stray;
kept out, just my way.

Yes, I rely upon my bubble,
please, don't touch my bubble.

In my bubble I am king;
king of a servant hood of one.

Yes, I rely upon my bubble,
my bubble, my kingdom.

In my bubble I will stay;
safe, secure and isolated free.

Yes, I rely upon my bubble,
all alone, all alone.

Are you in a bubble;
a fragile fragile bubble?

If you rely upon a bubble...

BURST!