Those of you who read the blog, know I’ve been questioning a lot of things. I don’t get a lot of the immaturity and pettiness, but lately I’ve been questioning the anger. I think I talked about it in an earlier blog, but God’s been talking to me a lot more about it.
So my first ‘Why”.
Why do we hold onto anger?
I’ve been involved in several situations where people talk about things brewing for years.
One of them was at the softball blowup. All game long guys were saying how they weren’t going to let the other team do what they’ve done for so many years. It got to be where guys were thinking the other team was cheating on just about every other play.
If someone got a hit, they had to make a comment.
If someone on the other team got a hit, someone on our team had to bark back.
Then the other team started barking back.
Then the blow up, and people excused it by saying it had been brewing for years.
Why? How can you hold onto that for so long?
Well, 2 weeks later we are headed towards playing the same guys in a different league.
It’s the playoffs. We won our first game, and so did our rivals. This sets up us facing them in the next game. As it turns out, they were going to have a tough time getting guys to play us on the scheduled day, and asked if we could set up a new date.
Like and explosion, several of our guys said, “No way! Not after what they’ve done to us.”
“Screw them!”
“That’s what they get.”
A couple guys just said no, but only because they knew who was asking for a change.
So, the original date was kept and it looked like we would be playing against a weaker version of their team, or we wouldn’t be playing at all due to forfeit.
I think God had other plans. It’s been raining for quite a while now, the game has been cancelled, and the makeup game is this week at an earlier time. It will make it tough for our guys to get there now.
Now we’ll be playing a team that know we were out to spite them and they have a good chance of having a loaded squad.
Hmmmmmm.
Anger. Was it worth it?
I’ve also been able to watch other people go through some tough times. One of them has sworn off church, and is pretty angry at God. Another is just flat out angry.
It’s natural. I know. We all experience anger.
But in its truest form doesn’t anger really only focus on us?
I know it’s natural. I know we all experience it. I know some say it’s healthy.
Is it really, though?
I’m not so sure it is. I know it feels right in the moment, but how many good decisions are made in anger?
And now time for my 2nd why.
Why do we get angry at God?
Again, it’s natural when things don’t go our way. We can’t fathom losing a loved one. We can’t fathom his ways. We can’t fathom when bad things happen to good people. We can’t fathom when bad things happen to children.
Can you fathom being God and having to give up your only son in order to save billions of selfish, self-seeking, thoughtless, thankless, unworthy ingrates? It wasn’t fair. But He did.
Can you fathom being Job and losing EVERYTHING you’ve ever had? Health. Wealth. You name it. But he never cursed God.
I’ve had a very good life. Not much has ever gone wrong. Sure I’d like to be 6’3” 200lbs of solid muscle, but it ain’t gonna happen. I’d like to make 10 times the money I have right now, and have a beautiful home on a hill overlooking a stream on my 20 acre property. It might happen, but it’s not where I am right now.
I’ve also had my share of pain. I loved and lost and lost and lost…..until God finally brought me the perfect lady when I was 29. While all my friends were getting married and having kids, I didn’t get married until I was 30.
I lost a grandfather to AIDS…because he needed a blood transfusion after surgery and he was given AIDS infected blood. One of the strongest men I ever knew was weak and frail due to the disease. And he did nothing wrong to get AIDS.
I lost a nephew to SIDS last year. He was so perfect and innocent.
I’ve spent a lot of time asking God why. And I think we can. He wants us to talk to Him.
But I don’t think we should ever get out of fellowship with Him due to wanting to be angry.
I’ve had to train myself to be thankful and praise in the storm. It’s so unnatural. I do it by thanking God for the things I do have, instead of focusing on what I don’t have, or what I think is being taken away. I had a lot of good years with my grandparents. I’ll never forget my nephews beautiful personality and smile.
When I read the bible and see what the bible hall of fame went through, it was never easy. Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Samson, David……They all went through trying times, but they’re hall of fame for correcting it. Things always got out of whack when they tried to do it their way. But when they turned it back to God, things turned around.
We have to remember. God is in charge. Like it or not, He’s boss.
We’ll do all we can to do it our way. I mean, that’s how it’s been all our lives. We’ve been able to take care of ourselves, our families, our way of life for so long. We like to think we did it. But there is no such thing as a self made man. God orchestrated it all. He orchestrated the jobs, the connections, the deals….We are nothing without Him.
I think a lot of times, we as Americans think we can solve it all by ourselves. For some reason Americans are born with an ultra selfish gene. It’s developed and enhanced as we grow up as we’re taught that’s how you do things. Do it your way.
When we grow up we lean on our health benefits before God. We lean on our paycheck before God. We lean on our friends before God. We lean on our connections before God.
And when those things fail us, we get angry. It is then we either go to God, or turn from God.
I think a lot of times God uses the tough times to soften us. He’s got something He wants to do in us. The more I think about it, He probably has for awhile, but we don’t’ pick it up until He gets our attention.
But here’s the irony of the tough times. We can allow them to soften us and make us sensitive to God. Or we can harden our heart.
Hardening our hearts makes us bitter and bitterness is like a drug. You need more of it in order to keep going. It leads to sarcasm and cynicism. We lose our smile. We lose our joy.
Don’t’ go down that road.
Don’t’ ever let anger take hold. Feel it. Understand it. Talk to God about it, and let it go.
Being angry, going it alone, will never ever solve a thing.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Random Rants
Sorry if this post is a little jumpy and poorly written. There is so much going on in this world….I can’t really nail down a topic, with so many things going on in my head. So I’ll touch on them all.
Chinese way of doing things
So I was in a meeting at work yesterday, and as we were finishing up, someone made a comment about food quality. The topic was somewhere along the line of Chinese hamburger “with cardboard in it.” From there they mentioned how the Chinese took care of the top health official.
For those of you that don’t know, they executed him due to his performance.
The next statement was, “Makes you think about what to do with Bush.”
What? Not the greatest President by far, but C’mon.
Immaturity PT 3
In the latest installment of what seems to be a weekly topic, we’ll discuss another Immature Grown up moment.
So we’re playing softball Friday night in the league playoffs. We lost the first game, and the team we seem to face every year lost their first game as well. This set up a game that meant early elimination from the playoffs between 2 teams that are usually duking it out at the end of the playoffs.
Our game got a late start, but we came out on fire once the game started. We were up 10 or so runs going into the fifth inning. I think we gave up about 5, but still had the lead.
Well it’s now getting pretty dark outside, and borderline unplayable. I believe ASA rules state:
A. A game called by the umpire shall be regulation if five or more complete innings have been played, or if the team second at bat has scored more runs in four or more innings than the other team has scored in five or more innings. The umpire is empowered to call a game at any time because of darkness, rain, fire, panic or other causes which place the patrons or players in peril.
B. Games that are not considered regulation play (games called prior to five complete innings) shall be resumed at the exact point where they were stopped.
So we played our 5 innings. The opposing team comes out and says, “Hey, it’s getting dark. We’ll finish the game tomorrow. "
Our coach correctly declines and states that we played 5 innings so the game is technically official and complete.
The opposing team says that rule only applies in regular season.
Our coach again says we’re not coming back in the morning, so it’s now or never. The opposing team wants to try and finish out now instead of calling the game on account of darkness.
Since we were visiting team, we start the 6th inning and got a few runs. By the time we switch sides in the middle of the 6th, it’s hard to see the pitch. It’s hard to play and it’s dangerous.
We did get 2 outs somehow, but now the other team is just ripping the ball and we don’t know where it’s going. While this is all going on both teams are jawing at each other. Our shortstop, my uncle, calls timeout and reprimands both teams for their poor attitude and sportsmanship. The other dugout keeps jawing at him.
Well, the umpire has been silent this entire time. As an officiall, he knows we should have been done after 5 innings. Our coach is our catcher and talked to the ump during the entire 6th inning. He basically told him the game should have been called.
I guess the ump said he knew that, but was feeling pressure from the commissioner. The commissioner happened to be the pitcher on the other team. The ump also added that “I’m just trying to pay my way through college.”
So anyhow, we got the 2 outs and the other team is hitting shots all over. After a couple near misses and a dangerous situation getting worse, we walked off the field.
As soon as the outfielders hit the infield, all heck almost broke loose. Our coach and their coach had to be separated. Other players started screaming at each other.
We called our pastor out and an elder from their church. Our pastor negotiated a 8 am restart to the game on the next day. The other team liked that, but we did not agree.
Then the coaches started up again. I helped get our coach off the field. I got back to the field, as we continued to explain our forfeit, when someone on the other squad dropped a “God DaM*”
One of our guys took exception and wanted to go after the curser.
I got our guy off the field.
When I came back the 3rd time, things had pretty much died down. I started going around to the other team apologizing, but also stating that it should have never happened.
Things were over for the most part, but several other conversations took place. They centered on coming back the next day. Someone on our side suggested coming back in the morning to finish off where we left off. The other team didn’t want to do that. They wanted to come back and start over. Obviously, we weren’t going to do that.
Then they said they “Technically we shouldn’t play since you forfeit.” Almost like they were making us a deal.
I replied “Technically it was over after 5.”
I was pretty much done after that conversation. But as I was leaving, they caught up with a few more of our guys and tried to get us to play. The 3 of us who remained said no, and explained that our Christian witness was awful and we didn’t deserve to go on. We also hinted that as they were part of the scrum, they should consider forfeiting as well.
One of their guys thought that might be a good idea, but he and their coach again tried to get us to come back and start anew.
We didn’t agree.
Anyhow, I was told that a few of their guys didn’t like how things went down and they refused to come out and play the next day. Two of the top 3 teams were out of the tourney.
My friends, that is immaturity at it’s finest. Grown men between the ages of 20 and 45 acting like children.
The sad thing is, a year ago on that day, our family lost my 5 month old nephew to SIDS. Last year, we played with him and the family on our hearts.
I even gave a pre-game speech prior to the game (nearly in tears) about how last year we played as if softball was meaningless. We played knowing that there were more important things in life and knowing there was a family in mourning.
I don’t know if I could feel the fireworks that were going to happen 5 innings later, but nothing I said registered with anyone on the team.
We played and acted like little children.
Meanwhile, my brother and his family were mourning the 1 year anniversary of Landon’s passing.
Grown men acting immature.
Sad. Embarrassing.
Champions
But there are some softball champions at the church. The women’s team swept through their tournament and brought home the trophy. They only lost 1 game all year.
I know I’m biased, but the play of the tournament had to of gone to my wife. In a close play at home, she dove head first to beat the tag.
I thought I was watching Pete Rose.
The crowd roared. I nearly fell over, and people are still talking about it.
Life
Life is weird and complex.
On the same day, one friend’s son is having major surgery to have cancer removed from his liver.
Meanwhile, another friend and his wife welcomed their firstborn son into the world.
Wow. It makes your head spin.
Chinese way of doing things
So I was in a meeting at work yesterday, and as we were finishing up, someone made a comment about food quality. The topic was somewhere along the line of Chinese hamburger “with cardboard in it.” From there they mentioned how the Chinese took care of the top health official.
For those of you that don’t know, they executed him due to his performance.
The next statement was, “Makes you think about what to do with Bush.”
What? Not the greatest President by far, but C’mon.
Immaturity PT 3
In the latest installment of what seems to be a weekly topic, we’ll discuss another Immature Grown up moment.
So we’re playing softball Friday night in the league playoffs. We lost the first game, and the team we seem to face every year lost their first game as well. This set up a game that meant early elimination from the playoffs between 2 teams that are usually duking it out at the end of the playoffs.
Our game got a late start, but we came out on fire once the game started. We were up 10 or so runs going into the fifth inning. I think we gave up about 5, but still had the lead.
Well it’s now getting pretty dark outside, and borderline unplayable. I believe ASA rules state:
A. A game called by the umpire shall be regulation if five or more complete innings have been played, or if the team second at bat has scored more runs in four or more innings than the other team has scored in five or more innings. The umpire is empowered to call a game at any time because of darkness, rain, fire, panic or other causes which place the patrons or players in peril.
B. Games that are not considered regulation play (games called prior to five complete innings) shall be resumed at the exact point where they were stopped.
So we played our 5 innings. The opposing team comes out and says, “Hey, it’s getting dark. We’ll finish the game tomorrow. "
Our coach correctly declines and states that we played 5 innings so the game is technically official and complete.
The opposing team says that rule only applies in regular season.
Our coach again says we’re not coming back in the morning, so it’s now or never. The opposing team wants to try and finish out now instead of calling the game on account of darkness.
Since we were visiting team, we start the 6th inning and got a few runs. By the time we switch sides in the middle of the 6th, it’s hard to see the pitch. It’s hard to play and it’s dangerous.
We did get 2 outs somehow, but now the other team is just ripping the ball and we don’t know where it’s going. While this is all going on both teams are jawing at each other. Our shortstop, my uncle, calls timeout and reprimands both teams for their poor attitude and sportsmanship. The other dugout keeps jawing at him.
Well, the umpire has been silent this entire time. As an officiall, he knows we should have been done after 5 innings. Our coach is our catcher and talked to the ump during the entire 6th inning. He basically told him the game should have been called.
I guess the ump said he knew that, but was feeling pressure from the commissioner. The commissioner happened to be the pitcher on the other team. The ump also added that “I’m just trying to pay my way through college.”
So anyhow, we got the 2 outs and the other team is hitting shots all over. After a couple near misses and a dangerous situation getting worse, we walked off the field.
As soon as the outfielders hit the infield, all heck almost broke loose. Our coach and their coach had to be separated. Other players started screaming at each other.
We called our pastor out and an elder from their church. Our pastor negotiated a 8 am restart to the game on the next day. The other team liked that, but we did not agree.
Then the coaches started up again. I helped get our coach off the field. I got back to the field, as we continued to explain our forfeit, when someone on the other squad dropped a “God DaM*”
One of our guys took exception and wanted to go after the curser.
I got our guy off the field.
When I came back the 3rd time, things had pretty much died down. I started going around to the other team apologizing, but also stating that it should have never happened.
Things were over for the most part, but several other conversations took place. They centered on coming back the next day. Someone on our side suggested coming back in the morning to finish off where we left off. The other team didn’t want to do that. They wanted to come back and start over. Obviously, we weren’t going to do that.
Then they said they “Technically we shouldn’t play since you forfeit.” Almost like they were making us a deal.
I replied “Technically it was over after 5.”
I was pretty much done after that conversation. But as I was leaving, they caught up with a few more of our guys and tried to get us to play. The 3 of us who remained said no, and explained that our Christian witness was awful and we didn’t deserve to go on. We also hinted that as they were part of the scrum, they should consider forfeiting as well.
One of their guys thought that might be a good idea, but he and their coach again tried to get us to come back and start anew.
We didn’t agree.
Anyhow, I was told that a few of their guys didn’t like how things went down and they refused to come out and play the next day. Two of the top 3 teams were out of the tourney.
My friends, that is immaturity at it’s finest. Grown men between the ages of 20 and 45 acting like children.
The sad thing is, a year ago on that day, our family lost my 5 month old nephew to SIDS. Last year, we played with him and the family on our hearts.
I even gave a pre-game speech prior to the game (nearly in tears) about how last year we played as if softball was meaningless. We played knowing that there were more important things in life and knowing there was a family in mourning.
I don’t know if I could feel the fireworks that were going to happen 5 innings later, but nothing I said registered with anyone on the team.
We played and acted like little children.
Meanwhile, my brother and his family were mourning the 1 year anniversary of Landon’s passing.
Grown men acting immature.
Sad. Embarrassing.
Champions
But there are some softball champions at the church. The women’s team swept through their tournament and brought home the trophy. They only lost 1 game all year.
I know I’m biased, but the play of the tournament had to of gone to my wife. In a close play at home, she dove head first to beat the tag.
I thought I was watching Pete Rose.
The crowd roared. I nearly fell over, and people are still talking about it.
Life
Life is weird and complex.
On the same day, one friend’s son is having major surgery to have cancer removed from his liver.
Meanwhile, another friend and his wife welcomed their firstborn son into the world.
Wow. It makes your head spin.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Freewill and relationships
I was sitting and talking with someone who is having a rough go of it right now. Over the last few months, they’ve seen a love lost, and that love finds someone else. Now there are a wide range of emotions to doubt, anger, embarrassment, and a lack of understanding.
I spent some time telling them that there is no need to be embarrassed. The other feelings are natural and expected. We’re human. We have feelings and emotions.
But the questions like “Why would God do this to me?
I was trying to be good.”
Or “Why does she get rewarded for doing something like this?”
And “She doesn’t get to feel hurt. Why do I have to feel the pain?”
I didn’t have an answer other than he has to trust God and he will learn and be tougher and better for going through this.
Then he later relayed a conversation he had with someone else. The person he talked to was angry with the person who hurt him. Then I started thinking about it, and quite a few people were angry.
So I put on my thinking cap.
Is it wrong to internalize and personalize everything we go through? After all, it is happening to US, isn’t it?
But what about when the situation we’re in involves other people?
We always want to say “Why is he/she doing this to me?”
“Can’t they see how this hurts?”
“How can they just move on while I’m still sitting here with the same feelings?”
What if the other person was unhappy, and is now happy. Should they be unhappy because we are unhappy?
Is it wrong for them to chase their heart and where they are feeling led because we are hurt because of it? They have dreams and aspirations and feelings too.
What if you were the one leaving a relationship?
Sometimes…many times, people change. Feelings change. Dreams change. We don’t mean to hurt people, but it may happen. Or it may happen to us.
As I tried to tell my friend, it’s one of those things that we hope to understand someday. Most times I think we will. We’ll get older, and look back at where we were 5, 10 and 20 years ago and see these are the moments that make us who we are.
I didn’t have a lot of girlfriends, but I dated quite a few ladies and had a fair amount of crushes. I was the “breaker-upper” only once.
I heard the classic break up speeches. You know how they go.
“It’s not you, it’s me.”
“There’s someone better for you.”
“We’re not going the same way”
“I still want to be friends….”
“I don’t want to ruin our friendship.”
I even heard “You’re just too good for me.”
But each one of those disappointments and sometimes crushing blows helped develop me into the person, man, friend and husband I have become.
At one time I looked back on those moments and I would be flooded with grief and anger. I wanted to know why it didn’t work out when I cared so much and poured so much into those relationships.
I don’t think I ever got an answer to the “Why?” question I would inevitably ask.
Every now and then I’ll run into someone I used to date. Or I’ll run into someone that keeps in touch with them. And when I see where they are and where I am, I see that it never would have worked out. Either I wouldn’t have been the man they needed, or maybe they wouldn’t have been the lady I needed. They are chasing their dreams. They are married. They are engaged. They are single and chasing careers.
I can hear God saying to me, “See, Nate. You didn’t think you could go on, but you did. Look where they are now. Look where you are. You wouldn’t be where you are, where I need you to be if you held on to what you thought you needed back then.”
Then I smile and think about my life, my wife, my job, my family……
Wow. How did I get here? How do we get there?
You just learn to move on. You learn to trust again. You learn to love again…and stronger than the love you had before.
I spent some time telling them that there is no need to be embarrassed. The other feelings are natural and expected. We’re human. We have feelings and emotions.
But the questions like “Why would God do this to me?
I was trying to be good.”
Or “Why does she get rewarded for doing something like this?”
And “She doesn’t get to feel hurt. Why do I have to feel the pain?”
I didn’t have an answer other than he has to trust God and he will learn and be tougher and better for going through this.
Then he later relayed a conversation he had with someone else. The person he talked to was angry with the person who hurt him. Then I started thinking about it, and quite a few people were angry.
So I put on my thinking cap.
Is it wrong to internalize and personalize everything we go through? After all, it is happening to US, isn’t it?
But what about when the situation we’re in involves other people?
We always want to say “Why is he/she doing this to me?”
“Can’t they see how this hurts?”
“How can they just move on while I’m still sitting here with the same feelings?”
What if the other person was unhappy, and is now happy. Should they be unhappy because we are unhappy?
Is it wrong for them to chase their heart and where they are feeling led because we are hurt because of it? They have dreams and aspirations and feelings too.
What if you were the one leaving a relationship?
Sometimes…many times, people change. Feelings change. Dreams change. We don’t mean to hurt people, but it may happen. Or it may happen to us.
As I tried to tell my friend, it’s one of those things that we hope to understand someday. Most times I think we will. We’ll get older, and look back at where we were 5, 10 and 20 years ago and see these are the moments that make us who we are.
I didn’t have a lot of girlfriends, but I dated quite a few ladies and had a fair amount of crushes. I was the “breaker-upper” only once.
I heard the classic break up speeches. You know how they go.
“It’s not you, it’s me.”
“There’s someone better for you.”
“We’re not going the same way”
“I still want to be friends….”
“I don’t want to ruin our friendship.”
I even heard “You’re just too good for me.”
But each one of those disappointments and sometimes crushing blows helped develop me into the person, man, friend and husband I have become.
At one time I looked back on those moments and I would be flooded with grief and anger. I wanted to know why it didn’t work out when I cared so much and poured so much into those relationships.
I don’t think I ever got an answer to the “Why?” question I would inevitably ask.
Every now and then I’ll run into someone I used to date. Or I’ll run into someone that keeps in touch with them. And when I see where they are and where I am, I see that it never would have worked out. Either I wouldn’t have been the man they needed, or maybe they wouldn’t have been the lady I needed. They are chasing their dreams. They are married. They are engaged. They are single and chasing careers.
I can hear God saying to me, “See, Nate. You didn’t think you could go on, but you did. Look where they are now. Look where you are. You wouldn’t be where you are, where I need you to be if you held on to what you thought you needed back then.”
Then I smile and think about my life, my wife, my job, my family……
Wow. How did I get here? How do we get there?
You just learn to move on. You learn to trust again. You learn to love again…and stronger than the love you had before.
Monday, July 23, 2007
This should not be
With so much drama at LWFC
It’s kinda hard being Nate D- O- Double G….
-Nate Dogg, 2007
Last week I posted about grown adults acting immature. Consider this posting “Immature Pt. 2”
I’ve been back at Living Word for about 10 months. The church has grown, but it’s still relatively small. The dynamics among the people are pretty much the same. It’s really a family church. That means unless you’re really new, we’re all like brothers and sisters.
And that means things get, for lack of a better word, catty sometimes. And really it could be like that at other churches I have attended or visited.
I’ll go back to what I said last week; grown adults can be so immature. Just this weekend I believe I was lied to about a situation that didn’t warrant a lie at all. (Does life ever really warrant a lie?) Tell me what’s going on, and let’s handle it. Don’t make stuff up, because when it all comes out, the truth will be told.
There have been a some instances the last couple weeks where I got bad intel, or info from someone about a situation. Yes, that means I was at the back end of a nice little gossip string. What happens at the back end? Yes, that is where “it” all comes out. And it usually stinks.
Based on the info I got, I made some bad assumptions. I made a couple phone calls, talked to Liza and eventually talked to the person I thought I had upset. What I learned was, things were cool.
I spent a day and half retracing conversations and comments to see where I might have upset someone. Come to find out it looks like it some contrived drama, with a side of white lies and half truths.
I’m glad I’ve seen enough of it in my 34 years to know not to make a knee jerk reaction. I did my research, went to the source, and found out what I really needed to know. And I didn’t go to the person saying “What did I do? Why did you…..Blah blah blah.”
Now, can someone tell me why we fight all the time.
We fight at home. We fight in sports. We fight at church.
I’ve been playing church softball for 16 years now, and church basketball about as long. Someone explain to me why we smile, laugh, chat and pray before the game and then start fighting. And I’m talking about on the same team. Add in a missed call by an umpire, or a skirmish with the other team and we’re fighting for the rest of the game.
There have been a couple situations this year on the respective softball teams that make me scratch my head. Guys get upset because of where they play and how much they play. They get upset at an ump over a call.
They get upset because someone offers some bad or unexpected advice. They get upset because the other guy gets upset.
They get upset at an overthrow. They get upset at an underthrow. They get upset because of flyouts. They get upset at not looking at pitches. They get upset at positioning.
They get upset because some won’t show up due to a prior commitment. They get upset when someone tries to be in 2 places at once. Though we know it’s physically impossible.
They get upset when they think someone doesn’t care, and in turn decide not to care.
They get upset and make their own interpretations of a situation. Do you know what your interpretations say about you? They often tell you exactly what’s in your heart.
By the way, your competitive nature doesn’t make it right.
Your reaction tells a lot about you as well. If you act deceitful because you think (notice I said you think) someone is purposely doing you wrong, how does that help? It only makes it worse.
A friend of mine is catching heat right now because they can’t be in 2 places at once this weekend. They want to be, and they are doing everything they can to do so. But it is impossible. So they have to choose. Do they want to make themselves happy? Do they want to make one group happy? Or do they want to make the other group happy?
They are in a lose-lose situation, unfortunately. Though arrangements have been made, the results won’t be liked by the other party. Someone will misinterpret based on their own misguided opinion.
Ain’t it sad?
So now the battle is how to handle the party that’s going to get upset. The natural response is to fight back.
Our generation says “Hit em high, Hit em low. Hit em first. Hit em last. Let em know who you are, and they’ll never do it again.”
Proverbs 15:1 says a soft answer turns away wrath.
And you say, “Whatever, Dude. We’re human. We have different personalities and upbringings. What’s right for you might not be right for me.”
And I say, “Whatever, Dude.” Like I said last week, you are only explaining why you act that way, It’s not excusing it.
James 3:9-10 says “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
Like James says, this should not be.
How can we come to church, call someone brother or sister, fellowship, praise the Lord, and then go out and talk about them?
This should not be.
Skip down to James 3 verses 13-18 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
If you want peace in your situations, you have to act in humility. You can’t harbor or hold onto the selfish thoughts and anger. The passage tells us that you only find disorder and every evil practice there.
So do you want peace, or do you want to satisfy your own selfish pride?
Your answer to that question tells a lot about you.
It’s kinda hard being Nate D- O- Double G….
-Nate Dogg, 2007
Last week I posted about grown adults acting immature. Consider this posting “Immature Pt. 2”
I’ve been back at Living Word for about 10 months. The church has grown, but it’s still relatively small. The dynamics among the people are pretty much the same. It’s really a family church. That means unless you’re really new, we’re all like brothers and sisters.
And that means things get, for lack of a better word, catty sometimes. And really it could be like that at other churches I have attended or visited.
I’ll go back to what I said last week; grown adults can be so immature. Just this weekend I believe I was lied to about a situation that didn’t warrant a lie at all. (Does life ever really warrant a lie?) Tell me what’s going on, and let’s handle it. Don’t make stuff up, because when it all comes out, the truth will be told.
There have been a some instances the last couple weeks where I got bad intel, or info from someone about a situation. Yes, that means I was at the back end of a nice little gossip string. What happens at the back end? Yes, that is where “it” all comes out. And it usually stinks.
Based on the info I got, I made some bad assumptions. I made a couple phone calls, talked to Liza and eventually talked to the person I thought I had upset. What I learned was, things were cool.
I spent a day and half retracing conversations and comments to see where I might have upset someone. Come to find out it looks like it some contrived drama, with a side of white lies and half truths.
I’m glad I’ve seen enough of it in my 34 years to know not to make a knee jerk reaction. I did my research, went to the source, and found out what I really needed to know. And I didn’t go to the person saying “What did I do? Why did you…..Blah blah blah.”
Now, can someone tell me why we fight all the time.
We fight at home. We fight in sports. We fight at church.
I’ve been playing church softball for 16 years now, and church basketball about as long. Someone explain to me why we smile, laugh, chat and pray before the game and then start fighting. And I’m talking about on the same team. Add in a missed call by an umpire, or a skirmish with the other team and we’re fighting for the rest of the game.
There have been a couple situations this year on the respective softball teams that make me scratch my head. Guys get upset because of where they play and how much they play. They get upset at an ump over a call.
They get upset because someone offers some bad or unexpected advice. They get upset because the other guy gets upset.
They get upset at an overthrow. They get upset at an underthrow. They get upset because of flyouts. They get upset at not looking at pitches. They get upset at positioning.
They get upset because some won’t show up due to a prior commitment. They get upset when someone tries to be in 2 places at once. Though we know it’s physically impossible.
They get upset when they think someone doesn’t care, and in turn decide not to care.
They get upset and make their own interpretations of a situation. Do you know what your interpretations say about you? They often tell you exactly what’s in your heart.
By the way, your competitive nature doesn’t make it right.
Your reaction tells a lot about you as well. If you act deceitful because you think (notice I said you think) someone is purposely doing you wrong, how does that help? It only makes it worse.
A friend of mine is catching heat right now because they can’t be in 2 places at once this weekend. They want to be, and they are doing everything they can to do so. But it is impossible. So they have to choose. Do they want to make themselves happy? Do they want to make one group happy? Or do they want to make the other group happy?
They are in a lose-lose situation, unfortunately. Though arrangements have been made, the results won’t be liked by the other party. Someone will misinterpret based on their own misguided opinion.
Ain’t it sad?
So now the battle is how to handle the party that’s going to get upset. The natural response is to fight back.
Our generation says “Hit em high, Hit em low. Hit em first. Hit em last. Let em know who you are, and they’ll never do it again.”
Proverbs 15:1 says a soft answer turns away wrath.
And you say, “Whatever, Dude. We’re human. We have different personalities and upbringings. What’s right for you might not be right for me.”
And I say, “Whatever, Dude.” Like I said last week, you are only explaining why you act that way, It’s not excusing it.
James 3:9-10 says “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
Like James says, this should not be.
How can we come to church, call someone brother or sister, fellowship, praise the Lord, and then go out and talk about them?
This should not be.
Skip down to James 3 verses 13-18 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
If you want peace in your situations, you have to act in humility. You can’t harbor or hold onto the selfish thoughts and anger. The passage tells us that you only find disorder and every evil practice there.
So do you want peace, or do you want to satisfy your own selfish pride?
Your answer to that question tells a lot about you.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Am I immature?
Take a look at this picture and then ask yourself this question, “Does age equal maturity?”
I’d say the answer is no, but not because some 33 year old guy is taking a picture with Spiderman.
I like my superheroes, but is that immature or is that just me having fun? At times I feel like a kid trapped in a 33 year old (almost 34) body, and I’ll ask myself if I’m immature or just having fun.
I think I’m just having fun and enjoying life, and that is based on a several month personal case study I’ve been doing in my mind.
I’m not sure where to begin but I’ve witnessed quite a few immature moments the last few months. I’m talking about people my age (plus or minus 5 years) and their immature actions or reactions to different situations.
Let me offer a disclaimer first. I know we all come from different walks and ways of life. We all have different personalities and were raised differently. But I follow the disclaimer with this: They merely explain our actions and reactions, they don’t’ excuse our actions and reactions.
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been around quite a few immature moments over the last few months by people I would consider peers. I’ve seen twenty somethings and thirty-somethings act more like children, yet they want to be treated as though they are worthy of some sort of respect.
I just came back from a guys’ weekend of baseball and bad food. Now guys usually aren’t too “catty” but we had a couple instances where I was like “Sheesh. Take a tough pill.” When you get 7 guys together, it can be tough to make a decision on what to do. Here’s why. Most of the guys will say “It doesn’t matter to me.”
You know what I mean. Joe says “What do you want to do?”
Most of the guys will reply, “I don’t care” or “Doesn’t matter to me.”
“Want to go down to the pool?”
Most of the guys will reply, “I don’t care” or “Doesn’t matter to me.”
“Do you want to get pizza or hit a burger joint?”
Most of the guys will reply, “I don’t care” or “Doesn’t matter to me.”
“Do you want to eat before, or eat at the game?”
Most of the guys will reply, “I don’t care” or “Doesn’t matter to me.”
Now let me complete the guys weekend setting. We have 2 cars, 6 licensed drivers, we’re ¼ of a mile from the ballpark, the go-karts/ miniature golf course, Wendy’s, and Burger King. Our hotel is just off the freeway. Can you say convenient?
“Do you want to walk or drive?”
Most of the guys will reply, “I don’t care” or “Doesn’t matter to me.”
But sometimes you hear the following:
“I don’t want to.”
“It’s too far.”
“It might rain.”
“Why?”
Hear the whining? Here we are all grown up men, and the wambulance was always right around the corner.
In reality, (and in the case of the guys weekend) you can either 1) Go with the flow, or 2) do your own thing.
Obviously, the chances of there being a problem are much slimmer if you go with the flow. But if you were to choose to do your own thing…..do your own thing. We’re all men. But remember this, by the same measure you give, expect the same back. In other words, if you decided to do your own thing, don’t be offended should someone want to do their own thing.
Now, generally speaking, tell me if you’ve been in situations like the following.
How about the insulting and smack talking guys do when they’re together. What’s the old saying? “If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out.”
One minute a guys is cracking on someone’s mom, and the next minute he’s telling the guy he insulted to shut up.
Huh?
How about the guy we can become that thinks way too highly of himself? He can tell everyone what to do, how to do it, and usually ends a statement with how good they are at something.
He’s the one who usually can’t take someone else’s advice or correction.
Huh?
Though it was still a fun weekend, we lost an opportunity as friends and men of god to become closer friends because we spent a lot of time trying to convince people to do this or that. Most of us would have been fine if someone wanted to do “that” instead of “this”. But in some instances, that wasn’t the case.
Now I’m not ready to say “Why can’t we all just get along?” There will always be conflict in life, but it really isn’t that hard to get along. I think I spent half of my weekend putting out baby fires because someone owed someone money, some didn’t have money, some felt they gave too much, some didn’t like the food choices, some didn’t like being insulted, some didn’t like leaving early, some didn’t like their bed.
And I’m not talking about the 16 year old kid that was with us. He might have been the most mature one on the trip if we’re talking about immaturity.
This guy didn’t make the trip, be we all know who this immature “guy” is. He’s the type of guy what does well and tells you about it. He’s the guy who thumps his chest when he’s winning. He’s the guy that tells you he’s carrying the team. He’s the guy that quits when the going gets tough, or makes excuses. He’s the guy that forgets when he messes up, or blames someone else.
I’m talking about grown men acting like this.
I think the problem lies in self and pride. We don’t get along or should I say won’t get along with people because it means less of self. We might have to do something that someone else wants to do. What’s wrong with that? As long as you’re not choosing to go along with someone’s sin.
The bible talks a lot about pride. We know God doesn’t like it. We know pride comes before a fall. Blah. Blah. Blah. But what we don’t hear that often is that pride breeds fighting.
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.. (Proverbs 13:10)
There is another famous phase I can reference. That is “There is no “I” in team.” I’ll take that one step further, there is an “I” right in the middle of pride. Pride centers on you, and as long as that is the center, you’ll always have a hard time getting along. And you’ll probably always look immature.
BIZZY
I like this picture I recently took in Times Square in New York City. It was probably 9-10 pm, and look at how busy it is.
Ahh, yes, the hustle and bustle of Times Square. Cars and people everywhere. People shopping. walking. vacationing. working…..on and on.
I feel like that’s my life right now BIZZY. Bee Eye Zee Zee Why.
It’s fun at times, nuts at times, exhilarating at times, exhausting at times.
And time flies when you’re so busy.
Can you believe it’s the middle of July already? I was just telling someone how it’s been such a busy summer, when back in May I figured it would be a pretty relaxing summer. I knew only of a golf trip, a long weekend trip with Eliza and a late summer, (technically fall) cruise.
I also knew about softball. I would play in 1 league and sub in another.
Since then, 2 more mini-trips, Liza playing softball, me playing more softball, church, responsibilities at church, house sitting, this and that have managed to creep their way into the Nate Hood family life.
I’m not sure what to cut out though. Liza and talk a lot about doing things, and try and coordinate a fulfilling and diverse calendar. It seems like something is always getting the short end of the stick. We’d like to do more a bunch of different friends, but that takes away from time with best friends and family. And if you try and make equal time for everyone, close friends and family can become distant.
What to do? What to do?
I feel like that’s my life right now BIZZY. Bee Eye Zee Zee Why.
It’s fun at times, nuts at times, exhilarating at times, exhausting at times.
And time flies when you’re so busy.
Can you believe it’s the middle of July already? I was just telling someone how it’s been such a busy summer, when back in May I figured it would be a pretty relaxing summer. I knew only of a golf trip, a long weekend trip with Eliza and a late summer, (technically fall) cruise.
I also knew about softball. I would play in 1 league and sub in another.
Since then, 2 more mini-trips, Liza playing softball, me playing more softball, church, responsibilities at church, house sitting, this and that have managed to creep their way into the Nate Hood family life.
I’m not sure what to cut out though. Liza and talk a lot about doing things, and try and coordinate a fulfilling and diverse calendar. It seems like something is always getting the short end of the stick. We’d like to do more a bunch of different friends, but that takes away from time with best friends and family. And if you try and make equal time for everyone, close friends and family can become distant.
What to do? What to do?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Politics
So I recently read how the Pennsylvania government is going to be shut down for awhile.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288599,00.html
Yesterday I read that soon the first year of the Baby Boomers will be retiring and 3 years later they are eligible for Social Security/ Medicare. Big deal, right? Well this is going to cause undue strain on the government funding, due to promises of SS and Medicare being more costly than originally thought. The man who delivered this message is being hushed by the government. He says it will cripple the economy, the government and funding for defense. Also, many other tax payer services won’t be available. One of his solutions is to lower spending. The other is “increase revenues”. Revenues? Sounds like business jargon to me.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/60minutes/main2528226.shtml
So 231 years after we declared our independence and 144 years after President Lincoln reaffirmed our “government of the people, for the people, by the people” we’re at a point where it looks like it will all fall down.
Our political situation is out of control. These guys talk more business than government these days. Correct me if I’m wrong but weren’t our original law makers and governing officials normal everyday working people? Of the people, for the people, by the people.
Nowadays, our legislators are only worried about cementing legacies and getting reelected. I don’t know how much of it is “for the people” anymore. Nowadays, it’s more about for the special interest groups.
It bothers me when they vote themselves pay raises, when many Americans are losing their jobs. They tell us there will be some pain, but it will turn around. But they don’t have to worry about losing their homes and feeding their family.
How did government ever get so big? I mean, yeah, we’re a pretty big country, but do we really need the government to do all the things the government “does” for us? The government often helps fund sports stadiums…at the taxpayers expense. Yet the teams that play in these stadiums are usually privately owned by a billionaire, or a group of wealthy people.
http://www.rd.com/content/insane-government-spending/
http://www.rd.com/content/your-tax-money----wasted/
Unfortunately it may be too late. Our society is too blasé and could care less about government these days. I remember reading that in the 2004 election, only 49% of the population voted. That’s how the special interest groups get so much pull. That’s how the government can spend how they spend and tax how they tax.
We’ve had things so good in America that, like I just said, we don’t really care as long as my standard of living isn’t effected that much. Think of the millions and billions of dollars that are spent on our entertainment. Believe me, I’m all for entertainment. But we spend so much time having fun that we’ve become pretty blind to what’s really going on in the world.
Often in our fleeting moments of reading up on current events and news, we catch a biased article that will create an opinion along the same lines. Do we ever really follow up on it to see who true or unbiased it is?
We’re so distracted on Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Paris Hilton, UFC, sports and our weekly reality shows to know what’s going on in other parts of the world.
Do we know that Europe is quickly becoming a world power again and influences a lot of our foreign policy decisions. Do we realize just how much Russia is waking up? Do we realize how much the United Nations influences our government decisions and that the new head of the UN want to create a one world religion?
www.fulfilledprophecy.com
More and more, I buy into conspiracy theories and “wag the dog” thoughts. The media and our government are so intertwined these days. The media shows us what they want us to see to influence our decisions. Can you always trust what you read? No. But the more you read about what’s going on in the world, the better prepared you’ll be to speak up and be knowledgeable about issues.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288599,00.html
Yesterday I read that soon the first year of the Baby Boomers will be retiring and 3 years later they are eligible for Social Security/ Medicare. Big deal, right? Well this is going to cause undue strain on the government funding, due to promises of SS and Medicare being more costly than originally thought. The man who delivered this message is being hushed by the government. He says it will cripple the economy, the government and funding for defense. Also, many other tax payer services won’t be available. One of his solutions is to lower spending. The other is “increase revenues”. Revenues? Sounds like business jargon to me.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/01/60minutes/main2528226.shtml
So 231 years after we declared our independence and 144 years after President Lincoln reaffirmed our “government of the people, for the people, by the people” we’re at a point where it looks like it will all fall down.
Our political situation is out of control. These guys talk more business than government these days. Correct me if I’m wrong but weren’t our original law makers and governing officials normal everyday working people? Of the people, for the people, by the people.
Nowadays, our legislators are only worried about cementing legacies and getting reelected. I don’t know how much of it is “for the people” anymore. Nowadays, it’s more about for the special interest groups.
It bothers me when they vote themselves pay raises, when many Americans are losing their jobs. They tell us there will be some pain, but it will turn around. But they don’t have to worry about losing their homes and feeding their family.
How did government ever get so big? I mean, yeah, we’re a pretty big country, but do we really need the government to do all the things the government “does” for us? The government often helps fund sports stadiums…at the taxpayers expense. Yet the teams that play in these stadiums are usually privately owned by a billionaire, or a group of wealthy people.
http://www.rd.com/content/insane-government-spending/
http://www.rd.com/content/your-tax-money----wasted/
Unfortunately it may be too late. Our society is too blasé and could care less about government these days. I remember reading that in the 2004 election, only 49% of the population voted. That’s how the special interest groups get so much pull. That’s how the government can spend how they spend and tax how they tax.
We’ve had things so good in America that, like I just said, we don’t really care as long as my standard of living isn’t effected that much. Think of the millions and billions of dollars that are spent on our entertainment. Believe me, I’m all for entertainment. But we spend so much time having fun that we’ve become pretty blind to what’s really going on in the world.
Often in our fleeting moments of reading up on current events and news, we catch a biased article that will create an opinion along the same lines. Do we ever really follow up on it to see who true or unbiased it is?
We’re so distracted on Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Paris Hilton, UFC, sports and our weekly reality shows to know what’s going on in other parts of the world.
Do we know that Europe is quickly becoming a world power again and influences a lot of our foreign policy decisions. Do we realize just how much Russia is waking up? Do we realize how much the United Nations influences our government decisions and that the new head of the UN want to create a one world religion?
www.fulfilledprophecy.com
More and more, I buy into conspiracy theories and “wag the dog” thoughts. The media and our government are so intertwined these days. The media shows us what they want us to see to influence our decisions. Can you always trust what you read? No. But the more you read about what’s going on in the world, the better prepared you’ll be to speak up and be knowledgeable about issues.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Time to go to work
I’ve been drafted into duty.
I’m not going to war, but Dad just called and said I’m preaching on June 24th.
Time to buckle down, dive in, and listen to what God is saying to me. I guess I’ve been feeling this was coming for awhile, and to a degree I was getting frustrated. Because of my frustration, I can honestly say I’ve been into the Word as much as I need to be.
Why was I frustrated?
Liza and I made the move to Living Word because we felt God leading us there. In my heart, I could see me working a lot closer with my Dad than I have been. We made the move in September and I’ve only read one poem since then.
Just one.
Sure we started the couples group, and we’re involved with the worship team, but I really felt I could “part time” speak on Sundays.
Sunday after Sunday passed and I saw person after person in speaking roles. I kept telling myself to bide my time, but then someone else would get drafted. I was really wondering why I was at Living Word because I was being used a lot more at the much bigger church in Bethesda.
The frustration led to a lack of ideas and desire to write. I was having a hard time developing ideas and topics for the bible study.
Yet, I’m not one to bulldog my way into a role either. I believe when the time is right, God will open a door and we have to run through it. I don’t believe in ramming the door open. When that happens, it probably isn’t God’s timing.
Anyhow, Mom and Dad are going to be out of town on June 24th. I knew he would need someone to speak, but it was sounding more and more like he would be choosing someone else. But my prayers were that I wanted an opportunity, and June 24 would be a great opportunity.
God still hears prayers.
Now I just need to hear Him on what to talk about.
I’m not going to war, but Dad just called and said I’m preaching on June 24th.
Time to buckle down, dive in, and listen to what God is saying to me. I guess I’ve been feeling this was coming for awhile, and to a degree I was getting frustrated. Because of my frustration, I can honestly say I’ve been into the Word as much as I need to be.
Why was I frustrated?
Liza and I made the move to Living Word because we felt God leading us there. In my heart, I could see me working a lot closer with my Dad than I have been. We made the move in September and I’ve only read one poem since then.
Just one.
Sure we started the couples group, and we’re involved with the worship team, but I really felt I could “part time” speak on Sundays.
Sunday after Sunday passed and I saw person after person in speaking roles. I kept telling myself to bide my time, but then someone else would get drafted. I was really wondering why I was at Living Word because I was being used a lot more at the much bigger church in Bethesda.
The frustration led to a lack of ideas and desire to write. I was having a hard time developing ideas and topics for the bible study.
Yet, I’m not one to bulldog my way into a role either. I believe when the time is right, God will open a door and we have to run through it. I don’t believe in ramming the door open. When that happens, it probably isn’t God’s timing.
Anyhow, Mom and Dad are going to be out of town on June 24th. I knew he would need someone to speak, but it was sounding more and more like he would be choosing someone else. But my prayers were that I wanted an opportunity, and June 24 would be a great opportunity.
God still hears prayers.
Now I just need to hear Him on what to talk about.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Going to bed angry
I went to bed angry Saturday night.
That’s not like me. In fact I promised my wife I would never do that.
Oh wait….I wasn’t mad at Eliza. I was angry about the Pistons. I have really tried to make an effort not to let sports make me angry before bed. Whether it was a game I played, or a game I watched, I grew tired of letting sports dictate a good night’s rest.
I did well for awhile. Then game 6 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals happened.
I was already a little miffed about the series, mainly the NBA and their robots…I mean, announcers’ oozing love of Lebron James. The same guys picked the Pistons to win in 5 or 6 games. Then the poor officiating and official’s love fest of Lebron James. I understand superstar calls, but I thought Jordan retired a few years ago.
But the biggest source of my anger was the Pistons. Where was the pride? Where was the heart? Where was the teamwork? Where was the toughness? Where was the credit to the opponent who attacked them the way they attacked teams from 03 to midway through 06?
Why that time frame?
In 2003, they had just completed their 2nd 50 win season. They were a relatively new group of guys who had really never experience much winning. Some guys like Cliff Robinson, Corliss Williamson and Jon Barry had in other situations, but most of the guys had not.
We all know the story. The Pistons were a ragtag bunch of nobodies and castoffs that finally got a chance. They were mad at the world, and out to prove the naysayers wrong.
They didn’t have the experience to win in that first trip to the Eastern Conference finals.
They were swept by the Nets in 4 games, and from what I remember weren’t really in any of the games.
Enter Larry Brown. Later Rasheed Wallace would enter the mix, and the team with grit had a little savvy, so more experience, and now some swagger. Oh and Darko was supposed to be waiting in the wings.
They used the spite, the anger, and the "tougher than you" attitude to win 50 games for the 3rd straight year. 54 to be exact. They took on and beat all comers, under some tough circumstances. The block on Reggie Miller??? Chauncey's 3/4 court shot against the Nets??? A 5 game sweep of the Lakers. The Pistons were champs when they were told it couldn't be done.
2005 brought us another deep run. They fought their way though countless tough situations often brought on by themselves. But they told us, and we believed them that if it ain’t rough, it ain’t right. They were known as the team that plays best with their backs against the wall.
They lost to San Antonio in 7 games, and told themselves and us, that if they only took care of business in game 5 of the Finals, they would’ve won. And we believed them.
Brown was fired. They told us he helped but it was really them anyhow. After running out to an amazing 35-5 run in 05-06, we believed them again. We learned it was the prefect blend of Larry Brown’s teaching blended with the offensive genius of new coach Flip Saunders. Four Pistons make the All-Star game, and in my opinion that was the beginning of the end.
They appeared to have felt validated at that time, and a new attitude of entitlement replaced the gritty, never say die tenacity that fueled these guys. They now expected teams to roll over for them.
Most teams did for a few weeks. But the Cavaliers showed the basketball world that if you get up after the Pistons smack you, and smack them back, they are very beatable. If you could out tough the Pistons you could beat the Pistons.
That’s what teams started to do. Miami beat the Pistons in 6 in the Conference finals.
Ben Wallace left. Nazr Mohammed and Flip Murray signed, and we were told now we had the firepower the new NBA required, and still 4/5 of the toughness. In fact, we were told we’ll miss Ben, but it really wasn’t him anyhow. It’s Piston’s basketball.
The Pistons had a few good stretches over the season. They had the best record in the East again, and we were told just wait for the playoffs. How right they were! They swept the Magic and appeared to have toyed with them in the process.
They blew out Chicago in games 1-2 of the conference semi-finals. They came back from 19 down to win game 3. Chicago looked defeated, and the Pistons were again the toast of the NBA.
But arrogance entered again. Arrogance doesn’t look good on anyone, but it looks awful on teams that pride themselves on hard work. Arrogance looks awful on teams that haven’t won anything in 3 years.
Chicago got up and smacked the Pistons in game 4. Then they smacked them in Detroit in game 5.
The Pistons gutted out a game 6 win, and all was right in Piston world again. They even told us that push came to shove and they did what they do. They win when they have to. Why would we doubt them?
We would get that answer against Cleveland. The Pistons barely won the first 2 games. They would say they didn’t play well, just wait until they play well and see what happens. They never played well.
They were out hustled and outplayed. The Cavs looked more ready, more focused, more poised, and were mo’ better.
I was unfazed by it for the first 3 losses to the Cav’s. I bought the company line of just wait til we get it right. They never got it right.
Only minutes into the 4th quarter of game 6, a rookie delivered the final punch. He knocked out the pride, the swagger, and the confidence. All the remained was an empty, unjustified arrogance, that quickly turned into a lack of effort.
The hard work was gone. The heart of a champion was ripped out. The torch was not passed, but ripped from their hands.
It’s over.
When the heart is gone, the memories fade away.
But when I clear my mind for a moment I realized they got beat by a more modern version of their 2004 team. Granted, the Cavs have King James, but the other parts are cast-offs, has beens, and never will be’s that played tough team basketball. They believed in themselves when noone else would.
They defeated a team that they weren’t supposed to beat.
Just like the Pistons did to the Pacers, Nets, and Lakers on their run.
Isn’t it funny how things change? The Pistons became the arrogant team they defeated in the Lakers.
And that made me angry.
That’s not like me. In fact I promised my wife I would never do that.
Oh wait….I wasn’t mad at Eliza. I was angry about the Pistons. I have really tried to make an effort not to let sports make me angry before bed. Whether it was a game I played, or a game I watched, I grew tired of letting sports dictate a good night’s rest.
I did well for awhile. Then game 6 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals happened.
I was already a little miffed about the series, mainly the NBA and their robots…I mean, announcers’ oozing love of Lebron James. The same guys picked the Pistons to win in 5 or 6 games. Then the poor officiating and official’s love fest of Lebron James. I understand superstar calls, but I thought Jordan retired a few years ago.
But the biggest source of my anger was the Pistons. Where was the pride? Where was the heart? Where was the teamwork? Where was the toughness? Where was the credit to the opponent who attacked them the way they attacked teams from 03 to midway through 06?
Why that time frame?
In 2003, they had just completed their 2nd 50 win season. They were a relatively new group of guys who had really never experience much winning. Some guys like Cliff Robinson, Corliss Williamson and Jon Barry had in other situations, but most of the guys had not.
We all know the story. The Pistons were a ragtag bunch of nobodies and castoffs that finally got a chance. They were mad at the world, and out to prove the naysayers wrong.
They didn’t have the experience to win in that first trip to the Eastern Conference finals.
They were swept by the Nets in 4 games, and from what I remember weren’t really in any of the games.
Enter Larry Brown. Later Rasheed Wallace would enter the mix, and the team with grit had a little savvy, so more experience, and now some swagger. Oh and Darko was supposed to be waiting in the wings.
They used the spite, the anger, and the "tougher than you" attitude to win 50 games for the 3rd straight year. 54 to be exact. They took on and beat all comers, under some tough circumstances. The block on Reggie Miller??? Chauncey's 3/4 court shot against the Nets??? A 5 game sweep of the Lakers. The Pistons were champs when they were told it couldn't be done.
2005 brought us another deep run. They fought their way though countless tough situations often brought on by themselves. But they told us, and we believed them that if it ain’t rough, it ain’t right. They were known as the team that plays best with their backs against the wall.
They lost to San Antonio in 7 games, and told themselves and us, that if they only took care of business in game 5 of the Finals, they would’ve won. And we believed them.
Brown was fired. They told us he helped but it was really them anyhow. After running out to an amazing 35-5 run in 05-06, we believed them again. We learned it was the prefect blend of Larry Brown’s teaching blended with the offensive genius of new coach Flip Saunders. Four Pistons make the All-Star game, and in my opinion that was the beginning of the end.
They appeared to have felt validated at that time, and a new attitude of entitlement replaced the gritty, never say die tenacity that fueled these guys. They now expected teams to roll over for them.
Most teams did for a few weeks. But the Cavaliers showed the basketball world that if you get up after the Pistons smack you, and smack them back, they are very beatable. If you could out tough the Pistons you could beat the Pistons.
That’s what teams started to do. Miami beat the Pistons in 6 in the Conference finals.
Ben Wallace left. Nazr Mohammed and Flip Murray signed, and we were told now we had the firepower the new NBA required, and still 4/5 of the toughness. In fact, we were told we’ll miss Ben, but it really wasn’t him anyhow. It’s Piston’s basketball.
The Pistons had a few good stretches over the season. They had the best record in the East again, and we were told just wait for the playoffs. How right they were! They swept the Magic and appeared to have toyed with them in the process.
They blew out Chicago in games 1-2 of the conference semi-finals. They came back from 19 down to win game 3. Chicago looked defeated, and the Pistons were again the toast of the NBA.
But arrogance entered again. Arrogance doesn’t look good on anyone, but it looks awful on teams that pride themselves on hard work. Arrogance looks awful on teams that haven’t won anything in 3 years.
Chicago got up and smacked the Pistons in game 4. Then they smacked them in Detroit in game 5.
The Pistons gutted out a game 6 win, and all was right in Piston world again. They even told us that push came to shove and they did what they do. They win when they have to. Why would we doubt them?
We would get that answer against Cleveland. The Pistons barely won the first 2 games. They would say they didn’t play well, just wait until they play well and see what happens. They never played well.
They were out hustled and outplayed. The Cavs looked more ready, more focused, more poised, and were mo’ better.
I was unfazed by it for the first 3 losses to the Cav’s. I bought the company line of just wait til we get it right. They never got it right.
Only minutes into the 4th quarter of game 6, a rookie delivered the final punch. He knocked out the pride, the swagger, and the confidence. All the remained was an empty, unjustified arrogance, that quickly turned into a lack of effort.
The hard work was gone. The heart of a champion was ripped out. The torch was not passed, but ripped from their hands.
It’s over.
When the heart is gone, the memories fade away.
But when I clear my mind for a moment I realized they got beat by a more modern version of their 2004 team. Granted, the Cavs have King James, but the other parts are cast-offs, has beens, and never will be’s that played tough team basketball. They believed in themselves when noone else would.
They defeated a team that they weren’t supposed to beat.
Just like the Pistons did to the Pacers, Nets, and Lakers on their run.
Isn’t it funny how things change? The Pistons became the arrogant team they defeated in the Lakers.
And that made me angry.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Freedom.....
The First amendment of our Bill of Rights states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
So why is freedom of speech so confusing?
From what I understand, our forefathers added this to the Bill of Rights to protect us from the government telling us how to speak. This amendment keeps the government from restricting us from speaking out against the government. You have to remember the context of their times. They were cutting off ties from a government that told them how to speak, what to believe, and what they could do. The Declaration of Independence cut ties with that government, and the Bill of Rights established the rights we have.
People like to think that the First amendment is what makes profanity, cursing, and speech such as slurs okay. We were born with that right. But it doesn’t make it right.
Quite some time ago I drove past a church sign which said this, “Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong.”
Think about that for a moment.
The right to be wrong means we’re going to make mistakes. We will say and do things that inevitably are wrong. But the deliberate choice to do wrong is not freedom. It’s disobedience and rebellion.
Over time Americans have developed the opinion that our freedoms mean we can do or say whatever we want. Back at the time our Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written, we were a different society. Most people held the same social and moral views. Given that, they didn’t have to say the freedom of speech allows us to curse, etc. Since we were a rather God-fearing country back then, I don’t believe many people cursed, or slurred their fellow Americans.
So where is freedom of speech now? The whole Don Imus thing has people talking. His comments, the immediate reaction, and the coming reaction will be felt for many years. Unfortunately, I think the reaction will take us to a place we don’t want to go.
We’re going to ask the government to legislate our speech. A hate speech law will be drafted and go through the House and Senate. It will say that any speech inflaming or speaking against another group will be deemed “Hate” speech, and dealt with in a legal manner. The bill will classify groups by ethnicity, thought, and “sexual orientation”. This classification will protect the groups from “hate speech”.
But I believe the law will be convoluted and vague. It will give way to targeting the religious views our country was founded on. It will limit what the church can say about sinful behavior. We will be asking the government to do the very thing we said we weren’t going to allow anymore. We will be asking the government to legislate what we can and cannot say.
Bottom line is, if we ask the government to fix this we’re in for a world of hurt. You can’t legislate morality and ethics.
As tough as we like to think we are as Americans, we’re really very sensitive and weak. If you look at the Bill of Rights, you will not find anywhere that we have the right “not to be offended”.
As long as we live in this world, we are going to be offended. Do we really want people to be fined when we’re offended? Do we really want to throw people in jail when we’re offended? What about when you offend someone? Because it will happen.
Right now, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton offend me. The way they talk in the Imus situation and in many situations offends me, yet because they are speaking on behalf of an offended basketball team, their words are overlooked.
However, the Rutgers women’s basketball team inspires and encourages me. These young ladies met with the man who offended them, and said they accept his apology and are in the process of forgiving him. The ladies are 18-22 years old and they get it. Why can’t the much older and supposedly wiser Sharpton and Jackson get it?
I don’t know the background of the individual women, but their response is almost biblical. What did Jesus say? You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Mt 5:38-39).
In Romans 12 we read, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The ladies go beyond apology and say that Imus shouldn’t have been fired for his regrettable statements. In essence, they turned the other cheek. They didn’t repay evil with evil, but with good.
The Imus situation is the paradox for what this country has become. We push the envelope until someone is truly offended. We probably offended all along the way, but since it wasn’t really a big deal we let it go. And we push the envelope some more. Finally, someone really gets offended and we go to extremes trying to turn it around. I don’t agree with Imus or his views, but the guy made his career off of being controversial. That’s why his employer signed him to a multi million dollar contract. Then they fire him for controversial comments. I’d be confused too.
Why wasn’t their more backlash earlier in his career? How did he get his own radio and TV shows? America loves controversy. That’s how. The same people that pushed Imus to his position are backpedaling really fast now that the money of his advertisers is at stake.
Let me say again, I don’t agree with his views at all. They are inappropriate, insensitive, and inconsiderate. But the hearts and minds of people who think and feel this way won’t be changed by a “hate speech” law. The coming attempt to silence the voices will further plunge us into a Godless society.
The only way to really change the soul and culture of America is to go back to what our forefathers knew… “that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their CREATOR, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
If we really knew and understood what they said in the Declaration of Independence we wouldn’t be talking about this right now. If we really knew and understood what the Bible said about loving our neighbors, we wouldn’t have this problem.
Don’t change the laws. Change the minds. Change the hearts. Change the souls. Change the world.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
So why is freedom of speech so confusing?
From what I understand, our forefathers added this to the Bill of Rights to protect us from the government telling us how to speak. This amendment keeps the government from restricting us from speaking out against the government. You have to remember the context of their times. They were cutting off ties from a government that told them how to speak, what to believe, and what they could do. The Declaration of Independence cut ties with that government, and the Bill of Rights established the rights we have.
People like to think that the First amendment is what makes profanity, cursing, and speech such as slurs okay. We were born with that right. But it doesn’t make it right.
Quite some time ago I drove past a church sign which said this, “Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong.”
Think about that for a moment.
The right to be wrong means we’re going to make mistakes. We will say and do things that inevitably are wrong. But the deliberate choice to do wrong is not freedom. It’s disobedience and rebellion.
Over time Americans have developed the opinion that our freedoms mean we can do or say whatever we want. Back at the time our Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written, we were a different society. Most people held the same social and moral views. Given that, they didn’t have to say the freedom of speech allows us to curse, etc. Since we were a rather God-fearing country back then, I don’t believe many people cursed, or slurred their fellow Americans.
So where is freedom of speech now? The whole Don Imus thing has people talking. His comments, the immediate reaction, and the coming reaction will be felt for many years. Unfortunately, I think the reaction will take us to a place we don’t want to go.
We’re going to ask the government to legislate our speech. A hate speech law will be drafted and go through the House and Senate. It will say that any speech inflaming or speaking against another group will be deemed “Hate” speech, and dealt with in a legal manner. The bill will classify groups by ethnicity, thought, and “sexual orientation”. This classification will protect the groups from “hate speech”.
But I believe the law will be convoluted and vague. It will give way to targeting the religious views our country was founded on. It will limit what the church can say about sinful behavior. We will be asking the government to do the very thing we said we weren’t going to allow anymore. We will be asking the government to legislate what we can and cannot say.
Bottom line is, if we ask the government to fix this we’re in for a world of hurt. You can’t legislate morality and ethics.
As tough as we like to think we are as Americans, we’re really very sensitive and weak. If you look at the Bill of Rights, you will not find anywhere that we have the right “not to be offended”.
As long as we live in this world, we are going to be offended. Do we really want people to be fined when we’re offended? Do we really want to throw people in jail when we’re offended? What about when you offend someone? Because it will happen.
Right now, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton offend me. The way they talk in the Imus situation and in many situations offends me, yet because they are speaking on behalf of an offended basketball team, their words are overlooked.
However, the Rutgers women’s basketball team inspires and encourages me. These young ladies met with the man who offended them, and said they accept his apology and are in the process of forgiving him. The ladies are 18-22 years old and they get it. Why can’t the much older and supposedly wiser Sharpton and Jackson get it?
I don’t know the background of the individual women, but their response is almost biblical. What did Jesus say? You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Mt 5:38-39).
In Romans 12 we read, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The ladies go beyond apology and say that Imus shouldn’t have been fired for his regrettable statements. In essence, they turned the other cheek. They didn’t repay evil with evil, but with good.
The Imus situation is the paradox for what this country has become. We push the envelope until someone is truly offended. We probably offended all along the way, but since it wasn’t really a big deal we let it go. And we push the envelope some more. Finally, someone really gets offended and we go to extremes trying to turn it around. I don’t agree with Imus or his views, but the guy made his career off of being controversial. That’s why his employer signed him to a multi million dollar contract. Then they fire him for controversial comments. I’d be confused too.
Why wasn’t their more backlash earlier in his career? How did he get his own radio and TV shows? America loves controversy. That’s how. The same people that pushed Imus to his position are backpedaling really fast now that the money of his advertisers is at stake.
Let me say again, I don’t agree with his views at all. They are inappropriate, insensitive, and inconsiderate. But the hearts and minds of people who think and feel this way won’t be changed by a “hate speech” law. The coming attempt to silence the voices will further plunge us into a Godless society.
The only way to really change the soul and culture of America is to go back to what our forefathers knew… “that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their CREATOR, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
If we really knew and understood what they said in the Declaration of Independence we wouldn’t be talking about this right now. If we really knew and understood what the Bible said about loving our neighbors, we wouldn’t have this problem.
Don’t change the laws. Change the minds. Change the hearts. Change the souls. Change the world.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
I wanna cry
I wanna cry
Maybe it’s because I’m in my thirties, and finally growing up.
Maybe it’s because I’m finally becoming who God intended me to be.
But more and more news stories today make me sad. And most of it surrounds news with kids in the headlines.
I don’t know how many more stories I can hear of people harming children. Kids aren’t safe anywhere these days. Not in school. Not in church. Not in the home. Not in the womb.
I just read the gruesome details of a woman in a neighborhood near mine. As the story goes, times were tough for her and her children. They didn’t have water. She was working at McDonalds to make money. She was afraid protective services were going to take her kids away.
And she snapped.
Apparently she told her sister she was going to the ends of hell, and she thinks she ate some people.
She went and got a knife and chased down her daughters. She killed the 8 year old first, and then her 2 year old. Then she stabbed the 3 family pets to death in their kennels, and finally the family pet mouse.
And she sat in the trailer with the bodies for a couple hours.
Her sister finally showed up concerned, found out what happened and called 911.
From the news report I saw, she was defending her sister at the police station. She was saying something to the effect of that not being her sister but some psycho woman.
I don’t care if she was psycho or not. Murder is murder. And children are the epitome of innocence. How can someone…..a mother….kill a child? This was her flesh and blood. How can she kill the pets who were sitting in their kennels?
Last night I saw a news report of children….young children being sold overseas as sex slaves. How twisted and evil can a human be? This was preceded by a report about online sex predators and the young teens and children they prey upon.
It makes me wanna cry.
Look at this world today. It’s scary. I want to have kids, but I will never be able to protect them from everything. Kids hardly have anytime to be kids anymore. We have to teach them not to talk to strangers. By age 5 we’re teaching them to not let an adult touch their private areas.
I have 4 nieces and 3 nephews, with one on the way. I love them with all my heart. And that same heart breaks when I hear news like the stories I mentioned earlier.
God has such a heart for children. Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me….” when people were trying to keep the children from him.
Psalms 127: 3 says Children are a gift from the Lord.
Have you ever had a little one fall asleep in your arms? Have you ever had a little on tell you they love you? Have you ever seen the bottom lip of a little on quiver, only to have the tears wiped away and smile take its place?
Taking the innocence and lives of children should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. No ifs, ands or buts. No plea bargaining. No deals. No insanity pleas. The act committed is the act that should be punished. It’s sad that our justice system is so flawed these days. We protect those who commit these acts.
They laugh in the face of our justice system. They mock the foundations of our society. They mock us and they mock God. They’ll pay for it some day.
But right now, only our kids are paying for it.
And that’s what makes me wanna cry.
Maybe it’s because I’m in my thirties, and finally growing up.
Maybe it’s because I’m finally becoming who God intended me to be.
But more and more news stories today make me sad. And most of it surrounds news with kids in the headlines.
I don’t know how many more stories I can hear of people harming children. Kids aren’t safe anywhere these days. Not in school. Not in church. Not in the home. Not in the womb.
I just read the gruesome details of a woman in a neighborhood near mine. As the story goes, times were tough for her and her children. They didn’t have water. She was working at McDonalds to make money. She was afraid protective services were going to take her kids away.
And she snapped.
Apparently she told her sister she was going to the ends of hell, and she thinks she ate some people.
She went and got a knife and chased down her daughters. She killed the 8 year old first, and then her 2 year old. Then she stabbed the 3 family pets to death in their kennels, and finally the family pet mouse.
And she sat in the trailer with the bodies for a couple hours.
Her sister finally showed up concerned, found out what happened and called 911.
From the news report I saw, she was defending her sister at the police station. She was saying something to the effect of that not being her sister but some psycho woman.
I don’t care if she was psycho or not. Murder is murder. And children are the epitome of innocence. How can someone…..a mother….kill a child? This was her flesh and blood. How can she kill the pets who were sitting in their kennels?
Last night I saw a news report of children….young children being sold overseas as sex slaves. How twisted and evil can a human be? This was preceded by a report about online sex predators and the young teens and children they prey upon.
It makes me wanna cry.
Look at this world today. It’s scary. I want to have kids, but I will never be able to protect them from everything. Kids hardly have anytime to be kids anymore. We have to teach them not to talk to strangers. By age 5 we’re teaching them to not let an adult touch their private areas.
I have 4 nieces and 3 nephews, with one on the way. I love them with all my heart. And that same heart breaks when I hear news like the stories I mentioned earlier.
God has such a heart for children. Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me….” when people were trying to keep the children from him.
Psalms 127: 3 says Children are a gift from the Lord.
Have you ever had a little one fall asleep in your arms? Have you ever had a little on tell you they love you? Have you ever seen the bottom lip of a little on quiver, only to have the tears wiped away and smile take its place?
Taking the innocence and lives of children should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. No ifs, ands or buts. No plea bargaining. No deals. No insanity pleas. The act committed is the act that should be punished. It’s sad that our justice system is so flawed these days. We protect those who commit these acts.
They laugh in the face of our justice system. They mock the foundations of our society. They mock us and they mock God. They’ll pay for it some day.
But right now, only our kids are paying for it.
And that’s what makes me wanna cry.
I don't get it
Time to vent a little.
It’s just a little thing, but something that got me going. I heard the other day that the Masterfoods company is going to stop marketing snack foods to kids 12 and under due to fear of government regulations.
Apparently there is a link between marketing food to kids under 12 and obesity.
What about this link?
Kids don’t do anything these days. They eat junk, not because it’s marketed to them, but because it’s given to them. And then they sit in front of the TV or computer and play games.
No exercise at all.
Yes, I’m speaking in generalizations. Not all kids are obese. But it is a growing problem (pardon the pun).
Now that I’m at the are where I have started saying, “I remember when……” I remember when I was young. I ate a lot of junk food, and have the cavities to show it. The thing is, it was monitored and I was going to exercise a lot of it off. We rarely got a candy bar to munch on, and snack time was portioned out and only after dinner.
When fruit snacks came out, we got a pack. Not packs. We couldn’t down pop at our leisure. Again, we got to drink it, but it was portioned out. As bad as my eating habits were, I learned how to handle my portions. Eat til your full, not til your uncomfortable.
When are we going to stop asking for government regulations on things, and start regulating ourselves? It’s insane that the government would even consider regulating food. It’s insane that people are asking the government to regulate food.
Another big thing is the ban of transfat in cities, due to health issues regarding too much transfat in our diet. Now, I agree it’s not best for us, but are you kidding me?! I can’t have a plate of fries or some potato chips because of the transfat? An occasional side of fries is not going to kill me.
I understand the smoking bans. It effects other people. I understand the alcohol and drug regulation. The overindulgence of alcohol can lead to drunk driving, bad behavior, unwise behavior, etc. It doesn’t have to, but it often does.
But how does junk food effect other people? What? They might overlap seats?
Come on!
You can’t legislate morality and you can’t legislate good decisions. This is not the government’s job. Really, all you can do is educate. If people knew what exactly it was doing to their bodies, they should not partake or at least partake less of it.
Why don’t they regulate caffeine? They aren’t making Coke sell only no caffeine Coke. They aren’t regulating Red Bull and energy drinks that have documented side effects.
Maybe I’m insensitive. I don’t know. But I should be able to determine what I want to eat. Don’t penalize me because a few lazy people out there don’t know how to use the off button on their appetite.
The companies that do this are only meeting the demand for their products. If people had healthier demands, the companies would adjust. They always do. They follow the money.
I offer a solution to the unhealthy world out there. Push away from the table. Limit your portions. How often do we say “I shouldn’t have another helping or another handful”, but do?
Bottom line is this gets down to thinking and acting responsibly. If we acted and ate more responsible instead of irresponsibly we’d be better off. Acting irresponsibly leads to problems and then to excuses.
If Americans were truly concerned about transfat and obesity, we’d watch what we eat. Instead we take it all in, get fat and unhealthy, blame the makers of it, and get the government involved.
Ah yes. The American way.
It’s just a little thing, but something that got me going. I heard the other day that the Masterfoods company is going to stop marketing snack foods to kids 12 and under due to fear of government regulations.
Apparently there is a link between marketing food to kids under 12 and obesity.
What about this link?
Kids don’t do anything these days. They eat junk, not because it’s marketed to them, but because it’s given to them. And then they sit in front of the TV or computer and play games.
No exercise at all.
Yes, I’m speaking in generalizations. Not all kids are obese. But it is a growing problem (pardon the pun).
Now that I’m at the are where I have started saying, “I remember when……” I remember when I was young. I ate a lot of junk food, and have the cavities to show it. The thing is, it was monitored and I was going to exercise a lot of it off. We rarely got a candy bar to munch on, and snack time was portioned out and only after dinner.
When fruit snacks came out, we got a pack. Not packs. We couldn’t down pop at our leisure. Again, we got to drink it, but it was portioned out. As bad as my eating habits were, I learned how to handle my portions. Eat til your full, not til your uncomfortable.
When are we going to stop asking for government regulations on things, and start regulating ourselves? It’s insane that the government would even consider regulating food. It’s insane that people are asking the government to regulate food.
Another big thing is the ban of transfat in cities, due to health issues regarding too much transfat in our diet. Now, I agree it’s not best for us, but are you kidding me?! I can’t have a plate of fries or some potato chips because of the transfat? An occasional side of fries is not going to kill me.
I understand the smoking bans. It effects other people. I understand the alcohol and drug regulation. The overindulgence of alcohol can lead to drunk driving, bad behavior, unwise behavior, etc. It doesn’t have to, but it often does.
But how does junk food effect other people? What? They might overlap seats?
Come on!
You can’t legislate morality and you can’t legislate good decisions. This is not the government’s job. Really, all you can do is educate. If people knew what exactly it was doing to their bodies, they should not partake or at least partake less of it.
Why don’t they regulate caffeine? They aren’t making Coke sell only no caffeine Coke. They aren’t regulating Red Bull and energy drinks that have documented side effects.
Maybe I’m insensitive. I don’t know. But I should be able to determine what I want to eat. Don’t penalize me because a few lazy people out there don’t know how to use the off button on their appetite.
The companies that do this are only meeting the demand for their products. If people had healthier demands, the companies would adjust. They always do. They follow the money.
I offer a solution to the unhealthy world out there. Push away from the table. Limit your portions. How often do we say “I shouldn’t have another helping or another handful”, but do?
Bottom line is this gets down to thinking and acting responsibly. If we acted and ate more responsible instead of irresponsibly we’d be better off. Acting irresponsibly leads to problems and then to excuses.
If Americans were truly concerned about transfat and obesity, we’d watch what we eat. Instead we take it all in, get fat and unhealthy, blame the makers of it, and get the government involved.
Ah yes. The American way.
Monday, January 08, 2007
It's been awhile.....again
Not that I forgot about it, but it wasn’t top of mind.
I was starting to write and post on the blog more often when a friend told me that anything posted on a blog is basically copyrighted, and makes it more difficult to get it copyrighted again later.
My poems and stuff are important to me, and I have a dream of publishing them in a book someday.
Thus, I was hesitant to post any of my poems and thoughts. I thought it had only been a couple months when I checked this morning.
September????
That’s how long it’s been. I miss it and with the start of the new year, I’m gonna start posting more. I’ll be more careful about the things I’m posting. If it’s something I may want to publish someday, I probably won’t post it.
But if it’s random thoughts or the like. It’s goin’ on!
In the meantime, if anyone has any more insight on posting on blogs, and the legal/copyright ramifications, please let me know.
I was starting to write and post on the blog more often when a friend told me that anything posted on a blog is basically copyrighted, and makes it more difficult to get it copyrighted again later.
My poems and stuff are important to me, and I have a dream of publishing them in a book someday.
Thus, I was hesitant to post any of my poems and thoughts. I thought it had only been a couple months when I checked this morning.
September????
That’s how long it’s been. I miss it and with the start of the new year, I’m gonna start posting more. I’ll be more careful about the things I’m posting. If it’s something I may want to publish someday, I probably won’t post it.
But if it’s random thoughts or the like. It’s goin’ on!
In the meantime, if anyone has any more insight on posting on blogs, and the legal/copyright ramifications, please let me know.
Monday, September 11, 2006
5 Years Later
Some of the events are still clear in my mind.
Others aren't fuzzy.
But I'll never forget where I was.
I remember around 8:45 that morning. I was in the conference room with my coworkers, just like we were every day. I went to my cubicle for a few minutes, and went back into the conference room.
“A plane just flew into the World Trade Center”, someone told me. “My sister just called and said a plane flew into the World Trade Center.”
I think I said something like “What kind of plane? A Cessna? How can you not see the World Trade Center?”
Someone else said something to the effect of “It must have been. A passenger plane wouldn’t fly that low unless there was a problem.”
Though we in a room with TV access, our first response was to go to the internet. We went to Yahoo news and sure enough we saw the picture of the tower. There was a hole in the side and smoke was billowing out of it.
“Yup. Something hit it alright.”
“But that’s a lot of smoke for a little plane.”
“I know, but….”
We just kept thinking it was a little plane with someone that got lost, fell asleep or something.
“Ed, you want to go down and get something to eat?” I asked.
“Sure. Let’s go.” he said.
We left to go down to level 2 of the RenCen. We usually go down and grab a protein bar or bagel at about that time. Plus we thought we might see a TV down there.
Sure enough. We got downstairs, and could see the live footage of the smoke coming from the building.
“Wow. That’s a lot of smoke.” one of us said.
“It couldn’t really be a bigger plane could it?”
“Maybe…..”
Meanwhile, back in the conference room, they finally turned the TV on.
Ed and I were walking back to the elevators. Still couldn’t believe or make sense of what was going on.
We got back to the room and someone said another plane just hit the towers.
“What?” we both said. “You’re kidding.”
One of the other guys in the room said he was wondering out loud as it happened. Apparently he said “I wonder if it’s terrorists?”
Seconds later, the second plane hit the tower.
“Yep. I’m gonna guess it is.”
We all sat there stunned. By then, our room had become one of the most popular rooms on the 26th floor. Others came in the room to see what was on TV.
Women were crying. It was quiet. We were all shocked.
One of the secretaries came in and said people were free to leave if they wanted to. Management said if anyone was uncomfortable, they were free to leave.
Nobody moved. We were glued to the TV.
Sometime after the first tower fell before they sent us home, but I remember the secretary sticking her head in the room and saying, “We’ve been instructed to leave. Take your time. Go be with your families.”
I just remember getting in the car and hearing the reporter talking about a tower collapsing. I couldn’t believe it. Then when I heard it was the second, I really couldn’t believe it.
My buddy called his wife, a school teacher, and they were letting the kids out of school early. It was strange going to the school. I had just seen the most horrific and unbelievable thing in my life, and yet most people still didn’t know what was going on.
I remember driving down the road and seeing a military plane in the distance. I remember thinking, “Is that plane okay? Is it going to crash?”
Our lives haven’t been the same since. Ten months before 9/11 I was in the lobby and subway station of the World Trade Center. I remember how big inside they were. I remember getting outside the towers and looking up. We couldn’t see the top, it was night time, but still. The building seemed to go forever.
I’ll remember my first trip to NYC. I was in Philadelphia on business, and a couple of us decided to stick around another day and take the train into NY. I remember seeing the silhouette of the towers in the distance as we were going through New Jersey. I remember thinking “Wow I’m close. I’ll finally make to New York.” We had another half hour. Those things were so tall, you could see them for miles.
I remember going to the top of the Empire State building and standing for a picture with the World Trade Center in the background.
I made a few other trips to NYC. Two trips with the World Trade Center still there, and one almost 10 months after 9/11. The ruins were still smoldering 10 months later. I couldn’t believe what was still left. We saw the memorials, the prayers, and the pictures. It was very moving.
At the time, I thought this would be a rallying point for the rebirth or revival of America. It really was for a short time.
But where are we now? The stock market is doing pretty good again. Republican and Democrats can’t get along again. All they do is pass blame on the other party, just like the old days.
People talk about how good it is elsewhere, but won’t go there to live. People are still trying to get into the US, which should tell you something.
I’m not happy about a lot of the things going on in this country anymore. It’s like God doesn’t matter in most people lives now. That’s how things were before 9/11. Like I said earlier, you would think that would change people.
Others aren't fuzzy.
But I'll never forget where I was.
I remember around 8:45 that morning. I was in the conference room with my coworkers, just like we were every day. I went to my cubicle for a few minutes, and went back into the conference room.
“A plane just flew into the World Trade Center”, someone told me. “My sister just called and said a plane flew into the World Trade Center.”
I think I said something like “What kind of plane? A Cessna? How can you not see the World Trade Center?”
Someone else said something to the effect of “It must have been. A passenger plane wouldn’t fly that low unless there was a problem.”
Though we in a room with TV access, our first response was to go to the internet. We went to Yahoo news and sure enough we saw the picture of the tower. There was a hole in the side and smoke was billowing out of it.
“Yup. Something hit it alright.”
“But that’s a lot of smoke for a little plane.”
“I know, but….”
We just kept thinking it was a little plane with someone that got lost, fell asleep or something.
“Ed, you want to go down and get something to eat?” I asked.
“Sure. Let’s go.” he said.
We left to go down to level 2 of the RenCen. We usually go down and grab a protein bar or bagel at about that time. Plus we thought we might see a TV down there.
Sure enough. We got downstairs, and could see the live footage of the smoke coming from the building.
“Wow. That’s a lot of smoke.” one of us said.
“It couldn’t really be a bigger plane could it?”
“Maybe…..”
Meanwhile, back in the conference room, they finally turned the TV on.
Ed and I were walking back to the elevators. Still couldn’t believe or make sense of what was going on.
We got back to the room and someone said another plane just hit the towers.
“What?” we both said. “You’re kidding.”
One of the other guys in the room said he was wondering out loud as it happened. Apparently he said “I wonder if it’s terrorists?”
Seconds later, the second plane hit the tower.
“Yep. I’m gonna guess it is.”
We all sat there stunned. By then, our room had become one of the most popular rooms on the 26th floor. Others came in the room to see what was on TV.
Women were crying. It was quiet. We were all shocked.
One of the secretaries came in and said people were free to leave if they wanted to. Management said if anyone was uncomfortable, they were free to leave.
Nobody moved. We were glued to the TV.
Sometime after the first tower fell before they sent us home, but I remember the secretary sticking her head in the room and saying, “We’ve been instructed to leave. Take your time. Go be with your families.”
I just remember getting in the car and hearing the reporter talking about a tower collapsing. I couldn’t believe it. Then when I heard it was the second, I really couldn’t believe it.
My buddy called his wife, a school teacher, and they were letting the kids out of school early. It was strange going to the school. I had just seen the most horrific and unbelievable thing in my life, and yet most people still didn’t know what was going on.
I remember driving down the road and seeing a military plane in the distance. I remember thinking, “Is that plane okay? Is it going to crash?”
Our lives haven’t been the same since. Ten months before 9/11 I was in the lobby and subway station of the World Trade Center. I remember how big inside they were. I remember getting outside the towers and looking up. We couldn’t see the top, it was night time, but still. The building seemed to go forever.
I’ll remember my first trip to NYC. I was in Philadelphia on business, and a couple of us decided to stick around another day and take the train into NY. I remember seeing the silhouette of the towers in the distance as we were going through New Jersey. I remember thinking “Wow I’m close. I’ll finally make to New York.” We had another half hour. Those things were so tall, you could see them for miles.
I remember going to the top of the Empire State building and standing for a picture with the World Trade Center in the background.
I made a few other trips to NYC. Two trips with the World Trade Center still there, and one almost 10 months after 9/11. The ruins were still smoldering 10 months later. I couldn’t believe what was still left. We saw the memorials, the prayers, and the pictures. It was very moving.
At the time, I thought this would be a rallying point for the rebirth or revival of America. It really was for a short time.
But where are we now? The stock market is doing pretty good again. Republican and Democrats can’t get along again. All they do is pass blame on the other party, just like the old days.
People talk about how good it is elsewhere, but won’t go there to live. People are still trying to get into the US, which should tell you something.
I’m not happy about a lot of the things going on in this country anymore. It’s like God doesn’t matter in most people lives now. That’s how things were before 9/11. Like I said earlier, you would think that would change people.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Fundamentals
The other day I got to talk to the youth at church. It was my final message to the youth group. My message to them was on fundamentals. Fundamentals in anything are the key to taking the next step successfully. If you can’t handle the basics, or the fundamentals, how can you handle more difficult things?
I likened it to the golf swing and PGA tour players. Their swings all look different, but fundamentally they are the same. Every golf swing has the same fundamental process.
The grip
The stance
The takeaway
The turn
The top of the swing
The downswing
The follow through
If any of those get out of whack, chances are you won’t hit a good shot.
Same for life. If you fundamentals get out of whack, you may struggle in other aspects.
In general, people tell you things like the following:
Respect your elders.
Guard your heart and mind.
Live like it’s the last day of your life.
Trust the Lord
Think on good things
Be careful what you say
Be careful what you hear
Be careful what you see
Be careful what you do.
Exercise.
Play less video game.
Eat less junk food.
That’s just a sample of all the advice we get. But if you take care of the fundamentals, those other things fall into place.
I came up with 5 basic fundamentals:
Love strong.
Trust God
Use Wisdom
Share
Be Nice
I used Proverbs 3 as my text.
Prov 3: 1-2 Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you; take to heart my commands.
They'll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well.
Love strong
Prov 3: 3-4 Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.
Love and loyalty…We tend to love short and be loyal only as long as it serves us well. Yet we expect people to love us and remain loyal to us for a long time.
Treat people how you want to be treated.
Jesus said in Luke 6:31-
31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Trust God
Prov: 5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
Don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
He’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
Your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.
But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;
Don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It's the child he loves that God corrects;
A father's delight is behind all this.
Trust God….You don’t know it all. I don’t know it all. Nobody does.
USE Wisdom
If you use wisdom and hold onto these things, good things will happen. Listen to what Solomon says in verses 21-26.
Prov: 21-26 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
Don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They'll keep your soul alive and well,
They’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You'll travel safely,
You’ll neither tire nor trip.
You'll take afternoon naps without a worry,
You’ll enjoy a good night's sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
Or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
he'll keep you safe and sound.
Share
Prov: 27-29 Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
Your hand is God's hand for that person.
Don't tell your neighbor "Maybe some other time"
Or "Try me tomorrow"
When the money's right there in your pocket.
Don't figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor
When he's sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.
Living a good life usually leads to blessings.
The Blessings
Prov 3: 33-35 God's curse blights the house of the wicked,
But he blesses the home of the righteous.
He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder,
But if you're down on your luck, he's right there to help.
Wise living gets rewarded with honor; stupid living gets the booby prize.
If you want that reward, live wisely.
Focus on the fundamentals:
I likened it to the golf swing and PGA tour players. Their swings all look different, but fundamentally they are the same. Every golf swing has the same fundamental process.
The grip
The stance
The takeaway
The turn
The top of the swing
The downswing
The follow through
If any of those get out of whack, chances are you won’t hit a good shot.
Same for life. If you fundamentals get out of whack, you may struggle in other aspects.
In general, people tell you things like the following:
Respect your elders.
Guard your heart and mind.
Live like it’s the last day of your life.
Trust the Lord
Think on good things
Be careful what you say
Be careful what you hear
Be careful what you see
Be careful what you do.
Exercise.
Play less video game.
Eat less junk food.
That’s just a sample of all the advice we get. But if you take care of the fundamentals, those other things fall into place.
I came up with 5 basic fundamentals:
Love strong.
Trust God
Use Wisdom
Share
Be Nice
I used Proverbs 3 as my text.
Prov 3: 1-2 Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you; take to heart my commands.
They'll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well.
Love strong
Prov 3: 3-4 Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.
Love and loyalty…We tend to love short and be loyal only as long as it serves us well. Yet we expect people to love us and remain loyal to us for a long time.
Treat people how you want to be treated.
Jesus said in Luke 6:31-
31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Trust God
Prov: 5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
Don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
He’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
Your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.
But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;
Don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It's the child he loves that God corrects;
A father's delight is behind all this.
Trust God….You don’t know it all. I don’t know it all. Nobody does.
USE Wisdom
If you use wisdom and hold onto these things, good things will happen. Listen to what Solomon says in verses 21-26.
Prov: 21-26 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
Don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They'll keep your soul alive and well,
They’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You'll travel safely,
You’ll neither tire nor trip.
You'll take afternoon naps without a worry,
You’ll enjoy a good night's sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
Or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
he'll keep you safe and sound.
Share
Prov: 27-29 Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
Your hand is God's hand for that person.
Don't tell your neighbor "Maybe some other time"
Or "Try me tomorrow"
When the money's right there in your pocket.
Don't figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor
When he's sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.
When we were kids, we were always told to share. Share with friends, cousins, etc. It started at a really young age, usually when we smack a cousin in the head for taking a toy we weren't even using. I watch my little nephews and niece learn the concept of sharing. Sure enough, one of them gets a new toy and takes it with them to show it off and play with. They only play with it for awhile before something else gets their attention. Sure enough a cousin comes by, picks up the toy and starts playing with it. Out of nowhere, the nephew whose toy it is, comes out of nowhere creaming "Mine!" and either pushes their cousin or takes the toy away. Of course, they get in trouble.
Be Nice
Prov: 30-32 Don't walk around with a chip on your shoulder,
Always spoiling for a fight.
Don't try to be like those who shoulder their way through life.
Why be a bully?
"Why not?" you say. Because God can't stand twisted souls.
It's the straightforward who get his respect.
What did your parents always tell you growing up? Be Nice. Play nice. How come when we get older, we usually become alot less nice to people, and share alot less.
Living a good life usually leads to blessings.
The Blessings
Prov 3: 33-35 God's curse blights the house of the wicked,
But he blesses the home of the righteous.
He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder,
But if you're down on your luck, he's right there to help.
Wise living gets rewarded with honor; stupid living gets the booby prize.
If you want that reward, live wisely.
Focus on the fundamentals:
I'm never eating at McDonalds again
Okay. Maybe never is a strong word, but I will try to rarely if EVER eat McDonalds again. I already steer clear of Burger King and hardly ever touch Arby’s. The only burger joint worthy of my money is Wendy’s.
Why?
I based my lunchtime choice today on convenience. I went downstairs, and saw the Golden Arches. The line was short, and it’s less than $5 for a cheeseburger meal. That worked for me, and it’s usually how I base my decision to eat that garbage.
I took it back to my desk and after 1 ½ cheeseburgers and a couple handfuls of fries, I had to wrap it up and throw it away. It didn’t taste good. I knew it had nothing healthy in it, and I was only eating it because it was in front of me.
Three hours later I felt nasty. I was dragging, my stomach was churning, and I wanted to fall asleep.
That stuff is lousy.
Like I said, I’ve already eliminated BK from my selection set. Wendy’s does a fine job but there’s no way for me to have Wendy’s for lunch. Taco Bell never affects me the way McDonalds does.
Due to that, Taco Bell just became number one on my fast food list.
Why?
I based my lunchtime choice today on convenience. I went downstairs, and saw the Golden Arches. The line was short, and it’s less than $5 for a cheeseburger meal. That worked for me, and it’s usually how I base my decision to eat that garbage.
I took it back to my desk and after 1 ½ cheeseburgers and a couple handfuls of fries, I had to wrap it up and throw it away. It didn’t taste good. I knew it had nothing healthy in it, and I was only eating it because it was in front of me.
Three hours later I felt nasty. I was dragging, my stomach was churning, and I wanted to fall asleep.
That stuff is lousy.
Like I said, I’ve already eliminated BK from my selection set. Wendy’s does a fine job but there’s no way for me to have Wendy’s for lunch. Taco Bell never affects me the way McDonalds does.
Due to that, Taco Bell just became number one on my fast food list.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Who says you can't go home
Who says you can’t go home?
I look at the world and see a lot of scared, hurt people
Were they always that way?
No.
Many had a church or good background.
And made bad decisions.
And they ran away.
I look at the world
I see people running
Maybe they went out looking for fun and more
Maybe they walked out the door
Didn’t know what was in store
And now life’s not fun anymore
You don’t know why
Sometimes you want to cry
Until no more tears can leave your eyes
You look to God and say why
But deep down you know why
It may have been one decision
That sent you on a collision course
Of things just getting worse
Now everything hurts
You ask How can things get any worse?
So you start to ponder
The days of yonder
How you served your Heavenly Father
But somewhere down the line
You thought you knew what was best
So you tried doing things on your own
Next thing you know
Things are out of control
You may have flunked a college course
Or maybe you’re heading for divorce
Maybe your record now has too many police reports
Or drugs and alcohol don’t soothe you anymore
Maybe you went your own way
Why do we go our own way?
Didn’t Jesus tell us that he was the way?
The truth and the life.
We wouldn’t have so much strife in our life
If we just turned our life over to Christ.
One decision to go your own way can lead to another.
Next thing you know, you’re saying.
I can’t get a job
I can’t keep a job
I need a drink to relax
I need a pill to relax
I need a smoke
I need another coffee
I can’t live with out food.
Are you kidding me?
How many things do we say we can’t do without?
But it wasn’t always that way, was it?
Jesus made a way
You can come home today
Doesn’t matter how far you ran away
A mile down the road or in a galaxy far, far away.
This is the day that the Lord has made
Put away your foolish pride
Put all the pain and trouble aside
Jesus is on the front porch and his arms are open wide
And he’s smiling, and saying.
My son, My daughter
It’s time to come home.
Who says you can’t go home?
I look at the world and see a lot of scared, hurt people
Were they always that way?
No.
Many had a church or good background.
And made bad decisions.
And they ran away.
I look at the world
I see people running
Maybe they went out looking for fun and more
Maybe they walked out the door
Didn’t know what was in store
And now life’s not fun anymore
You don’t know why
Sometimes you want to cry
Until no more tears can leave your eyes
You look to God and say why
But deep down you know why
It may have been one decision
That sent you on a collision course
Of things just getting worse
Now everything hurts
You ask How can things get any worse?
So you start to ponder
The days of yonder
How you served your Heavenly Father
But somewhere down the line
You thought you knew what was best
So you tried doing things on your own
Next thing you know
Things are out of control
You may have flunked a college course
Or maybe you’re heading for divorce
Maybe your record now has too many police reports
Or drugs and alcohol don’t soothe you anymore
Maybe you went your own way
Why do we go our own way?
Didn’t Jesus tell us that he was the way?
The truth and the life.
We wouldn’t have so much strife in our life
If we just turned our life over to Christ.
One decision to go your own way can lead to another.
Next thing you know, you’re saying.
I can’t get a job
I can’t keep a job
I need a drink to relax
I need a pill to relax
I need a smoke
I need another coffee
I can’t live with out food.
Are you kidding me?
How many things do we say we can’t do without?
But it wasn’t always that way, was it?
Jesus made a way
You can come home today
Doesn’t matter how far you ran away
A mile down the road or in a galaxy far, far away.
This is the day that the Lord has made
Put away your foolish pride
Put all the pain and trouble aside
Jesus is on the front porch and his arms are open wide
And he’s smiling, and saying.
My son, My daughter
It’s time to come home.
Who says you can’t go home?
Monday, August 14, 2006
Poor timing
They say there is a time and place for everything.
I guess.
But with the tragedy that took place in my brother’s family recently, I came across a situation that doesn’t fit a right time or place.
When Landon passed away, there was a lot of pain. There obviously still is, but the initial pain cannot be described. In now way can I imagine what Ben and Nicole were and are going through.
Last night Ben opened up to my brother in law Craig and I. The three of us went to see Superman and had some time to kill. So we walked to the nearby Target and started talking. I asked if anyone asked him any insensitive or inappropriate questions. He turned and rolled his eyes and then told me one of the comments.
Now keep in mind that prior to this comment being made, Landon’s death was already ruled SIDS. But someone apparently asked them if they thought it was because of Landon’s allergies.
I started this post but saying there is a time and place for everything. But not something like that.
1). The doctor already said what it was. To imply or try to think something else is ludicrous.
2). The grieving family doesn’t even need to have that as a thought in their mind. Think about what was said. It may not have been implied, but all it says to the mother and father is “You’re bad parents.”
3). Why even say it when someone is grieving. Now is not the time to ask questions about the circumstance, but the time to ask what you can do for them. It’s not the time to find out what happened, but to find out how they are doing.
One simple question could end up ruining a friendship or relationship. I don’t know how close the person was to them. It doesn’t matter.
There is a time and place for everything. There is a time to talk. There is a time to ask questions.
But right now, it’s a time to be quiet.
I guess.
But with the tragedy that took place in my brother’s family recently, I came across a situation that doesn’t fit a right time or place.
When Landon passed away, there was a lot of pain. There obviously still is, but the initial pain cannot be described. In now way can I imagine what Ben and Nicole were and are going through.
Last night Ben opened up to my brother in law Craig and I. The three of us went to see Superman and had some time to kill. So we walked to the nearby Target and started talking. I asked if anyone asked him any insensitive or inappropriate questions. He turned and rolled his eyes and then told me one of the comments.
Now keep in mind that prior to this comment being made, Landon’s death was already ruled SIDS. But someone apparently asked them if they thought it was because of Landon’s allergies.
I started this post but saying there is a time and place for everything. But not something like that.
1). The doctor already said what it was. To imply or try to think something else is ludicrous.
2). The grieving family doesn’t even need to have that as a thought in their mind. Think about what was said. It may not have been implied, but all it says to the mother and father is “You’re bad parents.”
3). Why even say it when someone is grieving. Now is not the time to ask questions about the circumstance, but the time to ask what you can do for them. It’s not the time to find out what happened, but to find out how they are doing.
One simple question could end up ruining a friendship or relationship. I don’t know how close the person was to them. It doesn’t matter.
There is a time and place for everything. There is a time to talk. There is a time to ask questions.
But right now, it’s a time to be quiet.
Going home
Well, the day most of us knew would happen is upon us.
Eliza and I are going to Living Word. For me, it’s a trip home to my roots and the church I grew up in. This is a whole new adventure for Eliza. She’s never attended any place but Bethesda.
I’m thankful I have a sensitive heart. Or at least a heart that is sometimes sensitive to what the Lord is saying. A few months ago, we visited Living Word on a Sunday and it seemed like a homecoming for a few people. I think I talked about heroes that week. But I saw friends there who hadn’t been at Living Word in as long as or longer than I have. Yet there we all were, home on the same Sunday.
And it got me thinking.
About a month later, we were back at Living Word with the Bethesda choir. I spoke again, and the Lord led me to speak about going back home. The title of my message was “Who says you can’t go home?”
And it got me thinking.
Shortly after that, I was at a graduation party for my cousins. Out of nowhere, a couple of the guys asked me to finish out the softball season with their team. I asked Eliza, because when we got married I told her I’d only play on one team at a time. I was already playing at Bethesda, but she said yes. So I did.
And it got me thinking.
After the first night of playing softball with them, some friend had a bunch of people over for a bonfire. There we were, just like old times. All grown up. Some of us married. Some of us soon to be married. But it felt like home.
And it got me thinking.
It was around then that I started praying about it. I could feel God leading me that way, but nowadays me is we, Eliza and I. So in my prayer time, I asked for Eliza to bring up the subject. I wasn’t moving until she was ready.
So 2 Sundays ago, after church at Bethesda, she asks me what I think about going to Living Word from now on. It was out of the blue. My first reaction was no, until I remembered what I prayed. We decided to sleep on it, and we both had a peace about it.
And now we’re going back home.
Eliza and I are going to Living Word. For me, it’s a trip home to my roots and the church I grew up in. This is a whole new adventure for Eliza. She’s never attended any place but Bethesda.
I’m thankful I have a sensitive heart. Or at least a heart that is sometimes sensitive to what the Lord is saying. A few months ago, we visited Living Word on a Sunday and it seemed like a homecoming for a few people. I think I talked about heroes that week. But I saw friends there who hadn’t been at Living Word in as long as or longer than I have. Yet there we all were, home on the same Sunday.
And it got me thinking.
About a month later, we were back at Living Word with the Bethesda choir. I spoke again, and the Lord led me to speak about going back home. The title of my message was “Who says you can’t go home?”
And it got me thinking.
Shortly after that, I was at a graduation party for my cousins. Out of nowhere, a couple of the guys asked me to finish out the softball season with their team. I asked Eliza, because when we got married I told her I’d only play on one team at a time. I was already playing at Bethesda, but she said yes. So I did.
And it got me thinking.
After the first night of playing softball with them, some friend had a bunch of people over for a bonfire. There we were, just like old times. All grown up. Some of us married. Some of us soon to be married. But it felt like home.
And it got me thinking.
It was around then that I started praying about it. I could feel God leading me that way, but nowadays me is we, Eliza and I. So in my prayer time, I asked for Eliza to bring up the subject. I wasn’t moving until she was ready.
So 2 Sundays ago, after church at Bethesda, she asks me what I think about going to Living Word from now on. It was out of the blue. My first reaction was no, until I remembered what I prayed. We decided to sleep on it, and we both had a peace about it.
And now we’re going back home.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Pray for them
It's been a wild month.
Summers get so busy.
You never really know what life is going to throw at you.
Say a prayer for my family. We lost a family member on July 27th. Landon David Hood, my 5 month old nephew passed away.
Needless to say it really shook us up. Our trust, our strength, and even our faith has really been tested. My brother and his wife are so strong. I'm proud to say I'm their big brother.
Pray for them.
Summers get so busy.
You never really know what life is going to throw at you.
Say a prayer for my family. We lost a family member on July 27th. Landon David Hood, my 5 month old nephew passed away.
Needless to say it really shook us up. Our trust, our strength, and even our faith has really been tested. My brother and his wife are so strong. I'm proud to say I'm their big brother.
Pray for them.
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