Life Ain't Fair

Just a thought after a long hiatus...

There are so many people crying out for equality now days. The reality is that, equality is simply impossible! People are not created equally when it comes to their talents and abilities. We are only equal on the basis of the value of our humanity. All of these people groups that are trying to establish equality for everybody should adopt a philosophy that embraces fairness rather than equality. What many of these people are doing is compared to my efforts to be competitive with Michael Jordan in a dunk contest. There's just no way that I will ever be his equal! There's no way to create equality in that contest! It would be fair however, to allow me to enter the contest. That way I could be judged on my own skill, and he on his.(I know that would strike MJ's heart with FEAR!) The point is this, I shouldn't expect restrictions for him. Neither should I expect concessions for me. What I should expect is to be judged on the basis of my abilities to compete in that arena. And if that's the case, it is clear that I don't belong in that arena.

I will probably return to this later. But if all you are looking for is equality, you need to know,"Life Ain't Fair!"

Those Kids Are Crazy!

Crazy Kids! I went to a youth conference this past weekend with some of the teens from BST. I had a wonderful time! We had good meetings, fellowship, and skiing. Even though I am still a kid at heart, my body reminded me several times that I am now far removed from being considered young. There were almost three thousand teens and youth workers gathered there in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The time there this weekend reaffirmed some things that I already thought.

> The youth of today are no different than any other when it comes to their desire to belong and have good friends. They love to be together.

>The youth of today are more radical about their faith than any other that I've had any association with. They are very comfortable with their identity as "Jesus Freaks."

>The youth of today are more passionate about what they believe than any that I've seen. They are not ashamed to express their great love for God, and the things of his Kingdom.

There is an opinion out there that pretty much relegates this post-modern generation of kids to a damned future. But before you put them all in a "hand-basket" on the way to hell, you may need to spend some time with them and find out what they are really all about. They are radicals for Jesus! "Those Kids Are Crazy," In the most wonderful of ways!

Disappointed

Word was... it may snow. But it didn't happen! After all the build-up from earlier forecast, disappointment settles in once again. You may not understand what I'm talking about, unless you're one of those who live in the south and love to see snow come to our area. What started as a forecast of 1-3 inches of the white stuff, turned out to be a few flakes that amounted to the dust blown around in heavy traffic. Nothing! Nothing, but another disappointment for the snow lovers! I've gotten use to the feeling. The weathermen never seem to get it right when trying to forecast winter precipitation around here. The big build-up usually turns into a big let-down. Crushed! Torn! Heart-broken! Traumatised! OK, I may be over-doing it a little! But I love the snow, and it is disappointing!

I've learned that disappointment is lessened to some degree, if I lower my expectations. I try not to expect too much from things and people because they will, at some time, not meet my expectations. If the prognosticators are predicting a great season for my favorite football team, then maybe I should adjust my expectations a little less than the best outcome. If the weatherman forecasts 3 inches of snow, then maybe I should just be happy with a few flakes. I can lower the expectations on those things and people that are out of my control. That will lighten the blow a little.

The only problem with that approach, is that it can lead to a real losers mentality, if it is applied to everything in life. Especially when it comes to people. I will create a world that is filled with doubt and pessimism about everybody. Here are the people that are excluded from the Low-expectations club:

1)The people I really know. These are the people I've been close enough to, to see the potential in their lives. These are the ones that should be held to the standard of their God-given potential. High Expectations for you!

2)The people I've invested in. These are the people that I've given my time, energy, resources, etc.. These are expected to produce great returns. Not returns to me, but life in general. High expectations for you!

3)The people I look at in the mirror every day. ME! I should live with high expectations for my own life on a daily basis. Nobody knows what is in me any more so than I do! I know what God has done in my life. I should expect the best effort, the best attitude, the best outlook, the best productivity, etc. and so on and so on..... You get the picture? I know I will miss the mark somewhere along the way. But at least it will be unexpected to some degree! And nobody will be any more disappointed with me, than ME! High Expectations for me too!

I don't won't to live life with such low expectations that I never place any demands on my life or anyone else. That may soften the blow of life's disapponintments, but it will assure me of a life of under-achieving. And man...that would be a real disappointment!

Meanwhile...Let it SNOW!!

What A Wonderful Life

I sometimes think something is wrong with me!! Am I the only one? I think the world around me sometimes lives with 3-D glasses. People make life much more difficult than it has to be. Seems like much effort goes into complicating life, when in reality it's meant to be much simpler. And simpler usually means happier! Here's some things that I think help keep it simple.

>Be Content. Find satisfaction in the job you have now. Look for the good in your husband/wife. Put an air freshener(new-car scented) in the old car you are driving. Be satisfied with the side of the fence that you find yourself at this time of your life.

>Be Consistent. Stop chasing every little fad that comes along. Stop changing your mind with every new philosophy that Oprah or Dr. Phil is pumping into the mainstream. Every new idea that comes along is not the ideal for your life.

>Be Considerate. Consider the other person before you consider your own. Think of the needs of others before you set out to satisfy your own. Put others before you. Live your life to better someone else's!

It's easy for any of us to get caught up in the disarray of our day. Life at it's simplest can get crazy sometime! But I'd rather live without all the self-induced complications. It really is a Wonderful Life!

PUMPED!!!

Happy New Year! 2009 - It's hard to believe! Who would have ever thunk we would have made it this far? This time in history seemed so far away just a couple of decades ago. Some of you may remember the 80's pop song by Prince - "1999". Here we are, going on 10 years after the catastrophic entry into the new millennium. Remember Y2k? It was chaos, right? Not even a glitch!

The new year always brings us to a place of fresh starts. Another opportunity to do the things that you didn't get done last year. I truly hope that is a reality for your future, and not just another empty resolution. For some reason I am filled with excitement and anticipation as we start into the new year. With all of the doom and gloom that is being pumped into the conscious of our world through the media, you would think that there is nothing to be excited about. I can't really explain why I'm pumped about what's ahead, but I am!

Maybe it's because I'm just an eternal optimist. I am just the kind of guy that sees the glass as always being half-full. Nope!

Maybe it's because I'm so smart that I've got everything figured out. Even if the whole thing comes apart, and life as we know it changes forever. I don't think so!

Or, maybe it's because I have the right contacts that keep me up on the latest events, and I have the resources to confront whatever comes next. Wrong again!

I think the answer is really too simple! I am in relationship with the God of all the universe! And if he is with me, then what do I have to worry about? If He is on my side, then what do I have to be afraid of? What? You tell me what can rise up and take on my God, and have a "snowball's chance in hell?"

No wonder I'm so PUMPED!

Wannabe a "Want To"

Man I love this time of year! In our part of the world, the cold, crisp weather is certainly a bonus to the holiday celebrations. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to spend a couple of days in neutral, before the high gear of the Christmas celebration kicks in. Surely you have something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for my family. It is so easy to take for granted those that are closest to us. Take time to let your family know how grateful you are for them during this time.

I'm thankful for my friends. I've heard it said that you can count your real friends on one hand. The longer I live, the more I think this is true. Try to count your friends this Thanksgiving, and if possible, show them some gratitude for their friendship.

I'm thankful for the people who "want to." I know everybody can't be my "friend." But I have really grown appreciative of the people that are allowed to cross my path who truly have the "want to." They "want to" live life to the full. They "want to" live a life that makes a difference. They "want to" be a breathe of fresh air in a truly stifling world. They "want to" infect their world with an attitude that is encouraging and uplifting. They "want to" give back to the people of their world, not just take all the time. If you are a wannabe of the "want to's" then I'm thankful for you on this Thanksgiving Day!

Problems

Bare with me. I'm having




some problems

with posting my blogs.

No More 'Mr. Niceguy' - 2

I have had problems posting over the last month. Excuse the delay. Please read my last blog, if you haven't already, before reading this one.

Now, back to the subject of a college football coach. I have several thoughts as to why Tommy Bowden didn't get the job done at Clemson. You may care less about the subject in mind here, but I believe some of these thoughts are applicable to any walk of life. I'm expressing these only as a matter of opinion, so take it for what it's worth in terms of validity. But this is why I think he didn't reach his potential. So here goes!

1)He got comfortable. I think anybody can come to a place in life where they are simply satisfied with their state of existence. When that happens the, desire and hunger for improvement can be found lacking. Progress becomes a thing of the past. They become fat, settled, and satisfied! That's where a lot of people live.

2)He played safe. There are so many people who try to live life without taking risk. Those are the people that will never reach the potential that God has placed within them. You will have to get out of the boat if you're ever going to walk on water. But it will be risky!

3)Maybe He was too Nice. God never called Christians to just be "nice". Now don't take me wrong. Neither did he call us to be rude, crude, mean, and obnoxious. But, I think there are times that our actions may not be perceived as "nice". Just ask the money changers in the temple if they thought Jesus was nice that day he cleaned out the courtyard(See Mark 11).

I believe Tommy Bowden is a great man! Maybe he's just too nice to be a college football coach. We need more men like him! Maybe his next gig will be much better for him. But for now, it's "So long... Mr. Niceguy."

No more 'Mr. Niceguy'

If you have read the blog before, you probably have picked up that I am a fan of the Clemson Tigers. Yesterday was a day that all tiger fans were either delighted, sad, or found themselves somewhere in between. Tommy Bowden, the head football coach for the last ten years, resigned from that position under heavy pressure from a disgruntled fan base. He has to take a severance package of only 3.5 million dollars. I don't know how he will make it on that meager income.

Maybe we should consider a food pounding for him next week?

I'm surely not trying to serve as the reporter for what is old news to most of you. But I do want to get something off of my chest concerning some of the comments and mindsets that I've observed over the last couple of weeks when it comes to people's opinion of a college football program and the fate of its coach.

First, is the thought that is out there that just because Tommy is a devout Christian, he probably can't be successful in a dog eat dog world like college football. Boy, what a slap in the face of any Christian who knows that God has called us to more than just attending a religious church service once or twice a week! That kind of thinking comes from the perception that Christians are supposed to be "soft." Milk-toast, pansy Christians. Well if you have that perception, then maybe you need to go back and study the life of Christianity's founder, Jesus Christ. You will find out that he was anything but "soft" or weak! He was a Man among Men, who had the strength to give his life for the world in an agonizing torturous death, even when he didn't have to. Tommy's Christian life had nothing to do with his inability to win a stupid football game.

Second, is the thought, even among Christians, that Tommy had his priorities out of order. He has made it clear over the last few years that he believed his calling was to help shape and form the lives of the young men that he had the privilege to coach in football. Man, what a noble concept! And for that, he has been criticized. What would happen if every Christian embraced that concept? Disciples maybe? That should be the heart-beat of every Christian! It's pathetic that Christians would find fault in a person using the platform that God has given him to influence another person with the character and virtue of his Christianty!

I do have my opinions as to some of the reasoning why this coach did not achieve the success that was necessary in this arena of our culture. I'll share those on the next blog! I think it may be of value to you even if you could care less about this whole scenario.

But for me, this is one way for me to say good-bye to "Mr. Niceguy!"

Catching Up

I would like to think that there are plenty of you that have been lost without the blog. Maybe I would be surprised? But here we are again, with time passing by so quickly that it's hard to believe it is October. I love this time of the year! The cooler weather, along with hunting and football, is wonderful.

Here's my take on a couple of things:

1)The presidential election that is coming up is a really intriguing thing. The two most mentioned names, when it comes to the candidates, are Obamah and Palin. You would think that she is the presidential nominee. The choice that you make, come the first Tuesday in November, could have long lasting effects on the moral status of the USA, considering the possibility of replacing four Chief Justices over the next four to eight years. My hope is that believers will vote according to morality rather than their pocketbooks. Do I believe that one candidate has stronger convictions than the other when it comes to morality? PLEASE!!!!!!!

2)The economy in our nation is really at a critical point. We are truly facing crisis on this front, that has not been experienced in our land in the majority of our lifetimes. This could be the best of times and the worst of times all together. We are so pampered in America. It may be best for us in the long run if we have to cut back on some of the conveniences of our time. I know it would be an awful thing to have to be without, say ... cellphones. But believe it or not, we did survive without them. I'm not in any way trying to make light of a grim outlook. It's just that we could do with a lot less than we are used to.

"Shoot! I remember when we had to walk to school, in the snow, uphill - both ways, backwards, and in the dark!"

Maybe it's not so bad after all!

Manage Yourself

I don't do this very often, but I thought it may be good to go back and pull some notes from the sermon this past Sunday. I have been in a series dealing with each persons struggle to become all that God intends for them to become. You can pick up the scripture basis from chapters 3 & 4 in the Gospel of Luke. I believe it is critical for a person to manage the life that they are given if they are going to reach their full potential. I'm sure that I picked all of these up from some of my reading, or listening to a sermon on my ipod. So hopefully this will help you Manage Yourself.

1)Manage your Emotions. Feelings will fool you. Stop allowing your emotions to dictate your life!

2)Manage your Time. Try to maintain some semblance of a schedule. You have 10,080 minutes in every week. Use them efficiently!

3)Manage your Priorities. Your priorities will determine how you spend your resources. Evaluate!

4)Manage your Energy. Make sure you are not spending your energy on things that are not a priority. You are not the Energizer Bunny!

5)Manage your Thinking. Don't allow clutter in your thought processes. Think on the good things!

6)Manage your Words. The power of death and life is bound up in your words. Be careful of what you say!

7)Manage your Personal Life. Take care of proper relationships. Value the people God has given you!

Managing your life is a full-time job. But if you will work at it, the progress you make will serve as a great reward. So get to it - "Mr. Manager!"

44...

I had a birthday last week. I turned 44. I guess I fall into the middle-age category for sure now. I've never had a birthday bother me like this one. There's just something about those two 4's standing together that makes me feel like I'm supposed to be really "grown-up" now. I have maintained that I would love to always be a kid at heart. The reality is that as I think about 44, I recognize once again how fast life is passing by. You can't help but think about where you are in life, and all that you hope to still accomplish. I know it's not like I'm about to 'kick the bucket' or anything, but I do think about how near I am to receiving my invitation to be a part of AARP. Good Grief! Can you say midlife crisis?
My kids are growing up, my hair is getting grayer, and the letters are printed with poor quality in most everything I try to read(I am sure it is not a need for reading glasses; it is the poor job of printing nowadays.). Lots of things change as you move through life.
With the changes comes different challenges. Getting older is not nearly as bad as some people try to make it sound. Think about it. Baby sitters are not always required for me to have some time with my wonderful wife. With the gray, God seems to send more wisdom. And the bad printing thing, it just makes me more aware of our need to improve on the quality of American Made products(DON'T laugh at my denial). No, with age comes some of the finer things in life, and I hope to experience as many of those things as possible. 44 feels better already!

I'm Back!!!

I'm Back!! To all the regular readers, sorry for the absence. To all of you who show up periodically, Hello again. To all the newcomers, where have you been?
I hope all of you have had a great summer. As always our summer was pretty hectic with different events, mission trips, baseball, and everything else. Our family had a great vacation at Myrtle Beach. We are finally far enough along that we know how to go and relax. Maybe that has a lot to do with the kids being older, and not being so demanding. We usually take a couple of weeks to simply do nothing except play in the sand, swim, and my specialty, eat! It's a great time to recuperate from the grind of real life.
But with the end of the summer comes a return to the norm of a routine of daily living. That's something that really becomes more of a longing as the new school year begins. I'm not one that just wants to get the kids back in school so they will be "out of our hair," but it does allow for us to operate on more of a regular schedule.
Hopefully you are in a place that you are geared up and ready to roll into the last third of the year. You know as well as I do that we will be singing Christmas carols before we know it. So set your course for the next few months. Get ready to move forward into the opportunities of the coming days. Make sure you are not settling into a rut, but a progressive routine. We'll finish 2008 out with a bang together! Let's Go!

Hot as Hell?

I overheard a guy make the comment that I'm sure you've probably heard at some time or another; "Man, it is hot as hell!" - Really? You Think?
Probably not!
I know that summertime in the south can be right uncomfortable, but I think he may have been exaggerating a little. Or, he just might have been using the phrase as a 'form of speech,' but, it brings me to a point. What do people think about hell? Do they even believe that such a place exist? I don't mean to break out a "fire and brimstone" on you here, but I hope you will consider the thought. According to the Bible, these things have to be embraced as truth.

1)Hell is a real place. It was prepared for the Devil and his fallen comrades, not for man.
2)Hell is a place of eternal torment. Enough said!
3)Hell is a place of separation. Separation from God and all who you've ever known!
4)Hell is a place that you don't want to go! You can tell me to go there as much as you like! I'm not going!!!!

If you don't believe what the Bible says about this awful place, then you might as well mark the whole book up as a lie. But what it says is true! And just as true as what it says about hell, is the truth about heaven. That's the place you want to be! The only way to go, is to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and is the only way to heaven. Just ask him to forgive you and he'll welcome you in!
Otherwise you better hope what the guy said is true, and that it really is " ...hot as hell..." now. But, I'm afraid he was probably off a few thousand degrees!

Live Bullets

Last night the baseball team, that I coach and that my son plays for, had what was called a "scrimmage." Only thing is, is that everybody else that showed up prepared for more of a real game. This is an "All-Star" team from the city league, so I guess I should have known better! The fans came out, the parents and grandparents were at their stations, the other team was in their full array. But, I wasn't ready. Therefore, our team was not really ready to face the live bullets, they were about to face. I showed up for a "gun-fight" with a pocket knife! The worst part about it was the effect it had on our team's confidence. I'm sure today they feel less than they really are. It's my job to make sure that they know better, and not allow the debacle to define who they really are.
That is what life is like many times. We allow the low points along life's way to define who we are, as well as determine our potential. The reality is that nothing could be further from the truth! Those low points are exactly that, "low points." You can not allow those points in life to become your ceiling!
Your worst performance can't nullify your best performance.
Your worst day can't keep you from your best day.
Your worst moment can't delay your greatest moment.
More than likely you will find yourself fully involved in a battle that you were just not ready for, sometime in the near future. One where they're using live bullets. You may find yourself beaten down pretty bad. But try to remember, you can still win the war!

Easy Street

So, you want to take the easy way out? That's the normal response for the majority of people. It's just our nature to take the route that will lead to the "smoothest" ride through life. Avoiding as many of the challenges of life as possible. The only problem with that is, that way may not be the best way. And, it may not even lead you out! It may lead you deeper into the mess you're trying to get out of. I'm certainly not saying that is always the case. We can over-complicate matters at times. But there may be times that require you to go "over the river, and through the woods," instead of the smooth way that we all prefer. The Quick-fix might not be the Best-fix!

Here are some thoughts that may keep you from always jumping on what seems to be the easiest way out.

1)If your mess has been created over a long period of time(months, years, decades), then don't fool yourself into thinking that you can work your way out of it overnight. If you "worked" long and hard to get into the mess, you may have to commit the same effort to get out!

2)Remember that resistance will make you strong. The challenges that are being confronted in your life will grow you in the long run.

3)If your "way out" is to good to be true, it better be GOD! He has a way of working the miraculous in our lives everyday. Just make sure you're not taking the route that is simply appealing to the desire for "easy."

The Quick-fix will always be attractive. But it is usually not the route that leads you back to Easy Street!

Up-side Down

How many times do we find ouselves living life at the mad pace of the world around us. We exist to consume as much as possible in our allotted time. Living life for ourselves has seemingly become the norm. Even in the "church" this mindset has gripped most of the "faithful."

I would like to challenge you to live life in a different mode. A life that is opposite of the trend that we see established in almost every arena of society. Can you live life "up-side down?" A life that goes against the grain of this selfish, self-indulging culture that we are caught in. A life that gives and not simply takes!

>Be a "lover" not a "hater." The world is full of "haters." Let love take over in your dealings with others.
>Be a Jesus-Freak. Really try to live your life by his example. Let his life be the example that you try to mimick in every detail.
>Be dependable. Regardless of where you find your life intersecting with others, be the one they can depend on. That's hard to find nowadays.
>Be Strong. Live by what you believe, not by what is accepted. The world needs to see somebody that lives by conviction.
>Be courageous. Step into some impossible situations and watch how God may use you. You'll never know until you try.

You may freak some people out when you try to live this kind of life. It would be a great thing today, to be accused of turning your world "up-side down!" Because it's obvious that "right-side up" is just not working.

"Stupid"

Good Gosh! Somebody help me! The more I listen to the media and politicians these days, the more I think that there has been an infectious germ that some evil terrorists have released in the atmosphere. It causes an awful desease that's symptoms are becomming more and more evident in the society today. The dreaded desease is known as "stupid." There are "stupid" outbreaks everywhere you turn! There is an evident shortage of the common cure for this desease - 'common sense.'
You really see the affects of this disease in areas concerning things like:
>Same-sex marriage - Give me a break! Some parts are simply not compatible. Never were, never will be! Wake up people! I love you even if you are caught up in this lifestyle. But, it is still wrong, and a sign of "stupid" if you think it's not!

>Global Warming - Over the last 100 years, the earth's temperature has increased approximately 1 degree fareinheight. Could that possibly be the results of a geological cycle? I wonder how those temperatures would compare to 200 years ago? We do need to be better stewards of the earth's resources. But, most of us are being "Gored" with information that is not totally accurate. "Stupid!"

>Gun Control - Let's make sure that we get the guns out of the hands of people that will use them to kill another person. I'm sure that would deture the murderer from breaking the law by having a gun in his possession illegally. Get a brain! If a person is disturbed enough to kill another person, what would keep him from breaking gun-control laws? Take some 'common sense' for your "stupid" outbreak if you believe that.

>Relativism - The idea that truth is relative only to the context of an individual is a sure indicator that "stupid" is really eating you alive. If you believe that, then my "truth" is that if you are hit in the head with a hammer, that feeling is not really pain? You wanna try it? "Stupid."

There are so many more examples that could be used. Hopefully you get the point! Blog is a little long already.
I realize that most of you who read this blog have the same ideals as I do. I would ask that you maybe share this blog with someone who don't. Maybe we can get a handle on this epidemic of "Stupid." It will at least provoke the thought.

Better Off!

When I consider all the arenas of life and society that I'm involved with, I have to ask the question, "Are any of them in better condition at my departure than when I arrived?" Are they Better Off because I have been there? Is the place and the people in better shape than what I found them?

We can all float through life and never really consider this idea. I would rather like to consider it, hoping that the world will somehow be a better place when I'm finished here. My life may seem to be a very small thing in the scope of all humanity, but I want it to be as "big" as possible.

I believe that has to be intentional on my part. I don't believe in the notion that "whatever will be, will be." I believe that there is a Great God, with a great plan for my life. Yet, I have to make a decision to be a part of that plan. I can go off and do my own thing! God will not stop me from carrying out my own will. He will send 'stop' signs along the way, but I can continue in the same direction, even if it is a dead-end road.

God allows me to cooperate with his will for my life. But that is really up to me. All of us have a purpose in life. Discovering that purpose can seem complicated at times. But, if and when that happens, you can be sure that the world will be Better Off because of it!

Control Freaks - Part II

You see people who think it is their place in life to keep everybody else in line. Those are the people that can't be trusted with their own freedom. Usually they know, that within themselves they would abuse the freedom that others enjoy. In other words, they can't trust themselves! They just can't handle too much freedom. Take Fidel Castro or Saddam Husein for instance. Their abuses as evil dictators, reveal why they went to such great extremes to keep others oppressed and under control. They assumed that anyone who was granted the same freedom would use it as they did - to abuse others. The only freedom that a Control Freak will endorse is his own. I don't want to be a Control Freak.


These ideas Help Me:
- Never use my freedoms for gain, at the expense of others.
- Mind my business - I don't "need" to know everything anyway.
- Be responsible, regardless of what others do.
- Trust others with their freedom.
- If you are in charge of others, try not to micro-manage.

A famous man once said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Surely this would apply to all Control Freaks.