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Archive for the ‘Life’ category

UGA in Arizona

September 20, 2008

What can I say about the Dawgs this week? Although they started slow, the momentum built and Georgia continued their winning streak with game 11. One of the Most Likely to Be Seen in the Highlight Reel had to be Knowshon Moreno’s high flying touchdown. He must have had some Red Bull because he certainly had wings on that play.

Matthew Stafford continues to add to his portfolio. His arm strength is becoming legendary, and the way he connects with his receivers is magical and beautiful to watch. This game he threw for a career-high of 285 yards. Stafford wasn’t the only Dawg to show on Saturday. Freshman A. J. Green had an impressive evening as well. 159 yard on eight catches and a Touchdown is a great night. Aside from Knowshon’s early leaping Touchdown, he had another 100+ yard night. With 23 carries for 149 yards and 2 Touchdowns, Moreno is quickly becoming mythological in his playing.

Even though there are plenty of outstanding individual players, you have to give kudos to the Georgia Defense. ASU was only able to get only 4 rushing yards on 19 attempts, its second lowest since a negative 2 yards against Cal in 2002, and second lowest by an opponent for the Bulldogs in the Richt-era.

The Dawgs return to Stanford Stadium next week to meet No. 9 Alabama in what is sure to be another exciting game.

Categories: Georgia Bulldogs, Life, Me, Sports, Uncategorized

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Neighbors

September 19, 2008

I met our new neighbors today. Harry and Nancy are the newest residents in our quaint little subdivision somewhere in Middle Georgia. This morning I walked out to the car to hear the sound of Canadian Geese overhead. I would have shot, if I’d have had my gun, but then I would probably have a new assignment in a small cell.

Harry and Nancy are older that I am and have lived through some amazing world events. I was taken by how much we have to gain by investing into knowing the people who live next to us. In a world where, according to a new report, social networking is more popular now than on-line porn, out inter connectivity to actual humans in our vicinity is less and less.

Fred Rogers used to ask me every day if I would be his neighbor, and each day that I did, I learned new and interesting stuff. Take some time and get to know a neighbor. The wealth that it will bring to your own life will surprise you.

Categories: Awareness, Life, Me, People

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Debbie Blue – From Stone to Living Word

September 18, 2008

Had to write a little about this book. From the first line – “I’m not good with answers” – the book is immediately accessible. Blue writes openly and confidently as she weaves through some thoughts that many of us have had but found difficult to articulate.

As a pastor, she talks about wishing to be like Father Zossima in The Brother’s Karamazov.

She quotes Eduard Thurneysen speaking about Father Zossima saying:

“It [his pastoral approach] is not designed to remove [people’s] burdens, to lead them out of the uncertainties of their lives, but it is intended to lead [people] into them truly and for the first time…for in persevering in the uncertainties of life, he sees the only way of redemption.”

She follows that great quote, about a character in a book that you should read if you haven’t, by stating, “I honestly don’t know what it would even quite mean to straighten a life out.

So often we perceive the church as a place to fix things, as God a “fixer”, as life needing to be fixed. Life is meant to be lived fully and that often means it will be messy and loud and unpredictable and wild. When we accept that we are trying to embrace the Unembraceable, know the Unknowable and understand the Incomprehensible, a non-straightened out life seems to be the only kind that would fit.

Oh to let go and embrace nothing, knowing that in that futile attempt you have found what you were looking for. He is unembraceable not because he is far and distant, but because he so permeates every inch of our lives that if we were to contain him, he would cease to be himself. He is “in all, above all and through all”. If we can learn to live within the drawing love of God the Other, our lives themselves will transcend understanding and the chaotic will become beautiful and our view of God himself or herself will expand into an ever increasing undulation of love that desires to overwhelm and overtake us.

Categories: Books I'm Reading, Creativity, Life, religion

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Wine….and more wine!

September 17, 2008

In lieu of the comments from Sunday’s message I feel compelled to bring up the story of Jesus and the wedding in Cana. In spite of the church’s need to display Jesus as a party pooper, he was nothing of the sort. Jesus was, in fact, the kind of guy you would want around if you were to throw a party.

Jesus’ ability to turn water into wine, although very handy, is not the reason I chose to give my allegiance to him. Jesus embodies hope and gives me a reason to wake up in the morning. He sees all of life as a sacred celebration. This story is full of implications that when life seemingly runs out of joy/hope/peace/meaning (wine) he is there to bring it back. When everything seems lost and the party is doomed, look for Jesus like Mary did and he’ll bring the abundant life back to your party.

The biggest thing this story can teach us is seen as John mentions that it took place on the third day. The third day is typical of resurrection, and if so, the first day would be the wonderful – everything is OK good Friday. The second day would have to be those liminal spaces where we are anything but settled, but the third day is significantly different. With Jesus’ response, the third day becomes a day filled with expectancy and hope.

For us the significance of this story has to go to the jars of water. Prepared for a sacred service they are transformed into functional jars for the service of the people. How much of our own religious world is filled with sacredness. So much so that we overlook it’s functionality to service. If the service needs to change from Sunday to Thursday let’s change it. If we need to sit on the floor instead of pews, let’s do it. If we need to have a true conversation instead of a talking head let’s do it. Certainly in the church there are issues of practicality, but ultimately everything that we do has the ultimate end of bringing people into the abundant life Christ has given to us. Everything is a means to that end – not an end to itself.

Mary knew that the party didn’t have to end. She knew what resided in Christ -and so do we. As we look toward our future, let our response be that of Jesus. Crank up the music, tell the baby-sitter you’ll be late, smile and grab your partner, this party isn’t near over. The best really is yet to come!

Categories: Awareness, Belief, Context, Creativity, Influence, Kingdom of God, Life, religion

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Georgia vs. Gamecocks – Ugggga!

September 13, 2008

OK, let it be known that the tendency for Georgia to forget who they are when playing South Carolina has got to stop. Maybe Spurrier has some chemical compound blown into the locker room, or, based on the exceptional timekeeping, it could just be some noxious form of mold in the air vents, whatever causes the mental breakdown we experience each year we must find it and not allow it to happen again!

Needless to say, this game was sloppy and mushy and long and rather boring. Based on the caliber of both teams, none on those adjectives should be used. Individually the teams are, because of being in the SEC, highly capable of presenting a wonderful game full of excitement and determination. The excitement of this game was focused on the refs and whether the game clocks would come into sync and prove some theory of relational synchronicity.

All in all, great to see the Dawgs pull another one out. Would have liked a little more, but as they say – a win is a win. Looking forward to next week against Arizona State.

Categories: Georgia Bulldogs, Life, Rhythm, Sports

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The Wizard of Oz

September 12, 2008

Tonight we watched The Wizard of Oz as part of Family Night. I love the movie, even though there are some who think any mention of witches, wizards and teleportation will send one directly to the Bad Place. Some things jumped out at me while we were watching.

One thing is how funny the scene is when the apple trees start pelting the travelers with apples – who knew trees had a gruff voice? Seriously, it is hard for me to just watch a movie. I’m more intrigued than ever before as to how the contextualization of the time period the movie was made translates with the time period in which it is being watched. (Only really great movies are able to bridge this chasm)

1 – After the Scarecrow is talking about not having a brain, Dorothy asks him what he would do with a brain if he had one – and the Scarecrow is quick to have an answer. Sometimes we allow not having something to become a reason we can’t get anything done, when the truth is that we probably wouldn’t get anything done even if we did have what we are whining about.

2 – Dorothy immediatly invites the Scarecrow to join her on her journey. She is not the least bit proprietary about her journey. She welcomes anyone who wants to go with her. Many times we get too defensive when we resist help in situations where an openness to others would quickly solve a problem.

3 – The Tinman longs for a heart, but his song delivery is the most emotional of all of the travelers.

4 – They think the Wizard will fix everything, but find out that the answers to their questions and desires are within them.

5 – Glenda tells Dorothy that she has had the way home all the time, but that she couldn’t tell Dorothy because she wouldn’t have believed it. How true is this? If we would allow ourselves to live a life filled with trust instead of suspicion, we could take leaps in our development as people and humans.

Next time you watch a film, open yourself up to the possibility of seeing more than just a plot line and actors. Within the power of storytelling is the answers to life itself.

Categories: Awareness, Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life

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Large Hadron Collider – Big Bang Come to Life

September 10, 2008

As you may know, I am a big fan of TED, a conference held each year that focuses on technological and design information that has global impact or probable global impact. Today the Large Hadron Collider is on-line and questions that physisists have been asking about matter and the universe may be answered or create more questions. In October the first experiments will be held. Here is a talk by Brian Cox who has been working on the LHC. His ability to discuss the complex in understandable terms has earned him the moniker of the “rock-star physicist”.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Large Hadron Collider – Big Bang Come…“, posted with vodpod

Truly an incredible achievement and interesting days ahead.

Categories: Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life

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compact fluorescent light bulbs

September 10, 2008

Sunday I requested that everyone bring a package of dimmable compact fluorescent light bulbs with them to this Sunday’s service. If you haven’t purchased your light bulbs yet, they can be found at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walmart and Target among other places. Our goal is to replace all the light bulbs in the church with energy efficient compact fluorescent ones.

You may be a reader and not live in the Middle Georgia area and would also like to help. If so, mail your light bulbs to Lifepoint Church, 120 Walker Road, Byron, Georgia 31008. Also, take a look above you and around you and see if you could replace your own bulbs. Try just one package a week and you’ll be surprised at how quickly they can all be changed.

Each of us doing a little can ultimately do a lot!

Categories: Context, Influence, Life, Lifepoint

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Grandad

September 8, 2008

About a week ago something great happened to me. I was in a funk and feeling particularly blah. Normally I would not resort to cleaning my office, but this time – I did. As I was sorting through papers and throwing things out, I came across the card pictured above. It has been several years since my Grandad passed. He and I had a distinct connection, and I could swear sometimes he is right in the room with me.

On this particular day, he was not only in the room, he wrote me a note. It had been written years earlier, but was right on time this day. Each day we are given opportunites to give tangible expressions of our true nature to others. When we send the card/email or make the phone call or go and visit face-to-face, we are being the hand of our Father stretched out to one of His children.

I know that my day was instantly better, but I also know that you are empowered to “instantly better” someone’s day today. Take a moment and make the call you’ve been meaning to make, write the note you’ve been wanting to write.

Make the connection because it just might outlive you!

Categories: Influence, Life, Me, People

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Pillars Part 5

August 31, 2008

This week the focus of our teaching was the discipline of the study of Scripture. One of the key verses mentioned was Prov. 4:20-22. This talked about the words being given to us equating to life for our bodies. This is an analogy echoed by Christ in the New Testament when He proclaimed that “Man cannot live by bread alone”, that man needed to also partake of “the Word of God”.

To me a perspective shift is in order for us to truly understand all that is taking place when we enter into the discipline of study. First, we have mental focus, much the same as during meditation. Our focus for a period of time is on a portion of scripture. Layer after layer we look at what the words mean to our current context in terms of description and action. Secondly, there is a sort of fast going on. Instead of indulging in something else we have chosen to spend time looking into scripture.

Thirdly, and most importantly, we are not on a search for answers to our questions. There is no promise in scripture that we will know every answer for every question. Yes, there are certainties, but these certainties are far fewer than the traditional fundamentalist would like to admit. Let’s face it, if the real answers to all of man’s problems were found in scripture don’t you think things might be just a bit better in the world? We generalize and say that Jesus is the answer, and to many questions He is, but not all.

Often I have been engaged in conversation with someone who has a file for every question and an answer for each question tucked neatly inside. Sometimes I want to be like Dr. Phil and ask, “So how’s that going for you?”. Christianity is a journey, a process full of unknowns and questions. Somehow this is unsettling to people in church today.

Jesus never said He was the destination, He only said He was the Way. One of the key problems we have in scripture is that it is written in words. Words are concrete and definitive. Following Christ is anything but concrete and definitive. Following Christ is organic and fluid, spur of the moment and transcendent of words. The Buddhists in their search for truth are open and honest about not knowing. We demand a truth stated perfectly in words, but Jesus only said that He was the truth – His being, His presence.

We could go much further, but for now, embrace the path. Become enamored with the insignificant and fleeting. Read scripture and let it become living within you and show you what it is speaking to you. Let go and let the words fall to the ground like seeds and then wait – who knows what wonderful things may arise in your life!

Categories: Belief, Context, Life, Message Series, religion

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