Loving the Unloveable

It has been so long since I posted.  It's not that I lack ideas to write about. In fact I have so many ideas of things I want to write about. It's simply a matter of getting it out of "mambo jumbo that no one other than myself will understand form" and into coherent English.  That being said, I have been toying with this post for about a week now.  I think I finally have it to the point that I like it.  So here we go, "the latest from the album "life as I know it.....

Show me how to love the unlovableShow to reach the I reachableHelp me now, to do the impossibleForgiveness, forgiveness

   This is the chorus from one of Matthew West's new songs.  I whistle, hum, or sing it to myself all the time.  It really seems like a good play book for part of what God has planned for us, and our time here. "Love the Unlovable".  "Reach the Unreachable".  This post is going to hit specifically on the "loving the unlovable".

   It's easy to love those that love you back.  Your parents.  Your spouse.  Your friends.  Even that person you used to talk to everyday, but for some reason haven't talked to in months.  This is great, and God loves it, but we are called to "love thy neighbor as yourself"(Mark 12:31) "Neighbor" does not just mean your "physical neighbor".  It means toward all man.  Even the person who does you wrong.  Even the person who almost runs you off the road after cutting you off in traffic. We ( as the upset sinner who just got cut off) try to "Jedi Mind trick" them into getting a ticket, or worse, wish them to get into an accident.  How do I know you do this?  Because I do the same thing on occasion.  Its tough to not get caught up in the moment, to be SO MAD, that you cant let it go. It's almost easier too, rather than taking a step back and holding yourself accountable and saying "Did I really just say that"?  Like you have a fear that if you let it go, they'll "win".
 
  A lot of the time our emotions get the best of us, and we get really upset with people and hold a grudge.  To the point that it ruins the rest of our day, while the person that upset you is not likely thinking twice about it.  I'm going to challenge you today, to not hold that grudge next time someone wrongs you.  Even pray for them.  In this case "that they make it home safely with those mean NASCAR skills"  It may just help you feel better.  

a closing verse from the above song sings:

  "It will clear the bitterness away, it can even set a prisoner free.  There's no end to what its power can do, so let it go, and be amazed by what you see through the eyes of grace.  The prisoner that it really frees....is you"

I checked on the inspiration he had for this song since it spoke to me so much.  It turns out it's about a woman who forgave a drunk driver that killed her teenage daughter.  Not only that, she was able to get his sentence shortened, and is now traveling the country with him, doing seminars on the dangers of drunk driving.  Powerful.

   The example I used in the beginning of this blog is not as serious as the one in the end, but both require forgiveness, and loving "unlovable" people.  Now if I were in the same situation as the lady this song is about,  would I be able to do what she did?  I'd like to think so....eventually.  In honesty though.  I don't know if I could.

  Remember this then my book is done.  There's alot of crappy things in this world, and there are alot of crappy people that don't deserve a second chance, but it could always be worse.

 

 

   

Always Remember

   Today is September 11, 2012.  Eleven years removed from arguably the worst attack on American soil. 

   I did not live through Pearl Harbor obviously, but I have read about it.  Heard accounts of that fateful December morning from those who experienced it first hand.  I remember every year, because of them.  Their stories.  I would consider the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 as this generations Pearl Harbor.  "A day that will live in Infamy" is the way president FFranklin Roosevelt described that day.--"An extreme and publicly known criminal, or evil act.  A state of being infamous"-- That description to me, in my lifetime, is 9/11/01.
   Again, I was not alive for Pearl Harbor, but I feel it was a day alot like 9/11/01.  Everyone who lived through it knows what they were doing during every single aspect of the day.  The first tower. The second tower.  The Pentagon.  then finally, the crash in that rural Pennsylvania field. 
   I was talking with a co-worker of mine this morning about how I am going to write down where I was, and everything I was doing, so that when old age kicks in, and I forget , I will still remember.  It may sound strange, but I don't want to forget. I'm afraid that means I would forget all the innocent, and heroic lives lost that day. While I would like to forget why they were heroic, I'm afraid it just doesn't work that way. Unfortunately, they go together.
  I want to be able to give my account to those who did not live through it. My kids.  My Grand kids. My nephews. (That still blows my mind that they were not even born when it happened.)  Much like those videos did for Pearl Harbor, or my parents have done for JFK. 
  This amazing country has come along way since that Tuesday 11 years ago.  We are getting closer, and closer everyday to defeating this war on terrorism.  These evil minds that plot hatred all around the world.  What a great country we live in!  God Bless America!



(I don't know if anyone reading this knew anyone who died that day, but I am dedicating this blog to them.  To keep the memory of their lives alive.  We must never forget)

Life as I know it...Growing up.

  Everyone has their dreams as to what they wanna be once they're "grown up".  Growing up I wanted to be an actor--Play the leading role on the big screen.  Then a Fireman--Saving the beautiful girl from the 12th  story of the burning building.  Then a Cartoonist--The next Jim Davis. 
   Then once I reached high school, I realized those dreams would likely stay just that.  Not because the old saying "If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything" is wrong, because it's not..  My mind just wasn't "put to it". 
   I was shy, so acting...on a stage...in front of people?  No thanks.  I was (and still am to this day) scared of heights.  Fireman have to climb ladders.  Again, something I do better in my dreams.  I am however a decent drawer.  I draw Garfield great!  The only problem is, I'd have to be looking at it to do so.  I lacked the originality, the creativeness. (not looking for a pity party, just the truth)
   Once I graduated from High school, I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do with myself.  I went to college, hoping something would "tickle my fancy".  It didn't.  I came home, started working in a restaurant, and before I knew it, I had seven years of customer service in my back pocket. 
   Somewhere in those seven years I got introduced to blogging.  Just writing your thoughts, stories, plays, whatever was on your mind.  It was fun, but like drawing I had trouble coming up with my material more than once a month.  I kept it though, changed it up every other time I wrote a new post, thinking "OK, this time, with this new look, I will keep up with it." I did this a bunch until I got to this wonderful layout you know and love today.  That I actually enjoy keeping up with, and updating.
  I am reminded of one of my favorite verses of scripture

"I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go.  I will counsel you, and watch over you"--Psalm 32:8

  Now is bogging or perhaps something more where God is leading me, as he promises in this verse? Perhaps.  Perhaps not.  Time will tell, but in the meantime, I'm having fun.  =-)

London Olympics

   It's that time again ladies, and gentlemen.  The time, every four years, that you watch sporting events that 351 days out of the year you could care less about. 
   Yes, I am in fact talking about the Olympics. The beautiful city of London won the rights to host this years games, and have so far, in this bloggers opinion, done a great job.  The venues have been full.  every last second has been exciting, and I really feel like I'm there and feel a sense of American pride when the fans scream USA! USA! USA! from the stands.
   I have thoroughly enjoyed watching some kind of event every night for the past week. Cheering on my country.  Again, even in sports I couldn't care less about on a regular day.

• Gymnastics:  I held my breath on every vault, every balance beam flip, every floor exercise.  I watched with pride as the U.S.A took gold in the "team competition".  Then again in the "All around" as Gabby Douglas brought it home.  I even felt for the other girls who did not achieve their Olympic dreams. 
• Beach Volleyball: Some might say it was the women in the bikinis, but even when it was 60 degrees out, and they were wearing more than a typical beach volleyball player would typically  wear, I was glued.  From the first serve till the end.  I loved watching the U.S.A. girls battle it out in the gold medal match, after eliminating country upon country along the way. 
• Soccer:  Okay, this one I watch more than just at the Olympics.  I watch the world cup as well.  Still, I don't watch it on a regular basis.  This Olympics though...If you were a fly on the wall, you would have seen me jumping up and down in front of the TV, when Alex Morgan hit the header in the 125 minute in the victory over Canada, only to look around for someone to celebrate with...realizing I was the only one in the room.  Finally, (and I wont admit this to my wife, as I have made fun of her for doing so)  I found myself tearing up as the girls mouthed the national anthem, as the cameras paned across them this afternoon after winning gold. 

   The Olympics...for two weeks....even synchronized swimming is a sport.  (apologies if you're a synchronized swimmer)

U.S.A!  U.S.A!  U.S.A!!
 

Chick-Fil-Apology

    So unless you have been living under a rock for the last 3 weeks...Chick-fil-a has been under some scrutiny for some of their anti-gay beliefs.  It has started a whirlwind of a 2 sided battle of supporters, vs. non supporters, with few of us--Myself included, that are in the middle.  While we don't condone some of their decisions, we're not boycotting either.
   When I originally started typing this post I was going to go into a whole ton of detail as to "why my stance is where it is. In fact, I have written it, but I figured instead of beating Mr. Ed after he's already been buried, I would take this post as something good for all, not just those who agree with me.
   That being said, I got into a pretty heated debate with some folks on Facebook about this.  While I thought they were civil, it was brought to my attention that some might not have seen it that way. While most of you I have fallen out of contact with, other than FB, there is a reason we became FB friends to begin with. That being said, and my stance not changing, I'd like to apologize to those with whom the heated debates took place. (you know who you are...because I tagged you in the link from FB) I am sorry if I came off as disrespecting to your opinion, or even a "bigot"  That was not at all my intention.  I sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, apologize to each and every one of you, and hope and pray we can just take this as an agree to disagree moment. 

One Crazy Week

(Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep) I lean over with a tired grown, and check my alarm clock.  It is 6 AM on Sunday morning.  I get out of bed, stretch, hop into the shower, and am out the door by 6:20 to serve at church.
   It is the last day of an extremely eventful week.  It started off like any other week.  I worked Monday and Tuesday.  Tuesday night i had an interview with Van Baird.  A local state farm agent to be a member of his sales team.  While it is a completely different position than I am used to, and one that I will need to obtain a license for, it is exciting non the less, and am hoping to make work.  It would mean a more steady/ consistent hours of work for me, and a more consistent paycheck for my family, and I. 
   Charity and I then left at 5 AM Wednesday morning to drive down to Panama City to spend a few days on the beach with her folks.  It gave us all a little time to relax, Sleep in, and not really think about any kind of Job(s) for a few days.     Charity's dad and I body boarded in the ocean, her mom and I built some pretty killer(if I do say so myself) sand art.  (see facebook for pictures), and Charity got some bonding time on the pier fishing with her dad, while Sherrie, and I enjoyed cheering them on. (Charity hooked what we can only assume was a Sand Shark--3 others had been caught earlier).  That wrapped up our trip to P.C. Beach '12.  We slept in again this morning before the long trip home, and got in about 9 PM. 
   The week will be concluded tomorrow evening, with dinner at my folks, for another great meal, and to pick up Lola, whom they have been so graciously dogsitting all week. 
    Monday......Back to work. What a crazy week!!

"Not the little green kind..."

"It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack."  What a descriptive saying.  Clearly, this saying means you are looking for something very small in a very large area.  I think of this in regards to the earth in this universe, and beyond (this blog would fall under the "and beyond" section of my header)  In the grand scheme of things, the big picture, we are but a "needle" in this "haystack" of universes that God has created.  Francis Chan shows just how little we are in this video.  pretty amazing.



In the midst of the summer season, I arrive to work at about 6:30.  It's still dark enough to look up at the stars, and just think about how awesome God's creation is.  The fact that we're so small in a such a big area.  Our sun is HUGE, but its not even close to the biggest known object out there.  This video is pretty neat as well.

So cool!!  Such a little part of God's massive creation, and he knows us personally.  There are some bosses of companies of 20 employees who don't know everyone's names. 

Something else to think about...now that we have this knowledge of just how truly small we are...is it possible there could be other life out there?  Not the "little green men" we've come to know and love, but other humans.  On another Earth somewhere.  Scientists discuss how perfect the earth is.  how its just the right distance from the sun for life, but not to far.  Is it possible there could be another earth out there in the millions of galaxies beyond our own?  Who knows.

"Oh winter, how I won't miss you"



 It's the end of February, and I have just one question.  Where exactly did the winter go!?  At the risk jinxing it, I think we can almost say...far, far away. 

  This picture was taken a few weeks ago, when it would still be cold out on a normal year.  Not this year.  This year has been the year of a "less than dramatic" winter here in Georgia, and this born and raised boy is not complaining.  Especially after last years fiasco of being cooped inside for an entire week, due to a few inches of snow. 

  I welcome this weather with open arms!  This is the kind of winter a state that has no snow plows to speak of could really get used to!  There was maybe, one week that was tough to be outside working, because it was so cold. 

  I have found myself turning off  the heater, and air more than once this winter, and opening the windows, and turning on the fans.  I love it!  I'm sitting here typing this blog, office window open, birds chirping, and Lola passed out at my feet from the 30 minutes prior we spent out time playing fetch.  Good times. 

 

  I guess it is not really to shocking that its nice out, with the first day of spring being March 20, I guess, to me, it feels that winter flew by!  Again...not complaining.

  Lots to look forward to in the coming months.  Busy days/more hours at work for me.  Braves baseball starting up(which is ALWAYS nice when there's nothing else on TV), golf, lake, pool, beach weather.  trees and flowers in bloom.  Yes sir, I do love me some spring! 

That "One Thing"

 Curly:  Do you know what the secret of life is?

 Mitch:  No, what?

 Curly: This. ( Holds up one finger)

 Mitch: Your finger?

 Curly: One thing. Just one thing.  You stick to that and everything else don't mean (squat).

 Mitch: That's great, but what's the one thing?

 Curly: That's what you've got to figure out.

This is a dialouge line from the classic comedy City Slickers, with Billy Crystal & Jack Palance.

I've never thought about my answer to that question until Andy Stanley did a sermon called "The one thing".  Now these are similar in the sense that Andy, and Curly both asked what is your one thing? However, they receive different answers also. 

Curly's "One thing" was simply what is your thought for you being on this earth? Whats your purpuse?

Mine is my family. 

Andy's one thing had to do with what was keeping you up on your "wall"  Like Nehemiah in the Bible.  What is the "great work" you would like to accomplish this year?  He then listed categories the one thing could fall under:

• A habit you must break
• A goal you must accomplish
• A project you must complete
• A relationship you must restore-or end
• a debt you must rid yourself of

The scripture comes from Nehemiah 6:3 "I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down.  Why should the work cease while I leave it, and go down to you"?

This got me to thinking about my one thing.  What have I tried to do in the past, but always gotten distracted, and went back to my old ways.  Then it came to me.  Caffeine addiction.  This was already in my head for reasons I wont bore you with here, and that I hope to never have to repeat, but what an (for lack of a better word) interesting way for God to tell me that was what he wanted for me?  Just another sign that all he does is for the good.  I feel like I could have many other great things to do while on my wall, but this is the most important at the moment. 

Another blogger that I follow Did a blog about that sermon as well.  They mentioned their wall was  Facebook, or social media.  I could see that being another one of mine as well. 

It was a great sermon, and I recommend everyone to watch it when they have a free hour. 
http://www.northpoint.org/messages/this-one-thing

A New Year...

...A new 365 days.  A new 12 months. A new time period to "do things" you didn't do the previous year...or 7.  A time to put a "bad year" behind you and start fresh. Or if you're fortunate enough, to continue the previous great year into the next. (there i go with the rhyming again.  I now know how the poor Grinch felt) 

  A big tradition, aside from staying up past midnight to welcome the new year, is to make resolutions for the up and coming year.

A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings. People committing themselves to a New Year's resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year.
Compliments of Wikipedia.(if its on the Internet, it must be true right?)

  More times than not, a resolution is made...and kept for 3 months tops. (Don't believe me?  Walk into a gym today, and then that same gym in 12 weeks.  Just sayin')  I am no stranger to this.  I have made, and dropped my fair share in March.  This year though I have a few that I have control over, and some I don't have as much control over.  I have made the resolution this year to consistently shoot golf rounds in the 90's, and to break 90, at least once.  Now lets be honest with myself.  It likely will not happen, but it is something I am going to strive for in the new year.  A resolution that I have more control of however is *keeping up with this blog, Exercising more regularly, etc. 
   Given my statement above, I am more likely to keep up with the blog than the other.  However, I did get a new bike for Christmas, and have been riding it around the neighborhood the past 2 days.  Check back on that come summer...when its hot.  I have others that I wont bore you with here. 
   My point is, some you can have more control over than others.  It's keeping tabs on the ones you do have control over that may just make the "less controlled ones" fall into place.  (i.e. If I exercise regulalrly, I will get stronger, thus being able to drive a golf ball further, thus improving my score...maybe)  See where I'm going with this?? 
  
What is your new years resolution? 

*I mentioned keeping up with this blog.  I was on a few weeks hiatus there with Christmas, New years, and thinking my computer had a virus.  Sick computer aside...no more excuses.  Its a reselution...so I have to do it right??*