Archive — Relationship
5 Jun
The Time I Almost Got Away With It…
Early on in school I developed an important philosophy. It goes as follows: School is not about how hard you work, it’s about how hard your teacher THINKS you worked. Yeah, just call me Aristotle. I spent years (and several detentions) perfecting this talent of mine. By the time seventh grade rolled around I was masterful. The amount of hours worked in comparison to the grades was something to be admired. I soon learned however, that even a great theory such as mine is not fail-proof.
Sitting at my desk daydreaming, I didn’t even notice my teacher start lecturing. One word violently dragged me back into reality, “Ok, let’s start PRESENTATIONS…”
27 May
Training Wheels
I remember my very first bicycle: a deep purple frame, a white basket fastened to the handlebars, beaded spokes framed by white tires, and pedals that acted as the brakes when spun in reverse. I loved that bicycle because no matter how much I swerved, my bike always stayed on course. It never teetered or ventured from its straight, upright position. No matter how much I leaned to each side, my bike remained steady, held in place by a sturdy set of training wheels.
1 May
Translating God
I really respect and admire anyone who is multi-lingual. What an amazing talent! Unfortunately I have also come to realize I will never be that person. Early in the semester, my seventh grade French teacher kindly “suggested” that I drop his French class and take another option instead. Expressing that maybe the French language “isn’t for everybody,” he quickly added that I had “a long list of talents…but French is not on that list.” All aspirations of becoming the next ambassador to France came to an abrupt halt in that moment.
30 Apr
Facebook and the Incarnation
I have a twenty-something friend who recently declared that a single event signaled Facebook’s imminent demise: his mother friended him.
Bizarre annoyances are nothing new for Facebook. How many times must I hit ignore in response to a barrage of loony requests? No, thank you, I don’t want to be a pirate or join in a snowball fight or poke anyone with a broccoli stalk or plant a geranium in someone’s (virtual) garden. However, this motherly intrusion unnerved my friend on quite a different level - his virtual reality collided with real life in disturbing ways.
14 Apr
Growing Above Maintenance
Rock climbing is my favorite thing to do. It’s technical; every problem is different and requires thought to solve. I also have to be strong enough. I have to rely on my strength to keep me from falling. The type of climbing I do doesn’t use a harness. If I lose my grip I fall. When I climb indoors the floor is covered with padding but outside the only padding I have is a small pad.
I climb once a week. It’s great! I get to climb with other climbers and see the progress we make as we climb from week to week.
10 Apr
Moving In!
I have been taught a lesson that I won’t ever forget. It brought an attitude adjustment as well as a spanking, spiritually that is. My lesson came through learning about the slave trade in our country. This lesson has changed my life-style. So here it is; check it out.
Masters of plantations in the South began to feel convicted about owning slaves and mistreating them so badly. There were masters who would get so convicted that in the middle of the night, so no one would know, take their slaves to the edge of the property of the plantation and tell them they were free. One of three things would then happen to those free slave families. One, they would be captured by others and put back into the slave circuit. Two, they would be shot by other plantation owners who felt threatened and feared an anti-slave movement. Or three, they would make it to the North and live a life looked down upon as a sub-human race. By setting those slaves free the masters weren’t doing much for them, just easing their own conscience.
24 Mar
Barbed Wire and Ripped Pants
I used to like Capture the Flag. I was once under the impression that it was a safe and fulfilling way of releasing the aggressiveness built into every man. I don’t believe that now!
12 Mar
An Illustration from the “Throne”
I have an embarrassing confession to make. Sometimes those of us who are in preparation for ministry have some weird quirks. As an example, I sometimes like to challenge myself to find sermon illustrations in situations where I have nothing better to do. For instance, when I am sitting in traffic or studying at the library or shopping at the grocery store, I like to keep my “preacher senses” sharp by trying to observe and find sermon illustrations in that particular situation.
One of the more embarrassing and dorky situations is trying to find illustrations in the restroom.
4 Mar
Stone Face
I can’t play real golf, but I’m pretty good at the kid’s version. I remember a mini golf course I went to with my family while on vacation. It was amazing! There were castles, pirate ships, and windmills. It was like walking into a fantasy world!
3 Mar
Distractions
I have two problems. The first is this: I am self-conscious and don’t like to look stupid. That does not work out too well with my second problem: I tend to make a fool of myself regularly…
