We will inaugurate a new President today. You will forgive me for going to work and not staying home to watch the events on TV. I am sure there will be plenty of replays this evening. However, it is truly historic, and I don’t mind saying that I’m still proud to be an American, and proud of the progress we have made toward racial equality. I’m not rooting for Obama to fail. I want success, morality, victory, and peace!
Christians should be people of hope. But though I am hoping for the best, I find myself some times fearing the worst. And that’s not good. Because fear is the opposite of faith.
Obama has run on a platform of hope, as evidenced in his popular posters. And I have seen some hopeful things from him so far, not the least of which is that his personal life at least seems a lot better than his party predecessor from Hope, Arkansas.
Obama’s book is entitled, “The Audacity of Hope”. But when I sense my hope turning into fear I must look up in faith...and that’s the most audacious quality any of us can possess! You want to talk about ‘change we can believe in’ ... well, you’ll never be more changed than when you believe in the real Messiah, Jesus Christ, and when you have the audacity to place your faith in ‘That One’, well, there’s plenty of hope that will result.
During the campaign we all got used to the “Yes we can” chants at their rallies. But Biblically speaking... “No, we can’t!” Only God can and I hope we stay close to Him at this time! But Christians need to be positive people. We need to be realistic but it wouldn’t hurt us to be optimistic.
We need to be “yes we can” people to a certain extent. Answer me like you are at a rally--Can we obey the Bible’s commands for us to prayerfully support our new president? “Yes, we can!” Can we be above the racial innuendos that some are already spreading around? Can we show ourselves to be more mature than many who are actually hoping for another attack on our soil? Can we accept the result of the election as fitting within God’s will and trust Proverbs that the heart of the leader can be led by God’s hand? “Yes, we can.”
I said we need to be “yes we can” people to a CERTAIN extent. So where do we as believers need to draw the line?
Well, let me ask you—Can we sit quietly by and allow the abortion movement to make great strides over the next 4 years? “No, we can’t!!” Can we trade Biblical morality in for hopes of medical breakthroughs that could result from embryonic stem cell research? “No, we can’t!!” Should we join in the chorus of hero worshipers that want to set up a man as being a Savior? “No, we can’t!!” Can we give more priority to our wallets than to what is right and pleasing to God? “No, we can’t!!” Can we make room for socialism in hopes that we’ll get a stimulus check? “No, we can’t!!” Can we bow to peer pressure and give up in the global fight against terrorism, and try to turn into Switzerland? “No, we can’t!!” Can we allow our rights under the Constitution to be taken away? “No, we can’t!”
So with that said I am thankful for a country that allows us the freedom to choose a leader. I am more thankful for a country that gives me the freedom to pray for that man and pray that he is guided to make good choices. And that's the view from my window.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
MIssed Opportunities
I haven't had the time to BLOG since last Friday and this morning I took a few extra minutes out of my routine to read Fridays post and some of the emails folks had sent me in response to it. That has led me to some other thoughts this morning.
Have you ever kicked yourself in the Seat of the Pants, because you missed a golden opportunity? I think all of us can relate here!
1. We missed an opportunity to make a Positive Difference in Someone’s Life.
2. We missed an opportunity to be a Blessing to Someone who was Hurting.
3. We missed an opportunity to get a certain job because we were not prepared.
4. We missed getting in on the next great stock tip because we were hesitant.
5. We missed an opportunity to serve another because we were too preoccupied.
Opportunity has certainly knocked on my door & found me so caught up in other things, that it slipped through my fingers? I’m convinced that it has happened to all of us!
Andy Stanley made the statement in his book “Visioneering”, “We don’t need to pray for more Miracles, we just need to be more sensitive to the opportunities that God brings our way.”
Why is it that some people seem to take advantage of the opportunities that come their way, while others allow opportunities to pass them by? It’s easy to say, “Well, they were just lucky.” I don’t think Luck has anything to do with it, they were just more sensitive to the opportunity!
I heard a story once about the Shoe salesman that went to Africa. He was there two weeks & he wrote his company back a letter saying, “Please bring me Home, nobody wears shoes over here.”
They sent another salesman in his place & in a couple of weeks, he sent a letter back to the company saying, “Please send all the shoes you can, because nobody where shoes here......”
I think sometimes I am guilty of being like that first salesman and don't even recognize that there is opportunity all around me! The Bible is full of missed opportunities.
1. Noah gave people a chance to get on the Ark. They laughed and went about their lives, until God closed the door and suddenly they had time. :-)
2. The People of Sodom & Gomorrah Had a Chance To Repent. But again they were too busy and not interested and suddenly that door was closed.
3. The story of the good Samaritan. Lots of chances for many people to do the right thing but again, missed opportunities for all but 1 person.
4. The Two Thieves on the Cross both Had an Opportunity. 1 just wanted his personal freedom and no desire to serve God and even took part in the ridicule of Jesus. The other thief saw Jesus for who he was and recognized him publicly and made the most of his opportunity.
So this morning I am thinking about all the MISSED OPPORTUNITIES I have had and I have decided that it is my job to focus and to reach out with a helping hand to others. I have also decided to attempt to NOT miss opportunities that are around me everyday. I think if we all try to be more sensitive to the opportunities to help others around us we could be happier and more content with the opportunities that we may have missed professionally, Or at least that is the VIEW FROM MY WINDOW.
Have you ever kicked yourself in the Seat of the Pants, because you missed a golden opportunity? I think all of us can relate here!
1. We missed an opportunity to make a Positive Difference in Someone’s Life.
2. We missed an opportunity to be a Blessing to Someone who was Hurting.
3. We missed an opportunity to get a certain job because we were not prepared.
4. We missed getting in on the next great stock tip because we were hesitant.
5. We missed an opportunity to serve another because we were too preoccupied.
Opportunity has certainly knocked on my door & found me so caught up in other things, that it slipped through my fingers? I’m convinced that it has happened to all of us!
Andy Stanley made the statement in his book “Visioneering”, “We don’t need to pray for more Miracles, we just need to be more sensitive to the opportunities that God brings our way.”
Why is it that some people seem to take advantage of the opportunities that come their way, while others allow opportunities to pass them by? It’s easy to say, “Well, they were just lucky.” I don’t think Luck has anything to do with it, they were just more sensitive to the opportunity!
I heard a story once about the Shoe salesman that went to Africa. He was there two weeks & he wrote his company back a letter saying, “Please bring me Home, nobody wears shoes over here.”
They sent another salesman in his place & in a couple of weeks, he sent a letter back to the company saying, “Please send all the shoes you can, because nobody where shoes here......”
I think sometimes I am guilty of being like that first salesman and don't even recognize that there is opportunity all around me! The Bible is full of missed opportunities.
1. Noah gave people a chance to get on the Ark. They laughed and went about their lives, until God closed the door and suddenly they had time. :-)
2. The People of Sodom & Gomorrah Had a Chance To Repent. But again they were too busy and not interested and suddenly that door was closed.
3. The story of the good Samaritan. Lots of chances for many people to do the right thing but again, missed opportunities for all but 1 person.
4. The Two Thieves on the Cross both Had an Opportunity. 1 just wanted his personal freedom and no desire to serve God and even took part in the ridicule of Jesus. The other thief saw Jesus for who he was and recognized him publicly and made the most of his opportunity.
So this morning I am thinking about all the MISSED OPPORTUNITIES I have had and I have decided that it is my job to focus and to reach out with a helping hand to others. I have also decided to attempt to NOT miss opportunities that are around me everyday. I think if we all try to be more sensitive to the opportunities to help others around us we could be happier and more content with the opportunities that we may have missed professionally, Or at least that is the VIEW FROM MY WINDOW.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Robert Frost & Detours
I have just returned home from a great car journey. I drove 567 miles in one day from Douglas to Atlanta to Gainesville and then back to Douglas and all without friends or family to keep me company. The CD player was full of great music the cruise control was working so I really didnt have to do anything but mind my speed, steer carefully and not spill my coffee.
I take great pleasure in these drives. Driving gives me time to think, time to pray and time to work out the cobwebs in my head. Most people hate being in the car alone for 8 hours but those people don't have 4 children nor do they work in a plant with 800 other people. :)
This particular trip was taken so I could have time to make some big career choices. I was reflecting on my possibilities when suddenly I rounded a corner and saw flashing red and yellow lights pointing me to a detour. The lights and signs pointed me down a road I had never noticed in 4 years of driving this route. I was worried that I would get lost or heaven forbid, loose a few precious minutes from my well planned schedule. But as I traveled this detour, I saw some beautiful Antibellum homes that had been less than 500 yards off the main road for years and in all the times I had passed this way I did not get to see them. It really reminded me of Robert Frost. I was suddenly on the ROAD NOT TAKEN.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Frost's poem has always been a favorite of mine, I am so thankful to have a mother that taught literature and exposed me to poetry. I can honestly say that the older I get, the more I appriciate the lessons and the more truth I find in them. My life has been so full of choices and roads not taken, that I have given this poem more thought than many.
I have found when discussing this with others that many people seem to interpret this poem as a tribute to the road less traveled, as an endorsement of the decision to plow new ground, to explore new territory, to try or to create something new. And, I admit, this is a viable interpretation of the poem. However, to me the emphasis is on the road not taken, as opposed to the one less taken. In fact, the poem is titled "The Road Not Taken." This is a poem about a common struggle we all face in life: the inability to do two mutually exclusive things. Frost says he wants to travel both roads, but he "cannot and be one traveler."
So after a look down the road he won't take, he sets out on the other. Of course he keeps the first for another day. "Yet," he says, "knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted that I'd ever be back."
What a telling line! Haven't you felt this? I have. My list of roads not taken is long. And depending on how today's meeting went, I might add another missed road.
At various stages in my childhood, I wanted be a general and drive tanks, to fight fires, to sing and play an instrument for a living, and of course at one time I wanted to become a truck driver. I changed college majors more than most people change socks. All in hopes of finding the right major for the dream job.
As most of you know with the exception of some brief trials and errors, I've spent the majority of my working life in the Poultry Industry. And I'm proud of what I do, but I still dream of flying to the moon or cracking some great mystery from history or getting the chance to preach and teach in front of thousands. (I need more readers ha-ha)
Another road missed deals with location. I have spent my whole life in Georgia, but I still dream of living in Beverly Hills, or Paris, or Scotland, or about a dozen other places.
Frost's poem reminds us that one rarely returns to roads not taken. That's why, especially at midlife, it's so dangerous to keep putting things off that we consider truly important. Temporary choices have a way of becoming permanent ones, and today's procrastinations are tomorrow's regrets. As a father of four rapidly growing children I know how precious a few missed moments can be.
And yet, like it or not, we can't take all the roads we want to in life. Frost's words also remind us that we really are one traveler, and trying to choose everything in life will leave us just as empty as choosing the wrong thing.
I have some huge choices to make over the next 3 months. But whatever road I take, Frost's words will inspire me. If I hit a detour, his wisdom will comfort me. And at the end of my journey I can reflect on my relationships, poetry, literature, family, friends and experiences and I am certain I will be thankful for the VIEW FROM MY WINDOW.
I take great pleasure in these drives. Driving gives me time to think, time to pray and time to work out the cobwebs in my head. Most people hate being in the car alone for 8 hours but those people don't have 4 children nor do they work in a plant with 800 other people. :)
This particular trip was taken so I could have time to make some big career choices. I was reflecting on my possibilities when suddenly I rounded a corner and saw flashing red and yellow lights pointing me to a detour. The lights and signs pointed me down a road I had never noticed in 4 years of driving this route. I was worried that I would get lost or heaven forbid, loose a few precious minutes from my well planned schedule. But as I traveled this detour, I saw some beautiful Antibellum homes that had been less than 500 yards off the main road for years and in all the times I had passed this way I did not get to see them. It really reminded me of Robert Frost. I was suddenly on the ROAD NOT TAKEN.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Frost's poem has always been a favorite of mine, I am so thankful to have a mother that taught literature and exposed me to poetry. I can honestly say that the older I get, the more I appriciate the lessons and the more truth I find in them. My life has been so full of choices and roads not taken, that I have given this poem more thought than many.
I have found when discussing this with others that many people seem to interpret this poem as a tribute to the road less traveled, as an endorsement of the decision to plow new ground, to explore new territory, to try or to create something new. And, I admit, this is a viable interpretation of the poem. However, to me the emphasis is on the road not taken, as opposed to the one less taken. In fact, the poem is titled "The Road Not Taken." This is a poem about a common struggle we all face in life: the inability to do two mutually exclusive things. Frost says he wants to travel both roads, but he "cannot and be one traveler."
So after a look down the road he won't take, he sets out on the other. Of course he keeps the first for another day. "Yet," he says, "knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted that I'd ever be back."
What a telling line! Haven't you felt this? I have. My list of roads not taken is long. And depending on how today's meeting went, I might add another missed road.
At various stages in my childhood, I wanted be a general and drive tanks, to fight fires, to sing and play an instrument for a living, and of course at one time I wanted to become a truck driver. I changed college majors more than most people change socks. All in hopes of finding the right major for the dream job.
As most of you know with the exception of some brief trials and errors, I've spent the majority of my working life in the Poultry Industry. And I'm proud of what I do, but I still dream of flying to the moon or cracking some great mystery from history or getting the chance to preach and teach in front of thousands. (I need more readers ha-ha)
Another road missed deals with location. I have spent my whole life in Georgia, but I still dream of living in Beverly Hills, or Paris, or Scotland, or about a dozen other places.
Frost's poem reminds us that one rarely returns to roads not taken. That's why, especially at midlife, it's so dangerous to keep putting things off that we consider truly important. Temporary choices have a way of becoming permanent ones, and today's procrastinations are tomorrow's regrets. As a father of four rapidly growing children I know how precious a few missed moments can be.
And yet, like it or not, we can't take all the roads we want to in life. Frost's words also remind us that we really are one traveler, and trying to choose everything in life will leave us just as empty as choosing the wrong thing.
I have some huge choices to make over the next 3 months. But whatever road I take, Frost's words will inspire me. If I hit a detour, his wisdom will comfort me. And at the end of my journey I can reflect on my relationships, poetry, literature, family, friends and experiences and I am certain I will be thankful for the VIEW FROM MY WINDOW.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
RAIN & STORMS
If you live in the South, you know why I am writing this entry….as I write we are experiencing a torrential downpour. The rain is so bad I can’t see the cars in the parking lot. It is both wonderful and scary at the same time….and it is inspiring.
We have all said the children’s rhyme RAIN RAIN GO AWAY at some time. That's because, for most of us, the thought of rain means change, and not for the better. A good hair day goes bad, or a golf time gets rescheduled and in my case the kitchen floor gets soaked from the 2 or 3 roof leaks we have. Maybe your clean car needs a re-wash. Our tendency to associate negative thoughts to the word 'rain' is gets in the way of all the good rain can bring.
I think it's unfortunate, considering the positive changes rain can produce. Several years ago, Christy and I went through a particularly rainy season in our marriage. Perhaps the word 'stormy' or the words 'torrential hurricane-like downpours' would be a more accurate way of describing it.
During one particularly nasty downpour, my anger escalated like a flash flood. Anything in my path was in real danger. The look of panic on my children’s faces revealed their fearful thoughts; it's time to seek higher ground. With this rainstorm, I realized something or someone had to finally change.
Desperate to know how to fix things, I grabbed my bible, closed my eyes and opened it. Randomly, I pointed to some scripture on some page and opened my eyes. This type of Bible study is not real effective, but for me it worked like someone had tossed me an umbrella in the midst of this storm.
"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit, is like a broken down city, without walls." -- Proverbs 25:28
This wasn't what I expected or hoped for. The words appeared to be directed at me, not Christy. Were my own actions and attitudes contributing to the problems in our relationship? Was my anger and unwillingness to admit fault causing the storm? Looking closer, this verse seemed to indicate that it was possible to control my anger. And in not doing so, I was allowing everything that was important to me to be unprotected and vulnerable. My family was at risk because of my lack of self-control.
As I continued in reflection, I was reminded of the life of Paul. Even when beaten, rejected and thrown into prison, he managed to keep his cool. He faced many storms throughout his life, yet his actions remained honorable. I could not compare anything I had done to his life in a favorable way no matter how I tried to spin it.
Rain is important to life. Rain has the ability to refresh. And rain is not always soft. Heavy rains at the right time strategically soften hardened soil conditions preparing the ground for new life. Over time, the rain can change even the rockiest of landscapes.
There will always be days when we long for the rain to 'go away '. I certainly never again want my kids to think of me as a devastating Hurricane like Ike or Katrina. However, after my storm has come and gone, I understand what the old prophet meant by 'the Lord has His way in the whirlwind and the storm'.
I'm thankful for the rain, both the real rain and the figurative and for the transformation it can bring. At least that is the VIEW FROM MY WINDOW.
We have all said the children’s rhyme RAIN RAIN GO AWAY at some time. That's because, for most of us, the thought of rain means change, and not for the better. A good hair day goes bad, or a golf time gets rescheduled and in my case the kitchen floor gets soaked from the 2 or 3 roof leaks we have. Maybe your clean car needs a re-wash. Our tendency to associate negative thoughts to the word 'rain' is gets in the way of all the good rain can bring.
I think it's unfortunate, considering the positive changes rain can produce. Several years ago, Christy and I went through a particularly rainy season in our marriage. Perhaps the word 'stormy' or the words 'torrential hurricane-like downpours' would be a more accurate way of describing it.
During one particularly nasty downpour, my anger escalated like a flash flood. Anything in my path was in real danger. The look of panic on my children’s faces revealed their fearful thoughts; it's time to seek higher ground. With this rainstorm, I realized something or someone had to finally change.
Desperate to know how to fix things, I grabbed my bible, closed my eyes and opened it. Randomly, I pointed to some scripture on some page and opened my eyes. This type of Bible study is not real effective, but for me it worked like someone had tossed me an umbrella in the midst of this storm.
"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit, is like a broken down city, without walls." -- Proverbs 25:28
This wasn't what I expected or hoped for. The words appeared to be directed at me, not Christy. Were my own actions and attitudes contributing to the problems in our relationship? Was my anger and unwillingness to admit fault causing the storm? Looking closer, this verse seemed to indicate that it was possible to control my anger. And in not doing so, I was allowing everything that was important to me to be unprotected and vulnerable. My family was at risk because of my lack of self-control.
As I continued in reflection, I was reminded of the life of Paul. Even when beaten, rejected and thrown into prison, he managed to keep his cool. He faced many storms throughout his life, yet his actions remained honorable. I could not compare anything I had done to his life in a favorable way no matter how I tried to spin it.
Rain is important to life. Rain has the ability to refresh. And rain is not always soft. Heavy rains at the right time strategically soften hardened soil conditions preparing the ground for new life. Over time, the rain can change even the rockiest of landscapes.
There will always be days when we long for the rain to 'go away '. I certainly never again want my kids to think of me as a devastating Hurricane like Ike or Katrina. However, after my storm has come and gone, I understand what the old prophet meant by 'the Lord has His way in the whirlwind and the storm'.
I'm thankful for the rain, both the real rain and the figurative and for the transformation it can bring. At least that is the VIEW FROM MY WINDOW.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
What are you thankful for?
I thought as a start to this journey where I share my thoughts, my hopes and my aspirations to the world online I would start with some things I shared with my Sunday school class this week. It seems like a good JUMPING OFF POINT.
This past week I was grateful for Amazon.com. We ordered Christmas presents early and some of the things we ordered were books. If we’re being totally transparent, I actually got the books for Christy and myself. Then we wrapped them up and disguised them as presents! When the kids open them, and move on to a toy or computer game, Christy and I will have new books to read. :)
I am also thankful for nerf basketball hoops. I actually got the nerf basketball hoop at the dollar store as a gift for my nephew, but decided instead to put it in my office. Man, I love these things. I have had 3 “tournaments” in my office since putting it in and always win with my “take two steps, spin around once, bank it off the wall and the certificate of appreciation, nothing but net” shot. You know what I realized? Happiness is not the byproduct of bigger or better toys. Happiness is finding joy in the simple pleasures of life. It’s not getting what you want. It’s enjoying what you have!
I had my normal quota of stress last week. I had my fair share of issues and problems. But last week was one of my best weeks in recent memory. You know why? Because I realized that your focus determines your reality. I was looking for things to be grateful for and when you’re looking for things to be grateful for you don’t have to look too far!
I look at worship this way too. Worship should be a reflection of us living in a state of gratitude. I know that I am way too guilty of ignoring all the things I have to be thankful for and drilling in on the pet peeves and the problems and the things that beat us all up. But by starting this BOLG, you will always get to read about something that I am thankful for. I am sure I will use this arena to VENT and BRAG and all of those things that make us human. But I feel you and I weren’t created to worship and vent and brag about ourselves. We were created to worship God. Someone so much bigger and so much better. I don't want to get caught up in the negatives, I hope you won't settle for anything less! THAT IS THE VIEW FROM MY WINDOW.
This past week I was grateful for Amazon.com. We ordered Christmas presents early and some of the things we ordered were books. If we’re being totally transparent, I actually got the books for Christy and myself. Then we wrapped them up and disguised them as presents! When the kids open them, and move on to a toy or computer game, Christy and I will have new books to read. :)
I am also thankful for nerf basketball hoops. I actually got the nerf basketball hoop at the dollar store as a gift for my nephew, but decided instead to put it in my office. Man, I love these things. I have had 3 “tournaments” in my office since putting it in and always win with my “take two steps, spin around once, bank it off the wall and the certificate of appreciation, nothing but net” shot. You know what I realized? Happiness is not the byproduct of bigger or better toys. Happiness is finding joy in the simple pleasures of life. It’s not getting what you want. It’s enjoying what you have!
I had my normal quota of stress last week. I had my fair share of issues and problems. But last week was one of my best weeks in recent memory. You know why? Because I realized that your focus determines your reality. I was looking for things to be grateful for and when you’re looking for things to be grateful for you don’t have to look too far!
I look at worship this way too. Worship should be a reflection of us living in a state of gratitude. I know that I am way too guilty of ignoring all the things I have to be thankful for and drilling in on the pet peeves and the problems and the things that beat us all up. But by starting this BOLG, you will always get to read about something that I am thankful for. I am sure I will use this arena to VENT and BRAG and all of those things that make us human. But I feel you and I weren’t created to worship and vent and brag about ourselves. We were created to worship God. Someone so much bigger and so much better. I don't want to get caught up in the negatives, I hope you won't settle for anything less! THAT IS THE VIEW FROM MY WINDOW.
Day 1
I am on my lunch break now, but still shouldn't be using the company computer to send out this blog so I am just going to Post this sentence and update the world with my thoughts later this afternoon. ON MY TIME. I hope you find them enjoyable, educational and a bit enlightening at times.
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