Hum...

The smarter we get, the dumber we are.

When I grow up to be a man...

Celebrated our 38th anniversary with my lovely bride. Wonderful meal together at Bone Fish then "True Grit." Grew up listening to Beach Boys, reminded of the tune "When I Grow Up To Be A Man"..what will I be? Well, for me, the answer is blessed. Haven't realized all my dreams, but Laura has stood with me through "the best and worst of times" and still loves me...never dreamed I'd be so fortunate.

Born, again...

42 years ago tonight...December 28,1968...I placed my trust in Christ; thanks Mark Z, Roger C, Ed S, Gene C and so many others who have mentored me along the Way.  Now..."All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen."  Jude 1.25  NLT

"Willing it" won't make it happen...

Started PT today. I am intrigued by how fast our joints "freeze up" and muscles atrophe when we don't use them. As I strained to lift my arm above my shoulder, I could only move it half that distance; no matter how hard I tried--I could not "will" it up. Getting my "shoulder back" is going to require discipline and hard work.

Life is like that too. When we live careless, reckless, aimless lives, we miss the best life has to offer. People are filled with potential; we are "wired" for growth, relationships, productivity and yes, achievement. Realizing these possibilities brings shape to life, purpose for living; talent and apptitude must be transformed into ability by disciplined effort. "Willing" it won't make it happen. Success and failure are two sides of the same coin and people tend to get what they expect. Our expectations tend to dictate our effort; dicipline tends to dictate our success. Successful people do the things unsuccessful people aren't unwilling to do; the door to success isn't hard to see, but it demands much of those who choose to pass through it.

But, what about "life" after death?  People of faith believe that we've been created with eternity in our hearts. The Scriptures tell us that...

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners...God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us."  Rom 5.6,8 NLT

We embrace this gracious provision by trusting Christ as our Lord and Savior. But this kind of effective faith doesn't just kick back and "let it happen." Saving faith points us to "a long obedience in the same direction." Life becomes the canvas where we see worked out, what God has worked in. Like purposeful living, spiritual strength and godly character are the by-products of disciplined effort. The apostle Paul understood this...

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." 1 Cor 9.24-27 NLT

Good outcomes don't just happen.  Life and eternity demand our very best and our very best is always more than enough.

Number 57.

It's done; memories are carefully packed away to enjoy for a lifetime. Miranda's first Christmas with us, Braden working hard to figure out chords on a new guitar, the sound of Lego's being "sifted" by Kellen, a good book to read; Inception & Toy Story 3 (strange "BEDfellows")...house filled with laughter, love and too much good food. My 57th edition; the best one yet.

WE are the reason...

We are the reason for the season...

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners...God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us..." Rom 5.6, 8 NLT

Christmas is joyous because God's love never fails.   

Shalom.

...Times that try men's souls...

"These are the times that try men's souls" wrote Thomas Paine in his pamphlet "The American Crisis" published Dec 23, 1776; the Colonies faced the almost certain prospect of defeat in their war for indpendence.  Paine implored Americans "don't give up the fight."

The "idea of America" has been the fuel driving our resolve to be "one nation, under God, indivisable, with liberty and justice for all;"  an idea those who traveled this way before us thought to be worth fighting and dying for.  Indifference to this "big idea" is the real, the urgent threat to our liberty.

"A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to..."

During the battle to ratify the US Constitution, many Americans worried that the founding document failed to list specific rights to be protected against government's tendency to abuse power. Thomas Jefferson gave voice to their concerns in a letter to James Madison: "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth...and what no just government should refuse."  


Reluctant at first, Federalists agreed to add amendments protecting personal liberties.  Madison along with several others, crafted a set of 10 amendments, a Bill of Rights, which ironically, were ratified December 15, 1781. These of course, constitute the first 10 Amendments to our Constituion.


The battle to protect the liberty of individual rages on. Round 1: limited government prevailed when a Federal Judge struck down the provison, in the recently "passed" Health Care bill, mandating that every person in these United States must secure for themselves Health Insurance.


It's certainly not over yet.  These are historic days.  Regardless of what the future holds, the strength of our Nation is demonstrated by the civility of our process. I am so proud to be an American.  May God bless our nation.

Color my world...white.

The snow switch has been flipped; my world has turned white with Lake effect snow; light, fluffy, beautiful. Weather keeps life interesting. The seasons help me find a rythm I never experienced growing up in SoCal. It's refreshing. Life slows down; relationships breath deeply & gain strength by growing deeper roots, becoming more initimate and real. I wouldn't change a thing, even if I could.

Freedom isn't free.

December 7, 1941. 2400 dead. 1200 wounded. 18 US Ships and 300 planes destoryed or damaged.

"A date that will live in infamy" President Roosevelt
"I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and instilled in him a terrible resolve." Admiral Yamamoto

Both men were right and the world was rescued from an Axis of evil, but not before millions lost their lives. Freedom isn't free.