Here I am.. Working away at my desk and minding my own business, enjoying a little AOL radio. If you must know I was chillin to the Heartbreak Country channel, OK!
When out of nowhere Hopelessly Devoted to You starts to play. Oddly enough instead of reaching for the mouse to change the station I stayed in my work zone and let it spin. Its cool, right?
Next thing I know I'm all nostalgic and remember hearing the song when I was a kid. Sitting in the play room, or as we called it.. the front room. It was on a mickey mouse record player which sat atop my parents console record player.
I knew all the drum fills and the chord progression. The lyrics seem to roll from my memory as if I had sung it a hundred times..........
Was...... I mean............... could it be....?
No...
Was I an Olivia Newton-John fan?
I was 8 when that song came out for Pete's sake. Once a fan... always a fan, I guess.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
He is everywhere
I was on my way in to work this morning, radio turned down and doing my best to pray while chasing rabbits.... By the way.... Have you ever had those mornings? The ones where no matter what you want or need to pray about... It just ends up being a 15 min distraction that ends in a Amen? Very frustrating....
During my rabbit hunt I look through the trees and there it is. The most beautiful moon that I have seen in some time.
Its perfection was cartoonish, if that's even a word. Three well placed clouds accented its white hot edges. The craters on its face appeared to be in HD. WOW!
It was at this point that I laid down my gun and watched the rabbits run away.
He had my attention.
Where will you see him today? After all... He is everywhere.
During my rabbit hunt I look through the trees and there it is. The most beautiful moon that I have seen in some time.
Its perfection was cartoonish, if that's even a word. Three well placed clouds accented its white hot edges. The craters on its face appeared to be in HD. WOW!
It was at this point that I laid down my gun and watched the rabbits run away.
He had my attention.
Where will you see him today? After all... He is everywhere.
Monday, October 13, 2008
A thought for the day
Just wanted to share something that occurred to me the other day.
Not life changing by any means but thought I would share.
If you are ever in a trivia game and the topic turns to non-pc candies and there affiliation with secular groups. This might come in handy.
A gay cowboy's favorite candy is a Jolly Rancher.
Have a great day!
Not life changing by any means but thought I would share.
If you are ever in a trivia game and the topic turns to non-pc candies and there affiliation with secular groups. This might come in handy.
A gay cowboy's favorite candy is a Jolly Rancher.
Have a great day!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
If I could just do better.....
I have been studying Galatians with my men's group and chapter 4 brings out law and redemption/grace. Paul uses the allegory of Hagar and Sarah to describe the law vs redemption and a sermon from Pete Awlinson, Rich and Loving it, goes over the fact that the law and redemption can not live in the same house. Good stuff!
I have been down this road so many times. Live the way I should only to fall flat on my face. Which is where I should have been in the first place, on my face before God. Its so easy to get caught up in the routine of the day and create the check list.
It is also just as easy to not create that check list and know that I am covered by the grace and freedom of Christ.
So which is it.. try harder or live in grace?
The great thing about this whole grace and freedom through Christ thing is... well grace!
For me... I will always be like the Galatians. I will float between the grace and freedom of knowing Christ to the "occasional" visit to the legalistic side of life. The side of life where "I can do better". The side where I tend to wallow in self pity. The side where I punish myself for sins that have already been forgiven.... (not the same as conviction for ones sins... but the remembering of those in the past. (Psalm 103:12)
Are you thinking that I am using grace as a get out of jail free card, though it kind of is?
Can you think of one person who knows the true definition of grace. One who has experienced grace and yet takes advantage of it? If so.. Do you think they have experienced it in its truest form? The more we seek the Lord, our desires become His desires.... If we are seeking the Lord and praying the desires of our heart, which He has put there, how does one take advantage of grace?
Psalms 374-5 -
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass".
This is not the prayer where we ask for that new car or more money. The more we delight ourselves in the Lord... the more we are wanting what He wants for our life..... Our desires become His desires....
I can go between these 2 camps just as easily. (carnal desires vs hearts desire.. that's another entry)
Paul has already declared Romans 6:1 "What shall we say then? Shall we to continue in sin, that grace may abound? As I stated prior to the Psalms entry. I know of no one in my circle of believers that takes this verse out of context to sin a little extra. I guess that is not totally true. One does not take this verse out of context and live in sin...
Luther kind of describes the law as the bastard son Ishmael, and redemption as the promise of Isaac. I love that! (Galatians 4)
Is it that easy? I mean.. really. When I react under the law I am serving the bastard son of a bondmaid, Ishmael. But when I live under Christ righteousness I am serving the son that was promised. Hmm.. The son that was promised. Sound strangely familiar?
I wish I could live in that daily. But the fact of the matter is.
I could just do better.....
I have been down this road so many times. Live the way I should only to fall flat on my face. Which is where I should have been in the first place, on my face before God. Its so easy to get caught up in the routine of the day and create the check list.
It is also just as easy to not create that check list and know that I am covered by the grace and freedom of Christ.
So which is it.. try harder or live in grace?
The great thing about this whole grace and freedom through Christ thing is... well grace!
For me... I will always be like the Galatians. I will float between the grace and freedom of knowing Christ to the "occasional" visit to the legalistic side of life. The side of life where "I can do better". The side where I tend to wallow in self pity. The side where I punish myself for sins that have already been forgiven.... (not the same as conviction for ones sins... but the remembering of those in the past. (Psalm 103:12)
Are you thinking that I am using grace as a get out of jail free card, though it kind of is?
Can you think of one person who knows the true definition of grace. One who has experienced grace and yet takes advantage of it? If so.. Do you think they have experienced it in its truest form? The more we seek the Lord, our desires become His desires.... If we are seeking the Lord and praying the desires of our heart, which He has put there, how does one take advantage of grace?
Psalms 374-5 -
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass".
This is not the prayer where we ask for that new car or more money. The more we delight ourselves in the Lord... the more we are wanting what He wants for our life..... Our desires become His desires....
I can go between these 2 camps just as easily. (carnal desires vs hearts desire.. that's another entry)
Paul has already declared Romans 6:1 "What shall we say then? Shall we to continue in sin, that grace may abound? As I stated prior to the Psalms entry. I know of no one in my circle of believers that takes this verse out of context to sin a little extra. I guess that is not totally true. One does not take this verse out of context and live in sin...
Luther kind of describes the law as the bastard son Ishmael, and redemption as the promise of Isaac. I love that! (Galatians 4)
Is it that easy? I mean.. really. When I react under the law I am serving the bastard son of a bondmaid, Ishmael. But when I live under Christ righteousness I am serving the son that was promised. Hmm.. The son that was promised. Sound strangely familiar?
I wish I could live in that daily. But the fact of the matter is.
I could just do better.....
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Heart for the Homeless
The Homeless Encounter
We have all been there. Walking in to the library downtown or getting gas from the Broadway Exon. The homeless encounter is inevitable.
The thing is.. how do we deal with it.
Do we smile and use the cashless society excuse of "sorry...no cash...all I have is plastic" then shrug our shoulders as if to say...keep it up there gipper, its bound to work on someone today....
My favorite, till this mornings encounter, has always been.... "Hey what time is it".
What time is it?
For real? Late for a conference call? (harsh, I know... he might need to get to the mission or soup line...) From the looks of you... all sprawled out on that bench with Mad Dog 20/20 bottles scattered all around....Shouldn't it be more like.. "Hey what day is it?"
This mornings encounter has surpassed them all.
I was out for my morning walk around downtown and the time is 6:45am. A new route today. Up 2cnd Ave, right on Church and down 1st Ave. This trek is about 1 mile and all uphill till Church St. Great cardio.
The weather and atmosphere are perfect..... Crisp and cool.... No tourists snapping picks of the Wild Horse... I clear my mind for some prayer time and absorb my Nashville.
Then I see him! Poised for the kill.....
Leaning against the wall just past the Beer Cellar. I immediately take the "don't talk to me" posture of staring at the ground, avoiding eye contact with every ounce of energy my morning coffee has given me....
When......
He strikes!
Like a fat kid in dodge ball. I'm pegged!
Here is how it went down.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homeless Man - "Hey bud, How are ya"
Me - "Good, man" (without looking up.. walking faster, now.)
Homeless Man - "Let me ask you something"
I pause and turn with my watch loaded to give him the time
Homeless Man - "What if I took out 3 tennis balls and juggled them while reciting Shakespeare to you. Would that buy me a beer?"
WHAT? I'm sorry.... At this point I stop dead in my tracks and a huge smile creeps across my face.
Homeless Man - "Just stand there and think about it"
I'm shocked, entertained and a little flattered as I turn toward him. Know one has ever recited Shakespeare to me before.
Me - "Bro, I can honestly say... I have never heard that one before"
Homeless Man - "So what do you say? That's a good one, right?"
Me - Its good.....But it ain't that good...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turning the corner I laugh out loud and head back toward the office.
I must say. I have never had a heart for the homeless..... but then again.... they never offered to recite me poetry.
We have all been there. Walking in to the library downtown or getting gas from the Broadway Exon. The homeless encounter is inevitable.
The thing is.. how do we deal with it.
Do we smile and use the cashless society excuse of "sorry...no cash...all I have is plastic" then shrug our shoulders as if to say...keep it up there gipper, its bound to work on someone today....
My favorite, till this mornings encounter, has always been.... "Hey what time is it".
What time is it?
For real? Late for a conference call? (harsh, I know... he might need to get to the mission or soup line...) From the looks of you... all sprawled out on that bench with Mad Dog 20/20 bottles scattered all around....Shouldn't it be more like.. "Hey what day is it?"
This mornings encounter has surpassed them all.
I was out for my morning walk around downtown and the time is 6:45am. A new route today. Up 2cnd Ave, right on Church and down 1st Ave. This trek is about 1 mile and all uphill till Church St. Great cardio.
The weather and atmosphere are perfect..... Crisp and cool.... No tourists snapping picks of the Wild Horse... I clear my mind for some prayer time and absorb my Nashville.
Then I see him! Poised for the kill.....
Leaning against the wall just past the Beer Cellar. I immediately take the "don't talk to me" posture of staring at the ground, avoiding eye contact with every ounce of energy my morning coffee has given me....
When......
He strikes!
Like a fat kid in dodge ball. I'm pegged!
Here is how it went down.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homeless Man - "Hey bud, How are ya"
Me - "Good, man" (without looking up.. walking faster, now.)
Homeless Man - "Let me ask you something"
I pause and turn with my watch loaded to give him the time
Homeless Man - "What if I took out 3 tennis balls and juggled them while reciting Shakespeare to you. Would that buy me a beer?"
WHAT? I'm sorry.... At this point I stop dead in my tracks and a huge smile creeps across my face.
Homeless Man - "Just stand there and think about it"
I'm shocked, entertained and a little flattered as I turn toward him. Know one has ever recited Shakespeare to me before.
Me - "Bro, I can honestly say... I have never heard that one before"
Homeless Man - "So what do you say? That's a good one, right?"
Me - Its good.....But it ain't that good...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turning the corner I laugh out loud and head back toward the office.
I must say. I have never had a heart for the homeless..... but then again.... they never offered to recite me poetry.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Youtube
I love youtube... No matter what your interests or what you are trying to learn. Youtube is there to help waste hours of what could be a productive day.
I have learned new and more efficient ways to clean trout and other fish species as well as woodworking techniques, tennis top spin, cleaning a wild turkey in the field and don't get me started on all the gymnastic bloopers. There is just something about watching someone fall while twisting methodically in the air....LOL... always funny!
With all of the education on the web youtube is a quick study. Unfortunately there are some people out there who consider themselves god's gift to a certain subject and they feel compelled to leave comments and tell others how stupid and ugly they are. Its sad, really.
I don't think that I have ever communicated to another human with such a "from Mount Sinai" tone. Seriously! I get the free speech angle... and I'm cool with that.. Its just.. well... they come across as .......hmm....ok.. stupid!
Have you ever read some of these comments?
Next time you happen to stumble upon a random topic and find that you are in way over your head in the Youtube sea. Take the time to read some of these "constructive" comments. You'll be better for it....(wink)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0wpAJMFpJQ
Enjoy!!
I have learned new and more efficient ways to clean trout and other fish species as well as woodworking techniques, tennis top spin, cleaning a wild turkey in the field and don't get me started on all the gymnastic bloopers. There is just something about watching someone fall while twisting methodically in the air....LOL... always funny!
With all of the education on the web youtube is a quick study. Unfortunately there are some people out there who consider themselves god's gift to a certain subject and they feel compelled to leave comments and tell others how stupid and ugly they are. Its sad, really.
I don't think that I have ever communicated to another human with such a "from Mount Sinai" tone. Seriously! I get the free speech angle... and I'm cool with that.. Its just.. well... they come across as .......hmm....ok.. stupid!
Have you ever read some of these comments?
Next time you happen to stumble upon a random topic and find that you are in way over your head in the Youtube sea. Take the time to read some of these "constructive" comments. You'll be better for it....(wink)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0wpAJMFpJQ
Enjoy!!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Little House on the Prairie - lost episode 687 - scene 92
Let me set up this entry......
My buddie "J" and I usually banter back and forth each morning on IM while having our coffee and getting our day started. He is in GA and I'm TN.
I've known this guy for awhile thus the informal greeting which sparks the set up for this some- what disturbing scene from Little House.
---------------------------
Action
---------------------------
“J”: morning half-pint
me: mornin paw
“J”: go wash up at the creek and get behing your ears! Hurry up, your mother and I need to drop you off at school early. We have to go to town and get some flour at the mercantile.
me: screw you paw.. im sickntirred of you boss'n and yell'n.. i wish I'd never been saved from that farrr on episode 467
“J”: Now half pint, don't crack wise young lady. You will show respect to your elders or I will take Jack to the barn and horse hook 'em by the nostrils.
Me: you always say that when you get mad and momma wont touch your special place... i hate you, paw... i hate you.. I'm gonna tell the wold that you and Mr Edwards are lovers...
me: mornin paw
“J”: go wash up at the creek and get behing your ears! Hurry up, your mother and I need to drop you off at school early. We have to go to town and get some flour at the mercantile.
me: screw you paw.. im sickntirred of you boss'n and yell'n.. i wish I'd never been saved from that farrr on episode 467
“J”: Now half pint, don't crack wise young lady. You will show respect to your elders or I will take Jack to the barn and horse hook 'em by the nostrils.
Me: you always say that when you get mad and momma wont touch your special place... i hate you, paw... i hate you.. I'm gonna tell the wold that you and Mr Edwards are lovers...
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