Incredible Story (Warning: Will Make You Think)

30 05 2008

Here is a story from the book Ministry of Nurture by Duffy Robbins that has really challenged me and made me think about God’s Word…

Psychology Today published a remarkable incident concerning the life and death of the Prince of Grenada, an heir to the Spanish crown. Centuries ago the Prince was sentenced for life to solitary confinement in Madrid’s ancient prison, the Place of Skulls. Apparently, the authorities feared he might aspire to the throne. During his imprisonment he was given on book to read – the Bible.

Over the course of the years, the Prince of Granada apparently read the Bible hundreds of times and read it with painstaking care. But when he died after thirty-three years of imprisonment, and the authorities began going through his cell after his burial, what they found was striking.

All over the walls of his cell, they found that he had etched in soft stone notations such as these:

The eighth verse of the 97th Psalm is the middle verse of the Bible; Ezra 7:21 contains all the letters of the alphabet except the letter “J”; The ninth verse of the eighth chapter of Esther is the longest; No word or name of more than six syllables can be found in the Bible.

It is incredible that this man spent more than thirty years carefully studying this one book that has been described even by its critics as one of the most amazing pieces of literature ever written, and all he gleaned from his study was a few isolated pieces of Bible trivia.

The Prince is certainly not the only one to walk away from the Bible empty-handed and empty-headed.

___________________________

How do you view the Bible? Is it simply a book full of trivia and facts that you can use to impress people on Jeopardy? Is it just a history book? Or is it God’s Word, one of his ways of communicating with you, that is living, relevant, and capable of giving you answers for life’s toughest questions as well as completely turn your life right-side-up?

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)


Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Books, Faith, Life, People, Spirituality

Sports Illustrated Cover

29 05 2008

I went to my mailbox last night and found the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. Who was on the latest cover? Josh Hamilton. There is a big story about his journey from being the first pick to being a drug addict to back to being an All-Star in the big leagues. 

Here’s the cover:

All I got to say is that I beat you to this story Sports Illustrated. Check out my post on Josh Hamilton on May 21st if you have not get the chance to read it yet.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : People, Sports

Graduation Mistake

29 05 2008

We are currently right in the middle of graduation season. All of the college graduations are over and now comes all the high school graduations.

People, we have been making a huge mistake in graduations for a long time.

As somebody that has been through both the high school and college graduation processes, I have learned something and will propose something that will change how American culture responds to graduations. We need to stop sending all the graduation money to high schooler grads and show some love to the college grads. Let me explain…

I remember June 1999, I was graduating high school from Cheatham County Central High School (CCCHS – Go Cubs!). My mom so nicely and motherly-like ordered graduation announcements and mailed them to pretty much everybody we had ever met and had an address for. Being ignorant of the whole process, I thought my mom was inviting all those people to my actual graduation, which I thought was a little psycho because I did not even really know some of these people. But I thought, “Hey, my mom is always really proud of me,” so I went with it.

Then the checks and cash started to come in. I was amazed at how much money I got from people. I am pretty sure that my final cash amount was in the four digits range, which is way too much money for a high school senior. What did I use that money for? Who knows? I probably wasted all that money on a trip with my friends to Panama City (yeah, I have been there Luke), a couple Nintendo 64 games, some clothes, and junk food.

Compare that to when I graduated Lipscomb University in December 2003. What did I get when I graduated college? Jack squat. Nothing. Nada.

Now when did I need the money more? After high school when I was facing a life of living in a dormroom, eating on a meal plan that required none of my money, and not having to pay one bill or after college, when I was facing a life out on my own for the first time, away from my parents, engaged to be married, and paying bills? Hmmmm…let me think? I could have used that money after college way more than after high school.

I propose that we save our money for when these students graduate college. Now I understand not everybody goes directly to college and need that graduation money after high school. By all means, still hook those students up. However, for those that are planning on pursing a college education, let us give that graduation check after they finish college…for their sake. Instead of buying tattoos, snow cones, and Guitar Hero 3, they can start to pay off their student loans, put a down payment on their first apartment, or pay their cell phone bill. I think that is a better use of graduation money.

What do you think? Am I crazy or am I making some sense? 


Comments : 5 Comments »

Categories : Family, Life, People, Random

Airplane Seat Belts

28 05 2008

In my younger years, I thought that seat belts on airplanes were the most pointless things on this planet. I thought that somebody somewhere is getting rich off sealing massive amounts of a product that will never in actuality be used. Why listen to that boring flight attendant’s speech every flight?  

My main argument was that an airplane seat belt was not going to do me any good in a crash. Free-falling thousands of feet extremely rapidly into the traditionally solid earth cannot be contained by a simple seat belt. I mean, come on. There are not any “fender benders” that happen 20,000 feet up in the air without any major consequences.

Let me be the first to say that I was wrong and I am now a fan of the airplane seat belt. Where I still believe that a violent, sudden crash will cause my immediate death with or without my seat belt on (this article disagrees with me), I now believe that there is definitely reason to buckle up.

On my flight last Friday from DFW airport to the Denver airport, the plane suddenly jolted after hitting unexpected turbulence. Now I am not talking about normal turbulence; I am talking LOST Oceanic flight 815 turbulence. I have been on many flights but I have never had the plane jolt and shake as suddenly and as forcefully as it did. It was one of those moments where there were a couple of screams, everybody was fully awake and attentive after that, a few babies and young kids crying, and a plane full of people breathing a collective sigh of relief. I was glad that I had my seat belt on in that moment. 

When the flight attendant came by to see if we were ok, the man sitting beside me asked her if she had another pair of shorts for him.

Lesson learned = wear your seat belt on an airplane.


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Funny, Life, Random

James 1:27 (Part 2)

28 05 2008

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” - James 1:27

__________________________

This is Miss Patsy’s story…

I met Miss Patsy about the same time that I met Miss Dee. I walked into Miss Patsy’s house with the intention of interviewing her as a candidate for getting her house painted at Sulphur Springs Workcamp.

Miss Patsy greeted me at the door. Her small, frail frame was hidden by the all-of-a-sudden life that had crept into her eyes. I found out that Miss Patsy is 76 years old. She lives alone and has no family in town. She lost her husband years ago and is now a widow. She has three children, but two of them have already passed away. Her living son currently lives near Orlando, Florida, and rarely gets the chance to visit Miss Patsy. She is living well below the poverty line.

The saddest part of this story is that Miss Patsy has severe arthritis and is confined to her home. Due to severe, constant pain, she has not left her house in over three years. Yep, you heard right, three years. She has a nursing service come to her home 1-2 times a week to get her groceries and do light house cleaning.

From June 29-July 2 there will be a group of teenagers and adults at Miss Patsy’s house everyday painting her house and mowing her lawn. She is ecstatic. I think she is happier just to have people around that she can talk to and fix lemonade for a few days rather than getting her house fixed up. Although, she is extremely excited to have her prized white-picket fence in her side yard cleaned up nice and pretty. Miss Patsy cannot believe that people would help her like that without asking for money or wanting anything in return.

My question is why? Why is it such a foreign thing in today’s society to take care of people who cannot take care of themselves? Why is it so foreign to “love your neighbor as yourself”? 

We are going to paint Miss Patsy’s house. We are going to fix up her white-picket fence. We are going to replace anything that needs to be replaced. We are going to help make her yard nice. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. It is what God desires from us.

I encourage you to do the same thing. I do not mean that you need to go find somebody and paint their house for free. Find somebody that you can help without wanting anything back in return. Step outside the bubble known as your comfortable life and invite somebody else in that needs help of some kind.

To quote the 2005 animated film Robots, “See a need, fill a need.”


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Faith, Life, Movies, People, Spirituality

James 1:27 (Part 1)

27 05 2008

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27

_____________________

This is a true story of an awesome lady by the name of Miss Dee. I had the privilege of meeting Miss Dee about two weeks ago. I was starting the process of finding people who would qualify for their homes to be painted for Sulphur Springs Workcamp, a mission experience for teenagers here in Sulphur Springs. The phone call with the meek woman with the calming, gentle voice led to a face-to-face meeting at her house.

As I arrived at her house not knowing what to expect. What I found astounded me. To say that she lived in a house is a stretch of the imagination. She was living in a house that is the size of most two car garages (see above picture). The completely square structure had only one recently added wall as to only have some separation between the living room and Miss Dee’s bedroom. As I sat at her kitchen table answering all her questions and looking around her home, James 1:27 kept coming to my mind. I felt responsibility for Miss Dee. I felt that God had led me there to help Miss Dee and help take care of the basic, human needs that we all so often take for granted.

She showed me to her backyard which held her dog. There stood a huge, intimidating German Shepherd-looking dog starring a hole through me. Now you must understand that Miss Dee is a tiny, 82 year old lady that probably weighs as much as her dog. It was obvious that you could see the loyalty that the dog had for Miss Dee. It was a sweet dog, so my defenses were down almost immediately.

I wish you could have seen the joy in Miss Dee’s face when we she spoke about her dog. Miss Dee told me, “the reason that I get up everyday and the reason I keep on living is for my dog.” She jumped at the chance to take me to the backyard to show me how her dog would chase boxes that she would throw.

While in the backyard, Miss Dee showed me how she has to get out of her house. Her front door only completely shuts from the inside of the house. To get to her car, she has to go through her fenced-in backyard. The problem is that the gate on her fence does not fit her fence and she has to makeshift rig the gate to the fence so that her dog can play in the backyard without escaping. It takes a long time and too much energy for Miss Dee to detach, remove, and replace the heavy gate every time she needs to leave the house.  That usually means that she stays at the house most of the time.

As a Christian, what is my responsibility with a Miss Dee? What is your responsibility with a Miss Dee? Miss Dee is a 82 year old lady who has become a widow after loosing her husband years ago. She has no family what-so-ever in the surrounding area to check in on her or take care of her needs. Who helps bring in the groceries? Who mows her lawn? Who does she spend holidays with?

She wept after I told her that we were going to paint her house, put up a new fence with a new gate, and make her yard nice during Sulphur Springs Workcamp. Literally wept.

But I feel I should do more. After the mission trip, I need to check up on Miss Dee. I need to stop by just to see how she is doing and if she needs any help with anything. I need to invite her over during holidays just like I would my own grandmother. Not just because I like her; not just because it is the right thing to do; but because God commands us to take care of widows. James 1:27 says that taking care of Miss Dee is “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless.”

What do you think? What are our responsibilities to a Miss Dee? Are there any Miss Dee’s in your life? What are you doing to take care of all the Miss Dee’s around the world?


Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Faith, Life, Ministry, People, Spirituality

Back in Texas

26 05 2008

I made it back yesterday. What a crazy weekend! After seven states in a span of 48 hours, I made it back to Sulphur Springs. The drive took from Maurice (pronounced like “Morris”), Iowa to Sulphur Springs, Texas took a grand total of around 12-13 hours including all the stops. The drive was incredibly boring and there was a whole lot of nothing from there to here. I got enough of America’s Midwest to last me a while. It’s sad for me to say this, but Iowa made me appreciate Texas.

I had two highlights that I would like to share:

First, I got to experience my first audiobook on the drive back. I strongly recommend audiobooks for long road trips, especially if you are by yourself. I listened to Game of Shadows by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams. This is the book that chronicles the history of BALCO, Barry Bonds, and steroids in baseball and the Olympics. It was a very interesting book and more importantly, it was ten hours of the drive.

Second, and by far the greatest highlight of the trip, was seeing my great friend and future coworker, Ben Vos, get married to his lovely bride, Lisa. It was a beautiful wedding and I was honored to be there. It was such a blessing getting to meet, get to know, and talk with Ben and Lisa’s family and friends. 

Here are some pictures from the wedding:


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Books, Friends, Life, People

This Weekend

23 05 2008

This weekend is going to be crazy for me. Here is a projected timeline of my weekend:

Friday, 1:40pm – Heather picks me up to take me to the DFW Airport.

Friday, 2:09pm – Stop at the Starbucks and get my 1st Caramel Frapoccino.

Friday, 3:32pm – Get through security checkpoint without getting frisked.

Friday, 5:05pm – Fly from Dallas, Texas to Denver, Colorado.

Friday, 6:11pm – Arrive in Denver, and sit for over two hours.

Friday, 6:23pm – Find a Starbucks in the Denver airport and get my 2nd Caramel Frapoccino.

Friday, 8:45pm – Fly from Denver, Colorado to Omaha, Nebraska.

Friday, 11:10pm – Arrive in Omaha, Nebraska and meet up with Ben Vos’ Uncle Rod and Uncle Gary.

Friday, 11:32pm – Meet Uncle Rod and Uncle Gary for the first time, introduce myself, and give a good, firm (but not like I’m trying to hard to man up) handshake.

Friday, 11:49pm – Rent car and begin driving to Maurice, Iowa with Uncle Rod and Uncle Gary.

Saturday, 2:18am – Arrive in Maurice, Iowa and sleep for a few hours.

Saturday, 2:00pm – Watch Ben Vos & Lisa Muilenburg become Ben Vos and Lisa Vos. They are getting married Saturday afternoon.

Saturday, 3:03pm – Go to the wedding reception, eat some goodies, and wait for everybody to leave.

Saturday, 7:23pm – Begin to pack Lisa’s car full of their wedding presents and other stuff.

Saturday, 8:09pm – Begin the long 778 mile drive from Maurice, Iowa to Sulphur Springs, Texas. I am driving Lisa’s car back so that Ben and Lisa (who are going to begin ministry at Shannon Oaks Church the first week of June) will not have to drive back to Iowa after their honeymoon. Yeah, I’m taking one for the team.

Saturday, 11:57pm – Stop at a hotel somewhere in between Maurice, Iowa and Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Sunday, 8:03am – Back on the road again. The game plan is to listen to my first audiobook, Game of Shadows, that I downloaded (by the way, thanks for the audiobook suggestion, Kate) and find as many Starbucks as I can.

Sunday, 5:47pm – Arrive back in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Sunday, 6:00pm – Enjoy the last Growth Group of the semester with the high schoolers at JP’s house.

Sunday, 8:36pm – Finally go home.

Sunday, 8:38pm – Go to sleep.

Seven states (Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma) in 48 hours. Seeing one of my great friends and future coworker get married. Listening to my first ever audiobook. Driving 778 miles all by my lonesome in somebody else’s car.

What a weekend, huh?


Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Books, Friends, Life

HDTV?

23 05 2008

To HDTV or not to HDTV? That is the question.

I am strongly considering getting HDTV. The main reason why I would consider getting it is for watching sports (and possibly Man vs Wild). I have heard incredible things about it from people who enjoy sports in HD daily. While watching some sporting events at other people’s homes, I have seen how good it truly is (especially on the right tv). I have even heard people go as far to say that watching sports in HD is even better than watching games live.

As of today, I only have basic cable. HDTV is not even an option right now. I would have to make the switch over to digital cable. That is more expensive and if you know me, I could be considered on the cheap side. While I am on the cheap side, I do enjoy certain conveniences in life and am more than willing to pay for something that is worth it?  But is HDTV worth it? 

This is where I need your help and your opinion. Take in to consideration that I am a massive sports fan. For those of you that have it, does it live up to the hype? Should I pony up and get HDTV?

________________________

On another note, as for those who dare to say that Man vs Wild is fake and that big bad Bear Grylls is deceiving all his viewers by staying in nice hotels instead of the implied sleeping under the stars, Bear is simply using what nature gives him to his advantage. 

Check this clip out…


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Funny, Sports, TV

Happy Anniversary!

22 05 2008

Four years ago today, I stood in front of a large group of family and friends and committed my life to a young lady named Heather Jean Swilley. And today we are celebrating our four-year wedding anniversary.

As I look back to four years ago, I remember what was one of the best moments in my life. You know, those moments that are forever burned into your brain and that make you smile every time no matter how many times you think about it?

Heather and I are not traditional people, so we definitely did not have a traditional wedding. My groomsmen came down the isle to the startling lineup theme music from the classic 1990s Chicago Bulls teams with Michael Jordan for crying out loud. We also did not do the whole traditional “bride and groom cannot see each other till the actual wedding”. We took pictures before the ceremony, so we could go straight to the reception and more importantly, start the honeymoon sooner. However, we did have a special moment where I was in the church auditorium alone and Heather walked down the isle. When the doors opened, my heart skipped a beat and my breathe was taken away by her beauty. Having that moment of seeing my bride walking down the isle, dressed in white, and all dolled up brought tears to my eyes. That moment was so special because it was just me and her, nobody else. What a special moment!

Heather, I love you so incredibly much. I thank God everyday for bringing you into my life. Thank you for all the countless ways you are a servant to me. You teach me more about God than any other person in my life and you make me want to be a better person. You are such an amazing partner in life and in ministry. In fact, you are probably a better minister than I am. You are beautiful. You are my best friend.

The thing that attracts me to you the most today is the same thing that attracted me to you so many years ago: the fact that I know without a shadow of a doubt that you love God way more than you could ever love me.

I cannot wait to grow old with you, raise kids with you, go on vacations with you, experience new things with you, minister with you, and see you smile day after day.

I love you very much. Happy Anniversary, Heather.

_______________________

And, yes, we are sitting in the Yankees dugout at Yankee Stadium in the above picture.


Comments : 12 Comments »

Categories : Family, Life, People

Learn Something Everyday

21 05 2008

We have all heard the saying “you learn something new everyday”. I am a big believer in this rule. In fact, I learned something today that I will immediately put into practice, starting with this post.

(WARNING: THIS IS INCREDIBLY RANDOM AND IS NOT SPIRITUAL AT ALL.)

When I was a junior in high school, I took a class called “Typing”. I know this will date me a little bit, but that is ok. Now when I say typing, I do not mean sitting in front of a computer and typing on the keyboard. No, this was sitting in front of a typewriter. 

One thing that this class taught me was to press the spacebar twice at the end of sentences. This method of typing has been engrained in my brain for years now. I have pressed the spacebar twice after sentences ever since that class. 

Now to fully understand me and my brain, you have to know that I notice and obsess over small things like how many times you press the spacebar at the end of a typed sentence. I have noticed when others do not do it and I have wondered if I was incorrectly typing.

Well, after some research, I learned something today. A graphic designer named John Burns says…

As a career-long graphic designer, I love your book cover and website. I have one suggestion for you, after reading a few of your blog entries. Unlike the old days of the typewriter, where you would hit the space bar twice after a sentence, the current typographic practice on the computer is to hit it only once. In the typewriter days, there was mono-spacing. Each letter, whether it was an i or a W, or even a . (period), was given the same amount of space. That lead to uneven spacing. The only way to make the end of sentences obvious, was to add two spaces. Current technology, however, has given us proportional spacing. So, now the type looks better, and the extra space after a sentence is extraneous.

There you go. I learned something today. From here on out, I will no longer hit the spacebar twice after a sentence. Be patient with me because it is tough to break 14+ years of typing habits. I am just pumped I finally got an answer.

I know…I’m such a geek.

What about you? If you learn something new everyday, that means that you have learned something today. I shared what I learned today. What did you learn today?


Comments : 12 Comments »

Categories : Life, Random

Happy Birthday Josh

21 05 2008

Today, Josh Hamilton turns 27 today.  For those of you who don’t know Josh Hamilton, he is the soon to be All-Star outfielder for the Texas Rangers who is currently leading the American League in RBIs.  Now I do not him personally, but I know his incredible story.

Hamilton was selected number one overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft.  He was the first high school player to be drafted number one overall since Alex Rodriguez in 1993.  He had all the tools it took to be a superstar – power, speed, good arm, etc.  He signed his first professional contract, which included a $3.96 million signing bonus, two days after he was drafted.  His parents left packed up, left their home, and traveled with their 18 year old son, the major league baseball player.  They were his chaperones for almost two years until a severe car wreck in February 2001 forced them to return home.

For the first time, Hamilton was on his own.  He was also injured from the car wreck so he found himself with nothing but time on his hands.  He ended up hanging out in tattoo parlors, strip joints, and bars.  He quickly morphed into a full-blown alcohol and crack addict.  After failing multiple drug tests, he was suspended by Major League Baseball.  Josh Hamilton, the 1999 number one draft pick, was completely out of baseball by February 2004.

He tried quitting.  He tried rehab.  He lasted eight days at the Betty Ford Clinic.  At times, he stopped using.  That would be shortly followed by moments of rehab.  Then on October 5, 2005, Hamilton quit abusing drugs and drinking alcohol.  In a July 2007 ESPN.com article, he explains why in his own words…

Within my first week of sobriety in October 2005 — after I showed up at my grandmother’s house in Raleigh in the middle of the night, coming off a crack binge — I had the most haunting dream. I was fighting the devil, an awful-looking thing. I had a stick or a bat or something, and every time I hit the devil, he’d fall and get back up. Over and over I hit him, until I was exhausted and he was still standing.

I woke up in a sweat, as if I’d been truly fighting, and the terror that gripped me makes that dream feel real to this day. I’d been alone for so long, alone with the fears and emotions I worked so hard to kill. I’m not embarrassed to admit that after I woke up that night, I walked down the hall to my grandmother’s room and crawled under the covers with her. The devil stayed out of my dreams for seven months after that. I stayed clean and worked hard and tried to put my marriage and my life back together. I got word in June 2006 that I’d been reinstated by Major League Baseball, and a few weeks afterward, the devil reappeared.

It was the same dream, with an important difference. I would hit him and he would bounce back up, the ugliest and most hideous creature you could imagine. This devil seemed unbeatable; I couldn’t knock him out. But just when I felt like giving up, I felt a presence by my side. I turned my head and saw Jesus, battling alongside me. We kept fighting, and I was filled with strength. The devil didn’t stand a chance.

You can doubt me, but I swear to you I dreamed it. When I woke up, I felt at peace. I wasn’t scared. To me, the lesson was obvious: Alone, I couldn’t win this battle. With Jesus, I couldn’t lose.

Hamilton had his road to Damascas moment.  He got a second chance in life.  That was shortly following by a second chance in baseball.  He was reinstated by Major League Baseball and was signed by the Cincinnati Reds in December 2006.  In December 2007 he was traded to the Texas Rangers.

The difference with the Josh Hamilton now from the Josh Hamilton of the past is his priorities.  His relationship with God is first, his relationship with his family is second, and baseball is third.  Without the first two, baseball is not even in the picture.

Hamilton now has a purpose for life and that is not playing baseball.  He can often be found reliving his painful past by giving his testimony in front of churches and youth groups.  He is using the worst time of his life to point others to the power of God. 

Hamilton’s wife, Katie beautifully describes their situation this way, “God told me he was going to give Josh baseball back, but it wasn’t going to be for baseball.  It was going to be for something much bigger.  He was going to give Josh a platform to help others.  He is the most beautiful choreographer.  It’s not by accident that all the things that have happened in our lives have happened.”

I think we can all learn a lot from Josh Hamilton.  With God, all things are possible.  You are never too far and too messed up to not be forgiven.  You can use the darkest moments of your life as a testimony to point others to Jesus. 

How did Hamilton change from a chronic drug addict to the starting outfielder on the Texas Rangers?  He answers in his own words, “How am I here?  I can only shrug and say, ‘It’s a God thing.’  It’s the only possible explanation.”

That’s a professional athlete I want to cheer for.  

Happy Birthday Josh.

 

 


Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Faith, People, Spirituality, Sports

Breathe, Just Breathe

20 05 2008

My life has been extremely busy and hectic lately.  Ministry this time of the year is always by far the busiest time of the year.  My life has been consumed lately by Bible studies, Growth Groups, Sulphur Springs Workcamp, IMPACT, China meetings, fundraising, the Awakening, preparing for summer interns, and much more.  This time of the year I feel like a horrible husband because I am away from the house more than normal on top of the fact that Heather and I’s wedding anniversary is May 22 and I always seem to be busy on that day.

My mind becomes consumed with maintaining my schedule and keeping track of meetings and planning sessions.  I get anxious just thinking about tackling my to-do list.  I get so busy that I tend to forget the essentials in life.  

Sometimes I need to remember to just breathe.  Take a step back from life and breathe.

After a busy meeting full of meetings and things on my agenda, this afternoon I was listening to one of my favorite bands, The Cost.  One of their songs, “Breathe” (you can listen to it on their myspace page), began to minister to me and my busyness.  Let the chorus of this song spoken from the perspective of God minister to you today…

Breathe.

Just Breathe.

Take a breath.

And breathe in me.

Sometimes we need to just take some time to step back and simply breathe.  Breathe in life.  Breathe in God.

Genesis 2:7 (NIV) says, “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.“

We are not alive without the breath of God.  We are not truly living until we are breathing in God.  The time that I am most susceptible to forgetting that fact is when I am busy.

If your life is really busy and hectic like mine is lately, let me encourage you take a step back for a few minutes and reconnect with God.  The work will still be there in a few minutes.  The best thing we could probably to do to most efficiently tackle our to-do lists is to take a step back, engage our Heavenly Father, and breathe.  

Breathe, just breathe.

 


Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Life, Ministry, Music, Spirituality

Is Sleep Spiritual? (continued…)

19 05 2008

After being bugged all day by not being able to remember where I first heard the idea of sleep being spiritual and after doing a lot of research (with the help of Heather), we finally found where we first heard this (we think).  It is from the book The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg.  Here’s the exact chunk of the book I was thinking about:

I was surprised to find that the Bible has much to say about what John Ballie called the theology of sleep.  Sleep is a gift from God:

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety. – Psalm 4:8

It is an act of trust; I am reminded when I go to sleep that the world is in God’s hands, not mine.  The world will get along very well even though I am not awake to try to control things.  At the appropriate time, my eyes will open and I will receive the gift of wakefulness once again.

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. – Psalm 3:5

Have you ever tried to pray when you are lacking sleep?  Before Elijah was to spend a prolonged time in solitude and prayer at Mount Horeb, the angel of the Lord had him take not one, but two long naps.  Contrast this with the disciples at Gethsemane, who could not pray because they kept falling asleep.  Sleep is a gift from God.

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to the his beloved. – 1 Kings 19:1-9

For some of you reading this book, perhaps the single most spiritual thing you could do right now is to put it down and take a nap.

I find it hilarious that as I am typing and re-reading over this challenging section of this book, it is 12:30am.


Comments : 4 Comments »

Categories : Books, Spirituality

Is Sleep Spiritual?

19 05 2008

“Taking a nap may be the most spiritual thing you do.”

That was the quote that I remember hearing at one time.  I am frustrated because I cannot remember if it was something I heard in a sermon or lecture or if it was something I read in a book.  Either way, the point is that I did not have this original thought.

Last night, I did something I have not done in years – went to sleep early and got a good, long, full night’s sleep.  I woke up this morning without yawning and without hitting the snooze button five times.  I feel good.  I feel focused.

I normally do not sleep that much.  I usually stay up pretty late and I usually wake up fairly early.  I seem to function really well despite my lack of sleep.  I normally think that is another reason why I am doing exactly what God wired me to do (ministry).  However, I understand that my sleeping patterns are normally not the most healthy of habits.  I wish I was more self-disciplined when it comes to sleep.  

After my long, hard night of sleep I began to remember the earlier quote.  I began to ponder, “Is sleep spiritual?”  Why did God create us with the natural need for eight hours of down-time each day?  God put us down here for a limited number of years; and approximately one-third of that valuable time is spent dreaming rather than producing.

If sleeping is spiritual, we are not very good at it.  According to the National Sleep Foundation (by the way, very interesting website), the average adult sleeps 6 hours and 58 minutes per night during a normal work week.  Compare this to 100 years ago – before Thomas Edison’s marvelous invention – when the average adult slept about nine hours a night.  Indeed, we are a nation of people who are chronically sleep deprived.  Sleep specialists recommend that we need eight to ten hours of sleep nightly.  I do not do well with that recommendation.  Do you?

More importantly than the physical effects of sleep, what about the spiritual effects of sleep?  The person who made the sleep being spiritual quote explained that when we go to sleep, we complete surrender all control and place our unfiltered trust in God’s hands.  The idea is that God will take care of you and the world while you sleep and that you trust that he will wake you up.  This makes sleep spiritual.  

Lauren Winner, a writer for Catalyst, explains that “to sleep, long and soundly, is to place our trust in Him without whom we labor in vain.”

So what do you think?  Is sleep spiritual?


Comments : 8 Comments »

Categories : Life, Spirituality

« Previous Entries