Cassettes and VHS Tapes

Do you ever feel like you're on a merry-go-round and can't get off? That used to be the question!!! Today it feels more like a merry-go-round in hyper speed launched into the atmosphere!
I found myself looking for a cassette deck recently.... NO WHERE TO BE FOUND! Here's the really crazy part. Cd's are fastly becoming a thing of the past. I feel like life has become this 3 speed turbo vac (like the cool ones at the car wash) sucking me in and I am hangin on by my fingernails.
Change is good. Stagnation is unhealthy. But is there a rate of change that is potentially harmful? Could it be that we are not wired for warp speed? Am I just naive? Is this what mid-life does to a guy?
I love diversity and a fresh approach but I also see the value in constants! I see the value in family traditions, laws, and absolute truth. it is good for road names to remain the same. I t is good to have a tree in your yard for 30 years.
One of my greatest fears (and they are o-plenty) is that the greatest constant of our era is constant change. May we not get so addicted to change that we forget to embrace the beautiful constants of life.

Breath....

A smile...

Hardship endured and overcome...

Eye contact...

Creation...

Laughter...

Tears...

In the midst of an accelaration stuck society... what's your beautiful constant?

Be careful, be still.

"Be still, and know that I am God;
Psalm 46:10

Ode to the Cold

O cold front, cold front, wherefore art thou cold front? Deny thy boundaries and movest thou south; Or if thou wilt come, be but sworn my love And I'll no longer be a sweating.

Faith Like A Child

Awesome quote from a friend of mine on Facebook....

"My prayer today is to have a "Child-like" faith in my thoughts actions & words. To dance as if no one is watching, to speak to a stranger or homeless person as if we've been friends for years, to laugh about life till my stomach hurts, and to pray as God is my best friend!"

Live that one today!

I dare ya!
:)

Do I Have To?

Do I have to?
In a world full of depression, anger, frustration, and anxiety, and hopelessness this is a question worth further examination. Repeat this question to yourself about 10 times in the most whiny tone you can muster. What did you hear? Immaturity? Selfishness? In my opinion it is a question too often used in our culture today.
As a little league baseball coach I was amazed at the apathy among the little leaguers, including my own son. That question seem to loom judging form the kid's body language and lack of hustle. It seemed the latest pokeman character was far more interesting in the dugout than studying the pitcher. Do I have to do this????
I recently heard a story of a young mom overwhelmed by the struggles of raising her kids. It was a constant "have to" that was really dragging her down. But one day after a doctor's appointment all of that changed. After a diagnosis of cancer, her paradigm shifted radically. What once was a burden, a drudgery, a "have to" now became a privilege, an honor, a "GET TO."
What would happen if we all could somehow shift our "have to's" to "get to's?"
DO I GET TO ?
Say that ten times....

NOW

Last night, I had the privilege of putting my baby girl to sleep. As per our routine, we rocked and read a book. I was reluctant to read at first, having read this particular simple book many times. But as my baby drifted closer and closer to nodding off, I found myself hypnotised by the drone of Dr. Seuss.
The crisis came when the book ended. Now what? Hope (my daughter) is almost asleep but I'm out of pages. I really could use some quiet time to myself and her somber is my ticket to the QT!
And in a split second it hit me! I'm an artist. Keep the poem going. So in my best attempt I spouted spontaneous "Cat in the Hat" style rhymes. From doors to windows to shoes to pillows I drew inspiration from the room. I got lost in the challenge of creating rhymes with cadence that actually made some sort of sense. I was rolling baby! "This is fun" I thought to myself.
And then a beautiful thing happened. As I continued to let the lyrics flow, I noticed my baby and how beautiful and peaceful she was.
Out of my haste I stopped for a moment in time.
I tasted the moment.
Just me, my baby and Jesus.
It was good. Very good.
A birth happened at this point. No longer nonsense but heartfelt words. A poem. Poetry? That's not exactly manly, right? But here's my hope (not my daughter but the actual word).... My prayer is that this will somehow help others to savor those moments.
Here goes:

Now
by Steve Glover

I look to the future, I stare at the past
But now is what counts
now is what lasts

Now will be the past
Now shapes tomorrow
Now fills life with joy
or now brings much sorrow

So when life is consumed
by worry or regret
just remember how NOW
is the most important now yet

Failing to Succeed

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending a leadership forum at Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL. I listened to some of the top minds in our nation address the subject of successful leadership. Here are some "sum total" observations that I have calculated in my oversaturated brain from that experience.

• One of the key characteristics of successful leaders is their willingness to fail.

I heard one speaker ask this question: "What am I failing aggressively at?"

I immediatley think about John Ortberg's book "If You Want To Walk On Water You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat." It's a book about doing extraordinary things through the strength of Christ. The premise is based on the story of Peter walking on water. And here is where the key lies:

Healthy fear is a part of faith. If we are sensitive to hearing the call of Christ then it means getting our of the boat and stepping into the realm of the unknown. Dude, I don't know about you but that can be down-right scary for most people.

But think of the reward; WALKING ON WATER! WOW!

My Conclusion:

Did Peter sink? Yes.

Did he fail? to some degree, yes.

Did he experience something extraordinary? Absolutely.

Did Peter quit the team after he sunk? Absolutely not.

We know of Peter's failures but we also know how God used Peter to be a "World -changer."

God help us not to fear failure but to use it for wisdom as we press on toward the mark of Your High-calling!

MOVE IT!

Happy New Year!

Don't forget that discouragement is one of Satan's most powerful weapons against you. Disappointments lead to discouragement which steals our hope and brings on fear and doubt. This process will ultimately lead to what I call "life lock." We choose to just quit trying.
We see a man in Acts 3 who had people carry him to a gate every day to beg for money. It is here that he was "unlocked." We read how Peter offered him so much more than just money. He gave him his motion back. Through the power of God, The man was healed and went away jumping and praising God!
Notice this process:
He recognized his need.
He reached out for help.
He ran! He moved it!

Remember that no matter what area of your life seems hopeless, nothing is impossible with God!

So get up and move it!
What's your need?
Who can help? God and good friends!
Who can move it? Ultimately God has given us the free will to choose to move so........

MOVE IT!