soul coughing

There is more than I can handle on my plate, I'm about 2 weeks behind on emails and phone calls and somehow today I spent an hour working on a project not due for a month and a half. Welcome to my life.

God give me the focus and determination to struggle through the small tasks which present themself today that I may be free to dream again and not be consumed by thoughts of what I should have done or need to do. shine your light that I might just see the steps you want me to take today and no more. Help me to rest in the fact that this world has unending needs and I'm not Superman, but also move me to action on the things I have not been diligent in accomplishing. Help me to honor those around me by fulfilling the responsibility I have to them in a timely manner. Thanks for your grace - give me strength. love ya...

catch your breath

so tonight was a fabulous victory for the 4-0, A Squad, at "The Grove Broomball Throwdown." The A Squad consisted of ethan, suzi, ashley, nate england, laura Y., eric, and myself. We held it down with pride, Ethan coming through big in the sudden death finale versus the McCrone led squad and contributing an amazing full body stretch save, laura kicked in 4 of our 13 goals, Suzi was shutting down the wingmen on defense and shoving the boys to the ice, Ashley was attacking in her D, Nate all over the place, Eric smoothly maneuvering across the rink, and me chipping in where chipping was needed. After the Bartley/Frabot boasts on Tuesday night this was a much needed victory.

Competition definitely makes me come alive, I love the challennge of outthinking the other team, encouraging teammates on in their battle, exploiting weaknesses, and getting to work together with intensity towards a common goal. certainly a good night with a great team. I'm off to see Star Wars - Peace!

Confess

It is amazing the healing that comes from confession. It is one of those true tangible steps of trust that we can take to honor God but like honoring the Sabbath perhaps one of the hardest to understand how it will work out. (see 1 John 1) Tonight was a night where I had to confess something to a dear friend and I will see the effects of my neglect in their life, that will continue to hurt, but there is a real freedom that comes with confession and once again I'm amazed at my friends grace.

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Oh...

Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
The life, the love
You die to heal
The hope that starts
The broken hearts
You trust, you must
Confess

Foo Fighters - The Best of You

the end is the beginning is the end

let it be....

back in the saddle

so it has been far too long since I've posted, strangely I've felt no draw to spew out my thoughts. It has been a whirlwind month since my last post in April. I've taken two trips home to Maryland which were both rich times with friends and family. Thanks to those of you who prayed for the memorial service, my Dad did a great job, God was definitely honored.

Lately I have been thinking about the Sabbath while reading the Sacred Way by Tony Jones. Last night our "Claddagh," group had a great discussion centered on the fact that honoring the Sabbath is a central command in the scriptures and yet we seem to toss it away. It is emphasized in the creation account, the ten commandments with 2 different and compelling reasons for honoring it given in Exodus (20:8-11) and Deuteronomy (5:12-15), and Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah all include it as a major tenet for God's blessing remaining on Israel. Listen to these words from Isaiah.

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken

I wonder if the combination of our high speed, task centric culture combined with the idea that we have to produce in order to feel significant has caused us to simply sweep this call of God under the rug. We complain about not having enough time, but if what Jesus said is true that "the sabbath was made for humankind," should that affect our decision making and cause us to trust God and set aside a day simply for worship, prayer, family time, lovemaking, naps , and walks? (Jones) I think this is what it comes down to for me, will I trust God that he can provide the time and energy for me to complete all the tasks which surround me if I take a day centered on him, rejoicing in my release from sin and the worlds systems, enjoying his creation, and anticipating the season of peace which will come with his return?

"To act as if the world cannot get along without our work for one day in seven is a startling display of pride that denies the sufficiency of our generous maker." Dorothy Bass

the great divide

this is from an interview with Dan Haseltine, the lead singer of Jars of Clay. I thought he had an interesting thought in response to the question, "what's wrong with the Christian music industry today?"

"There’s a lot of different things that don’t seem to be working that should in the music industry. It’s a hard thing—selling the Christian message [in pop music], because pop music is telling people what they want to hear and packaging it in a way that’s familiar to them.

The Gospel is the most offensive thing anybody would want to hear. It’s telling you that apart from God you are nothing, that you need God in order to exist, in order to have life. And pop music would say, "Yeah, you’re amazing." It wants to build us up when the Gospel wants to tear us down in a way that says 'You need God. With God you are everything, without God you are nothing.' How do you marry that with pop music? It’s a contradiction in and of itself."

poisoned

so I've been bedridden the last day and a half after eating some lethal hot dogs at Ryders place.......

being sick is so frustrating, especially this week as its already been shortened by my trip home to MD for my great grandmothers funeral. This afternoon I've been slowly reentering the real world. The only plus about being sick was that I got to watch a couple episodes of "Sports Night." It is definitely one of the best sitcoms ever. It is more a dramedy and I definitely was a little choked up after one episode which is surprising becuase I'm not that much of a crier. Some of it is probably feeling beat up physically and being sad about Grandmommy's passing but the show certainly moves me. I'd encourage you to watch it, you can find it on DVD.

you can be in prayer for my dad, Bruce, as he prepares for the Memorial service this Saturday. Most of my mom's side of the family are not followers of Jesus so this is a special privelege for my dad to be able to lead the service and proclaim the truth and love of God. Afterwards, folks will be coming to our house, so there will be a lot of great chances for us to be a comfort to an entire family that carries only fear at the prospect of death.

why two are better than one

so this morning I was turning onto Spring off of Nicole and I saw a guy riding a unicycle crash into a tree.

then he glared at me.

there is nothing less intimidating than a man in really short bicycle shorts picking up his unicycle off the ground.

sister

so for one reason or another I thought of one of my favorite songs from the bleak era of mid nineties mainstream rock, "Sister," by the Nixons. I went and tracked it down last night. It is a track worth a listen and the acoustic version is pretty good as well.

my favorite line from the song...
Sister I see you
Dancing on the stage
Of memory

do the math

red sox + yankees = best rivalry ever
damon + renteria > Sheffield + A Rod
varitek + running grab nearing the stands with a catchers mitt = clutch
sheffield + excited BoSox fan = overblown media frenzy over nothing

screaming at the tv + Matt B + Jonny D + Dolla Bill = great times

ps.tax season has turned me into a math freak

death and taxes "literally"

its amazing how I'll wait til April 14th to do something that takes an hour, especially when I'm getting money back. I think I have a psychological disorder when it comes to doing paperwork.

I came home from taking care of my City of Westerville taxes, which they'll do for you at their office (how awesome is that, especially for someone allergic to forms) and my driveway had been chalked by the killer k's, Kim and Kelly. It definitely brought a smile to my face, it has been awhile since I've been chalked.

so after taking an evening to think through Grandmommy's death I came across this verse while reading in the Psalms the next morning. ...

Weeping may go on all night,
but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

And it is true, it was a good day, a joyful morning in fact . Sometimes a good nights rest is just what you need to clear your head and steady your heart. Not that a new day brought forgetfulness but that it gave me the chance to think clearly without being caught up in the emotion during the day of discovering her death.

72 down: remixed

72 down
an old friend
lowered into the ground

72 down
a generation
lays beneath the mound

72 down
the godmother
sings without a sound

72 down
the hearts distance
from lost to found

72 down
a simple change
yet stunningly profound

72 down
we now consider
to what our lives are bound

72 down
time to untangle
the cords in which we’re wound

72 down
a gentle reminder
to treasure those around

72 down
a divine moment
for Yahweh’s love to abound