A Thought: Gifts, Michael Jordan and You

Its important to know your worth.  So many walk through life and take for granted what they see in the mirror.  Every day we look in the mirror. Most of the time Nothing dramatic changes and maybe thats why we take for granted who we are.  Perhaps that is why some feel that they are not special. When we think of special people we think Neil Armstrong, Michael Jordan, Abraham Lincoln, or Pablo Picasso. You should never take for granted though how special you are and what amazing things you can accomplish both good and bad. With this subject I often think of the movie “Its a Wonderful Life”. We pas through our lives so routinely that we take for granted the effect out life has. I ponder sometimes what it might look like if I had starred in that movie. What void would I leave on this world? Have I done anything? More importantly have I done enough? I am sure that there maybe someone reading this thinking that they would leave no void. It is very rare but I suppose not impossible, but that is our choice, your choice. Each day we wake up we have an opportunity to leave the world in better shape than we found it. We have the opportunity to spread love and progress in the world. We can help those in need or turn a blind eye. We can use our gifts or we can hide in a hole. The choice is ours. God has created a wonderful world and filled it with people of varying talents. He gave us this life and this world as a gift, but it is up to us to take care of it. I encourage you to let your light shine to help guide others through love, compassion, patience, and understanding. Develop your gifts to help build that mighty civilization on a hill that shines as hope for so many. God is waiting for you to claim and use your gifts he has given you. He loves you and is waiting for you to come home. Does he expect you to be perfect? No, he knows that we are all flawed, but with his love and teachings we have the ability to become the best versions of ourselves.

Matthew 5:13-16

New International Version (NIV)

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

A Poem: War of a Conscience

War of a Conscience

Crouched in a corner with a knife to my neck

The shadows of wicked smiling faces all around

Where to give where to go

A blind man tries to show me his story

Goosebumps litter the landscape of my back

cold wet tears are screaming for a home

No one knows why feathers dance

Perhaps its because they’re born free

Dancing naked in the sun

Their beauty out for all to see

No restraints and no regrets

The old woman coward behind her wrinkles

Beauty hidden time slipping truth unknown

The soft kiss of a spring breeze whispers

It’s time to love again it says

It’s time to love again

the strapping man’s bravado is a weathered shield

Holding off the flames from past dragons

Pas battles for a maidens appreciation

Scarred in battle his tired heart strong

Waiting for the weight of her love

So soon will the sun set

Shadows give way to complete darkness

Smiles of the wicked not seen

But the dogs can still hear them

Licking their chops

Down slides the drool

As eyes of the persecuted smile at the stars

A Poem: Tending Garden

Tending Garden

The wind hollows through the old gate

Screams of the rusty hinges pierce the air

Back and forth the gate swings open

The garden is no longer secured

The ground untilled the last harvest uncollected

But the sun is still willing to grow more

Animals steer clear of this once ripe land

Even the insects look here no more

Old footprints barely visible almost eroded and gone

But the soil is rich and has much to offer

Far off in the distance birds are heard calling

There is still hope left in the air

The rain comes to water to see if work has returned

It falls not for aid only mourning this time

Seeds in their package yearn to grow mighty

To nourish the living and become alive

Hands are sore and backs are stiff

Its been a long cold and hard winter

Deep down the farmer is alive

The heart to feels wear and it too needs nourishment

Wide eyes and open hands of the little smiles need taught

How to till, sew, water and love

And nourish all with its bounty on sunny days to come

copyright 2014

A Poem: Where Are You

The dog collar is tight as is the circle

Screams and pleas abound no direction

Sweat fall blood drips smiles are hidden

Where are you? Footsteps echo in the dark

Humid whispers rein down weigh heavy

Giggles and laughter spice the air

A new nudity finds fascination

Where are you? An old man shrugs

The feeding is not over hunger pursues

A skeletal man with a swollen belly

To many of these portraits to count

Where are you? A lonely mother cries

Rusty beams line the hall strength weakened

The concrete floor is pitted showing age

Cracks like wrinkles show time escaped

Old ways crumble to new ideas

Where are you? The sun is shining

Holes in old roof can’t conceal

Rays drop liquid warmth and hope

the threads can weave a blanket

Where are you? A smile is making

Squinted eyes fear of change linger

The grip of desire is strong but fading

Perseverance tackles the old man

Where are you? the room is empty

Strength rises nudity clothed wounds mended

Alone the solitude is strong

The winds of change have filled the room with sweet air

Where are you?

A Poem: Trying to Decide

On the edge of the ocean

Minding what’s warned 

The hopeful man is dancing

But still chained to the floor

The clock is still running

As it rusts by the hour

The children are laughing 

But the clown’s getting sour

Hope keeps on drifting

Like sweet smells on the wind

But nighttime has fallen

And the bakers turned in

Doubts are like pearls

In a line on a string

They shine before eyes

An unforgettable scene

Hands rung to the bleeding

And innocence gone

Large wonders now faded

For the threatened mass scorn

So chained to the block

An old man paces round

Retreading the trail

That just circles round

But inside his head lies

His youthful ideas

That are strong and so able

To break free from that chain

A Thought: The Waiting

Tom Petty said the waiting is the hardest part. I would have to agree. There are so many things in life that I find myself waiting for. I used to have a really hard time waiting for things. I live in a culture where you seem to have instant access to anything you want. Information, BOOM, you got it. Cheesburger, BOOM, you got it YOUR WAY. How to make sweet tea to try and make your wife have but you don’t have a lot of money, BOOM, google and the answer is yours. With this all around me I can get very used to the instant access to things. I can even make coffee in less than 2 minutes now. 

The thing is life really doesn’t work that way. You want to have a child? BOOM, well okay, you got to wait like 10 months. I used to get frustrated with waiting until I started to read my Bible. Over and over again I noticed that God doesn’t get in a hurry to do much. Even look at Sodom (the town that became rife with all that is wrong and evil) God waited and waited for its repentance before finally dealing with that town and still managed to spare the righteous souls that remained. Noah had to spend 40 day and nights in an ark floating around with a bunch of animals doing what animals do on a daily basis before hitting land. Moses took the Israelites walking through the desert for 40 years to get to the promise land. If you walked straight there you could get there in a few weeks but God wanted to recondition his chosen people so that they would stand long as a solid nation. Even before Moses entered the picture the Israelites spent a very long time in bondage under Egyptian rule. God doesn’t get in a hurry to do anything. 

I love my wife very much and like many other women she found an interest for the Twilight movies. Occasionally she will like to watch the series because she likes the story. I was watching one of them the other day with her. I think it was the last one, and at the end there was a big battle of the vampires and there was this old vampire that saw two others coming at him to kill him and he was like “Oh, finally” or something. Like he had been waiting a long time for his end. Thats a bit morbid and strange but that is how I have felt with somethings. I waited so long for some of of the things that I have wanted in life that when they come its sorta like, oh finally, thank you. 

God does come through though and you got to be prepared for it. You can pray and pray and pray for a hammer just don’t be surprised when a shovel shows up. God works in interesting ways. I would say that he is very smart cause I am a father now so I understand his ways, a BIT better. Many times I will have my children ask for things and I will reply with not exactly what they want. My Step-son will ask for money and I will offer him chores to do for money so that he can earn what he wants. My 5 yr old will ask for the largest pack of candy on the shelf at the store and I will escort him to the candy he has at home on the cupboard. God kinda works like that. I remember when we would be getting ready to go on a trip when I was young, and it never seemed to fail that we would finally get into the car and as we drove out of town he would seem to make an endless number of stops. I was in complete agony. I just wanted to get to the fun stuff and here Dad was stopping everywhere talking forever to people. For the longest time it seemed like God was like that. 

I know that it can seem like an eternity or that God never answers your prayers but the best thing to do is to keep praying. You have to spend some time with him in prayer. Give him some face time talk to him a little and you will find the answers to your questions. I know that it may sound weird, really weird if you are new to the concept of prayer, faith or God in general but it is true and it does work. You have to have patience. The world was not made in a day so it is tough to imagine that anything else God does will be done quickly. You have to realize that its not so much what you think you need but the things learned on the path to getting what you need. Many people have relied on God over the years and I know of few who were disappointed who were patient, observant and open to knowledge through a journey. I suggest the same to you. Pray, ask for what you want. Talk to God on end about it. Take time to learn the teachings of Jesus. Love, try to love like you have never loved before. Learn, reflect and pray and you will get what you need. God loves you, he won’t abandon you, but you have to accept him for the loving father that he is and he will shine for you and in you.

Luke 2: 22 - 32
22	And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23	(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
24	and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25	Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26	And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27	And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28	he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29	"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30	for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31	which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32	a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."

A Thought: Being Scared

Not that long ago I was scared to death of being scared. Its a really paralyzing thing. Being afraid of getting scared sounds ridiculous but it is an example of how paranoia can really set in. Fear can be like a snowball, small and nothing much, but roll it around in the snow a bit and you can have a real snow boulder on your hands. I have come a long way and the road was winding and long, but I have gotten to the point where I do not fear like I once did. My faith has helped me with that so much .

I know that one day my children will leave me and it will be very heart-breaking. I love them so much I love sharing life with them. I love them so much that I want to keep them safe at all times. I lecture them sternly on what to be careful of though I am sure that if you asked my children they would tell you that I am just controlling and unreasonable. (and I laugh to myself)

I thought much of my parents too. I had a ton of faith that nothing would happen to me because I was young and invincible. I had faith that I would be protected I would be kept out of harm’s way. As I got older and learned more about the world I learned what was possible. What could happen to me at any moment in any combination of ways. After being hurt and hurt very hard several times I began to regress and fear what was around every corner. 

I came through it all rather well. The bottom of that hole where it was the darkest I have ever seen is when I looked up and saw light. First I whispered, then spoke and eventually yelled for help. It took some time and things did get better. The day that things really turned around is the day I literally got down on my knees and prayed, and prayed hard. I know for non-believers that this may seem foolish or stupid. I can’t explain it myself but that act of getting down on my knees and asking for help, not for myself as I recall, but for someone else truly changed something. 

I am nobody, I am a flawed man that with God’s help makes it through this life. There are some real twists and turns but I know that God is with me and will help me every step of the way. God sent his son Jesus and I am thankful. I really like to read the Gospels in the New Testament. If you read nothing else I encourage you to take some time and read these. They are an easy read with the (EVS) version and speak volumes. Jesus’s ministry didn’t really last that long but it has had an effect on this world and so many people. The theme of love, how to love and to what length is so weighty. You may read the lines and they may seem simple. They did to me, and then I had some faith and started practicing them. Day by day step by step things got better. I thought it may be a fluke but like I said I am a flawed man. I am a sinner and I have gone through periods in my life where I have gotten off the path and thats when my life usually starts going bad. Soon as I start reflecting, reading and practicing the words of Jesus though things start to get better. 

Is my life perfect? No, but I have a guide to help deal with life and it’s twists and turns. There is evil in the world. There is disaster and with the love and community I receive with God and Jesus’s teachings and help from the Holy Spirit I make it through it all. I encourage you to do the same. God loves you and wants you to be happy. He gives you free will to choose to love him back or not. You can choose to follow his teachings/principle or not. He will love you all the same. Just as my children frustrate me (because I love them) and disobey my rules and walk away from me I stand there waiting with open arms to welcome them back and hug them when they decide to come home. 

I have faith that anytime I need help I can call on God. He may not give me what I want, like my 5yr old get mad when I won’t let him eat a plate full of cookies for dinner. God though does help me with what I need. You should never feel alone though. Have faith that he is there beside you. Take time to read a bit of his teachings, and have the faith to try and put them into practice. A world of wonderful is out there waiting to have you. You only need to have the faith to see that God loves you and will take care of you.

Mark 4: 35 - 41
35	On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."
36	And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.
37	And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
38	But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care if we perish?"
39	And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40	He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?"
41	And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?"