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Unexpected Gifts

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  This morning, making my typical pre-coffee trek from bedroom to living room, I was taken aback by the view out the window at the top of the stairs. At the edge of the property outside stands a long line of tall, substantial trees. Overnight, the Lord left us an unexpected gift; a perfect, lightweight snowfall on the ground and covering the branches of the miniature forest in front of me. A dark grey, foggy sky framed the whole thing so immaculately that I had stop and try to breathe it in, considering the work of the hand of God and how nature cries out His glory. The view out my front door was equally as glorious. A surprising and precious late Spring delight.  Memories, as they are like to do about now, floated down quietly and washed over me. Recuerdos of Cubanos in snow. I know, that seems a little off but, if you’ve never been with an adult the first time they see snow, I suggest you figure out how to have that experience. It’s so sweet. You never forget it. Which bring...
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A Stake In Our Division

A Stake In Our Division As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.   There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;   one Lord, one faith, one baptism;   one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:1-6 Here's the music. Start or end here. Up to you. Right click. Open in New Tab.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM17qeIIIE4   It was a generation ago, January 1998, when my class returned from a particularly awful assembly. It was my 3 rd year as a teacher in a school district that saw itself as “diverse” (big keyword then), being in reality largely two ethnicities: black (64%) and white (34%) with a few S...
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Seeing Through The Smoke

8 years have gone by since I last posted here (brilliant reflection on Van Halen, YMCA restrooms, and holy calling). A lot changed. Supposed to get you out of here now in < 2 minutes. Nah. Stay as long as you want. If you browse through old musings, note that I like music or a clip to inspire, extend thought, or help readers get to the end without dozing off. This link goes with today.  When I Look At The World Watch before or after you read. Maybe during. Up to you. Thanks for checking in. Smoke Makes Things Hard To See    The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,   2  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3  ...
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Rock N Roll Prophets @ The YMCA

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                 As usual, I am up to my eyeballs in stuff I need to get done when the need to put something up here comes over me and I can’t resist. Chances are most of you won’t get this one at all but, here goes. Also, if you remember that post I wrote on art and the highest expressions of faith, you will see just how far a man can fall. J             OK- Let’s start by making it clear that those of you hoping for a Village People reference (beyond this one) will be sorely disappointed as you read. So sorry. They weren’t prophets.             It starts one morning a couple of weeks ago. My church has begun a prayer experience based on a book called, The Circle Maker and I have been keeping a journal of my prayer during this time. On this particular day, I wrote an entry that looked something like this. I’ve made a few adjust...
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What If?

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What If, Church?      Hey- I can hear the crickets chirping across the lawn of the blog page. Seems I have been away from this space for far too long. Actually, in recent weeks, I have thought a lot about writing something new but, nothing seemed ripe. Until this morning, when a former student posted this video on Facebook, along with the comment, “This is awesome!” Check it out and enjoy the next 6 minutes of your life. I’ll see you in a few.      What is it about sport (and great film editing and most important great background music) that creates such a visceral response in us? I think I have a clue and, it should speak to us as the church. You see, in the video clip you just watched, there are dozens of incredibly talented and gifted, but flawed people; they are loud-mouthed, foul-mouthed and arrogant, they have been cheaters, they have harbored child molesters and a hundred other things In the photos there are drunks, adulterers, sex and drug addict...
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By The Grace of God...

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Wednesday Morning June 6, 2012  ... in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will guide your paths.          I can still smell the rain from last night's storms as I sit on the porch of this log cabin in Lakeland, FL on a beautiful horse farm. The modest structure, with a single living/dining room, tiny kitchenette, and a couple of bedrooms isn't a place I had ever pictured myself. Yet, here I sit, taking in the warm and moist air of a summer morning. I marvel at the journey God traced out that led me to this place.            (After writing these words, which I have to admit I wrote and emailed to myself from the plane on the way back to Ohio the following day, I decided that the song in this clip best sets a musical mood. The video is good, too. Bonus, I suppose. Read on. )        One of my favorite musical scores, tracing a man's mid-life despair, continually asks the questions, "How did you get...
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Not Just Another Birthday

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May 27, 2012                 A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a little reflection on my 15 th birthday in Christ and the journey to that moment in my life. I have been reminded these last two weeks as I trip over myself, that 15 is an adolescent age; full of glory and folly, growth and stumbling, passion and stupidity, moments of greatness and moments where the ability to think clearly evades. I remember being 15 chronologically and how much I loved that year, so I am grateful for the adventure of being an adolescent Christ follower. I seem to recall that John the apostle was just that when Jesus called on him.             But that’s not really why we’re here right this minute. We’ve come to talk about the 2 nd most important day in the Church year. I know what you’re thinking. Resurrection Day is tops (at least I hope that’s what you’re thinking, because it...
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