Advice

The world is full of advice-givers, but how do you choose which ones to listen to?

Take for instance this weekend:

1) I spent time on the phone talking with the Bellsouth internet technical support. Time: 1.5 hours. The problem was not solved. Later that evening, I accidentally corrected the problem. So much for that 1.5 hours.

2) Then the Directv went out following a storm. I better not get started on this one. Let's just say that it is still out.

What is evident is that there is never a lack of people who offer help. Whether or not they can really help is an entirely different question.

So what do you do when you need questions to more substantial matters than internet service and satellite television?

Sometimes I just do not understand.

Do you?

Christmas Present

My parents left this morning after spending the past six days with us. I am not sure that they realize how much it meant to me and my family that they made the trip from Ohio and spent the time with us.

It is a little ironic how we grow up, move out, start our own families, but still feel that sense of security when our parents are around. It is refreshing to sit and talk to my parents. The visit was good for me and my family.

Their presence reminded me once again of how very blessed I am. Yesterday, my Dad and I, along with my son, attended the annual Independence Bowl game. We are not fans of either team, but the experience of going to the game is always a good one. As we sat in the stands, my mind raced back to my childhood and the first college football game to which my Dad took me. It was Illinois vs. Ohio State. I remember thinking how cool it was to be at the game.

Yesterday, as I sat with my Dad and son, I reflected on that moment and on the moment being created in the present. Here I was sitting with my Dad, who took me to my first college football game. And here I am sitting with my son while he takes in his first college football game. I mentioned this to my Dad and he smiled as he made a few reflective comments himself.

Family does wonders for the heart. I am fortunate to have a good relationship with my parents. I am fortunate to have parents who love my wife and regard her as a part of the family.

The other day, I watched as my Mom, wife and daughter talked with each other. Soon they began laughing. I do not know what was so funny, but the moment etched a memory in my mind that will long remain.

Thanks, Mom and Dad for the visit. Dad, I know that as a preacher it is hard to be gone from the congregation where you minister, but I am glad you were here. Mom, I know that you get very few breaks from teaching, being a minister's wife and helping take care of your other grandchildren in Ohio, but thanks for coming to see us. I don't know if you two will ever realize how much your visit meant to me.

Being together with my Mom, Dad, wife and two children was a Christmas present that I will forever keep in my heart.

Another Day

35?

Weird.

What is this supposed to feel like?

Not the youtn of the 20s, or the optimism of the early 30s, this 35 stuff is a different breed. Still a few decades (at least 3, maybe 4) from the ranks of the senior citizens, this age is confusing.

What am I supposed to do at 35?

Guess I will continue to make an effort to be a good husband and a good father, even though I am lacking in such efforts. Failure is not the end word of the day. Rather, it is perseverance. Pressing forward. Looking ahead. Doing what matters the most -- loving and caring for my wife and children.

This is 35.

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas!

May the peace of Christ be your peace on this special day!

Lake Walk

There is a feeling
Like walking beside the lake in the early evening
It is unexplainable, yet comforting all at once
Immersing the soul in serenity
Embracing the confusion of the human heart
It unites the heart, mind and spirit
Always unifying, never tearing apart

It is more than a force of nature
As if nature is concerned with human souls
It is a peaceful reckoning
A soul search and rescue
Neither fear-inducing nor despair-tolerating
This moment is in itself a healing exercise

Rebinding the torn heart
Healing the damaged soul
Repairing the deceived mind

Some might call it divine forgiveness
Others see a gift
Perhaps both are right
And that is why we look to the coming of morning's light
As we walk by the lake

Patterns

The religious group of which I am a part has a long history of advocating a patternistic approach to the Bible. In this approach, the Bible is seen as a textbook full of important facts to be memorized before the "big test."

For example, salvation is seen as a step-by-step process. Of course each step is seen as a rational progression from the previous one. The steps look something like this: 1) Hear; 2) Believe; 3) Repent; 4) Confess, and 5) Be Baptized. Sometimes another step is added -- "live faithfully." In all of these steps the emphasis is made on the human response to God. These are all things that we do. As you can see, there is no mention of what God does. To me, this is a lopsided view of salvation. What happened to, "you are saved by grace"?

It goes without saying that what God has already done for us elicits a response from us. Obedience to God is essential ("to obey is better than sacrifice"). Yet, a patternistic approach to the Scriptures places too much stock in our abilities to interpret, rather than the Bible's ability to interpret us.

A patternistic approach to the Bible also convinces us that we have the exact blueprint for how the church should look and function. This modern mindset (e.g. that we can arrive at complete truth objectively) breeds exclusivism ("we are right and you are wrong"). As a result, we make the claim that "we do things the Bible way." And when things are not done the way we think they should be done, we get disturbed and say that "we have an obligation to not add anything to the Scriptures."
All that amounts to is a smokescreen for saying that your interpretation does not match mine, so your interpretation must be wrong.

Patternistic philosophy does not save anyone. It does not promote unity, and it will never heal the wounds of a divided church. If we must speak of patterns, then let us proclaim the only pattern that can save, unify, and heal -- Jesus.

Of all the doctrines in the Bible, this is the hardest -- to be like Jesus.

The Mystery of Christmas

What is there about Christmas that changes us? What makes us act differently on this day than we do the other 364 days of the year?

Trans Siberian Orchestra have pondered such a question, as the lyrics to An Angel Came Down suggest.

An angel came down one night to the earth
A mission from God to find out the worth

Of everything that His children had done
Since that winter night, the birth of His son

And then a sound filled the night in the cold winter air
And in the midst of his flight it was holding him there

And as he looked toward the earth for the source of this sound
On that cold winter night it was pulling him down

To bring something back this angel was told
That no one could touch but angels could hold

So on that night when the sky had cleared
Among all the stars an angel appeared

And then a sound filled the night in the cold winter air
And in the midst of his flight it was holding him there

And as he looked towards the earth for the source of this sound
On that cold winter night it was pulling him down

The sound that he had heard was the ringing of the bells
But now inside that night there were voices there as well

I'll post the rest of the angel's story later.

Rock On

Since my pre-teen years, music has been an outlet for me. Listening to music, writing music, and playing music are all forms of therapy for me. I cannot imagine life without music. Playing guitar at home and writing songs have enabled me many times to express my feelings (in sometimes loud fashion). I love the fact that my children have also developed a love for music. When I have the amp cranked in my room and am playing guitar, my son will grab one of my other guitars and pretend to play along with me. The other day my daughter asked me if I would help her put together a rock band when she is older. Of course, both my son and daughter give me a strange look when I tell them that rock music is about rebellion.

I have a friend who was born and raised in the South, yet his favorite rock group is a group from Boston, Massachusetts (near where I was born) named Godsmack. The group originally began as a tribute band for Alice in Chains. Their music is very similar, but Godsmack has carved its own niche in the music scene. Their music symbolizes the rebellion which I mentioned earlier. So for your daily dose of lyrics I give you one of their songs. It is entitled, Keep Away.

Sickness spilling through your eyes
Craving everything you thought was alive
Stab me in my heart again
Drag me through your wasted life, are you forever dead?

Do like I told you
Stay away from me
Never misunderstand me
Keep away from me

Twistin' everything around that you say
Smack me in my mouth 200 times every other day
Rag me, I don't hear you anymore, not yet
Find out what it means to me, I don't know who you are

Do like I told you
Stay away from me
Never misunderstand me
Keep away from me

Those lyrics are a good case study for the passion, energy, anger, and yes -- rebellion -- that makes rock ... well ... rock!

Crank that radio on your way home today and let it rock!

Run, Willie, Run

During a dismal season like the one our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are having, we are reminded to be thankful that we play the Cleveland Browns twice every year.

Not only did the Steelers sweep the Brownies for the third straight season, but Willie Parker set a new franchise record for rushing yards gained in a game.

Congrats, Willie! And congrats to the Steelers for a dominating 27-7 victory.

Latest Recommendation

Recently, I finished reading The Mayor of Lexington Avenue by first-time author James Sheehan. Even though I am not an avid reader of "courtroom dramas", Sheehan's work is a great read. The first few chapters made me think that this was your average "run-of-the-mill" legal thriller, but Sheehan throws in several curve balls that keep you reading and guessing as to what is coming next.

After the first twist, I found myself hooked on the book. In fact, for several evenings, I did not even venture toward the TV, completely captivated by Sheehan's storyline instead.

If you are looking for a good read that will keep you guessing (and provide a respite from the "real world") then I highly recommend The Mayor of Lexington Avenue.

Hey, if you are really interested, I'll let you borrow my copy to read.

Run

From the mind of Ed Roland:

Are these times contagious
I've never been this bored before
Is this the prize I've waited for
Now as the hours passing
There's nothing left here to mature
I long to find a messenger

Have I got a long way to run
Have I got a long way to run
Yeah, I run

Is there a cure among us
From this processed sanity
I weaken with each voice that sings
In this world of purchase
I'm going to buy back memories
To awaken some old qualities

Have I got a long way to run
Have I got a long way to run
Yeah, I run

Smile