Car Cleaning

I decided to vacuum my car. It's something I try to do every other year. It's amazing how much stuff you can accumulate over time. In general I try to keep the seats clear enough to accommodate a few passengers. But, with the help of Nicholas the back seats are a little risky. So in my vacuum adventure I discovered some lost items: Green lantern's head, a miniature light saber, wood chips from landscaping timbers, a roll of string (don't have a clue) and the usual assortment of writing utensils. On the bright side I could probably survive most any unsuspected natural disaster or attack. For those of you not old enough to remember McGyver - ask your parents. I believe we all have a tendency to collect junk without realizing it. That's why David asked God's help. His prayer is a reminder that we get to comfortable with the stuff that creeps into our lives.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you,and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

(Psalm 139:23-24)

Lightning bugs

Summer's here for sure. I know that because lightning bugs are out. If you have never stopped to thank God for creating an animal you really should. Actually, I think parents through the ages have given thanks for lightning bugs. Long before game boy, game cube, Playstation, Wii...there were lightning bugs. No battery, no plug in, no cheats, nothing required. All parents had to say was "go catch lightning bugs". Two hours later kids return: fascinated, exhausted and ready for bed. Of course kids of a meaner sort returned with fluorescent goo all over their hands, wiffle ball bats and other things (so I have heard). Sometimes I think lightning bugs remind me of our spirituality. On again off again. Jesus said that his followers are the light of the world. The light that is needed is a consistent steady light and not a light that flashes on and off and is only present for a season and then disappears.

Remember

Memorial Day. Is it about BBQ? Is it about yard work? Is it the unofficial start of summer? There's nothing wrong with any of those things (except yard work). But they miss the mark of Memorial Day. At some point during the day it's important to pause and remember. Pause to honor the veterans who have died serving. Pause to express gratitude. By my measure gratitude is one of the most important virtues. It is a mark of character that affects all others. Deuteronomy is one of my favorite Old Testament books. Over a dozen times Moses pleads with the tribes that were preparing to enter the land that God had promised. His pleading is not complicated. He charges them to remember. Sadly, I am convinced that he knew they would not. It seems to be our nature. When things get good we forget those who sacrificed to bring us the good. Remember and be grateful.

Life according to Captain Jack Sparrow

In the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie Captain Jack Sparrow has a crazy compass. It shows up at various times during the movie. Typically, the compass spins around in what appears to be an unpredictable manner. Finally, Sparrow explains the usefulness of the compass. The needle does not point north. It points toward what the holder "wants" the most. In the ebb and flow of the movie, the direction of the needle changes several times. Seems to me that this compass could be really useful. What if I had a visible indicator of what happens within my heart. How often do my desires change? What do I desire the most today? Obedience? Faithfulness? An authentic relationship with God? Wisdom? Knowledge? Power? Wealth? Comfort? We seldom pause to think that God's assessment is much more accurate than Jack Sparrow's compass. God's assessment of my heart is precise.

Open Hand

I was reading an article by Cameron Strang (editor of Relevant magazine) recently and he used the expression "open hand" to refer to stewardship. His words are challenging. We love to think in terms of "our" possessions, "our" time or "our" lives. This flies in the face of truth. Truthfully, everything we have is God's. As I read his article I felt especially challenged in the area of time. It takes practice to think in terms of an open handed approach to time. The way to begin each day is with the day in an open hand offered to God. That requires me to hold "my day" loosely and release myself to God's purposes.

Dentistry or Pro Basketball

I was watching an interview with Greg Oden this week. He is the basketball star from Ohio State who is likely to be the first pick in the NBA draft. As a seven footer he is easy to spot in a crowd. In his interview he was asked if playing in the NBA was the fulfillment of a childhood dream. His answer was interesting. He shared that his dream as a child was to be a dentist not play pro basketball. With a smile he noted that dentistry was out of the question because of the size of his hands. Good choice Greg. I enjoyed the interview. Oden's stature is a gift from God that made one career an impossibility and another possible. I couldn't help but remember that my childhood dream was to be a veterinarian. Although I didn't pass up that career to play in the NBA, my dreams have gone through several changes. Now I am living my dream. I love being a pastor, husband and father. Sometimes God blesses us with all kinds of gifts that change us and shape us for new dreams.

Summer

I love summer. What's so great about summer? Warm weather. Sunshine. Long days. I don't like cold weather and I don't like it when it's cold and dark at 6:00 in the evening. This week summer will officially begin for many school children. Forget the calendar. For kids in school, summer begins the moment school ends. I guess I am still a fourth grader at heart. There is a rush of joy that comes upon me when summer arrives. My love for summer is about more than the weather. There's something about being outside that is refreshing to me. I love to sit outside at night and look into the sky. This past weekend I sat in silence and looked at a distant star. It was a reminder to me that I am small and God is big. Does that make me feel isolated or comforted? Well I tend to appreciate the truth of the Psalm...He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name (Psalm 147:3-4). What a contrast. The Psalm paints a picture of an infinite God who knows about every star and yet He is willing to minister healing to my brokenness.