A stirred-up heart. That would be refreshing.
No, amazing. That would be AMAZING!
Oh, how frustrating to merely endure the daily grind of life. And the hope that somehow my heart will be better equipped to face tomorrow's circumstances swirls unpredictably beyond my control, like the early autumn leaves the neighbor is blowing from his yard to mine.
How will I respond? The "right" answer is already in my cranium, but the actions and attitude don't resonate.
I don't just need the right answer, the right thought, the perfect advice. My heart needs to be stirred up!
My heart is stirred by a noble theme...
Psalm 45 is richly prophetic in its foretelling of a "most excellent" prince and his "all glorious" royal princess bride.
The Prince. Gracious in all He says, victorious, truthful, humble, righteous, just, anointed with the oil of joy.
The Bride. Enthralling in her beauty, courted by wealth, forsaking her past.
The Bride's past, her suitors only serve to magnify Him.
Stir up my heart! Drizzle the oil of Your joy on me!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
What does He sound like?
An unexpected question left me wrestling with that question.
Last night while I was tucking daughter #2 into bed, she asked me how she would know if God was talking to her. She had prayed many times about many things, but had never heard Him answer. And she wasn't really sure she would know if He was "telling" her something.
So many have that same question, Christian and non-Christian alike. Just Google "does god talk" to see a plethora of attempts to analyze God's communication with man. While many writings take a heavily theological stance, the best one I found quotes some 7-12 year olds: How Does God Talk To You?
Although those deep, scholastic, logical presentations can be intellectually satisfying, they hardly address the angst I have known in those times when I've longed deeply to hear from Him. The problem is that that longing isn't intellectual; it's spiritual. My spirit needs to be able to communicate, since "God is spirit."
I've never heard Him myself, at least, not with my ears. But I've known Him to respond to my prayers, and to direct certain situations in my life.
And having an opportunity to convey that to my dear 9-year-old, who genuinely wanted to know, was a privilege I won't take for granted. In fact, I'm pretty sure God was speaking to me in that situation!
Thank you gracious Lord!
Last night while I was tucking daughter #2 into bed, she asked me how she would know if God was talking to her. She had prayed many times about many things, but had never heard Him answer. And she wasn't really sure she would know if He was "telling" her something.
So many have that same question, Christian and non-Christian alike. Just Google "does god talk" to see a plethora of attempts to analyze God's communication with man. While many writings take a heavily theological stance, the best one I found quotes some 7-12 year olds: How Does God Talk To You?
Although those deep, scholastic, logical presentations can be intellectually satisfying, they hardly address the angst I have known in those times when I've longed deeply to hear from Him. The problem is that that longing isn't intellectual; it's spiritual. My spirit needs to be able to communicate, since "God is spirit."
I've never heard Him myself, at least, not with my ears. But I've known Him to respond to my prayers, and to direct certain situations in my life.
And having an opportunity to convey that to my dear 9-year-old, who genuinely wanted to know, was a privilege I won't take for granted. In fact, I'm pretty sure God was speaking to me in that situation!
Thank you gracious Lord!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Guess Who! (updated)
Here's _Mayor Greg Ballard (Indianapolis)_ (in the suit) with me (no, not in the suit, and not wearing a tan jacket walking away from the camera behind the car).
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Not that bloggy...really.
Oh, my dear wife. What are you trying to do to me?
First, I fall prey to the AI blogging epidemic. Now pyramid-scheme blogging with rules? What next?!?!
Alas, here are the rules imposed upon such hapless victims as myself:
1. Write the title to your own memoir using 6 words.
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person that tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs.
Drum roll please...
Either way is fine by me.
There it is. I know what you're thinking: profound, daring, poignant. Well, maybe I come across as a little opinionated, but I'm willing to take that risk.
Now the problem--I don't really have any blogging associates. Unless I count my wife's. So, I'll just tag her back 5 times (I love you Sweetie!), and let her pass along another 5 tags.
First, I fall prey to the AI blogging epidemic. Now pyramid-scheme blogging with rules? What next?!?!
Alas, here are the rules imposed upon such hapless victims as myself:
1. Write the title to your own memoir using 6 words.
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person that tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs.
Drum roll please...
Either way is fine by me.
There it is. I know what you're thinking: profound, daring, poignant. Well, maybe I come across as a little opinionated, but I'm willing to take that risk.
Now the problem--I don't really have any blogging associates. Unless I count my wife's. So, I'll just tag her back 5 times (I love you Sweetie!), and let her pass along another 5 tags.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Shutdown Day - tomorrow!
I'm gonna try this: http://shutdownday.org/
I think the biggest challenge for me will be my cell. phone, especially since it's an e-mail/web browser/etc. SmartPhone.
But I also envision some other difficulties, since our household has come to rely on the convenience of Internet-based driving directions, weather, gardening tips, etc., etc., etc. It's going to take some forethought to avoid pitfalls which will send me scrambling to plug in, power up, and logon (perhaps in a similar sense to this). And since it's nearly Friday afternoon already, I'd better get forethinking!
I think the biggest challenge for me will be my cell. phone, especially since it's an e-mail/web browser/etc. SmartPhone.
But I also envision some other difficulties, since our household has come to rely on the convenience of Internet-based driving directions, weather, gardening tips, etc., etc., etc. It's going to take some forethought to avoid pitfalls which will send me scrambling to plug in, power up, and logon (perhaps in a similar sense to this). And since it's nearly Friday afternoon already, I'd better get forethinking!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
I'm succumbing
Yes, this is me, blogging about American Idol.
There aren't nearly enough blog posts editorializing the AI goings-on scattered across the blogoverse.
So here's mine.
I'll keep it short (I can do that pretty well).
Natasha Bettef...... didn't sound like she had a pocket full of sunshine. In fact she was quite shouty in the middle of the song. Like maybe she had a pocket full of angry fists. Fists that are dry and cracked, and that desperately need Calgon.
Take me away!
It's after my bedtime.
_________________________
I was soooo done. I even gave EEEEMommy the old "I should be sleeping now" line (which usually elicits a deep sigh from my dear night owl).
But then, they did it. The brass section and the background vocalists. They completely ruined any serious "personal" and "intimate" vibe good ole' Neil was shooting for in his "Pretty Amazing Grace" number.
The brass guys were grooving a little too much. I don't even remember seeing them play their instruments. Perhaps they did, and I was just too distracted by the crazy, octopus-like swaying/waving/pointing/walk-like-an-Egyptian/chicken dance hand motions from the background singers.
Good thing they didn't show much of the "mosh" pit! The mental distraction that would have caused would definitely require therapy.
There aren't nearly enough blog posts editorializing the AI goings-on scattered across the blogoverse.
So here's mine.
I'll keep it short (I can do that pretty well).
Natasha Bettef...... didn't sound like she had a pocket full of sunshine. In fact she was quite shouty in the middle of the song. Like maybe she had a pocket full of angry fists. Fists that are dry and cracked, and that desperately need Calgon.
Take me away!
It's after my bedtime.
_________________________
I was soooo done. I even gave EEEEMommy the old "I should be sleeping now" line (which usually elicits a deep sigh from my dear night owl).
But then, they did it. The brass section and the background vocalists. They completely ruined any serious "personal" and "intimate" vibe good ole' Neil was shooting for in his "Pretty Amazing Grace" number.
The brass guys were grooving a little too much. I don't even remember seeing them play their instruments. Perhaps they did, and I was just too distracted by the crazy, octopus-like swaying/waving/pointing/walk-like-an-Egyptian/chicken dance hand motions from the background singers.
Good thing they didn't show much of the "mosh" pit! The mental distraction that would have caused would definitely require therapy.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
All-nighters used to be so fun!
Now I have a family, and a house, and a job, and a yard, and have to behave responsibly pretty much every day (even on vacation, although I'm not sure I did a great job of that last week--thanks for hanging in there with me EEEEMommy!).
But if I do give up sleep for a night, there are a few qualifying reasons in my book:
- sick child(ren)
- sick spouse
- sick me
- talking and playing games with good friends (making for even better friends)
- being in a tent (or just under the stars)
- New Year's Eve
I think that's about it. Maybe I'll think of a few more, but I'm sure that "fixing e-mail servers that got broken in the course of applying patches for a project with an overly-aggressive schedule" won't be on it.
Blah!
But if I do give up sleep for a night, there are a few qualifying reasons in my book:
- sick child(ren)
- sick spouse
- sick me
- talking and playing games with good friends (making for even better friends)
- being in a tent (or just under the stars)
- New Year's Eve
I think that's about it. Maybe I'll think of a few more, but I'm sure that "fixing e-mail servers that got broken in the course of applying patches for a project with an overly-aggressive schedule" won't be on it.
Blah!
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