Dadisms

I love my Dad. Over the years I've grown to love and appreciate him more and more, especially since I've left the nest and have gone to live on my own. Where I'd be in life without him, I could hardly imagine if I would've turned out the way I have. I'm forever grateful for times we get to hang out, whether its moving stuff in the house, going to visit Granny, etc. There's just something about father-son time that is hard to put in words, but it's the best feeling in the world.

Over time, I began picking up and doing things my Dad did. Here are but a few:

1. Work ethic. My Dad worked all week growing up; even now with him being retired, he stays busy.
2. Grunts. Whenever my Dad would reach down to pick up something, he'd let out a brace-yourself grunt...do this on occasion even when the object isn't heavy.
3. Farting. Whenever he'd let one go, he'd look around the room puzzled and would jokingly wonder where that noise came from.
4. People skills. I've watched him interact with his customers during the job; good habit to pick up.
5. On occasion whenever he would get furious with his laptop for work, he'd let out a "DANGIT ALL." lol He would also talk to himself as he worked through the issue "Ok so I go here;" "trying to print;" etc.
6. Chair recliners. How it's nice to lean back on that couch and take it easy. This will be an important buy in my first home.
7. Coffee every morning. Took me a little while, but now I'm engulfed in coffee; though, I don't drink it black like him. yuck.
8. Taking good care of possessions. "You treat your stuff better because you own it, but when something isn't yours, you aren't as careful."
9. TV shows. "24" was the best series ever. Even when we weren't watching it together, we would turn the lights out and never answer the phone while it was on. If Mom came in the room, she would be silenced (because she knew it was the Bauer-hour not to be disturbed and wanted a reaction from us haha).
10. He's a family man. Dad loves Mom very much, and cares very much for all his kids. I desire and Lord-willing I'll get an opportunity to have my own family to pass on this fatherly love.

...but seriously, where's my green grass?

My previous post was a plug for a book by Stephen Altrogge, The Greener Grass Conspiracy, in which he makes the case against the empty promises this world offers. Get the new iPad, and you'll be brushed up on the world's newest technology. Invest in this new company, for your nest egg will be secure. Watch this movie filled with all manner of perversion and your hormones will be raging. Drink this beer and you'll have a good time. Use this make-up, ladies, for you'll have countless men running after you. Use this body spray, men, and the ladies will flock to you. Even though partial satisfaction is given in these situations and more, we're still left empty every time. The fix we desire becomes stronger every time we give in. And though paradise is waved in front of us, we find ourselves in a barren field disheartened, empty, and fooled.

Where's My Green Grass?

This book looks interesting and will be released by CrossWay at the end of the month. The author is addressing the "if only" notion that we tend to audibly and/or tacitly say to ourselves when we desire something. My life, up to this point, has consisted of many "if only" moments, desiring both good and bad things, both leading to utter disappointment in some way, shape, or form. I don't agree with Buddhism that desire is bad and you should get rid of it, but if we have experienced the rebirth of the Holy Spirit then everything falls in place after we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We have salvation, that which is paramount, but if we desire the things God gives over-against God Himself, we find every time that the grass we yearn to lay on isn't so green after all.

Atychiphobia

You're probably wondering this means, right? It's the fear of failure. I'm far from being a scientific expert as to what causes this, whether it be neurotransmitters or some similar chemical malfunction in the brain, but the fear of failure can be minute or catastrophic. It could push someone to do better, or to quit. This isn't going to be an exposition of any portion of Scripture, as my posts most commonly are; rather, this is going to be an honest inward reflection of what really causes me to be anxious when considering present/future things.

"Philosopher in Meditation"

This painting by Rembrandt portrays me in an honest, deep way. I think a lot. Whether I'm reading a book, working, driving, sitting in church, etc. it's more than likely visible that I'm meditating on something. What am I thinking about? Well, it varies with the moment: life, God and His Word, future, girlfriend, work, failures, some undesired past event--I could go on. From time to time, dwelling on the uncertainty knocks me off my equilibrium: "What's going to happen next?" Also, "I've begun this path; what if a dead-end awaits?" I've found myself staring at this photo time and time again, seeing my reflection in how I can hang my head low and be lost in thought.

The Authority of Jesus - How Do You Respond?

All of us have authoritative figures above us, ranging from parents, bosses, police, tax agents, etc. Each draws a different type of reaction, but they all call for obedience in some way, shape, or form: you must pay your taxes, perform your tasks at work, follow laws and ordinances. And when we knowingly stray and an authority figure is nearby, we cringe and try to hide as if everything is fine. A vivid example would be getting pulled over by local law enforcement after getting caught in a speed trap; your stomach drops and fear has brought a chill down your spine. Yet, this fear of authority does not cause us to stop disobeying what we know is right, regardless of whether or not we are caught. Jesus in his earthly ministry manifested authority over numerous realms, especially the forgiveness of sins.

Read along with me from Matthew 7:28-9:13 as I expound on 1) Authority Acknowledged, 2) Authority Manifested, 3) Authority Affirmed, and 4) Authority Despised.

Managing Well

Since June of this year, I have been supervising with my office cleaning company: during the summer I was working with a team that moved furniture, various detailed cleaning, and some stripping & waxing floors. In August I was given a position as Site Supervisor over JCB, a tractor-producing company whose headquarters for North America abides near Savannah's airport. Looking back to June, I've gone through many things that tested my ability to lead; I've continued to ask myself this question daily: Am I being trustworthy of the job and resources that my boss has granted me?

In Luke 16, in the presence of the Pharisees, scribes, and the disciples, Jesus gives the parable of the dishonest manager. This comes after chapter 15 (didn't take a seminary degree to figure that one), where the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling because Jesus was receiving and eating with sinners. Jesus, in turn, gave them three parables: a) lost sheep, b) lost coin, and the c) lost son. These were aimed directly at the Pharisees and scribes, explaining that beauty is in the eye of the beholders (shepherd, woman, father), and they gave value on what they possessed--so also, who the Father extends compassion to, is not based on any self-worth in an individual or by their own merits.

Finding the Savior in Lamentations

I felt led to read through the book of Lamentations yesterday. And as I began reading, it was tempting to stop and move somewhere else because of the reality of destruction, exile, and guilt that the Jews were going through at the time. The Jews were cast into Babylonian captivity back in 586 BC because of their own willingness to serve idols rather than the living God:

"...she took no thought of her future; therefore her fall is terrible;" 1:9a

"The Lord is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word;" 1:18a

"Look, O LORD, for I am in distress; my stomach churns; my heart is wrung within me, because I have been very rebellious." 1:20a

"Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading." 2:14

"We have transgressed and rebelled," 3:42a

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition comes to Savannah

So yesterday my father and I went down to the site in Savannah where Extreme Makeover is building a house for a family in need. And out of nowhere a reporter for the Savannah Morning News taps me on the shoulder and asked to interview me.

Be Ye Still

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10

Kids have an extremely hard time sitting still. The past month I have had the opportunity to teach the 4th-6th grade Sunday School class, and I would've never imagined it being so difficult. Don't get me wrong: I love the kids and I've enjoyed teaching them, but getting them to sit still and pay attention was a difficult task; they were either getting up out their seat to run around, talking to someone while I'm talking, or just doodling on their paper when I'm going over a blank they need to fill in. I've found my patience tested because when I want to speak, they don't want to listen (sometimes). But this is not a post about unruly children, the aforementioned was only an illustration. In the miry bog of life, when all seems to be going wrong, I would much rather run around and try to find the solution myself than be still and know that God hasn't all of a sudden forfeited His sovereignty.

Jeremiah 10 - The Absurdity of Idolatry

Pardon my absence from the blogosphere. I know it has been awhile and I hope that this post will be convicting and edifying.

Ever read through the book of Jeremiah before? Old Testament Israel seems to have this motif: when things are going great, they forget the Lord; when things aren't going great, they're wondering where He is. Specifically here in Jeremiah we see Israel before they were taken captive by Babylon; the Jews had once again forgotten the Lord of hosts, and clung themselves to the god Baal. Though the Lord had extended his hand toward them to repent, they neglected to do so; and consequently, God would punish them. What we find in chapter 10 of Jeremiah is a conversation between Jeremiah and the Lord concerning the spiritual adultery of Israel: in abandoning the worship of the one true God, they look to things that by nature are not divine at all.

Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. 

But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation. Thus shall you say to them: "The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens." It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish." - Jeremiah 10:1-5, 10-15