Who Said Anything About Change?

Change?? Who said anything about change??

Those of you who know me, understand that I sometimes like to stir the pot, poke the hornet nest, shake the soda can; I like to change stuff - move it around and keep things interesting.  Maybe it's my messy nature that makes me do it, or my restless tendency to to be busy all the time.  Maybe it's too much caffeine (Nah).

I removed several posts that have proven to be controversial and that have caused some of my readers to get ticked off (not that there's anything wrong with that). They aren't gone completely; rather, I placed them in my super-secret underground vault, where I can work on them (or not) and repost them (or not) as nondescript, unremarkable, conventional, democratic ideas (yeah, right), at a later point in time.

It isn't that I am shy about causing a hullabaloo.  I merely want the entire process to be easier for me (after all it is my blog, so it should be easy for me), and justification is never easy.

 I want my readers to know that I will still be posting marriage stuff; not of my own hand, but likely a weekly (or so) list of the best posts and articles on the topic; a weekly "Top Ten," if you will.

Also, I removed some poetry (so called) that was posted by mistake.  I don't generally post stuff until I'm confident of its quality and readiness for publication.  Several items were posted in rought draft form, and frankly, I didn't catch it until recently.  Those items will also be kept in the vault until I feel that they are ready (and who knows when that will be).

I believe the "renovation" will be a good thing.  It will be a kinder, gentler blog, and not so much all-over-the-place.  Of course, all-over-the-place is how my mind works, so we'll see how it goes.



...Later!

Call?? Perhaps Not.

I've been tossing around the idea that God may be calling me to a new direction, one that involves some sort of ministry that involves the Bible (big DUH, there) and husbands.

All of my research (yes, I actually research this stuff) leads me to two truths about being called by God:

1. It involves an inner "rightness."  It has to feel like it's the right thing to do.  If it feels like it would be wrong, or contradictory to the Word of God (sin), then it isn't God's voice, it isn't the Holy Spirit, it isn't a "calling."
2. It includes outward confirmation.  In some way, things have to work out to make it possible to do what is necessary to fulfill the call.  If too many things are working against you, then 
• you likely are not being called by God, or
• it is a call, and Satan doesn't like it.

What, then, am I to do with this?  I still feel an inward "rightness," but I'm not sure about the source of the resistance.

I suppose I just pray and wait.  and keep mum until I am sure.  No more spouting off about "husband should this, husbands shouldn't that.  At least, for now, I'm going to lay low on the topic for a while, until I know more about whether or not I should be doing this.


...Later!

Call??

Can you make a distiction between God calling you to something and you thinking of something yourself?

God doesn't always call you to what you want to do.

And, God doesn't always call you to what you don't want to do.

A long time ago I was called by God to spread joy.  Simple.  I love it.  Been doing it ever since.

Now there is a tug of a different kind. 

The joy thing is still there, but there is something else with it, equally joyful and (potentially) awkward.

This will be my quandry for awhile.

Genuine ...

This morning in worship we heard a message about, among other things, the importance of being genuine.  "Genuine," in this case, refers to openness and honesty in our relationships with others.  I was shocked and convicted as I sat listening to the message and subsequent study group discussion.  I was struck with the realization that, often in the daily "blah, blah, blah" of life, I am not genuine in my relationships with others. 

In my daily exchange with people I give in all too often to fear.  Fear of conflict, fear of rejection, fear of unpopularity, fear of I-don't-know-what prevents me from saying what I mean.  I go through life suppressing my feelings, my thoughts, my desires.  Instead, I say things to pacify whoever is at the receiving end of my charming banter - students, family, friends, children, my wife. 

No more (he said, knowing full well that he was full of shit).

If I am going to do things God's way (and, at least I say that's what I want to do), then I have signifcant work to do.  I must eschew my current fear of how I will look in the eyes of others.  I must say what I mean.

Maybe that's the hidden reason behind my unexplained tremors, night sweats, weight gain, hypertension?

Or maybe I'm just a nervous, fat, sweaty, hyper old man.

Hmmmm....   I'm thinking the former.  I need to be more genuine in my life.  When I desire something, I must express that desire.  When I am upset, I must say so.  Happy?  I must let it show.  I must be the genuine person God created me to be.  No apologies.  No excuses.  No hiding.  No inhibition.

Ooh!  Ooh!  I just thought of an old children's song:

"Here I am.
Look at me.
I hope you like
the person you see ..."

There's more, of course, but I can't remember it at the moment (big surprise, huh?).

Look out, world, here I come ... the "genuine" ME.

(Oy vey!!)


...Later!

Giving Thanks. Period.

On this Thanksgiving Eve I am feeling a bit nostalgic, perhaps, feeling a tug on the old heartstrings as I am missing Mom and Dad, Nana (both of them) and Papap (both of them as well), and countless aunts, uncles, and cousins who would converge on a certain house on Chestnut Street for the annual turkey dinner. 

It all seemed so simple back then.  The kids played, the men discussed, and the women cooked.  Then we would all sit down at our tables (remember the "kids' table"?) and eat our fill until our overstuffed tummies could absorb not one more morsel.

Then came dessert.  Pumpkin, apple, and blueberry pies, brownies, chocolate candies, eggnog, soda, chocolate milk ...

I remember it as a time when everyone rejoiced just because we were together.  We paused from the hustle and bustle of life to offer our gratitude to God for everything in our lives, great and small.  

When I think back on all the holidays in all the years of my life, I have a particular soft spot for Thanksgiving. You see, of all the holidays worthy of celebration, there is only one that, as yet, has not been commercialized to the point of ruin.  Thanksgiving is still about being thankful.  It is still about being with family and showing genuine gratitude for the things we have and the people with whom we share our lives.

It isn't about giving and receiving presents, or staying up late to drink, or loud, colorful rocket thingies (Oooo!  Ahhhh!).  It isn't about making reservations and spending a tremendous wad of cash (or credit) that we don't have and can't easily pay for.

It's about giving thanks.  Period.  That why it's my favorite.

Oh, yeah, and the food is usually pretty good, too. 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Right There on the Playground ...

(*The names have been changed to protect people's identities*)

"Hey Mr. B, guess what?  Pinky got saved yesterday!"

"Cool!  When did this happen?"

"At recess, on the playground"  Sticks and HornBoy and I helped her."

*********

This was the conversation at the end a clarinet lesson this morning. I'm blessed to have a job in which I can get to know my students this well. And it's a double blessing to see them leading their classmates to Jesus and caring enough to make sure the job gets done, even if it's right there on the playground.

                                       Welcome to the family, my new sister in Christ, "Pinky."

"Vogue"

I wonder what goes on in that head of his, when he's lying upside down, writhing and growling like he's having some sort of drug-induced fit.  I wish he could talk.