Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year/Life!



My friend Debbie sent me an email last night and said she was looking forward to seeing a New Year blog post. Oh, the pressure...!

The truth is, I like the “fresh start” feeling of the New Year, but I’m not much on resolutions. On the upside, you take your tree down and your living room looks twice as roomy…you can look forward to hibernating for the next 10 weeks…and the days are already getting longer! On the other hand, you may be suffering from post-holiday malaise…the weather’s likely to get worse before it gets better…and, even though the days are getting longer, it still gets dark at 5:30.

I’ve made my share of New Year’s resolutions over the years. I can’t even recall the specific ones, because I typically failed at them within the first 48 hours. More often, my resolutions have been very vague, for instance, “be healthier,” or, “simplify.” The single resolution I can say I've kept over the past five years was to know my checking account balance at all times, and the only reason I achieved that goal was the advent of online banking.

The other thing about New Year’s resolutions is that they’re almost always rooted in failure. For instance, “Last year I did a horrible job of __________, so this year I resolve to do better at __________.” How is that supposed to work? It feels like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me.

While I do have hopes and goals and dreams for 2008, I’ll think I’ll opt to keep them close to my heart, rather than publicize them (thus eliminating that nasty “accountability” factor). Besides, if I make a New Year’s resolution and blow it January 2nd, have I blown it for the entire year? As discouraging as that would be, I have a better plan.

The truth is, God offers me more than a New Year tomorrow. He offers me a new life 365 days a year through His son, and that’s an offer that can’t be beat. Sure, I’ll get up tomorrow morning and try my best to be a better me. Inevitably I’ll fall short, but the good news is that I’ll have another shot at it the day after tomorrow, and I don’t have to do it on my own; He’ll be there January 2nd (and March 19th, and July 22nd, and October 5th, supporting me with His grace and mercy.

So I wish you a wonderful New Year, filled with His best for you and the ones you love. But on that day when you wake up and realize you’ve fallen short of your 2008 resolutions, I pray that you can forgive yourself, move on, and lean on Him for the rest of the year.

“Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

Monday, December 24, 2007

Are You Feeling It?


The presents are all bought, wrapped, and under the re-decorated tree. The food is ready to travel tomorrow – a blackberry wine cake and a cheeseball. The pageants and cantatas have all been presented. The house is semi-clean, the kids are home, and the stockings are ready.

I’m still not feeling “it.” But that’s ok, because I know that tonight in our sanctuary, after we take communion and they turn down the lights, we’ll light our candles and sing Silent Night. And then, finally, I’ll feel it. Christmas will be here, in my heart, having arrived in the guise of a little baby. That’s the Christmas spirit, and it never fails to show up.

My prayer for you is that moment – whether it’s tonight, or tomorrow, or maybe even in the quiet next week after all of the craziness is over – when you know the Christ child is here, alive and well in your heart.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

Sunday, December 23, 2007

The Gift of Grace

I'm glad to report the Christmas tree is back up in the great room, standing tall and fairly straight, fully decorated again and secured to the window frame with cup hooks and twine. But after reading my admittedly pathetic Christmas tree story, a couple of my dearest friends gently pointed out what I overlooked that night: That God’s grace remains strong in our lives no matter what else happens.

My dear friend Debbie, who has come alongside me this year in ways I can’t even begin to express my thanks for, put it like this: “If the tree is back up, does that mean grace is real and at work?”

I told her yes, of course…but I didn’t need a tree to tell me that. Christmas tree topples over? It’s no match for God’s grace. You’re dealing with an impossible situation? Nothing is impossible for Jesus. Age old poverty, war, hunger? Even in the midst of these fallen world circumstances, He is aware and at work in all of our lives.

Then my life-friend Connie (another of God’s foundational supports in my life, always keeping me grounded) sent me the sweetest gift... Knowing my fondness for haiku, she wrote this, which I offer as a Christmas gift to you:

Will Christmas not come
because your tree has fallen?
Will his birthday pass?

No! I say out loud.
Even if there is no tree
His birthday WILL be.

He needs no green tree
to give you child his great gifts
peace, joy, hope, promise.

He is not held back
by fallen trees or life's pain
His birthday WILL reign.

There is no green tree?
May Jesus be your sweet hope-
He WILL be your tree.

Friday, December 21, 2007

The Tannenbaum Blues


We’ve always been late putting up our Christmas tree, at least compared to everyone else I know. In the days when we used the woodstove more, our excuse was that a real tree would be a fire hazard by Christmas Day if we put it up too early. And don’t even mention an artificial tree, because it HAD to be a real tree. After all, getting the tree used to be a big adventure for the kids...one that involved the family trekking off to a local Christmas tree farm, hiking hill and dale until we found the perfect tree (i.e., the one that got my seal of approval), cutting that sucker down, and dragging it home like a prize catch on Animal Planet.

After it was properly trimmed and screwed into a tree stand, we would throw open the great room doors and bring it into the house, always tucking it into the same perfect corner next to the bookshelves. I was in charge of decorating the tree from the crocheted angel at the top to the tree skirt spread out around the base. (Naturally I always tried to con someone else into putting the lights on first, if possible.)

So this year was pretty much going according to plan, albeit with less pomp and circumstance, when I asked my son Ben (finally home from Boone by way of Chattanooga) to venture forth and get the tree – any tree (after all, it was already the 19th!). Bless his heart, I was working and Hannah had other plans, so off to Mendota he went … and back to Brumley Gap he came with a very large Scotch pine. Ben and his dad then worked for a fair amount of time to trim the bottom, install the tree in the stand, and wrestle it into the house. When we finally determined it was as straight as it was going to get, they washed their hands of it (literally…Scotch Pines are very sticky).

The tree stood in my great room au natural until last night, when I came home from work, pushed up my sleeves, and commenced to decorating it. The lights went on beautifully...then I took a real leap of faith and let silver and gold ribbon cascade down from the top of the tree, rather than wrapping it around the tree’s girth like garland. It looked great.

Hanging our ornaments on the tree took the most time. We’ve never had a “department store tree,” because each of our ornaments has a story. They rarely match, but I know the history of each one, and have, to the extent they’ve paid attention, taught my children those stories. So when I present them with their ornaments one day, after they’ve moved out of my home and are decorating their own family tree, they, too, will be able to pass the story behind each ornament along to their families.

Finally, after three hours, the tree was finished, and if I may say so myself, it was perfect. I had watered it, spent some time just gazing in admiration, and wandered off to make brownies for my co-workers. Brownies baking in the oven, I wandered back to wrap the base of the tree with a skirt and place our presents under its branches. I was pretty well pleased with myself.

Until it came crashing down, that is.


It was almost as if it was falling in slow motion… I was standing there, but there was nothing I could do but watch helplessly as it fell over, crashing to the floor and scattering ornaments and berries in ever direction. Broken glass and water were all over my hardwood floor and under the furniture (heavy furniture, like the sofa and piano). I was too stunned to move.

After I got over my initial shock, I called my daughter Hannah, who was on her way home from a movie. Unfortunately, she misunderstood and thought a tree from our yard had fallen across our house and landed in the living room. But once she got home and discerned the real situation, she helped me pick up the disgraced tree and put it out on the deck, presumably as punishment. She even helped me clean up, sending me off to bed before she swept the floor...what a girl.

Twenty-four years, and our tree has never, ever fallen over. And it’s funny, but I’ve heard three other friends tell of their trees falling over this year, as well. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Christmas trees had secret lives, and maybe even a union. Could they be on strike this year…?

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul wrote,

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:5-7 (NIV)

I wish I could tell you I handled the whole tree crisis with poise and good humor. But the truth is I didn’t, and God’s grace, much less my gentleness, wasn’t evident when that tree fell. I’m not proud to admit it, but at one point I whined, “This freakin' tree is a symbol of my life!” And true enough, just when I think I have everything perfectly in place in my life, the whole thing is likely to topple over.

Tonight, the tree is lying naked in the yard, awaiting our decision as to whether it can be redeemed as “The 2007 Christmas Tree,” or whether it will be unceremoniously exiled and hauled to the burn pile. I’m not sure what to do with it yet, but I do know it’s just a tree, and I’ve still got three full days before Christmas to figure it out.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Merry Christmas, Mountaineers


Looks like Santa came to Chattanooga early, and the Appalachian State Mountaineers were very good boys again this year!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Waiting on "Baby Cheesus"

Christmas decorating is an evolutionary process in my house. If you’re not paying close attention, you won’t even notice it happening. Then one day (typically the week before Christmas) you’ll look around and think, “Hey, when did all of this happen?”

But there are a couple of decorations that I put out right after Thanksgiving, regardless of my crazy schedule and tendency to procrastinate. My Nativity scene is one of those.


Funny, but I still think of it as my father’s Nativity scene, even though it’s been in my possession for most of my adult life. Maybe I feel that way because it’s the one he purchased from Sears over 40 years ago and he never, ever let me or my sister arrange the paper mache people and animals, no matter how much we begged. If we moved one of the sheep even a fraction of an inch to the left when he wasn’t looking, he noticed and immediately put it back in its proper place. He would, however, let us wind up the music box – artfully camouflaged under the hay in the stable – and listen to “Away in a Manger” one time each night before Christmas.

I guess it’s really no surprise that, although I really tried to be more free with my own children and let them arrange everyone the way they saw fit, I would always go back after they went to bed and rearrange them the “right” way. Sheep have to stay with the shepherd – there’s no integration of livestock in my Nativity scene. The wise men stick together. Mary is on the right, Joseph's on the left. And everyone, animals included, are all gazing in awe and adoration at the babe in the manger who is, of course, front and center. Oh, and the angel hangs on a nail, hovering perfectly centered over the stable.

Hannah, my non-compliant child, insisted on rearranging the whole tableau every day, sometimes more than once. In her mind, the goal was to get everyone, even the cow, as close as possible to the Christ child. I’ve never read anything in the New Testament to indicate Jesus was claustrophobic, but if He was her scene would have explained it. Hannah was also responsible for placing the camel in the baby's place while the baby was hanging out with the angel up on the roof.

My son Ben, on the other hand, was fine with my arrangement. His only quirk was his inability to pronounce “Jesus.” It was always an exciting moment when we carefully unwrapped and placed the “Baby Cheesus” in the manger.

The Nativity scene has been displayed several different places in our home over the years, but most recently it has been safely tucked away in the bookcase. This placement was due, in large part, to me losing my mind one year when the children were younger and arranging the Nativity scene on an end table in our living room. I didn't realize it until it was too late, but this table was right in line with the hall, making it fair game for Hannah and Ben’s game of, “run down the hall as fast as you can and skid across the hardwood floor in the living room.” To this day Hannah maintains that everything would have been fine if she hadn’t been wearing her blanket as a cape. I still grieve for the donkey’s ear…

I treasure my Nativity scene, not only for its rich history, but for the beautiful story it depicts. And even though my children think they’re “too old” to get excited about unwrapping the pieces, I still take great pleasure in setting up it up.

Ironically, it makes me a little sad that no one sneaks behind me and changes it up when I’m not looking. I’ve come to realize that it really doesn’t matter where everyone else is, as long as “Baby Cheesus” is in the middle. I’ve heard people say they keep their baby figurine hidden away until Christmas Day and then they bring him out and place him in the manger. But for me, that’s a little too close to the way the world operates, bring the baby out at Christmas, only to wrap him up in a scrap of cloth and pack Him away for the rest of the year.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” ~ Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)

Advent is a funny thing… While we’re awaiting the birth of Jesus, my “Baby Cheesus” lives, front and center, all year long. I’m awaiting His return, even as I’m thankful He’s already come. And the last thing I want to do is hide Him away until next Christmas.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Going for Three in a Row!



I just had to share this picture from GoASU.com... Last night Appalachian State beat University of Richmond 55-35, earning a chance to win their third straight Division I National Championship in Chattanooga next Friday night. ASU's allotment of tickets sold out by noon today.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Joy to the World



For the most part, I get dragged through December kicking and screaming.

I absolutely refuse to acknowledge the Christmas season before Thanksgiving comes and goes. And did you see the news footage from “Black Friday?” People getting knocked to the floor and trampled in a mad rush for half-priced toys and electronics … insanity! I simply don’t have the fortitude or the desire to participate, and besides, I had to work. But my friend Susan called me that morning to say she was on her way to a sale. After I asked her if she’d lost her mind, she said, “Oh my gosh. There’s a line to get into the parking lot!” Fortunately, she made it through the day without injury or incident, and claims she got some great deals. But I maintain the deals will still be out there in mid-December (by which time I’ll have done the majority of my shopping online).

Then there’s the decorating (I hate throwing my perfectly good pumpkins away), the scheduling (jamming three months worth of events into one month and figuring out who’s going to be where when over the holidays), and the cards (which also involves taking a picture both kids are willing to share with 75 of our closest friends and family). I could go on, but I’m probably stirring up angst (which, by the way, grows exponentially until December 25th). And on top of everything, there’s the ever-present Christmas music (Joy to the World, 24/7? Please!)

Now you’re probably waiting for me to exclaim, “Bah, humbug!” But I won’t, and here’s why: The Christmas Season is really no different than any other in my year. The focus of the Christian calendar shifts to encompass the advent and birth of the Messiah, but the truth is my joy remains the same during Christmas as it does during Easter, the Fourth of July, or Halloween, for that matter.

The other day I was walking into work and a co-worker asked me why I was so “up.” I said, “You know, I guess I’m just glad because my joy doesn’t depend on my circumstances … heaven help us all if it did!” And isn’t that the truth? Every day has its own troubles, whether it’s a routine day or the next 20 shopping days before Christmas. That’s a promise straight from the Bible:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
~ Matthew 6:34 (NIV)


Happiness and joy are two very different things. You may not be happy with the way things are going in your life today, but if you have joy that comes from the Lord and your personal relationship with Him, there will be glimpses of beauty, moments of divine inspiration in even the most trying of days. That’s a promise, too:

“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” ~ John 15: 10-11 (NIV)

So I say Joy to the World … on December 25th, and the other 364 days of the year, too!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

What's Your Plan?


God Speaking

Written by Ronnie Freeman

Have you ever heard a love song,
That set your spirit free?
Have you ever watched a sunrise,
And felt you could not breathe?
What if it's Him? What if it's God speaking?

Have you ever cried a tear that
You could not explain?
Have you ever met a stranger
Who already knew your name?
What if it's Him? What if it's God speaking?

Who knows how He'll get ahold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough.
He'll do, and He'll use whatever He wants to.
To tell us, I Love You.

Have you ever lost a loved one
Who you thought should still be here?
Do you know what it feels like
to be tangled up in fear?
What if He's somehow involved?
What if He's speaking through it all?

Who knows how He'll get ahold of us?
Get our attention to prove he is enough.
He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to
To tell us, I love you.

His ways are higher
His ways are better
And though sometimes strange
What could be stranger than God in a manger?

Who knows how He'll get ahold of us?
Get our attention to prove He is enough.
Who knows how He'll get ahold of you?
Get your attention to prove he is enough.
He'll do and He'll use whatever He wants to,
To tell us I love you
God is speaking, I love you


If you’re not an American Idol fan, you may not have heard of Mandisa. She was a finalist during the series’ fifth season, and she released her debut album on Sparrow Records this year. God Speaking is absolutely my favorite song on that CD, which my dear friend Debbie gifted me with as soon as it came out.

Debbie also invited me to a Beth Moore conference in Boone, North Carolina last May, where we saw Mandisa perform live with Travis Cottrell and the praise team that travels with Beth. I remember thinking, “Why in the world would anyone want to be the ‘American Idol’ when they could get paid for singing and praising God with thousands of other people, and tour with Beth Moore, to boot?” I understood a little better after I read her book, IDOLeyes, also courtesy of Debbie, but I still think Mandisa has a very cool job!

Last Thursday our family held hands and each proclaimed something we were thankful for before our Thanksgiving meal. As it got closer to my turn, my mind was overwhelmed with the possibilities. Of course I am thankful for my family, good health, God’s provision for my needs. But when I opened my mouth, something like this came out: “I’m thankful for all of the ways God works in our lives, when we see Him at work and especially when we don’t.”

I could tell you so many ways He has worked and is still working in my life, and for every example I could give, there would be countless others that I’ll never know about. Sometimes I’m just not as aware of His providence as I should be. In other instances I don’t believe it’s for me to know His ways, even when they have to do with me.

But here’s what I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt: I’d be lost without His hand guiding me. I don’t have to know the plan. Just knowing that it’s His is enough.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Thankful Hearts


"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." ~ Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

No question about it - Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I didn't feel that way when I was younger, of course. Then the "holidaypalooza" that Christmas has become was my first pick. After all, Christmas had a lot going for it: Gifts, flashing lights, a tree inside the house, and what seemed like an endless vacation from school. But the older I got, the more I could appreciate the simplicity of Thanksgiving.

Maybe it's because I don't have to fly anywhere during Thanksgiving week. But I think it has more to do with a holiday that's all about friends, family, food, and fellowship (ok, and football, if you're a fan). There's no pressure; it's just a day to be more aware of all we have to be thankful for. And no matter who you are, you have much to be thankful for. From each individual breath we take to our very lives, and everything in-between ... it's all from God, and it's all good.

So I wish you a wonderful day, filled with turkey that's not too dry, your loved ones holding hands around the table, and, if you're lucky, a nap in the afternoon. But most of all, I pray we will all have thankful hearts, each and every day.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Making Lists



I am a list maker. Makes no difference what needs listing – groceries, gifts, things to do – I’m an equal opportunity lister. I think making lists makes me feel like I’m in control. And I know I get it honestly, because my mother keeps a list of things to tell me by her phone, waiting for my next call.

There’s not much gray area when it comes to listing things; you’re either a list maker or you’re not. But lately everyone seems to at least be interested in lists, even ones that don’t belong to them. One of the most interesting websites I’ve seen in a long time is FOUND, self-described as follows:

“We collect FOUND stuff: love letters, birthday cards, kids' homework, to-do lists, ticket stubs, poetry on napkins, telephone bills, doodles - anything that gives a glimpse into someone else’s life. Anything goes...”

FOUND is one of those sites where I could easily waste an hour or more just drifting through other people’s stuff, sort of like other people do at yard sales. I always check the “Find of the Day.” It’s fascinating, but I can’t really say why. The other day I even caught myself wondering if people ever make things up to send in. You know … they write a love letter, “spill” some tea on it, crumple it up a bit, and send it in with a great story about how they found it.

And FOUND isn’t new, so there’s much more than just the website. There are magazines, tee shirts, and “events.” Hannah even told me she discovered a whole book of FOUND grocery lists that she wants for Christmas.

Another interesting book I heard about recently also dealt with one man’s attempt to live his life according to lists. The Today Show billed, “The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible,” by A.J. Jacobs, as, “52 weeks, 10 commandments, 1 extreme makeover.” Jacobs, who says he’s Jewish in the way the Olive Garden is Italian, changed his routine, diet, and even appearance in an attempt to “live Biblically” for a year. (I never would have thought “living Biblically” meant all that, personally.) Describing himself as a “reverent agnostic,” he admitted that he never could fulfill the law, not even for one day. He was truly astounded by how much and how often he sins – coveting, gossiping, and lying, just to name a few.


The Today Show piece was tongue-in-cheek, and clearly Jacobs was trying to sell books, but he insisted his quest was in earnest. He also said keeping the Sabbath enhanced his life, and that he’s much more thankful now. As a Christian, none of what he said really surprised me, but some of his revelations were encouraging.

Aside from the control issue I have with lists, I have also put myself “under law” with lists. I’ll tell myself, “Ok. If I accomplish 1, 2, and 3 on my list, then I will allow myself to ______.” Or I may rationalize, “Things will be different if I can just manage A, B, and C.”

But here’s a truth straight from the Bible:

“… if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
~ John 8:36 (NIV)


I am FREE. How can I forget that and put myself back under law so easily? It seems unimaginable because my freedom is such a treasured gift. But it happens all the same, and even worse, when I do that I not only offend the one who freed me, but I belittle His sacrifice to do so. As much as it grieves me to admit that, how much more must it grieve Him?

So what can I do but try to stick to grocery lists, to-do lists, and my Christmas list from now on. And the next time I catch myself struggling to fulfill my own list of “laws” in order to be “good enough,” I’m going to tear that list up (no, I’m not sending it to FOUND) and I might just work on a list of blessings, instead.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Men of Honor



Memorial Day

They played Taps today, Daddy
Bright sunshine
Fluttering flags,
Tear-stained rugged faces.
We sang about out country, Daddy
Voices together
Blue sky and mountains,
Wheelchairs on the grass.
Pride and sadness
Interwoven like a tapestry,
Pieces on a quilt
We call America.
I decorated graves with a Flag, Daddy
Under that oak in South Carolina
Maybe someone honored you.
Liberty, Freedom, Peace
All that we cherish
Earned with a sacrifice unimaginable
Innocence lost, hearts broken,
Young lives abruptly ended,
And all too soon forgotten.
They played Taps today, Daddy
Did you hear it?
Somehow, I know you did.

For my father and all Veterans
Randall W. Smith


We paid tribute to the veterans of our church family last Sunday. It was a week early, but I was left wondering why we don’t honor them more often than just this one day each year.

One of my favorite people, Randy Smith, shared his thoughts about Veteran’s Day, and it was a sweet time of remembrance. When his father, a veteran himself, died, Randy had hoped Taps could be played in his honor, but it didn’t work out. Shortly thereafter though, Randy attended a Memorial Day service during which they did play Taps, and it prompted him to write “Memorial Day” for his father, “and all Veterans.”

Randy is a great guy… He is an amazing teacher, a lover of literature and good music, and the most enthusiastic Appalachian State fan you’ll ever meet, (In fact, he’s graciously making it possibly for our family to enjoy the last home game of ASU’s season next Saturday … is it any wonder we love this guy?) But more than anything, I think the thing I appreciate the most about Randy Smith is the way he’s living out his faith, each and every day, with everyone he meets. Randy is constant, a living witness to the God who loves us enough to seek a real and personal relationship with us … through the miracles of nature, the emotions of music, the lessons of history. I particularly admire his calling to teach young people, offering them a new and different perspective on religion that might not otherwise dawn on them.

Randy’s Veteran’s Day message was bittersweet, because one of his ‘heroes’ of faith had died in the previous week. H.C. Kiser, Jr. was also an amazing man with an even more amazing story, well known and loved by many people in these parts. H.C.’s plane was shot down while on a mission over Nazi Germany during World War II. He spent seven months as a prisoner of war, a circumstance during which God intervened in his life time and again in miraculous ways. Through the hardships of battle and imprisonment H.C. held fast to his faith, and he emerged having made a covenant with God, promising to share his story, in captivity and freedom.

And although he lived a very humble and quiet life locally after his service to our country, H.C. did share his faith whenever he had the opportunity. I was blessed personally to hear him give his testimony on more than one occasion, and in 1998 Beverly Harding-Mullins wrote his biography, Called to be His Servant – H.C. Kiser, Jr.

H.C.'s favorite Bible verse was,

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” ~ Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

Randy Smith always had great admiration for H.C., who was a personal friend of his, and I think it would be safe to say he aspired to be the kind of authentic witness H.C. was. I also think it’s accurate to say that, although his experiences have been different, Randy’s life speaks to people much the same way H.C.’s did, and that’s a powerful thing.

Randy’s poem, “Quiet Man” was included in H.C.’s biography, but he wrote this one for him, as well:


First Violet in the Spring

I have looked
upon the mountains
and seen the grandeur there,
the beauty of
the autumn leaves
birds sweet song so fair
Yes, and many a sunrise
I have pondered
and felt God everywhere
But this man
taught me more
than I could ever learn alone,
He loved the gift of life
his smile could melt a stone.
He taught us all
to love the Lord
to love our fellow man,
he never failed
to share a story
or lend a helping hand.
His presence will be
forever felt
my soul will always sing
whenever I look down upon
The first violet in the Spring.


For H.C. with respect and love, Nov. 7, 1998
in Blowing Rock, NC, 7:00 a.m.
Randall W. Smith

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Haunting Haiku


A snaggletooth grin,
My pumpkin glows in the dark,
Waiting to welcome goblins

Leaves crunch underfoot
Children run helter skelter
Don’t spill your candy

Bowl piled high with sweets
Giggles, flurry of footsteps
Bell rings – trick or treat


Black cats, witches brew,
Mummies, pirates, vampires, too
Who’s there? Oh, it’s you

Night of mystery
Hiding behind a dark mask
I am someone else

Monday, October 29, 2007

Circle of Grace



I watched a great family movie this weekend which, ironically, starred Billy Bob Thornton. The Astronaut Farmer is the story of a former NASA astronaut who never made it out of training because he had to go home and help save the family farm. But he didn’t gave up his dream of space travel, and is pursuing it by building a rocket in the barn and making plans to launch himself into space. Amazingly, his beautiful wife (Virginia Madsen) and three adorable kids support this endeavor wholeheartedly.

In fact, the one time Virginia Madsen and Billy Bob Thornton argue, it’s over this issue and her perception that he’s not taking care of his family. (I don’t want to give anything away, but considering what’s happened so far in the movie, I have to agree with her.) But it’s the next scene that made the biggest impression on me…

She’s getting the kids into their old Suburban the following morning, and her husband follows her outside to try and keep her from leaving him. She tells him it’s Sunday, and they’re simply going to church. Then she says this: “So that I don’t get bitter … I’m going to have to try to figure out a way to forgive you.”

Virginia Madsen had it exactly right. We don’t need to forgive others for their sake, like we’re bestowing some great favor on them. God is the only one who gets to do that. Instead, we need to forgive for our own sake, so anger, disappointment, and resentment won’t consume us. It may take a long time and a lot of soul searching to get to that place where we can forgive, but there’s really no way around it.

In Colossians we’re told,

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” ~ Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

That’s an even better reason to pardon others. How can we possibly not, when we have been acquitted of so much ourselves? When we do, we become part of God’s circle of grace.

Oswald Chambers defines forgiveness as, “the divine miracle of grace.” When I first considered his description, I thought, “Well, that sounds really nice, and sure … if you’re God, miracles are a piece of cake. Not so much for us, though…” But then it occurred to me: Was easy for God to let his one and only son endure a horrific death on the cross? Would it be easy for any parent? Of course not, but He did, and it was all about forgiveness. Miracles aren’t easy, but that’s what makes them so, well, miraculous.

Do you believe in miracles..?

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Merry Christmas, Grandma Delbridge


While talking to my mother on the phone yesterday I discovered, much to my surprise, that my Grandma Delbridge is featured in the current Lillian Vernon catalog. Apparently my cousin the artist works for Lillian Vernon, and when they needed a "the perfect Grandma" to slip into a Christmas frame/ornament for photography, my cousin Joan was able to whip this picture of our Grandma Delbridge out of her wallet tout de suite. (Good thing they weren't depending on me... I'm doing good to keep current photos of my kids in my wallet, and it's not always that easy to find them.) Anyway, Grandma made it into the catalog, where she will be immortalized, at least for the 2008 Christmas season.

Her name wasn't "Pat," by the way. It was Mary Clyde Pearson Delbridge, and most of my memories of her were from the time after my Grandfather Delbridge died. She didn't drive, but worked as an alterations lady for Peebles department store. When my mother and sister and I would visit her, we'd shop for groceries on Saturday afternoon, and then pull around to the back of the store where we would pick her up after work. We'd often have store-bought barbeque for dinner, then Mom would perm Grandma's hair and, while it was setting, Grandma would make Ellen and I Coke floats. On Sunday Grandma made amazing fried chicken in a cast iron skillet for dinner (i.e., lunch). She always gave her grandchildren underwear for Christmas (but it was really nice underwear, from Peebles), and would test our intelligence by asking us to spell "biscuit."

To see Grandma Delbridge's face in a Christmas ornament reminds me of just how much I miss those childhood holidays spent with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Sometimes it's hard to fathom sometimes how I got from there to here, where I am my parents, creating Christmas memories for my children.

But thoughts of my grandparents and other relatives long gone are also comforting, like quilts I can pull out of a cedar chest and wrap around me. My friend Lori lost her mother this week, and last night, at a memorial service, I was reminded of this verse:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” ~ Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Doesn't knowing who's cheering you on in the stands make the race just a little easier?

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Love Song for a Savior



In open fields of wild flowers
She breathes the air, flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daisies and the roses
In no simple language
Someday she'll understand the meaning of it all

He's more than the laughter
Or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat
Or a song on her lips
Someday she'll trust him
And learn how to see him
Someday he'll call her
And she will come running
Fall in his arms, the tears will fall down
And she'll pray

I want to fall in love with you

Sitting silent wearing Sunday best
The sermon echoes through the walls
A great salvation through it
Goes to the people who stare into nowhere
Can't feel the chains on their souls

He's more than the laughter
Or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat
Or a song on her lips
Someday we'll trust him
And learn how to see him
Someday he'll call us
And we will come running
Fall in his arms
The tears will fall down and we'll pray

I want to fall in love with you
Seems to easy to call you savior
Not close enough to call you a god
So as I sit and think of
Words I can mention to show my devotion

I want to fall in love with you


Jars of Clay ~ "Jars of Clay"


When I first heard this song from Jars of Clay’s first album in 1995 I just didn’t get it. The idea of “falling in love” with Jesus had never occurred to me. I mean, he’s GOD, right? So how do you fall in love with the creator of the universe ... the one who created and saved you? In fact, it all seemed a little irreverent to me. (I was way more legalistic back then.)

Think about it though… When you’re “in love” with someone, you:

• Want to know as much as possible about them.
• Want to spend time with them.
• Can’t stop thinking about them.
• Talk about them to everyone you know.
• Want to please them.
• Put them before yourself.

When the truth behind the concept of falling in love with Jesus dawned on me, it was a huge revelation, and I still marvel at imagery of this song. Now it’s what I yearn for, and what I long for my children to have.

In Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) Paul says,

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

That’s how much He loves us. And what about us? Well, in Matthew 22:37 (NIV) Jesus said,

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”

Sounds like the “real thing” to me, and that’s what I want. A friend recently told me, “It’s one thing to know God loves you. But it’s another thing entirely to feel it.”

I want to feel it every second of every minute of every day. I want to be “in love” with Him.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Reality TV Meets Lord of the Flies?


I admit it: I’m a reality TV addict. Survivor … The Apprentice … The Amazing Race … I’ve watched them all (although The Amazing Race stresses me out). So it was only natural that the newcomer this season would pique my interest.

Kid Nation. I’ve heard it described as “Reality TV Meets Lord of the Flies,” but from what I’ve seen so far (and that’s not a lot, because I have to switch back and forth between Kid Nation and America’s Next Top Model, which is Hannah’s favorite), it isn’t quite that dramatic. In fact, like some other reality TV shows, Kid Nation is turning out to be a fairly accurate microcosm of real world society.

Now I realize that the term “reality TV” is an oxymoron. In fact, it’s more like “unreality TV,” because the reality is all in the editing. So to say a television show is a true reflection of society is risky, at best. But I do believe that a group of people, if left to themselves, will create an ordered (if not orderly) social structure, and these kids are no exception. Oh, they’ve had some help from adults, i.e. writers, directors, and producers, who wrote a competition into each episode to determine which groups would be the laborers, cooks, merchants, and upper class for the next week. But I’m getting ahead of myself….

If you haven’t caught Kid Nation yet, the premise is an old west town made up entirely of kids. The tagline is, “40 children, 40 days, no adults — eager to prove they can build a better world for tomorrow.” Here’s the idea, in a nutshell:

“Settling in Bonanza City, New Mexico, once a thriving mining town but now deserted, these kids, ages 8 to 15 and from all walks of life, will build their own new world, pioneer-style. They will confront grown-up issues while coping with the classic childhood emotions of homesickness, peer pressure and the urge to break every rule. Episodes end with a town meeting in which the kids award one child a gold star worth $20,000, all leading to the grand finale, with an unimaginable test, the biggest awards and a special surprise for every child.”

Kid Nation had its fair share of controversy, even before the first episode aired, and of course, the debate only served to further promote the show. Questions arose as to whether these children were abused by virtue of being without adult supervision. But there were adults on-site, and parents signed documents legally allowing their children to participate, so I concluded the only merit in the controversy was some really effective PR.


This week I was able to watch the entire show, uninterrupted by Tyra Banks and her models (Hannah was at the school Homecoming bonfire). The key issue in Bonanza City this week was religion, and it was simply uncanny how like adults these kids were acting, struggling to determine whether faith had a place in their new society.

The question of whether people of different religious backgrounds could worship as a whole was front and center (the answer was no), but ultimately a smaller, interdenominational group came together to pray. Another query that we deal with as adults stumped the children, as well: Why are we afraid to learn about different religions? And I was a little sad to hear some kids, clearly echoing the adults in their lives, say that they knew what they believed, so why did they even need to know about other religions? Some touted the separation of church and state, and it was pointed out, more than once, that entire wars have been fought over religion. I’m sure the children chosen to participate in Kid Nation were picked, in part, because of their diversity. They’re of different ages, races, and yes, religions. There were even kids who seemed to think they knew enough to be sure there is no God. Imagine a child atheist… On the other hand, one child posed what I thought was a pretty profound question: Did God bring them to Kid Nation for a reason?

One of the most surprising moments in the show came when, following the competition, the entire town got to choose between a huge putt-putt golf course, to be constructed in the middle of Bonanza City, or a stash of “religious books.” Amazingly they chose the books, and a group of them actually were filmed pouring over the Bible, the Torah, and other books later in the show. I confess that their choice made me wonder about the authenticity of this program. In fact, my son Ben just walked through the kitchen, and upon hearing what I was writing about announced, “It’s fake.”


Nonetheless, I thought it was an interesting show this week, and I appreciated the religious focus. After all, corporate worship has been the hub around which societies have revolved since the beginning of time. Why should a television community be any different?

Of course, ultimately it all comes down to this:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. ~ Matthew 22:36-40

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Quit Your Whining!


Disclaimers: I know I have friends who feel passionately about the bracelets they wear daily, and I have great respect for them and the causes they support. In this post I’m just talking about one bracelet in particular. Also, I thought this poster tied directly into the theme of my post, but halfway through I realized it didn’t. I still think it’s funny though, so I'm leaving it in.

During last year’s local Relay for Life event, I picked up one of those rubber band bracelets. You know what I’m talking about… They come in every color of the rainbow and promote every cause known to mankind. This one was purple, and at first I assumed it was to promote the fight against cancer, since that was what the weekend was about. But when I took a closer look, it read, "A Complaint Free World.org". A complaint free world seemed like a good idea, too, so I slipped it on.

A few days later, as I was dusting my dresser and had to move the bracelet out of the way, I thought, “I should check this out on the web.”

It turns out the bracelets are distributed by a church in Missouri, free of charge, and here’s the way they’re supposed to work, as stated on their website:

Scientists believe it takes 21 days to form a new habit and complaining is habitual for most of us. … The bracelet is a tool to remind you of how well you are creating your life with positive intention. Here are the suggested rules:

1. Begin to wear the bracelet, on either wrist.

2. When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again.

3. If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you’re going to do this, you must move your bracelet first!

4. Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving, more positive, and more abundant


Complaining/murmuring/whining … I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking the Israelites could have really used two to three million of these during the Exodus…

Also, it’s important to me to say I have a lot of theological differences with this church. I can discern this from simply reading their website, and some of the wording about the purpose and intended results of getting through 21 days without having to move this band from one wrist to the other.

And I’m not wearing a purple rubber bracelet that advertises anything for 21 days, even if I aced the program that quickly. It just doesn’t go with that many things in my wardrobe, yanno?

But I will concede that complaining, gossiping, and criticizing less is a worthy goal, one that would honor God, not to mention make everyone around me happier. So even though I’m not making a fashion statement with a purple rubber band around my wrist, my level of consciousness of these bad habits in myself has been raised somewhat, and that’s got to be a good thing, right?

Maybe someone should just put “Philippians 2:14-15” on a bracelet instead:

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.” (NIV)

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Bad Bruschetta Happens


I love bruschetta. It’s a refreshing appetizer or a light meal that tastes too good to be healthy (but it is). This particular bruschetta looks especially appealing, with tomatoes, garlic, and basil on toasted baguette slices – mmmmmm. But alas, this was NOT the bruschetta I had last weekend, when I was visiting my dear “life friend” Connie.

It was a “Girl’s Weekend,” an indulgence we allow ourselves once a year, if possible. There is always heart-to-heart sharing, great shopping, and fabulous food involved, and last weekend was no exception. We’d already enjoyed two wonderful meals out, and had decided on Italian Saturday night. The restaurant was low-key, with a well-deserved reputation for simply excellent food. We ordered chicken piccata entrees and bruschetta for our appetizer. The chicken was wonderful – fork tender with a buttery smooth lemon caper sauce – but the bruschetta left something to be desired.

It wouldn’t have been too bad, but the tomatoes could have been riper, the bread thinner, crisper… Still, I’m pretty easy to please. After all, it’s not like I had to actually make bruschetta, so I just shrugged it off and focused on my chicken piccata. But Connie, who eats out more often than I do, was thrown off by bad bruschetta. She mentioned it a couple of times over dinner, and when we were walking out to the car afterward, she referred to it again. By now, it was more than just bad bruschetta; it was the WORST bruschetta EVER.

Please understand: We were chuckling about it then, as I am now, because I know she’ll read this and chuckle, too. But even as we were laughing I turned to her and said, “Connie, BE FREE of the bad bruschetta!” She laughed and said, “I know … bad bruschetta happens.” (But she brought it up one more time the next day.)

At work I’m known for “releasing” people from the little things that nag at them and steal their joy … as if I could really do any such thing. But all the same, I’ll thrust the heel of my palm toward their foreheads and say, a la televangelist, “You are RELEASED from __________!”

Drama queen? Sure, but I’m usually halfway serious, trying to bring their awareness to this “thing,” whatever it is, that they’re obsessing about. We all do it, but sometimes we can’t see ourselves doing it as easily as we can see others. It’s the “Plank in Our Own Eye Syndrome.” And when I’m focused on some petty annoyance it can easily eclipse the blessings all around me, as well as the opportunities God gives me to serve Him.

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~ Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

That’s quite a challenge, especially when, in my human weakness, I’d rather wallow in the bad things that are going on in my life (or even the things that just aren’t going the way I think they should). But our thoughts determine so much of the way we live our lives, and I don’t want to waste time focusing on the negative … giving myself over to the bondage of the little things that have no eternal value or glorify Him.

So, when bad bruschetta happens … just let it go, and focus on the entrée. Or, "Keep the main thing, the main thing."

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Get Your Feet Wet


My daughter Hannah went to the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion last weekend and got this great shot she calls, “Hippie Kids.” We don’t know who they are, but all they needed to have a great time that day was a puddle and their bare feet. They were living in the moment, the way I wish I did more often. They were trusting that all was well with the world and were content with life at that moment in time

We can learn a lot about living from children. In fact, if we think hard we can probably remember a lot about living from when we were children. You know, I do remember jumping in puddles … catching lightening bugs … waking up to a whole day ahead of me, filled with nothing but possibilities … and being tucked into bed at night, where I closed my eyes and fell asleep instantly, without a care in the world.

But somewhere along the way to becoming an adult I started picking up responsibilities, which I carried along the road with me. Those responsibilities took time, filling up my days and night, and they often came with worries, additional weight on the path to “maturity.” Don’t get me wrong; I’ve got no regrets. It’s just been a long while since I’ve had time for puddles and lightening bugs. My days are pretty well planned out before my feet hit the floor, and it’s not always easy to fall asleep at night.

Maybe that’s why Jesus said,

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
~ Matthew 18:3 (NIV)


What He was actually talking about here was humility, because the disciples were bickering over who would be the greatest in heaven. (I love to imagine that, if I had been a disciple, I wouldn’t have acted so petty in front of my Lord and Savior … but I probably would have.)

In addition to being humble though, I think we need to trust Him more, like children trust their earthly parents. And we need to count our blessings, but we need to enjoy them, too.

So the next time it rains, thank Him for His provision … then peel off your shoes and socks and get your feet wet. I like this prayer from Garrison Keillor, one of my favorite storytellers:

"Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough."

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Conundrum


A non-Christian reaction to the Christian drug of choice.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

What Are You Afraid Of?


There’s a jar of chocolate candy on my bookshelf at work. The candy in the jar changes from time to time – it may be Hershey Kisses (I’m partial to the ones with cherry cordial flavored filling), Riesens (they don’t last long either), or dark chocolate (justified as “health food.”). But it’s always chocolate, and it’s always there for anyone having a chocolate attack, brought on by stress, a mid-afternoon sleepy spell, or just a powerful craving.

A perennial favorite in the jar is Dove chocolate. And, in addition to some of the best chocolate on the planet, you also get a “promise” inside the wrapper, sort of like a fortune cookie. Some of them are pretty silly, like, “Remember your first everything,” or, “Wink at someone driving by,” or, “Go to your special place,” whatever that means. But awhile back I got one I stuck up on my wall with a thumbtack: “Be fearless.”

It just struck a chord in me, resonating in my soul, unlike those ridiculous “No Fear” bumper stickers. Anyone with any sense knows it’s just insane not to have ANY fear. There are plenty of things a reasonable person would be afraid of. For instance, there are little things, like spiders, snakes, heights, crowds, darkness, flying (especially on 9/11), getting mugged in a big city… Actually, I suppose these things seem pretty big if they strike fear into your heart. But they’re small in comparison to some other things we fear: Losing friends or family to death, our children becoming ensnared by the world, being laid off from our jobs, disease, terrorism, failure, and our own inevitable mortality, just to name a few.

And countless times in the Bible we’re told that a good, healthy fear (i.e., respect) of the Lord is a good thing. But to “be fearless” … that’s another thing altogether. It’s something to reach for, and also Biblical:

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Knowing this basic truth about my spirit is a great encouragement to me, because if I were to just go by my feelings, I’d say I’m a wimp. I detest confrontation, and have spent a lot of my life avoiding it when it would have been so much wiser to just face it head-on. But experience comes with age, and God is teaching me when and how to be bold. I’ve also dealt with many of the fears I named, and by His grace I’ve overcome some of them.

I’m still a work in progress, and I doubt I’ll ever care much for snakes. But that doesn’t mean I’m not striving to “be fearless.” After all, 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” and I’m trusting in His perfect love for me. So what do I really have to be afraid of?

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Perspective


I’m glad to say a friend's brother recently arrived home safely from Iraq, where he served in the U.S. Air Force. On his return, he wrote a letter to family and friends, which my friend shared with me. I am so grateful and humbled beyond words for the selfless service our military performs. My friend's brother has a wonderful way with words, and they seem particularly appropriate this week. So with his permission I am sharing his thoughts here. I think they speak for themselves...

“As I close this short but significant chapter in my life, I do have a new perspective on life. While I had no near death experiences or ‘close calls,’ I was always in danger. Just when I started feeling safe a bump in the night and a run for the bunker reminded me of my mortality. Your prayers were working though. Personally, I grew to value my relationships more than ever: First, my relationship with my savior, Jesus Christ – I always knew his hand was working on my behalf and my family's; second, with my family – we are so blessed, even if the car breaks down, the house implodes, the kids break toes, keys, remotes are lost, and the floor-mopping robot breaks down ... you name it, Cheryl dealt with it; third, with the rest of my family – all were so supportive, and we were really blessed that so many live close by to help out, and others not so close by helped out beyond expectations; fourth with friends – so many sent packages or just a helpful e-mail; and last but not least, with my country – in this respect, I mostly refer to our heritage, the ones who stood firmly for our freedoms and who died to secure them. We take so much for granted, myself included. Even in the short time since I've been back, it's so easy to forget we are a country at war.

“If asked, and I have been, what I think about the war, I say that things are getting better and worse. There are a lot of good things working for the country of Iraq, but the horrendous attacks tend to detract from those efforts. I do think we will be there in some capacity for many years to come, and that's what it will take to get them on their feet again. As Inigo Montoya said in the movie, The Princess Bride, ‘Let me essplain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.’ We find ourselves now caught between Iraq and a hard place. :-) (Am I the first one to come up with that? Well, in mind I am, and that's all that matters.)

“Just continue to pray for the safety of our folks over there, certainly the troops, but also the thousands of government civilians and contractors devoted to the same mission and subject to some degree of danger no matter where they are.”

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Post Postscript


I felt affirmed in my previous post when I read the following in the September/October 2007 issue of Healing Lifestyles & Spas today:

"Gratitude. Unlike eating leafy greens of practicing yoga, it’s not something we usually consider “good for us.” Yet a recent study by psychologists at the University of California-Davis and the University of Miami shows that giving thanks is indeed beneficial for our psychological well-being. Conducting “gratitude interventions” with such varied groups as college students and adults with neuromuscular disease, researchers Robert A. Emmons and Michael E. McCullough found that individuals practicing gratitude on a regular (daily or weekly) basis displayed a more positive general outlook, greater optimism, and less stress and depression. Other benefits found were higher levels of alertness, energy, enthusiasm, and determination, as well as a greater likelihood of being generous, empathetic, and aware of one’s interconnectedness with others."


Or simply put, "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." ~ 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Cause for Celebration


This past weekend was one of celebration.

For one thing, it was a holiday weekend, although I’m not sure how I really “celebrated” Labor Day, other than taking a day off from my paid job and laboring around the house (my unpaid job). But there were other reasons to celebrate, as well…

On Saturday afternoon my son Ben, starting his third year at Appalachian State University, called and asked, “Hey, are you watching the game?”

“No, I’m cleaning the house. What game?”

“ASU and Michigan … we’re beating them pretty good right now. Um, you really should turn it on.”

So I put down my dust cloth and found “the game” on the Big Ten Network, which I didn’t even know we had. It was early in the third quarter and ASU was indeed beating 5th ranked Michigan, much to their delight and Michigan’s dismay. I sat down to watch. I’m not a huge football fan, but it certainly beat cleaning the house, and even I knew this was BIG.

In the end, Appalachian’s Mountaineers – National Division I-AA Champions for the past two years – stunned Michigan 34–32 in one of the biggest upsets in college football history, ultimately knocking Michigan clean out of the ranking of top 25 teams. A great cheer for underdogs everywhere went up across the country, but nowhere was it louder than in Boone, North Carolina, where they tore down the goalpost and paraded it down Main Street to the Chancellor’s house. And I hear the Hardees’ sign read, “Where is Ann Arbor?” It was a not-so-subtle reply to the geographically challenged sportscaster who wondered where in the world Boone was. When the team returned that evening there were thousands of fans waiting to welcome them home. In short, it was one heck of a celebration.

Late Sunday afternoon Hannah and I enjoyed another celebration – the marriage of my friends and co-workers Amberly and Josh. It was a simply beautiful service, held in a perfect outdoor setting on a warm September afternoon. I could feel fall in the air on the banks of the South Holston River, and was glad to know it was exactly the sort of day they had dreamed of and planned for the past year. We were blessed to be a part of their big day.

ASU’s victory and my friends’ wedding were big celebrations, hard to miss in the parade of days we march through routinely. But life is filled with lots of small things to celebrate, too. Rather than once in a lifetime, these small causes for celebration happen more often, but are less noticeable.

My friend Sue keeps a “Joy Journal,” in which she lists things she can celebrate every day. Some days her pages are filled with the blessings she sees all around her, but other days she has to look hard for something to celebrate. It may be something as simple as, “It didn’t rain today,” or more likely this summer, “It rained today!” Either way, it really doesn’t matter what she’s celebrating, but that she’s aware of her blessings on a daily basis. She cultivates “an attitude of gratitude.”

Here’s a Biblical truth that also bears remembering daily:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” ~ James 1:17 (NIV)

So find something to celebrate and thank God for each day. A grateful heart is a content heart, and big or small, He’s the source all of our blessings.

Friday, August 31, 2007

The Big Picture


I’ve long thought of God as a master weaver, among other things, and each of us as individual threads in an incredibly complex and beautiful tapestry of His exclusive design. In my mind, our lives run through the pattern on different courses, intersecting at His direction, for His reasons. Only He can see the big picture He is creating. Our vision, and thus our understanding, is limited to a tiny area in the overall weaving – the people and circumstances in our lives that make up our reality at any given moment.

Now I’m sure I’m not the first person to come up with this allegory; in fact, I probably read it somewhere. But it’s stuck with me, and been helpful when I either don’t understand why something bad is happening to me, or even when I’m sure something good has happened just because God wanted to bless me. (Did you pick up on the theme, “It’s all about ME”…?) If the truth be told, God can use the things that happen in my life to not only teach or bless me, but in an infinite number of ways to touch the lives of the people around me and others I will never even know. It boggles the mind to consider how extensive His purposes are … reaching far beyond my existence.

Does that mean He doesn’t intend to bless me, or watch over every detail of my life? Not at all. It just means His thoughts and ways are incomprehensibly greater than mine – and I praise Him for that!


I was thinking of His tapestry earlier this week after I visited with two dear friends who lost a young family member in a tragic accident. I felt so inadequate, even as I was hugging them and telling them how sorry I was for what they were going through. My sweet friend Kathy said, “It’s so hard…” and I would have given anything to make it easier for her. But in the end, all I could was say, “I love you.” I didn’t even remind her that God loves her, and is catching all of her tears in His hands. I would have felt a little like one of Job’s “friends,” presumptuously reminding her of what she already knows.

It’s never easy losing someone you love, but it’s especially hard accepting that someone you think should still be here is gone. We grieve who they were, as well as who we imagine they would have become. Before I left the church I watched a DVD, a compilation of photos of this 26-year-old man’s short life. It blessed me, because I could tell the days he was given were filled with life, love, and laughter. But now he’s gone, just as surely as if he’d been cut neatly out of those pictures with a pair of sharp scissors or ripped out God’s tapestry, leaving a gaping hole in the hearts of the family and friends he left behind.

I don’t know the answer to the question, “WHY?” I only know we live in a fallen world, where horrible things happen. This much I do know, though: God is in the restoration business, and as surely as He restored John, he will restore his loved ones. They will always mourn him, but they can trust in this promise until they see him again in Heaven:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified … for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Monday, August 27, 2007

Talents & Gifts


This cartoon used to hang on the wall of a former co-worker's cubicle, such that it was. He actually worked in an open area fondly referred to as “The Pit” and scattered with rulers and X-Acto knives, snacks, and monkeys of various sizes and types.

I work with an amazing group of people. In our Marketing Department – essentially an in-house ad agency – there is a director, a trade show coordinator, a marketing traffic coordinator, a photographer, an intern, technical and advertising/pr writers (me), and four graphic designers. And while everyone is good at their job, I stand in absolute awe of our graphic designers.

When you’re working for one company, you’re locked into creating the corporate image, and carrying that through in piece after piece you design. It’s all about branding, and so a designer’s work must have the same look and feel as another’s in order to get the desired image across to the customers. This may not seem like such a big deal, but every designer I’ve met has their own style, and sometimes a preferred medium, which they have to sacrifice when they go to work in the corporate world.

One of our younger designers would rather make a living painting, but until then this job pays the bills. She loves art that encompasses high fashion (and will marry our favorite intern this weekend!). I’m still trying to figure out our newest designer’s style; she's a recent college graduate and very well taught professional with a meticulous eye for detail. Our more experienced (i.e., closer to my age) designer has a classic, clean style that appeals to me, and she’s able to impart valuable wisdom to the other from her career experience. We joke about our Creative Director’s OCD, but his impeccable design and quest for perfection pays off in beautiful work that makes us all proud to be working with him.

And the one who knows how to draw a chicken? He’s in graduate school in Savannah now. We miss him, but know he will emerge from his schooling a talented and well trained graphic artist. (To see his style, visit his website: http://www.innospiral.net/ … warning – it’s not for the faint of heart.)

Apart from the graphic designers, I know I’m not cut out to do technical writing, so I depend on our detail-oriented technical writers to provide a solid basis for my “fluff,” and I appreciate them more than they know. Our photographer does incredible work in a world of his own, and our traffic coordinator keeps everything flowing smoothly so our director can be free to do upper management sorts of things. And when I see what our trade show coordinator is responsible for, I thank God I don’t have her job!

I enjoy my job for a lot of reasons, but especially because I love the people I work with. Did I mention these are incredibly talented people?

In the Biblical sense, “talents” refers to a measure of money, rather than a God-given aptitude. Talents are not the same as gifts in the Bible, but I have no doubt that my co-workers have been richly blessed with their artistic talents. I also have no doubt that we have all been gifted by God, for His purposes. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV) reads,

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”

Do you know what your gifts are? If you don’t, you might want to do some exploring:
http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.1355371/k.9501/Spiritual_Gifts.htm

When you know your gifts and are using them for His glory, things tend to fall into place, much like letting your own individual style shine through your work.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Birthday Haiku


"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." ~ Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Our Hannah Banana will celebrate her birthday tomorrow! Who knew 17 years could pass so quickly? Not me, that's for sure...

In this picture she's taking credit for fish her brother caught and making a strong fashion statement. Note Ben's lime green swim trunks and her tie-dyed shirt. Sadly, she'd taken off her stylin' yellow rain boots, which she wore most of the afternoon, but you can just imagine. Thank goodness she came up with this outfit after church. (Did I mention it was Easter?)

Happy birthday, darlin'!

Smart and funny girl,
Free spirit with your own style...
We love you Hannah!