A Winning Season

I finished up the softball season on Saturday. The team still has one more game plus the tourney, but I'm done because I'll be out of town for the next few weekends. We're currently 9 and 7...first in our division and currently seeded fourth for the tournament (which gets us a bye for the first week). No matter what happens next, for me, it's a winnin season.

Now, to some a 9 and 7 record wouldn't be something to celebrate, much less blog about, but after 5 straight seasons of losing records (most seasons only winning one or two games) it's a big deal for me.

It's like they say, 'One man's average season is another man's treasure season' (or something like that).

Georgia Football!

As of 6:00 pm tonight...
70 Days 23 Hours Till Georgia Football.
Go Dawgs!

Top or Bottom?

Trip got a new (to us) bunk bed from Mrs. Chris (our babysitter). He loves to climb up, and slide down the side. I asked him today what he thought about sleeping in his bunk bed last night. He said, "It's o.k."

It reminds me of the times when I spent the night over at a friend's house and he had a bunk bed (never had a set of bunks myself...an only child problem, I guess), we would always fight over who would get to sleep on the top bunk.

Aaah, those were the days!

Save Me From That Dog!

We were over at some friends house the other night. They have two little dogs. Quinn loves dogs and was all over these little guys. At one point Quinn started stomping his feet and one of the dogs, thinking he was wanting to play, started barking. The barking freaked Quinn out and he started crying. Trip happened to be standing right there and grabbed Quinn and in an all-in-one motion hugged him and moved in between the dog and Quinn. It was one of those big brother, "I'll protect you" moments. Later, when I asked Trip about why he hugged Quinn when the dog barked he said, "Quinn was scared and I wanted to help him."

The most fascinating thing is that Trip is, in general, a scared-ey cat (no pun intended) and typically gets a little freaked out by dogs. It was a great demonstration of selflessness. I could learn a lesson.

On a similar note, on a different day several months ago, we were at a birthday party. Quinn was playing with a toy and a bigger kid (about Trip's age) came and took the toy away from Quinn. I saw a look come across Trip's face that I've never seen before. It was one of those, "I'm about to take you out" looks. I assured Trip that everything was ok, and Quinn had already moved on to another toy. I think I saved that big bully kid's life. I think Quinn's pretty lucky to have such a good big brother. I think this is the only time in my life that I've ever missed having a sibling of my own. Ok...I'm over it now.

Consistency

Here is a great post on Consistency by Seth Godin.

Makes My Heart Sink

Before I start, a little history:
Typically, Trip gets out of bed once each night, not long after we put him down. We usually send him back to bed and tell him that he'll get in trouble if he gets up again. Usually he stays in bed and it's no big deal. Sometimes if he's sick coughing or something, he'll get up several times...no big deal...we comfort him and help him back to bed. There has been a time or two where he's gotten up multiple times for no apparent reason, and he usually gets a light spank on the bottom and that does the trick.

To the story:
Last night, as I'm getting ready to head to bed myself, I reach the top of the stairs and can see that his door is opened, but I can't see him. I was slightly aggravated that he had opened his door and gone back to bed, and headed toward it to close it (so I didn't wake him while I was getting ready for bed). As I rounded the corner, there he was sitting indian-style in the opening of his door. I don't know if I had wrath in my face or what, but as soon as we made eye contact, he bowed his head in shame.

My heart instantly sank in my chest and I went to pick him up. As I reached for him, he started crying, assuming that I was going to get upset with him and that he was in trouble. I hugged him, and assured him that all was right with the world. I asked him how long he'd been sitting there and he said, "3 minutes." Since he can't tell time, I was looking for more of a "just a few minutes" or "a really long time" response...so who knows how long he'd been sitting there.

After I'd determined that there was nothing wrong with him, Amy & I put him back in the bed. He was, by this time, smiling ear to ear and said, "Dad, I sure do love you."

What's remarkable to me is how quickly my attitude turned from frustration (that he'd gotten out of bed and opened his door) to empathy and love (once I saw his contriteness). And, I was also struck how much he appreciated my grace. I think you'd have to be there or you'd have to experience a similar situation with your children to understand the emotion within me during this episode, but I can't help but think about how God feels when we are sitting there helpless in our situation because we've disobeyed His instruction, and how He loves to forgive us when we're contrite. I hope, when I'm in a similar situation, that I can stop my (proverbial) weeping and look up at Him and say, "God, I sure do love you" when he gently and graciously lays me back down in the safety of the shelter that He's provided for me.

Old Faithful & A Little Child

I'm sitting here at Yellowstone waiting for Old Faithful to blow. Next to me sits an elderly couple with a small poodle. Next to them sits a dad and a little boy. The little boy looks to be about 2 yrs and doesn't give a rip about Old Fathful...he's totally facinated with the dog. I don't know what the lesson is in the story...but I love a kid who's in love with a dog.

safe

Is it better to be safe or is it better to go for it? I think in almost every situation (with the exception of matters that involve young children), it is almost always better to go for it - to be innovative, creative, fresh, new, surprising, remarkable, etc.

Why is it that every single situation, group decision, etc that I've witnessed or been a part of the past few days (or weeks, or years) has been safe and utterly unremarkable.

God is remarkable...and not very safe. He will supply all of our needs, but he's not safe.

I'm tired of safe.

Amy's Party

Thanks to all of you who helped me make Amy's 30th birthday party a success. Thanks to the Willis' for driving down from Iowa.

Happy Birthday babe! Love ya.

Memorial Day

Thanks to all of the people (Veterans, Soldiers No Longer With Us, Families, Etc.) who've sacrificed for our freedom! Don't really know what else to say except "thanks."

Soldiers & Faith

Curt Neff spoke this week and spoke about being a soldier for Christ. The passage he used was from Luke 7, where the Centurion told Jesus he didn't need to bother going all the way to his house, if he just gave the word, his servant would be healed.

Jesus says, "I say to you, not in all of Israel have I found such great faith."

I'm pretty amazed at this guy's faith. I am pretty sure that I'll never have this much faith. I, like the apostles, have often asked for Jesus to increase my faith, but I'm reminded of Lk 17:5:

"If you had faith like a mustard seed...you could move trees and mountains"

I guess it doesn't take much faith, huh? It's like that old hot sauce that mom used to make that I'd pour on my black-eyed peas...a little bit goes a long way. If I just exercised the faith that I already have I'd be right there with the Centurion.

I'm also reminded of Heb. 11:5 which reminds us that Jesus is the "author and perfecter of faith..." If he gives us any faith at all, he's going to perfect it. I think the problem is that faith seems to be something that we either have or that we don't. Seems to me that "faith" is more of a process. Which brings us back to the Centurion. Because of the place where he was in his life (in a position of authority and leadership), his faith was great.

I know I need to exercise the faith that I already have, trusting that in the process, Jesus will perfect it in me.

frustrating, huh?

Don't you hate it when you're trying to please someone who doesn't even know what they want?

The first thing they taught us in design school is not to take a 'i'll know it when I see it' customer.

Seems on this one particular project that i've been working on, my boss is one of those customers (no offense if you ever read this, boss).

I'm at my wits end on this one, because I really want to put my design prefernces aside and give him what he wants, but (even after several conversations with him on the subject) I have no clue what he wants.

Frustrating.

A Good Presentation

If you want to see a textbook demonstration of how to make a presentation, plus be entertained, check this out: Shift Happens

Here's another good one.

A Quote From Job

Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.

The man who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing.
I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.
I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.
I broke the fangs of the wicked; and snatched the victims from their teeth.

From Guy Kawsaki's Blog

Softball Team

Yep, we thumped a team yesterday. Twice, actually (doubleheader). It felt good to get some tally's back in the "W" column. We're now 3-5 on the season. Hopefully we can get it to .500 in two weeks (off next weekend...it's a holiday you know...no, not Memorial Day...Amy is turning 30). Just thought I'd give you an update.

A Better Worship Experience

Why is it that the best worship experiences that I've had lately have been in places other than worship services (a place where you'd think worship would come easy)? Take this morning for instance. I was driving to church and popped in a CD and had a great time of worship. Got to church (at our new West Building...a pretty church building) and things were dry as a bone.

I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that I was working - helping to troubleshoot video problems, if it is something to do with my spiritual life, if it is just a fluke, or if we as a church staff are failing to produce atmospheres condusive to the outbreak of worship.

It just strikes me as strange that for a better worship experience I have to find service somewhere than the Service.

Folly

I've been thinking about all the effort and man hours that go in to making the 'magic' happen at Disney's theme parks every day.

59,000 employees go at it each day. 30+ employees that work full time on nothing but holiday decorations.

The sad thing is that alll that work and money is all for a fleeting goal. The work that is done there, for the most part, has no eternal impact.

What if we could put that many people, that much money, and all that effort toward something that lasts? What if we used all those resources for something that mattered?

I'm just sayin'...

More Orlando Thoughts

We took the 'Behind the Magic' Disney tour yesterday. Disney is a lot bigger than I thought. They have several huge warehouses where they make all the costumes, characters, rides, etc.

The theme parks take up only about 30 percent of the Disney property.

Perhaps the most impressive thing is how all of the Disney employees have a sense of pride and a sense of Disney being 'bigger than me.'

I think it would be great if everyone could have that attitude about God's kingdom. It is so much bigger than me. If church volunteers could get the mindset that it's bigger than me. Yes, I park cars, but, it's about more than that.

God's kingdom is big. Yet, I can be proud that I am part owner (co-heir) of it.

Epcot Service

I'm standing here in the middle of Epcot (working, of course). Just was in the 'china theatre' and saw a husband take his wife's sneakers off for her, and pulled off her socks, and put some flip-flops on her feet. She was in a wheelchair.

What struck me was the servanthood. This guy probably has done this very thing a hundred times before, and probably didn't think much about it. But, wouldn't it be amazing if everyone served their spouse in such a way.

I know I could stand to serve Amy more, better. I love you babe!

Good News, Bad News

The Good News
Calvary's Youth Auction brought in over 80,000 dollars last night. Funds go to send kids to camp, mission trips, etc.

The Bad News
Our softball team took another beating this morning. We're now 1 and 5 on the season (with a rainout). We've faced the top three teams in the three weeks we've played, so hopefully we're done with the beatings.

The frustrating thing is that we're really not terrible. We just don't get the key hit to bust open an inning, and we make the rare error in the field at exactly the wrong time. Oh, well...happy mother's day Mom.