Monday Musings - November 2, 2009

1. November already. Where did the year go already. It seems as if we were just celebrating New Years, only yesterday!

2. The World Series has devolved into a Yankee love-fest! Ugh! Since I cheer for a team which occupies the cellar in the American League East--I get more than enough Yankee-love every season. Let's hope the Phillies can get the horses running and turn the series around!

3. I hurt my back on Columbus Day-- and I can't seem to get over it. I rested yesterday and it seems a bit better--but in reading on line today--they say that continued activity and stretching is the best thing for strengthening and overcoming lower back pain. So no pain, no gain is a reality I guess!

4. Football weekends are much sweeter when the teams you are cheering for win! (or don't play)

5. Halloween, at least among small children, seems to bring out a lot of fun. Too bad the day is also associated with so much negative activity.

6. I continue to be amazed by people who believe that creating more laws and regulations will make life better. I remember the person who won a huge lawsuit for being burned on McDonald's coffee. I kind of like the way the Australians do stuff. If someone does something stupid and gets hurt or killed and then a law suit is filed for damages--they take the approach: don't do stupid things. people need to be responsible for their actions and the consequences thereof. Case dismissed. It certainly helps keeps costs down. We are all still paying for the damages awarded in that lawsuit.

7. My dog was a hotdog for Halloween. Makes me smile! Next year she is going to be Superdog!

8. It was a rainy autumn weekend this past weekend. Yet, we found lots to keep us busy. Putting energy into improving the quality of our living area keeps us in a state of constant urban renewal, but also keeps our interest in updating our lives.

9. We were advised of an upcoming celebration of life for an old friend this past week that we have been invited to attend. He was a member of the church we left almost two years ago and I have been thinking a lot about him and I am hopeful that the memorial service may heal some of the rifts that have developed in some of my relationships over our decision to leave that church. I have been reminded of many unresolved issues over that decision. They just kind of hang there like the "elephant in the room" waiting for resolution.

Friday's Freedom leads to Saturday

So, I was talking with some fellow workers the other day and I asked--what is your favorite day of the week?

And of course the response was--Friday!

Really? I asked?

Yeah, sure they emphatically stated. What's your favorite day of the week?

Saturday, I replied.

And they looked at me! Of course it is their favorite day, too. I was just a wee bit outside the box they had made for themselves.

We can argue about favorite days of the week--but in my mind I'd rather be enjoying the day than planning to enjoy the day. People who love Fridays love it because the feel a sense of relief about coming to the end of another work week.

But we need to be in the moment! Be happy where we are because we have a lot of important things to do right where we are.

Enjoy the day!

Not constantly be thinking we'd rather be somewhere else.

Right--like the Dry Tortugas? Snorkeling?

Easier said than done.

Still, all things being what they are--my favorite day is still Saturday--even when the dog wakes me up at 4:30AM. That means I just get to enjoy more of my favorite day!

Counting on God - Song

I've been listening to a song lately that really gets me excited. It gets my mind and blood moving as I drive to and from work.

It is Counting on God by Jared Anderson© 2007 Vertical Worship Songs. Or watch and listen to Counting on God on You Tube.

The Bridge in the song is as follows:

The miracle of Christ in me

Is the mystery that sets me free

I'm nothing like I used to be

Open up your eyes you'll see

It is the bridge that pulls the entirety of the song together as it describes the miracle and the mystery that sets us free--

Free from what? You ask?

From the law of sin and death.

I have seen what I call mixed up Christianity lately. It is populated by those who do not understand the concept of not being under the law. They continue to hold onto parts and preach openly about performing duties under parts of the Law--but do not understand that you cannot hold onto only parts of the Law--you have to take it all or none. And if you hold onto the Law then you can only be justified by the Law and that is by definition: impossible! Except for Jesus who fulfilled the Law.

Galatians 2:16 says it best:

yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. - NET Bible

Hence the mixed up Christianity. It is good to be knowledgeable of the Law--in order to appreciate how Christ has set us free through grace. But--we cannot continue to hold onto parts of the Law because they are convenient. There is a lot of the Law which is not convenient.

So if the Law is designed to convict us and make us come to grips with our guilt--why do we insist on not recognizing the miracle which freed us from the grip of the Law?

We are a mixed up people. I think partly because we have a hard time accepting that the mystery of freedom is that it is free! We can't do anything and we are a people of doers. We have to do something to take ownership and make it feel like we deserve whatever it is we worked for.

But that's it--isn't it? We don't deserve it! No one is good enough or has done enough.

And the Chorus of the song is the kicker!

Joy unspeakable that won't go away

And just enough strength

To live for today

So I never have to worry

What tomorrow will bring

'Cause my faith is on solid rock

I am counting on God

I'm counting on God!

Autumn Colors

Two weekends ago as we were in Niagara Falls, I was surprised that the autumn colors were only beginning to be on display in the trees.

This picture was taken along the Niagara River of trees in colorful foliage--but no where near maximum color.

I had expected to see fully colored trees--robed in the colors of Autumn.

But not.

That has since occurred here in Maryland and the leaves are falling from the trees with increasing ferocity.

That coupled with the rain really lets me know--the dark times of winter are upon us.

But it is nice to enjoy the colors of the trees while they last because their beauty will sustain us though the gray and white season.

Leaves, Grass, and Autumn Lawn Mowing

I mowed the lawn last evening after work. While this doesn't in itself seem to be of any great consequence--it was an experience. We have a bagger for the mower to help keep the grass clippings off the lawn because, well, the track into the house and make a mess.

Yesterday, because the fallen leaves of autumn were all around on the ground, the bagger wasn't even making it once around the yard. It significantly increased the amount of time necessary to complete the relatively simple task of mowing. At one point I was very frustrated with the leaves and the expense of time. It was getting cool in the evening air as I was mowing and I really wanted to finish.

It is amazing how the lawns seem to change with the seasons. We change the height of the mower to accommodate the differences in the grass. And I really have to enjoy mowing in the autumn, because I never really know when the last mow of the season will occur. Usually, here in Maryland it is sometime in November.

But you never know--it is weather dependent.

Somehow, I think the snow is coming!

Brrrrr!

Monday Musings - October 26, 2009

1. The autumn leaves were magnificent this weekend, in full color and also falling to the ground to blanket the yard with their beauty. There is something about a clear blue sky and golden and red colored trees that makes the heart sing--even though it is a harbinger of the winter ahead.

2. Celebrations! Baby showers, anniversaries, birthdays--we continue in so many different ways to celebrate life and new life and lives together. Congrats Nicole and Jeremy on your anniversary and also for the expectations of the new life, Lucas, that you are bringing into the world.

3. Why does Makayla get up early on Saturdays, but not want to get up on on Mondays? She needs a Friday night play date with a furry friend!

4. Family, football, friends and food! Would you really want a Sunday without them?

5. Conference planning is hard work! It doesn't matter if there are 50 or 180 people in attendance--the planning to make a conference successful is really trying. And when it is over--they is a long sigh of relief.

6. I heard a funny pronunciation of the H1N1 moniker this week-- hiney! If you look at it as HiNi--it kinda works.

7. An adjunct to conference planning--hosting a party for 20 people in the house is harder work than planning for a conference. At least fro the conference I can use a caterer AND, I don't need to clean up afterwards! Way to go Chris and Jodie--you guys rock!

8. What is the equivalent to an NFL quarterback throwing a 80 yard touchdown pass with time expiring to win the game? Sending Bob out in his truck into Baltimore an hour-and-a-half before a baby shower to retrieve a critical gift! Oh yeah--better be back before it starts!

9. Pop quiz--how do you make a sore back disappear? Play three games of racquetball in the morning!