postaday

Giving of Ourselves

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:18

Our time in this world can weigh on us so
that some days we can seem almost crushed,
and our relationship with God can suffer
when we do what is good because we must.

Instead we should give in joyful expectation
as Gods presence in our lives is revealed,
sharing our gifts because we want to,
not just fulfilling our end of the deal.

A heart that is filled to overflowing
can’t help but give joy away.
All creation is waiting to assist you.
He can use you. You’ll be amazed.

Don’t try this at home

Waking up in an emergency room can be quite disconcerting. I know, of course it would be. And it’s not like this has happened to me before. It’s just that it took me a while to figure out what happened. I had this vague feeling that I was here because of something stupid I said or did. Like I said, it took me a while. It’s not a long story, but definitely one men should learn from.

It all started with a minor difference of opinion between my wife and I concerning how we should decorate the dining room. I thought we should paint, but Lori fell in love with a wallpaper pattern. I had my doubts when I saw it on the roll, but when she actually put it on the wall my doubts were replaced with a terrible pain located in the area where my head used to be. Also, it’s difficult to describe the wallpaper. I can’t really, because in addition to the pain, my mind has apparently chosen to protect itself by not allowing me to remember the pattern. It made life in our house difficult because to make a point I started avoiding the dining room altogether by going outside through one door and coming back in through the back door to access the rest of the house. What was difficult for me though apparently put my wife’s blood on a slow boil. However, what really set her off was “The Speech.” Now, I won’t pretend Ronald Reagan was my favorite president, but the man’s time in motion pictures taught him how to deliver a speech well. His writers must have loved him because he was so good at it. Now, something guys will do occasionally is say or do something to get a reaction. I had been pushing Lori’s buttons about the wallpaper for a while and decided it was time to go out with a bang. Here’s what I did. I asked her to meet me in the dining room. I’m sure this caused her to be suspicious since I had been putting on my show about avoiding it for so long. In the center of the room I placed a little makeshift stage, complete with the American flag and other red white and blue decorations. I then gave a speech which, while not long, was filled with references to love of freedom and how we, as a people, must fight those forces which threaten it. I went on and on, thinking that at some point Lori would crack a smile. She would laugh. I would laugh. She would congratulate me for being able to keep up my charade for so long and I would say I was sorry about carrying it to such an extreme. Peace would once more reign in the land. The reason I brought up Reagan was the one line that everyone remembers even if they don’t remember anything else he ever said, the one he wanted Mikhail Gorbachev to hear. I stood a little straighter and with my best imitation of President Reagan I said, “Mrs. Tipple, TEAR DOWN THIS WALLPAPER!” I looked down at her and the last thing I remember is a little twitch in the corner of her eye. After that, everything went black.

Well, I have high hopes that once I’m fixed up Lori will let me back in the house. And no matter what it looks like, I’m sure I’ll think it’s just great! Really honey!

New Baby Song

Seasons have a way of changing
Whether or not you’re ready for them to
Just when I thought I was through growing
God gave me more to do
Bring in one more small life
One little voice
One more cry demanding for hugs
One more tummy for food
One more mind for thought
One more heart to fill with love!

Make my arms strong enough
To hold another child
Help me to believe I’ve got enough
Because it’s been awhile
I know if you’ve given me more to do
Somewhere inside me it’s there
All of those things
A small person needs
It’s not too much for me to bear

Here’s an album of photos from the future
Parties birthday and slumber and swim
There’s a shot of the cast for his elbow
When he ventured too far on a limb
Good decisions mixed with unwise ones
Here’s graduation, a girlfriend, a car
If it’s not too much to ask for
God can you please
Help his angel keep up with his star

I imagined long ago how my life would be
Now I’m climbing a ladder of faith
Trusting as I lift each foot up
The rung will be there

Make my arms strong enough
To hold another child
Help me to believe I’ve got enough
Because it’s been awhile
I know if you’ve given me more to do
Somewhere inside me it’s there
All of those things
A small person needs
It’s not too much for me to bear
Not too much for me to…
Bear

Janet’s Baby Song

I published this song previously along with a couple others as part of a musical called Bring on the Birth.

Something
Is stirring within me
Someone
A life, beginning in me
Expanding our family of two
A child, growing in me
Could it be son?
Or maybe a daughter
Either sex will do

A child means a future
Full of hope and some dreams
A child means our family
Instead of two is now three
And though his big tomorrow
Is somehow just out of our view
With his hand in mine
He’s got a whole world to choose

I can feel my baby growing
He dances and kicks and more
I wonder what he will be like
What does he have in store?
For the world in awe which greets him
Amazed at his perfect small hands
Welcomes a wondrous baby
And gently by one expands

A child means a future
Full of hope and some dreams
A child means our family
Instead of two is now three
And though his big tomorrow
Is somehow just out of our view
With his hand in mine
He’s got a whole world to choose

I trust my body to bring our child
Into the world we share
The legacy of my sisters
Gives it the wisdom of the ages
And when I see my newborn baby
And hear him cry to the world
My labor will be written
On one of those many pages

A child means a future
Full of hope and some dreams
A child means our family
Instead of two is now three
And though his big tomorrow
Is somehow just out of our view
With his hand in mine
He’s got a whole world to choose

I was always here

Here, before the beginning of time as you know it, before the perfection of My design.
Before temptation and the fall which separated us.
Here when you heard my call, which had been broadcast all along, only waiting for you.
Here in your struggles, in your pain and your joy.
Here, when you turn from me, searching where I am not.
Still here, when you turn back to the truth.
When you submit to being used as my hands and feet I am here.
When the world you touch needs to see all I am, I am here.
Here even when all of your senses reach out and can’t prove it,
when all you have is faith to go on, I’m still here.

Morning Rush

Etched against the gray/blue morning sky outside my window, cold wet tree branches reach out, etch-a-sketching their winter story. Rain drops begin a random descent to the earth and pause briefly on each branch’s twigs. The sunlight reflected within every drop’s tenuous grip flashes a coded message: though a distance away as the calendar speaks, spring is coming. Two nervous hummingbirds stop in the dogwood, itself a study in contemplation, all bark and no bite. The first short-winged bird pauses a quarter second longer than its partner, which quickly goads it back into flight. Hummingbirds are always first in line for coffee.

Forever in Green Jeans

The other day I came home with two bags. One bag held a couple bottles of green fabric dye, the other one had four pairs of white jeans. Lori looked up from reading as I walked through the door.
“Whatcha got?”
“White jeans and green fabric dye.”
“Very funny. No, really.”
“Really. Here, see for yourself.”
“Okay, now for the obvious question…”
“Why?”
“Yes, for heaven’s sake.”
“I had a moment of inspiration when I woke up this morning.”
Her face cinched up like it does when she suddenly gets a migraine.
“You woke up inspired to dye white jeans green?”
“Yes.”
“You know, someone has already coined ‘The Green Revolution.'”
“This is about leveling the playing field. Blue jeans have held the high ground for too long.”
“You’re piling up metaphors.”
“If you don’t use ’em you lose ’em.”
“Joel, stop it. Seriously.”
“Here’s the thing. Blue jeans are everywhere. In addition to the actual blue jeans, which you can buy in every size, style, and price range, there are a zillion products made from them. You can get blue jean trucks, blue jean sheets, blue jean perfume… The list goes on and on.”
“And you think you can do the same thing for green jeans?”
“I do.”
“Alright, don’t for a minute think I’m taking this seriously, but since I know how you get, I’ll humor you.”
“Alright.”
“Have you thought out your campaign?”
“Down to the ant’s toenails.”
“That’s not a saying.”
“It is now.”
She bowed her head and appeared to be praying. I think I heard her say something like, “Give me strength.”
“Why didn’t you just buy some green jeans.”
“Too hard to find. A company in Israel has some, but shipping charges would kill me. White jeans were difficult enough. After I get these babies dyed, I’m going to hire a professional photographer and get started on the first ad campaign.”
“What about a national spokesperson?”
“Mr. Green jeans.”
“That’s dumb.”
“Why?”
“Well, first off, the only people who remember him are your age and older.”
“I resent that.”
“Have you considered the fact that he’s dead?”
“With today’s technology, it’s barely an issue. Anyway, if that doesn’t work, I’ll get Neil Diamond to change the lyrics to his song.”
“I’m washing my hands of it. Go die your jeans.”
“It’s spelled dye.”
“I stand by the way I’m spelling it.”

Just Keep Walkin’

You gonna give him a bad reputation
just keep walkin’ just keep walkin’
the devil thought he had you in the bag
keep on walkin’ just keep walkin’
then you stopped in to check out a preacher
just keep walkin’ just keep walkin’
and somehow his words got through your chemical haze
just keep walkin’
and STOP

Do you think it’s possible you can change?
Is it all just for them and not you?
Is this feeling what some people call hope?
Aw man… I don’t know

Now you’re thinkin’ ‘bout the things he was sayin’
just keep walkin’ just keep walkin’
‘how God’s son came down for all to get saved
keep on walkin’ just keep walkin’
how he could take away your guilt and give you new life
just keep walkin’ just keep walkin’
but you’re still so scared that you could get played
just keep walkin’
and LISTEN

you’ve tried it your way
and you’re tired of the games
you’ve heard all satan’s lies
it’s just always the same
now your heart starts to melt
is it true you can win?
it’s time to let heaven in
and PRAY

Oh let Him in
your walk will never be the same
you’ll stand just a little taller
God don’t never play games
He’ll take away the pain inside
that was all you could ever share
and replace it with something real
new hope living there

just keep walkin’
a new direction dude
keep on walkin’ just keep walkin’
you’re walkin’ for Jesus, bro’
just keep walkin’ just keep walkin’
this little light of mine
keep on walkin’
ya gotta let it shine man
keep on walkin’ keep on walkin’
keep on walkin’ keep on walkin’

An Understanding Heart

Sebastian Temple composed a wonderful hymn in 1967 based on the “Prayer of St. Francis.” The refrain from that hymn says:
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console.
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love with all my soul.

The great King Solomon, the son of King David, represents one of our best models of a wise man. The wisdom he possessed came through his proper relationship with God. The Bible mentions Solomon’s request of wisdom from God in 1 Kings 3:2-4:34. In verse 9 he says, “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” Solomon knew that if he was to have any chance of being a proper King and judge over his people he would have to see with God’s eyes.

When I look at the world, Lord
I see through the lens of my own clouded eyes
and it becomes a scene of my own making.
With Your surgeon’s hands clear my sight to see in hearts
as though from a dream I’m waking.

Light and Life

Those familiar with forest ecology will tell you of the miracle of renewal that a forest experiences following a fire. Many plant species require fire to germinate and flourish. People whose communities have been devastated by earthquake or storm gather together, and neighbors who may have never communicated bond to demonstrate true unity in the face of loss. Whether a particular tragedy is suffered by one or many, the ripple effect touches us all, first with sorrow, then with hope. Hope brings light to places we would never expect the darkness to leave once it has spread its cloak.

Lord, when the walls close in on me
and I think that I’m alone
when all I feel is despair
help me remember the life you’ve designed
to emerge from the ashes
remind me of those who have gone before
with your Son’s example to guide them
what might seem so fragile a breath could break
through a wasteland of fear still passes
the hands that tightly hold a flame
that fades and flickers and gutters
will once more grasp hands of hope
leading the way through foreboding passes
never alone on the journey
never alone on the journey
never alone on the journey