This should be fun!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Laaaaaa
I'm headed to Nashville to help out with Keith's Worship Leader Institute this week.
This should be fun!
This should be fun!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Some Things I Believe...Part 1
I believe this world and universe has a Creator. You and I and this computer did not randomly happen.
I believe that Creator is so perfect that His very nature cannot be around imperfection. Sort of like OCD, but in a good way.
I believe that Creator loves His creation so much that when imperfection crept into it, the Creator needed a way to make it perfect again. Because of His perfection, He just couldn’t bring Himself to simply give up.
I believe that Creator chose to become one of us, willingly took on all our imperfections, and covered them with His perfection. I don’t understand why it had to be accomplished that specific way, but I trust He was smart enough to know His options and choose the best route.
I believe that Creator invites us to participate in relationship with Him with the understanding that He is the One who makes us perfect again, we cannot do it ourselves. Try as we might to get it right, the truth is that we’ll eventually mess it up again.
I believe that was a very unselfish and loving act by the Creator. He could have just wiped us out and started over.
I choose to agree to those terms of relationship and live in gratitude to Him. It’s not a life of tedious rule-keeping in fear of an angry God who is looking for a reason to zap me.
I believe that Creator is so perfect that His very nature cannot be around imperfection. Sort of like OCD, but in a good way.
I believe that Creator loves His creation so much that when imperfection crept into it, the Creator needed a way to make it perfect again. Because of His perfection, He just couldn’t bring Himself to simply give up.
I believe that Creator chose to become one of us, willingly took on all our imperfections, and covered them with His perfection. I don’t understand why it had to be accomplished that specific way, but I trust He was smart enough to know His options and choose the best route.
I believe that Creator invites us to participate in relationship with Him with the understanding that He is the One who makes us perfect again, we cannot do it ourselves. Try as we might to get it right, the truth is that we’ll eventually mess it up again.
I believe that was a very unselfish and loving act by the Creator. He could have just wiped us out and started over.
I choose to agree to those terms of relationship and live in gratitude to Him. It’s not a life of tedious rule-keeping in fear of an angry God who is looking for a reason to zap me.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Back in the Saddle Again
The Priests and the Coffmans made it to Stillwater for a basketball game last Saturday thanks to the generousity of some friends.
These were the best seats we have had for a game since I was a student and we got to sit on the floor right by the court.
Alice's new camera has a panoramic feature. I'd say it works well - it turned out a pretty cool looking picture, don't you think?
These were the best seats we have had for a game since I was a student and we got to sit on the floor right by the court.
Alice's new camera has a panoramic feature. I'd say it works well - it turned out a pretty cool looking picture, don't you think?
Monday, February 16, 2009
It is in giving that we receive...
We did some singing yesterday afternoon for a former member who is now is hospice care. Our intention was to bless her, but of course it is in giving that we receive, so we left equally blessed to have been in her presence. There's something about hearing words of wisdom from one who lies on their death-bed that makes you listen and apply a little more carefully.
On Saturday we went to Stillwater for the basketball game and made a point to include lunch with Uncle Don. Saturday just happened to be 2 years to the day after Aunt Ada's funeral and 25 years to the day after my grandfather/Don's father's funeral. He had some neat stories to share about storm chasing and cars that we had never heard. We shared some good laughs and left blessed to have been there.
My sister cut her hair on Saturday and donated it to Locks of Love in honor of Ada.
Alice has been noticing the safety patrol officer at a school along the way to work. That's an awfully cold job a lot of mornings, isn't it? So, Alice bought her a gas station gift card so she can go across the street and get a warm drink when her work is done.
We've also noticed on our drives to the church building that our adopt-a-school partner listed their employee and teacher of the year on their marquee, so we decided to bless them with a gift card and let them know how much we appreciated their service to the children of our community. After all, Jesus was known as "Teacher" and also encouraged us to be servants...and these two are living that out. That's worthy of recognition.
Have you ever considered that last Saturday's holiday can sometimes come across as a slap in the face to those who don't have (or who have lost) a significant other? We decided this year to send Valentine boxes to a few of our single friends...some who have lost their spouse and others who have never had one.
I don't say any of this to brag or point out our good. In fact, please do not pat us on the back or leave comments about how nice it was that we did something.
Instead, respond by taking action to encourage those God has placed in your life. How can you creatively do that? Even if it's one you don't know by name, yet you see them regularly...you are in a position to make a difference and brighten their day. Often times it doesn't even take much effort, it simply takes awareness and willingness. And in that simple action, God will be praised and our hearts will be warmed.
And let us know what you've done...again, not to be praised, but to help others think creatively. Let's spur each other on to more and more love and good works!
On Saturday we went to Stillwater for the basketball game and made a point to include lunch with Uncle Don. Saturday just happened to be 2 years to the day after Aunt Ada's funeral and 25 years to the day after my grandfather/Don's father's funeral. He had some neat stories to share about storm chasing and cars that we had never heard. We shared some good laughs and left blessed to have been there.
My sister cut her hair on Saturday and donated it to Locks of Love in honor of Ada.
Alice has been noticing the safety patrol officer at a school along the way to work. That's an awfully cold job a lot of mornings, isn't it? So, Alice bought her a gas station gift card so she can go across the street and get a warm drink when her work is done.
We've also noticed on our drives to the church building that our adopt-a-school partner listed their employee and teacher of the year on their marquee, so we decided to bless them with a gift card and let them know how much we appreciated their service to the children of our community. After all, Jesus was known as "Teacher" and also encouraged us to be servants...and these two are living that out. That's worthy of recognition.
Have you ever considered that last Saturday's holiday can sometimes come across as a slap in the face to those who don't have (or who have lost) a significant other? We decided this year to send Valentine boxes to a few of our single friends...some who have lost their spouse and others who have never had one.
I don't say any of this to brag or point out our good. In fact, please do not pat us on the back or leave comments about how nice it was that we did something.
Instead, respond by taking action to encourage those God has placed in your life. How can you creatively do that? Even if it's one you don't know by name, yet you see them regularly...you are in a position to make a difference and brighten their day. Often times it doesn't even take much effort, it simply takes awareness and willingness. And in that simple action, God will be praised and our hearts will be warmed.
And let us know what you've done...again, not to be praised, but to help others think creatively. Let's spur each other on to more and more love and good works!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
