Have you ever noticed that some Christians seem to pick and choose what parts of the Bible are important? They decide what needs to be followed, what parts are relevant, in some circles, even what parts are what Jesus really said. Isn't kind of stupid that sometimes we follow certain passages to the letter, while others we let slide.
So what prompted this post? Ready for this? For centuries in Europe, people would not eat potatoes. That's right, that vegetable you make fries out of. Was it the taste? Nope, nothing wrong with that. Were they poisonous? Wrong again, they were perfectly healthy. So why wouldn't people eat them? Because they are not mentioned in the Bible. Nowhere anywhere in our Holy Book is that ground covered veggie brought up. So, since it wasn't in the Bible, they could not be eaten.
Doesn't that seem funny to you? "We won't eat that because it's not in the Bible." Cars aren't in the Bible, should we stop driving them? What about airplanes, computers... twinkies! Nope, shouldn't be a part of any of that, they're not mentioned in the Bible. But the Bible does mention things like spending time daily with God, refraining from immorality, even if something causes your friend to think wrong thoughts or want to do something wrong, you shouldn't do it. What about those parts? Do you think those potato boycotters were living out those passages?
But at least they didn't eat an unmentioned unholy food like potatoes...
T
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Simeon & Anna
I have two new heroes; Simeon & Anna. Now most people probably have no idea who those people are, so here's a little background (you can check it in Luke chapter 2).
Simeon is an old man who has one thing keeping him alive. The Holy Spirit told him that he would see the Messiah before He died. Now that's keeping in touch with God! And what a promise to be given. But it gets more amazing. Simeon's sitting at home or whatever one day and the Holy Spirit tells him, "Go to the temple." Again, the guy's so in tune with God he doesn't question and goes to the temple. He sees an 8 day old baby and immediately knows who it is. He sees Jesus, takes him from Mary (lovingly of course, not in a child abduction kind of way) and prays over the child and blesses God for letting him see the Messiah.
And then there's Anna. Anna is about 105 years old, and here's how I figured that out. It says she was married for 7 years, then was a widow for 84! That's 91 years, take the average age of a young bride in Israel at the time as 14, and there's your 105. But her age is not the amazing thing (although I could handle living to 105). The Bible says she spent every day, day and night, at the Temple worshipping God, fasting and praying. She has dedicated every moment of her life to God! Is she in tune with God? She must be, she also ends up seeing Mary and Joseph holding a baby and goes over, knowing exactly who it is and also praying over Him and blessing Him.
Can you imagine knowing God that well? That you could be at church on a hot day, outside, and one of the many, many couples who line up at the Temple to have their baby "blessed" 8 days after their born, see one baby in the line and go, "There Is God!" To run over and hold the baby knowing that it is Jesus, God on earth, the Messiah, the One to be their Savior. I like how one translation put what Simeon said. He had "seen salvation". What a cool phrase, but even more amazing, the fact Simeon recognized that he was indeed looking at the Salvation of mankind.
Think you can know God that well? These weren't special people in our sense of the word. They weren't celebrities. They weren't ministers. They weren't Billy Grahams of their day or even teachers. They were people at the Temple trying to get to know God even better (which must have been hard seeing as they had to have been so incredibly close already).
Not to go all Star Wars, but I think George Lucas put it best when talking to a man named Bill Moyers one day. "I think there is a God. No question. What that God is what we know about God, I'm not sure... Even cavemen thought they had it figured out. I would say that cavemen understood on a scale of about 1. Now we've made it up to 5. The only thing is most people don't realize is the scale goes to 1 million."
Where did Simeon and Anna stand on the scale, to be able to pick God out of a bunch of crying babies? 100? 1 000? 999 999? Some days I feel like a 5. Some days a 1. But I'm shooting for a million...
T
Simeon is an old man who has one thing keeping him alive. The Holy Spirit told him that he would see the Messiah before He died. Now that's keeping in touch with God! And what a promise to be given. But it gets more amazing. Simeon's sitting at home or whatever one day and the Holy Spirit tells him, "Go to the temple." Again, the guy's so in tune with God he doesn't question and goes to the temple. He sees an 8 day old baby and immediately knows who it is. He sees Jesus, takes him from Mary (lovingly of course, not in a child abduction kind of way) and prays over the child and blesses God for letting him see the Messiah.
And then there's Anna. Anna is about 105 years old, and here's how I figured that out. It says she was married for 7 years, then was a widow for 84! That's 91 years, take the average age of a young bride in Israel at the time as 14, and there's your 105. But her age is not the amazing thing (although I could handle living to 105). The Bible says she spent every day, day and night, at the Temple worshipping God, fasting and praying. She has dedicated every moment of her life to God! Is she in tune with God? She must be, she also ends up seeing Mary and Joseph holding a baby and goes over, knowing exactly who it is and also praying over Him and blessing Him.
Can you imagine knowing God that well? That you could be at church on a hot day, outside, and one of the many, many couples who line up at the Temple to have their baby "blessed" 8 days after their born, see one baby in the line and go, "There Is God!" To run over and hold the baby knowing that it is Jesus, God on earth, the Messiah, the One to be their Savior. I like how one translation put what Simeon said. He had "seen salvation". What a cool phrase, but even more amazing, the fact Simeon recognized that he was indeed looking at the Salvation of mankind.
Think you can know God that well? These weren't special people in our sense of the word. They weren't celebrities. They weren't ministers. They weren't Billy Grahams of their day or even teachers. They were people at the Temple trying to get to know God even better (which must have been hard seeing as they had to have been so incredibly close already).
Not to go all Star Wars, but I think George Lucas put it best when talking to a man named Bill Moyers one day. "I think there is a God. No question. What that God is what we know about God, I'm not sure... Even cavemen thought they had it figured out. I would say that cavemen understood on a scale of about 1. Now we've made it up to 5. The only thing is most people don't realize is the scale goes to 1 million."
Where did Simeon and Anna stand on the scale, to be able to pick God out of a bunch of crying babies? 100? 1 000? 999 999? Some days I feel like a 5. Some days a 1. But I'm shooting for a million...
T
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Been A While
Sorry to all those that read my blog... it's been a while. The last two weeks have been a little nuts, what with all the Real World Retreat and PDYM Conference in California, plus the everyday fun that goes with being Troy.
All I know for today is I made the CD from my sermon on Sunday, and I stutter and say "like" way too much. For those that have to listen to me on Sundays, sorry, I'll work on it.
Other than that, I didn't do much that will be interesting to write about. I'll try and cause some trouble tomorrow so it's more interesting. That shouldn't be too hard, I have a staff meeting :)
T
All I know for today is I made the CD from my sermon on Sunday, and I stutter and say "like" way too much. For those that have to listen to me on Sundays, sorry, I'll work on it.
Other than that, I didn't do much that will be interesting to write about. I'll try and cause some trouble tomorrow so it's more interesting. That shouldn't be too hard, I have a staff meeting :)
T
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
The Totem Pole
Everyone know what a totem pole is? It's that big huge pile of faces with a few wings at the top that American Indians build. They're a part of Native American culture. And we have a saying in our society today, that you want to climb to the top of the totem pole. "High up on the totem pole." That's our goal. To be at the top.
The funny part is this saying is completely misconstrued (my big word of the day). In Native American culture, the person on top is no more important than the person right below them. Rather, the most important person, usually the chief of the tribe, is at the bottom of the totem pole. That's right. The highest is just some guy. To be important on the totem pole standings, you want to be at the bottom.
When will people learn that it's not all about being on top? All about me. All about what I can get from others. In Mark chapter 9, Jesus spells it out for His disciples. If you want to be first, you have to learn to be last. If you want to be the most important, you have to learn to be a servant. It's not all about what everyone can do for me, but what I can do for everyone.
So have your spot on the top of the totem pole. I'm aiming for the bottom.
T
The funny part is this saying is completely misconstrued (my big word of the day). In Native American culture, the person on top is no more important than the person right below them. Rather, the most important person, usually the chief of the tribe, is at the bottom of the totem pole. That's right. The highest is just some guy. To be important on the totem pole standings, you want to be at the bottom.
When will people learn that it's not all about being on top? All about me. All about what I can get from others. In Mark chapter 9, Jesus spells it out for His disciples. If you want to be first, you have to learn to be last. If you want to be the most important, you have to learn to be a servant. It's not all about what everyone can do for me, but what I can do for everyone.
So have your spot on the top of the totem pole. I'm aiming for the bottom.
T
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
30 Hour Famine
I sent in the money today, so it's official. Fire&Water Ministries raised $2210.32 for children starving around the world. That's pretty impressive. Think about all the school books that can be bought for that. All the food. All the water that can now be safe to drink.
My big question is this. If 15-20 people can raise that much money for one weekend, what could we accomplish if we got the other 200 million Americans involved? Plus people in other developed countries, England, Canada, Australia, heck, pretty much all of Europe. Would we even have any world hunger? Are we seriously that close, yet that uncommitted to do anything?
Thanks to all those that helped out and raised money! It is greatly appreciated by those around the world that will get to eat, drink and be clothed for the first time in a while...
T
My big question is this. If 15-20 people can raise that much money for one weekend, what could we accomplish if we got the other 200 million Americans involved? Plus people in other developed countries, England, Canada, Australia, heck, pretty much all of Europe. Would we even have any world hunger? Are we seriously that close, yet that uncommitted to do anything?
Thanks to all those that helped out and raised money! It is greatly appreciated by those around the world that will get to eat, drink and be clothed for the first time in a while...
T
Monday, March 06, 2006
Why Show up Sunday Mornings?
I don't know, this has been hitting me kind of hard lately. Why people seem to come to church on Sunday's for really no reason at all. It's like they come because they have to and somehow sitting their butt in a pew for an hour constitutes them "doing their duty", thereby getting them out of God's wrath until the next time they can show up.
I'm ready a book by Rory Noland, a worship leader, and he asks these questions. "When your church gathers for worship, are you there ready and willing to engage fully with God? Or are you 'somewhere else' during corporate worship, distracted by personal concerns or the events of the day? Do you come ready to be loved by God, or are you there to criticize the music, the drama, or the sermon?" I mean, seriously, if you're not coming to church with an open heart to be closer to God, why bother? Do people get a sense of peace by doing a ritual that doesn't make them in some way better?
The sad part is, I'm not being hypothetical. Hey, I've even had someone come to church and the only feedback they could give on a comment card was about my hair being messy. Really, where is your heart at on a Sunday morning if my hair distracts you from seeing God?
And this doesn't just apply to Sunday mornings. This should be true in every area of our lives. If we believe there is a God (according to the surveys, most of us do) and if we want a personal relationship with Him (again, the surveys say most of us do), then why do we live our lives as if God is not a part of it? Lately I've been understanding Paul's verse in Romans 7. "I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. I do the very thing I hate." (v.15) It's hard to live for God. Sometimes I think our society has made the Christian walk backwards. We seem to make it hard to come to know God, then easy to follow Him, when in reality, it's very easy to accept Jesus into your life, but it gets harder from there. Everything else in the world is like that, why do we try to make our spiritual growth different?
Too much rambling, sorry for the length.
T
I'm ready a book by Rory Noland, a worship leader, and he asks these questions. "When your church gathers for worship, are you there ready and willing to engage fully with God? Or are you 'somewhere else' during corporate worship, distracted by personal concerns or the events of the day? Do you come ready to be loved by God, or are you there to criticize the music, the drama, or the sermon?" I mean, seriously, if you're not coming to church with an open heart to be closer to God, why bother? Do people get a sense of peace by doing a ritual that doesn't make them in some way better?
The sad part is, I'm not being hypothetical. Hey, I've even had someone come to church and the only feedback they could give on a comment card was about my hair being messy. Really, where is your heart at on a Sunday morning if my hair distracts you from seeing God?
And this doesn't just apply to Sunday mornings. This should be true in every area of our lives. If we believe there is a God (according to the surveys, most of us do) and if we want a personal relationship with Him (again, the surveys say most of us do), then why do we live our lives as if God is not a part of it? Lately I've been understanding Paul's verse in Romans 7. "I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. I do the very thing I hate." (v.15) It's hard to live for God. Sometimes I think our society has made the Christian walk backwards. We seem to make it hard to come to know God, then easy to follow Him, when in reality, it's very easy to accept Jesus into your life, but it gets harder from there. Everything else in the world is like that, why do we try to make our spiritual growth different?
Too much rambling, sorry for the length.
T
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Over The Hump...?
It's finally March! I know for most of you that means absolutely nothing, but in the hectic world of Troy, that's big news. That means that the stress level decreases and amount of time increases. Finally, the hard part of the year is done. Christmas, New-Year's All-Nighter, Budget meetings, Ski Retreat, Superbowl Party, YAC (which we didn't do much with this year), Lay Speaker's Retreat, 30 Hour Famine, and of course, all my ordination stuff that was thrown in this year (I passed my exam, woo hoo!), plus the every day activities that go on here at Fire & Water Ministries, including starting up Home Bible Studies. So busy. For some reason, March is busy too, but it seems like stuff that is a little easier to deal with. Sermon series, website up and running, Real World Retreat and my trip to PDYM in Cali. That's why I wonder if I'm actually over the hump yet. Easter still to come. Our bi-annual Dan's Fish Fry.
We're really busy people. It's kind of crazy. Yet, according to all the research, we have more free time in our lives than anyone else in history. What's even funnier is in the sermon series going on here at the church, I'm the one who gets the section about slowing down to pray, taking time out of our busy lives for God. It still amazes me how easy it is to fit a two hour movie, the three hours a week we have of American Idol, or a 3 hour sports game into our schedules, but ten minutes with God is our max.
Life won't slow down. You have to slow it down...
Ps. 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God.
We're really busy people. It's kind of crazy. Yet, according to all the research, we have more free time in our lives than anyone else in history. What's even funnier is in the sermon series going on here at the church, I'm the one who gets the section about slowing down to pray, taking time out of our busy lives for God. It still amazes me how easy it is to fit a two hour movie, the three hours a week we have of American Idol, or a 3 hour sports game into our schedules, but ten minutes with God is our max.
Life won't slow down. You have to slow it down...
Ps. 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Test
Okay, everybody, pray for Troy. I'm studying for my ordination test right now. Basically, it means I'm re-learning all the big words I haven't used since college and I'm learning all the church laws for the state of Indiana that I never knew before and will have no use for later on (that I know of anyway).
There's my study break, ttyl.
T
There's my study break, ttyl.
T
Thursday, February 09, 2006
No News
Alright, I know I haven't written in a while, but that's because nothing major has happened, but more things are going to happen. This Sunday is Youth Sunday at NewSong and our Youth Worship Team will be playing, I'm preaching Sunday, we have Drink Deep in the evening, and in the next month Home Bible Studies start, our first preaching series (which we already have planned!) starts, we have the 30 Hour Famine along with our annual benefit concert featuring local bands, and I have to write an exam for my ordination. How do we manage to cram all this into February?
T
T
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Superbowl Party
Okay, today I was really busy making all the postcards for the Superbowl Party this Sunday at 5:30 in the youth room (with food, games and football in the gym, game on the big screen, there's the plug).
Here's what I realized. We sent out information on the game to over 180 people. Now think, if only half of those people showed up, plus our adult help, we'd have over 100 people at the party this Sunday. That'd be amazing (our current record is 76 students at a single event). So invite everyone you can, give them a ride, whatever you can and let's break 100 students! We can do it!
T
Here's what I realized. We sent out information on the game to over 180 people. Now think, if only half of those people showed up, plus our adult help, we'd have over 100 people at the party this Sunday. That'd be amazing (our current record is 76 students at a single event). So invite everyone you can, give them a ride, whatever you can and let's break 100 students! We can do it!
T
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Baptism
I've been trying to get on here, but it keeps saying maintenance. How much can there be to do?
The other night I'm watching "Lost", a show I like (I'm a serial person, shows like "24" and "Lost" that are one big story that takes more than a half-hour to tell) and they start talking about baptism. Someone is in danger and they need to baptize them.
Now I'm all for baptism, it's great, but they totally skewed what it really means, as I've found out is normal for our society. I had to do interviews on the street while in college and find out if people were Christians, if they were going to heaven and scary as it was, everyone gave us the same answer. "I'm a Christian because I'm baptized."
Okay, time to set the world straight. Baptism does not make you a Christian. It's the other way around. Baptism is the outward expression of your inner faith. You decide to follow Jesus and then you make a public showing of it by being baptized (kinda like a way of telling the world the decision you've made). That's how it works. Further reading would be Matthew 3 ("I baptize you with water to show that your hearts and lives have changed." - meaning the change has happened, then you are baptized) and the end of Matthew 28 ("Go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them..." - meaning you tell others about Jesus first and lead them to Him, then they are baptized).
So for everyone thinking that when you were baptized / dedicated as a baby that means you've got a "get out of hell free" card and automatically get whisked through the Pearly Gates, sorry, that's not the way I see it. God is looking for those who love Him, those who have a relationship with Him. I can be baptized then never talk to Jesus again, just like I can get my birth certificate with my family name on it, but if I right away move out and never talk to them or see them, would they still invite me to the family reunion...?
T
The other night I'm watching "Lost", a show I like (I'm a serial person, shows like "24" and "Lost" that are one big story that takes more than a half-hour to tell) and they start talking about baptism. Someone is in danger and they need to baptize them.
Now I'm all for baptism, it's great, but they totally skewed what it really means, as I've found out is normal for our society. I had to do interviews on the street while in college and find out if people were Christians, if they were going to heaven and scary as it was, everyone gave us the same answer. "I'm a Christian because I'm baptized."
Okay, time to set the world straight. Baptism does not make you a Christian. It's the other way around. Baptism is the outward expression of your inner faith. You decide to follow Jesus and then you make a public showing of it by being baptized (kinda like a way of telling the world the decision you've made). That's how it works. Further reading would be Matthew 3 ("I baptize you with water to show that your hearts and lives have changed." - meaning the change has happened, then you are baptized) and the end of Matthew 28 ("Go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them..." - meaning you tell others about Jesus first and lead them to Him, then they are baptized).
So for everyone thinking that when you were baptized / dedicated as a baby that means you've got a "get out of hell free" card and automatically get whisked through the Pearly Gates, sorry, that's not the way I see it. God is looking for those who love Him, those who have a relationship with Him. I can be baptized then never talk to Jesus again, just like I can get my birth certificate with my family name on it, but if I right away move out and never talk to them or see them, would they still invite me to the family reunion...?
T
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Skiing With No Snow
Ok, so I sit down to do my blog, which I haven't done in a while (sorry), and I realize that I didn't fill everyone in on the ski trip. So here's what happened.
Saturday, after driving in a little bit of snow Friday night to get there, we worked for a whole 4 hours in Evansville on tornado relief. We don't work outside because of the mud, and everything inside we finished, so 4 whole hours. Then, to top it off, Sunday morning at 7:30 the ski hill calls me to tell me they're closed, that's after assuring me Saturday night they'd be open. So what to do?
The kindness of strangers really came through. The people of Evansville and Newburgh were so happy we did that whole 4 hours of work, for the weekend we had free lodging in the Fire Station, free ice skating, unlimited use of an arcade for a little money and unlimited use after hours of a inflatable balloon games place, with free pizza one night, free breakfast, and a discounted breakfast the next day. People were just so thankful we helped that it was almost easy to forget we didn't' go skiing.
If this is how kind needy people who lived through a disaster can be, imagine how kind well-off Christians can be...
T
Saturday, after driving in a little bit of snow Friday night to get there, we worked for a whole 4 hours in Evansville on tornado relief. We don't work outside because of the mud, and everything inside we finished, so 4 whole hours. Then, to top it off, Sunday morning at 7:30 the ski hill calls me to tell me they're closed, that's after assuring me Saturday night they'd be open. So what to do?
The kindness of strangers really came through. The people of Evansville and Newburgh were so happy we did that whole 4 hours of work, for the weekend we had free lodging in the Fire Station, free ice skating, unlimited use of an arcade for a little money and unlimited use after hours of a inflatable balloon games place, with free pizza one night, free breakfast, and a discounted breakfast the next day. People were just so thankful we helped that it was almost easy to forget we didn't' go skiing.
If this is how kind needy people who lived through a disaster can be, imagine how kind well-off Christians can be...
T
Friday, January 13, 2006
Ski Workcamp
It's Friday at 10:30 and tonight we at Fire & Water (the water part) are going on our annual Ski Retreat, this time emphasis on serving, spending a day doing tornado relief. They've promised we'll have snow, but that's up to God and the guy working the snow machines. Sorry, I gotta go, but here's the link if you want to watch us ski Sunday. http://www.paolipeaks.com/snowcams.php
Pray for us :)
T
Pray for us :)
T
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Signs
So I get home from Bible Study tonight and Lorie hasn't been feeling well, so she's sound asleep in bed, leaving me to cook dinner (which isn't a bad thing, I like to cook) and then eat it by myself. Now, lately, I've found out that I really hate the sound of myself chewing. Don't ask me why, it's been annoying, so I go to watch TV so I'm not just sitting there listening to me eat, but of course, there's nothing on TV at 10 on Wednesday unless someone is being killed and the people trying to figure it out are being shot at (and you have to add lots of blood, gore, and bad dialogue), so I put in one of the best movies of all time. Signs.
Why do I like signs? It makes me think. There are two main things going through my mind as I watch this movie (and I'll do my best not to give the movie away). The first is God's security in Himself or our lack thereof. The main character was a priest, but lost his faith when his wife died and at certain points in the movie he expresses this be it by yelling at God or telling his children he will not waste any more of his time on prayer. "Not one more minute." And all through it the thought is occurring to me about how I've been taught all my life that God wants to smite you down, how He is waiting for you to mess up and if you dare question Him, bam! But that's not it at all. He's a loving Father. And He is not so insecure that if something happens that makes you question Him or His existence He huffs and puffs in heaven, stomping His feet and feeling bad about Himself. No, He's patient enough to wait for us to come back around and figure out our relationship with Him for ourselves, but that's the key. We have to figure it out for ourselves and come back to Him.
The second is the idea that, as they describe, there are two types of people. The first type see God in everything. There are no coincidences. It is all orchestrated by God. Nothing happens that He does not allow and/or plan for. The second group sees it all as coincidences. There is no one looking out for us and things just happen. But it's the first group that has hope (I'm thinking about showing the clip one day in NewSong before God At Work).
It's a great movie. It makes you think. It brings me faith. The only disturbing part to me is that one of the greatest cinematic examples of a loving God always at work in our hearts was written and made by someone who does not believe in God. Why can't Christians create something like that? Where are the Christian artists, writers, screenwriters, actors, producers, directors, sculptors, painters, etc.? Why is it someone who does not believe in God does a better job of convincing people there is a God than those who believe?
Deep thoughts...
T
Why do I like signs? It makes me think. There are two main things going through my mind as I watch this movie (and I'll do my best not to give the movie away). The first is God's security in Himself or our lack thereof. The main character was a priest, but lost his faith when his wife died and at certain points in the movie he expresses this be it by yelling at God or telling his children he will not waste any more of his time on prayer. "Not one more minute." And all through it the thought is occurring to me about how I've been taught all my life that God wants to smite you down, how He is waiting for you to mess up and if you dare question Him, bam! But that's not it at all. He's a loving Father. And He is not so insecure that if something happens that makes you question Him or His existence He huffs and puffs in heaven, stomping His feet and feeling bad about Himself. No, He's patient enough to wait for us to come back around and figure out our relationship with Him for ourselves, but that's the key. We have to figure it out for ourselves and come back to Him.
The second is the idea that, as they describe, there are two types of people. The first type see God in everything. There are no coincidences. It is all orchestrated by God. Nothing happens that He does not allow and/or plan for. The second group sees it all as coincidences. There is no one looking out for us and things just happen. But it's the first group that has hope (I'm thinking about showing the clip one day in NewSong before God At Work).
It's a great movie. It makes you think. It brings me faith. The only disturbing part to me is that one of the greatest cinematic examples of a loving God always at work in our hearts was written and made by someone who does not believe in God. Why can't Christians create something like that? Where are the Christian artists, writers, screenwriters, actors, producers, directors, sculptors, painters, etc.? Why is it someone who does not believe in God does a better job of convincing people there is a God than those who believe?
Deep thoughts...
T
Monday, January 09, 2006
Why Bother?
Okay, I have to add another one today, but this is just beyond me in some way...
I'm in Kroger doing my grocery shopping. La di da. Then, I guess on my way out, I dropped a packet of brown gravy. Yeah, a whole 50 cents worth of Kroger brand tastiness. I didn't know I was missing it and to be honest, I probably wouldn't have cared too much when I got home.
But the Kroger lady cared. She saw it on the ground, knew it was mine from checking out, then took the time and effort to find me in the parking lot (I was already in my car driving away), flag me down and give it to me. And all I could think of was, "Why would she bother? It's not like her job makes her." Is that really how rare kindness is? When someone does something nice we wonder, "Why Bother?" Kind of gives me a hint as to how much kindness is in me.
T
I'm in Kroger doing my grocery shopping. La di da. Then, I guess on my way out, I dropped a packet of brown gravy. Yeah, a whole 50 cents worth of Kroger brand tastiness. I didn't know I was missing it and to be honest, I probably wouldn't have cared too much when I got home.
But the Kroger lady cared. She saw it on the ground, knew it was mine from checking out, then took the time and effort to find me in the parking lot (I was already in my car driving away), flag me down and give it to me. And all I could think of was, "Why would she bother? It's not like her job makes her." Is that really how rare kindness is? When someone does something nice we wonder, "Why Bother?" Kind of gives me a hint as to how much kindness is in me.
T
Is It Bad luck Or What?
Computer. It has now become a curse word to me. They drive me nuts. Here's why...
In September, Lorie and I decided to get a new computer. We wanted something good, so as hard as it was, we dropped some cash and got one. It crashed within 24 hours.
We were given another one as a replacement. It crashed within 6 hours.
We were then given a downgrade as a replacement because the one we bought was being updated and the new model wasn't out yet and they had sold all the other ones. Scary as it was, that one worked great, but then a few months later we were called to let us know that the our new model was ready and here, so we traded in... again.
Got home, start it up, in the upgrade they took out some components that we used, and not little things, hardware. Had to take it back to get the new parts put in.
New parts not compatible with the new model. So, finally, we asked for our money back and went somewhere else and bought another computer.
It has a 30 day return if there's something wrong, and on Friday, at day 38, the motherboard crashed, a fluke that the store even said they've never seen before and they have to return it back to the manufacturer, so I'm here on my basic 3 year old HP, waiting to see what will happen for computer #6...
Is there a lesson here?
T
In September, Lorie and I decided to get a new computer. We wanted something good, so as hard as it was, we dropped some cash and got one. It crashed within 24 hours.
We were given another one as a replacement. It crashed within 6 hours.
We were then given a downgrade as a replacement because the one we bought was being updated and the new model wasn't out yet and they had sold all the other ones. Scary as it was, that one worked great, but then a few months later we were called to let us know that the our new model was ready and here, so we traded in... again.
Got home, start it up, in the upgrade they took out some components that we used, and not little things, hardware. Had to take it back to get the new parts put in.
New parts not compatible with the new model. So, finally, we asked for our money back and went somewhere else and bought another computer.
It has a 30 day return if there's something wrong, and on Friday, at day 38, the motherboard crashed, a fluke that the store even said they've never seen before and they have to return it back to the manufacturer, so I'm here on my basic 3 year old HP, waiting to see what will happen for computer #6...
Is there a lesson here?
T
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
New Year Already?
Wow, so it's 2006. Remember years ago when we thought the world was coming to an end and all computers would be the downfall of first world society as we know it (i.e. Y2K)? Ah, good times...
So here's what I learned. The body is a fragile thing. And we all behave differently. Thanks to the all-nighter with my wonderful friends in FIRE& WATER, I stayed up way too long. I mean way too long. Now, my wife came and decided half-way through to stay up too. Now, here's where the difference sets in.
She comes home at 1:00 after church. Goes to bed. And sleeps 19 hours! That must be nice. How do you do that? Me, not so lucky. Slept 8 hours, up 4, slept 3, up four, slept 5 up no close to 15 and at 2 in the morning cannot sleep. Where's my lovely wife? Sleeping soundly. Must be nice.
It's amazing how we are all so incredibly different, right down to how sleep or lack thereof affects us. God made us so diverse, but now, I will try one more round of the black knight (a wonderful game on miniclip.com) then try to sleep... again...
T
So here's what I learned. The body is a fragile thing. And we all behave differently. Thanks to the all-nighter with my wonderful friends in FIRE& WATER, I stayed up way too long. I mean way too long. Now, my wife came and decided half-way through to stay up too. Now, here's where the difference sets in.
She comes home at 1:00 after church. Goes to bed. And sleeps 19 hours! That must be nice. How do you do that? Me, not so lucky. Slept 8 hours, up 4, slept 3, up four, slept 5 up no close to 15 and at 2 in the morning cannot sleep. Where's my lovely wife? Sleeping soundly. Must be nice.
It's amazing how we are all so incredibly different, right down to how sleep or lack thereof affects us. God made us so diverse, but now, I will try one more round of the black knight (a wonderful game on miniclip.com) then try to sleep... again...
T
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Tires
Okay, I add this so you can all laugh at me. Life goes this way sometimes...
I have a wonderful, sleek, stylish vehicle (for those that haven't seen it, this is sarcasm. The hood is tied down with rope). It is amazing. I love it so (more sarcasm). Last Sunday, Christmas, after church it was discovered my tire was flat. So, I put a little air in it and left it the car here while I went to the in-laws for Christmas, thinking I would fix it when I get back.
So today I went to do that. I was going to get a new tire put on by the nice people at Pep Boys then thought, "Hmm, do I really want to spend money? I'll just put on the spare." So, after a little hard work I got the flat off and the spare on.
But, would the story end there? No! God has to have more fun with me. The spare... flat. Oh so flat. So I drive my car with the flat to the gas station (its not far, you can see it from my apartment complex). I get there and buy a chocolate bar to get some quarters (Nestle Crunch, mmm) and put air in the spare tire.
Wait, can that be all? No! God's Comedy Central otherwise known as Troy's life isn't that easy. The spare won't take air, it's too far gone. So there I am at the gas station changing tires again, putting the flat back on so I can put air in it to take it to Pep Boys to get the tire changed.
So an hour later from when I should have left, all is well. Or is it? Nope, of course not. Pep Boys is full and can't change the tire, Wal-mart booked up until the end of the night. So I still have a flat. I have a quick fix for now, but my wife is trying to talk me into getting a new car (she doesn't like the rope or something, maybe the noise my door makes when I open it). So, if anyone out there has a cheap car, I need it :) I just hate buying cars, that's why I drive them until they die. But after today... hmm...
T
I have a wonderful, sleek, stylish vehicle (for those that haven't seen it, this is sarcasm. The hood is tied down with rope). It is amazing. I love it so (more sarcasm). Last Sunday, Christmas, after church it was discovered my tire was flat. So, I put a little air in it and left it the car here while I went to the in-laws for Christmas, thinking I would fix it when I get back.
So today I went to do that. I was going to get a new tire put on by the nice people at Pep Boys then thought, "Hmm, do I really want to spend money? I'll just put on the spare." So, after a little hard work I got the flat off and the spare on.
But, would the story end there? No! God has to have more fun with me. The spare... flat. Oh so flat. So I drive my car with the flat to the gas station (its not far, you can see it from my apartment complex). I get there and buy a chocolate bar to get some quarters (Nestle Crunch, mmm) and put air in the spare tire.
Wait, can that be all? No! God's Comedy Central otherwise known as Troy's life isn't that easy. The spare won't take air, it's too far gone. So there I am at the gas station changing tires again, putting the flat back on so I can put air in it to take it to Pep Boys to get the tire changed.
So an hour later from when I should have left, all is well. Or is it? Nope, of course not. Pep Boys is full and can't change the tire, Wal-mart booked up until the end of the night. So I still have a flat. I have a quick fix for now, but my wife is trying to talk me into getting a new car (she doesn't like the rope or something, maybe the noise my door makes when I open it). So, if anyone out there has a cheap car, I need it :) I just hate buying cars, that's why I drive them until they die. But after today... hmm...
T
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Does bad Outweigh Good?
It's been a few days but I am back from the in-laws. It was quite the Christmas break. But in it all I realized something. For some reason, whenever something bad happens, we seem to give it precedence over the good.
It was a good trip. We had fun. There were good meals. We saw lots of people. Had a great time at the museum. Saw a few good movies together. But in the midst of it all two minor family incidents happened.
So why is it that everyone is apologizing for the trip? When we left people were sorry for the time we spent there? Why? Why is it that if something bad happens over a four day period we automatically pitch all the good things that happen and focus on the bad?
And it's not just on vacations. I was thinking about it on the way home. We love to focus on the bad. Someone can save hundreds of people's lives, but then we find some dirt on them and we knock them down as far as we can. It's stupid. So from now on, something to think about. Focus on the good and remember when that happens, not on the bad. Don't let that be your lasting memory.
Now I have to stay up really late, getting acclimated for the All-Nighter...
T
It was a good trip. We had fun. There were good meals. We saw lots of people. Had a great time at the museum. Saw a few good movies together. But in the midst of it all two minor family incidents happened.
So why is it that everyone is apologizing for the trip? When we left people were sorry for the time we spent there? Why? Why is it that if something bad happens over a four day period we automatically pitch all the good things that happen and focus on the bad?
And it's not just on vacations. I was thinking about it on the way home. We love to focus on the bad. Someone can save hundreds of people's lives, but then we find some dirt on them and we knock them down as far as we can. It's stupid. So from now on, something to think about. Focus on the good and remember when that happens, not on the bad. Don't let that be your lasting memory.
Now I have to stay up really late, getting acclimated for the All-Nighter...
T
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)