"X" Marks The Spot!

I would like to run a few more test, but I have long since retired from throwing boomerangs. I'm guessing it was a 100 foot "egg shaped" pattern that was interrupted before the shape was completed. Consider the odds. One boomerang, one thrower (me), and one observer (Cathy) who was playing on a sand pile out of my sight. I set the boomerang in motion. "What I throw!", I thought to myself. I watched as it left the sight of my left eye and waited for it to come back into view on my right side. It never made it around. The solid wood boomerang found it's way to Cathy's forehead. She had climbed on top of the sand pile some twenty feet behind me. I heard her scream and immediately turned to see blood dripping from her head. I knew what this meant and had no time to see if she was OK. I ran to our house and grabbed mom. "I killed Cathy!", I yelled as tears streamed down my face. Six butterfly stitches and Cathy was going to survive. If you run into her today, just glance between her two eyes in the middle of her forehead. The mark is still there. Scarred by a ten year old Ausie from Oklahoma.

I have my own scars that act as reminders. Scars from riding a bicycle at age ten. Scars from an air compressor a few months ago. They serve as reminders, mostly of pain and suffering or decisions that weren't thought through properly. It makes me think of Cain. He kills his brother Abel and God curses him, saying he is a wanderer no longer in the presence of God. In Genesis 4:14 Cain says, "...and whoever finds me will kill me." I guess we could debate who was "out there" that Cain was so worried about, but not today. I want to talk about the mark that God placed on Cain to keep him safe. I've heard many different theories, but I want to mention one that you probably haven't thought of. Cain kills his brother and deserves death. God see's one of his children as a murderer. Cain deserved nothing, but that is not what God gave him. God gave him a gift he didn't deserve. He gave Cain a mark that he gives to us today. When someone came across Cain, they didn't see the mark of the beast that scared them away. They didn't see a symbol that spoke to them to keep their distance. The mark on Cain was grace. God's grace, grace that is greater than all of our sins. Grace, that is deeper than the ocean and wider than the seas. So, we too are marked just like Cain. Kept alive despite those that are out to harm us...although I would suggest staying away from Okie's carrying boomerangs. Until next time.

Sir, It's Pride. It's Pride, Sir.

bryce-ology = A language unique to Bryce Waugh.

sir-ding-a-lot = A nickname given to me, courtesy of a recent bryce-ology.

It was a typical Saturday, probably running from one soccer game to another. The gas tank was on empty so we stopped at our gas station to fill up. I remember bumping the side of the car with the nozzle before filling up. Without thinking anything about it, I filled up the car with gas and climbed back into the drivers seat only to hear laughter from the rest of the family. "What's so funny?" Evidently, when I bumped the car with the nozzle Bryce was quoted as saying,"Way to go, Sir Ding-A-Lot".

Fast forward with me a month or two. I began to notice that Bryce began ending his sentences with "Sir". I was really impressed. Imagine your child finishing each conversation with "Yes, sir" without any instruction to do so. I prefer being called dad, and didn't understand where this new behavior was coming from. I was not going to discourage it...just curious as to why the sudden change. I then began noticing that Bryce would begin his sentences with "Sir". "Sir, may I go ride my bike?" "Sir, what's for supper?" "Sir, do I have to take a shower tonight?" No matter how he addressed me...the emphasis was always on the word "sir".

With a little bit of pride, I finally decided to ask Bryce why he started using "Sir" all of the time.

Bryce's quote..."Ooooh, you know dad....you're Sir-Ding-A-Lot!"

Sir Ding-A-Lot? Seriously? Consider briefly what this meant..."Sir Ding-A-Lot, may I go ride my bike?" "Sir-Ding-A-Lot, what's for supper?" "Sir Ding-A-Lot, do I have to take a shower?" "Bryce, do you have your homework completed?", I would ask. His response was not, "Yes, Sir", it was "Yes, Sir Ding-A-Lot!"

It's amazing how pride can get the best of us. Let's continue in Genesis today and consider this question...Where did evil come from? Before we answer that question let's look at the players in the answer. The tree. The garden. The woman. The serpent. The serpent is the tricky one. Was the serpent the devil?

Genesis 3:1 "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild anivals the Lord God has made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

Let's use a little common sense. God did not create the evil devil. He did however create the serpent who was more crafty (wise) than any of the wild animals. Second, did the serpent do anything wrong in asking the first religious question? In his (serpent) wisdom he is almost pondering "Did God really say?" He seems to be insinsuating that a loving God could not possibly place limitations on his creatures the he had placed in the beautiful garden. That leads us to ask where the devil came from? That's another blog. For now, we have a wise serpent, a tree that Adam and Eve were commanded not to eat from, and Eve.

I think most of us have a picture of Eve walking right up to the tree, yanking an apple off the tree and eating every bite of it immediately with juice running down her arm. Doubtful. Eve clearly knew that God made it clear that death would result from eating the fruit. Consider this theory. Day 1 - She walks towards the tree...no death. Day 2 - She stretches her arm out as to pick the fruit, but doesn't...no death. Day 3 - She touches the fruit, but quickly jerks her hand away...no death. Day 4 - She touches the fruit and considers picking it, but does not...no death. Day 5 - She picks the fuit and takes it home...no death. Day 6 through Day 15 she looks at the fruit, sometimes holding it...the fruit never spoils...no death. Day 16 - After days of holding, touching, looking, admiring, she taste the fruit...no death. Adam eats as well...no death...then in the cool of the day...

It's a large word. Dissensitization.

James 1:14-15 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Sound familiar? James was merely describing the same process Eve went through in the garden...and the same process we go through today.

Evil? It's really quite simple. It came from our own desire to be like God. To know all, to be all. I believe the tree in one way or another symbolized pride.

We can't blame the devil for this mistake. This one falls squarely on us.

What's next? I rather enjoy the nickname. "Sir Ding-A-Lot" to the rescue! Until next time...

A New Year, A Resolution, A Tired Old Man

I assume that most people have a resolution in place for 2010. I have had my share of years where I resolved to weigh less, to be a better person or become more diligent in my studies. I must say that the majority of these resolutions end in failure which I believe is because of unreachable goals I place for myself. This year I have set two goals (resolutions if you will) that are quite simple. First, I'm going to spend the entire year if neccessary trying to figure out my college mess. I have completed 138 collegiate hours towards and education degree(I need 122 for a B.A.A.S from M.S.U), yet I have no degree. I dropped out of college while only lacking student teaching to complete my degree.
While I'm sure this will raise some eyebrows I feel it is neccessary to tell you that I still believe this was the right decision to make. I had no desire to become a teacher or a music major and the only dissapointing thing to me is that I didn't realize at 22 my passion was in ministry. I should have known and seen it coming, but I was blinded at that age. I love my career and to be honest I can't see myself ever doing anything other than ministry. [Exhaling] I would however like to complete my degree for two selfish reasons. 1.Dad 2. Artwork for my office. We will call 2010 goal #1 "The College Debacle".
My second goal for 2010 is to write more. I told myself last year that I didn't have enough time to write a blog, but this year will be different. I plan to add to this blog each week if at all possible. I have several things on my brain that I want to place before you (whoever "you" is) that concerns my life and some interesting biblical topics that I hope will help shape your faith and place a smile on your face. I believe we should start in Genesis. God places Adam in a deep sleep and upon awakening he looks up to see the perfect body of Eve. He calmly stood up and said "This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh". It cracks me up! Come on. Do you really think Gomer Pyle invented Shazaaam! Not hardly, Adam invented that word in the garden which was in Eden when Eve was in his eyesight for the first time. Picture God running all the wild animals by Adam as he gave each a name. The funny line is in Genesis 2:20 Where it states "No suitable helper was found." Imagine Miss. Zebra strolling by Adam and winking. I understand that a dog is suppose to be a man's best friend, but for Adam...(thankfully) the dog didn't cut it.
35 years old today. I don't act like most 35 year olds. I understand that. I'm so thankful I don't!!! "My back hurts" "I'm ready to retire" "They say 40's over the hill, but I'm already rolling down the hill" "My portfolio isn't where it needs to be" "When will we ever have an empty nest" "Wonder what the stocks will do this year" GIVE ME A BREAK! I'm sorry, but I can't do that. I may have gray hair, be overweight, not have my life as together as others, have less in the bank than most and to be quite honest act immature compared to others my age, but that's me. It's who I am. It wouldn't matter if I worked with youth or sat in an office all day. I would still be me. It's what and who God intended for me to be, and I'm thankful for that. I don't look at my 35th birthday as a negative, I only see positives. This is who I am; vibrant, youthful, fun, loving, happy, joking, ready to conquer the next obstacle in front of me and there are plenty of OLD 35 year old's out there that could take a life lesson. Live, breathe the fresh air that God provides daily. If you act old and live old then you are old. Until next time.