I am not a rider but if I were ... I'd hang out here. A lot! Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson opened next door to our offices yesterday. While I was there, I ran into my friend Russell and his buddy.
I read a great reminder for those of us who may be experiencing pain in life these days - self inflicted or not. Pain hurts! Going through stuff hurts and causes us to be restless at times.
Here is my reminder found in Matthew 11:28:
28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." [The Message]
I like that. That's comforting. I need to learn His unforced rhythms of grace.
We heard about this last Christmas and participated a bit. This year we want to do more. (the video is about 2 min). Check it out.
God loved ... He gave. I just don't want to give stuff! We've been really doing our best to buyless and live/give more! Here are some of the ways we've pursued to be less consumer driven.
Yesterday had coffee with a friend of mine. He is one of those people who is full of integrity and who truly wants to use his gifts to benefit God's kingdom. He recently wrote this based on recent developments in his life.
Vulnerability + trust = order. Vulnerability - trust = chaos. It is interesting that both order and chaos have vulnerability in common. The difference is the issue of trust.
I trust Christ and my hope for any sense of order in the future is directly dependent on my trust in him and his way of living life. Without it I will be at the mercy of chaotic, empty promises and fear filled men.
Trust is the only way to clothe the nakedness of vulnerability. It is a fantasy for me to believe that I can get somewhere in life and never be vulnerable. Trust is the answer - believe me. I know.
Here are a few of my thoughts after a long and historical election season.
:: Change is never something most humans embrace. Not sure what changes will take place with new Presidential administration but I do expect and will not be surprised by them.
:: "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." ~Victor Frankl
:: Sarah Palin is good for politics...I expect her to get a lot of experience over the next four years.
:: Barack Obama gave a great acceptance speech. Equally, John McCain's was gracious and sincere. I wanted them to remember this day, so I asked my boys to watch McCain's speech with us - They were asleep when Obama spoke.
:: Although Obama's ideology may be hard to embrace for some conservatives, booing and hissing (whining) via Facebook/Twitter about those points of difference is tactless [ht: Scott Harris]. If one feels passionate about a matter ... be an agent of change for that matter. Don't complain.
:: I understand taxes will probably raise. Not thrilled. I understand that there will be Democratic control of the big three (Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches) ... not thrilled - no party should have that much control.
:: I think conservatives should give the same support that they would want democrats to give, especially if the election turned out differently. Just thinking out loud here.
:: "Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." - Ben Franklin
