The Anti-Abraham/Sarah

One of my favorite stories to teach is when Sarah finds out that she will finally have a baby at 90. She laughs. I say, "What else could you do?" That is the only natural reaction to what appears impossible. So here is how I try to make it real...

It is thanksgiving. Your grandmother strikes her glass with a knife to get everyone's attention. She stands and then says, "I have an announcement. I am pregnant." Just try to tell me you would not burst out laughing and I will call you a liar.

Well my 10 year old made his own twist on the story. I joke with my kids about which one will be the first to make their mother a grandmother. I change up my prediction to annoy whoever I want to annoy that day. Well Noah, as only a 10 year-old could manage, said, "It will be me and it happen within two years!" He truly had no idea what he was saying. I am still laughing.

Song of the Day

Handlebars
The Flobots

Dedicated to Noah

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

Look at me, look at me
hands in the air like it's good to be
ALIVE
and I'm a famous rapper
even when the paths're all crookedy
I can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together
I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to "De Colores"
And "I'm Proud to be an American"
Me and my friend saw a platypus
Me and my friend made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want cuz, look:

I can keep rhythm with no metronome
No metronome
No metronome

I can see your face on the telephone
On the telephone
On the telephone

Look at me
Look at me
Just called to say that it's good to be
ALIVE
In such a small world
All curled up with a book to read
I can make money open up a thrift store
I can make a living off a magazine
I can design an engine sixty four
Miles to a gallon of gasoline
I can make new antibiotics
I can make computers survive aquatic conditions
I know how to run a business
And I can make you wanna buy a product
Movers shakers and producers
Me and my friends understand the future
I see the strings that control the systems
I can do anything with no assistance
I can lead a nation with a microphone
With a microphone
With a microphone
I can split the atoms of a molecule
Of a molecule
Of a molecule

Look at me
Look at me
Driving and I won't stop
And it feels so good to be
Alive and on top
My reach is global
My tower secure
My cause is noble
My power is pure
I can hand out a million vaccinations
Or let'em all die in exasperation
Have'em all healed of their lacerations
Have'em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like'em and
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command
I can guide a missile by satellite
By satellite
By satellite
and I can hit a target through a telescope
Through a telescope
Through a telescope
and I can end the planet in a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handle bars
No handlebars

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

The Solution Causes the Problem

I often find that my idea of a solution to a problem often causes unintended new problems. I call this the Tyler method. This method is named in honor of the way Tyler decided to handle traffic on the Loop. For those not from Tyler, the Loop around the city has now been separated in the highest traffic areas by a curbed median. This curbage is designed to replace a center left turn lane. No longer can you turn left into the street or business on the opposite side of the street. Now you must go to the corner and hook a U. Therefore the new problem: accidents occurring near the intersection as one vehicle is making a u-turn. I guess it is improvement to keep the accidents in fewer areas of the Loop? I witnessed it just the other day as the a speeding pickup trying to make the light did not see the smaller SUV making the U for Starbucks, Dairy Queen or some other important destination. The truck put a permanent deep dent tattoo on the right side of the SUV sending it over the curb and across the 3 lanes of traffic on the opposite side. I feel much safer!

Song of the Day

Forward Motion
Relient K

Dedicated to: Whoever decided a curb is progress

Whoa-o...Ive been banging my head against the wall
Whoa-o...for so long it seems I knocked it down, yeah it got knocked down
Whoa-o...and the heating bill went through the roof
Whoa-o...and the wall I knocked down was the proof
That my landlord needed to kick me out

I got evicted now Im living on the street
My spirits lifted...oh wait, that wasnt me
Too many turns have turned out to be wrong
This time I learned that, I knew it all along

When car crashes occur
Then Ill be what you were
When I see what I should
When I see that its good (that its good)

To experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat
Then brush my teeth
Experience the bittersweet
To taste defeat
Then brush my teeth

Cause I struggle with forward motion
I struggle with forward motion
We all struggle with forward motion
Cause forward motion is harder than it sounds
Well everytime I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again
Its harder than it sounds
Well everytime I gain some ground
I gotta turn myself around again

Happy Birthday

I am worn down by the a culture that is consumed by consumerism. Buy this, get that, must have this. When Rachel was 3 our TV broke. When we decided not to replace it, she asked,"How am I going to know what to ask for at Christmas?" The message is even understood by 3 year-olds.

So today on my 49th birthday, I will tell you what I want for my birthday. But first what I do not want; no card or presents.

What I want is for you to do something for someone else. If you can do it anonymously that is even better. If it can be for someone who does not deserve it, that is great also. Give a helping hand, show mercy, reflect kindness, impart grace, and spread redemption. You might extend forgiveness, right a wrong, encourage, or wash someone's feet. Look someone in the eye, see the invisible people, talk to the outcast and extend a hand in fellowship. Share from what you have been given.

I would like to ask for world peace. However just do your part by changing one of the 6 billion hearts on our planet.

Song of the Day

Take to the World
Derek Webb

Dedicated to me (it is my BD) and anyone willing to make a difference.

Go in peace to love and to serve
Let your ears ring long with what you’ve heard
And may the bread on your tongue
Leave a trail of crumbs
To lead the hungry back to the place that you are from

And take to the world this love, hope and faith
Take to the world this rare, relentless grace
And like the three in one
Know you must become what you want to save
‘cause that’s still the way
He takes to the world

Go, and go far
Take light deep in the dark
Believe what’s true
He uses all, even you

First Day of School

I dislike how we compartmentalize so many things in our lives. Church here, work there, and school is for learning. Today Some kids started back to school. Others will be joining them next week. My hope is that we are daily learning, reflecting and growing. Just as we should not make church a verb describing what we do, education should be about learning. Everyday should be the first day of school, every day should be about learning.

Song of the Day

Teach Your Children
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Dedicated to Adam (on his first day of teaching)

And you (Can you hear and)
Of tender years (Do you care and)
Can't know the fears (Can you see we)
That your elders grew by (Must be free to)
And so please help (Teach your children)
Them with your youth (You believe and)
They seek the truth (Make a world that)
Before they can die (We can live in)

Treat People Better

When I was in the hospital in April, I had a surprise visit from a doctor I did not know. It was a tough introduction, "Hello , my name is Dr. Palanisamy. I am an oncologist." Not the best opening. The short story is a scan had shown a spot on my right lung. Not what they were looking at, but something that needed to be followed. So last week I had another scan. On Thursday I went to the doctor to get the results. Simple and easy: there is no longer anything there.

Sunday I shared these events with the high schoolers. The question was, what would you have thought or felt if you had found out that you had lung cancer instead of getting the all clear. Great responses. Dalton said he would be scared. Zach thought he would get after his bucket list. Brenna thought that she would be reflective and look back on her life and evaluate how she had lived. But my favorite answer was from Holly, "Treat people better." I smile every time I think of that answer. All of these were great answers to a very complex situation. But to be able to change in the midst of pain, to take hurt and yet to give love, what a wonderful thought.

I will be dissatisfied until I live with the daily realization that I do not need to be diagnosed with lung cancer in order to understand my days are short. I will be dissatisfied until I live with daily transformation and I am treating people better.

Song of the Day

Give Me Your Eyes
Brandon Heath

Dedicated to Holly Stidham

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

In Memory of Shadow

Today I attended the memorial service for a friend I knew as Shadow. He was killed in tragic accident while simply waiting on a bus. There is no a human reason that I should have ever known Shadow. My world had no reason to intersect with his. I knew him because of the Karing Kitchen. I knew him because he gave me the opportunity to serve him.

His body had been twisted by two strokes. He did not walk very well. He kept his balance with the help of of a walker. Sometimes even the walker was not enough to keep him up right. Yet I saw him in many different places in town. These places might be miles apart. I never knew where I might see Shadow. He did not allow his disabilities to stop him. Because of this unstoppable spirit I came to respect him.

If Shadow needed something he would ask. Often time I could help; take a cap off a Mountain Dew, get him another roll, or give him a ride home. Other times I might not be able to help; out of bread or not able to take him home. Shadow would always respond with thankfulness and gratitude whether it was a yes or a no. Same response every time. I came to care for him because he showed care for me.

I was driving home late the night he was killed. The next morning I was checking my email and a friend let me know about Shadow. I watched the news report and just began to weep. The loss really hurt. It was then that I realized that Shadow had been serving me. May I be quicker to serve others in the name of the LORD who saves us all.

Song of the Day

You Are My King (Amazing Love)
Newsboys

Dedicated to Shadow

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well, Your Spirit lives within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You

BD Month

August is the birthday month at my house. Caleb on the 3rd, Hannah 8th, Tim the 20th and Rachel on the 30th. Thinking about birthdays this month, I have discovered that I am dissatisfied with the amount of time when a person is considered no longer too young but has not become too old. This time must be all of 45 to 50 seconds. Not long for a life. The see-saw shifts quickly.

Others will remind of which side you are on. My kids gave "an over the hill" on my 30th birthday. On the handwritten card, I was not just cresting the hill, but I was already at the bottom of the backside. The chaos in my life is realizing that others put me on either side of the line, just depends on whom I am talking to at the time. Will I be here when everyone agrees that I am only at the bottom of the backside?

Song of the Day:

One Day
Aaron Shust

Dedicated to Spencer Hutchins. (Hope LA is good for you)

One Day I will leave this body
and I will get a perfect one
That day I will see His glory
shining like the noonday sun
One day, I'll take a walk with Jesus
He might explain the mysteries of life

time to write again

I have been silent for too long. Late 2008 and early 2009 presented me with new challenges. So to answer the challenge from 2 of my friends I am committed to being a consistent blogger. I have had plenty to be dissatisfied with in the last year, so it may take me a while to catch up.

The summer of 2009 will be memorable. Mexico, ACU Camps, Wilderness Trek, Alpha, Sooner, VBS and Omega. I did have one open week. So I can be dissatisfied with that.

And now for what will keep me writing (through Thanksgiving at least): Song of the Day

Radar Love
Golden Earring

Dedicated to Denise

I've been drivin' all night, my hand's wet on the wheel
There's a voice in my head that drives my heel
It's my baby callin', says I need you here
And it's half past four and I'm shifting gear