Death

I've lost two people in my life this past week that I didn't take nearly enough time to get to know better: Tom "Killer" Kowalski and Walt Hill.  Both passed away still young men in their fifties.  

Tom was the beat writer for the Lions ever since I can remember.  As a youngster I always looked forward to reading what he had to say about my favorite sports team.  Later on in life I had the privilege to meet Tom in passing at several Lion's practices, a few radio shows and a few charity events.  He always took the time to talk to me and didn't mind telling me I was crazy when I came up with some crazy trade idea or asked why they weren't playing so-and-so more often.  He was the face of the Lions in the media and will be missed.  Lions win it for Killer!

Walt was a pillar in the community where I currently reside: Madison, MI.  He touched the lives of many young men and women in this little community with his care and compassion.  He was on the school board, golf associations, and was easily Madison School Athletics' biggest fan.  He made me feel blessed whenever I talked with him and no matter how busy he was he took time out to listen--not just hear--but listen to what I had to say.  He was the face of Madison Trojans athletics in the community and will be missed.  Trojans win it for Walt!

I regret that I did not get to know both of them better for they were both wonderful men in their respected communities.      

Jimmie's Bar

I am in Norwood, OH for a personal retreat.  I accomplished my goal for the day and since I really like meeting new people when I am in a new community I went for a walk.  Norwood is a suburb of Cincinnati and the area where The Convent is located would probably be considered lower class if you feel the need for such labeling.  It seemed just about everyone was out on their porch this evening--some were friendly and called out to me "hey big man what's happening" others looked down.  A couple of guys stopped me and talked to me; they actually thought I was a professional powerlifter (ha!  yes, my head started to swell).  Anyways, after a few minutes of chit-chat they invited me to join them at the corner watering hole.  I agreed and walked into a small bar where almost every seat was filled.  It reminded me of Cheers since everyone seemed to know everyone's name.  What was different is that there were no lawyers, psychiatrists, or even mail carriers.  Most of the people there were unemployed or working dead-end jobs for peanuts.  One young man had an outstanding bar tab of $180 and the owner told him he had until Friday to pay half of it or he was going to be cut off.  We talked about the Bengals, the Lions and Batman, but it didn't take me long to realize their hope was in the bottom of a beer bottle.  They came to this establishment nearly every day to have a sense of belonging and the hope was they would have a good time and if nothing else be able to forget about tomorrow for at least a few moments.

I had to choke back tears as I listened to their stories of despair.  Everyone was heading outside to smoke so I thought it was a good time to bid them good-bye.  One person warned me to watch out for the gangs, another said they'd be stupid to try and take me on.  I waved and told them maybe I'd catch them tomorrow and I hope I do.

On the walk home I thought how lucky I am to have what I have.  Not just an income or a house, but great relationships and hope in something besides alcohol or lottery tickets.  We who have hope in Jesus sometimes forget how blessed we are.

Poor GPS

I took a drive a few weeks back to a place I was unfamiliar with.  I got out the GPS device that Catherine and I share and entered the address.  Within seconds I had to plug it into the cigarette lighter port (does anyone actually use a car cigarette lighter anymore?) because the battery went from 3 bars to a red bar indicating danger in a few moments.  I became worried when the scratchy voice told me to turn off the main road and follow a beat up road that looked as if no one had driven on it in months.  Matters became worse when after about 15 minutes down this frightening road the voice from the small box said "Satellite reception lost"...I had no clue where I was and now had no clue where I was going!

I'm not a big fan of the GPS device that Catherine and I share.  I don't like it for three reasons
1.  It loses its charge pretty quickly which requires it to almost always be plugged in
2.  It loses the satellite signal often which causes stress when you don't have a clue where you are
3.  It doesn't give the best route in my opinion

Using a poor GPS device reminds me of what it is to walk through life ignoring the Holy Spirit and following the way of the world.
1.  The things of the world may get you fired up momentarily, but eventually they leave you drained and exhausted
2.  The things of the world give us mixed messages and leave us completely in the dark when we need them most
3.  The way of the world maps out what may appear to be a shortcut but is filled with dangerous roads where one false step will lead to destruction.

Sadly, I have a lot of friends on a journey that are using a poor GPS device rather than relying on the Holy Spirit.  It breaks my heart to see them follow such a dangerous route.

Getting Jesus unstuck

This blog post was inspired by a post in Skin Ministries

 I was on my way to the gym one snowy day and drove by a truck in the ditch.  By the marks in the snow it was obvious that some kids were fooling around and lost control.  The truck was stuck and the drive wheel had spun down into the mud below the snow.  I felt I should stop but shouldn't they sleep in the bed they made.  I drove on still feeling I should stop, but I was on my way to the gym--my training partner was waiting for me.  I drove on, but felt I should go back.  I would but I was on my way to the gym and didn't want to get my shoes and workout pants all wet and muddy.  I drove on, but couldn't shake the voice that was telling me to go back.  I turned around and went back.  Within seconds I had helped push them out.  When the driver smiled at me I felt that Jesus was smiling at me.  I'm so thankful that I went back, but grieved all the times when I didn't and missed the presence of Jesus.

Lean with God

Catherine and I were riding my motorcycle out to Indian Lake Nazarene Campgrounds; I was driving and Catherine was riding on the back.  We were being followed by friends on their motorcycle.  Catherine was fairly new to riding on the back of a motorcycle and wasn't yet comfortable with simply "riding along".  She wanted some control.  This was never more evident as we exited off the freeway.  I took the exit at a little above the posted speed and leaned my 2009 Softail Custom into the corner.  To my surprise she wasn't turning--I leaned more--and for a moment I didn't think we were going to make the turn.  I felt I was almost dragging my knee like a cafe racer.  Praise God we made the corner and my heart only skipped a few beats.  When we got to our destination I was informed by our friends that while I was leaning into the corner, Catherine's natural reaction was to lean the other way, essentially negating my efforts to go in the desired direction.

I think it is our natural reaction to try and lean the other way when God wants us to lean with God.  God may be desiring that we go one way, but our instinct--our comfort zone--says we go the other way.  Catherine and I didn't wreck, but I think sometimes we become a spiritual wreck when we lean counter to God.  Catherine has since become an expert passenger on my bike and we have enjoyed many adventures together.  My hope is that we become expert passengers with God and enjoy every minute of the adventure.


P.S.  I'm not a big fan of the bumper sticker that says "God is my co-pilot".  Shouldn't God be the pilot?

The Mystery of Hell

I really like Star Trek.  And sometimes when I'm thinking I like to be philosophical like Captain Spock and if something doesn't make sense I dismiss it as illogical.  As I wrestle with the concept of a literal and eternal hell I often find myself saying: its illogical--I mean how can a loving God send people to a horrible place for all eternity--it doesn't compute.

However, I have no problem accepting the mystery of the Trinity or the mystery of the incarnation or the mystery of the resurrection--where is my "its illogical" when it comes to these things?  Perhaps hell is another mystery that I just cannot get my finite brain around...

Skunk part 2

Chronologically speaking this should be Skunk Part One, but since we know all things are not written in chronological order...

I was on my way out the door to get the morning paper before going to work when my dog Elvis zipped by my and down the driveway.  Before I realized what happened she had attacked a skunk and ripped it in half at the end of the driveway.  I grabbed her, pulling her away from the fresh kill and thought "wow, she killed that skunk so fast it didn't have time to spray".  I threw her in the house, grabbed the paper, and headed off to the post office for work.  My arrival caused heads to turn and noses to be plugged...get out of here you smell like a skunk.  The phone then rang with my angry wife on the other end asking why I would be stupid enough to let a dog covered in skunk spray loose in the house.  Apparently I was so saturated in the stuff that my olfactory sense shut down--I couldn't smell it!

Sin does that to us.  Sometimes we get so deep in sin that we don't even realize what we are doing.  King David was an example of that.  His sin with Bathsheba so desensitized him to sin that he thought having her husband killed was an option.  He went from lustfully looking to murder because of the desensitizing power of sin.

Lord search my heart and see where I've allowed sin to desensitize me...

Skunk Part One

I just returned from our District's camp meeting where I worked security.  Who knew part of the security job would be chasing and trapping skunks!  We encountered three skunks--thankfully it was during one of the worship services so that most of the people were in the tabernacle.  Gary (a friend), Richard (my son) and I tracked and followed these skunks hoping to keep anyone from being sprayed.  One found refuge under a porch, another went down a hole, but the third went into the bushes where we cornered it.  The camp director Rob Lewis came to the rescue with some traps and a bucket--believe it or not we caught one of them with the bucket.  No one got sprayed!

However, the scent of skunk still lingered in the air--an unpleasant smell at best.  You see skunk smell permeates its surroundings and causes a stench long after the skunk itself is gone.  It is like sin in that way.  We may remove the sin from our lives (woo-who!), but often the stink of that sin still affects us and others around us--even some who just happened to be innocent bystanders.  Sin stinks!

Let us, therefore, through the power of the Holy Spirit do our best to do what God calls us to and to not do those things we know we shouldn't.

(tomorrow I will post my second skunk story)