a life...

This year I learned about fertilizing your lawn in the Fall.  Now, before you get all high and mighty, or feel stupid. Please read on…

In the early Spring my lawn has some significant bare places that are quickly filled by unwanted weeds.  When you visit any store you see fertilizer everywhere.  It is pretty obvious to anyone that fertilizer or some such product is probably the answer.  Before long, those places in my yard are no longer green, which I suppose is good, at least according to my neighbors who don’t like me sharing my dandelions.  As the summer progressed this year, other greenery, not so weedy looking plants took over, some of it even looked like grass.  
September rolls around and my yard is looking great. I am feeling pretty good about myself.  Then I start seeing these commercials about feeding my lawn in the Fall.  I scratch my head.  I don’t see weeds.  The commercials stop  and a cool snap comes through and then all of the sudden, I have weeds all over my yard.  Now, what I don’t know is that all during this time of these commercials, there are these seeds in my yard germinating and preparing a take over of a decent looking yard.  

So, now my quandary. My yard looks pretty dead. We have already had a snow, a couple of nights of freezing temps and still, I have a yard with some pretty strong looking weeds.  Is it too late? 

My yard has taught me something.  It needs to be fed. Not one a year with some good food. Not all the time with water.  But some of both pretty often.  For me, I need to be in the Word, I need the community of faith on a regular basis, I need to be trimmed (pruned even), and then I need a good fertilizing.  Denise and I are getting alone this weekend.  We are taking off in Januarty for a weekend conference.  I think a little bit of all that is needed if we are going to keep the weeds out.   

They say men only have a certain number of words they use each day.  I was going to use some quip here, relying on sources easily found in books and on the web, about differences between the number of words men and women use. But, alas, a little fact checking led me to avoid such a quip. It turns out, like most things, our pool of “wisdom” is not based on any substantive research.  We would like to pride ourselves on relying on research; but actually I would say we just want to find someone else who has said something that agrees with what we are thinking. Or maybe we would just like others to feel the way we do. That is why I continue to get those same emails, the ones snopes disregarded for us in the late 90’s. Some make you cry, but is it true, or just something to make us feel. 

 All this leads me to what I was originally intending to say.  When I sit down at the computer, I find a lack of words.  At least a lack of things I wouldn’t mind being quoted as saying.  So I am back for now, but don’t hold your breath.

I say lets have a conversation with someone we can touch. Then, let’s end that conversation with a genuine wink or a hug or something that no semicolon paranthesis will ever be able to convey.  We are able to feel more than just the small plastic squares with letters smudged from our sweat.  They will remain cold and lifeless no matter how much time we spend with them.  Your neighbor on the other hand…he could use a nice warm word or maybe even a handshake. 

So for now, see you later

I am on the light rail, the public train in Denver, Colorado. I am on my way back from a day of training.

 Talking is a rare commodity. Papers and oblivion to the world, yet keenly aware of others all around.  We seem to be content with not talking, yet have this desire that over takes our self control, usually facilitated by someone else who also loses their ability to remain silent and looking busy, distracted or asleep. Kids often engage others as they have not bought into our incessant need to abide by social norms. 

My experiences this week have again convinced me that the social norms are not helpful. When I feel the Spirit move me to break into someone’s world they seem happy to have someone care enough to make the effort.  I will admit that for me, if I make this my habit even if the “spirit doesn’t move” I am quicker to be obedient when I do hear His still small voice.   

Paul speaks about training ourselves in righteousness. I would dare say that this is what I am referring to with my processing above.  

So, what do we do about this?  I am not saying that we have to share the gospel with everyone we talk to.  I think we just need to be nice and friendly.  One of those morning shows had someone make a challenge… Talk to one stranger everyday.  What a great challenge.  I think this is what I will blog about. I think I have finally found some motivation to write.   

Thanks for taking the time to “hear” my thoughts.

Paul shares in 1 Cor. 9 about how his desire to share the gospel has shaped who he is and decides what he does and does not do. This passage has led to a large dichotomy among believers today.   

With great passion many have sought to “purify” the church, to make her holy while here on earth.  They abstain and preach abstinence for the sake of the weak.  They criticize others who do not abstain with absolution, saying they compromise the gospel for the sake of culture.  The driver of Paul’s actions was a desire that people from. Very different cultures and belief systems could hear and see the Truth.  He was true to the gospel, to that none would argue.  If Paul became like one not under the law, did he continue to be a radical advocate of unequivocal obedience to the law? Did he possibly abide by the law himself, but find ways to be homest and loving to those not under the law?  How did he identify with them? 

I suppose it is good to be light from to time.  Daddy is one of my favorite names.  This little one has the cutest voice when she calls me.  There may come aday when I regret her learning to take me down.  For now, it brings me nothing but smiles!!!!