BruuuuuuuuuuuuuuCE

"Everybody has a reason

Everybody has a friend

Everybody has a reason

to begin again..."

-B. Springsteen, Long Walk Home

DASH - Destiny Awaits So Hurry!

Walking through a cemetery can be a sobering thing. Pieces of etched rock to mark people's remains, over grown grass, and an occasional picture or keepsake is the usual scene. Taking a look at the tombstones, we usually read something interesting about the person like that they were a beloved husband or a war vet. Something most every tombstone will have in common is one's (1) Birth date (2) A Dash (3) Year of Death.

Number's 1 and 3 are not as important as number 2--Which is the DASH.

The DASH symbolizes how a person lived their lives. Was the person gracious or a tyrant with people? What were the person's priorities? Etc.

-The DASH is a summation of the person who now lies in the ground- If you are reading this, then you are in your dash...living and forming and making your own legacy of how you will be remembered. Ephesians 5: 15-16 states, "Be careful how you walk not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." I think this is good advice. The Apostle Paul does not want you to throw away your life by wasting it on foolish things. Rather his counsel is for you to live by wisdom-which has its foundation in God's Word.

With all this in mind-remember your DASH... Destiny Awaits So Hurry!

Now is your time

Today is your day

Any moment can be your moment

For a new beginning

Short N Sweet

"Be the change you wish to see in the world"

M. Gandhi

Stinky Sweat

I can remember a job I had in college which required me to stand in bathrooms with yellow rubber gloves on and clean stuff. (Stuff is used purposefully in place of the things I would like to permanently forget). -Moving on. While working, I used to say phrases like, "This job stinks!' (absolutely no pun intended) while sweat rolled off my forehead. Something I read this morning in the Gospel of Luke reminded me of the two words in my title, stinky sweat. In Luke 13, Jesus tells a parable about a barren fig tree. In it, two men discuss the fact that after 3 years, this certain fig tree did not produce fruit and the one guy says its time to whack it. The other man, thinks that the fig tree might deserve another chance and he says that he will, "dig around it and fertilize it." Only after this process is he willing to cut it down.

So I have been thinking about the two men, the two different attitudes and the two drastic implications of those attitudes. First, Man #1 wanted to give up on the tree. For him it was a quick decision. No fruit No problem might be his motto. "Take this ax and cut the tree down." For Man #2, it was a longer decision process. It was almost as if he believed in the sad tree and thought about the future blessings it could bestow. Second, Man #1 had an ax. This tool is sharp and cuts things down above the surface. Man #2 carried a shovel and some fertilizer. A shovel is also sharp but it is used to dig deep into the earth. There is something about digging down below what is seen and into the unknown. The other item Man #2 was equipped with was ... fertilizer. You know what fertilizer is? Right? Don't tell anyone but it was poo. (Yes, the same stuff I was cleaning while in college)

I think if I was in this parable I would definitely be the first guy. Ax in hand. Ready to chop, chop, chop...

I guess I can't stop thinking about my own life while reflecting on this parable.Would I be where I am today, if it were not for people like Man #2? It takes a really wonderful person to look at someone and invest their time, energy, and resources into them rather than cut them down prematurely. When you do this, you will in a real way be like the man who decided to dig deep and get sweaty and then add fertilizer for growth...time to get stinky.

Maybe the point of all of this is when you see a person as God sees them you see the potential fruit hanging off their branches rather than a promise of future bareness.

--Thank you Jesus for being Man # 2.

The Charlie List

I'm not totally sure how many of you have actually met my dog Charlie, so I have decided to write a top ten list of his favorites.

-He is watching me type this right now, so I am treading lightly...

1. Sunday mornings. He is a Christian.

2. Sunday afternoons at my parents. He sits under the table right by dad. You can probably guess why.

3. Riding in cars.

4. Going on walks.

5. Sleeping on beds (he is allowed ONLY in the winter. This is Christen's idea by the way...she says he is too cold !?).

6. Prank phone calls. [yes, he picks up the phone and selects random people to call...then just breathes!]

7. His tennis ball.

 8. Treats.

9. Christen (He thinks she is His girlfriend).

10.Going to the park and running after his tennis ball. This routine is filled with treats and adventure. There is simply nothing better in the world of dogdom.