So very long

It has been a long time - almost 8 months - since I last posted.  There were reasons, some of which are still relevant and others that are not.  Life is interesting (yes, sometimes interesting ala the 'Serenity' definition) and much water has flowed under the bridge since I last set down my thoughts here.  My son got married and added a granddaughter to our lives in the process.   Two of my girls became pregnant and delivered healthy baby girls (3 weeks apart) - yes I will post pictures when I remember to do so.  Aaron signed up for the Army although he hasn't left for training yet.  Another birthday has passed and we now have concrete in our backyard.  We started the process of "plugging in" at our church by joining a couples study that lasted 10 weeks (we did Sacred mMarriage and iMarriage).

This time of year can be difficult, especially in blended families or when the family has scattered (in our case both are true).  This holiday season has the potential to be a very one.   I plan to grasp that potential and hold on for the ride.

blessings on your day

What can it hurt???

FaceBook - the bright and shining star of the social media world.   The rise to fame and the way it essentially cornered the market has been chronicled in books and even a movie.  It is used to connect with lost friends, share information within a family or small community, promote a business or event, play games, connect students and teachers, researchers and subjects, promote revolution, organize boycotts, improve self-esteem (recent study) and countless other uses.  The number of people who have FaceBook accounts (or even more than one account) has grown explosively.  It is touted by companies, radio and TV, celebrities and even the government.  In spite of all the security issues, it still remains the number one social networking site in the world.

Yet for the last year or so, we have heard a few, quiet murmurs from the Christian community questioning the value of FaceBook - or at least attempting to raise awareness of the risks.  Now the (more or less) mainstream media has caught wind of the impact of FaceBook on the American marriage.  In a recent article, divorce lawyers reported that about 20% of all divorces now include some negative impact from FaceBook (full article HERE).  Social media have made the process of having an affair ridiculously easy.  Now we can find and hook-up with old flames, former friends and total strangers all without ever leaving our keyboards.

No longer do we have to cultivate an intimate friendship at work, the gym or the grocery store.  We can find people that share most (or all) of our pet interests with the click of a mouse.  We can share intimate details of our lives, pictures and fantasies without the risk of someone seeing us at the local coffee shop.

And yet with all of that, there are still churches that promote FaceBook as a way to connect, stay in touch and disseminate information.  It is ironic that these same churches would never consider putting up fliers at the local bar, liquor store strip club.  When will we learn that technology is not the answer to every question?

How Do You Cope?

Last night at my men's group, we were discussing the roots of addiction.  The common theme (among all addicts) is the drive to find a way to hide or push away the pain.  At some point in our lives - rather than learn how to cope - we discovered that medicating makes the pain tolerable.  "Medicating" can take on many different forms.  Over the years, I have come in contact with some of the different "medications" that people use to mange life, some (substance abuse) are obvious - some are not.  

Some of the less obvious ones have included violence & control, eating disorders, reality tv (my life sucks so I want to watch YOURS), gaming, obsessions with the supernatural/fantasy, reading (this has been one of mine); work/career and shopping.

It seems as if we can not handle life without help, support and artificial means.  I am sure that this says quite a bit about our society as a whole as well as the flaws in humanity.  And, as I am sure most recovering addicts can attest - the urge to replace one addiction with another is insidious and often supported by recovery programs.  The longer we "use" (whether a true addiction or one of the items listed above), the harder it is to handle life on life's terms.  Truly I don't know how people without God in their lives manage to keep putting one foot in front of another.   I know that it is only by the grace and mercy of God that I make it through every hour of every day.

This gives the old adage "let go and let God" a whole new twist.

blessings on your day

R.I.P.

Yesterday I got a call from the church we attended for many years.  A friend had a heart attack and died suddenly.   Roger and Betsy were some of our earliest friends at that church.  When I got my cancer diagnosis (almost 5 years ago now), Betsy decided I needed to be lifted up and sent me 2-3 notes a week with scripture and words of encouragement.   Even though we haven't seen each other for several years now, I was one of the people she asked the church to contact when her husband died.

Please pray for our friend Betsy and her 2 boys during this time of grief.  Rest in peace Roger, we will see you again someday.

Surgery

Emma's surgery on her shoulder went well.  The doctor cleaned up her rotator cuff and that was about it.   He said that she has severe inflammation and that there is nothing surgery can do to help her.  I guess it is a "good-news, bad-news" thing.  She goes in today to talk about options, next-steps and when she will be released back to work.  Thank you for all the prayers and support the past week.

The Birds Are Angry

Ok, I admit it - I do play games on my smartphone.  Not a lot of games, mind you - I just don't have the time.  Mostly I play Sudoku (and usually just during conference calls ;)

A little while back I read about the new gaming rage - Angry Birds.  As it turns out, that game was available on the Palm Pre.  Today, they also released the Christmas Edition!  This game is HIGHLY addictive and you should absolutely never, ever play it!

;)

The Sound of Music

The last couple of years we have started a tradition of taking in live theater during December.  This year we went to a local production of The Sound of Music.   Besides doing a great job in a small, rustic venue, the lead was a friend of ours - Coppelia.

Coppelia happens to be not only a superb Maria (her voice is amazing) but she is the music director at The Ridge Church as well as one of the on-air personalities at Air1.  If you are local to south Placer county, try to catch a performance (make sure to get tickets for the "Vienna" cast).

Get In And Drive!

I was listening to one of my favorite radio preachers this morning (during a commute from hell) and he shared a scene from the movie Blackhawk Down.

An army ranger colonel is trying to lead a convoy to safety amid a firestorm of enemy fire.  He stops the convoy to retrieve some wounded soldiers.  He drags a dead soldier out of the driver's seat of a jeep and turns to a sergeant standing near by. 

"Get in and drive" says the colonel.  "But colonel, I've been shot" stammers the sergeant.  "We've all been shot - get in and drive!" yells the colonel.

The point of the preacher was, of course, that in the process of living we have all been shot - most of us repeatedly.  I find that this is so very true.  We are a world of the walking wounded.  Some of us "get in and drive" and others sit down by the side of the road and give up.  Every time I see the public out-pouring of support for some small child suffering from (put your favorite disease, condition or traumatic event here) all I can think about are the thousands of children suffering from the same thing in total obscurity.

I don't know why it is that some of us can keep putting one foot in front of the other while some curl into a ball and hide under a rock.  I have hidden under a rock on occasion but God keeps gently prodding me until I get back on my feet and start moving again.  I know that to live life engaged, interactive and relational is to brave a hail storm of bullets.  Unless we completely isolate ourselves from the world (and especially from people) we are going to get shot at and occasionally wounded.

Ultimately it is what you do after getting shot that matters the most.

Get in and drive!

Oy

What a week it has been at work.   I have been working on a project that is visible all the way to the top of the corporate ladder (42 levels best I can tell).  Not that there is any pressure but I was told "the staffing within the group will change if this isn't a sparkling success."  As a result, I have been up to my ears in work trying to get the project back on track and back on schedule (the lead has been stuck out of the country for over 2 months now so I am now "driving").

We got all the decorations down and put out the ones we still have room for.  The house is slowly starting to look like we live there (not just staying in a hotel).  Andy and Dale hung racks and shelves in my garage so I am able to park 2 cars there now.

Cookie Day was a smashing success.  We got 4 batches baked (usually only 2) and several thousand cookies distributed to family members.

Anyway, that is all I have time for as my task list isn't getting smaller while I type :)

blessings on your day

Time for Baking

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything under the sun.  Today is the time for baking!

I know that most families have traditions around the holidays.  We all tend to think that the other families' traditions are odd but that our are perfectly normal.  That being said, the longest running tradition that I am aware of in OUR family is Cookie Day.

For as long as I can remember, it has been our family tradition to gather the day after Thanksgiving and bake peppernuts.  Peppernuts are a traditional German cookie (there are 2 types, those with anise and those with cardamom - ours are the latter).  No matter where we are on Thanksgiving Day, we all gather back together on the Friday after.  It is not unusual to bake up to 3 batches of cookies at about 700 cookies per batch.  We warm up the leftover turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes and yams.  We mix the dough, roll out the cookies and have cooling racks set up all over the kitchen.

This year, for the first time, it is at our house.  Truly, there is nothing like being surrounded by 25-30 family members and baking cookies.  May you and your families have an amazing day as well.

What Are You Thankful For?

There is so much to be thankful for in my life.  

• I have been cancer free for 2 years now
• We moved into a new home last month
• I have 8 children, 3 "kid-in-laws", 1 grandson and the most amazing wife
• I am employed at a thriving company
• I live in a country where I can worship the way I want; have access to churches, teaching and radio ministries and can witness openly
• We have never gone hungry, been homeless or suffered persecution

The list could be much larger of course.  I have great friends, wonderful family and the Hand of God in my life.  As we gather around the table this holiday season I want to remember that there are many here in this country and around the globe that have far less but are so much more grateful than we are.  Sometimes when we are so very blessed, we start to take those blessings for granted.  Take a few moments today to reflect on the Grace and Mercy of our Heavenly Father and remember.

blessings on your day

VOTD

 

Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

~ Psalm 95:2, NLT

Live right and live well!

[repost]

Isaiah 42:6 - “I am God. I have called you to live right and well. I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe.  I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations."

God has kept us safe for a purpose. He gives us the mission to live right and well. This twofold purpose draws other people to Him. Not just to be righteous, but live well.  Enjoy life.  Delight in each day and in the people God has placed in our life!  Thank you Lord for Your amazing plan. 

Joani L. Burris
Refined daughter of the Most High King

Verse of the Year

⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. ⁸ Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.


Joshua 1:7-8 (NLT)

Altars

Altars are interesting things.  What we call an altar today bears little (or no) resemblance to the altars that the Israelites built during the time before the kings.  From the time of Abram, altars had a special meaning.  Every time there was an interaction with God, someone stopped and built an altar.  They built altars when they were blessed, they built altars when they were disciplined, they built altars when God revealed Himself.

Altars in the Old Testament were special.  They were built of "undressed stone" (just big rocks that were laying around nearby), they were named (and remembered) and often assembled of a particular number of stones (12 is the most common).  Time and again these altars are spoken of as "and it is known by this name today" meaning that people of subsequent generations saw the altars and knew why they had been built.

Altars today are often little more than ornate (or not so ornate) tables that hold up candles, bibles and the host during communion.  The commemorate nothing and stand for nothing.  They have no special or lasting significance.

When was the last time you stopped and built an altar?   When was the last time you acknowledged what God had done or was doing in your life and immortalized the moment?  When was the last time you opened the photo album and walked your children through the altars of YOUR life?  How many of us can recount even one event from our parents and grandparents lives showing the Hand of God?  How many of our children will be able to do that for OUR lives?

Build an altar today.  Create a memory/record of what God has done for you.  Share it with your children so that THEY won't forget either.  We need more altars.

blessings on your day