We have so much stuff; collectibles - or as my wife calls them, "Memories." Regardless, we are having a garage sale tomorrow and what was a little pricy at the beginning is now going for pennies on the dollar. In the beginning they held special purpose. This one reminded me of our first date; that one was when our child was born. The special Christmas when we didn't have any money... well, there's that little trinket we bought for each other (our children thought it was an awesome gift and we knew that it came from a garage sale down the street).

The value is not really in the money spent but the memories connected. And, talk about a reality check! Our kids' refusal to take those treasures of memories past, tells a story. We are taking the time to tell them that those pictures are signed oil paintings by the artist; that rocking chair is from the 1700s; that cheap black leopard was a gift your aunt and Dad bought for your grandmother on one of our lean years in the 50s. The china is by a top-of-the-line company that no longer exists (irreplaceable). That book is an original and worth hundreds of dollars. And those ornaments are from your grandfather's childhood on the Kentucky farm.

"Houston, we have a problem." What is a treasure to us is another man's garbage. Our memories associated with the item is meaningless to someone else.

So, go ahead! Stick your finger in the bucket of water and pull it out. You didn't leave much of an impression did you! I wonder... it really must be that important to store treasures in Heaven where moth and rust can't destroy. And the memories associated with the treasure will declare the glory of God... for eternity.

Where's your treasure?

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today.

What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

Millions have been made from that commercial jingle. And, I must admit that some of that money is mine. Offer me a Klondike and it's gone - dark or regular chocolate... with or without nuts. BUT, it must have vanilla on the inside or it's going in the trash.

What would you do for a day in Heaven? The ones who know the answer will quickly say, "Nothing!" It's a free gift. Well, free to us. But it cost Jesus everything. Consider that for a moment. God doesn't ask you to do anything other than accept His offer. There is no performance involved; you never have to turn over a new leaf; He doesn't ask for you to give all your money...

But, He does say that those who truly are forgiven will serve - not to become forgiven but because they are forgiven. It's a love thing. You either have it or you don't. It can't be worked up or faked. It's there or not.

Do you have it?

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today.

Many times the walls of the underpass have been painted a shade of white. Messages and tags from graffiti "artists" have been covered by each coat of the white wash. So, today as I drove under the bridge it jumped out at me in glaring red paint and the lettering was neat and "non-gangsta" in appearance. The message haunted me as I drove towards the line of traffic stopped at the traffic signal. It simply asked, "If, in retrospect, you knew I would kill myself, would you stop me?"

My mind raced to another time and a different place. I heard the gunshot. The thud of the body bouncing off the wall still remains in my mind's eardrums. Amid the smell of a discharged bullet, I opened the door and the contents of that room changed my world forever. I know the pain of questions unanswered. I have felt the sting of false guilt. The rage of the unanswered "why" drives the survivors to great lengths to find an answer.

So, my dear graffiti writer, would I stop you? With every ounce of my being I would do whatever I could to interfere with your choices. I would accept the sting of your rage as I interrupt your decision. I would gladly allow you to foam every vile word in my direction if it would bring peace to your mind. I would place my arms around your convulsing frame and hold you tightly until you could feel my love for another human soul in turmoil.

But, I would never... never drive by and say, "Go ahead. I don't care!"

So, if you are headed down that path, if you would write a similar question on the walls of your life's roadway, I pray that God would put someone in your path who will do what they can to let you know of their love and concern. However, ultimately only you can change that coarse of action. Please, open your wound to someone and seek help. Call your local crisis hot-line. Find a compassionate minister or friend. Do something... anything... other than taking that next step.

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today (and I hope to see you here many more days in the future - you really are worth it).

To admit there's a problem is to accept responsibility to make a decision... either leave it alone or change. If you leave it alone the issue will only further deteriorate. If you move towards change, you must take responsibility coupled with humility to really change.

The sad truth is, many times we ignore the problem. We even have a pithy expression to describe it... sweeping it under the carpet. The difficulty with carpet bumps is, everyone is aware as we try to ignore it. This is so prevalent that we even have a pithy description of that act... overlooking the obvious pink elephant in the room.

What is it in us that makes it so difficult to humbly accept blame? Why do we administer humility and begin taking steps to correct the problem, only after we are forced to? We need relationships to survive: with God, others, and self. However, we will change our relationship with God and others before we will change our self. Why? What's so hard about saying, "It's my fault?"

A simple look at Adam and Eve will give a clue. Each blamed something else for their sin. And ultimately, everyone blamed God. Let me stop for a moment and share a new fact with you... It's never God's fault - never.

Does this sound familiar?

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today.

I left the house early this morning to make hospital visits. I arrived at 7 am and spent some time in one surgical waiting room with a family waiting for their loved one to return from surgery. I then moved to another surgical waiting room and spent time with that family as they prepared for their surgery. My phone rang and I learned that another member had been taken to the hospital with an emergency and I was needed in the ER. I waited until he was checked in and lying on his gurney and then spent time with him and his wife. While there I received a text letting me know that another one of our members had been admitted and I needed to check on them too.

Wow! When it rains it pours.

At times life comes at you in waves. Lot found this to be true; so did Daniel; and David also. You attempt to turn the corner and are met by violent winds. You turn your back to the cold and are faced with pelting rain. You endeavor to open your umbrella and the winds turn it inside out.

Where do the non-believers turn in such moments? How do they find grace for the trial? What brings them comfort and peace when safety has left the building?

The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide. A shelter in the time of storm. Secure whatever ill be-tide, a shelter in the time of storm... A shade by day, defence by night, a shelter in the time of storm. No fears alarm, no foes afright. A shelter in the time of storm... O, Jesus is the Rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land. O, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm.

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today.

The end of summer is here and that always leads to cooler days and changing of leaves - into winter. In just a few months 2010 will be gone. This would be a good time to revisit your list of resolutions you committed to back a few months ago. You wanted to lose 10 pounds, get back into those comfortable jeans, finish that mega-book, visit a sick friend, stop fighting with your mother...

There are a million things we resolve to change. I'm not sure how many of these commitments are followed but it does show that we are not satisfied with life. Not everything is as perfect as we portray to our world. There is a lack of satisfaction; a desire for more; wishing things were a little different.

The reality is, it is what it is. Life has presented you with circumstances and your choices have influenced the current condition. Is it perfect? Probably not. But I think the more important question would be, what does God think of my life right now? Is He happy; would He say well done; is there pride in His heart for what has been made of life?

Well, I think I need to go for now. I've been looking for my list of things to do in 2010, and I'm running out of time.

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today.

I just read a comment on Facebook by a friend of mine. It made me laugh and I understood what she was saying. I thought of my wife and her group of friends and can't wait for her to rise from her dreaming so I can tell her. So, as I am waiting let me share this piece of wisdom with you...

"I don't mean to brag, but I can still fit into my earrings I wore in high school."

We all have a desire (which strengthens with age) to identify with who we were in younger times. The bride of fifty years renews her vows and hopes she can still fit into her wedding gown - not a chance for the husband and his tux. A trip to the 40th reunion of our graduation and we walk away privately asking (pleading) with our spouse, "How did they get so old and I stayed young!"

We avoid full length mirrors because of the truth they reveal. Fortunes have been made producing products that cover the gray. tighten the sags, and remove the dark spots. Hours are spent each week sweatin' to the oldies - not so much for the cardio as for the removal of the bulge.

Let me ask... have you spent as much time and money on your spiritual health this week?

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today.

A few days ago I was talking with our realtor about some final issues of our house sale. He has attended church a couple of times recently and I have been speaking on Faith and Doubt (see sermons link on web home page). In the middle of our conversation he inserted a "thought" he had last Sunday in church. He said, "Faith is like air. You can't see it; it is necessary to live, and without it you can die."

Like Mary Poppins said, "By jove, I think he's got it!" He may be nearer to the truth than he thinks.

The writer of Hebrews says that faith is the evidence of things you can't see, touch, smell, or feel. It's a commodity that you know when you experience it and may (or may not) know when it's gone. Without it, Jesus could not do any miracles in a city. Think of what that means. They had the Power to meet their needs right there with them. But because of their lack of faith, Jesus could not work the miraculous... and they remained sick, blind, maimed and dying.

In stead of the old commercial, "Show me the beef!" Let me request... "Show me your faith!" Without it, the miracle you're waiting on may just pass you by.

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today.

I rode my bike to work today (weather has been preventing this for several days). And, I followed the developed routine in preparation for my ride. One of the last things I do before I go to the garage is to put my boots on (I always wear proper gear). So, left foot goes on first - done. I begin putting my right boot on when I feel something unnatural inside. I quickly pull my foot out and look and right there... I mean in my hallowed Harley boots was some throw-up from our dog!

Have you ever wanted to take something weighing about 4 pounds and bounce it off the wall! For the sake of full disclosure, she has been very sick for the past few days. But, can not she express her sickness someplace other than the inside of my boot? We keep her in the laundry room with tile floors just for such moments. And out of all the room she selects the small opening to MY boot.

I quickly ascended the stairs, boot in hand, and showed the mess to my wife. I was expecting a different response than the one I received, "Well, I have been trying to get you to keep those boots in the garage near the bike." (smiley, smiley... kissy, kissy) Then with all the love of a wife and the owner of a sick dog she assured me, "Just leave them by the door and I will clean them before I leave."

Well, just stab me in the heart. Not only am I offended by the dog, I am loved on by it's owner.

Have you ever felt stabbed by one of God's children? And when you go to the Father to complain you walked away knowing He loves you and will love them too?

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today.

I awoke and looked at the clock; it was 2:22. Hum... weird!

"Is that an omen; I mean how many times does that happen? Should I buy a lotto ticket and use those numbers; is that my lucky sign or should I watch out for the storm clouds?"

People live their lives by such antics. Don't step on a crack or you'll... Everyone knows what it means if a black cat crosses your path. And no one wants to walk under a ladder or open an umbrella in a building. You simply must throw a dash of salt over your shoulder for good luck. A hearty "God bless you!" must be given after a sneeze.

Superstitions... sometimes they are harmless but they should never control our life. Walking behind a cat, or under a ladder will not bring good or bad luck. Breaking a mirror will never bring the goblins of evil your direction. God's universe simply is not made to work in such ways. Certainly you can see a black cat and something negative happen. But how many times has something negative happened and there were no cats around; ladders in the way; salt that turned over?

Live today in light of what is, not what could be. God reminds us that we have enough to deal with just today. So, don't worry about tomorrow - it will take care of itself. At least that's what the Creator thinks.

Thanks for sitting in the corner with me today.

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