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This is a Little Risky

February 27, 2012 in True Stories, Wisdom with 0 Comments

We were traveling home from church recently when I noticed something black sitting in the middle of the far left lane.  I couldn’t discern what it was but it wasn’t moving so I was not overly concerned about it.  After I passed by the object, I checked my rearview mirror to make sure that whatever it was, had not suddenly come to life and chasing us down in our car; however, upon checking my mirror and to my surprise I saw a guy running across the highway to retrieve the object out of the road.  Whatever the object was, it must have been important because this guy ran in front of three cars that were speeding 65 MPH (we’re in Ohio so we have not moved into the 70 MPH realm yet) down the highway  toward him.  Seriously.  I was scared for the safety of the guy.  I continued to watch the situation unfold even though I should have been watching the road in front of me, but I wanted to see the fate of this crazy man.  At what seemed to me the last moment, he reached down, grabbed the object, and ran back to safety.  It was extremely risky.

Seeing this dangerous situation take place got me thinking about risks, which can simply be defined as the possibility of loss.  I understand that risk can yield a possible gain, but what about when the apparent gain is, in reality, a loss?  People risk their marriage because someone “better” comes along.  Fathers risk time with their kids because of the possible gain at their job.  Individuals risk their future by not practicing discernment in the present.  If you are going to take a risk, make sure that the risk is not really you trying to gain what will eventually bring you loss.

It’s Time to Quit

February 25, 2012 in Funny Stories, True Stories, Weakness with 0 Comments

Toward the end of the work day my wife, Leah, called and said that the garage door was not functioning properly.  She went on to describe that the opener was making weird noises when she pressed the button inside the garage, which if you know me, means nothing.  I should not be a homeowner.  I know nothing about fixing anything and I have well documented my stupidity many times on this blog…I digress.  When I arrived home later that evening I discovered that the chain that pulls the garage up and down had come off track.  Simple fix, right?  Wrong.  For the next 90 minutes, Leah and I attempted to get that thing working.  I did what I knew how to do and even read the instructions that came with the garage door opener (go figure), but nothing worked.  I was at an absolute loss, not to mention I was frustrated, very frustrated.  My frustration finally led me to quit trying to fix the garage door.  I was out of ideas and without any other known options.

Fixing a garage door is trivial compared to many other situations we face in life that leave us “out of ideas and without any other known options.”  During these times we quit trying.  As Christians there are times where we need to quit trying. Before you jump to conclusions about quitting, I’m not referring to the type of quitting where we lose hope, but the type of quitting that leads you to a greater dependence on God.  There is a difference.  Hopeless quitting causes me to abandon everything, including God’s help.  Dependent quitting causes me to stop trying to fix things on my own and trust God for the outcome.

By the way, our garage door opener finally got fixed when I turned it over to someone who knew what they were doing.  Maybe it is time for you to do the same.

Ignore This!

February 24, 2012 in Guilt, Loving Others, True Stories with 0 Comments

It was about 5:15am and I was already heading to the gym on one of the main roads near our house.  Right before I arrived at the gym, my headlights caught something moving near the side of the road.  At first glance I thought it was a large dog, but as I approached I noticed that it was not a dog but a deer.  I slowed my car way down and slowly passed by the deer and noticed that it was in trouble.  The deer’s back legs were caught in a storm drain while its front legs were firmly planted on the ground in front of it.  As I drove past the struggling deer, I swear it looked straight into my eyes until I was no longer in sight.  The thought crossed my mind to stop and help the deer, but I couldn’t remember if they were labeled as animals who bite.  Oh well.  Certainly, someone else who knew more about deer would stop and help, besides, I had a schedule to keep.  Almost an hour later I traveled the same road home and wondered what had happened to the deer.  Did someone stop and help?  Was the deer able to free itself?  Was the deer still struggling?  My curiosity was suddenly satisfied when I drove past the very spot where the deer had been struggling one hour ago and it was lying on the side of the road…dead.

It happens every day.  We see someone struggling.  We think that there is someone more qualified to help.  We walk away.  We wonder what ever happened to that person who was struggling.  We find out that they’ve made a mess of their life.  We feel bad that we didn’t do something to help.  We keep on ignoring people.

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.  If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, ‘Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you’” (Proverbs 3:27-28, NLT).

Those who are struggling need an extended hand, not a turned head.

Showing a Little Leg

February 23, 2012 in Funny Stories, True Stories with 0 Comments

The other night we received an unexpected storm which dropped a very small amount of snow across parts of northeast Ohio.  Although there was only a dusting of snow, it was wet and heavy and needed to be shoveled off of the driveway, especially since my nine year old daughter had a friend coming over in the afternoon and I didn’t want them to walk on a slippery driveway.  Instead of putting on my snow pants and a heavy jacket, I decided to quickly shovel the snow…in my shorts.  I know it sounds weird but I didn’t feel like spending the next 15 minutes layering all my clothes so I just grabbed a shovel and started clearing the driveway.  As I was finishing, the friend and her mom pulled into our freshly shoveled driveway and I walked them to the front door where my wife and daughter were already waiting with the door open.  As soon as my daughter and her friend took off upstairs to play, the girl’s mom left, but my wife pulled me to the side and whispered, “Lexi is embarrassed that you were shoveling the driveway in your shorts when her friend arrived.”

What????  Since when is it a crime to shovel snow in your shorts?

iForgot

January 2, 2012 in God, True Stories with 0 Comments

Stupid receipt!  I’m usually pretty good about keeping receipts for the purchases I make, especially when there is a warranty involved; however, I must have forgotten where I put this one.  Since I’m rarely guilty of losing things (this is connected to my OCD tendencies!), I feel like I need to search high and low until the item is located.  When I first start looking, I accept the search as a “fun challenge” but the longer I search, the more the “fun challenge” turns into “anger management.”  After an hour of hide and seek, I gave up.  I have no clue where I put that stupid receipt.  Every possible location has been turned upside down.  I absolutely hate losing track of something valuable, but I’m human.  I lose stuff.

God never loses stuff.  Ever.  God has never lost track of you even though you may have lost track of Him.  I was reminded of this truth while recently reading through the words written by the psalmist in Psalm 139:7-10 (NKJV),

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.  If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.”

God has not forgotten your location. He lovingly cares about every one of His children and because He is a perfect Father, He has never lost track of His family.

Consider This For Your New Year…

January 1, 2012 in Determination, Life, Perspective, True Stories with 0 Comments

At first glance, I didn’t think it was weird to see someone in the gym on crutches because the gym is a perfect place for those who are attempting to rehabilitate from an accident or injury; however, my second glance revealed that this was not a normal injury.  The man only had one leg.  I’ve seen some unique things at the gym over the past year, but this situation really made me think.  Was it an accident?  Was it a war-related injury?  Was it caused by sickness or disease?  I know it is not polite to stare, but I did.  I was curious.  What can a guy with only one leg do in a gym?  I watched as he moved from one weight machine to another, developing the other muscles in his body.  It was pretty amazing.

This guy possessed something all of us need to practice this coming year.  Instead of focusing on what I don’t have or what has been taken away, I will use what God has given me.  In a world that is always in pursuit of what they don’t have, maybe it is time to finally forget what cannot be changed and determine to do my best with I have.  You may be entering this year with less faith and more scars…fewer accomplishments and more regrets.  You have two choices: live another year mourning what is missing or live this year developing those things which are certain.

Tired of Living in a Van Down by the River?

December 28, 2011 in Determination, Motivation, Thoughts with 2 Comments

Only a few more days until this year expires and a new one begins.  If you are like me, you’ve probably outlined or are outlining some resolutions for the new year .  It is exciting to solidify these resolutions, but the real challenge is to keep these resolutions.  Will you be able to sustain your resolutions beyond a week or a month?  The answer is firmly rooted in one word, perseverance.  Perseverance is the ability to stay on course no matter the circumstance.  When times are good, I won’t get comfortable.  When times are bad, I refuse to quit.  This simple attitude determines whether your resolutions will last beyond day one.  Here are a few guidelines for staying on track in the new year.

Everyone needs a motivational speaker. I’m not talking about “Matt Foley,” but someone who can genuinely motivate you when you want to give up.  This person should be able to sympathize without compromising your goals.

If you quit, start again the next day. Everyone quits.  Everyone is not a quitter.  A quitter is someone who never starts again.

Give yourself time. No goal worth accomplishing is automatic.  Remind yourself about the end result when you choose to make good daily choices.

If you don’t want things to be like they have been, there is no turning back.  Your future awaits you.  Here’s to perseverance.

Is losing weight one of your new year’s resolutions?  If so, check out what I believe to be the secret to weight loss and read my own story of how I lost 20 pounds in the first 90 days of 2010.

photo courtesy of dezignia.com

Someone Stole My Debit Card!

November 2, 2011 in Funny Stories, Relationship with God, True Stories with 2 Comments

I decided to stop in at McDonalds yesterday morning to pick up a Frappe before work; however, my day suddenly took a turn for the worst as the lady at window 1 informed me that my debit card had been declined.  That seemed odd to me, especially since I had balanced my checkbook the night before and was certain that I had at least three dollars to cover the Caramel Frappe.  After paying for my order with another card (it pays to Discover), I quickly parked in the McDonalds parking lot to check my bank transactions on my phone and I soon discovered that some redneck from North Carolina (I can say that since I grew up in NC) attempted to use my card number to make several hundred dollars worth of purchases.  At first I tried to call my bank but their system was down ( yay for that), so I stopped in at the local branch as soon as they opened.  The bank teller made a phone call to the fraud department and confirmed my fears – some redneck in North Carolina tried to use my debit card number!  Thankfully, the transactions had been declined even though my number was used and I only have to go through the minor inconvenience of getting a new card.  I guess it could have been a lot worse.

After this situation had been resolved, I began to think about what would motivate someone to take something that is not their own.

…but then I remembered I do this everyday.  My life has been purchased through the blood of Christ and I no longer own it; therefore, when I take it back, I’m taking something that doesn’t belong to me.  Paul wrote these words to the church at Corinth, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?  You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:17-18, NLT).

Have you taken possession of a life that is not rightfully yours?   Maybe it’s time that you return it to the Owner.

Do You Think This Can Wait Until Tomorrow?

September 13, 2011 in Determination, Motivation, True Stories with 0 Comments

Anytime I see a spare tire (donut) on a car, I laugh.  I don’t laugh out of scorn but because I know the feeling of having my tire blowout and temporarily replacing it with one of those awkward looking things.  Those of you with full-sized spares should thank your lucky stars.  Now I’m certainly not an expert when it comes to cars, but I’ve been told that you are not supposed to drive on a spare tire for an extended period of time.  A spare tire is only a temporary fix until you can get your regular tire repaired or replaced.  Continuing to drive on a spare can actually put the driver as well as the passengers at risk.  Okay.  Confession time.  How many of you have ever driven a little longer than you should have on a spare tire?  My hand is raised.  Several years ago my tire went flat and I (actually someone else) put on a spare and I had to drive around on it.  Every time I looked at my car I thought, “I should get that tire replaced.”  This went on for weeks.  Sure, I noticed a difference in the handling of my car but I kept putting it off.  I was even a little ashamed because I knew it made my car look funny, but the feelings of embarrassment weren’t enough motivation to make me get the tire changed.  People even started to say things to me about it (i.e. my wife), but her voice of complaint did not cause me to respond.

We have become too comfortable with temporary solutions.  Instead of handling the problem, we scramble to find a temporary patch to stop the immediate consequences, but the problem is that over time we begin to believe that a temporary fix is an eternal solution.

Eventually I got that tire fixed, but it happened when I finally made up my mind to do it.  No more procrastination.  No more delay.  No more laziness.  It’s time to have that conversation.  It’s time to try church again.  It’s time to start being a parent.  It’s time to get alone with God.  It’s time to start practicing better habits.  The time is now.

How soon not now, becomes never. – Martin Luther

What Happened After Dark?

September 8, 2011 in God, Relationship with God, True Stories, Truth with 0 Comments

Since the beginning of the school year, it seems like we have been busy every single night, which means that some other things in our schedule had to be put on hold…like mowing the yard.  I finally realized that the yard could no longer be ignored unless we wanted to compete with the Amazon jungle, so I decided to cram it in right before the sun went down.  I knocked out the front yard without any visibility issues, but when I arrived in the back yard the light was quickly fading.  Rather than leaving the yard half done, I determined to quicken my pace and try to complete the job even though there was limited light.  Miraculously, I was able to finish the entire yard in just 30 minutes, which is approximately 15-20 minutes less than it normally takes.  I was proud of myself, that is, until I woke up the next morning and noticed that some sections of grass had been missed the night before.

The darkness limits what I see, but light exposes the truth.

If you are walking in darkness, you may not think you are missing something; however, when you are walking in the light, you will know if you are missing something.  Since the apostle John identifies God as light (1 John 1:5), He becomes the ultimate determiner of truth, which means that the truth cannot be known without exposure to God and His word.  The more a person is exposed to the Light, the more he or she will become aware of the darkness in his life.  This is one of the major reasons I believe that those who walk closest to God often feel the most unworthy to be in His presence.

If you constantly feel the weight of your sin as a result of being exposed to the Light, be grateful to a God who reveals the darkness in your life and leads you into the light.

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