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My Recycled Shirt

June 6, 2011 in Funny Stories, True Stories, Value with 0 Comments

I needed some new, short-sleeved shirts for the smoking hot weather we’ve been having here in Ohio, so Friday I went to the mall but quickly realized that I wasn’t going to find a bargain.  Apparently, summer sales haven’t kicked in yet or maybe I’m just cheap.  Probably the latter.  I made a stop at our local Salvation Army where I was able to pick up a shirt for under five bucks.  They even threw in a disco ball.  Later in the day my wife swung by Goodwill and bought me another shirt for $2.49.  I loved the shirt she purchased but Leah told me one of the buttons was falling off and that she would need to sew it on later.  While she was out yesterday afternoon I decided to test my sewing skills by using a needle and thread to secure the button on the shirt.  I’m pleased to announce that I did it!  I’m a natural seamstress (or seamster).  A fastened button, run through the washing machine, and ironing the shirt made it look brand new.  A shirt abandoned by one was given new life by another.

Just because someone or something has a scar or defect doesn’t mean it is unusable.  Oftentimes the most beautiful things are those which have found new life through the eyes of the beholder.

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.  You used to live in sin,  just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.  He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.  But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.  God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:1-10, NLT).

A Stalker in Our Neighborhood

August 27, 2009 in Attitude, Determination, Failure, Funny Stories, Perspective, Relationships, True Stories, Value with 2 Comments

Here in Ohio we have trash stalkers, at least that is what I call them. Trash stalkers are people who spend their evenings/nights stealthily cruising through neighborhoods on the eve of trash day in hopes of finding treasure in someone else’s curbside junk. On more than one occasion, I have personally spoken to one of these stalkers because there must be an unwritten rule that if they get caught digging through your trash, they must ask for permission to assume ownership of it. They typically say something like, “Is it okay with you if I take this?” Since I have an insatiable desire for sarcasm, I am tempted to respond by saying, “No you can’t. That tricycle with only one wheel is going to be used for a lawn ornament.” In reality though, I usually panic when they stop at my house thinking that I possibly trashed something of unrecognizable value or maybe the mirror I am tossing out contains an original copy of the Declaration of Independence behind the glass. I really do not want to end up in national headlines as the idiot who threw away thousands of dollars in his trash because he was blind to an item’s true value.After spending more than a decade investing in the lives of others, I’m convinced that many people are guilty of throwing away things which they no longer view as valuable, even though it still holds great value; although, I do realize that some repair may be needed to restore full value to certain things. Most of the time, something which was once valuable only became trash because of improper care.

Urinal Conspiracy

January 3, 2009 in True Stories, Value with 0 Comments

My son and I just returned from a long road trip (with our high school ministry) that took us through four states and resulted in over one-thousand miles there and back. Along the way we stopped at many places to eat and, of course, use the bathroom. Usually this type of trip will yield some pretty interesting situations as well as thought-provoking questions/observations from an eight-year-old. As I mentioned before, we took our share of bathroom breaks and I am very careful at warning Tyler about the importance of not touching ANYTHING in the restrooms. Many of these places were, how should I say it, dirty…filthy…and had not been cleaned for days. One of those places was a gas station somewhere in West Virginia. I could stop and make some West Virginia jokes but I happen to think the mountains make it a very beautiful state. However, I have a “bone to pick” with the wonderful residents who manage places of establishments along Interstate 77 – please teach your employees to clean bathrooms! Maybe I am mistaken and it is only the men’s bathrooms…it is possible the women’s restrooms were hygienic and decorated with posh sitting rooms, but I doubt it. This particular place was nasty and Tyler was using one of the urinals when he had one of those “why moments.” As he looked into the urinal he was occupying, he discovered that a quarter was lying at the bottom. “Why did someone throw a quarter in here” was his response. In case he was thinking of going for it, I quickly yelled at him to not even think about retrieving it. He had a hard time grasping why anyone would put something of value in such a low place. I said to him, “I’m not sure why people don’t value things which are important.” After I thought about my response, I guess I lied to him. I do know why people, including myself, fail to value that which is valuable – their system of worth is messed up.This is what the LORD says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives. “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit. “The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Like a bird that hatches eggs she has not laid, so are those who get their wealth by unjust means. Sooner or later they will lose their riches and, at the end of their lives, will become poor old fools. – Jeremiah 17:5-11

A Case of Mistaken Identity

August 31, 2008 in Value with 0 Comments

You will hardly ever find me dressed up. While I was in college, I feel that I served my time wearing suits, ties, and uncomfortable dress shoes. Way back in 1992 as a college freshmen, I was required to wear a tie every morning as well as a suit jacket each night to dinner (which was mandatory). Prior to college life, I attended a Christian school where a relatively strict dress code was enforced…tuck in your shirt, wear a belt, no hair over the ears, yada, yada, yada. I am certainly not complaining about the rules because I was aware of them before I attended both institutions. However, now that I am on my own I have a hard time dressing up. I have ebayed most of my ties and only invest in a new suit every decade or so.This morning was one of those times I was dressed up. I attended a memorial service early and then had to run to the store. As I was entering, an employee stopped me and asked if I was the new store manager. “Excuse me,” I said. She replied, “Oh, I guess you are not him. I had the wrong person.” For a brief second, I felt important. I cannot explain why, but I did. I continued to think about this throughout the morning and afternoon…what is it that makes us feel important? For some it is their appearance. For others worth is determined by a job title, a relationship, a car, a neighborhood, a group of friends, a big paycheck, a degree, or notoriety. There are even some who think more knowledge, better morals, or superior giftedness establishes importance. According to Paul in Ephesians 2, our identity should only be found in Jesus Christ because it is through Him we have life. Here is a simple outline of our identity in Christ: once a sinner, now a saint (2:1-10); once far from God, now near to Him (2:11-13); once fighting with others, now family (2:14-18); and once void of God, now filled with His presence (2:19-22). Don’t make the mistake of finding value in the things you can do or obtain, but rather find worth in the person of Jesus Christ.