Saving Trees

We are becoming greener by the minute. "How", you ask? By sending you here instead of sending cards all across the country (and world).

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Puddles

We have been a little lacking of rain here in the Carolinas for some time now. It's not much, but we have at least been a little wet lately. Enough to remind us what rain is, anyway. Well, today when I got to work, I actually had to navigate a puddle or two in the parking lot. My shoes were wet! Praise God!

Christmas 2007

Sorry it's been a while. No reasons, just excuses.

Every year at this time, a song strikes me as capturing all that Christmas is to me. This year, it is the following:

Certain elements of Christmas allow us to focus on things that we normally wouldn't otherwise. Sleigh rides, your favorite Christmas carol, candy canes, and seasonal traditions might be among them. And tucked away in the greatest story known to mankind is a non-human character who plays a major role in all the festivities. And this morning at church we sang about them.

It's actually the message that they proclaim that brings them to center stage. Our song reminds us to pay attention to those tidings of joy. Filled with exaltation ("Glory to the new born King!"), unbelievable truth ("Peace on earth and mercy mild"), and the good news of salvation ("God and sinner reconciled"), it sets the stage of expectancy for the treasures to come. Within a song or two, we were then immersed in another musical reminder of God's goodness. While not typically associated with the advent season or Christmas caroling, it's message shouts the timeless blessing that is currently on display.

The chorus reminds us that we only play a small part in the performance of life. We simply join with the angels as they sing "Holy, holy, holy!". We indeed stand with all of creation as it cries "Worthy is the Lord!". Knees bowing and tongues confessing before this great God just adds to the imagery of believers across the eras corporately worshipping the one who is worthy. The verses of this great song reflect the abundance of God-glorifying opportunities all around us:
* we look to your word > and see Your awesome faithfulness
* we look to the earth > and glimpse Your beauty
* we look to the stars > and see Your majesty displayed
* we look to Your Son > and find a love that never fails
* we look to the cross > and see Your mercy
* we look to the grave > empty because You rose again!

As we march on through the days and weeks of late December, many traditions, food, and music will most likely greet us. As we do, let's remember that the first Christmas included the heralding of tremendous jubilation by unique heavenly beings. It is our privilege and joy to join with them again to proclaim the fruit of God's holiness. He is the glorious One who reigns in power!

Stupid Dog

With slightly more manageable temperatures during the recent Carolina mornings, I have taken up the habit of taking a good walk when I first wake up. I make my way through the neighborhood with an iPod full of great worship music and inspiring messages, a hopefully healthier set of veins and arteries, and a sense of befuddlement as to why I see school buses driving around at 5:30 AM. And then there's the stupid dog.

I pity the poor neighbors who are located near this barker. He (this dog just has to be male as much as he just doesn't get it...)is just far enough away from our house that I don't hear him all the time, but now I have indeed found the source of that yelping that I experience from afar. I have taken to tip-toeing by this area of my walk hoping that he doesn't hear me and start with his endless woofing.

Most of the time, however, he hears me and gets cranked up. Just about the time it started to amuse me how stupid, backward, and unrefined this canine motor-mouth is, it hit me that I am just like him when it comes to prayer. I enjoy my life in my comfortable little fenced pen mostly oblivious to all that is going on around me. Every so often, something happens to catch my attention (maybe it's God walking by, but I'm not sure that works well in my illustration here) and I let my voice be heard. "Oh, hey, there goes God coming by this way again, maybe I ought to say something". Once out of my sight, I go back to life as usual in my own little kingdom. If I happen to notice Him again as He strolls by, maybe I'll engage again, but no big deal if I don't. And who knows what I'm saying if I do respond. Maybe it's just annoying and mindless and tends to tick off others who are nearby.

Mind you, I'm not moping around with a "I'm a terrible person" mentality. I just wish I didn't pray like a stupid dog. Who knows, maybe tomorrow morning, the dog will be waiting for me and eagerly anticipating my presence and instructions.

Forgiveness 3

So when exactly does one seek forgiveness? When you 'get caught'? When somebody is noticeably hurt or affected? When you are told to? While all of these are correct, true forgiveness certainly goes far beyond.

When we tell our children about being obedient, we stress the three-fold definition of that characteristic that we have held for years. True obedience is when something is done (or in some cases NOT done) completely, right away, and without complaint.

Obedience is not something that is done half way or just enough to escape negative notice. Taking the trash out is making sure it is in the trash bin outside with a new bag as a replacement. Just making the appearance and smell of the source leave the kitchen does not suffice.

Also, it is not something that is done 'when you have the chance' or merely 'at your convenience' (unless a special request to that end has been made and granted). It is done right away, showing that it is understood that it is more important than my agenda.

Finally, true obedience is done with a happy heart and something close to a happy face. Muttering under one's breath does not answer the call to obey biblically. Just ask any number of Israelites who dutifully followed Moses with their feet alone.

So with these helpful aspects in mind, it would appear to me that forgiveness is necessary when any of these areas are lacking. Doing what your spouse has asked, but with a complaining spirit? Start fessin' up. Have you affirmed that something will be done and tended to, and then put it down on the list of things to do after all of YOUR agenda items are complete? You may need to consider who exactly is the center of that equation. Have you in fact started the process and are safe from accusatory remarks, but in your heart and mind have left much undone? Complete the job with an eye to seeking forgiveness along the way.

Keeping this simple definition of true obedience in our view will remind us of how much forgiveness we are in need of.

Forgiveness 2

A second thought regarding forgiveness comes from my seven year old daughter. She captures the simplicity of the matter that we so often overlook. She mentioned at our family discussion of the matter, "Well, when it comes to forgiveness, YOU have to be the one to ask for it." That's exactly right, YOU have to do it. It can't come from another. You can not ask for it on my behalf. Nor can I represent you when it comes to seeking it.

Now certainly a leader can speak for those they lead. For example, as a father, I can offer words that speak for the whole of the family. But if I mis-speak to one of my children, it will not suffice for my wife to mention to them that I am sorry and indeed wish to be forgiven. I must go myself.

Confronting sin and asking for forgiveness from others is a personal thing. As we pursue living with no regrets, let us remember that. May heaven's joy be ours as we take on this task one with another.

The Joy on None

In an effort to drive me to this blog more frequently to allow for more posting and to help create the habit I seek of putting thoughts down in writing, I am embarking tonight on a Pilgrim Thoughts first. It's word study time!

Recently I experienced again the wonderful God-given and commanded practice of confessing sin. I rationalized to myself that I had confessed it to God and that was probably sufficient. But then I knew that I had to confess to my wife, for she was the one who felt the brunt by my selfishness and pride. My stubborn soul held out for a while longer before I finally availed myself to the full elation of living with no regrets. I can't tell you how rewarding this gift of grace from God is.

I thought I would therefore spend some time over the coming days reflecting on confessing sin. There's not a better place to start than one of the first verses I ever memorized. The apostle John writes, "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). Take note that this tells us much more about God than it does about us. The practice of confession starts with a gracious God who IS faithful and IS just. And He IS able to forgive and cleanse us due to all that He has done to provide these benefits to us from the cross. Appropriately, the only 'if' part is ours. God is faithful even when we are far from it.

Tonight my children were asking about whether God gives second chances. With a smirk on my face, I told them not only second chances, but also four million two hundred seventy-five thousand four hundred and sixty-ninth chances! I know this because once again I sinned, but God was faithful to forgive and cleanse. Oh, the joy of living with no regrets!

E-News

For those of you who prefer to find out the latest and greatest from the Bower household via this blog (of which I am pretty sure there are none of you), behold the following:

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!! Yes, God is blessing us with another child...number four is currently growing and is about seven weeks old. Let the fun begin!

We are delighted by God's abundant goodness to us. Praise His name!

What It's All About

Startled awake at 2:30 AM with my seven-year old daughter dancing over me with that emergency look telling me that we needed to get to a bathroom VERY quickly, my response was one not quite fit for the Father's Hall of Fame. After verifying the degree of need in the circumstance, which didn't take long at all, I frumped and grumped my way to my glasses, keys, and unzipped the door to our tent and started the hasty trek with her to the back door. Actually, I was quite impressed with her skill, fortitude, or whatever it takes to hold it that long. She really did quite well. Within moments, we were back in the tent, snuggling into our back-aching positions for another few hours of half-sleep. Just about the time that it dawned on me that my attitude could have been significantly better and I could have drummed up SOME semblance of a desire to serve and help my family, my wife graciously turned to me and uttered the words, "It's what camping is all about."

Is that true? Is camping just meant to be an exercise in stretching our ability to apply recent sermon points, understand the finer points of living out theological truths, and humbling ourselves by taking us off of our self-made pedestals? Well...yeah. As I spent the next hour or so trying to find the right combination of sheet/blanket coverage, pillow propping, and body angle to afford more rest, I concluded that not only is that what camping is all about, but the list just goes on and on. That's what breakfast is all about. That's what my commute to work is all about. That's what my reaction to computer problems is all about. That's what correcting my children's school work is all about. That's what coversations with my wife are all about. That's what answering the phone is all about. That's what greeting people at church, at the gas station, and in the neighborhood is all about. That's what spending money is all about. That's what life is all about.

We are put on the planet by God, who is full of grace. We are created in order to bring Him honor and glory and to extend that honor and glory in ways that He has in store for us in particular. That can happen in some odd circumstances. Even when startled awake by a potty-dance.

Marvelous

Today, I marveled. Many times. Some quickly. Some included lingering. I was led to wonder, admire, and be astonished by the following:

1. It started with my morning reading of Scripture. Hebrews 6:18 focused in on the truth that it is impossible for God to lie. It beautifully portrays us as fleeing for refuge and ,further, our result is 'strong encouragement' and having 'hope set before us'. I began my day with the tremendously inspiring reality that my lost and helpless state has been graciously overcome by a loving Savior. His promise to Abraham still rings gloriously true today. I am in awe of God's abundant grace through His promises to me. Promises that He will keep.

2. Then my lovely bride, Sarah, walked by. What a treasured gift she is to me. My love for her grew in those simple moments. Not because of any big activity or reason, but for thousands of little ones. I also marveled at her seemingly effortless ability to do multiple things at once. What would have taken me half an hour or more (plus all the preparation and planning), she flitted through in mere moments. I am in awe of my wife's giftedness and the way she distributes it so freely among many of us.

3. I was amazed at the power of a decision. And a decision acted upon. For the last few days, I had been wasting a bit of time on my commute just listening to the radio. From cultured classical music to base sports talk. Sometimes bluegrass, sometimes Christian pop culture. But as I left today, I decided that I needed to recapture the oppotunity to invest this time. I popped in a CD on fatherhood issues and within minutes was immersed in a exposition of Psalm 78. Much richer.

4. My sin. Three times today (by last count), I threw something onto my desk at work in disgust and frustration. While there were issues and circumstances that preceeded these episodes, I am mindful of the fact that my far-less-than-appropriate response was front and center. Not that my display of selfishness was merely 'less than ideal' or 'not my best moment', but rather it was ugly pride and self-centeredness erupting out from a petty whiner and complainer. The mirror was hard to look at today.

5. Nothing like children to bring reality back to the forefront. Smiling hugs greeted me after a long day. Curious questions gave perspective. And then we had our family reading time before we put them to bed. One of the discussion points in our book hinted at the fact that even parents die someday. Quietly before lights went out, my son asks me to pray for his comfort in the face of that possibility. How could it be that I am privileged to have the responsibility of leading this family? Joyful awe overwhelms me.

Amazing. Fascinating. Enriching. Invigorating. Considerable. Inspiring. Rejuvenating. Quickening. Stimulating.

In a word...marvelous.

My choice for President is...

I'm venturing into new territory on this one. While I have dutifully and joyfully expressed the gift of freedom granted to me by so many over the years by voting at election time, I have never gone too public with my political views. I am not registered with either major party and have voted over the years for what some might consider a wide spectrum of candidates. Of course, others would say that I am pretty limited in the decisions I've made, but I guess that is all relative.

While I still have fifteen months before I cast my vote in our next presidential election, I believe I have made my choice. I will continue to research the candidates and review their agendas and plans on topics ranging from the important to the silly. But I do believe I have my guy (I guess that eliminates one major contender already).

I actually heard about this relative unknown a number of months ago because we share some unique characteristics in our lives. Instantly he had my admiration in the way he has personally dealt with those similar facts. As I continue to learn about him, he continues to impress me. Truth be told, I haven't done a tremendous amount of research yet, and I haven't read all the basics about this gentleman, so I suppose my choice could change before it becomes official. But so far, so good.

I understand that my opinion and this forum of sharing it will not sway many votes at all, if any. But consider this a pre-endorsement for (drum roll, please)...Mike Huckabee.

I first learned about Mr. Huckabee when researching some ideas on (wow...imagine this!) how we can save healthcare money by stressing prevention instead of shelling out bucks for the latest drug that we hope works. As a Type 1 diabetic, some diet and lifestyle changes that I made have resulted in extremely improved overall health including taking less than half the insulin that I used to take (remember...type 1 meaning my pancreas is kaput). In doing some checking on this idea, I found out that this former governor of Arkansas was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, lost 110 pounds, and now runs marathons! That is my kind of guy!

Since then, I have seen snippets of his platform emerge in the form of other brilliant yet all-to-frequently-ignored ideas like fiscal responsibility (don't spend more than you have/earn), accountability (communities accomplishing what they set out to do together), and living out what is most important in life ("my faith doesn't influence my decisions, it drives them").

Of course, this is a personal decision that every eligible voter will have an opportunity to make. Take note of the candidates and prayerfully consider all the issues that God brings to mind. And then make the wise and thoughful decision. We've obviously got some time before next November.

Read more about Mike Huckabee here

Newest Ventures

Well, we're at it again. The desire to move forward in areas that we desire to grow in (and let's be honest, we've got plenty of room to grow!) has led us to a couple of new ventures. One is Squidoo and the other is a 30-day challenge.

Squidoo has one of its newest landing pages with this one . It is one small step for internet use, one giant leap for Bower-kind. Take a visit, buy stuff you see listed, enjoy. That's the routine.

We also have joined these guys in an interesting challenge for the month of August. It appears that we are teamed with individuals from Brooklyn, NY, the United Kingdom, and others to work together to find the key(s) to internet marketing and success. We'll have to let you know how things are going as we progress through the month.

"Why are you doing this?", you ask. It is all for the purpose of glorifying God through creating family entrepreneurial ideas and pursuing them. Goals include bringing me home to work full-time, sharing new-found insights with others to do the same, and to actually make a little money as we learn along the way. Just tonight, my daughter Priscilla poignantly expressed her deep desire for me to be home more often with the family. I can't wait to use these and other ideas to see that prayer answered!

Larry

A Quick Death and a Slow Growth

Recently I had another 'truth of scripture' lesson brought to me front and center. A few peeks around my humble surroundings and some familiar texts coming to mind led me to the somewhat harsh understanding of what God in His mercy reminds us of before our begrudging acceptance of His word on that final day. The fifteenth chapter of John and the thirty-seventh Psalm served me to recognize how growth happens according to God's perfect plan.

A neighbor down the street had finished a tree-cutting project. Their quaint driveway was filled with logs, stumps, and branches seemingly overnight. The battle with the city to remove the results of their labor ensued. But in the midst of it all, a strange but not unexpected thing happened. Death quickly introduced itself. You see, much like Jesus reminds us in John 15:5-6, branches not connected to the vine not only miss out on bearing fruit, but they are simply thrown away. After observing my neighbor's yard for just a couple of days, I can see why. Being apart from the vine, the source of life, not only limits effectiveness, it leads directly and swiftly to death. No source of life, no life. No sustenance and nourishment, no life. No abiding in the Christ-vine, nothing CAN be done. The only result that makes sense is to be "thrown away like a branch", to wither, to be gathered and "thrown into the fire, and burned". Just like tree branches could do nothing apart from the roots, so we can do nothing apart from Christ. The lesson learned was the speed of such death. We can fool ourselves to some degree and for some time, can't we? We say the right things to the right people at the right times, and everybody thinks we're OK. But vine-less living can only lead to death. Within forty-eight hours of being cut off from their life source, my neighbor's branches let it be known that death comes quickly.

The joy of Psalm 37:5-6 brings the truth home on the opposite end of the spectrum. God WILL act. He WILL bring life. He does so in a way that will honor and glorify Himself. And He sometimes invites us into the process as well. A little over a year ago, my son decided to put science on notice and try his hand at an arboresque project. He had heard or read about little acorns becoming mighty oaks and thought he'd give it a shot. A little seedling that had fallen off a silver maple tree at our home was lovingly planted in a simple pot. Water and sun treatments ensued, along with a little prayer and wonder. A move to a bigger pot followed after a while. Then the day came when he recognized that this growing twig needed to spread its wings in our yard. We found a spot in which we desire shade in the coming years and made the transfer. We were all excited to see leaves sprouting and its survival after a wind storm or two. It has been a good lesson to notice that each and every day does not lead to massive growth spurts (at least none that we can see). Many forty-eight hour spans have come and gone with hardly a notice of what is happening just feet from the driveway. But the results are being seen in the long run. First a leaf, then a slight change in the color of the bark, then a small expansion height-wise to the sky. Slow and steady. Like the dawning of the day, it is gradual but noticeable. But we don't often stop to 'notice' it, do we? If you make the commitment of Psalm 37:5 ('commit your way to the Lord'), know that 'He will act'. He is consistent with moments of tremendous growth that He allows us to see, all in an orchestrated effort to glorify Him.

The next verse in Psalm 37 encourages us to wait patiently for God to move. Know that He is moving. And soon the dawning will unveil a noonday sun. But life apart from the vine will bring results much quicker.

Deep Cleaning

There's nothing like a good power tool to teach a man a lesson. And this weekend, I learned one. I had borrowed my father's power washer to clean our deck in preparation for a re-staining project. It started right up, I got to the back-aching task of running it for hours on end, and God was faithful to point to His truth. His grace-filled truth.

The idea of God cleaning us is a common one in scripture. It is found throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It is something that is presented as both a great need that we have as humans, and as a great promise of God to deliver. Let me encourage you to grab a good concordance and walk through the Bible noting all the cleansing that God provides to us through the blood of Christ. His finished work on the cross does more than just gain entrance to heaven. It goes deep into our sinful souls and accomplishes work that we otherwise would be unaware of, let alone desire on our own. Just as planks of wood were most satisfied just doing their thing as a common but stylish adornment to our house, I likewise can find myself just being 'fine' with where I am at and with what I am doing. Soon, however, the hum of the small motor and the blast of the extended sprayer change everything. Suddenly, satisfaction takes a tremendous turn for the better. Deep-rooted dirt disappears. A shine and a finish never enjoyed before allow new appreciation.

So, what does God use in our lives to power wash us? Let's start with these three for now:
1) His Word - Recently, I have been reading through the book of Judges devotionally. Could be a dangerous thing to do, right? Gloriously dangerous, I can attest! I was struck by the following phrase a few days ago: "They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways" (Judges 2:19b). The Lord has been cleansing me of practices and stubborn ways that I was quite used to and rather enjoyed, thank you very much. Was I, too, in need of judges to be raised up to confront me as the Israelites were? Was I, too, growing in corruption as I allowed these evil, and sometimes not evil as much as neutral, things to remain in my path? Have I, too, failed to obey God's voice? This one simple phrase has fed my thinking for days on end, and continues to do so. Thank you, Lord, for cleaning us through your Word. Your kindness indeed leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
2) His Church - Very little of what we read in scripture is outside of the context of a group. God always had people together (after Adam was provided a helpmate). I fondly remember a former pastor frequently pointing us to one of the many 'one anothers' in scripture. Doing battle with our greatest enemy, our sin, is likewise best fought together. What a gift God has given us in each other in the setting of the local church! Confess your sins one to another. Encourage one another. Clean away, and share the grace of God that He will reign upon you!
3) Yes, that too. God has also rigged life in that we are to spend the majority of our time with other people in very close proximity. But, believer, that spouse of yours and those little blessings of yours are more than you could ever realize. They are tools in the Master Cleanser's hands to dig deep into those spots that merely spraying water or even scrubbing will not suffice. Marriage, parenthood, and close friendships are the power washing that God often uses to do the job. Tough to remember the next time conflict arises, which it will, but true nonetheless. Thank God for these mirrors that allow us to be seen as we are.

One thing that amazed me during this project is the difference that could be seen when I had to pause when I was half done. The distinct difference between the part of the deck that I had cleaned and the remaining portion was unbelievable. I stopped just for a moment to thank God that the same was true of my life. He is cleaning. He is using His word, His church, and those around me to do deep cleaning. It is not always comfortable to have that done. But, oh the difference! The results! Thank you Lord for your deep cleaning!

Growing in 'hipness'

In this day and age, what I am about to share is really no big deal whatsoever. Especially for many of you here in the blogosphere. But for my family and I, technology newbies that we are, tonight is a momentous event. Allow me to briefly paint a picture.

I have worked on a computer with my line of work for all of my nearly fifteen years with my current employer. It started with some 'home-grown' programs pertaining to our line of work and our interaction with our customers. When the information superhighway came along, it took a few years, but I did indeed use that tool for research and quicker communication. And then I also found Excel. Call me Mr. Spreadsheet. But in the midst of all this, two realities were more than evident. First, while I used some of these tools, I did so only to a minimal, 'just-enough' level. I slowly grew in my understanding of different programs and software and even tackled a few larger projects (I served on the Y2K readiness committee...remember those?), but I was never the first guy you would go to in order to solve a computer problem. That is still basically true. Second, all of my budding computer prowess was relegated to work. We just never quite had the budget, knowledge or initiative to apply technology at home. We did purchase a Dell laptop at one point and were so excited about it. After it was outdated within a few months and we were sheepishly acknowledging that we still were using dial up, that thrill quickly wore off. In fact, with as much Excel as I do at work, I had my home budget on a bunch of graph paper until just last August.

But times, they are a-changing! I am sitting here typing an entry into this new blog. If I wanted to include a funny link, I could figure it out (I hope!). We just put the finishing touches on another DVD that we created. We'll send it in tomorrow to a unique web site for their eventual use. (Proof that there is still plenty of room to grow...haven't figured out how to get the file to work via email). I am switching back and forth to our email account to track other projects that I am trying to finalize tonight. But the coolest thing is that my wife is sitting across the room from me listening to an eBay tele-seminar...from the computer. We recently purchased a year of Skype and are using it right now on the computer as I type this. So, while I am using this big glowing thing (actually not so big...flatscreen, baby!) on the desk to do two or three things, my wife is gaining more technological knowledge which can likewise be applied. No wonder my son got out of bed to investigate what in the world was going on out here. He is seeing the transformation of his parents from techno-awkward to better-than-functional.

Boundless

Often truth grips us through song. It lingers for days on end until we must confront the reality of it and watch God do His work in our hearts to allow us to marvel at His glory all the more. Recently this happened to me while singing a song both at our worship service on a Sunday morning and during my commute later that week via the CD to which I was listening.

One word in particular grabbed my attention. Boundless. It means infinite, vast and unlimited. What comes to mind when you think of things without limit? Wasteful government spending? The number of items on your growing ‘to-do’ list? The stupidity and nerve of the other so-called drivers messing around on the road? What about the joy of watching your children grow in maturity? The pleasure of seeing the good guys finally win? Or maybe it’s the simple mind-bending exercise of contemplating the reach of the cosmos while looking at the stars?

Enter lines five and six of verse one. The song begins with a call to explore God’s grace by way of personal invitation to remember what Christ has done for us at the cross. What exactly happened there? The extremes of boundlessness met.
Where Your boundless love
Conquered my boundless sin

I think it is important, painful though it may be, to contemplate the absolute depravity of our situation as humans. We are indeed boundless in our ability to pursue sin and all of its destructive behavior and outcomes. If you doubt this in any way, just read through the words of Hosea or those of Paul in Romans 7. As you catch yourself identifying with any number of the items mentioned, consider where this thought process leads you. It doesn’t take long for me to go from “Wow, it’s as though this were written about me!” to “Well, at least they don’t know about…”. But my mind can still conceive of an end to this sinful reality. At some point, I console myself by noting that there are SOME things I wouldn’t do. Would I? Sometimes the truth stinks.

But all of this was conquered. This victory was not deserved. It was not possible for me. It was not even something I was looking for or trying to obtain. My limitless appetite for folly, especially the self-directed kind, was all that I knew. But God allowed His love to do battle with my never-ending waywardness. And that love always wins. It is not a love that needs to muster up strength to accomplish its plans and stake its claim. It is a perfect love that ever endures. It has never shown a limit in its power or reach. When one conceives of a way to push to the outer edges of this love, they find that they are still in the center of it. It has no beginning or end, so it always has been and always will be. Somehow it continually finds a way to grow, though it is continually fully mature. In a word, it is boundless.

Today's Profit

Well, if one is going to budget and save and the like, it seems that at some point in time, one should learn to make some money. I'd like to offer the suggestion of 'flipping' (that's what we industry types call it, anyway). Simply put, flipping is buying low and selling high. Easy concept with varying degrees of difficulty. Maybe I'm especially inspired today after having experienced a 67% profit on a recent acquisition and resale. I'll walk through the process and see if it might not shed some light on what to look for, timing issues, and applying that business acumen that sometimes comes naturally and sometimes is learned over time.

It started a few weeks ago when a neighbor was having a yard sale. I had waved to him a time or two and talked with him once, but thought it might be a good opportunity to get to know him a bit better. So the kids and I walked over for some chat time with a few shekels in our pockets. We shared a late morning chat and learned about this man's fascinating life. A retired chef, he now does many things to keep himself busy. Among them is his frequenting auctions and sales to find equipment, mostly electronic in nature, only to fix them up and resell them to a growing community of satisfied customers. I became one that day when I purchased a saw from him. I was working on a project that very day which required my cutting some lengths of board for a sqare foot garden we were hoping to enjoy this spring and summer (and hopefully fall too with the three growing seasons here in the Carolinas). A saw seemed the perfect tool for this inexperienced hand. Within hours, I was cranking out results befitting a real handyman. Best three dollars I spent that day.

Fast forward to today. Inspired by his success stories of sales gone by, we tried to organize a community yard sale, which took place this morning. He enthusiastically joined us in both trying to turn a small profit from our, um, stuff, and in reaching out a friendly hand to our fellow neighbors. He made the signs, we posted the free listing online. He spread the word in his circle of influence, we communicated the idea to everybody on the street. After all that, basically the two of us saw a few cars stop by over the course of five beautiful hours. Much fun and excitement (I put the kids in charge of finding 'community yard sale music' that we could play from our house to get people in the mood), and even a sale every now and then. Met a few more people and freed up some of our cramped storage space. But then he came.

He looked like a bit more of a handyman than me, but then that's not saying much. A young twenty-something lad in a well-used small car hopped out by himself and started investigating our, um, stuff. He poked around a bit at my daughter's jewelry box filled with fifty cent wonders. He passed on all of it. But as he was turning to go, that same saw caught his eye as it sat on the blue oil-stained tarp in the middle of the yard. He kept clicking the, the, ...the sawing button, as if he was testing to see if it would work. Now I might be lean on useful knowledge, but occassionally I learn a little from experience. So I used the same lines as my neighbor did with me weeks prior. "It works", I said. "May need a new blade and a little re-wiring", I continued. By now I had broken key sales rules I learned in the telemarketing trade from my past. "Whoever talks first loses". Ooops. I had uttered three or four sentences before he grunted something about a plug in. Outlet, here we come. We walk over to the power source by the front door and I proceed to finagle what's left of the cord into the socket. A quick silent prayer regarding fire safety is tossed up and then I am in the midst of watching a test drive of this tool (a man's tool...no, a man's man's tool). I calmly assent as he reaches for his wallet. He starts pulling out ones and I start planning my dickering response. One, two...three (the investment is now covered)...four, five (bingo, we hit the asking price!). He turned away quickly to go, so I couldn't actually see the look of satisfaction in his face. But I am sure by now, he has completed a project for the afternoon, smelled the same wire-burning odor as did I just weeks ago, and stored it somewhere to remind him to pass it along to the next guy. If that is you, beware. Yes, the saw does work. And it could greatly improve with just a new blade and some re-wiring. But trust me, it's a three dollar saw. Five tops. But this guy might be wanting to flip it for a profit.

FREE! FREE! FREE! FREE ADVICE!

Thanks to Tim Challies, I came across this humorous look at a little something that plagues our society. Sadly, it even has gained a stronghold in our churches and among those who really are trying their best to obey Romans 12:2. So, what can we do about it? I think it’s beneficial for us to spend some time over the coming days trying to help each other along on the path to God-honoring economics. Here are some extremely simple starting points, some of which I’ve learned the hard way:

1. We are stewards of all that God has given us. (1 Corinthians 4:2) I think it really begins with a realization that all that we have has been given to us and has not merely come by our own hands. Imagine a great king or leader asking you to care for something of great value to him and in fact to use it for the purposes that he has in mind. That is your paycheck. The more we assume it is something we deserve, the quicker we can fall into our own selfish and, let’s be honest about it, sinful thinking.

2. A little order please (Proverbs 21:5) OK, it’s time for the b-word. That’s right, a budget is your friend. Especially when it really is a budget and not just a listing of where your money has gone or is going. Think ahead. What do I need to do with the money that is entrusted to my family and I? If the answer is ‘spend hundreds of dollars each month on eating out, stopping for a little something at the coffee shop, and buying stuff that I may potentially need/want at some point in time’, then more power to you. Make it happen. It shouldn’t be hard. But putting on paper what you have prayerfully thought through as right and honoring, and then sticking to it, will give you a weapon that can be used over and over again in the vicious war for not only the dollars, but your heart as well.

3. Little IS more (Luke 12:13-21) I can testify mightily to this truth. YOU DON’T NEED THAT MUCH STUFF! You can get by with much less. Trust me. This very evening, I went through some of what I would consider my ‘prized possessions’ and noted a few more of them for our yard sale for this coming weekend. You CAN get by with less. You CAN live in a smaller place. You CAN say ‘no’ to that tempting thing-a-ma-bob that everybody else seems to have. You CAN alter the very focus of what it is you desire. No, by yourself you can’t. But God can change our sinful and selfish hearts. Be willing to ask Him to do it. And then ask for the strength of obedience.

Well, this list is embarrassingly short and simple. It truly is only a start. As the days unfold, let’s see if we can’t make progress in this area. I’d love to hear how that is happening in your life.

On Smiling and Laughing

I was sure that I was going to have the chills at some point. When I saw the length of those fingernails, and then realized that they would soon be touching me, I cringed. As our encounter went on, however, other characteristics came to the forefront. This is what happened when I went to the local haircut shop for a quick ‘#2-on-the-sides-and-back-and-get-me-my-money’s-worth-on-the-top’.

She was actually quite thorough, more so than others who have provided me service there. She did all the little things like vacuum all the cut hair after each step of the process so that they never had a chance to itch the back of my neck. And she blended her way up my head as she was going instead of doing it all then having to in essence start over when the slightest sign of one part being uneven unveiled itself. She was good, even with the long curly fingernails better kept to the likes of the Guinness Book of World Records. But it was what she said that really caught my attention.

Sometimes, my hair stylist is far more talkative than I (this is usually the case). Other times, I tend to engage them a bit more and feel like I’m almost intruding. And then there are the times when coworkers are simply enjoying their shift together, while the guy in the chair next to me and I just try and stay out of the way. I believe this particular time, we experienced all of that and more. She received phone calls verifying her hours so that other patrons wouldn’t miss her (I’m telling you, she was good). She rifled questions at me, her fellow scissor-wielding colleagues, other customers, and passersby to their establishment. Then she got on the topic of laughing.

“We just need to laugh more”, she kept on saying. It is the lack of laughing that serves as our biggest problem. Everybody just needs to stop taking themselves and everybody else so seriously. Problems would be solved left and right if we could just learn to laugh more. She went on for a while and didn’t stop until I asked her what had made her laugh the most today. She didn’t really have an answer. She mumbled something about her friend next to her who is so silly had made her laugh today and gave a quick wink, nudge and chortle in her direction.

While I didn’t wax too philosophical at the time, I believe that there is an important difference between laughing and smiling. Laughing can be too outward at times. It’s volume can too easily be used to cover up inconsistencies that are inside. Games can be played far too much with the act of laughing. Smiling comes a bit more from the soul. Smiling speaks much more in reverse proportion to the number of people involved. Smiles are almost best when silence is involved. To laugh, you need to use your mouth and others their ears. Smiles can involve the eyes.

I thought on these things as she held nearly the entire room captive. We then shuffled our way to the door, where I paid her with a sizable tip and thanked her. After all, she had tremendously improved my appearance. A stylish cut and a reminder of a quote by Charles Gordy, “a smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks”.

Cutest Things Ever Said

My kids. My life. My memories. Share yours.

1. “Papas don’t fall off.” - my younger daughter as she was swinging me as I lay on the hammock. Funny thing is, she never calls me ‘papa’, always ‘daddy’.

2. My younger daughter has words that we get a kick out of her saying. One of them is ‘things’ which comes out like ‘sins’. Examples: “Mommy and Daddy have their ‘sins’ in their bedroom”…”Daddy has lots of ‘sins’”…”What kind of ‘sins’ do you have?”…”Maybe I’ll get some ‘sins’ for my birthday!”

3. “Mommy, you’re my favorite mommy.” - my older daughter numerous times to my beloved Sarah, who is also my favorite wife.

4. “I’ve got ‘bless you’s’ all over my shirt.” – my younger daughter after she sneezed in her own general direction.

5. “I think he was on ‘CAH-vation’ (for vacation)” – my younger daughter (sensing a pattern yet?)

6. “I think Joppa” – my son after a few rounds of ‘Miracles and Pitfalls’, which is a Bible trivia game. The first question of the night included this town and it was the answer to another question, so when he wasn’t sure, he thought he was on to something with the whole ‘Joppa’ answer thing.

7. “Daddy, do you have a pen?” – OK, this may need an explanation. I had put a date on the calendar for a special Daddy/daughter time with, you guessed it, my younger daughter. She constantly was asking about it, so three weeks or so ahead of time, I made a simple calendar for her so she and I could cross off each day as it passed with anticipation for the coming special excursion. This became part of our bedtime routine. So maybe fifteen times during the evening, starting from when I returned home from work, she would ask me if I had a pen for the ceremonial crossing off of the date on the calendar. Guess you had to be there.

8. It does my heart good to hear my son’s answer to the question, ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’. It changes day by day. From ‘creation scientist’ to ‘football player’ to ‘pastor’ to ‘office worker’, he has quite a stable of possibilities and dreams. But then he always adds, “but of course, I also want to be a good husband and daddy.”

9. ‘the pewter’…just in case you ever talk to any of our kids and get the idea that we have stock in an alloy research firm or something. All three of our children have shortened ‘computer’. So when we are ‘working on the pewter’, we are NOT shining up the silverware!

10. Before we took her to the vet to get the official word, we thought our new dog was a Lhasa Apso mix. Insert any combination that comes to mind and we probably heard it…and chuckled.

11. “I fear we’re not going to my Walmart!” – my four year old daughter when running errands in another part of town. She was soon convinced that, yes, other Walmarts do exist.

12. There are many unique/cute things that come out of my wife’s mouth. I’ll limit myself to just this one for now. When talking about ‘being Jesus to people’, she noted that we can be “Jesus with clothes on”. I think she meant ‘skin’ instead of ‘clothes’, but it does sound safe and appropriate, doesn’t it?