I thought I would just make a list of things that I am thankful for. In no particular order...
1. Sarah - she simply amazes me. And she is God's perfect gift for me.
2. maturity - as displayed by my eleven-year old son as he interacts with others and make decisions. You are learning well, Jace, even when it's not always pleasant to do so.
3. ingenuity - as displayed by my girls (ages nine and six) as they 'choose' to help me with a project that will elongate their wake time just a bit. I wonder where they got that craftiness from?
4. one year - William turned one over the weekend. Amazing how many blessings can be wrapped up in one nearly-bald little fellow.
5. neighbors who can fix vehicles - where would I be without them? (Other than NOT in my truck scooting around town). Thanks, Jeff!
6. Pilgrim's Ford Academy - OK, so I am a bit biased as the principal. But I love the freedom to take a little break from the normal math/history/reading/language/etc routine (though much of that will continue to some degree) to focus on grandparent-relationship building and a special 'Young Peacemaker' unit to train on 'responding to conflict God's way'.
7. examples like Samuel in scripture - think this guy wasn't something else? Check out what he did in 1 Samuel 15:33! And be sure to read the context as portrayed in all of chapter 15. Um...obedience = good, disobedience = bad!
8. Grace Community Church in Mooresville, NC - I've never been more pleased with what God is doing among us! My brothers and sisters there abound in His mercy and grace...and in sharing it with others!
9. the lack of quality TV - This is not a comment on the programming (have already alluded that in previous posts) but on the reception that our physical set gets. No cable/dish/etc for us. And I am genuinely grateful for I fear the amount of time I could easily waste were it otherwise.
10. the ongoing pilgrimage - we (Sarah and I) have always gone about life as if we are pilgrims on a journey (as I suppose we actually are). We have indeed 'set our heart(s) on pilgrimage' as the psalmist says. New adventures have led to much learning and growing. These are good things for an old guy like me!
Ever grateful,
Larry
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
How Un-American of me!
In order to pursue a new job opportunity that has come my way (now doing some recruiting...if you know anybody looking for a change in work scenery - or just SOME work scenery, go here for job info!, I have jumped into the social networking fray a bit. Facebook (Bower Family) we've done for a while. LinkedIn (Larry Bower) is gaining some momentum. And now Twitter (LarryBower). I have semi-connected with more people in the last few weeks than I probably have previously in 'real life' for decades. And I'm not sure how I feel about it all.
On the one hand, I have met and been exposed to some fascinating people. It is thrilling to connect with like-minded people in far-off places who I would never have met otherwise. But a part of me feels very much out of place. While I, and most of my e-colleagues, use these tools as a means to a productive end, there are certainly those who would appear to 'live' on these sites. Are they just extremely gifted and can accomplish much there and then move on to other endeavors? I'm sure many are. But some of the subject matter and lack of depth and...
Which leads to my current beef with our society and my not fitting in with it. I have seen some patterns develop over time on these sites. It goes something like this: a noticeable lack of activity followed by an obvious flurry of updates regarding the topic of...insert popular TV program here (American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, House, 24, etc). I chose to list these because they happen to be shows THAT I HAVE NEVER ONCE WATCHED!!! Sorry if that entitles me to status as lead-dweeb or something. But I must admit that I can't get over the amount of attention that is given to these and other like fare.
All right, I'm better now. Got that off my chest. Now don't get me started on the awkward similarity of updates/posts from those who very publicly proclaim Christ-followership and those who don't!
OK, time for me to go and confess...
On the one hand, I have met and been exposed to some fascinating people. It is thrilling to connect with like-minded people in far-off places who I would never have met otherwise. But a part of me feels very much out of place. While I, and most of my e-colleagues, use these tools as a means to a productive end, there are certainly those who would appear to 'live' on these sites. Are they just extremely gifted and can accomplish much there and then move on to other endeavors? I'm sure many are. But some of the subject matter and lack of depth and...
Which leads to my current beef with our society and my not fitting in with it. I have seen some patterns develop over time on these sites. It goes something like this: a noticeable lack of activity followed by an obvious flurry of updates regarding the topic of...insert popular TV program here (American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, House, 24, etc). I chose to list these because they happen to be shows THAT I HAVE NEVER ONCE WATCHED!!! Sorry if that entitles me to status as lead-dweeb or something. But I must admit that I can't get over the amount of attention that is given to these and other like fare.
All right, I'm better now. Got that off my chest. Now don't get me started on the awkward similarity of updates/posts from those who very publicly proclaim Christ-followership and those who don't!
OK, time for me to go and confess...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Surprised by Sovereignty
OK, so I'm reading through the book of 1 Samuel now during my mornings. Now, I like history as much as the next guy, but I must admit that it can sometimes be a challenge to to be reading scripture lately and expect something, um, spiritually significant and relevant. I can be in awe of Hannah, Samuel and the God they serve. I can learn lessons of what NOT to do from those pesky Philistines and those frustrating Israelites. (Hmmm, remind you of anybody you know, Larry?!) I can even witness to the power of the words spoken and realized ("Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God?" 1 Sam 6:20; "We have sinned against the Lord" 1 Sam 7:6; "Thus far the Lord has helped us." 1 Sam 7:12). But chapter nine 'wow'ed me this morning.
When Israel asks Samuel for a king 'like all the nations', there are many biblical subplots that this activity feeds. I will limit myself (or at least I intend to) to a peek at God's beauty and power that jumped out from the pages of scripture and into the thoughts that fueled my day. I was reading along about Saul and his servant on their donkey-rescue mission. In true Old Testament form, we are given insight to varied details, some of which seem a bit much. It's like listening to a long-winded speaker that prompts me to want to speed them up a bit to GET TO THE POINT! For 'bottom right column' folk like me, the details can be a challenge at times. So instead of 'Saul and his servant met up with Samuel and were told that he had a special message for them', we are taken on a 'baker's dozen plus' journey through the specifics of donkey whereabouts, understanding parental concern, the going rate for words from the local seer, and the pre-mapquest method of getting where you want to go with the help of the water-fetching crowd. Then verse fifteen reminded me that these very particulars were part of the song of God's sovereignty that was being played out.
"Now a day before Saul's coming, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel saying, 'About this time tomorrow...'"
God had a plan. Imagine the rest of scripture without this episode. No Saul as king. No David contrasted with Saul and becoming the greatest king in Israel's history. No prophetic word proclaiming that a messiah would come from the line of that same David to save the sins of God's people. No New Testament. OK, maybe I'm reading a bit much into this, but the point is that huge things in the future get a little bit of a start right here with this unique meeting between Saul and Samuel. And it took lost donkeys, a shekel portion in the hand of a forward-thinking servant, and the brave admonishment from a young woman to 'hurry up and get to the high place!'
I would imagine that your day was like mine. Why does the truck have trouble starting again? What am I going to do about that situation at work? OK, I see what I need, but how do I get it? These, um, details are part of our daily existence (hey, donkeys just get lost...it's what they do). But could it be that God is orchestrating something beautiful behind it all?
Take courage. The 'verse fifteen' of your life will happen when it is sovereignly decided to be revealed. In fact, it's happening right now.
When Israel asks Samuel for a king 'like all the nations', there are many biblical subplots that this activity feeds. I will limit myself (or at least I intend to) to a peek at God's beauty and power that jumped out from the pages of scripture and into the thoughts that fueled my day. I was reading along about Saul and his servant on their donkey-rescue mission. In true Old Testament form, we are given insight to varied details, some of which seem a bit much. It's like listening to a long-winded speaker that prompts me to want to speed them up a bit to GET TO THE POINT! For 'bottom right column' folk like me, the details can be a challenge at times. So instead of 'Saul and his servant met up with Samuel and were told that he had a special message for them', we are taken on a 'baker's dozen plus' journey through the specifics of donkey whereabouts, understanding parental concern, the going rate for words from the local seer, and the pre-mapquest method of getting where you want to go with the help of the water-fetching crowd. Then verse fifteen reminded me that these very particulars were part of the song of God's sovereignty that was being played out.
"Now a day before Saul's coming, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel saying, 'About this time tomorrow...'"
God had a plan. Imagine the rest of scripture without this episode. No Saul as king. No David contrasted with Saul and becoming the greatest king in Israel's history. No prophetic word proclaiming that a messiah would come from the line of that same David to save the sins of God's people. No New Testament. OK, maybe I'm reading a bit much into this, but the point is that huge things in the future get a little bit of a start right here with this unique meeting between Saul and Samuel. And it took lost donkeys, a shekel portion in the hand of a forward-thinking servant, and the brave admonishment from a young woman to 'hurry up and get to the high place!'
I would imagine that your day was like mine. Why does the truck have trouble starting again? What am I going to do about that situation at work? OK, I see what I need, but how do I get it? These, um, details are part of our daily existence (hey, donkeys just get lost...it's what they do). But could it be that God is orchestrating something beautiful behind it all?
Take courage. The 'verse fifteen' of your life will happen when it is sovereignly decided to be revealed. In fact, it's happening right now.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Facebook groups
Yes, I am / we are Facebookers. Join us if you'd like (we're under 'Bower Family' in the Charlotte, NC network). One of the funny things about FB that I've seen is the groups that are available for one to join.
Every time we get a new friend, I like to check out their profile for a few keys things. I marvel sometimes at the number of groups I have seen and how specific they are to a certain 'tribe' (sorry for the marketing-speak there). It seems as though any idea one has in their mind can be translated into an invitation to join with others who think/believe similarly. There's everything from 'So-and-so for President' to 'I remember the phrase such-and-such from some previous decade/era'.
When we get these requests, we generally ignore them. We've joined a few, but I mostly just don't want to either spend the time researching what the group really is and who is in it or I simply don't want to associate with it. But I was thinking about what groups I might form if I was so inclined. With that in mind, following are a few groups I would create if I had the desire to. I'd be interested to know which one(s) you would join. Let me know.
1. I think carrot juice is among the healthiest nutrients one can put in their body.
2. I place the receipt totals from my organic carrot purchases under 'medical expenses' in my family budget (see #1)
3. The older I get, the more I appreciate the truth and simplicity of a well-written children's song
4. I like sports as much as the next guy, but I am significantly opposed to any type of public funding for arenas/stadiums.
5. I use to brag about being 'hearty' during the winter months when I lived in the north, but I do not miss the cold temps.
6. I save storage cost/space by keeping unused furniture in my office at work
7. I would like to have the job where you get to come up with names for the new colors that they make.
8. I could not carry a tune if my life depended on it.
9. I think everybody should watch the following video and really think it through: check it out
10. I remember well the meaning of these four words: Kirby Puckett, Game Six
11. I have pulled an 'all-nighter' in my post-student days
12. I think it's easier to type 'How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?' than it is to say it.
13. I have never read Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' and do not intend to ever do so.
14. I wish people would properly use the phrase 'couldn't care less' instead of 'could care less'.
15. I bet you would click on this link just to see if there really is a group by this title.
Who's with me?
Every time we get a new friend, I like to check out their profile for a few keys things. I marvel sometimes at the number of groups I have seen and how specific they are to a certain 'tribe' (sorry for the marketing-speak there). It seems as though any idea one has in their mind can be translated into an invitation to join with others who think/believe similarly. There's everything from 'So-and-so for President' to 'I remember the phrase such-and-such from some previous decade/era'.
When we get these requests, we generally ignore them. We've joined a few, but I mostly just don't want to either spend the time researching what the group really is and who is in it or I simply don't want to associate with it. But I was thinking about what groups I might form if I was so inclined. With that in mind, following are a few groups I would create if I had the desire to. I'd be interested to know which one(s) you would join. Let me know.
1. I think carrot juice is among the healthiest nutrients one can put in their body.
2. I place the receipt totals from my organic carrot purchases under 'medical expenses' in my family budget (see #1)
3. The older I get, the more I appreciate the truth and simplicity of a well-written children's song
4. I like sports as much as the next guy, but I am significantly opposed to any type of public funding for arenas/stadiums.
5. I use to brag about being 'hearty' during the winter months when I lived in the north, but I do not miss the cold temps.
6. I save storage cost/space by keeping unused furniture in my office at work
7. I would like to have the job where you get to come up with names for the new colors that they make.
8. I could not carry a tune if my life depended on it.
9. I think everybody should watch the following video and really think it through: check it out
10. I remember well the meaning of these four words: Kirby Puckett, Game Six
11. I have pulled an 'all-nighter' in my post-student days
12. I think it's easier to type 'How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?' than it is to say it.
13. I have never read Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' and do not intend to ever do so.
14. I wish people would properly use the phrase 'couldn't care less' instead of 'could care less'.
15. I bet you would click on this link just to see if there really is a group by this title.
Who's with me?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Which things are God's?
I read one of those somewhat familiar passages in the Bible the other day. I've heard it, read it, pondered it all before. Or so I thought. There's always more, isn't there? Mark 12:13-17 is what I read and I'm still left with a question or two surrounding it. Join me in seeking the best answers to them, won't you?
The setting has the Pharisees and other religious leaders trying to trick Jesus and 'trap him in his talk'. This is during the last week of Jesus' life before the crucifixion and we've already been given fair warning by Christ Himself that things were about to drastically change. Three times in the previous few chapters, He's pretty well laid it out. They're going to arrest me, mistreat me (with some not-so-uncertain terms to describe the mistreatment), kill me and then I'm going to come back from the dead three days later. Things are heating up.
Now we find ourselves listening to Jesus admonish and teach on a number of subjects in the midst of that growing heat in greater Jerusalem. And taking on all comers. Whenever I've read this passage before, I always seemed to play the role of the out-of-shape but still awkwardly involved fan of a sports team. "Here they come with their best shot, Lord"..."be careful (like I actually have any advice to share as to what to do or say in the situation!)"..."be God and all that stuff but, you know, GO GET'EM!!!". And then, voilà, the Savior comes through with the clutch shot that wins the game! Take that, you punks! Go start 'rendering' and get back to me later. Hey, by the way, Lord, that was some quick thinking. Way to go. And then off I go to my armchair approach to listening to God among us preach away some more.
But then that second phrase got me. "And (render) to God the things that are God's." It was directed to the questioning Pharisees and Herodians for sure. But everybody heard it. And maybe this time I did too. We're in the 'rendering' season with taxes coming due in the coming weeks. But that only starts to cover the Caesar part. And then the other half of the equation still needs more thoughts, conclusions and action. If we are to give the shiny coins to the powers that be, how do we obey the rest? Which things are God's?
It's easy to start the list with the typical Sunday School answers. My heart. My family. My future. My finances. My...well, everything. But I wondered if there is more. As I thought on the list being compiled, it seemed with all the 'big' things I was coming up with, acknowledgment of who God was and what He was doing in the midst of them is key. Rendering my job to God means realizing that it is from God and needs to be somehow approached for God. And the same with plans that I have for future endeavors, interactions with others whether close and intimate (family) or not so much (the clerk at CVS that I spent 120 seconds with this afternoon), and the dreams that I hold near and dear to my heart.
Those are all fine and good for Sunday philosophizing, but what about the other umpteen hours a week? In discussing this briefly as a family, we concluded that we must render each of the 'little' things to God as well. While we want to give Him our friendships, that must also mean we render that discussion tomorrow that we know will happen at about 4:20 PM to Him as well. We can give Him our finances, but it must necessarily affect what we do with that four dollars that we have in our pocket (even as we drove by the $2 special that two of us did yesterday and wondered about for a very brief moment).
So while I can say that I am rendering my 'life' to God, my prayer is that it is evident moment by moment, decision by decision, action by action, and attitude by attitude. And as I continue to ponder this passage, I trust that the height of Jesus' temple teaching will settle into the mundane details of me.
The setting has the Pharisees and other religious leaders trying to trick Jesus and 'trap him in his talk'. This is during the last week of Jesus' life before the crucifixion and we've already been given fair warning by Christ Himself that things were about to drastically change. Three times in the previous few chapters, He's pretty well laid it out. They're going to arrest me, mistreat me (with some not-so-uncertain terms to describe the mistreatment), kill me and then I'm going to come back from the dead three days later. Things are heating up.
Now we find ourselves listening to Jesus admonish and teach on a number of subjects in the midst of that growing heat in greater Jerusalem. And taking on all comers. Whenever I've read this passage before, I always seemed to play the role of the out-of-shape but still awkwardly involved fan of a sports team. "Here they come with their best shot, Lord"..."be careful (like I actually have any advice to share as to what to do or say in the situation!)"..."be God and all that stuff but, you know, GO GET'EM!!!". And then, voilà, the Savior comes through with the clutch shot that wins the game! Take that, you punks! Go start 'rendering' and get back to me later. Hey, by the way, Lord, that was some quick thinking. Way to go. And then off I go to my armchair approach to listening to God among us preach away some more.
But then that second phrase got me. "And (render) to God the things that are God's." It was directed to the questioning Pharisees and Herodians for sure. But everybody heard it. And maybe this time I did too. We're in the 'rendering' season with taxes coming due in the coming weeks. But that only starts to cover the Caesar part. And then the other half of the equation still needs more thoughts, conclusions and action. If we are to give the shiny coins to the powers that be, how do we obey the rest? Which things are God's?
It's easy to start the list with the typical Sunday School answers. My heart. My family. My future. My finances. My...well, everything. But I wondered if there is more. As I thought on the list being compiled, it seemed with all the 'big' things I was coming up with, acknowledgment of who God was and what He was doing in the midst of them is key. Rendering my job to God means realizing that it is from God and needs to be somehow approached for God. And the same with plans that I have for future endeavors, interactions with others whether close and intimate (family) or not so much (the clerk at CVS that I spent 120 seconds with this afternoon), and the dreams that I hold near and dear to my heart.
Those are all fine and good for Sunday philosophizing, but what about the other umpteen hours a week? In discussing this briefly as a family, we concluded that we must render each of the 'little' things to God as well. While we want to give Him our friendships, that must also mean we render that discussion tomorrow that we know will happen at about 4:20 PM to Him as well. We can give Him our finances, but it must necessarily affect what we do with that four dollars that we have in our pocket (even as we drove by the $2 special that two of us did yesterday and wondered about for a very brief moment).
So while I can say that I am rendering my 'life' to God, my prayer is that it is evident moment by moment, decision by decision, action by action, and attitude by attitude. And as I continue to ponder this passage, I trust that the height of Jesus' temple teaching will settle into the mundane details of me.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
There, I Did It!
I finally posted again.
Random thoughts that I've had lately:
1. Forty-some years ago, our nation was struggling with civil rights issues. Deep-rooted sin was in the process of being exposed and small steps of progress were experienced. We have now elected our first African American president as a nation. What a moving thought and reality! I can't help but think what the next half century or so might bring. What part of our society is currently marginalized to some degree, only to see tremendous change in the coming decades? May I offer a thought/dream/suggestion? Before I do, please keep in mind that I am in no way comparing the civil rights movement and the experience of black individuals in this country to the group of people that I am about to note. There is indeed no comparison. I simply wonder about the 'who-would-have-seen-this?' surprise if...we elect a home-schooled president (another one, really...it was quite common for most of human, as well as early American, history).
2. Sarah is quite concerned as I type this. I am eating popcorn and blogging at the computer at the same time. Using great caution...
3. I recently perused the items that we have in the downstairs bookshelves. Have I got a lot of reading to do! We placed many books in storage for our anticipated year at the townhouse. I remember going through our library carefully and only keeping certain books on the 'active' list that I planned on reading during our time here. Needless to say, I am way behind. I think the discovery of the $1 hardcover books at Value Village had something to do with that. My 'to-read' list has grown instead, even though I am reading consistently. I plan on reading some to/with the family so that will help. And I decided to start a 'family missions conference' each fall which will include reading a couple more. Progress...slow, but progress nonetheless.
4. Dottie (our dog) is looking at me like she is really hoping I drop a piece or two of this popcorn. Sorry, like I said...using great caution.
5. Feedback time!! I hope to soon post about a thought that I had after seeing a marquee at a local church. But in the meantime I'd like to ask you, my devoted-or-maybe-not-so-much readership...if you had a marquee right now to display your general thoughts on life, what would it say? Maybe mine would say something like "ONLY ___ SHOPPING DAYS LEFT UNTIL LARRY'S BIRTHDAY". Then again, maybe not.
6. Upon returning from our recent trip to MN/WI over the holidays, I was pleased to see the expenditures come in slightly below the anticipated level. I believe there are two reasons for this that stand out amongst others. One, the gas prices went down at just the right time. Thank you, Lord! I think we paid as little as $1.32/gallon though my memory may be a bit foggy on that and I'm not taking the time to look through the receipt files just now. Secondly, we got sick. You do the math. five people (William doesn't count for food expenses...yet) plus the 36-hour flu equals significant savings. Indeed, a silver lining to that dark cloud!
7. For those of you waiting for our annual Christmas web site, well, we're just not sure. We knew with our trip that it would be a bit late. But unless we get motivated for a 'Valentine's Day' or 'St. Patrick's Day' web site, it just may not happen. I guess Facebook may have to settle for an alternative. Stay tuned.
Larry out.
Random thoughts that I've had lately:
1. Forty-some years ago, our nation was struggling with civil rights issues. Deep-rooted sin was in the process of being exposed and small steps of progress were experienced. We have now elected our first African American president as a nation. What a moving thought and reality! I can't help but think what the next half century or so might bring. What part of our society is currently marginalized to some degree, only to see tremendous change in the coming decades? May I offer a thought/dream/suggestion? Before I do, please keep in mind that I am in no way comparing the civil rights movement and the experience of black individuals in this country to the group of people that I am about to note. There is indeed no comparison. I simply wonder about the 'who-would-have-seen-this?' surprise if...we elect a home-schooled president (another one, really...it was quite common for most of human, as well as early American, history).
2. Sarah is quite concerned as I type this. I am eating popcorn and blogging at the computer at the same time. Using great caution...
3. I recently perused the items that we have in the downstairs bookshelves. Have I got a lot of reading to do! We placed many books in storage for our anticipated year at the townhouse. I remember going through our library carefully and only keeping certain books on the 'active' list that I planned on reading during our time here. Needless to say, I am way behind. I think the discovery of the $1 hardcover books at Value Village had something to do with that. My 'to-read' list has grown instead, even though I am reading consistently. I plan on reading some to/with the family so that will help. And I decided to start a 'family missions conference' each fall which will include reading a couple more. Progress...slow, but progress nonetheless.
4. Dottie (our dog) is looking at me like she is really hoping I drop a piece or two of this popcorn. Sorry, like I said...using great caution.
5. Feedback time!! I hope to soon post about a thought that I had after seeing a marquee at a local church. But in the meantime I'd like to ask you, my devoted-or-maybe-not-so-much readership...if you had a marquee right now to display your general thoughts on life, what would it say? Maybe mine would say something like "ONLY ___ SHOPPING DAYS LEFT UNTIL LARRY'S BIRTHDAY". Then again, maybe not.
6. Upon returning from our recent trip to MN/WI over the holidays, I was pleased to see the expenditures come in slightly below the anticipated level. I believe there are two reasons for this that stand out amongst others. One, the gas prices went down at just the right time. Thank you, Lord! I think we paid as little as $1.32/gallon though my memory may be a bit foggy on that and I'm not taking the time to look through the receipt files just now. Secondly, we got sick. You do the math. five people (William doesn't count for food expenses...yet) plus the 36-hour flu equals significant savings. Indeed, a silver lining to that dark cloud!
7. For those of you waiting for our annual Christmas web site, well, we're just not sure. We knew with our trip that it would be a bit late. But unless we get motivated for a 'Valentine's Day' or 'St. Patrick's Day' web site, it just may not happen. I guess Facebook may have to settle for an alternative. Stay tuned.
Larry out.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Don't watch this...
...if you enjoy soccer to any degree and currently have any liquid in your mouth. I'm just sayin'...
And, no, I will not mention how many of these things I have done in my 'career'.
Enjoy!
And, no, I will not mention how many of these things I have done in my 'career'.
Enjoy!
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