Inspiring Calculations

An insightful and yet somewhat troubling discussion was had around the lunch table this fine day. Sarah was enjoying herself at a bridal shower (congrats to Michelle and Justin!) and the four kids and I were munching away at various goodies. (Yes, my children understand my propensity to answer 'yeah, sure' when asked about including different food items outside the norm...popcorn, canned fruit, etc).

Then the question came. We were anticipating the celebration that we were to attend that very afternoon. Five youth from our church were graduating from high school and for the first time in quite a while (and a first for the kids), we were going to be there to experience it. As we discussed the responsible step that these young ladies and man were taking, the children quickly gathered that they too would someday have the same privilege, Lord willing. And then somebody who had math on their mind asked the obvious "how long until I get to...?"

Luckily, I believe it was Celia and so we started there. Twelve years. Sounds safe. William? Let's say seventeen. But as we moved the other direction, reality started settling in a bit. Nine years for Priscilla and seven years for Jace, perhaps? That is starting to get a bit closer. But schooling at Pilgrim's Ford Academy is like a well-oiled machine, right? Well, I guess the next seven years plus will show us whether that is true or not. But the discussion didn't stop there.

On the way home, math was still on somebody's mind, for the calculations turned to marriage and starting families. We have created the habit of solving simple math problems with 'real life' examples. Like, when Priscilla is eighteen (and supposedly graduating from high school), how old will you (Celia) be? And yes, there are answers for these questions. And yes, they know them. And yes, they can come up with more. So they quickly figured out how many nieces and nephews will be there for little William's graduation!

But it is the numbers attached to me that brought some unique motivation. When William graduates from high school, I will be 57 years old! I have been thinking the last week or so about getting back into a more consistent pattern of exercising. That short discussion in the van alone served as inspiration aplenty for just that purpose. And then there will be weddings and grandchildren after that!!!

See you in the exercise room bright, early and often...

Industry Insider Information!

I was doing a bit of research today at work. Reading up on the ins-and-outs of the advertising and marketing world. Interesting stuff.

One thing that caught my eye was a paragraph or two on 'consumer behavior'. Having just secured an agreement to purchase our next home, I thought it might be insightful to take a closer look. A psychographic method is applied that puts you, the consumer, into one of four categories relating to your psychological type. Think of a recent purchase that you made ('big' like a house or 'small' like a bag of potato chips...or anything in between) and rate yourself on the following:

1. Need-drivens: those with limited financial resources who are driven more by need than choice

2. Outer-directeds: those whose buying habits, attitudes, and activities are influenced and shaped by what they think others will think

3. Inner-directeds: those who live their lives according to inner values rather than the values of others

4. Integrateds: those whose inner direction and outer direction are combined into a functional entity

Maybe its a good idea to do some self-evaluation in regards to how you purchase things, products, and services. Just know that there is an entire industry doing that very thing and trying to meet you where you are.

So, where do you see yourself?

Very Interesting and thought-provoking

I'm not much of an economist, but I found this video clip quite intriguing. It is nearly an hour long, but maybe you will be caught up in it a bit like I was.

Food for thought anyway...

blah, blah, blah...BRETT FAVRE!

Good evening, cherished followers! I hope both of you have had a good day.

So I see where my Vikings are/were considering adding the oft-retired Brett Favre to their quarterbacking mix. And I further saw that the sports sites that I check on had an article or two (or...) with their thoughts, observations and inside scoops regarding this possibility. So the thought occurred to me...why not ME?

I don't mean suiting up for the Vikings. Although that would realize a bit of a dream for me and I'm only a few months older than Favre. No, I mean why don't I give MY opinion and thoughts about the whole thing. And then I realized the availability of this forum and here we go...

Um...

I don't care.

Really.

Pick a quarterback, any quarterback. Play the games. Try your best. Win some (hopefully a lot) and see how it goes. But, really, I don't care.

Well, that's about it. Maybe that's why I'm not a sportswriter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Maybe this feeling of nonchalance stems from the following:
1. much joy was afforded me this morning just watching my 6 YO daughter play with my 1 YO son and make him thoroughly smile. (Brett who?)
2. my lovely wife left today to attend our church's women's retreat. Much prayer today for a rich time. I miss you, Sar, but I am so glad that you are able to take part in this great means of grace.
3. We've had a series of family celebrations in the last few days. We have even decided to make it an annual tradition to round out the school year. We had a special bike-riding excursion for Celia (Miss "I-learned-to-tie-my-shoes"), a unique evening where we all joined in a poetry reading of the works of one Priscilla Joy Bower (complete with poetry-reading-friendly dessert), and we ate heartily at a grand eatery to honor the 'ten essays written' accomplishment of budding blogger/writer Jace. I love my peoples.
4. Both vehicles went down for an eight-count but bounced up off the mat and are back in tip-top shape. I may have just mixed up metaphors a bit, but I'm still a little giddy from getting quality repairs for a fraction of the cost due to God's abundant provision of skilled people. (Thanks again Jeff and Dave!)
5. It's like just barely into May and you think I want to talk about football now?! Come on, let's pace ourselves people.

Thankful...

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

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...

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.