Ecclesiastes 1:9

The writer of Ecclesiastes says,

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

Case in Point:
Compare this 40 year old classic with this week’s Number 1 single:

Bus Stop– The Hollies (1966)

That’s the way the whole thing started
Silly, but it’s true
Thinking of a sweet romance
Beginning in a queue
Came the sun, the ice was melting
No more sheltering, now
Nice to think that that umbrella
Led me to a vow

Chorus
Bus stop, wet day
She’s there I say
Please share my umbrella
Bus stop, bus go, she stays, love grows
Under my umbrella
All that summer we enjoyed it
Wind and rain and shine
That umbrella we employed it
By August she was mine

——————–
Umbrella– Rihanna (2007)

When the sun shines
We’ll shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
That I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath
I’mma stick it out ’till the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
You can stand under my Umbrella

It’s All I Can Do

Psalm 116
What can I give back to God for the blessings he poured out on me?
What can I give back to God for the blessings he poured out on me?
I lift high the Cup of Salvation as a toast to our Father,
To follow through on a promise I made to you from the heart.

It’s all I can do
It’s all we can do
This is all we can do

Vacation Photos

We have had a great couple of days here in Washington, DC.

The in-laws have lived here since Sandy and I started dating so we have had quite a few opportunities to see the Capital City. We’ve done the museums and the monuments so this trip was all about seeing and doing things that we haven’t done before.

RFK Stadium
Monday night we attended the Nationals vs. Tigers game in RFK Stadium. There were so many Tiger fans there that night that it was practically a home game for Detroit. The Nationals rallied in the 9th but still came up short. I was completely underwelmed by RFK Stadium by the way. It is old and ugly. Maybe that’s why they are building a new stadium.

The Racing Presidents
Every ballpark seems to have some variation of “the race.” At the Ballpark in Arlington it’s “The Dot Race.” In Milwaukee it’s “The Sausage Race.” In our nation’s capital they have “The Racing Presidents.” When I saw that giant Roosevelt race down the first base line I had no choice but to yell out, “Bully! Look at that giant Teddy Roosevelt!” After the race I just had to get a picture with them. The only thing that would have made this moment better is if they had stood in Rushmore formation. Oh well. Good times regardless.

Empty Seats
These seat were much better than the ones we paid for. (Full disclosure: I sat here to snap a few shots and then it was back to section 505)

For 18 Months
My dad is a history teacher and I have always enjoyed Civil War history. In all of our visits here we have never been to Ford’s Theatre. I guess we will have to try again later because the theatre is closed for the next 18 months as they renevate. D’oh!

Bali-licious
There was some sort of cultural festival on the Mall this past weekend. As we came up out of the metro we were greeted by this Bali-licious truck. All the information signs had been taken down so I can’t tell you the story behind it. Just mavel at it’s beaded glory.

These are all the photos for today. Have a great week everyone.

Catch A Fire

holy.tiff Let It Burn Within.

I have been stuck in the refugee camp Atlanta airport most of the day. I’m trying to make my way to Washington, DC. but I have had a rough go at it.

On a positive note I was able to start and finish Bill Hybels’ newest book, Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision.

I am extremely tired and weary but I have to say that it was just what the Doctor ordered.

Hybels describes holy discontent as the one thing that motivates you to act. What upsets you? What injustice boils your blood? What makes you stand up and say, “Hey, I’m not going to take this anymore!!! Something has to be done and I’m doing it.”

Hybles does a great job at reminding us that it isn’t enough to be discontented on your own. We must marry the things that break our hearts to the things that break the heart of God. That where the holy comes in.

My mind is swirling right now with my holy discontents. What are they?

I smell a post series!

Thoughts For the Day

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
(Colossians 3:23; 1Corinthians 10:31 TNIV)

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.””
(Exodus 31:1-11 TNIV) also see Exodus 35:30-36:8

This Is Embarassing

But I’m posting it anyway.
Just Chillin'

This is our dog, Buttercup. She doesn’t chew things she’s not supposed to. She loves to cuddle. She is smart as a whip. She has been, for the most part, a perfect pet.

We did run into a little problem as we were moving to Texas last year though. She has always been kinda jumpy, very protective, and a little high-strung. We have concluded that she behaves this way because we are her third family. She was abandoned by her first family- left in a box on the highway. Her second family adopted her but were unable to keep her. When we adopted Buttercup she was 9 months old and in need a family that would stick. From the day we brought her home 3 years ago she has slept with us, played with us, and become a real member of the family.

Apparently the stress from moving to Texas was a little too much for her and she suffered from a couple of bladder infections. Every time we leave on vacation or change her schedule she freaks out a little. You can almost see on her face that she is saying,

“Where are you going? Am I going? Oh! No! I’m not going and your not coming back? Oh, I am going? Don’t. Leave. Me.”

Although she is very resilient and bounces right back after some antibiotics I hate to see her even the slightest bit sick. We will be heading out on a couple of trips this summer and we have been worried about her getting sick again.

Today my wife took Buttercup to the vet for a check up. To help combat her anxiousness the vet basically prescribed my dog Dog Zanex.

My dog is on anxiety medication. Embarrassing but worth posting.

Consider It Pure Joy

This morning in Bible class I taught through James 1:1-18. After greeting his readers James immediately launches into a grab bag of encouragement and teaching aimed at helping these Christians glorify God in the midst of the right here and now.

James 1:2-4 TNIV
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

When I go through “trails” I very rarely consider it pure joy. I felt inadequate while teaching through this section of chapter 1. I explained, feebly, that to go through trails and to consider it joy was an attitude of the heart and mind. I felt unable to give a great example of what that might mean or what being joyful in trails looks like lived out.

A few minutes ago I read a post that highlighted Ronald Reagan’s diary entry from March 30, 1981- the day he was shot by John Hinckley Jr.

I can’t think of a more painful trial than:
a) being shot by a bullet
b) being shoved to the car floor after receiving said bullet
c) having a linebacker Secret Service Agent ride on top of you to the hospital

All of this happened a month after Reagan turned 70 by the way. Here is what he remembered as important that day:

“Left the hotel at the usual side entrance,” “headed for the car—suddenly there was a burst of gunfire from the left.” Secret service “agent pushed me onto the floor of the car” and “jumped on top. Then I began coughing up blood, which made both of us think—yes, I had a broken rib” and “it had punctured a lung.” The agent “switched orders from” going to the White House, go to George Washington University Hospital. “By the time we arrived, I was having great trouble getting enough air. I walked into the emergency room and was hoisted onto a cart. It was then we learned I’d been shot” and “had a bullet in my lung. “Getting shot hurts. Still my fear was growing because no matter how hard I tried to breathe it seemed I was getting less and less air. I focused on that tile ceiling and prayed. But I realized I couldn’t ask for God’s help while at the same time I felt hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me. Isn’t that the meaning of the lost sheep? We are all God’s children and therefore equally beloved by him. I began to pray for his soul and that he” could “find his way back to the fold. … The days of therapy, transfusion, intravenous, etc.” had gone, “have gone by—now it is Saturday, April 11, and this morning I left the hospital. “Whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can.”

Reagan said that he couldn’t pray for himself before he prayed for Hinkley. In the midst of a pretty tough ordeal the President not only turned his heart and thoughts to God but set his heart on caring for and lifting up his would-be assassin.

What does it look like to live in joy while living though trials? It is living in such a way that you can say with all your heart, “Whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can.”

HT Jordon Cooper

It’s the G.R.E.

Well, I’m off to take the GRE today.

I’m not taking the Generic Routing Encapsulation which is a tunneling protocol designed for encapsulation. No, I will be taking the Graduate Record Examination so I can enroll in Grad School.

The train is a rollin’ for me to head back to school for my Master’s. I can’t wait to get that gold blazer! What… it’s not a gold blazer?

Wish me luck!

Update: Well, it’s over. The math beat me like a red-headed stepchild. Good thing I can already work the math I might encounter when studying theology. You know:

39+27=66
12-1+1=12
If God is X than X=3