The Little Technology Room

Is it just me, or is anyone else struck with the notion that there is just way too much technology in the bathroom these days.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of useful technology, but it just feels like it might be too much - especially when: the toilet flushes between the laying down of the seat cover and the acutal opportunity to sit; the faucet won't turn on despite your best effort, then, just before you give up it manages to spray all over the front of your pants and; repeated waves in front of the towel dispenser results in not nearly enough paper towel and repeated repeated waves.

Most of my trips to the bathroom lately have left me looking for the hidden camera and the feeling that people are laughing at me. The least the creators of toilet-tech could do is manage a little beta testing before releasing this stuff on the public.

Golf

I hate golf. I mean, I love golf. Actually, I love to hate golf. Really, I hate to love golf.

After not playing a round for about two years, I played what was probably my best round today.

If by best, you think I mean score - I guess it happened to be my lowest score (though laughable by most standards).

I was actually measuring my results in the following regards: having only lost five golf balls; taking only one mulligan; not hitting a single sand trap or water hazard or building or person - and all this for the mid-day special rate of $18 for 9 holes.

"Golf is a good walk spoiled." Mark Twain

I can't wait to get out again. Actually, I can.

Blending In

“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
Psalm 118:24

If ever there was a verse to be tattooed on the inside of my eyelids, this would be it. Far too often do I find myself waking up thinking, 'hide' or 'blend in today' or 'just survive today'. I must confess, and I'm ashamed to say there are some days where I don't rejoice even once. And I know I'm not the only one.

We get busy. We get distracted. We get selfish. Like the rest of the world; we complain, we loose track of who we are, what we have here and we stop focusing on the ultimate prize of heaven. And so, we blend in. Not long after, we stop guarding our souls. We fib a little here, cheat a little there, let our tongue slip just like everyone else, we get angry, etc. etc. etc.

The gulf we create between us and God doesn't allow for much recognition of who He is, His power, His grace. No rejoicing. No gladness. It's not easy living this verse, it takes work, it takes humility, it takes change, it takes courage.

This verse is living 'big', blending in is living 'small'.

God did not create us just to live a 'small' life, to blend in. He wants more from us, He wants us living 'big'.

So, what are you going to do to live 'big'? To stand out? To point the way? To positively impact those around you? To reflect and extend grace, and hope, and love? To live today in a such a way that you show you know that God made it - and rejoicing and being glad because of that? What are you going to do?

Alive and Kickin'

Wow - I can't believe it's been so long since my last blog entry. It's not like life's been boring, I guess I've just been so busy living it that reflection has been a luxury. Good thing I'm not getting paid by the post.

So, as a toe in the water, a warm-up if you will...

10 things I could have writen about in the last 10 months.

1. Life is best when you have people around who share appreciation, care, laughter, challenge and interest rather than cut-throat-competition, condesention, unrealistic expectations, crooked motives and lies.
2. Excedrin is, without a doubt, my new pain medication of choice!
3. The birth of a second daughter, while multidimentionally impactful, stressful and difficult - is also a multidimentionally beautiful blessing.
4. You'd think my house was just sitting there for the last year, but it turns out, it was earning quite a bit of money being so lazy. (If you're renting, do everything you can to buy!)
5. Teaching Third grade isn't so bad afterall!
6. You can hide alot of painting mistakes with faux finishing techniques.
7. Nothing is worth trading your soul for.
8. My wife is amazing!
9. After seven summers of looking for a job, even a dog can take the summer off knowing he has a place to go back to.
10. Life is crazy. Life is busy. Life is stressful. Life is less than fun somedays. But, life is good!

ps - I agree with the comment left on my last post - not that the post was boring, but that the blog is... er, um... was... I think...