Shut Your Crier

Shut Your Crier. That's what I say to my kids when they are in one of those nonstop crying fits. Usually they are crying about something silly or something that happened hours ago. Parents know, kids will cry about some of the most silly things...usually when they are tired or hungry.

Got to thinking about me...I figure everyone else is, why shouldn't I. But then I remember God commands me to focus my eyes, thoughts and actions on him. It's amazing to me how self centered we are as a human race. Look everywhere and it's about "me". Look at the top 100 songs right now...most are about how you can please me, satisfy me, help me, love me, use me, abuse me...me me me. Magazines, movies, television...it's everywhere, all about me.

It's pretty sad that I sit down to watch a football game with my son and I have to monitor the commercials. TV shows about sleeping with as many women as possible, beer ads making alcohol seem so cool, viagra and cialis, Victoria secret. Sweet Gracious...I just want to watch the game.

Even as Christians we focus on "me" when we cry out to the Lord. God help me with this, Lord bless us, Lord use me, Father open my mind. What makes us any different than the world, if our faith is based on what God can do for us? God wants to hear our desires and needs, but he also desires us to shout out to him our praises and worship.

He promises to provide all we need. He who provides seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. (2nd Corinthians 9:10). Lets rest in the fact the God is our provider...Lets stop focusing on us and start focusing on Him.

None of this is said to remove the fact that God tells us to bring everything to him in prayer. I just wonder how much that we bring to Him, is brought as a heartfelt cry to Him and how much is asked as if he were our magic eight ball.

A Birth, A Death, A Resurrection. That's all that needs to be said. How selfish am I for asking for more than that?
"Shut your crier"...Yes lord, I will.

Random Happenings...

• You ever feel pulled in different directions...but no one is really pulling? I'm at that point the last few days. Family, Church, Missions, Career...good grief. My life is dedicated to my family, but if God's will were to allow me to go on every trip available, I would...and but that isn't a reality. Or is it God?
• Broccoli: Great FOR me....Horrendous for those AROUND me.
• Football Playoffs start this weekend. New England and New Orleans is my Super Bowl prediction. Whats yours?
• The annual Girl Scout cookie sales have started. Wife is responsible for ordering all the cookies that the girls in Alex's troop sells. That's chaotic but fun. Especially the extra boxes of cookies!!!
• Have you ever stopped and really considered the spiritual battle that is happening around us? It's real people, it's pretty scary and it's not going away until Jesus returns. (this may be a blog topic of its own someday)
• The countdown is on for me to shave. I have been growing my hair, in support of my missionary brother Mike. He went to Liberia with us and then went on to Uganda and Sudan. He hasn't shaved the whole time he has been gone and to support him, I've done the same. I haven't had hair on my head for about 4 or 5 years. I also have never had a beard before. He arrives home on Thursday at about 9:30 or so. At approx. 11PM that night I will be clean shaven again. Sweet unhairy bliss.
• Will I be making another video of my kids soon? Yes.
• Will I be making another video montage soon, this time from the Romania trip? Ah, yea...duh.
• Taking down the outside Christmas lights this weekend. Christmas is officially over...sad. But I encourage you to keep that "holiday" feeling all year long. We don't need a holiday to celebrate Jesus people...really we don't.

Thats all I got for now....be on the look out for more ramblings and videos.

God is Good!

Bathroom Humor

Or is it? I have some issues with the way people use public restrooms.

Fact: It is not acceptable to "forget" to wash your hands

Fact: If you are going to talk on your cell phone while using the restroom, be prepared for me to be as noisy and obnoxious as possible. There may be moaning, banging, grunting, laughing, chirping...I'll mix it up as I see fit. I'll also be sure to give you a few courtesy flushes. I just want to be sure that the person on the other end of the phone, knows you think so much of them. Their call was so important that no bodily function was going to stop you from taking their call. I'm sure they feel so special.

Fact: If the toilet is too dirty for your bottom that you insist on lining the toilet with 4 trees worth of toilet paper, please remove it when you are done. If the throne is too nasty for your royal hynie...I'm not so sure why you think leaving the "seat cover" for the next guy is proper etiquette.

Fact: It's not cool to talk to anyone in the bathroom. If you walk in at the same time as someone, stop talking and resume your business after you have finished your business. This goes for stops at the urinal for sure, but even more so for those who think its ok to talk while in the sitting position.

Sure this isn't probably the most popular subject or politically correct. But I consider this my public service announcement. You're Welcome!