FAITHFUL FLOWERS and ETERNAL LOVE

I just happened upon this story earlier this week and couldn't help but share it on Valentine's Day.  The commercialism of February 14th can be a little too "syrupy-sweet" sometimes, so it's great to be reminded of how love is to be real, tangible and unselfish.  I can't for the life of me remember where I read this, but it is an incredibly touching story told by a widow . . . about a faithful love:

"My sweet husband, John, and I were married for 46 years. Each Valentine's Day, he'd send me the most beautiful flowers containing a note with five simple words: 'My love for you grows.' Four children, 46 bouquets and a lifetime of love were his legacy to me when he passed away two years ago. On my first Valentine's Day alone, 10 months after I lost him, I was shocked to receive a gorgeous bouquet addressed to me...from John. Angry and heartbroken, I called the florist to say there had been a mistake. The florist replied, 'No, ma'am, it's not a mistake. Before he passed away, your husband prepaid for many years and asked us to guarantee that you'd continue getting bouquets every Valentine's Day.' With my heart in my throat, I hung up the phone and read the attached card. It said, 'My love for you is eternal."

I know . . . sniff, sniff . . . just use your sleeve like you're wiping sweat.  Don't you hate it when your eyes sweat and there are no onions around to blame it on?  Big-time props to "John" for providing us with a great example of true, faithful and thoughtful love ( and for making the rest of us look woefully inadequate in the romance department ).

For more on where unselfish & eternal love comes from and can be experienced, check out 1 John 4:7-21 . . . because after all, "we love because he (God) first loved us."

Hallmark & Russell Stover can have their little conspiracy each February, because it's always great to show your loved ones how much they mean to you with sweet gifts and gestures . . . but chocolates are just temporary as they ( hopefully ) end up being burned off at the YMCA.  Even faithful flowers eventually fade . . . but the love that comes from God is forever.

Each of us has been given a message by the Creator of the universe that says "my love for you is eternal."  The key for our relationships now, and for our eternity, is that we each take it to heart, accept it, treasure it and share it.

EVERY Day is a Gift

This past Wednesday, on 12.12.12, we experienced something pretty unique in the fact that the digits in the date matched in a way that won't happen again for like 989 years . . . until January 1, 3001 or "01.01.01."  If I'm going to be around for that, I think I'm going to need a good nap.  While it was kind of cool to think about the uniqueness of the calendar date assigned to this past Wednesday, at some point that afternoon I found myself wondering why such a big deal was being made of those simple digits . . . when, the truth is, EVERY day is unique because there will NEVER be another day with that exact date.  After all, there will NEVER again be a 4.23.1956, right?

That evening, I thought, "hey, that might make a profound and thought-provoking blog" . . . but I didn't get around to it.

And then less than 48 hours later came the unthinkable, tragic news out of Connecticut that has reminded us in such a sorrowful way that . . . EVERY day is a gift that should not be taken for granted.

We may never understand what kind of darkness could possibly cause someone to do what was done in Newtown, or at an Oregon mall, or at a movie theater or high school in Colorado.  We also may never know why accidents happen or illnesses take loved ones so suddenly . . . and too early.

We cannot always control what will happen around us . . . but we can determine to appreciate and make the most of each and every day that has been "gifted" to us.  Hug your kids, tell your parents how much you appreciate them, tell your spouse how much you love them . . . not just because "you never know" but because we DO know that the people in our lives are special blessings, and EVERY day is a unique gift . . . that's why it's called "the present."

As we approach Christmas and we find ourselves trying to give awesome presents to the ones we love, let's be reminded that God has given us, the ones He so loves, His presence . . . which is our hope, even when it seems that darkness surrounds us.

The following is a portion of a prayer offered in response to the Connecticut tragedy by one of my favorite authors . . . he is a pastor and his name is Max Lucado and I hope his words are a blessing:

"Dear Jesus . . . Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were night-shift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence. Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene. Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger. This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us."

When Things Don't Go As Planned...

"That's not how it was supposed to be!!!!" "That's not how we thought it would turn out!!!" How are you at handling that sometimes unsettling feeling when things don't go as planned?  Some free-wheeling, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants people may read this and think, "Planned? What is this strange word he uses...'planned?"  Others on the other end of the spectrum may have started to tremble with an uneasy feeling in their stomach and cold sweats after simply reading the title of this post.  Wherever you may find your personality falling in relation to these descriptions, we have to admit that life is like this sometimes.  Planned or not, things tend to sometimes happen in ways unexpected . . . like 4th of July fireworks in San Diego ( by the way - the greatest city in the world...discovered by the Germans in 1904 ).  The "Big Bay Boom" as it is now called can be seen in all of it's ( brief ) glory by clicking the play button below - WARNING: it's really loud - turn down your volume first.

One would assume that the company that was in charge of the celebratory pyrotechnic show had carefully planned things out . . . dotting "i's" and crossing "t's" . . . but things went in a seriously different direction when a signal that was supposed to simply set the timing of the fireworks caused the entire show to be launched in about 15 seconds - rather than 25 - 30 minutes.  Thankfully, no one was injured . . . and what seemed to be a "not-how-we-planned-it" disaster, ended up turning into a "spectacular" phenomenon that has been talked about more than any other fireworks show in the country.  You may have noticed an onlooker calling it "insane" ( in a good way ) and another calling it "the best fireworks show ever!"
In life and in ministry, we like to have things planned - and we tend to be most comfortable when we don't deviate from those plans or traditions.  But time and again, I have seen God do some "spectacular" things . . . in ways I wouldn't have anticipated . . . especially when things unfolded in a different fashion.  God works in the lives of people in His way and in His timing . . . sometimes THROUGH what we have planned, and sometimes OUTSIDE of what we have planned.  The lesson learned here is: God's wisdom, power and perspective are so much greater than my own, and He is always able to come up with "the best ever."  As tough as it may be to loosen our grip on the controls, He can be trusted to come through . . . even when things don't go as planned.

LOVE Never Fails!

When I came across an article on Yahoo! about a "proofreading fail" in the advertising of new Packer jerseys, I couldn't help but chuckle - see picture.  I fully admit, that for the most part, my enjoyment of this error surfaces based on my current jealousy of the fact that the Green Bean Pickers are a much better football team than my Purple are right now.  However, you have to admit it is kind of ironic, that of all the letters in their great quarterback's name to omit . . . it's the 'D' that is missing - it, of course, should be "RODGERS."  It's funny because that's kind of the reason that the Giants marched in and out of Lambeau in the playoffs last January on their way to the Lombardi Trophy . . . but I digress . . . .
While the little red cartoon dude that sometimes camps out on my left shoulder with his horns, tail and pitchfork would like for me to keep reveling in the mistakes of others . . . the one on my right shoulder with the white wings and harp seems to be reminding me of Matthew 7 and 1 Corinthians 13.
Now, this may seem like a jump to apply this spiritually here, but I believe this scenario is revealing an inner struggle that plays itself out in a very practical way.  Being the type of person who enjoys the misfortune of others is not what God has is mind for any of us . . . and that's not who He has called me to be.
In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus sets the standard He expects from us when He tells us to not judge others for the speck of sawdust in their eye, when we have a whole flippin' board in our own.  He warns us to not have a hypocritical, judgmental attitude toward others that enjoys their failure and tears them down in order to build ourselves up.  Why am I amused by the mistakes of others when my next one is right around the coner korner cormer corner?
1 Corinthians 13 paints a beautiful picture . . . and defines what love really is.  Check it out . . . and be challenged with me to live a life that is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres . . . ( and guess what ) . . . LOVE never fails!

P.S. - please let me know if you discover any typos in what you just read . . .

Wisdom from the Washroom

Look . . . I know this will probably have you on edge when I say that I learned something while I was in the bathroom the other day.  I think we can all agree that sometimes the bathroom is a great place to do some reading . . . and even some serious thinking ( tell me you haven't wondered if the statue known as "The Thinker" was based on someone who had his privacy invaded ).
Anyway, while I was washing my hands in the restroom of one of our fine Jersey diners, a dad and his probably 3 year old son came in while they were in the middle of an in-depth, interesting conversation.  The little boy was trying to make sure he had the facts straight by asking "which one is #1, and which one is #2?"  I couldn't help but chuckle inside just like you are doing right now.
The dad then gave a very simple answer to his boy as they were making their way into a stall as he said "pee-pee is #1 and poo-poo is #2."  Knowing that I was at the sink and grinning in the mirror, the dad closed the stall door in a way that showed that he was hoping to close this conversation.  But . . . the boy wasn't finished yet ( sorry about the image there ) because he then asked his dad "why is pee-pee #1 and poo-poo #2?"  There was silence for what seemed like forever . . . and now I became interested in what kind of answer this dad was going to come up with out of thin air that would make all parents proud of him and ensure his enshrinement in the Parental Hall of Fame.  After gathering his thoughts, the dad said . . . ( drumroll please ) . . . "I don't know, buddy."  And at that point, the source of my grin in the mirror went from humor to wisdom as I was reminded of a very important truth.
Over the years of being a parent and pastor ( particularly one who works with teenagers ) I have learned that often times the best ( and most honorable ) way to answer tough questions is by simply admitting "I don't know."  In life, there are some questions that we just can't easily answer . . . if at all.  Whether tragedy strikes or they are just confused by random trivia, the kids in our lives don't always need what we think are brilliant answers to their challenging questions . . . but they DO always deserve our love, care, honesty and authenticity.
When we try to explain things away with hollow answers, kids have the uncanny ability to see right through them like cheap 1-ply toilet paper in public restrooms.  If you can't give them a quality answer, at least give them the quality assurance that you will walk alongside them as they continue to learn and grow.  Hopefully, the fact that you don't have to be an awesome automatic answer machine leaves you relieved ( sorry, I couldn't help it, that was the last one ).
Faithful love & authenticity are key things that help us develop trust in relationships.  Our faith is strengthened as we go along, learning that we can continue to TRUST GOD in the midst of all of our questions . . . thankful that HE is the one with all of the answers.

Give It a Try . . .

A little while back my sister-in-law posted a saying on facebook that caught my attention . . . something to the effect of "I'd rather live life with a bunch of 'oh wells' instead of 'what ifs?"
What a great challenge to those of us who are not usually big risk-takers.  It can be easy to play things close to the vest and not step out there and give things a try.
I want to take a minute and brag on my family for some cool, recent instances of initiative on their part.  They may not seem like really big deals . . . but they are great reminders to give things a try because if you don't, you may miss out on something good.
A family from our church parted ways with a trampoline not too long ago, and when I picked it up I was pretty sure that it was missing some pieces, or at least some hardware . . . and instructions.  I had been dreading the inevitable task of spreading the puzzle out on the back yard to find out what might be missing.  But, with this week being spring break, our 8th grade son Jonah showed awesome initiative to basically figure it out himself with the help of one of his buddies.  We got a few bolts & nuts from the hardware store . . . and poof, it's good to go.  It wouldn't have happened if he hadn't stepped out and given it a try.  We are so proud of his determination . . . when he sets out to do something, he finds a way to make it happen.
Our 11th grader daughter Makenna has been quietly and selectively looking at potential colleges with a pretty small list in mind.  The opportunity to visit a few more in Virginia with some friends came up and she and Tracy thought "why not?" even though most of them hadn't been on the short list.  Now she has a new favorite at the top of her list because she decided to step out and give it a try.  We are excited for her and proud of the way she is taking ownership of this important process in her life.
And, just last night as dinner time approached, I mentioned that we had been hungry for garlic knots from one of our pizza places . . . and TA-DA! . . . Tracy figured out a way to make THE MOST AMAZING garlic knots that we have ever tasted.  I am always proud of the initiative that my better half displays . . . and her ability to go for it and make things happen.  She may once in a while have some "oh wells" but she rarely looks back and has "what ifs?"
( if you're wondering how Emily, Jared and I fit in to this post . . . we don't feel left out - we helped inhale the garlic knots ).

What opportunities are before YOU that you have been putting off . . ?  It may be very simple, practical, complicated, relational, professional, recreational or spiritual . . .
Here's what I'm learning - why not give it a try?

Waitin' for the Weekend!!!!

A lot of the things that are happening right now make this one of the best times of the year.  It's feeling a lot like spring with sunshine & temps in the 70s, March Madness begins tomorrow, spring training means that baseball is sneaking up on us, and NFL free agency is in a frenzy.
But this weekend is one that I look forward to all year because it is our time to hang out with around 60 amazing high school students and adult leaders on our annual retreat in the Poconos.
We get away from our routines and enjoy some time having fun, relaxing, decompressing and connecting with God and bonding with each other.  The opportunity to escape from the usual "noises" in our lives and hear God's voice is priceless for students to be able to take the next steps in their relationship with Him.
Eternal commitments will be made, memories will be forged and relationships will be strengthened forever . . . and I am so thankful for a great group of friends who work so hard to help make it all possible.
Sure, the weekend may involve balloon launchers, flying snack foods, buckets, tennis balls, bandannas, blindfolds, night games with glow sticks, very little quality sleep, and an 85 yr old man sharing Justin Bieber song lyrics . . . but that's all a part of student ministry . . . investing in the lives of teenagers . . . living life and having a blast with them . . . helping them to understand God's unconditional love for them . . . showing them what it means to take ownership of their faith . . . and watching His STORYLINE for their lives continue to unfold.  THIS is why we do what we do!!!