About Stress...

Looking back at my blog, it's been since January since I've posted anything! Crazy, it seems like last week. There are a lot of things on my plate...can you identify? When things get piled up on our plate, it gets heavy to carry around, and sometimes it's quite a balancing act keep it all on!
Piled up plates brings about more stress, right? Now, I'm not very good at what I'm about to tell you, but I'll tell you anyhow...maybe it's time to clean off your plate some.

Facelifts and First Impressions

You know what I love about AIM (online instant messaging)? No one can see me! I can be as grungy as I want and I can talk to whoever I want, looking however I want. "Looks" truly don't matter online! People see your words, just your words. I love it! The physical impression is not a factor. Of course, what is sacrificed though is the emotions that are inflected in the words and the facial expressions and body language. But, I don't have to be seen, because quite honestly, sometimes I don't want to be seen. I know you'll find this hard to believe, but as good looking as I am, I actually don't ALWAYS look that great! LOL!

Why do people go through facelifts, tummy tucks, and 'other' augmentations? The physical look is an important thing to us. That's why for a lot of women (and men) shopping for clothes is a production, not just something you rush into and 'get r done'. We want to look good.

First impressions are everything, aren't they? First impressions are typically a physical first impression, then a personality impression, at least when it comes to people. When it comes to an inanimate object like a car, then it's physical (the look, color, lines, etc.) and then performance. There usually is a first impression that people (and most things) give. That's why cosmetic surgery is so popular and such big business.

At our church we've been going through a lot of 'facelifts' ourselves. Our building has received a lot of new paint, remodeling, new furniture, and more because first impression is so important. It tells people that we take care of what we are blessed with and that we are an active church family. It is a first impression.

But with all that said, first impressions are so short lived. People want to know what's past that. What you really are about. Who you are, really. They want to know the truth. What people see causes them to either want to know more, or not.

So yes, first impressions are very important and influential, so make it count...because what comes next is what lasts. So, what is next?

Attempting Resolution

Have you ever had "that friend"? You know the one I'm talking about. That friend is someone who wants you around only when they need you. You want to be better friends with them, you want to be a good friend to them, you want them to be a good friend to you, but it never seems to work out that way. You try to have a meaningful conversation with them, but they always seem to be distracted, thinking about something else or someone else. Sometimes it seems like even though they are 'there', they're not really there. And you know how it feels, I know how it feels. I don't like it and I know you probably don't like it either.

This is a time of year when we all look ourselves and think "I've got to change myself". We start thinking of ways that we can improve our lives and sort of protect our hearts better. We don't want to be hurt anymore. We're tired of being taken for granted. We get tired of being overlooked. And yet we still tend to find ourselves putting ourselves back into situations like that over and over again. Why?

Being a Christian does not mean that we let people walk all over us. We are God's children and God does not like us to be "used". God intends for us to enjoy life to its fullest. Read your Bible, it tells you that very clearly. He wants us to have life more abundantly. All that means is, have a good time in life. It does not mean to go out and party. But it does mean to stop living life in a rut. Stop complaining, stop whining, stop cowering, stop letting people use you and abuse you… Just stop it!

So, got your resolutions ready to go? Are you ready to make promises again, like you did last year? You going to try to do that all by yourself, again? Why? Why try again what didn't work the first time? Do you think it's going to be different? I'm tired of hurting, both by myself and others.

Ok, so you do want to change, what are you going to do about it? All I can say is do not try to do this on your own. Surround yourself with people who REALLY care about you. No more of this trying to be included in a group that is not good for you. Be the good person that people really need you to be. Be who you really are meant to be…a child of God...and live life more abundantly!

NASA

I love watching the NASA channel when the Space Shuttle launches, or is in orbit, or returns to Earth. I find the NASA 'chatter' fascinating. It's all so precise, and serious, and professional. It's so awesome watching the launch and the time in space and the return. It's mind-boggling how all this works together. Can you imagine how all that happens? I can't either!

So as you've noticed, NASA has been having a hard time launching Atlantis. Something about a faulty fuel valve something or other. NASA wants to make sure it's ready to go...which it's not, so they've decided to postpone until January. So, NASA engineers are working hard on fixing the problem. You'd want everything to be ready before you blasted off in a shuttle, wouldn't you?

In life people want things to be ready for various things as well. Things like parties, trips, moves, school, vacation, and so much more. And we often find ourselves rushing around and working hard at making sure everything is "ready". But I ask myself often, are people really ready? Are they? To meet God? To see Him? To answer for themselves? For Life after Death?

Through the Blood of Christ we are ready. When a person accepts that gift of salvation paid for with the Blood of Christ, they are made ready!

But family, I have to ask you...do 'they' know? Who are 'they'? 'They' are people. People who live around you, work around, go to class around you, walk around you, shop around you...'they' are everywhere. Do they? Do they know that Jesus Saves? Are they ready for life after death? If you don't ask them, tell them, invite them...who will? They may not have the luxury of waiting until next month like NASA to get the Shuttle ready.

Let's help get people ready.

The Other Side

So I've been having these thoughts in my head...I know, thoughts in my head may seem like a miraculous event to some of you! This week is an interesting week. It is a week where most people have short work weeks and most students are out of school. This happens of course in respect of Thanksgiving, which happens on the fourth Thursday of November. This is a time where we give thanks for everything that we are blessed with...family, friends, jobs, health, freedom, stuff, etc. I think we as a country and society do that quite well by celebrating with lots and lots of eating!
We have so many people to thank for these blessings. Our military, our families, friends, and of course first and foremost, our Father. Thank you Lord for all these blessings. And this particular week, I have a new found (or at least a rekindled) appreciation of the things that are important to me.
As most of you know, Darla (my wife) had surgery this week. It was major surgery; the kind of surgery that 'women' have. Enough said about that. She is doing great...kind of slow, but completely understandable. I am so proud of her. She has been brave, even in the face of fear, she stood strong. And she is showing me stamina and strength that makes me smile and be proud again for her and of her. I am also very proud of Darla's mom, Ernestine, and our kids. They have all stepped up so much to help out.
In my line of work, I am the one who always is rendering aid to people in times of need. That's what I do. That's who I am. That's what I'm good at. This time however, the people in need are us. In times of sickness and surgeries and injuries, people rally around the affected family and bring food and support for that family. Well, 'that' family is mine this time. And I am on 'The Other Side'. And it's making me uncomfortable. I am supposed to be strong and take care of things. But sometimes in life, things are beyond our ability to take care of them right, or completely. So, I have this constant parade of food coming to my door. There is a continual knock on the door of people wanting to say hello, and to see what they can do to help. There is a deeply meaningful and spiritual word that describes this...the effort and love and commitment that God's people have for each other. It is a very complex word with deep meaning that I know you will get right away. Get out your paper...etch it in your heart...because next time, it could be you and your family.
The word? What word is it that describes being on 'The Other Side' and be taken care of? The only word is this one...WOW!

I love you all!!!
Sherman

Construction

I was talking to a friend the other day about a couple of things...can't really remember what it was we were talking about, but after we got through talking about whatever that was, she asked how the church was doing. I told her that Christ Community Church was doing great, and that we are off to a great start! She was very excited for us and asked if we had our new signs up and I said yes and asked her why she didn't notice them. She said, "Oh I don't go down Paige Road because of all the construction." I said something back to her that was quite profound, if I do say so myself! But I do give full credit to the Holy Spirit for it, because honestly, I couldn't have come up with it on my own. I told her, "Well, sometimes you gotta go through the construction to get to the best things."
Ahhh construction on Paige! It really is a pain. But it's just an inconvenience. That's all. It will get better, just not fast enough. That's the way life is...under construction. It will be better when it gets done. We have some major inconveniences as we go through life, but it will be worth it. In the meantime, we have to live with it, deal with it, work with it, around it, avoid it, adjust with it...get the picture? But the end product will be worth it. When Paige is done, it will be a very nice six lane road. When life is done...it will actually just be starting...all the lanes will be open...and it will nice, smooth, and full of unending joy. In the meantime, I'll deal with the construction, because sometimes you gotta go through the construction to get to the best things.

The Extra Hour

Here I am, trying to settle in for my night's sleep (that obviously isn't quick enough in coming) and a memory came to my mind. It was when it dawned on me when I was a kid that we changed time a couple of times a year. It registered with me during the fall daylight savings time change. You know, it's the one where we 'fall back' an hour, as opposed to the 'spring ahead' one in the spring. With the 'fall back' time change comes an extra hour's worth of sleep tonight! Yes! When that concept registered with me as a kid, it was my mom who told me about it. But, I guess I didn't catch the whole explanation at first, because I thought the extra hour happened every night! Okay, now don't laugh too much at me. It takes a real man to admit something like that.
Sad thing is in this day and time, an extra hour doesn't make that much difference in our day, or time. We're too busy. We go too fast. We miss too much. And we're always too tired from trying to play catch up on it all.
I was at a nursing home many years ago, visiting one of our church members. It was obvious I didn't have much time (let alone an extra hour) because I kept looking at my watch. The older man I was visiting commented on how nice my watch was and asked to see it. I showed it to him and he asked me to take it off my wrist so he could look at it closer. I did. He took it, looked at it and then put it in his pocket. He then said "Follow me", which I reluctantly did (I'm in a hurry, remember?). We went out on the front porch to sit in the rockers, which I did, impatiently. He talked for a moment, then got quiet. I looked at my watch, and then I remembered that he took it, and so I started to ask for it back, and he shushed me! He asked me to sit real still and be quiet for a few moments and the hummingbirds would come up. I sat quietly, waiting for the hummingbirds (impatiently) in the warm afternoon sun. Next thing I knew, I was waking up! I looked up at the old man who was just grinning at me, holding my watch out to me. He leaned over to me and whispered as I took my watch back, "I love you Sherman...slow down." I had been 'out' for almost an hour.
Hey you...shhhhh...slow down...