sadly, I am on Twitter. however...

Although I have resisted it for the longest time - and perhaps still do - I have a Twitter account. I use it functionally, such as a "thought for the day" for our church or to post comments on websites that require a Twitter account. I am simply not a fan of counting your "followers" or getting people to "retweet" your "tweet."

All grumbling aside, I was intrigued by this notification in my Hotmail inbox today - look at the highlighted portion of this graphic:

Take THAT, J.R.R. Tolkien!

"If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." (Galatians 6:3)

a surprising opportunity

Well, it's official.

After an important lunch today, I am now officially a part of group of a couple dozen people who will represent the Cleveland area and suburbs via the local NBC news (WKYC). About 3 or more times a month I will take part in a 4-minute segment for the 7pm news called "@The Table" where I can take part in commentary and conversation on hot topics.

Honestly, I'm only sharing this because I feel like I'm swimming in a deep end of thinkers and it was quite humbling to be in their midst - mayors, councilmen, judges, radio personalities, and so on. I am out of my league, so please keep the prayers coming. Hopefully I can bring something that may add to and guide the conversation in a God-honoring way.

Then again, isn't that the same opportunity all of us have everyday - be it in a home, workplace, or school environment? In fact, comment here and let me know how I can be praying for you in whatever your opportunity is.

Thanks!

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)

do you sheep what I sheep?

It's odd how no one like to be thought of as a sheep, and yet how often we act like them.

An interesting thing about sheep - they are born with a nature that makes them want to be free spirits, insistent on doing what they want to do.

Sound familiar?

When Katie and I were in Israel, we saw a shepherd walking with a sheep he was carrying on his back (tenderly circled around his neck). Our guide explained that this was common, not because the sheep was sick but because the shepherd had broken the sheep's legs.

On purpose.

It sounded cruel, of course, but he explained further.

Apparently sheep do what they want to do no matter what the shepherd asks of them. The problem is that they will nibble some grass that seems appealing, and then nibble some more after that, and then nibble some more after that. Eventually they will wander off because of this progressive appetite and be somewhere far away from the shepherd. And since they are not near him, they are prone to attack from wolves that the shepherd would normally fend off and protect the sheep from.

So the shepherd will break a sheep's legs and carry the sheep on his shoulders. Not because he is cruel, but because he is loving. In this way he also trains the sheep to know his smell, and thereafter to stay by his side and take genuine security in his presence and protection.

Because of this image - of sheep following a shepherd - they sometimes are used to describe something negative. Ironically, it's quite the opposite - by following the shepherd, they actually take part in life versus a death that is created by their own appetite.

Hmm.

Maybe that's why Jesus came, and maybe that's why Palm Sunday is something quite powerful for people who have been waiting for their Shepherd to appear. Are you one of them?

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." (Mark 6:34)

red carpet and blue surf

Check out these royal words from Rick Bundschuh - author of the book Soul Surfer that the movie was based on.

(By the way - it's a great movie... go see it)

http://www.conversantlife.com/life-with-god/among-royalty

marriage and commitment

Growing marriages aren't determined by how much you always have in common but by how graciously you always deal with your differences.

That, and a foundation that is full of more God-sized reality than your human-sized feelings.

Praying for all my married friends out there.

"Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband." (Hebrews 13:1)

the choices of the few, the impact on the many

There is a lot of talk about the effects of a government shutdown, and here is a great summary: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-04-07-q-and-a-shutdown_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

By the way, I do not mean to post this to get a political "he said/she said" conversation going. Rather, we all bear responsibility for the choices we make - so before you cast stones at "those idiots in Washington," let's take a look at how our choices affect others.

No, really... don't comment politically. I know that's the easy route... instead, dig deep personally and the choices you're making.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3)