A friend of mine decided he would go sky-diving on his 21st birthday.  He made his reservation and paid his money.  When his birthday came, he boarded the plane to make the amazing jump.  However, he did not make the jump that day or any day thereafter.  When it came time to jump fear overtook him.  I suppose he decided that it was not cool to have nothing between his body and the earth. The odds that the parachute would work was in his favor.  However, it was the small chance that the parachute would not open kept my friend on the plane.  Needless to say, my friend was paralyzed by fear.  

Fear is a four letter word that at some point has paralyzed all of us.  I will be the first to admit that fear has kept me from doing extraordinary things.  

I jokingly asked a friend of mine if she thought I was a reserved person.  I knew the answer to the question before I even asked.  Yes, I am a very reserved person.  My fear of failure has kept me from trying new things.  It has kept me from creativity I know I have.  Fear has kept me from standing up for what I believe in or addressing conflict I know needs addressing.  In some ways, fear has even hindered my ministry.  I'm so afraid of screwing up that I don't even try.  In my fear I have failed because I HAVE NOT tried.  

I know I am not alone in my fear.  I know that most people would say that one point or another they have been paralyzed by fear.  I want to live a life with few regrets as possible.  I don't want to regret the things I haven't done, the chances I haven't took, and the relationships I didn't make.

Jesus did not let fear stop him in his ministry.  Jesus went against the grain of him time.  I have the choice of how fear affects me--I can choose to let life go on around me or I can choose life.

Yes, I know I haven't written a blog in over a month. The past four weeks have been extremely busy. I guess that is what I get for working, going to school, and trying to have social life. I will definitely write when I find the time. I was thinking how cool it would be to take a trip to the Islands...I can feel the warm tropical air on my palely white skin...

Christmas Magic

My 9 year old cousin, Makayla, and I were having an intriguing conversation about Christmas several days ago.  Much to my surprise, Makayla is questioning the validity of Santa Clause.  When I heard this, my heart broke a little.  At that moment, I realized that Makayla was growing up and entering the world of adolescence.  She is no longer the baby I once held in my arms.  I was at the hospital the day she was born, and I have always felt a strong connection to her.  Nine years old is the age where a child does question the validity of Santa Clause.  I suppose it is a natural process.  At nine years of age, a child can start reasoning at a higher level.

I don't want Makayla to lose the magic of Christmas.  She and I both know the true meaning of Christmas, but there is something magical about waiting for Santa.  I remember several sleepless Christmas Eve's when I anticipated Santa.  It was a magical moment.  I'm not terribly sad that Makayla doesn't really believe in Santa.  I'm sad because her childhood innocence is slowly being lost.  Makayla can see the world for what it really is.  She already knows the injustice and inequality that is in our society.  She is beginning to realize that life is tough.  This is what saddens me the most.  I want to protect Makayla as much as I can, but in many ways I can't.  It is natural for children to grow up.  I wish I could keep them little forever.  Maybe somewhere in our hearts, we can hold onto the magic and innocence. Maybe, just maybe...

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

I love chocolate and I love peppermint.  When these two are mixed together it is like heaven.  If you never had Peppermint Hot Chocolate you are missing out.  I suppose you would have to like chocolate and peppermint in order to enjoy this drink.  When the thick liquid hits your tongue, you can taste the sweetness of the chocolate and the crispness of the peppermint.  It is an amazing mixture.  It is like Christmas in a cup.

I must admit this beverage is one my guilty pleasures.  If this drink were alcoholic you could say I was addicted.  This drink is one of the many things I enjoy about Christmas.  When I sip this beverage, I am reminded of the many wonderful Christmases of the past.  I think of my grandfather dressing up as Santa Clause and giving us our gifts.  I am reminded of those trips to the Christmas tree farm to select the perfect tree.  I remember the Christmas Eve Services I attended.  Most of all I am reminded of what Christmas is really about.  The greatest thing about Christmas does not cup.  The greatest gift came in a filthy manger 2000 years ago.  That trumps Peppermint Hot Chocolate any day.

where did my pot go?

In Tampa, Florida , a highway cleanup crew found 60 pounds of pot on the side of the road.   The Florida Highway Patrol says this pot has a $54,000 street value.  Some of the marijuana plants were freshly picked.  The marijuana was either thrown off the vehicle or it fell.  I'm siding with the later.  I'm not an expert on pot or any other illegal narcotic, but I don't think someone would let that much money go on purpose.  I know I wouldn't. 

 This story is humorous but sad.  Many people struggle with substance abuse problems.  These addictions have led to loss of relationships, job, and life.  What is the church doing to help these people?  In many cases, churches aren't doing anything.  It's easier to shun addicts than it is to help them.  I guess churches believe it's to messy of a process.  Didn't Jesus say that following him would be messy?  I believe he did.  Loving our neighbor includes loving those who struggle with addictions.  Jesus loves them.  Why can't we?

Story and photo are courtesy of Yahoo.

The Weekend

In a few short weeks, we will celebrate Christmas.  Christmas is a special time of year for many people.  It is one of my favorite times of the year.  I love looking at the Christmas lights and enjoying the tasty treats of the season.  As I write this, I am aware of my selfishness as a human being.  I am ashamed of my actions.  

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I, along with several other church members, had the opportunity to travel to the Operation Christmas Child distribution center in Charlotte, North Carolina.  The center is a collection for thousands of shoe boxes.  These shoe boxes are filled with toys, school supplies, clothing items, and hygiene items.  These boxes will be distributed to millions of boys and girls around the world.  At this collection center, volunteers from around the country come to inspect the boxes making sure they are filled with the appropriate items.  For two days, I was one of those volunteers.  As I was inspecting each box, I thought about all the "stuff" I had.  I have much more than I need.   At at that moment, I realized that I would not be satisfied with a shoebox full of little trinkets.  I want so much more than that.  I am a selfish person.  There are so many people around me that have so little.  Yet I complain, when my parents say that an IPod Touch is out of the question for Christmas.  

In this selfishness the true meaning of Christmas is lost.  The greatest gift has been given to me and that is Jesus Christ.  He is the greatest gift I can show someone else.  God does not care about the "stuff" I receive for Christmas.  God is more concern with the love and generosity that is shown to others.  

We all struggle with this selfishness at some point.  I pray that we keep our eyes on the true meaning of Christmas.  I pray we learn to give of ourselves every day of our lives.  

Big Bug...oh my!

As I was browsing the news this morning, I ran across this eye catching story. Scientists have found a fossil of an enormous bug. This bug is the cousin of our present day scorpion. This scorpion was over eight feet tall. That's three feet taller than me. Yikes!
What I find amazing is that insects of that time were enormous. Many of them were the size of present day human beings. We think these things exist only in science fiction movies, but they in fact existed millions and millions of years ago. These creatures did not have natural enemies therefore they were around for a long time. The scorpions were cannibals that fought against one another.
I think this story is truly amazing and humorous. I am afraid of insects and spiders. I fear creatures that are a few centimeters long. If I came across an eight foot bug I would pass out. There is no way I could fly swat something that big.
I think God has a sense of humor to create something of this magnitude. I'm grateful I wasn't around to see this creation. I would have been bug food.



Photo is courtesy of Yahoo