Soakin' Up Life . . . at a 100 MPH!

Just got to rant a bit. So forgive me if this sounds trite and I sound a lot frustrated. Cindy and I used to live in Saraland, Alabama. I liked living there. Saraland's motto is "Gateway to Progress" , neat slogan except for the fact that in the midst of our moving I didn't receive a our water and sewage bill from the city. Last week I called about it because it appeared that the water had been turned off. Come to find out, because the city sends its bills out on a postcard and the US Postal Service won't forward postcards, and we were trying to get unpacked, settled in and all, we didn't get a bill and, therefore, didn't pay one. Since we hadn't paid the bill the water was, in fact, turned off at our old house. Yes, the one we're still trying to sell!!! The lady that helped me was very helpful. Though she couldn't do anything about the excessive fees I was having to pay to restore the connection. I found out a couple of things about wo

This morning I escaped to the Jazzy Bagel in downtown Gresham. It's a bagel, but they have very strong coffee that tastes great. Anyway. . .I'm sitting there spending some time reading Os Chambers' My Utmost For His Highest and writing some thoughts down. While I'm pondering some thought from somewhere I overhear one of the older ladies in the booth next to me share with her friend, " If you want a better pastor you have to pray for him." If she only new how true that is. Then I thought about some things we could pray for our pastors about. Here are a few things you could pray for to help him become a better pastor: He would hear from God God would raise up godly men and women to support him and help him lead the church Personal time of refreshment and re-creation Time to make his family a priority Opportunities to build relationships with lost people - not just us church folks A church that would be sensitive to his needs Time away from the office

Just got back from Body & Soul .  Yes it's a spa.  And yes I got a massage.  And my-oh-my. . .what a feeling!  For one of my Christmas presents Cindy got me a gift certificate for a 1-hour body massage.  Holy Molely, was it worth it! I really enjoyed it, but that poor girl worked herself to death trying to get all the kinks out of my back.  She probably had to take a break and get a massage herself afterwards. Ladies, get your man a massage, he will definitely thank you for it later.  Guys, suck it up and let them work the kinks out. Yes, I still work out, go for runs,  like to ride my Harley, and all the things I used to do.  I'm just saying it's worth an  hour to treat the muscles to a little rub down. Sweetie - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! Loos as a Goose, Mike

Posted this over at ManHeart blog . Don't know if I'm really comfortable with the word "declaration." Maybe it's more of a commitment. Anyway. . .it is what it is. Mike

My pastor, Keith Evans, handed me a book last month to consider reading. It's called Your God is too Safe by Mark Buchanan . I've picked it up and started reading through it. For me, it's not one of those you pick up, read, then check off your reading list. No, this one challenges me on many levels. It challenges my thinking, my motivations, and my soul. Here's something to think about. . .something to wrestle with: Do you live in the "borderland" or the "holy wild?" That's the ongoing question Mark continues to challenge me with. The borderland is that safe place where everyone knows everyone and we know how things operate and the rules with which they operate. The holy wild is the place, or journey, that is not always safe, but beneficial. It's the place in our relationship with God that calls for complete trust in Him, not the rules, not other people, not in safety. My struggle, and as Mark shares it's his struggle as well,

It's 2009!! As if you didn't know. It's a new year and new year's often bring with it new ideas, things, people, goals, experiences and the like. I have some new things I would like to experience and some new goals I would like to accomplish. I'm sure I'm going to meet some new people. And, inevitably, God will have some new experiences for me. Here are some goals I would like to accomplish: Run a half-marathon this year Lose 10-12 pounds (yes, the holidays were way too kind to me) Read more and watch TV less (man, is this a hard one for me) Spend less money and more time outdoors Start a men's group Appreciate it more when I get to see the sun come up over Mt. Hood in the mornings Plan more get-away time with Cindy] Go on another mission trip I'm sure if I thought about it more, I could, or would, think of some more things I would like to do in 2009. Here's to what 2009 holds for me. . .for us! Mike