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

Mornings for me this week haven't gone as well as I would want. I'm sleeping good. That's not the problem, it's been the waking up and getting going. And this morning isn't any different than previous mornings this week. Because of my hypothyroidism, I'm having trouble getting up and going in the mornings. . .or at least that's what I'm blaming it on. Throughout the day I have short bursts of energy after which I feel like going back to bed. Last week at our church-wide family camp out Cindy, me, and some friends hiked to the beach (it was only about a 1/2 mile trek). Afterward, when we sat down to eat lunch I didn't have the energy to hold my sandwich to eat it. Can't tell you how frustrating it is for me. I'm the guy who used to stay up until mid-night or 1:00 am reading and working or getting up at 4:00 am to work all day and catch dinner and a movie with some friends. I just can't do it anymore. At least until the meds kick i...

The other day I found one of those fold-over calendars with a daily devotional thought on it in my box at the church. In it was a note from Ron, a new friend and brother in Christ. Ron and I met a couple of months ago, but have really been getting to know one another in the last couple of weeks. Ron and I share some similar life experiences. Ron's super smart, he was a nurse until his health caused him to step down. Ron is the nth degree of me. I know that sounds funny, and for some probably pretty scary, but as much as I talk and chase rabbits, Ron is on a whole nother level. Regardless, I love to sit and hear is heart. I love to hear about his life. I love to watch him talk about the Lord with more joy than I've heard in church in a long time. Ron sees himself as many of us should. . .broken by sin and selfishness, but made new because of the mercy and grace of God. I think this makes him very aware of his short-comings as he mentions them often; not bragging, but in...

It appears that some coffee shops are discouraging lap top usage in their shops. An article in the Wall Street Journal today states that coffee shops in New York and California are "pulling the plug" on lap top usage. One of the reasons owners state is that people are coming and nursing a cup of coffee for the free Wi-Fi, making it difficult for customers who want to eat and spend more money to find a place to sit. I have to admit, I've been this guy before. I have a knack for really nursing a cup of coffee. Some have simply restricted use during high-traffic times like lunch time. Others are covering outlets to save money. It's does seem a bit ironic, doesn't it. . .coffee shop and lap tops just seem to go together. What do you think? Should coffee shops discourage the use of lap tops during high-traffic times, at all, any time? Are you one of those dragin' out a cup of coffee for the free Wi-Fi? Mike

Last night brought some much cooler weather to our part of the world. It enabled us to move from the living room (in front of the portable a/c) up back up to the bedroom last night. The weather was sooooo much cooler. It was great sleeping on our squishy mattress verses the air mattress. And we slept like a couple of peaceful dreams! Thank you, Lord, for a much cooler night. Mike

Reading through Daniel as Keith preaches through it. It's been really good. This week I've been reading through chapter 3 and something continued to catch my eye, but I didn't put all the pieces together until this morning. The key was verses 28-29. . . Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." These two verses present two sides to the same spiritual issue - FAITH ! I define faith as putting trust in action . And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego put their trust into action when it came to ...

So I'm reading Psalms 30 today - yes, it's no coincidence that today is the 30th and I was reading the 30th Psalm. As I'm reading King David's words jumped out at me. . . 8 To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: I wrestle a bit with this notion of mercy, OK, I wrestle a lot with it. I honestly don't think I understand mercy the same way David understood it. I just don't get it. And I don't think we in America get it. . .this concept of mercy. Think about it, when was the last time you asked someone to have mercy on you? When was the last time you asked God for His mercy? So what is this mercy? I looked it up on dictionary.com here's what they had to say about mercy: Compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, enemy or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence The disposition to be compassionate or forbearing An act of kindness, compassion, or favor Something that give evidence of d...

It appears that all they hype about organic food being better for us is just that...just a bunch of hype! We're paying for overpriced food that doesn't provide any more nutritional value than non-organic food. Hmmmm... Check it out here I can't afford it anyway. Mike

It's Wednesday and we've been experiencing an unusual heat wave in the northwest. Yesterday it reached 105 (110 with the head index) up here. Today, it's supposed to reach somewhere around 107 degrees in the Portland area. Being from Texas I usually say something like, "It's already been 103 where I'm from." Then I have to stop and remember that just about every house built in Texas has air conditioning. Here, that's not the case. Most of the people here don't have central air. Maybe a window unit or two, but most don't have anything but fans. The town home Cindy and I live in doesn't have any a/c and they were built last year. We even looked at a new home built just last year and the builder said it didn't have a/c, but it was wired for it. We were fortunate enough to find a portable a/c unit to cool the living/kitchen/dining area. Believe me, it's working overtime!! So, when people say it's hot here, they mean it. N...

Slept in 'til 9:15 this morning. Haven't done that in forever. I was awaken by my sweet wife bringing me coffee! Then, as I made my way downstairs I realized she was in the middle of making breakfast - scrambled eggs & biscuits! Holy Moly!!! Am I a lucky man! Now I'm enjoying another cup of coffee and the momentary quiet. We may head to Gresham's Saturday Market in downtown Gresham. It's only a couple of blocks from our house and we enjoy getting out and walking. Got to head up to the church later, but for now...enjoy YOUR Saturday! Mike

It has certainly been a while since I last posted. . .almost 2 months have passed. I got out of the habit because at times I just didn't have the energy to formulate thoughts and I was struggling to put them "on paper". To be honest I was struggling in general. I had no energy, what little energy I had was used up by 10:00 in the morning. I wanted to run, hike, get outside, but even the things that was supposed to energize me was draining me. I was forgetting things, even if I wrote them down. It was like mental gymnastics for me to develop processes - something that usually comes very natural to me. I even went through a time where I just couldn't afford the energy or emotional investment in relationships that required very much of me. Those of you who know me know this isn't me at all! So. . .all in all, it's been a strange time for me. What made it doubly difficult was that I couldn't make sense of any of it. I kept thinking, " What's wr...

Went for my first official 3-mile run of the year today. I've been running for specific amounts of time - 20-30 minutes - rather than distance to build up endurance. The weather certainly cooperated. It was clear, sunny, a slight breeze and in the low 70"s. Ran it in 26:05. I was pleasantly surprised. WOOHOO!!! Of course I didn't run alone. Took the boys from Boston with me. They still provide a great running tempo to help with the pace. Still have room for improvement. And if the weather continues to cooperate, I'm looking forward to better times. Run on, Mike Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

OK...so I'm just getting caught up, but I'm trying out another new way of posting to my blog...via email. Just another way to let you know what's going on! Mike Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Cindy and I are attending Oasis, a conference/retreat for church staff and their spouses in Seaside, OR. Seaside is on the northern Oregon coast. This morning I went for a run on the beach. I love running on the beach. There's something about running on the sand with the waves crashing and lapping up the shoreline that I find tranquil. Besides that the sand is great on my aging and abused knees. As I was running I was thinking about the concept of oasis - a place where one finds refreshment in the midst of a desert. I began thinking about MY oasis. It finally hit me that I have two places of refreshment: Running - when I run it's just me...and my watch and my surroundings. It's what charges me up. Always has, always will. Quiet Time - I love getting up early in the morning and sitting with God. Sometimes I read, sometimes I write, and sometime I just sit and listen. What's your oasis? Mike

Hanging out at the house this morning. Just kinda vegging. It's a beautiful day to just hang. This week's been pretty busy...good, but busy. Cindy's been busy subbing at a couple of the area schools. She's also been working on getting last minute items together for her Africa mission trip. She leaves in just three weeks! She's getting excited. Tomorrow we host Greater Gresham's Membership Workshop. I'm excited about getting to help with it. It's my first workshop where I'm getting to help at GGBC. I love helping people get connected with what God's doing at Greater Gresham. Next week Cindy and I head to Seaside, OR for NWBC's Oasis Retreat. Cindy can't wait to see the ocean again. I have to admit...I'm looking forward to seeing the ocean as well. OK, I really look forward to seeing my wife seeing the ocean. Enjoy the weekend! Make the most of what you have. Mike

Trying something new...at least it's new to me. I'm posting to my blog from me phone. This means I don't always have to be at my computer to post to my blog. Probly won't be very long, but that's ok. Mike

Continuing my reading of David Putman 's (@davidputman on twitter) book , Breaking the Discipleship Code . This morning I'm reading about the value of connecting and providing a place where people can connect - those who are searching and those who have already become and started the discipleship process. In one paragraph David writes. . . "As I've said over and over again, to love God and love people is to live and love like Jesus. That's the point of the gospel. It's not about what we consume, or what we learn, or how much knowledge we have. It's not about how spiritually involved we are or how closely we follow a moral code of conduct. Living and loving like Jesus is about loving God and loving people and belonging in healthy relationships with both." I'm not sure you caught what he was saying. But having classrooms or homes full of people who are checking off the next Bible study is not what the gospel is about. It's about people. . ...

I've started reading David Putnam 's book, Breaking the Discipleship Code . I love this line about becoming personally missional - we've got to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and leave behind what Jesus left behind. I think that sums it up pretty well in a nut shell what it means to become a disciple of Jesus. Near the end of the last chapter he states that "we have to say no to religioun in order to say yes to Jesus ." I love that line. I grew up, for the most part, in the church. I was there every time the doors opened - or so it seemed. I thought the church was where things happened - ministry, relationships, worship, discipleship. I've learned, and am still learning, that WE are the church and things like relationships, worship, discipleship, and leadership training doesn't always take place at the "temple." Often it takes place at Starbucks, over lunch, serving our communities, on game nights, and date nights, or at the playgrou...

I was reading Genesis 37 & 39 this morning when it hit me that Joseph's journey to greatness wasn't a straight line. There were dips along the road. There were trials he had to encounter. . . being sold into slavery by his own brothers, accused of sexual harassment by his boss' wife thrown into prison As all of this was happening he remained obedient and faithful to God. And if you track his progress it seems that each dip in the road was worse than the last. Yet, each dip moved him closer to God's plan to save his family and the nation of Israel. Each trial he endured moved him closer to a place of eternal influence. (I have a graphic I made, but it doesn't show up very well on my blog. I'll have to re-do it and post it later.) I was thinking through all of it this morning and I came to a would you rather question. It is a question I believe God is asking me. So here it is for you to ponder. . . Would you rather experience the dips and trials lik...

Read this on Eugene Cho's blog. Pretty thought provoking. Made me stop and think. Check it out . Let me know what you think. Mike

Ministry Today posted this article on their website - Small Town Meets Big-Time Forgiveness in Action Ministry News Every week, David Pinckney preaches to his congregation about being like Jesus. Now the small-town New Hampshire pastor is discovering not everyone wants to follow through with that challenge-especially when it comes to forgiveness. Last week Pinckney did the unthinkable for many of the 2,000-plus residents of Chichester, N.H., by inviting a convicted child killer to live with him and his family for at least two months. After officials couldn't find anyone else willing to take in 60-year-old Raymond Guay, who spent the last 35 years behind bars on charges of abducting and murdering a 12-year-old boy in 1973, Pinckney opened up his home-where his wife and four teenage children also live. Unfortunately, most of his neighbors believe his kindness i...