Abandon

I've been sitting at this computer for about 2 hours now and have made at least 23 great beginnings to blogs about giving my all to the Lord.

They all stunk.

God is trying to teach me how little I can do without Him. I'm learning the delicate balance between "I can't do it" as a restriction and "I can't do it" as a chain-breaking device. The following is a wonderful song that happened to come on as I was failing as a writer.

____________________________

The Stand - Hillsong Music

You stood before creation

Eternity in Your hand

You spoke all life into motion

My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure

Carried the cross for my shame

My sin weighed upon Your shoulders

My soul now to stand

So what can I say

What can I do

But offer this heart O God

Completely to You

So I'll walk upon salvation

Your Spirit alive in me

This life to declare Your promise

My soul now to stand

So I’ll stand

With arms high and heart abandoned

In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand

My soul Lord to You surrendered

All I am is Yours

"Are you ready for Christmas?"

How many times have you heard this already? Working with the public daily, I have been asked this same question no fewer than 5,276 times. What does this mean? Am I supposed to say "Yes!" Or do I reply with "It's coming whether I'm ready or not!"? Or do I take a different route altogether? Maybe say something like, "Do birds have wings? Heck yeah I'm ready! Woo Hoo!!"

I deal with this dilemma all the time. Of course, I've never been one for useless conversations with open-ended empty greetings such as "How are you today?", after which the asker has no intention of actually finding out the status of my emotional and physical well-being.

I wish I could say that these people, deep down inside, are really asking me if I am spiritually prepared for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, the questioning probably goes no deeper than "Have you got all your shopping done?" I still am left wondering why this question has become so popular and why I have to come up with more and more meaningless responses to this ever-present inquiry.

Am I ready for Christmas? I have a few more gifts to buy and a couple of cards to send out. I've already practiced for and participated in our Christmas musical at First Christian Church. We have a beautiful Frasier Fir tree in our living room nicely decorated with ornaments, including some that pre-date my birth. We have a little train in our front yard that has colorful lights on it and a spot-light shining on our wreathed front door.

For Christmas, in the world's eyes, I am almost ready.

However, I haven't spent any special time in prayer about what new things the Lord could reveal to me during this "Holiday Season." I have thought very little of the amazing implications our Savior's birth has on the world as we know it. I haven't shared this good news with anyone (outside of First Christian Church or First Love Ministries.) I haven't done much at all.

For Christmas, in the world's eyes, I am almost ready.

The older I get, the more and more I realize the importance of those things I have taken for granted for years. It doesn't matter how many gifts I've purchased or how many decorations or how many parties I go to or how many good holiday foods I eat - if I don't have Jesus in the middle of it all.

Jesus is the reason for the season. (Oh, come on...you knew it was coming.)

It is my hope and prayer that each of us will spend a lot more time this season thinking about Jesus than we ever have. There is nothing anywhere that can bring more joy than being close to your Heavenly Father - especially during the remembrance of His Son's birth.

It's Amazing To Me

It's brought to our attention on a daily basis at school that the quarter is almost over and that we really need to get serious about bringing together loose ends and so forth. I am fairly confident that all my ends are tied and flailing in the wind no longer.

I have determined that the majority of my co-learners have the same level of preparedness as that squirrel I ran over a few days ago. (By the way, it was my first!)

Most of the curriculum for my program of study is self-paced...which pretty much means that it is up to me, the student, to make sure that I get everything done. I, being the model student that I am, have been making the most of every minute at Central Georgia University of Higher Learning and Cosmetology. I have learned from my experiences that I can easily fall into a trap of not having everything done on time.

Again, I am basically alone in this determination. After sufficiently complaining about the lack of time we have left in the term to complete their work, most of my classmates left a good hour early tonight.

I hate this. My fellow students get ticked off because time is running out and they ain't gonna finish everything...and, yet, they leave early. Probably to go to the library to check e-mail or to the parking lot to buy/sell some fine pawn-shop quality items.

And please make no inference that this is in any way directed at a specific race, creed, or religion. Well, maybe creed. But, anyway, this is everybody and their mamas, literally. The general attitude is that "somebody else is paying for this (the state, the federal gov't, etc.) so I can screw around and not take this even as seriously as I take my job at Krystal, which, by the way, I show up for less than half the time."

(Parenthetically, I think I'm on to something. That sounds a lot like the attitude of those who abuse Welfare and Medicaid and every other form of handout that we, as a country, supply to those who don't have jobs because they've never looked for jobs. Ask me about the Medicaid Escalade. Coming down off soap box...)

So, in conclusion, I'm in one of my "The Whole World Is Stupid Except For Me And A Select Few...Forget It - Just Me" attitudes. The real conclusion is that unless you're doing everything in your power to make something happen, don't complain that it has not yet happened.

*Note to self: Read your own blog, Danny!

A Different Rabbi

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30
NKJV Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

**The following was assembled by yours truly with assistance from Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell.**

After learning a little bit more about the use of the term "yoke," this verse stood out to me even more. (Some of you probably know far more about this than I, but I'm just starting to learn, so be nice to me.)

At an elementary school age, a young Jewish boy of the time would begin learning the Hebrew scriptures. As he progressed in his learning, a rabbi would determine if the boy had would it took to continue studying and learning to become a rabbi himself.

If a rabbi saw that you had, er, "potential," he would call you to take his yoke and follow him and learn from him. In fact, having the dust from the rabbi's feet on you was a sign of how closely you followed him.

That is tremendously encouraging to me. Imagine how Simon Peter and Andrew, the fishermen, felt. They had probably grown up knowing they weren't "rabbinic material." They caught fish for living. Then comes Jesus, a rabbi, calling them out of their boats to follow him.

Imagine all your life wanting to be an...astronaut. You had the astronaut wallpaper and toy space shuttles and the whole nine yards, but when you came of age to become an astronaut, you were told to go follow the trade of your father and catch fish. But then, a real-live professional "I have an astronaut's license" astronaut came to you and asked you to come be an astronaut with him.

I imagine that's how Jesus' disciples felt. Jesus was asking them to follow Him. Follow a real-live rabbi.

Jesus wants to take your burden and make it his own. He is gentle - not sissy gentle - but concerned and compassionate and caring. He will give you rest. Just follow Him.

Visiting My Childhood (at least that's a good excuse)

I hope this doesn't discredit me too much...

Being a Weird Al fan for many years now, the video at the link below brings quite a smile to my face...




Music Video:WHITE & NERDY (by Weird Al Yankovic)

Demoralized

So many things are acceptable in our world today that should be looked upon as awful, horrible, disgusting things. I'll give you a fine example.

Last night at school, (where else?), I was talking about my job with one of my classmates. We'll call her "Lucy." I was sharing with Lucy how much I like my co-workers and that, overall, it's a good place to work. I mentioned that I have a pretty good relationship with my boss and that I've helped her with things outside of work (putting up Christmas lights, moving, etc.)

Our conversation was something like this:

LUCY: "You got a little secret something' goin' on?"

ME: "No, it's nothing like that. I could never do that anyway."

LUCY: "Whatchoo mean? Why not?"

ME: "I just couldn't. She's married, she's my boss. I don't do that kinda stuff. It wouldn't exactly work out."

LUCY: "That don't stop most people."

ME: "It stops me."

Lucy didn't understand. She told me I must be one of those good guys. I'll take that. Good guy. Different. Redeemed. Whatever.

Why am I in some almost-looked-down-upon group? Good Guys. The world is trying to get rid of us. Why didn't Lucy support me in my desire to do the right thing? Some where along the line, she's fallen into the idea that it's okay to be unfaithful to your spouse. Fornication is okay. Marriage means nothing.

This is what a world without Christ is bound to be. Unfaithful. He is the only hope I see. Sorry to be so downcast, but I'm just sad for Lucy and all the others who believe like her.

Irony?

There's a commercial I hear often on the radio for a lawyer who handles worker's comp, and bankruptcies and things of that nature.

I really listened to it for the first time tonight.

At the end, the serious sounding announcer woman offers these encouraging words:

"There's no money down in Chapter 13 cases."

I may be mistaken, but doesn't the fact that someone is filing bankruptcy mean that the money is gone? That's it? No more? I don't have no money to do nothin'? Anyway, I just thought it ironic.

So, that sucked...

I pulled up into the parking lot at school just a few moments ago. A white Dodge Caravan pulled up right beside me. Stereotypically, this would have been one of the many 40-something-year-old moms who attend this fine institution of higher education, so I didn't think much about it.

Until she got out. She was gorgeous. About 5'2" with brown hair a few inches below her shoulders. Stylishly dressed, she had a sweet look about her. She smiled as she exited her vehicle and I smiled back with an overly emphasized "Hi!" We began walking toward the same building and I thought I had a chance to talk it up a little.

Until...

I started noticing something strange. She smelled like fried chicken. No joke. She smelled like she had jumped in with the chicken as it was being fried. I'm surprised she didn't have batter on her.

I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with fried chicken or those who cook it. However, this "Essence of Chicken" perfume turned my radar back to "standby."

Why did this beautiful young woman have to smell like fried chicken? I guess I'll never know.

Signs of the Times

Things That Make You Go...

Focused and direct this blog shall not be, but instead, full of anything that comes to mind....

First of all, do they have to do that? Do cute little dating couples really have to sit IN MY CLASSROOM and play footsie and kiss and blah, blah, blah? It got to the point where I could tell the guy was becoming so extremely annoying that the girl would let out a "Stop It!" every 5 seconds. Eventually, she got up and left and I thought their romance was over and I could live happily ever after.

I was wrong.

Is it appropriate for me to vent on this thing? I mean, as long as I don't use vulgarity or stir up dissension? I am frustrated tremendously by a guy in a pair of shoes costing no less than $100, some jeans probably around $60-70, and a shirt...oh, maybe about another $60, who struggles to find change to purchase some imitation Little Debbie out of a snack machine at Central Georgia Technical College and turns to me and poses the question, "I can hol' 50 cent?" I wanted to say something witty like, "I don't know how '50' would feel about that. He's a big, tough rapper with 87 bullet wounds..." But instead, I politely offer him 50 cents and turn to leave with my $1.00 bottle of Dasani (or was it Aquafina?) water to walk back to my lab.

He probably went to the library later to check his e-mail.

In case you can't tell, there are certain people on this earth for whom I have very little understanding or patience. Fortunately for me (and for you) my God offers grace and mercy to us when we frustrate Him. It is a daily struggle to stay within His desires, but I'm trying. Some of my writing may not seem to parallel my faith. I don't see it that way so much as I am just trying to offer a little laughter to the world at the expense of those who shall remain nameless.

I'll leave you with this little piece of musical genious:

when the fantasy has ended
and all the children are gone
something good inside me
helps me to carry on
I ate some bugs
I ate some grass
I used my hand
to wipe my tears
to kiss your mouth
I break my vow
no no no no way jose
unless you want to
then we break our vows together
encarnaciohooooooooooooon
encarnaciohohohohohoooooooon
encarnaciooooooooooooon
dododittleditttledeeee
encarnaciohohohayhohooooon

New

God is calling me into a new level of faithfulness. I feel so inadequate. So extremely inadequate. It's almost as though I were a 5-year-old kid who has never played tee-ball who is scheduled to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Yes, inadequate.

I have so much trouble with the "small stuff." And now the big stuff is coming? Well, at least, bigGER. I'm in for a test.

It's a good thing the Almighty is the coach of this team.

Tie-Dye Sky

It's typical of me to make fun of those who carry their digital cameras everywhere with them and take approximately 4,286 pictures everyday. The endless parade of shots so close to noses and faces in general is enough to make me puke.

This evening, I was faced with an extreme desire to use a camera. I was on the way down Perry Parkway to my northbound entrance onto I-75 when the sky caught my eye. It looked like God was holding up a tie-dyed shirt in front of the sun. It was GORGEOUS. I longed for a photograph of it.

To those who are camera addicts, I offer my sincere apologies for any ridicule I may have offered you. Tonight, the sight of your cameras would've excited me.

God painted a beautiful picture for me tonight, and I am so thankful.

Faith Without Works

Screen Door
By Rich Mullins

It's about as useless as A screen door on a submarine
Faith without works baby It just ain't happenin'
One is your left hand One is your right
It'll take two strong arms To hold on tight
Some folks cut off their nose Just to spite their face
I think you need some works to show For your alleged faith

Well there's a difference you know
B'tween having faith and playing make believe
One will make you grow
The other one just make you sleep
Talk about it But I really think you oughtta
Take a leap off of the ship Before you claim to walk on water
Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine


Faith comes from God
And every word that He breathes
He lets you take it to your heart
So you can give it hands and feet
It's gotta be active if it's gonna be alive
You gotta put it into practice

Otherwise....
It's about as useless as a screen door On a submarine
Faith without works, baby It just ain't happenin'
One is your right hand, one is your left
It's your light, your guide
Your life and your breath


Faith without works is like a song you can't sing
It's about as useless as a screen door On a submarine

Power Struggle

CVS has long been the key that opens the door to the room filled with all my bad qualities. Maybe that's a misplacement of responsiblity. CVS customers are the keys to that room. I am long overdue for an opportunity to go head to head with an outraged member of Perry's aristocracy about his or her prescription. Go back to a time with me when I had much less...tact. It is possible that I had the tact, I just didn't feel the need to use it.

Shortly after I began my binding agreement with Consumer Value Stores, Inc, I had an encounter with a woman who felt that she was right and I was wrong. Unfortunately, I felt that I was right and she was wrong.

She was giving another of our employees a difficult time about something and I felt the need to assist.

(Allow me to pause for a moment to say that anytime there is frustration or displeasure brewing between a customer and a fellow corporate slave, I feel the need to step in.)

The problem was that her prescription was not ready because she had no refills and we were waiting for an authorization from the doctor so that we could fill it. Most normal, sensible, even semi-rational people will understand that, and at the most, walk away a little frustrated.

Not her.

She began to "explain" how stupid CVS was and blah, blah, blah. Not that I particularly have any reason to stick up for CVS, but like I said, I like to step in.

Her problem was that she knew her doctor had written refills on that old prescription and that we were wrong and idiots and stupid and we all needed to go back to school. I didn't tell her I had never actually been.

I, being the industrious, "excited about continuing this fight," lad that I was, went to find that original prescription that had all those refills on it.

Too bad. It had none. Just like we told her. She began to bad mouth CVS some more. "CVS sucks!", she howled, to which I replied, "Maybe your doctor sucks."

I saw my job flash before my eyes as though it were disappearing as the word "sucks" left my mouth. It reminds of of one of those cheesy Visa commercials. "Priceless." I think within 3.5 seconds she had my District Manager on her cell phone.

If you're wondering how it turned out, I'm still here, 3 years later - for a grand total of 4 years with this corporate giant.

The lesson here? Don't ever tell a customer her doctor sucks, that is, unless you want her to never come back to your store (he he). Your boss will tell every new employee for the next 80 years about the boy who told a customer her doctor sucks.

I am much better now. I haven't done anything really stupid in over a year now. I attribute it mostly to Jesus taking the wheel. Sorry Carrie.

Plagiarism, Cheating & Debauchery

My title has nothing to do with the content of this blog, but it comes from a discussion I had with a young lad this evening and has special meaning in my heart.
(I'm only writing this introductory blog to break the ice that was standing between me and my future as a writer. )

Hopefully, the days ahead will be filled with stories to bring smiles to your faces like those on children on Christmas morn' after they've been brainwashed into believing that a fat white man from the North Pole actually slid down the 8-10" flue found in most homes today. I shutter to think of it.

I should be running off to bed now to dream of sugar plums and the like as our stores are already being filled with our Jesus-Free, commercialized Christmas cheer. Who needs Jesus and a hope of salvation when you can get a pre-lit 6-foot plastic tree from your local corner drug-store for $49.99?


I have sufficiently covered the bases for "My First Blog," Expect only greater things to come.