Tuesday, May 22, 2012    

No Nickname

Saturday, January 26th, 2008

I was listening to Total Access tonight on WAY-FM and they were talking about nicknames…specifically cool nicknames. I realized that I don’t think I’ve ever had a nickname (at least not one I can repeat anyway). Anita says some people have called me “The Bomb”, but I’m not sure I really remember anyone calling me that and it certainly didn’t stick.

So here’s an opportunity for you to chime in on two topics (any excuse to get people to comment on the blog…don’t be shy!):

  1. Do you (or have you ever) had a cool nickname? If so, please share…
  2. Got one for me (be nice)? Feel free to include sarcastic options, but throw a good one in the mix too please.

I’m probably too old to have a cool nickname stick…pretty sure that boat has sailed…but you can’t blame a guy for trying!

26.01.2008 Friends, Misc Ramblings 4 Comments

The Wrong Question

Monday, January 21st, 2008

We are going through a sermon series at our church (Pinecrest Community Church) on the book of Genesis. We are only three chapters in and it has been challenging, controversial, and enlightening.

Yesterday, Pastor preached on Genesis 3. This is the chapter where The Fall occurs…where Adam and Eve blow it by disobeying God (with a little help from You Know Who). As I was reading the passage I was struck by something in the exchange between God and Adam…especially since I’m a father. In the story, Adam and Eve have already sinned, have already felt guilty, and are hiding from God as He comes into the garden to walk with them. Here is God’s response:

 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,
and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:8-9 (NLT)

So here’s what strikes me…God asked the wrong question! Every dad on the planet knows what the right question was for the circumstance: What have you done? Adam has just blown it…big time…and God doesn’t even bring it up! Now there are some who would say that He already knew what Adam had done…but He already knew where Adam was hiding too. So the question was more for Adam’s sake than God’s.

The question God asks blows me away. He isn’t as concerned with Adam’s action (although He does care and Adam pays the price)…He is more concerned with His relationship with Adam. God had come to the garden to walk with Adam and Eve…to spend time with the. And when He got there they were hiding from Him. I think it broke God’s heart!

And it makes me wonder how often I hide from God and how much it breaks His heart. I have to pay the price for my sinful actions, but God is always more concerned with my relationship with Him. When I am far from Him I can almost hear his voice asking: “Where are you?”

21.01.2008 Devotional, Father, Spiritual Musings 3 Comments

It’s Golden

Friday, January 18th, 2008

I’m starting to think that the only way God can my attention lately is through repetition. Yesterday I read Matthew chapter 7 during my devotions and I even highlighted a couple of passages. But nothing really stood out in the reading…nothing that caused me to pause and think (mostly because I wasn’t listening).

Last night I went to the bookstore to look around and found a new book to read (just what I needed). Last night I read the first chapter and the author referenced one of the passages I highlighted in my devotions that morning…and a light bulb went on. See…it takes repetition, but at least I listen eventually (well…sometimes anyway).

The passage is one that even many who don’t know much about Scripture can recite…at least the first part of the passage. I’m going to share it with you “in reverse” because it’s the second part that has me thinking this morning:

This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:12b

That’s a mouthful. Jesus gives us “the essence”, the core, of the entire Biblical teaching in one short sentence. Must be packed full of deep, theological teaching right? Must be complicated and hard to understand. Must be for those with formal training and the wisdom of the ages…right?

Wrong! Here it is…

Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.
Matthew 7:12a

We even have a fancy name for this verse: The Golden Rule. Think about this for a second. The Golden Rule is the essence of everything taught in the law and the prophets. What? Yep…once again God shows that He is more concerned with relationships than anything else. He wants to have a relationship with us and He wants us to have good relationships with one another.

So, how about it…are you living out the Golden Rule? I must admit I don’t get an “A” in this territory. I don’t always treat others (at least not everyone) like I want to be treated. I’m still working on how to do better…so forgive me while I work on it.

18.01.2008 Devotional, Fellowship, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Who’s on Your Side?

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

You and I are both painfully aware that sometimes (or maybe most times) life is hard…very hard. But I read something in Psalm 56 this morning that I’ve missed probably every time I’ve read this Psalm, but it jumped out at me this morning. It’s a short sentence but it’s full of power and promise:

This I know: God is on my side!
Psalm 56:9b (NLT)

Do you know it?

16.01.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Question on Heaven

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

Our 5 year old, Kyle, often comes up with some far-out questions and comments. Here is his latest…

Kyle: “Mom, what do you think heaven smells like?”

Mom: (after slight pause): “I don’t know…maybe like flowers?”

Kyle: “Hmmm…you never know”

At first this just seemed like a silly question, but it got me thinking too. What doesheaven smell like? And why does it take a 5 year old to ask the question in the first place? I can see God smiling now at the innocence and wonder of a child curious to know such a thing.

16.01.2008 Family, Humor, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

Elk Hunt Results

Monday, January 14th, 2008

Had a great time Elk Hunting at Blue Gravel Ranch in Craig, CO this weekend with my buddy Justin. We had the PERFECT opportunity the very first morning, but mis-judged the distance horribly so we missed (thought is was 300 yards, turned out it was 150). Didn’t see anything else we could get to the rest of that day (and not for lack of effort).

Sunday we hit the trail again (snow showing a total of 7-8 miles over the span of 2 days…dog tiring!). We didn’t see anything until late morning–a herd of15 or so on the next ridge that ran into another property. We finally got close to a group of 5 that some other hunters pushed our way. Took some shots from what I thought was 200 yards (turned out to be 450 yards…still learning to use the range finder). But they kept walking towards us and we both got one as they were about to jump a fence. If you want the whole, sordid (and probably boring story) just ask and you’ll get t.  =0)

Here are 2 photos of the end result (you can also check out our Flickr account for a few more):

David's Elk 1

My Elk
(man these things are big!)

 

 Justin's Elk 1

Justin’s Elk
(close up to keep down the carnage)

14.01.2008 Friends, Hobbies, Hunting, Misc Ramblings No Comments

Off to the Hunt (Part 3)

Friday, January 11th, 2008

Justin and I are off on our third hunt of the year–this time for Elk on Blue Gravel Ranch in Craig, CO. It is currently snowing up there and the day-time high is supposed to be about 28d with a good chance of more snow. Great weather for seeing Elk and for getting frostbite!

Here’s the scorecard so far:

  1. Antelope: Two each
  2. Deer: Don’t get me started…didn’t see a single living creature aside from a squirrel
  3. Elk: TBD

I’ll have all the gory details when we get back…until then…

11.01.2008 Friends, Hobbies, Hunting, Misc Ramblings No Comments

The 100th Blog…

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

My very first blogged was posted 7 months ago to the day (June 7, 2007) and this is officially my 100th blog entry on the Journeyman Journal!! When I started, I had the following in mind:

My intent is for the Journeyman Journalto be a repository of random thoughts and ideas–a place for me to share what God is doing in my life and have a place to sharpen the often wild and crazy ideas the Spirit lays on me. This is my place to get out the random thoughts so that I can come back to them and formalize them. Often the topics will focus on the spiritual journey, but that won’t be the sole focus–there is always time to discuss the more mundane (but still exciting) aspects of life such as the Broncos, the news of the world, and life in general. After all, God created them and has us on the journey in the midst of it all.

By and large, I think I have accomplished the goal so far…and it’s been fun! I’m still a hack trying to find my way, but this has certainly been a good tool for me (not sure how many are actually reading and/or getting anything out of it, but it serves my purpose).

By way of reflection, and in chronological order, here are my own personal Top 10 Posts from the first 99 Blogs (your mileage may vary):

  1. Sages - June 8th
  2. The Lighter Side- July 4th
  3. The Great Sand Dunes- July 16th
         *Be sure you watch the video on this post…it’s priceless.
  4. Practical Atheism- September 16th
         *My favorite more serious post
  5. Pennies Should be Outlawed- September 19th
  6. The Taser - October 22nd
         *Be FAR the funniest post. I challenge you NOT to laugh!
  7. Lunch with a 5 Year Old – October 31st
  8. Chuck and Huck - November 29th
  9. Don’t Judge By the Cover - December 4th
         *The surprise video of the year!
  10. Presents for Jesus- December 8th
         *One of my favorite Kyle stories (this and the time he told us he was going through puberty at age 5)

Again, thanks for reading and for your comments through the year…keep them coming!

Stay tuned…more to come…

08.01.2008 Blogging, Misc Ramblings No Comments

Tim Hawkins Comedy

Sunday, January 6th, 2008

So after just blogging about having a “Servant’s Heart” I came across this comedian on GodTube talking about the very same topic. Funny and timely, I like this guy…

06.01.2008 Humor, Misc Ramblings No Comments

A Servant’s Heart

Saturday, January 5th, 2008

My devotions this morning where very uncomfortable…because God saw fit to hit me upside the head (which I often need). I had a whole other blogging topic lined up for today until this morning’s reading, reflection, and prayer.

The passage I read this morning was from Matthew 20:20-28. In this story James and John’s mother ask Jesus if He would make sure her sons had the place of honor in His kingdom. Now, don’t get me started on the whole issue that these “men” had to have their mommy ask Jesus such a question (I mean, come on, man up dudes). Jesus tells them that they don’t know what they are asking for and moves on.

That is until the other disciples heard about their request. How did they respond? Just like I would have…with indignation. In others words, they were peeved because they didn’t get to Jesus first. That’s when Jesus gets to the heart of the matter and really starts to meddle:

“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.”
Matthew 20:26-27

Jesus turns everything upside down:
     Want to be a leader? Become a servant.
     Want to be first? Become a slave.

My devotional book drove the point home for me even deeper, so instead of paraphrasing it, I’ll just print what it said and let you digest it for yourself:

Do we spend our days looking for those whom we might serve? Probably not. Our own agendas—godly though they may be—become so large and consuming that we rarely depart from them, at least not without feeling inconvenienced. Yet servanthood is integral to the gospel. Nowhere else does Jesus give us a path to greatness. Our desire to accomplish great things for God’s kingdom can only be fulfilled on this principle.

Color me convicted. I need to chew on this and ask God to transform my motivations from my own agendas to His agenda. I pray for a servant’s heart often…time to put it into practice.

05.01.2008 Devotional, Discipleship, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

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