Time Thieves

This week I was chatting with someone about a recent hassel they endured when switching cable companies. The switch took way too much time away from him and his family and he was very upset with that company. I couldn't blame him. In fact, I could relate. Recently we updated a few rooms in the house by selling some furniture and electronics and changing things around. It all started with, "I've got an idea." But the idea and the plan did not go smoothly. A faulty cable resulted in multiple trips to Sam's Club and the furniture has been a whole other ordeal.

As I have reflected back on these situations, I now describe them as more than a hassel - I think the proper description would be "time thieves." These are situations that usually begin with good intentions and end with regret and little added value to our lives. I can think of many times that I wanted to save us money or improve something, only to regret it later because of the time and energy it took to accomplish my original goal.

So, in looking back, I wondered, "how can I avoid these time thieves?" The best solution I came up with was to use the lesson I learned at the end of a regrettful situation - such as, "it wasn't worth it" - and apply it to my future decisions. Moving forward then, I should ask myself, "is it worth my time and energy to do this?" Once I ask myself that question, I will remember the failures of the past and the time I have lost. And hopefully, I will be able to accurately determine whether my "idea" is really a good one.

Lost and Found

Last night was a bit frantic for me. My favorite metal Bible was missing. I looked everywhere for it. The usual places: my office, by my bed, the kitchen, the car. No where. It became clear that I had left it somewhere else. I had lost it.

I started worrying a bit. What if I couldn't find it? This was a Bible that I purchased six years ago and I used in devotion for much of that time. My highlight marks, underlines, and notes would be gone. Yes, I could buy another one, but it wouldn't be the same. Before I went to bed last night, I remembered that I had read the Bible over lunch at Burger King while Jackson was in the play area. At 11pm, I wanted to drive over there and ask if they had it. But I waited until morning.

Next morning, at 9:30am, I went to Burger King. I asked the cashier if they had a Bible and a book and she went to check with the manager. I watched her ask him and was relieved when he came out of his office with my Bible.

I'm glad that I am at a place in my journey that I was that concerned about God's word being lost. But in reflection, I realized that it took me a couple of days to miss it. As I move forward in my journey, I want to miss reading His Word as much as I missed my Bible when I thought it was lost.

A Happy Meal Perspective

A few days ago, I took my three year old son to McDonald's for a nutritous lunch. He was looking forward to two things: a happy meal with a new star wars toy and some quality time in the playland.

Once we arrived, Jackson assisted me with the order, as always, waiting until I finished with his order and chiming in, "and a toy." The cashier then informed us that they were out of star wars toys - the ones in the display case next to the order counter for children to drool over. Instead, kids had their choice of one of three (rather lame) Ronald McDonald toys. My son snatched up the most interesting one and I grabbed the grub and we headed to a booth near the playland.

After we started eating, I asked Jackson if he was disappointed that they were out of the Star Wars toys. He replied, "yea." Then, I followed with another question, asking him if it made him sad. His second reply took me by suprise. Jackson, without hesitation and with an animated voice, said, "nobody died!"

I nearly choked on my fries hearing his response. I then chuckled a bit and said to my three year old, "your absolutely right. I am glad that you have such a good perspective on this."

As I think about my own life and the circumstances that sometimes don't go my way, I can always remember the wisdom of my son and his ability to put things in eternal perspective. If he can do it at 3, then surely I can do it at 33.

Getaway

I left earlier this week for a 2 and a half day prayer retreat. I got a hotel room and spent time at the public library in Kearney, a church, the hotel breakfast room and my hotel room to study, journal, and pray. I didn't have one moment that was revolutionary or anything. But the time away and alone was good. It was great to be quiet before God and focus on him.

I won't be able to do retreats like that often, but who says retreats have to be miles away and for days? Jesus would often sneak away from the crowds and his disciples, but never for long distances. Retreat and solitude is necessary and possible for everyone. The real question is whether you want to make it happen. Being alone with God is very vulnerable and it's easy to be afraid of what God might reveal to you. But the reward is certainly worth the risk.

As my getaway was coming to an end, I clearly didn't want it to. It wasn't long enough. But I will be grateful for the time I had, and use this experience as motivation to "sneak away" much sooner.

I would love to cancel this appointment

Yesterday, following my lunch with other Pastors at Qudoba, I found myself in my car in the parking lot brushing my teeth. Not my normal routine. But since I was headed to the dentist, I thought it was the right thing to do.

Upon arriving I was ushered into the first chair available and was welcomed by a familiar face - the tarter pic weilding dental assistant. She asked how I was doing and I groaned, "ok." She sarcastically remarked how enthusiastic I sounded to which I responded, "to be honest, I don't like coming here." Her reply was meant to be thought provoking as she reminded me that there were plenty of places that are worse. I calmly responded with a matter of fact statement, "I have not been to those places yet."

This lighthearted discussion about my disdain for the dentist office helped me get my feelings off my chest a little bit but didn't stop the assistant from going to work on my teeth. I usually start a countdown during the appointment, counting off each tooth she finishes, but this visit was different. I decided to go about things differently.

I stopped focusing on the many things that bothered me - the corny music playing, the boring artwork on the wall, the off-tune humming of the assistant, and so on - and decided to pray and think about better things. I thanked God for the fact that I live in a place where I can have someone clean my teeth. I prayed for some requests that were on my mind. And I thought about more pleasant things in my life.

Not surprisingly, my visit didn't seem to last as much as the others. It was at miserable as usual. This had me thinking about Paul's words to the Philippians in chapter 4. "Do not be anxious about anything. But in everything give thanks." In everything! That includes trips to the dentist. Is "everything" possible? Not sure, but I think its worth a try.

By the way, I get to try this strategy again in two weeks as I have to get a filling. I am going to start giving thanks in advance.

Light the fire

After spending a couple of hours working in the yard last weekend, I came back inside at around 8pm ready to eat something. I forgot that I had agreed to grill out. I really needed to clean up first so I asked my wife to start up the grill. I gave her simple, three step instructions to get it started and heated up. She hesitantly gave it a shot, but after I came out from cleaning up, I realized it hadn't gone as planned. I soon realized that the problem wasn't hers. The electric ignition switch needed a new battery.

This was frustrating for my wife who foresaw not being able to complete this task. It was frustrating for me because I knew that I would not be able to ask her to do it again.

Its difficult to try to do something again after you failed the first time (especially when it is an easy task or something that a lot of other people can do). In my own spiritual journey I find myself telling people to press on in an area of their life, but don't understand why they give up so easy (since in my experience it was easy for me).

But there are areas in my life where I do the same thing. Praying for healings is a scary thing for me. Whether I am praying for my own or someone else, I know that there have been times when God didn't answer. This makes it difficult to keep asking. But James 1 and Luke 11 have encouraged me to keep asking. Because maybe I haven't knocked enough times. I know God is all powerful and loves us, so its sometimes just a matter of timing and perseverence. So, lately I have been praying, "Lord, help me to not give up on asking you. Grow my faith through this experience."

I look forward to his answer, no matter how many times I have to ask.

Thankful

Sunday morning, 2:25am, and we awake to a loud rumbling. The storm is here and not far away. For others, its in their neighborhood or headed for right for them. An F2 tornado that radar hasn't even detected yet.

The next morning the strength of the storm is fully realized. By a handful of people, its in the form of their roof or half their home gone. One family wasn't home, thankfully, and the father wondered out loud as he looked at the open sky from his daughter's room, "what if we had been here?"

I wondered about the closeness of the storm as well. What if it had landed in my back yard? On my roof? As scary as that thought is, I am thankful that God is watching over me and my family. I can be reassured that even though there are countless uncertainties in this life, his love for me is unchanging. And for the times when danger is near, I have God as "my shield" there to protect us.

When I prayed with my son the following night, I reminded him of the short prayer that God answered when we prayed the night before; "Lord, we pray for our family - protect us."

I am thankful God was listening.