I was sitting at a red light yesterday, waiting for the light to turn green so I could make a left-hand turn. A pick-up truck was on my right, in the right-turn-only lane. The truck suddenly turned left- in front of me, into the oncoming traffic- and attempted to make a u-turn.
I watched in disbelief as the teenage driver of the truck negotiated a three-point turn in order to complete his illegal maneuver, causing traffic on the intersecting road to stop and wait.
As he passed by my driver's side window- which I had rolled down- I shook my head sternly and said, "Don't do that again." My young friend made some kind of face back at me and went on his way. I was infuriated.
I thought about that scene from the movie,"Fried Green Tomatoes" when the older lady crashes her car into a younger lady's car after the younger one had stolen a parking space. The older lady justified her actions by saying, "I'm older and I have more insurance." I admit an unkind thought might have entered my mind for just a second until the light turned green and I could go on my way.
I'm not so far removed from adolescence to remember how teenagers sometimes operate in a bubble of impulsive, indifferent immaturity- never stopping to consider how their actions and behaviors may impact other people. And I'm really not one of those people who believe that all of the world's problems are the fault of "these kids today." I like to think that I'm fairly open-minded about the unique challenges of the teenage years and pretty forgiving as well.
But I did find myself ranting in the car- "I'm an adult and a taxpayer! I work for a living and my taxes pay for road like this for punks like you to drive on!!" Might as well have called him a "whippersnapper." Dang- I am getting old.
In the end, the kid in the truck got away with his action...this time. But I was able to use the experience as a teachable moment for my own teenaged son, who was with me in the car. The lesson went something like this- "I may not be able to bust that kid's butt, but I can bust yours if you ever do anything stupid like that!"
Then I asked him to fetch me my Geritol.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Educators Have a Special Calling
Tomorrow is the last day of school for my kids. Does anyone else notice how quickly the school year flies by?
I attended my first-grader's End of the Year Party this afternoon and after spending 45 minutes in the classroom with sugared-up seven-year-olds armed with beach balls, I was reminded once again what a special calling one must have in order to be an educator.
It takes a tremendous amount of patience, creativity, and skill to be a teacher today. Teachers must balance the demands of their students, the expectations of parents, the requirements of administration, and the constantly-changing standards of the lawmakers.
I could go off for a while on exactly how hard most teachers work, how much most personally sacrifice, how most teachers' compensation is nowhere near their worth, but I'll save all of that for another time.
For today, I'll just say thank you. Thank you for caring about my kids. Thank you for doing a difficult job that many might have the knowledge to do, but only a few truly have the skill and the calling that you have. You are a treasured resource for our community.
Enjoy your summer break- you've most-certainly earned it!
I attended my first-grader's End of the Year Party this afternoon and after spending 45 minutes in the classroom with sugared-up seven-year-olds armed with beach balls, I was reminded once again what a special calling one must have in order to be an educator.
It takes a tremendous amount of patience, creativity, and skill to be a teacher today. Teachers must balance the demands of their students, the expectations of parents, the requirements of administration, and the constantly-changing standards of the lawmakers.
I could go off for a while on exactly how hard most teachers work, how much most personally sacrifice, how most teachers' compensation is nowhere near their worth, but I'll save all of that for another time.
For today, I'll just say thank you. Thank you for caring about my kids. Thank you for doing a difficult job that many might have the knowledge to do, but only a few truly have the skill and the calling that you have. You are a treasured resource for our community.
Enjoy your summer break- you've most-certainly earned it!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The Challenges of Staying Alert
I was driving the family truckster with the camper in tow last Friday, heading for a long weekend of camping, when I received a text message from my cell phone service provider telling me that some changes to my account had been made. I thought that was a strange text, since I hadn't made any changes recently, but it didn't strike me as urgent and I decided to deal with it at a time when I wasn't driving.
When we arrived at our camping place, which was in a very remote area, I noticed that I no longer had cell phone service. I didn't link this event with my earlier text- although I should have. I just figured that we were out of a service area and I was actually a little happy at the thought of being out of range for a few days.
We got suspicious that something was wrong when we re-entered civilization, but the phone remained without service. I contacted my provider when I got home and they confirmed that someone in New York had hacked our account, upgraded our service plan, and then transferred the plan to new numbers. It took only a few minutes with fraud services, plus a quick trip to the closest store to reactivate our phones to get reconnected to the world, but it was still very unnerving to see again how quickly and easily our personal information can get into the wrong hands.
The lady from fraud services asked me why I didn't call immediately when I received the warning text. I answered her honestly- there were two reasons:
1- I get texts from my service provider on a regular basis (though I admit they are usually offers and not warnings.) But because of the volume, every text just seems like noise and I did not have the time or the inclination to give them any of my attention at that particular moment. The hackers who got into my account didn't know it, but they hit me at a time when I was willingly not paying attention.
2- By the time I did have time to process the meaning of the warning text, my cell phone service was gone and I, as I stated earlier, was kind of glad to think that I was cut off from the world for a little while. Not only was I willingly not paying attention, I willingly didn't care that my phone was disabled.
The Scriptures remind us to be alert and we should be. But it's not always easy. Staying alert is especially challenging when our lives are filled with distractions, false alarms, and non-critical "emergencies" that clamor for our attention. And when you add fatigue and our inherent need for real rest, there may be times when the warnings are real but we lack the energy or desire to respond. This is where the potential for trouble is the greatest.
I'm fortunate today that the damage wasn't much worse. But it was certainly a good reminder to me of the dangers that exist all around us and our need to ready and able to to defend against their attack.
When we arrived at our camping place, which was in a very remote area, I noticed that I no longer had cell phone service. I didn't link this event with my earlier text- although I should have. I just figured that we were out of a service area and I was actually a little happy at the thought of being out of range for a few days.
We got suspicious that something was wrong when we re-entered civilization, but the phone remained without service. I contacted my provider when I got home and they confirmed that someone in New York had hacked our account, upgraded our service plan, and then transferred the plan to new numbers. It took only a few minutes with fraud services, plus a quick trip to the closest store to reactivate our phones to get reconnected to the world, but it was still very unnerving to see again how quickly and easily our personal information can get into the wrong hands.
The lady from fraud services asked me why I didn't call immediately when I received the warning text. I answered her honestly- there were two reasons:
1- I get texts from my service provider on a regular basis (though I admit they are usually offers and not warnings.) But because of the volume, every text just seems like noise and I did not have the time or the inclination to give them any of my attention at that particular moment. The hackers who got into my account didn't know it, but they hit me at a time when I was willingly not paying attention.
2- By the time I did have time to process the meaning of the warning text, my cell phone service was gone and I, as I stated earlier, was kind of glad to think that I was cut off from the world for a little while. Not only was I willingly not paying attention, I willingly didn't care that my phone was disabled.
The Scriptures remind us to be alert and we should be. But it's not always easy. Staying alert is especially challenging when our lives are filled with distractions, false alarms, and non-critical "emergencies" that clamor for our attention. And when you add fatigue and our inherent need for real rest, there may be times when the warnings are real but we lack the energy or desire to respond. This is where the potential for trouble is the greatest.
I'm fortunate today that the damage wasn't much worse. But it was certainly a good reminder to me of the dangers that exist all around us and our need to ready and able to to defend against their attack.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
We received some very good news this week from a friend in Joplin, MO.
When our team was there two months ago, we worked on a home that was on the city inspector's list of potential homes to condemn. In fact, the day we arrived to work at that home was the same day that the inspector was scheduled to make a recommendation as to whether or not the house should be leveled. It just so happened that the inspector showed up while we were working and expressed encouragement that something might be done to save the place. What we didn't know then was that the owner of the home had just about given up.
To make a long story short, the handful of hours that our team spent on that house, along with a very productive conversation with the team from Americorps, was enough to buy this home some time and save it from condemnation.
In the weeks since our visit, other volunteer groups have taken up the work. And today, that home has a new roof, new windows, new interior walls, and new exterior siding. The garage that had been destroyed by the tornado is being rebuilt into a first-floor bedroom.
Still the owners of that house remember our little team of hard hats. And they have said that had it not been for the work our group did that day, they would have told the city inspector to tear the house down. I guess our presence brought just enough light into their world to give those folks a glimmer of hope. It just doesn't get much better than that!
When our team was there two months ago, we worked on a home that was on the city inspector's list of potential homes to condemn. In fact, the day we arrived to work at that home was the same day that the inspector was scheduled to make a recommendation as to whether or not the house should be leveled. It just so happened that the inspector showed up while we were working and expressed encouragement that something might be done to save the place. What we didn't know then was that the owner of the home had just about given up.
To make a long story short, the handful of hours that our team spent on that house, along with a very productive conversation with the team from Americorps, was enough to buy this home some time and save it from condemnation.
In the weeks since our visit, other volunteer groups have taken up the work. And today, that home has a new roof, new windows, new interior walls, and new exterior siding. The garage that had been destroyed by the tornado is being rebuilt into a first-floor bedroom.
Still the owners of that house remember our little team of hard hats. And they have said that had it not been for the work our group did that day, they would have told the city inspector to tear the house down. I guess our presence brought just enough light into their world to give those folks a glimmer of hope. It just doesn't get much better than that!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Challenge of Preaching
I received an email today with the subject, "Hear a Big Tip from Rick Warren." (Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in California and author of the "Forty Days of Purpose" books.) Rick knows a few things about growing churches, so I was interested in what this "big tip" might be.
So I opened the email and Rick's article was the first one listed among several. It was titled, "Ask People, 'What Can We Do For You,'" and the first few lines of the article followed. There was also an article underneath Rick's by Mark Brooks titled, "The Secrets of Successful Pastors."
I see articles like the second all the time. We preacher-types are always on the lookout for the next great thing that will make us successful. (Most of the time, these articles are fluff.) But something in the teaser lines of the second article got my attention, especially in light of what Rick had written just above.
One of Rick's sentences said, "Jesus let people set the agenda for the needs He met." However, in the article below, Mark wrote, "we cannot change our message to tickle the ears of those that do not see what we see."
And that's the challenge of preaching right there. On the one hand, we want to give the people what they need. We want the message to be relevant to their daily lives. (It's also admittedly self-serving- if we scratch the right itch, they'll keep showing up and keep giving and maybe even invite their friends.)
On the other hand, we want to be faithful to the truth of the text. We want to be able to confront the hypocrisies of modern-day Christianity and speak a prophetic word. But in doing so, we risk running people out of the church.
We want it both ways.
So I'm asking the question today. Which is more important? If you had to choose, would you rather hear a message that was tailored to your needs or a message that challenged you to examine your life under the light of Scripture?
Post your thoughts. I really want to know.
So I opened the email and Rick's article was the first one listed among several. It was titled, "Ask People, 'What Can We Do For You,'" and the first few lines of the article followed. There was also an article underneath Rick's by Mark Brooks titled, "The Secrets of Successful Pastors."
I see articles like the second all the time. We preacher-types are always on the lookout for the next great thing that will make us successful. (Most of the time, these articles are fluff.) But something in the teaser lines of the second article got my attention, especially in light of what Rick had written just above.
One of Rick's sentences said, "Jesus let people set the agenda for the needs He met." However, in the article below, Mark wrote, "we cannot change our message to tickle the ears of those that do not see what we see."
And that's the challenge of preaching right there. On the one hand, we want to give the people what they need. We want the message to be relevant to their daily lives. (It's also admittedly self-serving- if we scratch the right itch, they'll keep showing up and keep giving and maybe even invite their friends.)
On the other hand, we want to be faithful to the truth of the text. We want to be able to confront the hypocrisies of modern-day Christianity and speak a prophetic word. But in doing so, we risk running people out of the church.
We want it both ways.
So I'm asking the question today. Which is more important? If you had to choose, would you rather hear a message that was tailored to your needs or a message that challenged you to examine your life under the light of Scripture?
Post your thoughts. I really want to know.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Some Days Are Better Than Others
It's been two months since I quit the gym and started getting my exercise by running. I'm pleased with myself for sticking with it so far, and I think I've found a routine that works well with my schedule. I ran 4 days this week for a total of 18 miles.
What I've discovered about running for exercise is also true about life in general. Simply stated- some days are better than others.
There are days when the temperature is perfect and my legs just seem to glide across the pavement.
There are other days when the wind seems to be in my face for the entire run, when different parts of my body take turns screaming at me to stop, and when my shoes feel like they weigh 100 pounds...each.
In either case, I keep running. I keep running because I know I need the physical exercise. I keep running because I am stubborn and I don't like breaking commitments I make to myself. And I keep running because as much as I sometimes hate to run, I do like the feeling of finishing a run.
So maybe you had days this week that you felt like you were on top of the world. And maybe you had some days where everything that could go wrong did. We were never promised a perfect life on this side of heaven. What we are promised is that no matter how things are going, when our hope is in our Lord, our strength is renewed.
We pray, "give us this day our daily bread," which is another way of asking simply for the strength and nourishment that will be necessary and sufficient for today. We don't have to pray for extra to store up for tomorrow- God will provide what we need for today and God will be ready again to provide for us tomorrow, no matter how much or how little is required.
What I've discovered about running for exercise is also true about life in general. Simply stated- some days are better than others.
There are days when the temperature is perfect and my legs just seem to glide across the pavement.
There are other days when the wind seems to be in my face for the entire run, when different parts of my body take turns screaming at me to stop, and when my shoes feel like they weigh 100 pounds...each.
In either case, I keep running. I keep running because I know I need the physical exercise. I keep running because I am stubborn and I don't like breaking commitments I make to myself. And I keep running because as much as I sometimes hate to run, I do like the feeling of finishing a run.
So maybe you had days this week that you felt like you were on top of the world. And maybe you had some days where everything that could go wrong did. We were never promised a perfect life on this side of heaven. What we are promised is that no matter how things are going, when our hope is in our Lord, our strength is renewed.
We pray, "give us this day our daily bread," which is another way of asking simply for the strength and nourishment that will be necessary and sufficient for today. We don't have to pray for extra to store up for tomorrow- God will provide what we need for today and God will be ready again to provide for us tomorrow, no matter how much or how little is required.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
When a Plan Comes Together
I came home from last night's softball game and my wife was still awake. She was watching an old episode of the 80's action series, "The A-Team." I could hardly believe my eyes.
A flood of memories came over me as I saw Hannibal and Murdock wearing disguises, B.A. looking menacing, and Face conning his way through another scheme. And the first words out of my mouth were from the show's enduring catchphrase, "I love it when a plan comes together."
That is so right.
There's really nothing better than seeing a plan come together- seeing the efforts of preparation pay off in success.
My church experienced this last Sunday evening when we hosted an outdoor concert and cookout- our first major all-church event since we opened our new building. A crowd as large as our worship attendance showed up and a good time was had by all. Good fun, great food, real fellowship, perfect weather, and outstanding entertainment capped off an awesome event.
I spent most of the evening just walking around and taking it all in. It was just plain cool to see the way everything was running. Kids were playing, adults were meeting each other and having conversations, the band was rocking on the stage- it was, as far as I am concerned, a little glimpse of heaven.
The best part for me was how little I had to do with it! Each staff person and their various teams took pieces of the event and when it came time to put it all together, everything fit perfectly- leaving me to think to myself, as I was walking around last Sunday, "I love it when a plan comes together."
In real life, unlike "The A-Team," not every plan comes together like we expect. That's why we celebrate the ones that do and learn from the ones that don't.
A flood of memories came over me as I saw Hannibal and Murdock wearing disguises, B.A. looking menacing, and Face conning his way through another scheme. And the first words out of my mouth were from the show's enduring catchphrase, "I love it when a plan comes together."
That is so right.
There's really nothing better than seeing a plan come together- seeing the efforts of preparation pay off in success.
My church experienced this last Sunday evening when we hosted an outdoor concert and cookout- our first major all-church event since we opened our new building. A crowd as large as our worship attendance showed up and a good time was had by all. Good fun, great food, real fellowship, perfect weather, and outstanding entertainment capped off an awesome event.
I spent most of the evening just walking around and taking it all in. It was just plain cool to see the way everything was running. Kids were playing, adults were meeting each other and having conversations, the band was rocking on the stage- it was, as far as I am concerned, a little glimpse of heaven.
The best part for me was how little I had to do with it! Each staff person and their various teams took pieces of the event and when it came time to put it all together, everything fit perfectly- leaving me to think to myself, as I was walking around last Sunday, "I love it when a plan comes together."
In real life, unlike "The A-Team," not every plan comes together like we expect. That's why we celebrate the ones that do and learn from the ones that don't.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)