DoxA

Thanks for Giving

Today, I am grateful for so many things. I'm sure you are too. So here's a little list to make it real on this day after Thanksgiving...

I thank God for His Amazing Grace. I don't deserve it but I'll accept it.
I thank Jesus for His pain. He didn't deserve it and I know I'm responsible.
I thank my wife for her patience. She waits, works and wonders because I'm not responsible.
I thank my girls for their honor. They love their dad like the Father wants my love.
I thank friends new for the joy they bring into my life and the harvest of hope.
I thank friends old for the treasure that I look upon proving I've had a great life.
I thank TOC for following down a path I'm learning as we go.
I thank SCC for equipping me for that journey.
I thank all who have struggled and came to me for help, you helped me more than you'll now.
I thank the the triathlon, cre:ate, emerging, Beautiful Day and Peet's Coffee communities for welcoming me.
I Thank TypePad, Facebook, Oovoo, Skype and Twitter for keeping me connected to y'all.

and finally,

I Thank you for coming back to this blog time and time again for another helping of random rants, self-congratulatory brags and my attempt to engage your heart and mind in a journey of real faith.

Happy "Thanks for giving!"

My College Wasn't Like This

This morning Joy and I jumped on the earliest Southwest flight to San Diego to spend today and tomorrow with our Daughter Aubrey here at Point Loma Nazarene University. We've already enjoyed Chapel, hung out at her work in Media Services and currently I'm sitting in the lounge of her dorm catching up on email and such. As I sit here enjoying the view, I look to my right to see a bulletin board which has many flyer's loosely push pinned on and flapping in the ocean breeze. One in particular grabs my attention: "Reason 23 to buy a yearbook... just another way to tick your dad off when he gets the tuition bill." I actually find that amusing... as if another $20 is going to make a difference in the already conceded fact that I'll be, a-ward-of-the-state, poor when she graduates!

It's great to see her in her environment, waving at students to us, friends to her, as we walk through the campus. Tonight we're going to see "Horton Hears a Who." The purpose; to hand out pro-life flyer's and to talk with moviegoers about the pro-life message of the film (imagine the "speck" and "a person's a person, no matter how small").

To say it's beautiful here is an understatement. Everywhere you look there's an ocean view, well... except to the east of course. The sun is out, the air is crisp and in just a half hour we'll be enjoying a BBQ lunch out on the upper lawn. Yes, the photo is real and is the view just out my daughter's dormitory. One semester of college here cost more than the entire four years I spent at LIFE. Coming here makes me wonder I didn't become a Nazarene. God must show his favor toward Nazarenes to give them such a beautiful place... or maybe it's just a reward for abstaining from all that dancing.

Rock on Aubs... and get a yearbook. I'll buy.

"Joy"full Fridays

I asked Joy today to sit down and write a blog post in response to a comment that was made several days ago  asking to get a glimpse into the world of Joy. She said, "Oh no... that's not me. I don't do this (pointing at my computer) thing." For those who don't personally know my wife Joy, she is a silent force; a constant motion akin to a kinetic generator  producing ________ for the sake of others.

Right now she's giving Aubrey a pedicure. A little bit later she'll start preparing a meal for a game night  with the ladies at our church. She informed me that today she'll be getting the girls Target gift cards to take back to school with them... always thinking of someone else the last thought in her mind is to sit down and put in words what "she" is doing... or, eegadds! What she's thinking. Not that she doesn't think and as you can see, she's not lazy, Joy just doesn't understand why anyone would care about the things rattling around in her brain. "I just don't get it... I just don't get it." She says walking out of the family room. As many times as I've tried to explain it, she won't know the difference between Typepad and Twitter because she doesn't care. Her idea of communication and staying connected is a good ol'fashioned phone call or a cup of coffee sitting at the table of one of her many friends. To understand why this is so important to her you have to know a little bit of the history behind her self-imposed simplicity.

Joy began ice skating as soon as she could stand up. Her mom and dad were professional ice skaters, traveling the country with the Ice Follies which meant, until the age of 14, she traveled nine months out of the year, was tutored rather than experiencing K through 7th grade and eventually a featured skater in costumes (she was Woodstock when the show licensed the rights to "Peanuts" from Charles Schultz). After her family settled down in the San Fernando Valley she began the adjustments to "normal" life and public school. But that was short lived when she began taking featured rolls in television shows which led to a costarring roll as a young ice skater falling in love with her hockey turned figure skating partner, Jimmy McNichol in "Champions: A Love Story." Her face was on the cover of TV Guide and Teen Beat and for a kid who lived her entire life in the public eye it became all too much resulting in a retreat to privacy that would make this last paragraph uncomfortable for her.

Simple; my wife's life is simple and she likes it that way. So, if you want to know what's going on with Joy here's what she prefer you do. Give her a call or better yet. Drop by for a cup of coffee. But you better call first. She might just be out doing something for someone else.

Too Much Going On!

I realize there has been an absence of words coming from this site lately... So, let me tell you why.

Let's first start with a couple of weeks ago. Sara and Aubrey came into town. It was the first time we had a chance to see Sara since her arrival from Ireland having been away for nearly two months. It was truly great to see her again. Then three days later, Aubrey and I headed off to New York City for our "Ultimate Date Day" (this is actually 5 days where she gets to do whatever she wants -- it only comes once in a lifetime!). We had a blast and there are too many stories to tell here. Next upon our return to the Bay Area, we had one day to pack up Aubrey's stuff and head down to San Diego. We had three days of saying goodbye and parental meltdowns, along with multiple trips to Target. Then... back up to the Bay Area to preach the next day and receive the keys to our new home. Monday was a frenzy with the painting beginning and belongings being delivered. Without the help of Dana, Terry, Mary, Robbie, John, Joseph, Soto, John, Rita, Steve, Ken, Caleb, Ernie, Cory, Mario, Madeline, Jody, Chatten, Aaron, Ellie, Lorriedawn, Deborah, Stephanie and who can forget "Super" Dave who wins the award for the most amazing of an already amazing crew of friends, helpers and interior designers. While all this was happening, our desert friends, Jeff and Shannon along with Earl and Misty paid us a visit. What a blessing that was!

Thank the Lord, by his grace and providence I was able to schedule (thanks Joe!) Aurelio Barreto the founder and CEO of C 28 Clothing Stores to speak yesterday. What a power gospel presentation! We had several people bow their heart to the Son of God and make Jesus their Lord! Check out the church website to hear the message or download the podcast... if that doesn't work you can get a free CD copy at any C 28 Store and if you mention Twin Oaks, all week, you can get 20% off any clothing at the Oakridge or Valley Fair stores.

So, as you can see... it's been a bit busy to say the least. But it has reminded me of this verse which I"ll sign off with today and promise to get back on track for those of you who have been politely and some, not so politely, reminding me to stay current on the weekly posts... but here is some encouragement for today.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Ro 12:9-18

I saw this lived out this week in a very real and personal manner... may you too, see it. May you too... live it!