Breakfast is for the Birds

This Saturday morning I had intended to sleep late, but I woke up about the time I usually leave the house to go to work. Instead of rolling over and shutting my eyes, I had a desire to go outside. I am finding that the mornings on the weekend are some of my favorite times.

This morning the air is cool. The sky is still covered with a blanket of gray clouds, but last night's rains have ended and left behind a fresh feeling in the air. A gentle breeze blows to maintain that freshness. As I sit in a rocking chair on my front porch, the breeze changes direction and suddenly brings to me the sweet scent of the gardenia in full bloom.

The birds are especially active this morning. Not only are they all singing their unique songs, but breakfast awaits them. Time after time a bird will swoop into the yard and strut along the grass before burrowing its beak into the soft wet soil to extract a worm. Cardinals, bluebirds, robins. The brightly dressed birds seem to be the most active today.

Other birds land in the small dead tree in my neighbor's yard. I realize that this eyesore is providing meals for other birds. A pair of birds that seems as small as an infant's hand make a feast there. After they leave another bird arrives to find its meal.

I am struck by the order of it all. The birds do not compete with one another for territory. The earth is big enough for them all to coexist and still enjoy abundance. Why can't we do likewise?

One from the Archive

I wrote this song for my wife and performed it at a talent show at our church several years ago. Most of you weren't there.

WHEN I FIRST MET YOU

When I first met you, I did not know
You were the one for me.
We worked together, but I didn't know
How soon together we'd be.
Then one night when we worked late
I noticed your bright smile.
You caught my attention, but how could I know
Together we'd be for a while.
Becky my sweet dear wife,
I want you to know
Every day of our blessed lives
My love for you still grows.

When we got married, I did not know
What was in store for me.
We started bumpy, so how could I know
How great our life would soon be.
Things may have moved much too fast
And sometimes I acted uncouth.
I ask your forgiveness, I pledge unto you
I love you, this is the truth.
Becky my sweet dear wife,
I want you to know
Every day of our blessed lives
My love for you still grows.

When we had children, I did not know
How great a mother you'd be.
With diapers to change and noses to blow
You did not complain once to me.
You've molded babies into teens
And taught them right from wrong.
Your selfless love has inspired me
To sing to you this song.
Becky my sweet dear wife,
I want you to know
Every day of our blessed lives
My love for you still grows.

When I first met you, I did not know
You were the one for me.
We were together, but I didn't know
How happy together we'd be.
Through the years we've grown together
And turned two lives into one.
I can imagine life still getting better
With you by my side, it is done.
Becky my sweet dear wife,
I want you to know
Every day of our blessed lives
My love for you still grows.

Freezer Fail

***WARNING: DO NOT READ WHILE EATING***

This past weekend I plugged in an electric yard tool into one of the receptacles on the outside of the house but there was no power. I immediately knew that the GFCI had been tripped. I also knew that the freezer in the garage was on the same circuit. How long had the freezer been off?

I opened the door of the freezer just enough to stick my hand in to feel if the food was still frozen. At the same time that my hand went through a soggy warm cardboard pizza box, the overwhelming stench of death hit my nostrils. I quickly shut the door and reset the GFCI.

This morning I emptied the freezer of its refrozen spoiled contents because today is trash pickup day. The items at the bottom of the freezer gave me some trouble. They were frozen in a pool of animal blood that had dripped through the wire shelving and settled at the bottom. I had to pry the items loose with a screwdriver.

I was reminded of Galatians 6:8 "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." I imagine that our works decay just as quickly if we allow something to interfere with the flow of the power of God into our lives.

Handing out the pink slip

I had to let an employee go today because our company doesn't have enough work. I'm not exactly relishing the moment.

Get a whiff of this

My blog mentor recently wrote about her experience here while riding a motorcycle. And this morning my friend rode his motorcycle to my house. So I decided to simulate a motorcycle ride as best as I could on my morning commute. I rolled the windows down on the Buick Lesabre, the ultimate sport luxury sedan (Did I say that with a straight face?), and sped to the office.

The wind whipping around my face felt nice and soft. It was only occasionally that I was able to smell the sweet savor of flowers though. Each time I did I would glance out the window to see the fence row covered in blossoming honeysuckle. Somehow I don't think this experience even comes close to replicating a motorcycle ride. Oh well.

Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

This past weekend I watched the classic movie "The Princess Bride" while visiting my parents. It had been years since I had seen it. One scene in particular stirred up something within me. Unfortunately I did not have internet access or this blog entry would have been posted that night. I did, however, find pencil and paper to write down what I wanted to share.

The scene is a sword fight between Inigo Montoya and the man who murdered his father when Inigo was a boy. Inigo had prepared his entire life to avenge his father's death. He knew that when he met his enemy he would say, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

In the duel Inigo is wounded and slumped against a wall. It appears as though he is doomed. Then he manages to hoarsely whisper, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." He regains a little strength and is able to deflect the enemy's blows. Then he repeats the saying and staggers forward on the offensive. He repeats the lines over and over, each time more boldly than before and it brings him greater strength until he is victorious in the battle.

I was reminded that I need to make a similar confession as Inigo did. After all, Romans 10:10 tells us that "...with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." And in Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."

Inigo's confession had three parts:
1. He said who he was. "I am Inigo Montoya."
2. He spoke to his enemy and reminded the enemy of his transgression. "You killed my father."
3. He demanded that the enemy do something. "Prepare to die."

Inigo stirred himself with his confession and it brought him strength. Each time he said it, he was bolder, reminding himself of who he was, the purpose of the battle, and the victory to be won. Jesus told us in Mark 11:23 "...whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."

But notice also that the enemy did not just roll over at Inigo's words. He had to fight the battle. The enemy struck and wounded him, yet Inigo kept fighting. Proverbs 24:16 says "For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again..." and Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:9 that he was "...struck down, but not destroyed."

Let us remind ourselves with our confession just as Inigo did until the battle is won.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Today was the finale for my daughter's high school's production of the Wizard of Oz. I am extremely proud of her for her participation in this musical as a featured dancer.

I think most of us can identify with one of the main characters of this story. For me it is the lion. There are times in my life when I allow fear to rob me of the blessings that belong to me because I forget who I am. I start looking at the problem instead of at the answer. Or even worse, I allow imagination to conjure up the illusion of a problem that isn't there at all.

In the play, the lion helped to rescue Dorothy from the Wicked Witch, which was a courageous act. But he didn't see himself as courageous and he didn't feel courageous. Yet he overcame his fear enough to act and to do something that needed to be done. It was only afterward that he felt courageous when the Wizard awarded him a medal. But he was still the same lion; a medal didn't change that. The lion acted and the feelings followed.

Proverbs 28:1 says "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." I had this verse prophesied over me fifteen years ago at a time when I felt anything but bold. I still remember that word and the reaction I felt at the time. And I still don't feel bold, but I am bold because God's Word says that I am.

This morning at church we did the song "You Are Here (The Same Power)". The words are simple but powerful:

The same power that conquered the grave
Lives in me, lives in me.
Your love that rescued the earth
Lives in me, lives in me.

This morning as we played the song that message resonated anew within me. It is truth. Romans 8:11 is where it is found: "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

There is a scene in the Disney movie Lion King where Mufasa appears as a vision to Simba when he has run away from the kingdom. Mufasa says, "Why have you forgotten me?" Simba replies, "I haven't forgotten you." Mufasa tells him, "You have forgotten who you are and thus you have forgotten me." I remember watching that when my kids were small and being impressed that I had been like Simba, forgetting that I am a son of the King. Not just any king, but the King of Kings. Galatians 3:26 tells me, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." The sons of kings have authority. They have an inheritance. They don't cower in fear of the unknown. They act in a manner consistent with who they are and the authority that comes with their position.

I'm challenging myself to remember who I am and to act accordingly.

Nature's Orchestra Warm Up

This morning I stepped outside hoping to catch a glimpse of the rising sun. Instead the sky was blanketed in a solid gray cloud from horizon to horizon. A moderate cool humid breeze chilled my skin reminding me that today's forecast calls for precipitation.

I stood quiet and still and began to hear the sounds of the birds. From all sides I could hear what at first seemed to be a cacophony.

Then I listened more closely. I could make out the distinct songs of the different birds. I cannot begin to put in words the majesty of each individual song. Some were long and low pitched. Others were rapid high pitched trills. In between was a wonderful assortment of tweets, whistles, and caws coming from all sides.

I was reminded of the times I had arrived early for a musical and the orchestra was warming up in the pit, hidden from view. It is a random assortment of notes and rhythms all happening at once that do not produce music for the listener. However a person can listen intently and hear each individual instrument performing the exercises that best prepare him to play his best during the main event.

Much as an orchestra warms up in preparation for a great performance, I could imagine each creature warming up to prepare for its great performance of this day.