New desk, same mess

So, I was given a very generous gift of a nice oak computer desk. I was able to pick it up last Thursday. Now, several days latter, it is just as much of a mess as my old desk was less than a week ago.

Why is it so stinking hard to keep the flat surface on which one works, clean?

After all, it's not like I use a lot of paper in what I do. It's not as though I don't have enough time in the day to clean off this perpetual paper-catcher.

So why is it a mess? Someone? Anyone?

Help!

The Shack

OMG!

What an amazing book. William Young deals with one of (what I believe to be) the largest issues facing most folks today- theodicy. OK, that's a big word that I really ought to "explain." Basically theodicy is asking the question of "If God is good, then how come there is so much evil in the world." Or, alternately, "Why do bad things happen to good people."

I think it's something that almost everyone I know deals with at some level. It's why some people are de-churched, having been hurt by established religion. It's why others have no desire to get to know God, especially when the God they've heard about is one that damns people to hell for breaking rules.

Before I fully jump on my soap-box, please read this book. Whatever your religious background or lack thereof, what-ever your take on God, whether you even believe that there is something bigger than all of us, you should take the few hours it's going to take to read this book. It might just change the way you look at the world. I know it's changing the way I do.

I'd be glad to let local friends borrow a copy, when I get them bought. I'll be buying a few to have on-hand and a few to give away. It's that important of a book. Really.

Resolution time!

Ahh, it's that time of year again. Some folks think it's important to have your resolutions decided upon by the time the new year starts. Thank goodness I'm not one of them. This year I have several different types of resolutions. I'll do my best to categorize them as I go.

Physical Health:
Run 750 miles
Bike 1000 miles
Swim 75,000 meters
Be able to do 100 push-ups in a row
Eat more healthy foods
Decrease percentage of body fat
Compete in at least 1 triathlon and as many running and cycling events as time allows.

Mental Health:
Take at least 1 day a week as Sabbath
Set priorities and stick to them
Delegate!
Spend time with each member of my family

Work:
Complete Constitution and By-Laws revision
Revise/Review all policies
Visit every member of the congregation outside of church at least 2 times.
Be regular and intentional about nursing home and home-bound visitation
Explore new methods of preaching
Build intentional foundations for all church activities and ministries (Theology of practice.)

Enjoy each day!

Well, that's what I'm hoping to accomplish in 2009. Some goals are going to be pretty easy to reach, others are going to take a lot more work. But, there's nothing on this list that I would label as "impossible." Audacious maybe. Impossible, no.

Read 50 books

In Memory

I went to a funeral yesterday for Carrie and Kara Johnson, the infant granddaughters of some church members who were born way too early (only about 5 months into the pregnancy) and didn't survive. During the funeral, the pastor talked about how they had gone right from birth to heaven, and how they would have avoided any pain and difficulty here on earth that way.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't find that at all comforting. As a matter of fact, it kind of makes me angry. It stinks that these young girls never got a chance to live, that their parents never got to watch them go to prom, walk down the aisle, hold them as they sobbed over a break-up...

I can't see how I can ethically live my life waiting for heaven. There is too much joy and sorrow to be experienced here on earth. Then he (the pastor) actually said that it was "God's pleasure" to call these young girls home. What the? The God I'm getting to know isn't at all pleased that these young girls died. The God I believe in is sobbing, bawling about this tragedy.

Oh, well. I guess that someone may have found comfort in those words. Personally, I did not. I guess I need to work up some notes just in case I ever have to preside at such a tragic funeral...

Don't get me wrong, I still have great faith in God. But I'm also VERY sad that the world will never get to know those two young girls. I'm heartbroken, and that's going to take some time to heal.

Easter Living

So, I was worried for no real reason. Easter came and went, and was a WONDERFUL day! Everything in the service seemed to flow well and I came out of the day energized to get some things done. I've been quite lax on my reading over the last few weeks, so I "read" an audiobook that my dad lent me the other day. I guess I can get more out of that format that I thought. So, now I have to see if there's anything interesting at our local library that I want to let my ears read.

It's only Wednesday and I've had a sermon draft for almost 24 hours already, been to Springfield twice to visit a congregation member in the hospital and I'm headed out (after a bit) to do some more visiting at the local nursing homes. My desk is fairly clear and I might actually be caught up on all the things I need to do.

I guess that means I need to resurrect my book-writing on the side. Maybe I'll have some good news to report on that in the near future.

Sunday's comin'

...and right now it looks like a train. I don't remember being this behind at Easter-time last year. But for some reason I am this go around. Maybe it's because Easter is so early, because we've had so much ice and snow over the past month, because we almost floated away in the rain the past few days, or because I got a late start to the week taking some kids to the state capital for a Rotary event. Whatever the reason, I feel like I'm WAY behind on getting stuff ready.

Of course, all I really have left to do is to get a couple of short meditations written (planned for tomorrow morning) and let everyone know what's going on. It shouldn't be too big of a deal.

Maybe I'm stressed for no good reason...

I feel strangely better, now. I think I'll clean off my desk a bit and get ready for a push in the morning!

Why do I kid myself?

I have noticed a theme in my blogging. Each time I write one of these here gizmos, I insinuate (or say outright) that I'm going to do so more often. But, I never do. So, I've been musing about that for a few days, weeks, months, whatever... and come to the conclusion that it is the same reason why I start journaling and then never keep it up. I have a hard time writing just for myself anymore.

It wasn't a problem when I was in high school. I would write poetry all the time to express my feelings so I wouldn't implode. So, what changed?

Well, for one, I have more ways of expressing myself now than I did in HS. But, I also think that I don't take the time to do things for myself like I once did. So, that's what I'm going to work on. Doing the things I want and need to do for myself, not worrying if they are important to (or even noticed by) everyone else. They are important for me. And more than that. I'm worth it!