I’m Home

There is something magical about this place that I called home for three years.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is just something that draws me back to Chapel Hill whenever I can.

Maybe it’s the basketball, or the shopping, or the Durham Bulls, and Carolina Hurricanes. But that seems superficial and doesn’t seem to get it.

Maybe it’s the view from Jordan Lake, or taking a sip of true Sweet Tea, or fighting that I-40 traffic. But that still doesn’t seem to be it.

Perhaps, it’s because this where my heart is and where my heart yearns to be. This is home. West Virginia is where I was raised, but it was here on Franklin Street, a church on Market Street, and all points in between that I grew up. I grew up as a man, as a friend, as a worker, but more importantly I grew up as a Christian.

Maybe that is why my heart races when I see those familiar places. Maybe that is why my smile hasn’t left my face since I arrived earlier this afternoon.

This is where I belong. Here in this place, but not at this time. It’s great to come home, but I know that there is a reason why - for a season - I live in Wilmore, Ky. It’s only for a short time, and soon … very soon … I’ll return to this land that I love and feel at home. I can’t imagine anywhere else I would want to be or live.

———-

One of the joys about this trip is not only coming home, but also having the chance to just rest and enjoy some peace and quiet. I needed to recharge my batteries, so to speak, and refocus my energies on what is important. Probably at the end of the vacation, I’m going to post a blog about some of the revelations I’ve felt about life in the past few days - there are many and some very emotional and powerful. This has been an intentional time of rest and seeking so far, probably more than I have in awhile.

So here is to coming home and being home. I love it!

Theme Music for the Road

Tomorrow the road trip beings. I’m leaving at 8 a.m. and plan to be in Durham sometime around 5 p.m. I can’t wait. If there was ever a time when I’m in need of vacation, now is that time. Sadly though, I’ll be bringing my homework with me to read from time to time while I’m in.

Part of the trip is pleasure, seeing some friends, being where I call home, just taking a chance to recharge the batteries. But, there is also the business side of meeting with some people to talk about the future, and turn in some paperwork. Regardless, it’s going to be a fun trip and I can’t wait.

Why I’m Glad for Spring Break

After class today, I sat on a ledge and just glanced into space. I was too tired to stare, too tired to walk, and too tired to do much of anything else.

Two tests, one of which that felt like a final, had taken all that I had out of me. I was tired. I was anxious. I was stressed. I was, and there is no other way to put it, pooped. But then I realized that as I turned in my essay test that today marks the beginning of spring break … or officially in the eyes of Asbury Theological Seminary “reading week.” For me, it’s an 11-day period of rest from classes (for the most part), responsibilities, and life in general.

Spring break couldn’t come at a better time for me. Personally, I’m drained. I’m mentally drained after studying for a church history exam on the Reformation and an Old Testament exam where I wrote an essay similar to my blog earlier in the day, as well as define some terms, and draw an outline of the Exodus journey. I’m physically tired from the lack of sleep that I’ve experienced in the past 2 or 3 days and the pain that is my left shoulder that comes and goes as it pleases. I’m emotionally drained from the stress of studying and from life in general.

You see, spring break couldn’t come at a better time for me. I am in need of rest. I’m in need, really, of Sabbath. I just yearn right now to be in a place of rest, comfort, and just in the presence of the Lord. I’ve realized over the last few days, perhaps week, there are some things that God and I need to have some great communication about. Some personal … some not so much, but communication nonetheless.

I think that is one of the thing that excites me about going home to North Carolina. Sure, I’m going to see my friends and if you’re one of my North Carolina crew and want to hang out let me know …. schedule is filling up quick. But, there is a lot of built in time to do things like going to Jordan Lake just to sit, or sit in my hotel room and rest, or go for a walk at the mall. These are all things that I find peaceful and need right now.

I told someone today that I’ve never been more excited for rest in my life, because I need it and yearn for it.

So, here’s to rest and relaxation. And because it’s me, we need a Youtube Theme Video for this rest.

Here it is (two of them):

And

Understanding the Old Testament

The Old Testament is my weakest part of the Bible. I’m sure it is for you as well.

With Israel constantly breaking the covenant, the multiple and long winded generational reports, and Leviticus there is a lot going on and it’s a lot to try to understand. So, I can understand why some people skip to Matthew when starting to read the New Testament (but as my professor pointed out the other day in class … even the New Testament starts with those nasty genealogy reports that trace Jesus through David and Abraham). But when we do so we are missing the boat. We are missing God’s message and without the Old Testament will never have an understanding of what the New Testament offers in the message of Jesus Christ through the New Covenant.

The Old Testament is not just the start to some stories that lead to Christ, but it is our story. Our story of God’s redemption starts with the Old Testament and the story of Noah. It’s here where God saves humanity through the love and devotion of Noah. It continues through Abraham who receives the promise of being the father to a great nation. But, even here you can’t understand what that really means without understanding that Abraham comes from a patriarchal society where the father has great authority and responsibility, so for Abraham to be told by God that his descendants will become a great nation has a lot of power and significance for Abraham. It continues with Moses where God brings the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and gives them land promise of the promise land. It continues with David who is promised that his sons will be a great dynasty. Eventually, it is through this line that Christ comes to become that great messiah.

(And yes, this is also essay prep for the test later.)

There are so many stories … our story really that all lead to redemption being full circle with New Jerusalem where Eden returns and life as God intended it is restored. How amazing will that day be!

So as we enter the Spring Break here in less than 8 hours, we can honestly say we know more about the Old Testament than ever before and can be thankful for it. And because of it we can say we understand Christ a little bit better as well.

Midterms Made Me Do It

It’s midterm time here in the lovely, booming metropolis of Wilmore, Kentucky, which means I probably won’t sleep much during a 48-hour span that began yesterday.

The need to be up for long periods of time requires caffeine … lots and lots of caffeine. Which means, as of yesterday, I had my first Diet Dr Pepper since December. Three of them to be exact. Twenty-four ounces of fun. Now, I will admit to having the occasional Diet Coke recently, perhaps for the same reason, but Diet Dr Pepper’s were always my weakness and I feel pretty good about having gone this far without drinking one. After the midterm season, they’ll be chucked aside once again.

We hope.

Until then, the 23 flavors are going to rock and keep me up all night.

Again, we hope.

Thoughts to Conclude a Long Weekend

Here are some things going through my mind as we enter what certainly will be an interesting period of 72 hours of lack of sleep otherwise known as midterms:

I sent an interesting email to a friend of mine today.

I had to add her as an emergency contact as a last minute change for some mission work that I’m doing over the summer. The email contained a list of names of people whom I figured were important enough in my life to get a call if something like a sixth grader comes and terrorizes me and sends me to the Emergency Room. It also contained one other bit of information of what to do if I should die this summer.

Now, I’m not expecting to die in the next few months, but I figured it would be in my best interests that someone knew my wishes in case something were to happen. For someone 28 years old, that’s a lot to think about. For anyone, regardless of age, it’s a lot to think about.

My hope is that my friend will never have to use the email and that she was just blessed with a lot of phone numbers.

——–

My shoulder has been acting up and I fear surgery may be an option.

In 2004, I tore some muscles around my rotator area. About two weeks ago, I re-injured the area playing golf, then hitting the punching bag in the gym, and playing volleyball. I’m out for at least two weeks and possibly the entire spring semester from volleyball and golf.

But, I’m in some really high class pain. I’m talking 5-star quality pain.  When you cry on your way to church because driving hurts your shoulder … you know you’re in pain. When you cry on your way home from church because driving hurts your shoulder … you know you’re in pain.

We hope that some therapy will do the trick, but the more I think about it the more I think surgery may have to be an option.

——–

Spring Break starts Friday and the road trip begins on Monday. Monday its drive all day to North Carolina and stay until about Thursday afternoon. This will probably be the last time I’m in North Carolina for a substantial period of time until November due to summer work plans and other considerations, so this trip will be a good one.

Now to figure out the gas costs between here and there.

——–

Some rapid fire to conclude the blog:

How come in life we are never given a reset button … I might have asked that one before, but it seems appropriate to ask again … Why do people always try to find the easy way when it comes to tests? … Why am I just as guilty? …  I wonder if people from my past ever think of me and wonder where I am. … There are a few people I think of from time to time and wonder what might have been. … I think I’m getting to the point where I can’t eat some foods … This is a sad day. To quote one of our church members, “The kids will love these pepperoni rolls.” Adults too … I’ve cooked twice this past week for church functions and no one has gotten sick … happy days.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, everyone. Today … is the biggest day in the life of a Christian. The day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

There are not words to describe what today means for a Christian and I struggle to think what it would be like to preach on this Sunday. (For my friends who preach today, God be with you.) I’m not doing a youth lesson tonight. We’re taking a two-week vacation for Easter and Spring Break. But I wonder what I would have talked about tonight.

I probably would have gone back to the analogy made last week about the week and that Sunday is everything. You have Christ raising from the dead, scoring the big win over death, scoring the big win over our sins, and bringing in the Kingdom of God as God set forth, and not as the Jewish leaders of the time set forth.

Then again, I think today you could simply get away with saying just this: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Enough said.

A lot of people will head to the church of their choice today. Myself, I’m getting head to head to church here shortly with pepperoni rolls in hand (you have to love a Methodist pot luck dinner). For those who are coming to a church for the first time, I pray their eyes are opened to the fullness of God. I pray they begin to see Christ in a new light. For those of us who attend regularly, I pray that same prayer.

May you all have a blessed Easter.

I Wonder What That Saturday Was Like

Today is Saturday.

For many of us, it will include running some errands, perhaps going to a movie, or watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament (or the start of the women’s tournament). In my case, it means working out and spending a lot of time today studying.
But, I wonder what it must have been like on that Saturday for the followers of Christ. They had just saw the Son of God crucified on the cross just a day earlier. What was going through their minds? I can imagine Saturday being a very dark day for the disciples, especially for Peter who had just denied Christ three times prior to his crucifixion. I can imagine the places where the disciples were on that day were a lot like our homes on the day after someone died. People come to visit. There are multiple outbreaks of tears. Many wondering what had just happened. And a lot of stories are shared about the person’s life.

I can imagine all of that and more took place that Saturday.

But I think there is great symbolism in Saturday, if you’ll allow me for a moment. I think Saturday represents the darkness of our lives when we don’t have Christ there with us. It’s scary. We don’t know what is going on. We have no direction, no light to shine the way. Saturday, to me, marks a day of separation in some respects. Saturday is an important day and you have to experience it, you have to get through it. We have a better day coming. Easter morning is just 24 hours away. Praise be to God for that!

But, as your enjoying this Saturday think back to that first Saturday and then think to those dark moments in your life and then give thanks to God for our Risen Lord and for the hope of Sunday morning.

I Admit It: I’m Guilty

I love Lent. It lets us take a deeper and closer look into our lives through 40 days of fasting and prayer. Often, these moments of fasting and prayer lead to revelations about ourselves and surroundings that can bring us to our knees with a response to look to the Lord and say “I’m sorry.”

That was me, especially last night. I realized that I’m guilty. Guilty of walking around thinking the other shoe was going to drop. That when something good happens in my life, instead of being completely thankful I immediately wonder when the next bad thing will happen. In two big ways have I realized this lately.

The first comes with a special group of friends of mine. Even as some have kept in touch through emails or IMs, or the occasional phone call, I constantly wait for the other shoe to drop. It’s as if I wait for the day when the email is not returned, the call not received, or the IM unresponded to show that I’m out of sight and out of mind. For that, I am sorry.

Another comes with my own calling to serve the Lord. I know this is where I’m needed or how I’m best to be used, but there are days when I sit and wait for the other shoe to drop. The financial aid not to come in to pay for school. The scholarship not to be funded. The class not to be open that I need. These are just some there are others. For that, I am sorry.

Then there is the one that is personal to me and hit at the hardest. The consequences are of me waiting for something that I doubt will ever happen. If it never happens, I will be very thankful and blessed. For fearing what may never happen, for that, I am sorry.

There are others and probably a whole closet full of things in my life that I could digest and realize that I’ve waited for the other shoe to drop. But to list them all here would be long and a drawn out process.

It’s suffice to say that I’ve learned something in this and that is I’m a lot like Sarah and Abraham. When God promised them a child and to Abraham specifically to be the father of many nations, they doubted … laughed even, and to some degree waited for the other shoe to drop. Here I am with a Loving Father that I know wants to show me his love for me and I’m like Abraham and Sarah doubting and waiting. I don’t want to live like that anymore. I don’t. I want to live in the fullness of God’s love and presence, in the love of friends and family, and in the newness of things that have excited me for the past few weeks.

Lord forgive my foolishness and I pray that today is a new day and I won’t look for the other shoe to drop anymore.

I Made Expedia Laugh

I’m set to go flying.

April 18. My first flight in 12 years. Yes, you read that right. The last time I was on a plane Bob Dole was attempting to outlast Bill Clinton. I was 16 then and you still needed a printed ticket before approaching the airport.

I’ve learned that in the past 12 years times have changed.

Today, I called Expedia.com, thinking I needed to print off a ticket to take with me to the airport.  Here is the conversation in a nutshell (at least the most important part):

Your Blogger: So I don’t need a ticket?

Expedia Rep: No, sir, you just go to the airport and show them your itinerary and government-issued ID. You don’t need a ticket.

Your Blogger: Seriously? I don’t need a ticket. I just print this thing off and I’m set.

Expedia Rep: Yes, sir.

Your Blogger: I’m not getting this. I’ve not been on a flight in 12 years maybe that’s why.

Expedia Rep: 12 years? (laughter) Really? (shock) Wow.

Yes, you read it right - I made Expedia.com laugh! I shocked a company that prizes itself on travel at the fact that I’ve not been on a plane in years. Years! I’ve booked a flight since then … just didn’t make the trip. Had to cancel.  (Didn’t get my money back, either.)

So enjoy as we get closer and my fears take over (I have a small fear of heights) enjoy what will be coming to this blog - lots of fear ridden blogs, and commentaries such as this.

By the way, what am I allowed to take on a plane? Does anyone know?