What happened to my brain?

It was an epiphany, sheer brilliance, a total revolution of thought that struck me. I had that thought, "I just have to blog this, it will be cool." And now, some 24 hours later, I have no idea what I was thinking about. Gone. Blank. I remember having the thought, I just cannot fathom what the thought was. What happened to my brain?

Forgetfulness is a sure sign of old age. As is male pattern baldness, diminished eyesight, and an obsession with checking the mail. How can this be happening to me? I am a relatively young man of 43. I am not a kid anymore, but I am certainly not over the hill. I just forget stuff.

No one gets younger. Kids grow up and become teenagers then young adults. Young adults creep into the middle years. When we hit the middle years (as I refuse to say middle aged) we begin to notice things, like how those teenagers play their music so loud and what is wrong with this next generation. And it all comes sliding back because that is EXACTLY what my mom said to me.

And then I think about Mom, and how she always seemed to be forever young, but is now pushing seventy, and even that seems not so bad these days. I guess.

A wise man once wrote about time and how precious it is. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Eph 5:15-16. And I might add the days are both evil and short.

Its too complicated

to get into the details, but suffice to say that I am being stretched, tried and tested. I have claimed in the past that I have forgiven, I have told everybody I know that I am over it, and we have moved on, and all is at peace.

But these days, those gracious statements of largesse are being challenged. Now that life and death are in the balance, the doctors have spoken, and time is very short, can I really face the truth? Can my actions live up to my words? Or will I find that faux forgiveness that permeates superficial religion?

Well, I called him on the phone. I talked to him. And I told him that all is forgiven, he has peace in my heart, and that I love him and wanted him to know those things while there is still time to know them. And he said that he loves me, and that he was sorry for all the time lost. And then we talked about kids and the Red Sox.

Almost like a regular father and son. Almost.

headline from CNN.com

Dog Belonging to CEO of Richmond SPCA Dies After Being Left in Hot Car

Can anything be said?

Weddings, what fun.

I went to a wedding today. A friend of mine married the love of his life, and I am extremely happy for them. A beautiful bride, handsome groom, everyone looking their best, and a room full of love. What could be better?

I am excited for Cody and Lydia, but there is more too it. When we see a couple like this, we are reminded that marriage is still good, that it is still pure and proper and right. As happy as I am for them, I am also reminded that my marriage is just as lovely and vital, but in a different and unique way. I am reminded that we are made to be together, boys and girls, we are made for one another, and we ought to give and take joy from our companion.

We all know the threats that face marriage today. Easy divorce, a straying spouse, boys and boys or girls and girls pledging to one another and calling it marriage. We know the pressure that comes with a coupled life, responsibility, commitment, financial woes, finding time for one another, etc.

And we know the statistics. Too scary to mention on a day like this. Even with all of those threats and burdens, marriage is still good. And right, and true. We are better together than by ourselves. We are made for community, and that begins with the community of two.

And the community of two, the institution of couple-hood, the titles of husband and wife, we do our best for our own marriages when we place ourselves, united together in the hands of a God who loves, a God who blesses, a God who teaches us to forgive, to surrender, to give ourselves completely to Him and to our better half. It still works, it is still the best place for us to be.

Congratulations Cody and Lydia. Many Blessings to you both. And thank you, God for loving us to the point where we can love one another.

My Letter to Brett Favre

You sir, are a three time league MVP. You are a Super Bowl Champion. You hold most of the important records, most consecutive starts, most yardage all time, most touchdown passes all time, and we love you. You will be in the Hall of Fame in your first year of eligibility, and you deserve to be. I have loved watching you play. I am in awe.

But please, PLEASE, Mr. Favre, stop. Stop making a fool of yourself. Stop trying to play a game that is designed for men fifteen years younger than you. Stop teasing us with your retirement, your changes of heart, your desire to play the game.

We know you love football, there is no question of your talent, you are larger than life. Why do you insist on tainting your amazing career with a circus parade through mediocre teams?

If you so love this game, if you just cannot get football out of your system, then go hang out at Kiln High School, at Southern Miss, and give those boys your support, share your wisdom, volunteer to be the Quarterback's personal coach. You will give those kids the thrill of a lifetime, and you will save the rest of us from having to watch them carry you off the field.

Because they will. Likely at Lambeau. And those Packer fans that once so loved and welcomed you, that treated you as the Prince of Green Bay, will delight in seeing your downfall. You will be booed in what was once your home. You will be the broken old guy that did not know that it was time to give it up. You will end up the laughingstock of the NFL. And all the accolades and records and trophies will mean nothing when the league and your fans and the nation no longer respect you.

A reason to believe

Here's the question- Why am I a Christian?

The standard answers are as follows-
Because I believe the Bible is true.
Because that is the way my Momma raised me.
Because I accepted Jesus as my Savior.
Because the Holy Spirit has led me to the Truth.
Because that is what I believe and that is all I need to know.

And all of these are valid answers to satisfy our own thoughts and ideas and settle the issue in our own minds. Yet, in our post-modern, multi-cultural world of embracing diversity and giving everybody equal time, not a single one of these arguments will stand up. If the faith that we claim to cling so firmly to is going to go forth and overcome the world of hate and violence and self centeredness, if Christianity is going to stand against the critics and the haters of God, then we need something a little more certain than Momma's good advice to hang our spiritual hats on.

There is a reason for our belief, and our reasons must be based on reliable evidence, must be logical, cohesive and coherent, and our faith is more than a collection of good ideas.

The Bible is a reliable book. You should read it instead of this blog. I am astounded by those who refuse to believe the accuracy and historicity of the Bible, and yet have never read it.

I am amazed at those who can believe the theory of evolution in total, that non-life can become life, that organisms will grow towards increasing complexity, and that there is nothing behind this accident of a universe.

The principle of Occam's Razor says that when two competing theories come to the same conclusion, the simpler theory is usually better. Is it reasonable to believe that this complex and intricate design of life, the wonder of the world that we can see, let alone that which we do not understand, that it is all by chance, an accident of impersonal nature that just kind of happened? Or that there is a Being that made it for a reason.

Perhaps it is because I see the world through eyes of faith, that I have such a hard time understanding the skeptic.

Golf, what a game

It's really quite simple, Hit the little white ball down the fairway, then hit it onto the putting green, put one up close to the hole, then tap it in the hole for par. And those guys on TV make it look so easy.

Well, that is why they are on TV. Today it was a bad round with a few good holes. I made a couple of putts, I had a few good drives, I lost a couple of balls in the water.

It is funny what you can learn about someone watching them play golf. Like in the rest of life, when things go bad, sometimes we deal well with that and sometimes we don't. On occasion someone will go so aggravated and uptight and bent out of shape that they simple loose their cool and go ballistic. It is not funny to see that happen on the golf course. It is much less funny to see that happen in careers and marriages.

Whether we are on the course or off, skill and our luck combine in unique ways. The combined outcome of each makes for our total result. For a Saturday game with friends, it is well and good. We have lunch afterwards and make jokes.

In the boardroom or the bedroom, the stakes are higher, but the principles are the same. Stay focused, relax, do the best you can, and don't forget to have fun.