Rant from the weekend.  You would think this would be elementary and yet it’s not.

It’s the second year our oldest has played soccer.  Each year I’ve had to go to a meeting to hear about 15-20 minutes of information that could be/should be relayed on paper.  There’s no questions.  It’s just information on how the league will work.  Could you write that down?  Better yet - email me.

Probably once a month I email our church leaders a lengthy email. (Bullet points and/or numbered for folks like me that want the point clearly and succinctly.)  Sure it probaly takes 10 minutes to read closely but when you compare that to a 2-3 hour investment including drive time, the decision is clear.

Now, I love to face to face meetings.  Getting feedback, reading emotions, and communicating person-to-person is critical.  But in the consideration of others, some meetings should be emailed content and save meetings for moments when discussion is needed.

A practical application of this applies to preaching.  No longer should a preacher take time to give lengthy information that isn’t critical.  Refer them to google or wikipedia.  The net has more information and this is an opportunity for them to learn discernement.  I’ll frequently say in a message, “You can Google this”.  Corporate endorsement aside, I want to save my oxygen and their attention for words of encouragement, motivation, application, and brief, unique, hard-to-find information.  Rant over.

Do you keep on hoping?  Or is it time to acknowledge ___________________ will probably never happen.

If life has 12 oz. for me I want it all, to the very last sip. I want to have the best life possible. I want to be godly (whole), have great relationships, experience feeling physically great, and have financial freedom.  (In that order, most of the time.) I have dreams, desires and more importantly specifically written goals for all those categories.

The more I interact with fellow human beings I find two types. Some that numb out. Stop dreaming. Stop desiring and face reality. A few on the other extreme are pit-bullish with their dreams and desires. Come hell-or-high waters they will kill themselves attempting their goals, plans, visions, and dreams.

One won’t grab the reigns and focus their daily decisions while one holds too tightly. My natural instinct is to hold too tightly. The one thing I am learning over and over for the last 10 months is what little control I actually have. I hold the reigns but I hold them with a looseness that says, “If the Lord wills” (see James).

I don’t actually say it but I think it. If the Lord wills. It wasn’t a bad thing for that planner to set out a vision/goal that he was going to this city and then that city. Just hold loosely. You may need to dream some dreams. There’s more in the glass of life for you than you’ve ever thought possible. You may need to chilax. Anticipate the sip and if the Lord wills you’ll have it.  You hold hope and face reality at the same time.

Last summer I posted some highlights.  As we’re surrounded by blessings and challenges helps to focus on the gifts of grace.  Couldn’t help but do it again in no particular order.

• Walking to Kroger before Violet Hills plays twice on my ipod.
• Walking to Kroger with the girls and splitting smoothies at the Starbucks.
• Did I mention walkable lifestyle…bad to the bone
• Old man’s cave, Heath water park, and various pools.
• Blasting music, backyard inflatable pool, grilling, sunshine, and no southern style heat.
• Sitting on the deck with friends/neighbors in the cool of evening.
• Sitting on the deck and watching shooting stars while listening to old Delirious music from college.
• Sitting around the firepit.
• Movies on rainy weekends.
• Getting to live where we live one more day.
• Possible sale of church building for our re-location.
• Discovery Church, Sunday July 12. May it go down in history.
• The girls riding their bikes/motorized jeep around the neighborhood and in a neighboring church parking lot.
• Seeing how cheap, unhealthy but delicious Bran and I can eat Greek food for a date.
• Jeni’s ice cream
• Having to wear long-sleeves and jeans some days to be warm.
• Hundreds of fireflies across from the front yard in the farmer’s field.
• Playing baseball in the backyard.

Sent this email to a friend today.  Thought it summed up the last 10 months as well as anything could:

I wouldn’t deny myself the journey I’ve been on over the last year.  It has been liberating.  From this vantage point your prayers were the real gift I needed.

For the last 10 months I’ve learned so much about who I am and found freedom from fears that have driven me for a long time.  I’ve been on a incredible journey, wrote a book about it, and continue to find inspiration daily.  In over 10 months I can honestly say there hasn’t been one day where I haven’t been willing to put it all on the line and go at life with all my heart.  I did not take one day off in my pursuit and I’m finally tagging some “big game”.  In the midst of the darkest hours the future became brighter and I’ve found a spiritual depth at my core that I never knew one could experience.

Now, we are not out of the woods yet.  Challenges lay ahead but the creaky branches and forest noises in the night don’t scare me like they used to.

Any “bumps in the night” got you down and out?  I’ve been there and still am.  I was driven by fear when I didn’t even know I was afraid.  Keep going.