So Roman and I stumbled into the American Eagle this weekend to check things out. I found a shirt I liked and the price was good so I went to purchase it. While waiting for the barely out of high school clerk to ring me up I got my billfold out and began to prepare for the process. I knew the drill, scan the card, punch in my top secret password, take the receipt but STOP… this time was different. The clerk’s first question to me was one I had not heard before. It was a question she had probably asked several customers that day and countless number of people throughout her career at the American Eagle. Little did she know that her question to me would change the way I viewed my world. She said to me, “Do you have an All Access Pass?” I’ll be honest; I think she was a little smug when she asked me. Immediately I felt the need to dig into my wallet as if I had to prove my youth. I felt as though if I could not find an All Access Pass I wouldn’t be able to purchase the shirt or worse yet, I’d be kicked out by some 19 yr old guy named Chris wearing this seasons American Eagle polo shirt and cargo shorts.
While looking for this elusive pass I began to think to myself, “Dave… you have never signed up for this pass and everyone in line knows it. The card is not going to mysteriously appear in your billfold. You’re too old to be in the American Eagle store anyway, turn around and walk, no run out. Don’t forget Roman.” Anxiously searching my over stuffed bi-fold, why I didn’t opt for the tri-fold is a mystery to me, I found my allergy shot card, miniature laminated minister’s license (laugh but I bet you don’t have one), and a Kroger card. No All Access Pass to prove I was still young enough to shop AE.
Much to my surprise the gal behind the counter thought nothing of the fact that I was without the All Access pass. In the back of her mind I am sure she knew I wouldn’t have said pass. She was probably just glad I took my screaming toddler out of her store. Roman hates going into stores. He protests by yelling at the top of his little lungs. Maybe Roman knew my AE shopping days have passed me by. The writing was on the wall when I didn’t know who the radio friendly pop band blaring over the store was.
Back to Macy’s I ran. Good thing Roman and I didn’t attempt to get into the Hollister. They purposely built steps into the entrance to prevent baby strollers from coming in. As if to say, “If your to old or unable to climb the three stairs into our store you should be here in the first place.”
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Breaking Point
Why is anger such an easy emotion to express when emotions like love, joy, or kindness are difficult? Is it that we are all born on the edge of pissed off and it only takes a slow driver, wrong number call on your cell phone, or a carwash to push you over the edge? Car wash? I saw on the news today where a mom was washing her car in a carwash when she grabbed her 2 year old daughter and started spraying her with the high pressure carwash hose. Crazy you say but we do not know what we are capable of doing when we live on the edge of pissed.
Have you ever said, “If he/she _____ that one more time, I’m going to _______.” We may not always follow through with the threats but the fact is we do not know what we are capable of when we break. If you are like me your breaking point varies from day to day. I think this raises the level of unpredictability which is fun for those around me. If someone says something that hits me the wrong way Monday, it may not evoke a response but Tuesday, look out. What pushes my buttons may not come close to what pushes yours because our breaking point all vary but there is one person who is good at the whole, “long suffering” thing, That person is God.
I am thankful for scriptures like Psalms 103:8 that say that God is slow to anger. .If God were as quick tempered as I am this world would have been obliterated long ago. People would be randomly blowing up everywhere, limbs flying this way and that. It would look like the first few minutes of Saving Private Ryan all of the time. But the word of God says that He is the opposite of me. God’s secret, the Bible says that God abides in love.
So it is impossible for us to avoid the carwash, traffic, solicitations calls, or what ever pushes our buttons. However, we are still required to walk in love or as I like to call it, walk less pissed off. How do we go about this? To me it seems virtually impossible. In reality it is impossible in our own strength but the key is to live more selfless. How profound. We live our lives looking out for number one. We refuse to let someone get something over on us. We are constantly on guard. We have all known people who are so sweet and kind and we think, Man, I bet they get run over all the time. People probably trample on them because they are too kind. I have said that myself but what is too kind? How can we be too kind? See, when we live a selfless life then life stops becoming about who stole our parking spot, our promotion, or our car.
Jesus modeled a selfless life for us. Many times Christians think that Jesus simply couldn’t wait to be nailed to that cross and hang there. We think Jesus just skipped right up to the cross. After all, don’t we all want spikes driven with a mallet through our wrists and feet? Scriptures tell us that Jesus struggled with the task. Matthew 26:39 says, Jesus fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." But Jesus did not stop there. See Jesus lived a selfless life. He continues by saying, "Yet not as I will, but as you will.” At any point He could have called down from heaven and stopped the process. Jesus was not living His life for Himself. He didn’t live here on earth to shop the Green Hills Mall, drive the finest car, and have the iPhone which would have given him the ability to sync all of his contacts with his PC or Mac as well as listen to His voicemail messages in what ever order He wanted.
We must get up ever single day and die to our self. This sounds exciting doesn’t it?
It is only when we stop making this life about us that we are able to live for others.
Have you ever said, “If he/she _____ that one more time, I’m going to _______.” We may not always follow through with the threats but the fact is we do not know what we are capable of when we break. If you are like me your breaking point varies from day to day. I think this raises the level of unpredictability which is fun for those around me. If someone says something that hits me the wrong way Monday, it may not evoke a response but Tuesday, look out. What pushes my buttons may not come close to what pushes yours because our breaking point all vary but there is one person who is good at the whole, “long suffering” thing, That person is God.
I am thankful for scriptures like Psalms 103:8 that say that God is slow to anger. .If God were as quick tempered as I am this world would have been obliterated long ago. People would be randomly blowing up everywhere, limbs flying this way and that. It would look like the first few minutes of Saving Private Ryan all of the time. But the word of God says that He is the opposite of me. God’s secret, the Bible says that God abides in love.
So it is impossible for us to avoid the carwash, traffic, solicitations calls, or what ever pushes our buttons. However, we are still required to walk in love or as I like to call it, walk less pissed off. How do we go about this? To me it seems virtually impossible. In reality it is impossible in our own strength but the key is to live more selfless. How profound. We live our lives looking out for number one. We refuse to let someone get something over on us. We are constantly on guard. We have all known people who are so sweet and kind and we think, Man, I bet they get run over all the time. People probably trample on them because they are too kind. I have said that myself but what is too kind? How can we be too kind? See, when we live a selfless life then life stops becoming about who stole our parking spot, our promotion, or our car.
Jesus modeled a selfless life for us. Many times Christians think that Jesus simply couldn’t wait to be nailed to that cross and hang there. We think Jesus just skipped right up to the cross. After all, don’t we all want spikes driven with a mallet through our wrists and feet? Scriptures tell us that Jesus struggled with the task. Matthew 26:39 says, Jesus fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." But Jesus did not stop there. See Jesus lived a selfless life. He continues by saying, "Yet not as I will, but as you will.” At any point He could have called down from heaven and stopped the process. Jesus was not living His life for Himself. He didn’t live here on earth to shop the Green Hills Mall, drive the finest car, and have the iPhone which would have given him the ability to sync all of his contacts with his PC or Mac as well as listen to His voicemail messages in what ever order He wanted.
We must get up ever single day and die to our self. This sounds exciting doesn’t it?
It is only when we stop making this life about us that we are able to live for others.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
reality
Finally I took the opportunity to spend some quality time with my wife. Yes wife. Not mother to my son, chef, housekeeper, gardener, youth pastor’s wife, friend, babies momma. I spent time with the love of my life. The women I fell for seven or so years ago in that karaoke pizza joint. Truth is I forgot how much fun Margie is. I mean its fun to watch her chase naked Roman through the house as he runs from a tooth brush wielding mom. But this past weekend was different. After all, everyone keeps telling me I married up but I had forgotten.
It is amazing to me that one can drive twenty minutes down the road and feel like you are in another town. Margie and I celebrated our anniversary by… staying in Nashville. After all, we have lived right out side of Nashville for over a year and, up until now, have never been downtown together. Most of my downtown trips are spent with Aaron and though he always treats me nice it’s just not the same. Close, but not the same. Wait, no it's not even close.
Sunday Margie and I walked the pedestrian bridge, a very romantic scene I had previously only shared with Jeremy. What? He took me to the Titans game so I felt like I owed him the bridge thing. Then Margie and I checked into the Gaylord Opryland Hotel where Jesse took great care of us. He surprised us by putting us up in a nice room. Margie and I then ate at the German Town Café. Finally we topped off the weekend by spending some time in West End. Needless to say it was great to make memories. Memories with the women I vowed to love and cherish until death do us part. Cliché coming up, wait for it. Wait. It truly will take death to pull us apart.
Reality hit us hard when Roman decided to stay up most of the night we returned. At first I was mad. Well, I was mad mostly because in the pitch dark I tripped trying to get to his room to put him back to bed at 3am. My anger subsided and I realized Roman is the product of my love for my wife. I thank God that he will grow up in a loving home with parents who take the time to spend together.
It is amazing to me that one can drive twenty minutes down the road and feel like you are in another town. Margie and I celebrated our anniversary by… staying in Nashville. After all, we have lived right out side of Nashville for over a year and, up until now, have never been downtown together. Most of my downtown trips are spent with Aaron and though he always treats me nice it’s just not the same. Close, but not the same. Wait, no it's not even close.
Sunday Margie and I walked the pedestrian bridge, a very romantic scene I had previously only shared with Jeremy. What? He took me to the Titans game so I felt like I owed him the bridge thing. Then Margie and I checked into the Gaylord Opryland Hotel where Jesse took great care of us. He surprised us by putting us up in a nice room. Margie and I then ate at the German Town Café. Finally we topped off the weekend by spending some time in West End. Needless to say it was great to make memories. Memories with the women I vowed to love and cherish until death do us part. Cliché coming up, wait for it. Wait. It truly will take death to pull us apart.
Reality hit us hard when Roman decided to stay up most of the night we returned. At first I was mad. Well, I was mad mostly because in the pitch dark I tripped trying to get to his room to put him back to bed at 3am. My anger subsided and I realized Roman is the product of my love for my wife. I thank God that he will grow up in a loving home with parents who take the time to spend together.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
the pace of life
I love Tennessee. This state is a great state to live in. My biggest complaint since living in Middle Tennessee has been the lack of snow. Though I still complain, we actually have snow on the ground. Sure it’s only an inch or less but… its snow. It’s white, powdery, and scary for those not use to driving in it.
The thing that drives me crazy about semi-bad weather is the people who drive in it. Now I understand grandma is a little nervous driving her Cadillac when there is some wet stuff on the roads. What I do not understand are the countless number of people who pay top dollar to buy massive SUV’s and still drive like their going to spin out of control at any minute. I want to shake them and say, “you paid $40K for that all terrain vehicle, what are you scared of?” Vehicles like Hummers were created to drive in any kind of weather. After all, the Hummer commercials show the thing going underwater.
Now, I’m not calling for people with SUV’s to, “drive em like they stole em,” I’m just asking them to move it along a little bit. There are many places in this great area where the roads are legitimately bad. Just today I saw two vehicles off the road, one was a diesel truck. What I am complaining about are those driving on highways and interstates. They salt the main roads well before it even snows. Move, move it along a bit.
Bad driving or not I love the snow. It slows things down a bit. Life is too fast. We move from one task to another, from one scheduled appointment to another. Days feel more like hours now. Hours feel more like minutes. Life is moving at the speed of broadband so it’s great when something like a snow storm can come in and stop everything. If you walk outdoors it just feels quiet, calm, and soothing. I complain that people are driving to slow because I still feel rushed. I find myself unable to slow down regardless of the weather. I have no reason to rush other than the fact that moving at break neck speed has become the norm for me. I have to learn to pace myself.
The thing that drives me crazy about semi-bad weather is the people who drive in it. Now I understand grandma is a little nervous driving her Cadillac when there is some wet stuff on the roads. What I do not understand are the countless number of people who pay top dollar to buy massive SUV’s and still drive like their going to spin out of control at any minute. I want to shake them and say, “you paid $40K for that all terrain vehicle, what are you scared of?” Vehicles like Hummers were created to drive in any kind of weather. After all, the Hummer commercials show the thing going underwater.
Now, I’m not calling for people with SUV’s to, “drive em like they stole em,” I’m just asking them to move it along a little bit. There are many places in this great area where the roads are legitimately bad. Just today I saw two vehicles off the road, one was a diesel truck. What I am complaining about are those driving on highways and interstates. They salt the main roads well before it even snows. Move, move it along a bit.
Bad driving or not I love the snow. It slows things down a bit. Life is too fast. We move from one task to another, from one scheduled appointment to another. Days feel more like hours now. Hours feel more like minutes. Life is moving at the speed of broadband so it’s great when something like a snow storm can come in and stop everything. If you walk outdoors it just feels quiet, calm, and soothing. I complain that people are driving to slow because I still feel rushed. I find myself unable to slow down regardless of the weather. I have no reason to rush other than the fact that moving at break neck speed has become the norm for me. I have to learn to pace myself.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
you're beautiful it's true
So, I think I am balding. I say think because I like to keep my options open. Besides, I’m not sure where the word balding no longer applies and the word bald takes its place. Regardless all signs point toward me losing most, if not all, of my hair. Saying balding makes me feel like I’m not full on bald. So I will continue to say bald, even when I have no hair left on my head.
Set aside the fact that bald people lose all of their hair. The saddest thing about balding is that you join a totally different group of people. There is even a space on your driver’s license that you check if you are bald. Brown hair, black hair, red hair, blonde hair, bald. The word just stands out like, "you’re simply not cool enough to keep your hair so you are in a category all by yourself. BALD! You hairless freak of nature."
The people in above mentioned category are generally: bikers, skin heads, wrestling fans, and random guys who are balding and want to lose their hair on their own terms. Let’s look at famous bald guys. Paul Shafer, Patrick Stewart, Moby, Montel Williams, Billy Zanes, Michael Stipes and Jordon, G Gordon Lidy, Howie Mandell, Samuel L. Jackson, Damon Wayans, Yoda, Willard Scott, Hulk Hogan, Sinead O’ Connor, and that guy from Seinfeld. We are in a class all our own and we have few role models to look up to.
I can complain all I want but this day has been a long time coming. I found a picture of Margie and me when we were dating. There on the top of my head was an easy to spot bald place. One can blame the recent surge in stress level due to my job or moving into a new house. One can blame the elements, maybe hormones. But I personally blame my grandfather.
See the bald gene is passed down from your mother’s side of the family. My granddad on my mom’s side is bald as a new born. Therefore, my hair loss was picked out long before I was created. I was destined to be bald. Sounds more epic than it really is.
After hair growth products, vitamins, chants and rituals have all failed me, I have resigned to the fact that I am simply balding. Going bald- there, I said it. So to avoid the shock of seeing myself one day with some hair and the next with a shaved head, I continue to take my hair down, one notch at a time. A piece of me dies a little with each hair cut.
I am now developing bald man syndrome. I find myself complaining often about how much guys are into their hair these days. Guys go out and buy straightening irons, blow dryers, and hair products. Guys now spend as much time as girls simply fixing their hair. It’s gone to far. In protest, I will continue to shave my head. With every shave I feel as though I am bringing an element of manliness back to the male population. Forget growing your hair long and sweeping your bangs over guys. Let’s let the girls have their hair back and let’s shave our heads with pride.
Set aside the fact that bald people lose all of their hair. The saddest thing about balding is that you join a totally different group of people. There is even a space on your driver’s license that you check if you are bald. Brown hair, black hair, red hair, blonde hair, bald. The word just stands out like, "you’re simply not cool enough to keep your hair so you are in a category all by yourself. BALD! You hairless freak of nature."
The people in above mentioned category are generally: bikers, skin heads, wrestling fans, and random guys who are balding and want to lose their hair on their own terms. Let’s look at famous bald guys. Paul Shafer, Patrick Stewart, Moby, Montel Williams, Billy Zanes, Michael Stipes and Jordon, G Gordon Lidy, Howie Mandell, Samuel L. Jackson, Damon Wayans, Yoda, Willard Scott, Hulk Hogan, Sinead O’ Connor, and that guy from Seinfeld. We are in a class all our own and we have few role models to look up to.
I can complain all I want but this day has been a long time coming. I found a picture of Margie and me when we were dating. There on the top of my head was an easy to spot bald place. One can blame the recent surge in stress level due to my job or moving into a new house. One can blame the elements, maybe hormones. But I personally blame my grandfather.
See the bald gene is passed down from your mother’s side of the family. My granddad on my mom’s side is bald as a new born. Therefore, my hair loss was picked out long before I was created. I was destined to be bald. Sounds more epic than it really is.
After hair growth products, vitamins, chants and rituals have all failed me, I have resigned to the fact that I am simply balding. Going bald- there, I said it. So to avoid the shock of seeing myself one day with some hair and the next with a shaved head, I continue to take my hair down, one notch at a time. A piece of me dies a little with each hair cut.
I am now developing bald man syndrome. I find myself complaining often about how much guys are into their hair these days. Guys go out and buy straightening irons, blow dryers, and hair products. Guys now spend as much time as girls simply fixing their hair. It’s gone to far. In protest, I will continue to shave my head. With every shave I feel as though I am bringing an element of manliness back to the male population. Forget growing your hair long and sweeping your bangs over guys. Let’s let the girls have their hair back and let’s shave our heads with pride.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Target Audience
I am so tired of being sold stuff.
It seems like everywhere I turn someone is trying to sell me something. For example, my wife and I purchased our home through a specific mortgage company. That mortgage company then began to send us letters promoting life insurance, health insurance, mortgage insurance, and so on. I got four letters from the company before I even got my first mortgage statement. I called the company to ask a question, they politely answered and then began a sales pitch for some random product they were hocking. AT&T does the same thing. I just want my question answered, that’s it!
Solicitations go beyond mail and phone calls. Shopping centers try to sell stuff even as you are checking out. I can never resist that candy bar as I am checking out. I just cannot. They strategically place items close to the register so you just grab em without thinking. You go into Wal-Mart for Milk and you come out with ice cream, deodorant, sheets, and milk. Sometimes I forget the item I went for, this makes Margie angry.
Every where you turn they are advertising. I go to pump gas and I see two or three advertisements on the pump, the handle, and screen. I went to one gas station that had a mini-TV on the pump showing commercials. The receipt prints out and I get a 5 inch print out of coupons/advertisements. I just wanted gas!
When I purchase something I want to get the product I want and leave. I am so tired of being someone's target audience. The shows I watch or the places I shop all have advertisements that I am suppose to find appealing. We have gotten out of control in my humble opinion.
It seems like everywhere I turn someone is trying to sell me something. For example, my wife and I purchased our home through a specific mortgage company. That mortgage company then began to send us letters promoting life insurance, health insurance, mortgage insurance, and so on. I got four letters from the company before I even got my first mortgage statement. I called the company to ask a question, they politely answered and then began a sales pitch for some random product they were hocking. AT&T does the same thing. I just want my question answered, that’s it!
Solicitations go beyond mail and phone calls. Shopping centers try to sell stuff even as you are checking out. I can never resist that candy bar as I am checking out. I just cannot. They strategically place items close to the register so you just grab em without thinking. You go into Wal-Mart for Milk and you come out with ice cream, deodorant, sheets, and milk. Sometimes I forget the item I went for, this makes Margie angry.
Every where you turn they are advertising. I go to pump gas and I see two or three advertisements on the pump, the handle, and screen. I went to one gas station that had a mini-TV on the pump showing commercials. The receipt prints out and I get a 5 inch print out of coupons/advertisements. I just wanted gas!
When I purchase something I want to get the product I want and leave. I am so tired of being someone's target audience. The shows I watch or the places I shop all have advertisements that I am suppose to find appealing. We have gotten out of control in my humble opinion.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Deceivers
2 John 1:7 many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
In John’s day there were a ton of people pretending to know what they were talking about. They were teaching things that sounded good and right but were very wrong. They presented a teaching that was comfortable and biblically based. Though they sounded god like, they were way off. False teachers and prophets are not something of the past, they are here even today.
I remember this guy came floating into our church one day. He had a long white beard, short gray hair and looked wise, Moses like. The man came in and proclaimed to be a prophet from God. From his looks and speech he was hard to doubt. So, we listed to him for a while. He taught well and seemed to have a genuine heart for God. We allowed him some freedoms within the church but always kept an eye on the man. He seemed to have good things to say and always had a word from God. It wasn’t too long into his stay that he met a 17 year old girl that he developed a friendship with. Everyone thought it was a grandfatherly type of love considering the man was in his late 60’s. However, we were wrong. We knew things went sour when the girl’s parents couldn’t get the girl to come home. The man had fed her so many lies and she bought into them. He had her convinced she was to marry him and that it was gods plan for her life. We knew the man probably wasn’t a prophet when he held the girl hostage in his house while the police tried to take the girl back. Long story short the man ended up marrying this girl when she turned 18 and they have kids together. KIDS!
There are so many false prophets running around. We must be careful what we buy into. Things like the Kabbalah, Christian Science, and Dr. Phil (Oh yeah, Dr. Phil could be the antichrist, who knows) are only the tip of the ice burg. There will be many more things put out there by the devil to lure people away. We must be wise. We must tread with caution. We should not entertain anyone who does not have solid Biblical teachings.
The Message Bible says this, “8-9 And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.”
In John’s day there were a ton of people pretending to know what they were talking about. They were teaching things that sounded good and right but were very wrong. They presented a teaching that was comfortable and biblically based. Though they sounded god like, they were way off. False teachers and prophets are not something of the past, they are here even today.
I remember this guy came floating into our church one day. He had a long white beard, short gray hair and looked wise, Moses like. The man came in and proclaimed to be a prophet from God. From his looks and speech he was hard to doubt. So, we listed to him for a while. He taught well and seemed to have a genuine heart for God. We allowed him some freedoms within the church but always kept an eye on the man. He seemed to have good things to say and always had a word from God. It wasn’t too long into his stay that he met a 17 year old girl that he developed a friendship with. Everyone thought it was a grandfatherly type of love considering the man was in his late 60’s. However, we were wrong. We knew things went sour when the girl’s parents couldn’t get the girl to come home. The man had fed her so many lies and she bought into them. He had her convinced she was to marry him and that it was gods plan for her life. We knew the man probably wasn’t a prophet when he held the girl hostage in his house while the police tried to take the girl back. Long story short the man ended up marrying this girl when she turned 18 and they have kids together. KIDS!
There are so many false prophets running around. We must be careful what we buy into. Things like the Kabbalah, Christian Science, and Dr. Phil (Oh yeah, Dr. Phil could be the antichrist, who knows) are only the tip of the ice burg. There will be many more things put out there by the devil to lure people away. We must be wise. We must tread with caution. We should not entertain anyone who does not have solid Biblical teachings.
The Message Bible says this, “8-9 And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.”
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