Reconsidering Scars

Today, as I sit and watch my beautiful Savana’s comeback to volleyball, I am reminded of the painful journey the last few years have been for her. She has made it through and today marks one of the great personal milestones she had set for herself on the road to full recovery. My daughter understands pain and she has the scars to prove it. She has always tried to hide her scars feeling an insecure sense of privacy over her surgeries along with a clear disdain for their ever-remaining evidence. Just last night, however, she shared a story about swimming class and an inability to hide her scars. Instead of being upset, she was smiling. You see, the scars had invoked a great deal of attention and interest on the part of her peers allowing her to share the amazing story she has to tell.

Though Savana’s scars will fade with time, she has found new purpose in their presence and will here forward embrace them as part of her life story, an inspiring story of courage, endurance, strength and faith that is definitely worth telling.

Perhaps we should all reconsider our scars.

of War and Christianity – thoughts on love

War & Duty & Christianity & Love

My adult life has survived many wars from afar. The tribulation of the Middle Eastern countries has led to several battlefields some of which are still entrenched in showers of artillery today. Now, when I say I have “survived” these wars it actually means that I am living at the same time these battles are occurring. I have never been in the military, much less a war of weapons.

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Love Wins – Rob Bell

A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

While I like the book’s title, its subtitle is what actually caught my attention – along with the fact that the fundamental (and not so fundamental for that matter) “Christian” community has screamed out against it. Rob Bell lived up to the hype. His approach toward discussion of the plausibility of non-traditional biblical interpretations is worth the read. Be careful, though. If you have shallow roots, you just might be replanted in the fertile grounds of Unitarian Universalism – well not quite, but somewhere in a nearby field where the bible can still be found.

I actually loved the book. While my convictions don’t align with a great deal of what Rob presents, I actually hope he’s right. I am sure that God calls many to heaven through faith in Jesus Christ (a faith that is actually granted by God’s Spirit to begin with). I am not saddened, however, if I get to heaven and find that he had another set of plans for everyone else.

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Amazing New Music

Earlier this week, I heard a song that caught my ear. Upon inquiry, I found that Josh Garrels‘ new CD is available for free download. Check it out…

2011 – Hiking with Samuel to Baskins Falls

Samuel and I have a tradition – the last weekend before school starts back up is “boy weekend.” This year included camping, fires, frisbee golf, golf and an exciting hike to Baskins Falls in Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Samuel proved to be a real trooper on this trip. Upon reaching the falls, we decided to climb our way to the top. On that climb, we crossed up a nest of yellow-jackets. This added a total of 17 bee stings to a 2.5 mile, uphill hike back to the truck. My son was amazing. He set a pace of determination and we prevailed. It is a weekend we will never forget.

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