Looking straight ahead

Prepare yourself for Tmproff's first rambling blog entry...

I say looking straight ahead because I'm resting my head on a rock.
Looking at the stars has always been a favorite pastime of mine (second only to my infatuation with really huge flames). God are you there behind that bright one on the left? Can you see me looking back at you? The older I get, the quieter I get. I catch myself thinking for long periods of time. I dont mind so much because my thoughts are becoming increasingly more complex. I guess that is exciting in some ways. My book choices have gone from sci-fi and adventure (dessert types of books IMO) to classics like To Whom the Bell Tolls and even Jane Eyre (In hopes I might understand women better). The writing styles of today just can't hold a candle to these.

Ok, back to the stars....
I recently watched a documentary on the probability of other life bearing planets in our universe. It concluded that the chances are extremly slim (most scientists say that it would sure be a waste of space if that's true). I do not have a problem with either side of the argument; I think that God is just showing off.
We are taking a trip to Fredericksburg Texas for Octoberfest this month (yes I know this month is Sept). I really hope I get to talk about this with friends. The stars out there where it's so much darker than Houston are spectacular. Shooting varieties are common if you are patient.

I know that everyone has tried to think what Heaven will be like....I can't imagine it, but when I look straight ahead (up in this case), I see spiral galaxies....black holes, nebulas...all the mysteries up there and I know that He has something really amazing planned.


end ramble transmission....

The Credit Card

Imagine walking around Manhattan,
Donald Trump appears in front of you and hands you his platinum credit card.
He looks at you and says:
"This card has an unlimited balance, Spend all you want!
You dont have to worry about paying any of it back."

What would you do? Would you put it on your desk and leave it there?
Of course not! Most would go on the ultimate spending spree!
Some would travel, others would go shopping.
Some might even pay off debt

People treat love like a commodity.
We "spend" most on the people we like
Because it's easy to love them
The ones that desperatly need it are ignored.

Jesus once said "Love one another as I have loved you
When we can finally realize that love is not ours to "spend"
it brings total freedom!

Have you always been afraid to volunteer or do missions work?
Have you been worried about what someone will think if you show them love?
Is there a broken friendship in your past?

Let His love show through you.
Let it be blind.

The Waltz

A life lived in fear is a life half-lived

They stare at each other from across the room.
Each, diverting their eyes when they make contact.

He smiles, she blushes..both feel ugly in their beautiful attire

He asks himself the usual questions,
Does she really want to dance with me?
Will she like how I dance?

Both look for any sign,
that neither wants to show.

They slowly make their way to the center of the floor.
Awkwardly, they entwine their hands and wait for the music.

A quick look around the room shows couples that have been dancing for years.
Did they start the same way? So awkward....so confused?
They seem so happy to be in each others arms. Can we have that too?

The music begins and the couples start to swirl around the room.
He tries to lead one way as she fades the opposite,
Toes are stepped on, embarassed smiles try to cover up mistakes.

Mercifully the music stops.
Our couple unclench sweaty hands and go their separate ways

The Waltz goes on and on,
yet the dancers are rarely the same.

The Golden Rule

From the book Blue like Jazz:

...to be in a relationship with God is to be loved purely and furiously. And a
person who thinks himself unlovable cannot be in a relationship with God because
he can't accept who God is; a Being that is love. We learn that we are
lovable or unlovable from other people....That is why God tells us so many
times to love each other.

Months ago, I started to feel something missing
but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.

I would sit quietly and watch a group of friends
and realized I have no clue who they really are.
I can say we were friends,
but to say that we loved each other?

Imagine a world where we went out of our way
to make people feel special.
Forget the worries about how our actions will "look"

CS I believe has figured this all out already
I have to say that she's my hero somedays.

I have decided to make an effort to show I care.
I'm sure that some will take it the wrong way,
but I hope that it makes a difference nonetheless.

Life's little surprises

I taught an Adult GED course while I was in college to pay bills that my loan didn't.
Yesterday, while I was at a restaurant reading a book (Blue like Jazz) one of my students recognized me and was very proud to tell me he passed his GED test, had gotten a good job and is doing well.

To hear stories like his is exactly what I need to continue to persue a life of servanthood.
Honestly, I think it's the secret to living a happy life.
If your joy comes from inside, you will never be dissapointed.
(as you can see, I still need encouragement)

When I'm trying to understand someone (which is a favorite pastime of mine)
I will ask them "What do you love more than anything else in this world?"

I get all sorts of answers
Some say "My boyfriend"
Others say "Jesus of course!"

I try not criticize their answers,
that's not for me to judge.

One of the most profound answers I heard was from an older woman
(whom I consider to be an amazing Christian).

She said that she loved sunsets most

God is Eternal. His promises last through the ages
Even knowing this, with His wonders all around,
I still have my doubts.

I guess if living like this was easy,
it wouldn't be so valuable.

Picking up Idols

At the foot of the cross is an indentation
It's where I put the idols in my life

Some, stay there where they should be
Others, are picked up and put back on their shelf
Countless times I reach down

They can be so shiny
So harmless...
Harmless until I open up the lid
And the rotten fruit inside reminds me why it's there

I hold this particular idol in my hand
slick with the blood of Jesus
and seriously ponder if I should hold on to it or not

God I thank you for accountability
I thank you for friends that give me hope
I thank you for the terrible payment your Son gave
Oh Father give me strength!

No more Doors

I open my eyes and see a hall full of doors
They are of all shapes and sizes
Some tall, some short, some colorful, some drab

I aimlessly try each one to see if it will open for me
Some crack open, some are shut tight
Some I'm afraid to try because they might just open
Some I wont try because I am so sure they are locked
Every so often, I'll turn around and try a door I previously attempted


Oh God, I'm so tired of trying on my own
So I sit down in the middle of this hall and wait on you
Please open the door you want me to go through
I lay this idol at your feet