All 3 of these reasons can be summed up with the word “Reflection”! We end up reflecting other people’s ideas – for sure at least in how we look. Never really concerned about out Mirror’s Image.
Tag: Life
Pearls from the Rough…
Over the last 18 months of my life, I can truly say that the definitions of life, love, passion, cause, purpose have all been rewritten. A painful process, but the kind of pain that comes from stretching muscles to the limit. The kind of pain that comes from recuperating from a surgery. The kind of pain that tells you it may hurt now, but it will not hurt forever!
So in that, you begin to look for little joys that you probably have never done before. I would like to share with you one of those times. 4 months ago, I took my 9 year old daughter and 4 year old son for a walk. We started off walking on the cart path of a local golf course. (If you know me, you know that I am NOT a golfer…therefore I would like to publicly apologize for walking on the course, I didn’t know that was not allowed. I am sorry!)
Now on the inside I was quietly hoping that we would find a golf ball or two left over from the last several fall outings of 2016. Can I just share with you that not only did we find a golf ball, but we found 9 golf balls. None of them were on the fairways, the green, the tee boxes – not a one. All of them were found in the rough, the weeds, the woods, far away places from the playable grass of the course. But what joy we felt, as we climbed under trunks of fallen trees, moved aside piles of old thatch, and weeds that were just waiting for warmer weather. As we walked home, having stood all of the cold we face, the joy that my son and daughter and I had. Oh they were dirty and crusty, but the joy just continued as we cleaned this little white golf balls as if they were pearls harvested from the ocean. Oh, the joy!
As my family continues on in our journey of “next steps”, I think of that little excursion to the golf course. I just wanted to find one little golf ball, but as we found the one, the search intensified, and we found 9… My hearts turns to the scripture and the words of Jesus…
Matt. 13:44-46, “44 The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!”
Now let me assure you, I am pretty sure these little “pearls” we found only have a value of about $2.00 a piece maybe if they were brand new… But the lesson is surreal and powerful! Life may not be what you or I think it should be right now, but there are little pearls that the Father has hidden along the way, and sometime the way is not the “normal playable surface”, it is in the rough, it is in the hidden places of the world, it in the torn down branches of your world. But as I am finding, the world around me is small and normal, but the world that I have looked at for so long is so big and ready to search out the pearls that our Heavenly Father has laid out for them to find! I only wanted to find one pearl, we found 9! He is such a “GOOD, GOOD FATHER!” He gives extravagantly, He is generous, and gives out of His abundance!
So how about it? Will you join the Father on getting off the beaten path, the playable surfaces, and get out in the rough and the hidden places to find some pearls? They are there, you have to just take a risk and take a chance, don’t be afraid to dream about the pearls that He has for you!
There you will find joy! There you will find peace! There you will find Him!
He is our Light House!
One of the things I miss about Cape Cod is the light house. They weren’t everywhere, but the ones that were around, were such a reminder that God is always there and visible. In the times of darkness and storm, the constant was that the beam of light was coming around every 180 degrees. It didn’t matter the type of storm, the length of storm, the time of year – it was coming and you could count on it!
Just like Jesus! You can count on Him – Always!
Just remember that He is always there with you. He will never leave you or forsake you! He loves you forever! He is right beside you and I!
Your Clock and Your Compass…or His?
I worked for a pastor many moons ago, that I learned to truly appreciate him after I no longer worked for him. He was like a tough coach that wouldn’t let you slack on things, he pushed me beyond my limits to show me where I could go. He pushed me to more like Christ and I didn’t always see it or understand it. Years later, I often go back and read the notes from his sermons, staff meetings, and other things he taught and wrote. They all transport me back to a certain message that I heard him speak years ago, “The Clock and The Compass”. It is a lesson that I have referred to often, quoted from, and shared with others. It marked me so much, I now have a little travel clock and a compass that sits on a shelf in my office to remind me of the God’s Timing and God’s Direction for my life!
This morning, a young lady that I know and really love watching her grow in her faith, wrote the following… “God is writing your story and He is a very good author!” I couldn’t agree more Abby, thanks for the reminder! I thought to myself this morning when I read that, “He is also a pretty excellent map maker or adventure guide or roller coaster developer”.
As a matter of fact, the older I get, I tend to think God wants us to be quite the thrill seekers! You see, we cannot do “our thing” as Christ Followers unless we are completely dependent on Him. To be honest, most of the time I think I/We all have trouble with this. We hate not being able to see the “end of the line”, the reason or purpose, or how about just the next turn. It all seems to venture back to what our clock reads and what direction our compass is set on. We don’t like not being in control of the map, the story, the clock or the compass.
You see though, that’s the problem. Life is not about our clock and compass, it is about His clock … 2 Peter 3:8, “… a day is as a 1,000 years to the Lord, and 1,000 years is like a day.” and His compass… Ps. 25:4&5, “Make me know your ways, O Lord; Teach me your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me. For You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.”
Interesting thing about His compass… the above passage says ‘for You I wait all the day‘. Sometimes we don’t know which way, but we will wait. But then when we pay attention to His time, well that being said… 1,000 years…He may have us wait a while for the direction. Talk about the wait!
Question… “Is a wait that long – worth it?”
To answer – while you and I are not in the wait – FOR SURE IT IS WORTH IT!
To answer – while you and I are in the wait – most of the time we say – THAT’S A REALLY LONG WAIT! MAYBE THERE IS A DIFFERENT ANSWER!
Now… enter a thought that crossed my mind as I think of Pastors’ talk on the Clock and Compass…A thought that holds my attention as I contemplate my own questions concerning His Clock and His Compass…A thought of truth, seasoned with matter of fact and freedom all in the same thought…
We should realize that everything we go through, everything we learn, every place that we end up at, everything that we find ourselves walking through; they all help our clock and our compass. Our timing and our direction are all so very important not just to us, but more importantly to HIM – the greatest Map Maker of all time – the greatest Author ever. All of these stops, delays, pesky little journeys, and destinations – they have certain deadlines and reasons, certain u-turns and moments, certain people and places that have significance for you and I. We potentially have yet to determine all of their significance… simply because His Timing and His Direction aren’t part of a story that He is writing…they are the story He is writing…and He is a Great Author!
And remember that Great Authors don’t give away the end of the story until the end of the book…
…TO BE CONTINUED…
My Baseball Team, and why I love the color purple.
Everybody that knows me, knows that I am a HUGE baseball fan! I love to watch it, read about it, play it, and I passionately love to coach it! Especially when either one of my sons are involved! It’s America’s game…I’m an American…well you get the picture!
Well something happened to me in March of 2011. My family had just moved to Cape Cod. My son wanted to continue playing baseball, and I desperately wanted to keep coaching. I submitted an “application”, then took some classes, and was given the greenlight to start coaching.
The BYB League (Bourne Youth Baseball) figured that since I am a Pastor, it is only fair that they give me the ‘Padres’ as the first team to coach. (Do you see what they did there? LOL!!!!) My second team was the Angels – enough already.
Ed M., Scott R., Tim B., Bob P., and Tony V. – I Love You guys like brothers! You guys were teachers, mentors, and coaches to not just the team – but to me! Most of all, you are great friends! I owe you 5 so much! I think of you guys often, longing for the days we stood in the dugouts together. I miss you! Thanks for it all! TACO!!!!!!
If I was to write a letter to my team, here is what it would say…
To My All Stars,
When you each marched into my world, all I wanted to do was help you be better men and a woman. I wanted you to make a difference in whatever corner of the world you would eventually find yourself in. I wanted to win a few ball games. I wanted to coach my son. I wanted to build a team. I wanted have a blast doing it. I got so much more than that. I got a family that still moves my heart today! We don’t talk often, but I spy on you. I hear and listen as you get older and climb the ladder of life. What I ended up getting, was so much more than I could ever hope for or even dream of. I got each of you!
Now I am going to write you a letter, and each of you get your own paragraph. But know this, everyone of you – even though each paragraph is to one player – they all have truths for each of you. Remember, we are a team. We win together. We lose together. We are Bourne!
Em #7 – Your heart is as big as Texas! Your will is larger! You have will and determination. You set the bar so often, and you will go places that will absolutely astonish you. Never forget that the inspiration behind you are 2 parents that call you a MIRACLE! Take your life and soar to places that you never dreamed of! Don’t let the world tell you it cannot be done. Do it! Be it! Track down that fly ball, pitch that strike, and hit that line drive – you can do anything!
“Murph” #12 – Your attitude is absolutely incredible! Never a foul word or foul emotion that slipped through the cracks, never a grimace at playing time or position; you are always in 100%. I love that about you! Remember teams are built by leaders, they are built around people like you. Stable. Positive. All in. Murph, never lose that quality! Always step to the plate with humility and grace. That hit is coming. Proud of you kid. Glad you are on the team.
“Camo” #3 – You were always a man among boys! You are so naturally talented. You are so stinking capable of everything you put your hands to. Don’t forget to work hard and be all that you can be. Remember to let people see you are human and that you are not just an athlete, but a person that loves and hurts alike! Never put a lid on the success that you will have. But always remember where you have come from! Don’t forget to smile…Let me see those teeth!
“Moose” #9 – You are a thinker! You never quit trying to out think everything. I love that about you, and I couldn’t stand that about you. It is a gift and a strength that you have. As you get older in life you will be able to do better and better at it for sure! Your heart and your head will come together and it will make sense in times of chaos. Wisdom will come from you and will be so amazing. Your smile is infectious. You are a likeable young man. Your parents have given you a strong foundation, always be the fighter when life comes to knock you down. You are and always be Moose!
“Swifty” #19 – Your heart is so soft. Don’t let anyone tell you that is wrong or bad. It is not! It is a sign of strength. Just do not let your emotions lie to you. Always make decisions based on truth, not feelings! Remember you are not failure if you keep on trying. Don’t stop trying! Go to places that you heart takes you to, and love with that same heart!
“Hollywood” #3 – There was never a young man with such swag as you Hollywood! I love to watch you, you always look good! Then I noticed that you didn’t just look good, you were a great competitor! I know you hate to loose, but remember that defeat isn’t defeat until you can’t make the come back! Always charge hard, but always love much. Don’t put the game before the people in the game! When life tries to knock you out, remember that it tried to knock your mom and dad out. Guess what it didn’t! And it won’t to you, just keep your heart, mind, and body right! Nobody better than you right now!
“Ocho” #8 – You’re playing football now! I love it! I know if brings you joy. Ben, always laugh and smile. Do things that bring your heart and smile to laugh. You have so much passion, more than most. Harness it to accomplish things that bring you to the place where you are content and in your wheel house! My favorite off the field memories are with you in it…pulling lobster pots, horseshoes in your backyard, fireworks on 4th of July…on and on. Thanks for keeping me on my toes and for making me laugh Coach Rowe!
“Juice Box” #10 – You came out of nowhere, at least that is how if felt, but it was like you were always there. You are a game changer. A team builder. Things happen when you show up to play. Your love and dedication to things you put your heart into amazes me. JB, remember there is nothing that you can not accomplish. Stay with the things that are in your heart. In other words, spend 80% of your time working on the things that you are good at, become great at them! Your parents are amazing servants, never lose their imprint on your life. Proud of you!
“Sticks” #11 – You were with the Padres, and we were together all the way through until the last year. I never felt like we were in trouble when your were on the field. I know you hated the outfield, but you made it your own and never quit on the team. Remember the old line, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog!” You are a fighter, never quit! Remember that your sisters’ eyes are watching you, don’t forget that you are leader when you feel like no one is watching, at least she is! You’re the best, there is nobody better! Keep climbing Sticks, no height is to tall for you!
“Sleeves” #4 – Man oh man! The only player that I have ever coached that caught 2 full games in 85+ degree – with 100% humidity weather. And you did it in long sleeves – twice! You are an animal! I love having you on the team. I love the attitude, the heart, the “I’m not going to quit Coach”! Your smile is contagious, and I will always see it when I think of you! Sleeves, you go on to accomplish some feats that you think are impossible. Go places you think are out of reach. Do things that people tell you cannot do. Be who you are deep down inside, and forget whatever people may say or think about you! I can’t wait to see you on the Master’s someday!
“Joseph” #6 – Most improved and most incredible emotionally charged young man! When you are up – you are all up, when you are down – your are sunk. Hey Joe, there is nobody else I would want in the #4 spot, bases loaded, 2 outs. I would put you in that spot 100 out of 100 times, regardless of the outcome in “The Game”. Just do you a favor, when you “fail” in “The Game”, be ready the next game – because you will succeed. Why, because you are a winner! You are the man! Be the leader that your mom and dad taught you to be. Remember that your emotions lie to you. Things are not a bad as they could be, and there is always someone that has it worse off than you. So be ready – you’re my clean up batter – the other team is scared of you! You are not little Joe, you are the man they call Joseph!
“Lion” #21 – I will never forget the play that made me pick you up. Pitcher pitched a fastball and your catchers mitt came right off. You flipped your mask, found the ball and threw the runner back to 2nd! You were 2 years younger, 20 pounds smaller, and a heart triple the size of any player in the league. I had to have you! You play with passion and intensity that sometimes get tangled in with angst and ferocity. Your strength, becomes your greatest weakness. The thing I love about you so much. Keep the passion and intensity, play with abandonment, lose the angst – it’s a game. You will not always be able to play games in life, but while you can, have fun, become great, and let your soul go free! You’re Lion, go free, run wild, but always remember that baseball and life are the only two places that you are always running to come back to HOME!
C.S. #1 – Day one you stole you heart! I wanted you on my team, but I had to play by the rules! I was hard on you because I knew there was greatest down in there. I ran you because you could be faster. I didn’t pitch you because you were an incredible infielder and I needed that. I love you because you needed to know what love is from a man that was 100% on your side! Your innocence and your love of laughter is a must, but never let people steal it because they are jealous or just mean. People don’t understand where joy and peace come from…you do…don’t forget! You are like son to me – never forget that!
“Hoppy” #5 – You are perhaps the hardest to write too! Even as I type this, tears are streaming down my cheeks at Starbucks! You’re a leader! It is not taught, studied, or even a mimicked presentation! You are a natural born leader! When you speak, people listen! When you leave or show up – everyone notices! When you hurt, people hurt with you, and when you laugh, others can’t help but find themselves laughing! I never had you on the team for your skills, your speed, or your power! I had you there, because you taught me to be better! You inspired me to never quit, even when all the odds were stacked against us, you believed we could win! You have a killer instinct, and I was made better for it! Hoppy, thanks for coaching the coach! Thanks for being the un-noted Captain of the All-Stars! Thanks for taking things on your shoulders that no other player wanted to shoulder! I cannot wait to see what you do with your life! I know this, you will be greater than you can ever imagine! You have my heart, and you will until it doesn’t beat! I am grateful for you Morgan! I am better because of you! P.S. Ask your mom about the exclamation marks!
“Champ/Big2na” #2 – My Son! The cheerleader! Captain Positive! You love like few people do. You have a heart for people that you don’t even know. You move me to greatness because of your greatness! You are a positive force to be reckoned with! I don’t deserve to call you son, and humbled that I get to! I am so honored that you and I get to live this life journey together! I know that the dream was to play baseball, but as you get closer to dreams becoming a reality – you are called to be and do greater things than this! Because you have honored God in the game of baseball, He is going to honor you in the game of life! You too have my heart son, you had it first! You get to call me dad, or better ‘POPS’! That is one of the 4 greatest joys to my ears! Remember don’t trip on the chalk. Stay on the fence cheering your team. Always play up not down. Always be you! Keep on swinging and never give up! I LOVE YOU SON! You are and always be my CHAMP!
- Always remember that in batting practice – we swing the bats!
- Listen to me, let me think, you just go play the game!
- If you ask me to play there, what happens…you won’t!
- Game ball goes to…
- Let’s get it perfect around the horn, it’s easy – Throw, Catch, Turn Glove Side, Repeat!
- I got nothing for you, just hit the ball!
- TACO!!!!!
- Keep on swinging – Never Give Up!
- Hey kid…Just you and me…There is nobody better than you right now!
Hey now, all these things, are lessons to you, to each other, to me and they are gift from each other! Days will be longer apart as to the times we get to together. Remember these things, remember the times we had. Also remember that there is a Coach that loves you all and you mean the world to! There is a “Head Coach” in in the sky that loves you even more than I do! He loves you so much that He gave His life for you! Life will take unexpected turns and twists, remember to live by this creed I wrote as a “Tip of the Cap” to you. I use the term “RIP IT“. Live your life with Righteousness, Integrity, Passion, Intensity, and Teamwork. This will serve you well!
And finally, as Jesus said in John 15:13 (The Message), “…Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.”
Thanks for teaching me to love the color purple! Nearly every time I see it – I think of each of you. I Love You Guys and Girl! You are my team and I miss you! You were my Sandlot! I am truly the luckiest man in baseball!
Who are we – BOURNE!
Who are we – BOURNE!
1,2,3 – GO BOURNE!
Love,
Coach Dan
Mundane…
The thought hit me tonight as I was taking my son to Shelter – his middle school youth ministry…
“For the first time in a very long time, the mundane things of life are actually really exciting!”
Let me explain…
The other day, it snowed – maybe an inch not two. I got up early to shovel for the family we are staying with. I shoveled the driveway, the sidewalks, the front porch…fighting the monotony of waiting, I shoveled the wooden deck. Not wanting to wait more, I decided that I would shovel all the way to the place where the mailboxes for the neighborhood is. Easily 50 yards of sidewalk, it was the most rewarding shoveling I’ve done in a long while, maybe since shoveling for Ms. Mary (my favorite Iowa neighbor!). A mundane task that is “no fun” until you are doing unto the Lord!
Further…
How about the grocery store? Now I know moms have a love hate with the grocery store, I understand and I’m not a mom. These days, it is a trip down the aisles of exploration with my four year old, talking, laughing about silly things, and realizing that I have potentially let the last four years go by way too fast. Face to face with regret, the regret of not letting the life God intended for me to have with my family be the reality that He intended it to be.
I realize…
In this time of waiting, I have come to realize that what Jesus said in John 10:10…
“10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
That rich and satisfying life can be found in the little mundane things that we take for granted way too often. It is in the mundane that we often found peace and strength from our Heavenly Father. Thinking of it as lifting weights or running, one of those I do not have much expertise in – it’s the running part – I know that shocks those of you that know me. But it like breaking down the muscle of our bodies and learning to build them up again to accomplish the tasks…
Let me stop there…
It is not just to accomplish the tasks! Perhaps it is to have moment of destiny. Sometimes for a person that we may or may not know, a person we may meet in the store, on the sidewalk, or at our favorite coffee shop. Maybe, just maybe – the mundane create the places/the space for us to have hearts open to hear what Abba/Daddy is saying to us. Perhaps instead of filling our thoughts and heart with dread and frustration, “this way” of the Father creates a stillness to hear Him encourage us and to lift our spirits. These spaces are the spaces that give us the courage to say,
“I can’t do this anymore, Lord!!!!!
It hurts so much!!!!!
I just don’t understand why!!!!!
I just don’t want to hurt anymore!!!!!”
It’s in those spaces that God says…
“You’re right you can’t!
I’ll take the pain.
I know why.
The pain will make sense soon!
Remember that all of the no’s are just preparing you for a bigger and better YES! A yes that is filled with mundane moments if you let them happen. Or a Yes that is filled with awe and wonder! A yes filled with Spirit, Passion, Righteousness, Love, Joy, Peace – a YES filled with my son JESUS!”
So…
The mundane will always be with us… it will always try to tie up our obligations, our soul, tug at our emotions, give us permission to dismiss God’s mighty hand. Yet if we take the mundane and turn them into a spectacular show of God’s glorious writing ability to craft a story that Hollywood can’t even begin to understand or write. A story filled with a main character that loves you and I. A main character that has called you and I! A main character that gave His life for you and I! A main character that loves us so much, that He died for you and me! He took our mundane and made it miraculous!
Jesus, thank you for taking the mundane life of an ordinary guy, and turning it into a thrill of a lifetime! I don’t understand Your ways, but Your word tells me that my ways are not Your ways; therefore, I shouldn’t always get bothered when I do not understand them. Jesus, forgive me when I wander away from the script your are writing, for the script that my head is trying to conjure up through a plethora of knotted upside down emotions that lie to me! They tell me to go ahead a eat piece of fruit from the tree of “the Knowledge of Good and Evil”. Lord, help me to trust your script, and listen to it as you unfold it! Lord, forgive me for allowing my life, a life that is to reflect You and Your wondrous love for all, turn into a mundane, generic, bill board for my wishes!
Isaiah 55:8&9, “8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Not mine…
Lord, let Your will be done, not mine!
Matt. 6:9 & 10, 9 “This, then, is how you should pray, “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”