Friday, March 30, 2012

Back after all these years

I started back to school a few weeks ago and to be very honest was extremely intimidated. It wasn't the old walk into class, take a seat near the back, get out something to take some notes and keep yourself from dozing off. I'm doing this online and it seems that the video lectures are speeded up and it's as though the first weeks assignment was to read the first 33 books of the Bible and then finish that off with War and Peace. I have read and written more in the past couple of weeks than I have done in years. It has been great! I received my first 2 grades and got A's on both. I was amazed as I really don't know what I'm doing, but saying what I know and have read. I even got an email from one of the professors congratulating me on getting one of the few A's in the class. I believe it was a form letter and there ARE only 20 of us in the class. I'm still getting used to this online stuff, but it is fun to think again. One of my classes was talking about the parts of the brain and how the different parts use the chemicals to allow us to think and breath and move and speak. It went on to say that if you don't use a part of your brain, that eventually your brain assumes you dont need it so it shuts down. I believe mine had not only shut down, but was covered in dust. We are fearfully and wonderfully made and when we dont use that part after a while, somehow, another part starts and takes up the slack and we are off and running again. I thank the Lord for all that He gives me, but one of the gifts He has given me and I didnt even realize was the gift to learn, even when I thought I had turned out the lights. He went back and turned them right back on.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Finally understood that voice

All my life, it has been foremost to understand people....to figure what they are thinking, to feel what they are feeling, to hear what they are saying...its been about others..I know what I think and feel and say(even when it may not make sense, so here I am at 56 and finally realized this is hat God intended for me all my life...I finally am understanding what He has in store for me to do and be. I enrolled at Liberty University a few weeks ago, got my books and read the introduction and the author was writing exactly the same things I have known, experienced, thought and felt for a lifetime...I love it when I can listen to someone, ask a few probing questions, ask a few directional questions and then watch the light come on for someone...I love it when God becomes real to them and suddenly they see Him as if he had been behind some shroud that had encompassed their life...and they are so relieved that they are no longer alone in their suffering...I think back to the folks that God has used me to help Him with and how their lives are so different now then how they were...I believe to be a good counselor, you have to find God(your spiritual life), get connected(emotional and mental lives change focus from self to others and to spiritual life)and then live it(physical life comes into play at this point along with all other 3 aspects) and you suddenly are living, thinking, feeling and believing in someothing greater than yourself and as you grow in this journey, you find the more reliant that you become in God, the more meaningful your life becomes...I know many do not believe there is a God...and in case thats true hold your breath, because I believe you are borrowing my God's air...and unless you can create something from nothing, then this is God's.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Warrior

I believe men are warriors by nature. We see injustice and we seek to defend the weak or weary. Or we see an opportunity in life to do what is right and we take up the banner to make the world better. A warrior died yesterday. He saw the battle in people, whether it was Vietnam, Simpsonville, or wherever life took him. Furman David Chandler was a REAL warrior. There are people in the world that carry themselves so privately, and while they believe that no one is noticing; they alone are slowly, humbly making the world better. Many of us were watching David as he waged the war against the weak, the unloved , and the ones that were forgotten. David would not let them be forgotten or unloved or alone. He would enter a little rock house, and silently, behind a closed door, he would simply, pray, encourage, and remind them that one warrior was waging a battle on their behalf. David had been wounded in life physically and was dealt a life threatening blow, but he sustained the battle until the very end. That is what this warrior did. He fought until there was an outcome, and he won his war. David has gone where faithful warriors go. Davids family is left with the memories of a loving faithful husband; a dad who provided, taught and encouraged; and a grandfather who showed his grandchild where the battlefield was and how to win the battle of life, while tenderly showing him the wonders of the ocean water and the slipping of the sand as the tide turned. In his lifetime David had made as many friends as the stars in the southern sky he loved so much. While David may have wished to go through his battles alone, he carried the hope of so many family and friends that he was never going to be unseen or in the shadows of life. We watched as he fought with dignity and valor that was girded by the Lord of his life who sustained this warrior. When you lead a Godly life, those who see their world changing ask themselves, "who is doing this?" and they see David, off to the next battle for the next downtrodden soul. You see David knew that the Lord was with him through every battle, every trial, every tear, every joy, and he trusted in that each moment of his life. I was one of those souls that David fought for and won. He was my hero as he was for so many in his life. He lost his physical battle yesterday, but his banners of victory are walking testaments to this warrior who fought and prayed and loved them with every ounce of his being. David, the warrior, died yesterday, but David, the conqueror, continues to be so much more today. Davids family will be sustained by the hand of God, and by the lessons that he taught us all.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Living Large and other stuff

Money has never been a thing of high importance to me, whether I had any or not. It was just something I needed occasionally to buy stuff. The problem with money is you often have to do other things that you may not like in order to get it. I know there are some people that love working and the money is just a side benefit of that; but since I'm one of those folks that hasn't figured out what I want to be when I grow up, I have not found my passion job yet. I do know that one day I will need some money and that is my driving factor now. People tell me I'm good at this or that and that I should go into one thing or another and it would be a perfect fit...I just don't know what that perfect fit is. I think of the perfect occupation as being something that helps people, who want to be helped and appreciate life and respect others. Now, with that beings said I know that is not real life, but in my world, that is my hope. Right now I deliver mail, and I'm finding it challenging physically , mentally, and personally...due to many factors that are out of my control...so I'm trying to find a way to get control of those factors to make the job better and make it better for the next guy. so in summation, life isn't about the money to me...it's like playing golf; you're challenge isn't your opponent but the 6 inches between your ears...if I can grasp what my course will look like and how I will traverse it, then I will know how much money I will need, how much discomfort I can plan for, and what my remaining years will hold...with a few surprises along the way ...and thats my plan, at least the one I have for today...because in reality, it's all in God's hands anyway and I've learned that it can and probably will change at a moments notice....and that my friends is how I Live Large.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Effort to get through the day

As I've gotten older, I've had a few more aches and pains, gained a few more pounds, and gotten more settled. I've also learned that the days have more value than the day before. It's as though I can see my life winding down and I'm appreciating each day more now. With that in mind, I'm motivated to get up and do something. Usually I read my Bible, pray, think about stuff, watch the sun rise and then usually react to the day. I don't want to miss a thing. I watch people that miss out on the best part of the day and just let time slip away. I play a game on FB and my wife says I'm wasting time, and she's right, but I justify it by thinking its serving some purpose. The effort I use to get through the day is motivated by the fact, that if I'm not doing something(productive or not), it's better than sleeping, which in my mind is like letting time go and not realizing it. I love life and the best part of any day is talking to anyone...that is what makes my day worthwhile.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Sunday

This absolutely my favorite day of the week...Church, eating, reflecting on the prior week, looking forward to the challenges ahead...just a day to stop and smell the roses and make it a "me" day. I still focus on others, but I look at what I have, what I have done, what I plan to do and enjoy my personal relationship with God...a "me" day! Usually Sandra and I are home and we talk about stuff, ourselves and plan our coming week or our future in general without the noise of everything that happens through the week...I love Sunday.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Woody

The notes of the trumpet wafted out of the instrument and into our ears and down into our souls…from one soul to another…his to ours and on and on...the trumpeter’s talents were not of his own abilities, but given to him by the grace of God and brought to life by his passion for sharing with others this incredible gift. Each note filled not only with the music it contained, but the heart of this man who loved the sound, loved the gift, loved sharing it with others, and most importantly loved the Creator of music who gave him all he ever needed. So talented in other aspects of life, and loved by his family and friends, this mans true passion was not of the skills he had achieved over life, but the gift of playing his trumpet which connected him so closely with the God who fully enriched his life. Woody was a trumpet player who played for God and we were given the opportunity to listen in. Woody probably never fully knew the gift he had been given, because there was no way of ever knowing the people who’s lives were changed by the sound of that gift. His trumpet will never play for folks any more, but for those of us that have heard the sounds of Woody’s
trumpet…we will carry the melody and part of his love into our lives forever.