The Lizard Skin

At first, I thought I was seeing some sort of monstrous, ghostly deformity. Then, understanding came. The old skin was dragging from the back legs of a Cuban brown anole, one of the dozens of lizards who grace our home with their climbing, darting, head-bobbing and other antics.

When I ran back with the camera, I found him like this...eating his old skin. I didn't know they did that. I can just picture him picking the last shreds off his toes while he hangs upside down from a window screen; "Mmmmm....tastes like chicken....hot and crunchy...I love summertime!"

Apparently, they regain calcium, as in bone-making material, from the skin. Besides, they'll eat almost anything that fits into those rapacious little mouths. I assume it tastes good to them.

It's too easy for me to discard my old skins, maybe every year, maybe even more often.  I think we're meant for something better than living only in the moment; I think we're little microcosms of our creator, with awareness of past, present and future. Other big-brained mammals, less so perhaps. Reptiles, like our plentiful gators, strike me as voracious bundles of appetites and reflexes that live only in the moment. I don't want to be a gator.

If I keep my old skin, "eat" it somehow, I have memory of who I was. It's part of my story. It gives me a basis for victory and defeat. The gap between who I was and who I am gives me place for being a thankful man. Without that old skin, I have nothing to be thankful for but the vicissitudes of the moment.

This summer I read Mike Durant's book, In the Company of Heroes, about the US military mission in Somalia that led to the "Black Hawk Down" incident. After being shot down, captured, mobbed, beaten and eventually released, he had a year's worth (at least) of post-traumatic stress disorder. He received a letter from a cancer survivor that gave him some life-giving advice: "Look back, but don't stare."

Remember your old skin, and remember the journey. But you're more than your past.
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Doggie reading tutor

Now who wouldn't love a dog that helps kids enjoy reading? Lovely story from our local paper, at the branch library about 4 miles from our house. I think I might want to go read over there...
(Story and video here from TampaBay.com.)

 

I'll do a lot longer blog on this sometime...but it looks like Tucker remembers what it's like to have your very own Adam in the Garden of Eden. Beautiful.

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Without God, there's no freedom

Without freedom to fail, there's no freedom.

Without grace, there's no freedom to fail.

Without God, there's no grace.


"...the LORD has anointed me to proclaim freedom for the captives..." (Isaiah 61:1, Luke :18)
"...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1)
"...we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Ephesians 3:12)
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God's with you...always

I noticed years ago that there were some secular songs that just sang my heart for God. One day, a young friend showed me how God sang to him through songs in the same way...but where the lyrics were actually the dialog between them. It was nothing like what the recording artist had in mind, but it surely did capture God's love for this wonderful young man.

A year or so later, I noticed this one. I always did like this song...maybe, even then, I was hearing a hint of the Great Musician's voice. Here, the plain text is me in one of those dark nights of the soul, and the italics are God. The left column is the lyrics from Cheap Trick; the right is what my heart is singing, almost in chorus. And Brandon...this one's for you.

The Flame, by Cheap Trick

Another night slowly closes in,	It’s 2 AM…
And I feel so lonely.	…I can’t feel you…
Touching heat freezing on my skin,
I pretend you still hold me.	…like in the good times…
I’m going crazy, I’m losing sleep.	…but I can’t quite make it…
I’m in too far, I’m in way too deep over you.	“To whom shall I go?” [1]
I can’t believe you’re gone.	My head knows you’re here,
You were the first, you’ll be the last.	you promised you were Alpha & Omega.
Wherever you go, I’ll be with you.	Everywhere, always.
Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.	“…ask your Father in heaven…”  [2]
Whenever you need someone to lay your heart and head upon.	In your pain and aloneness,
Remember: after the fire, after all the rain,	I was there, then; I am here now…
I will be the flame.	My love for you is eternal.
I will be the flame.	I will burn!  [3]
Watching shadows move across the wall,	Time crawls by when I’m alone
I feel so frightened.	Is there anyone who can take away the fear?
I wanna run to you, I wanna call,	I want you…
But I’ve been hit by lightning.	…but my feet seem frozen.
Just can’t stand up for fallin’ apart.	Helpless…
Can’t see through this veil across my heart, over you.	…marred and broken-hearted.
You’ll always be the one.	But I still declare it…
You were the first, you’ll be the last.	Forever!
Wherever you go, I’ll be with you.	Always
Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.	Remember?
Whenever you need someone to lay your heart and head upon.	Remember?!
Remember: after the fire, after all the rain,	Then, and now…and always…
I will be the flame.
I will be the flame.
I’m going crazy, I’m losing sleep.	I can’t sleep either; I’m dying for you
I’m in too far, I’m in way too deep over you.	The cross was just the beginning of me for you
You’ll always be the one.	I can’t get over you
You were the first, you’ll be the last.	I knew you before the beginning, and we’ll be together through the end, and beyond. [4]
	So remember…
Wherever you go, I’ll be with you.
Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.

 

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[1]  John 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

[2]  Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  Matthew 18:19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

[3] Hebrews 12:28-29  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

[4]  Ephesians 1:3-5, Hebrews 13:5, John 3:15-17, Matthew 28:20, Jeremiah 31:3: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." and Isaiah 49:16: "I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..."
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Walking Max

(by Cyndi Carter)

Max and I walk almost 3½ miles six mornings a week. Best to get out before the worst heat of the day. One morning, it occurred to me just how much I at least try to do to make our walks safe and enjoyable for him. He is a very smart little (pardon me, big) guy, but there are things he doesn’t know about and he needs his human pack leaders to look out for him.

For starters, we walk with a leash, and I try to keep him on my left side to keep him out of the car traffic. I selected a walking route which has lots of sidewalks and shady areas. I listen and look out for approaching cars as well as other dogs which might decide to become territorial (at 9 ½ pounds, Max would just make an hors d'oeuvre). I try to anticipate possible situations that might cause problems, such as a bicyclist coming toward us from around a blind curve. I keep him from trying to sample various wildlife lying in their final sleep by the side of the road or drinking skuzzy looking water from the street gutters, so that he won’t pick up any tummy trouble. I pick him up when we go by a yard being mowed and the trimmings are being thrown out into the street toward him. I keep him off the grass where people are having chemical treatments on their lawns.

So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, I thought about how God looks out for us and protects. First, He gave us His word, the scriptures. Also, He speaks to us directly, giving us a distinct impression of what choice He wants us to make. (And these promptings will not violate His character and views expressed in scripture.) He gives us this guidance and direction not to spoil our fun, or to control us, but to make provision for a full, joyful life. He sees the hidden pitfalls as well as the obvious dangers we might encounter. He sees what walking apart from Him could do to us not just physically, but He sees the possible damage it could do to our hearts and souls. Setting a broken arm or leg may be simple and require few weeks of healing. Healing for hearts and souls can take a lifetime.

We would do well to heed God’s counsel. He gives guidance for our benefit, so that we might have fulfilled lives, healthy relationships with others, and most of all a living relationship with Him. As it says in Hebrews 12:9b “How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!”

I believe Max trusts me to take care of him. As we were walking today, I was thinking how I need to continue to trust God every day, and every moment to take care of me. Not just in things I feel “comfortable” trusting Him with, but everything. The old hymn “ ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”came to my mind, and the words to the chorus are found below:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more.
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Unhelpful signs, part 1

This theological train wreck is along Interstate 65 between Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama. Yes, there's a hell; no, church won't save you from it; no, threatening people isn't how Jesus preaches Good News; and yes, crap like this makes my whole job harder. I wonder if the owner of this little piece actually knows Jesus. He seems to be on speaking terms with the devil, though...perhaps that's where he gets his information.

"Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!" (John 14:6-7, The Message)

Fortunately for us, Jesus seeks us, finds us, meets us where ever we are and takes us to Himself.
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Spellbound

Ever found yourself not doing something because you're subconsciously afraid of someone else? I don't mean the "ooh, he's gonna beat me up" thing, I mean more the fear we often associate with titles and authority: mother, father, boss, pastor, anyone with a rank or title on their name. Often we might confuse that fear with legitimate respect for someone. It might manifest itself as a reluctance to approach the person or ask them as perfectly reasonable question.

I woke up the other morning with the thought, "That guy (a friend of mine) is absolutely spellbound by her." What riveted me was that word spellbound. Spell, as in a witch casting it by invoking a demon. Bound, as in tied up and helpless. Actor, and action. And this guy doesn't have a clue that there's a spiritual force involved, so he isn't likely to escape until he recognizes and refuses that spirit. (In this case, he's a Christian. If he weren't, well, there's a Holy Spirit he would need first.)

A lot of us end up spiritual cowards in the presence of spellbinders, and that isn't what we're made to be. We're made to be free of such spirits, and to disallow their influence over us. Spiritually, that's the whole point of my book: quit letting anyone and everyone tell you that you're a peon, or ugly, or not-as-gifted. Do you still sin? Of course, and the Bible is pretty clear on what that is. Are you still worth Jesus' full and undivided attention? Of course, and the Bible is extremely clear on that, too.

On the other side of the coin, a lot of us just sort of naturally tap into decidedly unclean, unchristian spirits in the course of our lives: control, intimidation, manipulation. (A lot of this is miscalled management and leadership.) Almost without intending, we end up being spell-casters; spellbinders.

I have an unoriginal but better idea: Let's cast Holy Spirit and his results (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, to name a few) on people, and "bind" (loose) them with that.

"Spirit-loosed." I like that. Be loosed!
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Testing to learn

I was talking with a friend one time about the many months he spent living with the NASA X-38 vehicle in a hangar at Edwards Air Force Base. He made the almost-offhand comment, “Well, we were out there testing to learn, not learning so we could test.”

X-38’s mission was to provide a means of rapid crew return from the International Space Station (ISS). Like any new development, it needed lots of preliminary and detailed design, followed by fabrication of several prototypes. Then it was out to Edwards for lots of ground tests, taxi tests, captive carry tests, parafoil design and test. And re-design, and re-test. New technologies, lots of learning by doing, lots of learning through failure

Unfortunately, the general mindset in military and NASA work, particularly among contracting types, is that a Test is pass/fail. (“Parafoil tore up again during a drop test? Hmm, looks like a fail from here.”) It was a constant business to teach people, “No, this is how we’re learning.”

In school and too-often in church, we seem to learn a bunch of stuff so we can pass a test of some sort. Innumerable sermons exhort believers with the idea that there's a God-reckoning coming, using verses like 1 Peter 1:7 and James 1:3. The idea of a “test” being only a demonstration of existing ability or capability seems to get lost. The idea of testing as part of learning, even more lost.

But the words the Bible uses about testing and proving* mostly aren’t pass/fail. They mean things like approved, tried out, examined, experienced, proven, trustworthy. (Notably, the context of both verses above is much more demonstration than pass/fail.)

God has standards, all right, and he’s always calling us toward His perfection. (After all, he made us in His image, and he's still re-making us in His image.) But life isn’t pass/fail; it’s process and progress.

Those “tests” you see in the Bible? Mostly testing to learn. Testing to demonstrate to you and me where and how we’re doing in your walk with him. Next time you feel tested, remember, it's just another step toward God. And...relax a little. He isn't going to drop you if you "fail." :)



* Greek Dokimos, dokimazo, dokimazo, dokimion are common ones.
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Alex Hunter, moon rovers, and you

Almost 20 years ago, I met an old Boeing engineer named Alex Hunter. He was a mechanical engineer and designer; in aerospace work, those are the guys who figure out what materials to make something out of, how thick, how many screws, rivet placements, and on and on. Every engineer has his favorite toys to use in design; Alex just loved rivets because they simultaneously attach AND align two pieces of metal with great accuracy.

We were working on a project together and the conversation trailed back to the glory days of the Apollo program. (I’m a NASA brat.) Alex was one of the guys – I think the lead guy – assigned to the mechanical design of the lunar rovers. That’s a bigger deal than you might think at first glance; the rovers had to be designed and flown in less than 17 months, extremely light, and foldable in several dimensions to meet the space and weight limitations of the lunar lander.

After a year of frantic 14-hour days and multiple redesigns, Boeing had a rover that met NASA’s requirements. And Alex wanted to sign his work. He, and the two other guys who had poured heart, soul and lives into these things.

NASA doesn’t brag about this, but they are over-the-top control freaks on some things that are pure PR, not technical issues. They issued strict instructions about access to the six rovers, with an absolute “NO!!” regarding any non-spec markings.

So Alex and his friends slipped into the storage area one night with El Marko permanent markers, and signed all six rovers up inside the frames where NASA wouldn’t easily find the forbidden markings.

Some nights, when I look up at the tropical moon overhead, I think about the three rovers that are still up there. They launched from here, just across the Florida peninsula from me. I think of Alex, and I’m sad because I miss him. But I smile, because his little story in the grand epic of the space race is a picture of what we all want: to create, to sign our creation, and delight in it. Be it a fiery and awesome spectacle or a silent wonder, we love to see our creations fulfill their intended glory. They ride the heavens of our dreams.

I suppose we’re this way because we’re crafted in the image of God, the arch-Creator, the arch-signer, the arch-delighter. We’re signed by him.

Wonderful as it is to birth a new system, or product, or book, it’s sweeter still to show people the glory God placed in them, and autographed, for his own delight. “...for your own good pleasure,” as the ancient liturgical prayer puts it. And that stuff is the stuff we were designed for, in messy but beautiful fellowship (koinonia) together.
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I wanna be more like my dog

Usually, we put our dog Max in a kennel when we leave the house. He’s a 9-pound, 3-year-old little boy dog, and sometimes feels the need to water things...

We noticed a few months ago that when it came time to kennel Max, we didn’t have to go find him very often. Instead of being burrowed up under a blanket somewhere, he’d be there in the kennel, curled up catlike, looking at us. We hadn’t called him, or put water in the dish, or brought the chew bone; it was a little eerie. Sometimes we were still figuring out “Are we going somewhere or not?” and he’d trot on over there.

Somewhere along the way, by listening to our words, tones and movement patterns, he figured out that this meant it was den time. And he chose anticipatory obedience to our intentions and desires.

Perhaps I should add, he’s been spanked only about a dozen times ever, so it isn’t like we trained him fearfully. I definitely should add that he loves us, loves to snuggle up beside us. And he really isn’t obedience-trained in any way. It’s all voluntary on his part.

I started walking with Jesus about 20 years ago. At first, I listened to other men’s teachings. (Still do.) Then, I started to read the words of the Bible by my self, and with others. (Still do.) Then I started watching what it was that Jesus actually did (and is doing around me today), and the people and situations in which he did those things. I learned that God’s/Jesus’s actions and context teach me more than the words on the paper...and that we can and do worry some Greek word to death and miss the “what he did” message completely.

Max started off without any language as such. He didn’t have a bible we’d written. All he had was the sound of our voices and movements, and the sight of our body language. He learned the language that we didn’t even know we were speaking. And he chose to join with us in our comings and goings, because he loves us.

I want to:

Look more closely for movements of God around me...

Listen to his words, their tone; I want to sense his mood, not mine...

I want to experience his promise that “My sheep know my voice...” (John 10)

...so that I can sense the movement of his Spirit without him ever needing to call me or give me instructions on where to go, what to say. And MOVE in that Spirit, every day, all the time.

In other words, I want to be like Max when I grow up. :)
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