Here's That Rainy Day

God has blessed us once again by sparing us from a storm. His mercies really are new this morning. Much to the disapointment of many news outlets, Tropical Depression 10 is a non-event. All we face today is a little light rain.

Even though TD 10 was never really expected to amount to much it still brought lots of angst to folks along the coast. The mental and emotional anguish becomes evident around here whenever some tropical event is looming out there. Even after 2 years the scars from Katrina survivors are still tender. Local officials do their best to balance preparedness and alarm. I don't envy them.

I've added some RSS feed links to the side for your convenience. Enjoy.

Early Autumn

Fall is in the air (even on the Gulf Coast) and it just feels good to step outside (at least early in the morning here). Everybody likes to feel good. Everybody likes a "feel-good" story, too. Have you heard the one about Mike Flynt? Mike was kicked off his college football team for fighting and missed his senior season. Realizing he had a year of eligibility left he decided to return to his alma mater and try out for the team once again. Did I mention he was kicked off the team in 1971? That's right. Mike is 59 years old and will be starting this Saturday for the Div. III Sul Ross State Lobos.

Mike attributes this opportunity to his faith in the Lord and staying in shape. A card-carrying AARP member and grandfather, Mike is also strong as an ox and is in better shape than his original college playing days.

I heard Mike on the radio earlier this week. He made the point that he could not have "gotten in shape" to do this. He was able to do this because of a lifelong commitment to staying in shape.

Do you see the spiritual lesson here? Spiritual fitness is an ongoing discipline. Are you spiritually fit enough to take on the challenges and adventures that God has for you? It's not too late to start exercising to be godly (1 Timothy 4:7)! Have a great weekend. Watch some football, get outside and play. Do something that makes you feel good and spiritually fit. Go TECH!

God Bless the Child

My son, James, teaches me so many lessons. The other day, he asked Brandie what her favorite verse in the New Testament book of James was. After she answered he told her his favorite: James 1:1, "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." His reason: "Because that's what I want to be."

The Christ-life really should reduce to that, shouldn't it? I tend to complicate things, but James sees right to the point.

If I saw myself as a slave of God, totally at His service, how would my actions be different today?

Blue Train

I have been on a health/exercise kick for the last 8 months. Well, I was on a health/exercise kick through the spring and then took a week ...I mean a month...I mean a season off this summer. I didn't fall off the wagon completely. I guess you could say I "dabbled." I hit the gym every once in a while but I wasn't training like I had been. I had made so much progress during the spring but as I stopped training I just plateaued. And I certainly didn't feel too healthy.

I am back into a good exercise schedule now and I feel so much better. But I realize that it requires discipline and a plan. I know that I can be healthier by training myself to be healthy. I think I see some parallels with my spiritual life.

Paul encourages his young friend, Timothy in the Bible by saying, "Train yourself to be godly" (1 Timothy 4:7). That's good advice. I cannot just be "godly" just like I cannot just be "healthy." I have to train. There have been times in my life when I have just "dabbled" in spiritual exercise. I don't seem to make much progress in my behavior when I have dabbled. I am not really more loving. I can be very selfish and prideful when I don't train to be godly. But when I have a plan for spiritual development I seem to make more progress. I am nicer to my kids. I treat Brandie like she deserves to be treated. I am more loving, more forgiving, more grace-giving. I find myself putting others first more often. But none of those behaviors happens unless I am training myself to be godly.

Daily spiritual exercise - prayer, a Scripture diet - are critical to becoming godly. What's your training plan? What exercises would you share with me that help you be more like Jesus?