Laundry is a funny thing around my house. I don’t know, maybe it is around your house too. In my house, laundry is a daily activity…or at least should be. We don’t make a daily one, as there are mounds of clothes currently in my hall outside the laundry closet to testify to this. However, whenever my wife and I trudge up the will to fight the battle ahead, it usually happens in heaps. Yep, we usually grab one big, supersized mound of clothes and throw it in the wash. Sometimes they’re even separated into whites, darks, and towels. Depending on how much there is to do will usually determine the time and effort put toward the proper separation of the clothes. That’s probably not too uncommon from house to house in America is we’re honest with ourselves. Then, the process usually continues with the steps of washing the clothes. In our case, we turn the water on, dump in the soap and close the lid. What caught my attention today were all the dials on the washer. Sure, I’ve seen them many times, but common, who really uses all those. Seriously! In our house, regardless of the size of the load that goes in the wash, the dial that adjusts the water according to the size is ALWAYS on “LARGE”. There are two other settings; “SMALL” and “MEDIUM”. Those suckers NEVER get used in my house. On top of that, there’s actually a line in your laundry detergent cap to show you where to fill the cap up to depending on the size load you are washing. Once again, our loads (regardless of size) all get the full cap of laundry detergent. HA, isn’t that a bit silly? Is that the way it works in your house too? (My wife hates me right now for revealing the way we do laundry in our house, I’m sure.) Today, I’m proud to say I took one more step closer to correcting myself. I actually switched the “LARGE” dial to “SMALL”, which was appropriate for the size load today. However, I still filled the cap up and dumped it in before I thought about what I was doing. Guess old habits will die hard.
My laundry experience today made me thing of the parable of the workers in the Bible. You know, the one where all the workers get paid the same amount of wages at the end of the day, regardless of how much time they’d put in. Here, check out the parable below.
Matt 20:1-16
"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. To them he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’ "They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ "He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’ When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ "When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’ "But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
Just as my laundry received the same amount of cleanser to be washed, so did the workers receive the same wage. This story is ultimately about our choosing Christ. It doesn’t matter if you come to Christ late in life or early, the reward is the same. The Grace that enables your cleansing is the same. No matter how big the mound of dirt is in your life, or how small, the same love and mercy and forgiveness is offered to all. God’s not in the business of define who is better than another because ALL have sinned and are in need of a savior. The question for me is, am I offering grace in equal amounts like Christ, or am I stingy and choosy with my grace? What about you?
Monday, April 18, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Don't worry, be happy...right?
Why is it so hard to do? You would think there would be many more daunting tasks in life that would take much more of our concentrated efforts to accomplish. Seriously, aren't there bigger distractions in life than little ole "worry". I think I'd have to say, "no!" In all reality, worry weighs on each of us every day. Proverbs even tells us worry weighs on us. I've fallen into worry's trap today and as I write this my mental exhaustion has taken it's toll on me physically. In other words, my stress and anxiety about the day have now brought me to a place where I'm too tired to experience the rest of my day. There's definitely a reason God tells us not to worry. What's more, God tells us we can't add anything to our lives by worrying. The problem for me is, I'm so dang good at it. And, as anyone would, I hate to stop something I'm talented at. ;) All this to say, today my prayer is to let go a little more and rest easy in the arms of my savior. After all, what better place is there for me to be?
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Soap Molding
Don’t worry folks; this isn’t a blog about moldy soap. However, this is a blog about molding soap. This, again, isn’t to be confused with the process in which soap has been left untouched for months and as a result, in it moist environment begins to mold. No, rather, this is about the process of molding two bars of soap together. You know…soap molding.
Have you ever molded two bars of soap together? I’m sure you have, even if you haven’t noticed. The process goes a little something like this. After a given time span (depending on the size of the bar of soap and the number of times per day it’s used) a bar of soap (we’ll say one that’s in the shower) begins to dwindle. It’s just the nature of the beast. You use the bar to wash, and the more you use, the smaller and thinner the bar gets. After some time the bar reaches a flimsy like plastic state in which it becomes rather cumbersome to use effectively. It’s at this time you realize a new bar is necessary. However, what do you do with the remainder of the bar that’s left? After all, it’s still soap and can still be used to cleanse, right? Many might throw it out into the hand soap tray on the sink. But let’s face it, though you’d still finish off the soap, it might look a little tacky. So I say no, the more proper thing to due is leave it in the shower. Get a new bar and use that new bar for cleaning one time. At the end of it’s first use, take the old flimsy bar and lay it on top of the new bar that’s just been used. Come back a day later and you have begun your soap molding process.
Depending on the thickness of the old bar, you can have a unibar of soap in as little as one day. Sometimes, the molding process takes a little longer. Occasionally the old bar isn’t quite ready for molding and for whatever reason (justified or not) you decide to press your luck with soap molding and see if you can force a proper molding of the soaps. However, this isn’t the best idea. Soaps need to be used to a point before their ready. I’ve tried to force two soaps before the proper time. The result was the two united bars separating again. That can be really frustrating for some reason. No, the best thing to do is to be patient with your soap…make sure it gets to the correct stage in its soap life, and then when ready, bring the two soaps together for proper molding and perfect results. Still, some bars may mold quicker than others, but all will eventually adapt and mold together. It's such a silly little process for saving soap. Wonder what it would look like if we used this method in saving souls?
Have you ever molded two bars of soap together? I’m sure you have, even if you haven’t noticed. The process goes a little something like this. After a given time span (depending on the size of the bar of soap and the number of times per day it’s used) a bar of soap (we’ll say one that’s in the shower) begins to dwindle. It’s just the nature of the beast. You use the bar to wash, and the more you use, the smaller and thinner the bar gets. After some time the bar reaches a flimsy like plastic state in which it becomes rather cumbersome to use effectively. It’s at this time you realize a new bar is necessary. However, what do you do with the remainder of the bar that’s left? After all, it’s still soap and can still be used to cleanse, right? Many might throw it out into the hand soap tray on the sink. But let’s face it, though you’d still finish off the soap, it might look a little tacky. So I say no, the more proper thing to due is leave it in the shower. Get a new bar and use that new bar for cleaning one time. At the end of it’s first use, take the old flimsy bar and lay it on top of the new bar that’s just been used. Come back a day later and you have begun your soap molding process.
Depending on the thickness of the old bar, you can have a unibar of soap in as little as one day. Sometimes, the molding process takes a little longer. Occasionally the old bar isn’t quite ready for molding and for whatever reason (justified or not) you decide to press your luck with soap molding and see if you can force a proper molding of the soaps. However, this isn’t the best idea. Soaps need to be used to a point before their ready. I’ve tried to force two soaps before the proper time. The result was the two united bars separating again. That can be really frustrating for some reason. No, the best thing to do is to be patient with your soap…make sure it gets to the correct stage in its soap life, and then when ready, bring the two soaps together for proper molding and perfect results. Still, some bars may mold quicker than others, but all will eventually adapt and mold together. It's such a silly little process for saving soap. Wonder what it would look like if we used this method in saving souls?
Monday, April 4, 2011
Only Time Will Tell
A friend of mine (Anthony Schaeffer) and I met today for our discipleship/writers group. Today, we had some extra time and decided to collaborate on two stories. We spent 30 minutes writing two stories, trading computers every five minutes regardless of where we were in the story. Even if in mid-sentence. The story below is the result of the one I started. His blog (Wanderings) has the other posted on it. I guess the question for you, the reader, is, how would you end it?
Only Time Will Tell
She slowly bent down on at the foot of her bed. Placing her arm across the bed board she rested her head on her forearm, face to the ground. It was the bed she had grown up in, but had long since moved beyond. Now, at 34, there wasn’t a real need for a twin sized day bed filled with stuffed bears and pink pillows. However, here she set at the end of that very bed. The head board pushed tightly to the wall, she occupied the space at the foot of the bed. This bed was a catalyst for so many memories. She slowly raised her head, mascara running down her cheeks, like a child, she brushed her forearm just under her nose as she sniffed. It was hard to believe that she was leaving her home for a new life in Los Angles.
Her husband of just over a week has a job in sales for Paramount Studios he starts next Monday, that leaves just a day short of a week for Miranda to pack up her life and fly out to L.A. to join him. As she is looking at the mementos of her childhood she is transported back to her first ballet recital. She recalled how the butter flies in her seven year old stomach made her want to run. She wasn’t scared of successfully pulling off her dance routine, she knew she was good…even at seven. She had stage fright worse than anyone though. She remembers how Steven, the only boy in the class, ran up to her and gave her a hug. He said, “Miranda, you can do this. Just pretend you’re at the studio and the only people watching are your parents and me.” She raised her head up from her forearm, wiped the snot on her sleeve and said, “Thanks Steven!” She went out and was, as expected, the best performer of the day.
Snapping back in to reality, she grabbed Floppy off the bed. Floppy was a stuffed dog with a long tail and two floppy ears. One ear shorter than the other. Miranda couldn’t believe what she’d discovered about her husband. Floppy was the first gift she’d ever received from him. She held Floppy tight and buried her face in Floppy’s head as the rains came flowing from her eyes. Miranda’s husband didn’t know she knew…but she did.
She was scarred at the thought of being so far away from the small frame, Kentucky house that she had grown up in. But she was married to the man that she loved, and hopefully with enough patience she could make him love her. Mom told her that she would have to be the tower of strength in this relationship, the glue that would bond them together. She would have to be the loving supportive house wife that would make him forget those texts he got while on their honeymoon. How could he, just days before stand before God and pledge to love her and receive these messages from his ex.
They had been down this road before and he had assured her that it was over. Those naked pictures on his iPhone sure told a different story. That did not look like the type of message you send someone who told you it was over. Had Miranda been taken for a fool? Only time would tell.
Only Time Will Tell
She slowly bent down on at the foot of her bed. Placing her arm across the bed board she rested her head on her forearm, face to the ground. It was the bed she had grown up in, but had long since moved beyond. Now, at 34, there wasn’t a real need for a twin sized day bed filled with stuffed bears and pink pillows. However, here she set at the end of that very bed. The head board pushed tightly to the wall, she occupied the space at the foot of the bed. This bed was a catalyst for so many memories. She slowly raised her head, mascara running down her cheeks, like a child, she brushed her forearm just under her nose as she sniffed. It was hard to believe that she was leaving her home for a new life in Los Angles.
Her husband of just over a week has a job in sales for Paramount Studios he starts next Monday, that leaves just a day short of a week for Miranda to pack up her life and fly out to L.A. to join him. As she is looking at the mementos of her childhood she is transported back to her first ballet recital. She recalled how the butter flies in her seven year old stomach made her want to run. She wasn’t scared of successfully pulling off her dance routine, she knew she was good…even at seven. She had stage fright worse than anyone though. She remembers how Steven, the only boy in the class, ran up to her and gave her a hug. He said, “Miranda, you can do this. Just pretend you’re at the studio and the only people watching are your parents and me.” She raised her head up from her forearm, wiped the snot on her sleeve and said, “Thanks Steven!” She went out and was, as expected, the best performer of the day.
Snapping back in to reality, she grabbed Floppy off the bed. Floppy was a stuffed dog with a long tail and two floppy ears. One ear shorter than the other. Miranda couldn’t believe what she’d discovered about her husband. Floppy was the first gift she’d ever received from him. She held Floppy tight and buried her face in Floppy’s head as the rains came flowing from her eyes. Miranda’s husband didn’t know she knew…but she did.
She was scarred at the thought of being so far away from the small frame, Kentucky house that she had grown up in. But she was married to the man that she loved, and hopefully with enough patience she could make him love her. Mom told her that she would have to be the tower of strength in this relationship, the glue that would bond them together. She would have to be the loving supportive house wife that would make him forget those texts he got while on their honeymoon. How could he, just days before stand before God and pledge to love her and receive these messages from his ex.
They had been down this road before and he had assured her that it was over. Those naked pictures on his iPhone sure told a different story. That did not look like the type of message you send someone who told you it was over. Had Miranda been taken for a fool? Only time would tell.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Oddity of the Ipod
Have you ever thought about how weird it is to walk around with your own personal theme music for a day? In a sense, that’s what we do when we pop those classic white ear buds into our ear with the flimsy, matching wire running down to the Ipod power module which seamlessly transports us into our own musical Universe. It’s not our musical universe because we choose what’s being played, rather it’s ours because each song chosen has meaning and feeling that is related specifically to us. Its meaning may be known to all, it may not, but it is always known to one…you. It’s that connection that makes the Ipod (or any pocket music device) so odd. Not odd as in “unique”, but odd as in peculiar. This strange little device has the power to make an individual walk around with a flood of emotions in which the individual unconsciously assumes everyone around them understands. Because you hear the music of your universe, yet you exist in the conscious reality of the living, you are a paradox. Yes, you have something special going on and you can feel it! If someone shoots you a weird look, you shoot one back as if they’re crazy for not hearing the music that announced your grand entrance. The feeling is undeniably incredible to walk around blasting your own personal theme music for the moment, while you unconsciously assume everyone else here’s it and knows it's YOU coming! It’s almost like walking in a movie and you’re the star that gets music played in every scene that you’re in. It’s really weird, isn’t it? I mean, if we walked around thinking people could hear the voices in our heads…wouldn’t we all be crazy?
Strangely enough, Christians ARE crazy…right? Don’t we go around as if everyone can hear and understand the music we walk in the room to? Don’t we act as though everyone gets it and if they don’t they are an idiot for not understanding and so there for, they get condemned? We all have different tastes when it comes to music. And simply because your music is great to you and fits your personal walk doesn’t mean its music that everyone likes. However, we all love music. That’s the Christian approach to telling others about Christ. Our personal theme song is our approach and delivery. However, the music is Christianity. So what’s your theme music sound like? Is it too much for others to understand?
Blessings in Christ,
Derek
Strangely enough, Christians ARE crazy…right? Don’t we go around as if everyone can hear and understand the music we walk in the room to? Don’t we act as though everyone gets it and if they don’t they are an idiot for not understanding and so there for, they get condemned? We all have different tastes when it comes to music. And simply because your music is great to you and fits your personal walk doesn’t mean its music that everyone likes. However, we all love music. That’s the Christian approach to telling others about Christ. Our personal theme song is our approach and delivery. However, the music is Christianity. So what’s your theme music sound like? Is it too much for others to understand?
Blessings in Christ,
Derek
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