Giving Thanks

 I wish I could come up with a clever spin on Thanksgiving, but nothing is coming to me.  Let me just say that I have so many things to be thankful for, and I am quite sure I take most of them for granted most of the time.   Here's what I got:  The opportunity to work at something I love with my son, Michael, and Janet.   Relatively good health.  Close friends to share life with.  My mom and brothers close by.  Kids that are close by and grounded.  Six grandkids that are pure joy (and energy).  My precious wife, Caroline.  A church with people we love and that loves others.  A Savior that died for me.  I hope your list is long, too.  But if it isn't, I pray that 2021 brings you new hope and new life.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Uncommon collaboration

 

For those of you that follow this blog, you know how important music is to me and my family.  I love most styles from symphonic to pop to country.  I wasn't that interested in country music before Carrie Underwood made her debut on American Idol.  I get that most long-time country fans don't consider Carrie "real"  country music, but she is what started it for me.  I think my country horizons have expanded some since then.  Caroline and I are currently watching Ken Burn's documentary on country music which is fascinating.  Many see the Carter family in SW Virginia as being the roots of country music in the United States.  My parents were from this area, and we visited the Carter Family Fold as young adults, way before I was able to appreciate it.  There are two trends in pop music that I have noticed.  The first is the collaborations between different genres.  The second is that artists from all genres are getting more bold singing about their faith.  I don't know what is in these artist's hearts, but I choose to believe they are sharing something that represents truth to them.  I was thrilled to see this collaboration from Carrie and John Legend, who  is also one of my favorites.  Merry pre-Thanksgiving Christmas.

...building up

 I watched our country, my friends and my family struggle with the decision over who to elect as president.  I struggled myself, but not publicly.  I can't imagine the pressure that will be on Joe Biden as he takes office.  The problems are enormously complex, and there won't be any easy solutions.  Complicated solutions will cost a lot of money, and I understand I will be paying my share of that.  I am encouraged that Biden is claiming to depend on his faith and on the Bible.  I hope that is true and becomes more true over time.  He referenced Eclesiastes: 3, 1-3 in one of his speeches. " For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up."   I am praying hard for that building up part.

Unbridled Love

I was shocked and saddened this week when I learned that the sister of one of my best friends was killed in an automobile accident this week.  My friend was devastated, but I treasure the few minutes we had to speak by phone.  I could think of nothing to say that would help.  His love for her is unbridled, and he misses her deeply already.  I just listened.  In the midst of unspeakable sadness, it is only God that gives us strength because of the promise of being reunited one day.  One of my friend's pastors recorded this message, no doubt with my friend in mind.

His Hands and Feet

I was fortunate to be able to take a few days away from work this week to visit some of my relatives in North Carolina this week.   Caroline is my wife, and her brother has some serious health problems that have put him in and out of the hospital.  He is currently living on his own, but some basic life tasks are difficult.  It was great to be able to spend time with him and address some of the things that have been slowing him down.  But the best part of my visit was getting to see Caroline in action.  She is one of the most nurturing people I have ever known and is amazing at finding a balance between providing for her brother and loving him with strength and grace.  I got to see Jesus working through her this week, so I feel like I know Him a little better now.

Defo

 

If you are an NFL fan, and especially if you are a Colts fan, you know about DeForest Buckner, or "Defo".  Buckner was traded offseason this year to the Colts from the 49er's in exchange for a first round draft pick.  (Buckner 49er's highlights here.)  While he was initially disappointed with the trade, he tweeted yesterday, "Coming here, they went beyond my expectations. This is where I'm supposed to be." In addition to the excitement of being the NFL's highest paid defensive lineman, and a win over the Bengals on Sunday, Buckner had something else to celebrate.  He committed his life to Christ and was baptized.    Defo gives a lot of credit for his decision to follow Christ to the 49er's chaplain, Earl Smith.   Earl has his own great story.   After being shot 6 times in a drug raid in 1975, Earl committed his life to Christ and to a 25 year prison ministry that led him to the opportunity to be the chaplain for the 49er's and the Golden State Warriors. I love to see God working in His people, and with so many celebrities/athletes seemingly having no interest in God, I love it when He finds a way to break through to one of them.  Praise God.

Lured

 

Josh grew up in a small town in North Georgia.  He was relatively athletic, but was more into tennis and wakeboarding than team sports.  His dad, William, also grew up in North Georgia.  William had a job working at one of the carpet manufacturers, but his real passion was fishing, and he developed a knack for making his own lures.  His friends that he fished with saw his fishing success and hoped that the lures might have something to do with it.  William started making lures for his friends in his garage, and after several years, was selling them on eBay.  The lures became very popular, and a friend of Williams approached him about turning William's hobby into a business.  With money from the friend, and William's lures and reputation, the "lure" business grew into a successful company selling several lines of products for the outdoorsman.

 

At first Josh wasn't that interested in his dad's business - except for the fact that his company's success did allow the family to own an above average wakeboard boat.  Josh took full advantage hosting his high school buddies for hours of fun at the lake.  

 

But as Josh begun considering colleges, he recognized that his dad's company might offer him a place to land when he graduated.  He elected to go to a technical school to study process improvement and advanced manufacturing techniques.  He had seen how time intensive it was for his dad to make his lures and knew that the cost to produce them could be less with a better process.  He studied hard and made good grades.  On the weekends, when his dad was out fishing with friends, he would spend hours in his dad's workshop exploring what materials his dad had used to make the lures and pouring over pencil sketches of lures stored in one of the drawers in his shop. 

In one of his final classes in college, Josh had to redesign a manufacturing process for an existing product.  Without direct help from his dad, Josh used everything he had learned from his dad's shop and in college to redesign the manufacturing process for a new fishing lure.  Josh hoped that his commitment to the project would help secure a place for him in his dad's business.

After graduating college with honors, Josh got with his dad to present the new lure manufacturing process.  His dad listened intently and was pleased with his son's work.  Then Josh asked his dad if he could be the Director of Manufacturing for the lure side of the business, promising to reduce production costs by 20% within the first year.  William looked at his son, but didn't respond.  A growing feeling of rejection started welling up in Josh's stomach. It was so strong that he thought he was going to puke.  He didn't know whether to bust out crying or scream in rage.  "All of that work.  All of that time.  Wasted.  All for nothing.", he thought.  Finally after what seemed like hours to Josh, but was probably only a few seconds, his dad said, "Josh, I love you so much.  I will help you find a good entry level position in the right company - whether it's my company or another company."  Josh couldn't believe it.  "How could you do this to me, your own son, after all I have done?"  His dad replied carefully, "I just wanted you to come fishing with me."

 

(Disclaimer:  While this parable is mine, the idea was completely inspired by J. I. Packer's Knowing God.)