something in the mailbox from God

I went to college before the computer/internet revolution, and though we had heard the coming WWW, we still relied on the USPS and AT&T for our long distance communication. I had a mailbox on campus (box 800332) that I checked everyday, hoping that there would be a note from someone who cared about me, or--even better--that yellow slip of paper from the campus postmaster that meant I had a package waiting.

Now that I'm all grown up, there are days when I dread going to the electronic mail box, for I know that I will have a pile of email waiting. Most of it will have to do with things that I'm either not interested in, or not supposed to look at, or be from the faithful followers of Jesus in Nigeria. But even when the mail is intended for me and OK for all viewing audiences, I find it difficult to get jazzed about the email.

I used to find myself feeling the same way about reading the Bible--like it was too familiar, too accessible, rote and routine. I know, that sounds terrible. But it was true. I ran into a new train of thought that's got me back to a place of excitement, though. Becky Tirabassi was here in March, and she challenged us tot look at each day, each time with God, each daily Bible reading as an opportunity to hear God speak.

I used to think: I've got to read my Bible today.

Now I think: I can't wait to see what God has to say to me today!

It's like looking forward to visiting the post office--there's something great waiting in my mailbox!

time flies when you're having fun

Wow, how quickly the time passes. Baseball got into full swing, and my time vanished. But we're near the end of the season now. The Varsity team is in the playoff finals, and my responsibilities have been minimized.

I am excited for the end of the school year. I want to spend time every week doing something in the great outdoors this summer. Kayaking, hiking, climbing, caving...I want to get out where the wild things are.

I was reading this morning about the boundaries God laid out for the land he promised Israel. Without getting into too many specifics, their land stretched from wilderness to water. You can read about it in Numbers 34.

Wilderness to water...that sounds good to me.

$145162.00 per day

That's what Roger Clemens is going to be paid for throwing a baseball this summer. He announced his return to the Yankees last night from George Steinbrenner's box at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will pay him $28, 000, 022.00 (the last 22 is for his uniform #--isn't that cute?) for his skills.

Clemens, who has amassed quite an impressive resume, will turn 45 in August.

Mind boggling.

We knew Clemens would be back, and that he would sign for a boatload of cash. And he is still a dominant pitcher. But wow...

our local high school students walk out of class in protest

Wow. I'm not even sure what to say.

Read the article and watch video here.

I know that some of our students from church were in the protest, as were some of my baseball players. I don't know how much they really want to be heard, or if the idea of a walkout was overpowering.

I believe that students deserve to be heard, that they often have something to say, and that their opinions matter. I don't think that a walkout over someone offering to build a 100 million (that's right--100 stinkin million) dollar complex for you is justified.

Maybe if the students were upset that this money was being spent on a new complex instead of feeding the hungry, digging wells for those dying from a lack of clean drinking water, or providing homes for those without, or fighting slavery...maybe then I could see a walkout.

But I didn't hear that in what the students were saying. It sounded more like, "Hey! Walkout! Let's blow off class and get on TV."

But what do I know?

a little hope, sort of

Today has been a day of hard, sad news. A family friend passed away. A friend (who I thought was staying) is moving. Other friends are traveling out of town to check out jobs.

Some days it's hard to see the forest...

Psalm 30 reminds me that Weeping may last through the night,but joy comes with the morning.

Quick Hits

Times are good...

My family got home safely from a spontaneous vacation out to MO to visit Kim's sister and her family. The kids played on the trampoline the WHOLE time.

Kim's sister is pregnant, which is awesome news!

My JV baseball team is playing good ball. We're hitting well over .400, and have scored 100 runs in 10 games. 2 different young men have tossed no-hitters for us! We barely beat a tornado out of Punxsutawney tonight.

I've watched baseball all my life, but saw a triple play for the first time ever Sunday afternoon. Chipper Jones lined out to Rockies' shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who stepped on second base to double up Kelly Johnson, the tagged out Edgar Renteria for the third out. Cool. I hated to see it happen to the Braves, but cool, nonetheless.

We started taking advantage of the nice weather Sunday afternoon by meeting at the Barn for House Party. It was great to hang out around the fire and talk about seeing God's glory in his creation.

Our student ministry/church got $1000 seed money from ArkALMIGHTY to start doing good deeds in the community, which will play nicely among our Summer SPLAT (Serving, Loving, Praying Around Town) plans.

I was working on compiling our baseball stats tonight and overheard John Kruk (ESPN baseball analyst) predict that the Pirates would be in first place by the end of May. Yikes. Signs of the Apocalypse...