is going to call it a day.

officially headed to the "king of all fast food" - McDonalds! Then off to 'the music man' - jr. high version.

is done setting up a www.ping.fm account. Let's see if it works!

The Road

Today I had a great conversation with my pastor about what the life of a follower of Christ should look like. He gave a great analogy that hopefully I can relate to you.

Following Christ is like driving down a road with a ditch on either side of the road. On one side you can label the ditch "all grace - live as you want." On the other side you can label the ditch "legalism."

Here is the reality, when we follow Christ we want to stay on the road in between "all grace - live as you want" and "legalism."

"The challenge of following Christ is staying balanced in an out of balance
world."

We can't fall in the ditch of "all grace - live as you want" because Paul said in the book of Romans; "should I go on sinning that grace may abound? Absolutely not!"

On the other hand, we can't fall in the ditch of "legalism" because Jesus said; "he who is without sin cast the first stone."

The truth is that our goal is to be like Christ.

I think that striving to be like Christ is staying on the road not in the ditch.

New Beginnings

Today, we engaged in a newcomer's lunch at COB, and what a wonderful time that it was. It was nice for a few reasons:

1) It is refreshing to once again talk about the vision.
2) It is refreshing to see 'that look.' ('That look' is the look in the eyes of someone that 'buys into' your vision.)
3) It is refreshing to begin new relationships.
4) Beginnings are just refreshing because you get to 'start anew' and see what God does.

Lord, help COB as we bring into our family a new group of people. Give us fresh energy to follow the vision that you have given us to worship you, preach the word, engage in community, and share our witness.

Wow

I was in Taco Bell today when some friends whom we have know for a long time came in the restuarant. As I saw them, it was like this breath of fresh air. I was happy to see them! I hugged her - then hugged him - then had a flitter in my heart! It is good to have people like that in life. People that when you see them, you are genuinly happy! People that make you feel good to know. People that bring a smile to your face and a flitter to your heart when you see them. People that even if you don't see them for some time, it is like they were never gone. People who you wish were family, but are glad that they are not because your family would probably run them off. I have such people.

I hope that you can have a Cris and Polly in your life as well!

Finishing the race

I was thinking recently about the Olympics. If you were like me, you spent more then your fair share of time watching Olympic coverage into the late hours of the night. Much time was spent on the "under achieving" USA track team. There was much commentary about how sprinters were not winning races that should have been theirs and how individuals and relay teams were not even making it past their qualifying races.

BUT

I was taken back by the woman's 4 x 100 relay team. Like the men's team, they dropped their baton and were disqualified. Actually, let me rephrase that - the men were disqualified, the woman finished in last.

Here is the difference. When the men dropped the baton - they left it on the track.

The woman dropped the baton, but instead of letting it lie there standing around in dismay, they picked it up and ran to the finish.

Although they did not finish first, as a matter of fact, they did not even qualify for the finals, they still finished.

The truth is, the batons in our lives are dropped a lot. We yell at the kids. We fight unfairly with are spouse. We cheat. We lie. We think about what we shouldn't. We look at what we shouldn't.

We drop the baton.

Don't stand there and be dismayed that you dropped it.

Pick it up and keep running.

DON'T QUIT!