Just a Couple Ideas...

I had the fortunate benefit of conversing with a very good friend of mine via an email exchange. I asked her how she was, where she was, and how she was doing. She told me that she could see God in the faces of all the people that were around her as well as knowing that no matter where she is, she is at home because God is there with her. I have been marinating on that statement for a few days now. The deeper those words have sunk into my heart, the more I've come to know them to be true.

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How do you determine what you should let roll off your back and when you should turnaround and engage whomever or whatever angers or frustrates you? I think that it is a very fine line; each situation should be measured. I do not think that other people should be the target for any issues that have directly affected you. When life presses on your wishes and seems to be suffocating your dreams, it's those friends and families that love you that you must lean on just to save you from drowning.

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I hung up the phone after a short conversation with my sister yesterday and was left to only chuckle at the chaos that was developing on the other end of the call. She burst up laughing, nearly bleeding my ear with the suddenness of her joyous giggle. See, my sister's husband had a NERF basketball and tossed it to his son for him to catch. His little hands clasped in front of his face after the ball bounced off his head. He smiled and his little voice was full of happiness. At the same time, my sister tossed the ball she was holding in her hand towards her husband. It bounced off his head as well. As I heard the ensuing hilarity, I wished more than ever that I could have left my office and been there with them.

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I had the opportunity to attend Small Group last night at the home of some very good friends of mine. Surprisingly no games of Mexican Train dominoes, or Mah Jong, or RumiCube broke out. Instead we enjoyed a very thorough analysis of Nehemiah Ch. 1. M did a fantastic job putting the study into perspective as she provided an excellent contextual synopsis of the events that determined the model for the text. We discussed everything from pressing unresolved domestic issues as well as conflicts that are occurring presently in the Middle East. We resolved that prayer is an absolute necessity in such times; prayer for our country, and for the world's leaders as every decision they make impacts not only them but the world as a whole.