wdawg56's Xanga

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:50:29 GMT

It's been forever since I've posted anything on this blog. I haven't had time. I really haven't had the desire. Seems like these things go in waves. There is frenzied activity for a while .... then it all slows down to a trickle.

In case anyone is wondering, our lives are going well:

Robbie is working in the WKU library. But not today ... the roads are covered in ice. No traveling for her.

Jake is enrolled at WKU as a philosophy major. He's doing well. Making good grades. He still works part time at Dunham's Sporting goods.

Bethany is still working at the doctor's office. This husband and wife team are so disorganized, it drives her crazy.

I'm still leading worship at Celebrate Recovery. As of today, I have right at 24 music students. Pays the bills :) My second book is just a few inches away from publication.

Toby got loose the other day. Thankfully, he didn't get very far. His over sensitive nose kept him occupied with local smells long enough for me to track him down.

Well, that's all for now ladies and gents.

peace,

I'm back

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:35:32 GMT

I tried and tried to post a picture of Max ... my daughter's Boston Terrier. But, the quality was soooo good, it would have taken my antique computer over an hour to do it. Something about too many pixies or fairies or trolls or some magical creature.

Anyway ... you get to enjoy this lovely image today.

It's been a while since my last post. I just kind of needed a break. Sorry for going mute on you cats and kittens out there in blog land.

Let's see ... what's worth talking about?

My wife got a kick'en job as assistant librarian at the WKU Curriculum Library. She mostly likes it except for trying to find parking places. They love her. She won out over many applicants for that job. Usually you have to be related to or know somebody to get hired there.

Bethany is settled into her apartment just a few blocks away. Max is growing. Bethany is slowly getting used to being single ... as well as her new place of employment. She also has become the lead singer in our Celebrate Recovery band on Sunday nights.

Jake is a full time employee at a local sporting goods store. He's trying to get accepted at WKU for the winter term. They're giving us the run around since he was home-schooled. I'm fix'en to jack some jaw if they don't straighten out. (all in love, of course)

I'm making at least a little money giving music lessons and leading worship at CR. I'm working feverishly on my next (third) book on Matthew's gospel. My second book "Trusting God in Unfamiliar Territory" is due out hopefully in November. We'll see. Seems like this one is taking forever.

These days it's like our family is moving out of the fog of hurt and disappointment and into the light. We don't know what that light is. But we do know it feels better than darkness.

Have a happy day!

Back Street Bacon

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:48:24 GMT

Wha-chu look'en at?

Hardcore Porkage is where it's at.

Don't have much to say today. I just got back from disc golfing ... threw 2 under. Whoooo for me.

Been thinking lately about Jesus and how he dealt with people. I've been working on my third book ... which will be on Jesus' teachings in the gospel of Matthew. I'm noticing that what we've called "universal" truth, might actually be more specific in nature. For instance, when Jesus talked with the arrogant church leaders he used one tone and approach. When he talked with sinners, he used another. Which means, what he told the pharisees probably applies to arrogant self righteous people. And what he told to sinners applies to sinners.

I've been encouraging folks to read the gospels with this in mind. Find people you identify with and observe how Jesus dealt with them. Feel his body language. Listen between the lines. Get a sense of his level of affection and/or disapproval in each situation.

The thing is, so many people are ambiguous about God ... or even outright doubtful about his motives toward them. But Jesus said "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father." So, if Jesus treats sinners with love and respect, I'm guessing the Father feels the same way. Maybe that's why he sent his Son to die so we don't have to.

Oh ... and none of this has anything to do with the pig at the top. I just know how much all you cats and kittens love my crazy pictures.

Hugs and kisses,
W

Snake Bait

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:27:44 GMT

This dude is ready. He was cool even as a tadpole. Frog chicks dig him. I mean, what's not to love? He just has that look that goes all over you. I'm thinking he hangs with powerful people and eats imported bugs. His popularity rating is off the chain. You know what I mean.

But he still ain't nothing more than snake bait. One strike and he's toast ... a lump in a slithering hose. Groovy doesn't count on a serpent's radar. I don't know too many snakes who are impressed with fashion. They're just hungry. And Mr. Cool is on the menu.

Wake up people. "Life is not about what you wear ... It's not what goes into a man that defiles (defines) him. But, what comes out ... If you do good before men to be seen, you already have your reward." This frog is the amphibious equivalent of the pharisees in the New Testament and I'm ashamed to say, the equivalent of most American church people. We're all about putting off the cool vibe. We dress the part. Spout the lingo. Eat at the hot spots. We're just plain groovy ... from our fashion to our ride. And we're nothing more than snake bait.

Get real. Be who you are ... the person God had in mind when you were created. The serpent is rather put off by authenticity. Now that's what I'm talking about.

T-bone Chipmunk

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:37:29 GMT

Let's call this little dude "T-bone". Obviously, he's slightly more aggressive than the average ground squirrel. Or maybe he just has a taste for the finer things in life. Anyway, just another silly picture I found on the Internet.

So what's going on in the Dawg's world?

1) I parred the Lover's Lane disc golf course today ... in gusty winds and 93 degree temps. If I'd had just a couple of lucky breaks, I would have gone under par.

2) I keep picking up new music students. If this keeps up, I'll be able to pay the bills one of these days. What a novel idea. (You think I'm joking. I'm dead serious.)

3) My editor and I talked the other night. We're shooting for mid October as the release time for my next book "Trusting God in Unfamiliar Territory".

4) If you are a pray...er I'd like you to pay attention to this one. I'm feeling a growing fire in my bosom to start a new work here in BG. I'd like to partner with other pastors, form a butt kick'en worship team and meet in a warehouse to minister to all kinds of people who don't really want to attend normal church. I'm discovering a growing group of people who love Jesus, but are fed up with the programming, politics, plastic and power moves of organized church. We need to gather together and worship Jesus minus all the commercial trappings we Americans have so carefully perfected.

I would hope a normal gathering would include bikers, skaters, gays, lesbians, alcoholics, drug addicts, homeless people, AIDS victims, immigrants, minorities, the worn out wealthy, the poor, ex-cons ... all who are "weary and heavy laden".

That's all for now good people. Make a comment. I'll send you a piece of candy.

WDawg

Fluid Motion

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:08:17 GMT

Hi faithful few. Nobody drops by much any more. Probably the end of summer blues. I'm tired of the heat. Are you? I bought a tire today. And I ate a salad.

On Tuesday I disc golfed my favorite course with a personal best ... 4 under. It was at least 102 degrees. I was alone. I took my time and drank lots of water. I just missed two putts ... that would have put me at 6 under.

I think I'll go out in the back yard and practice my putting right now ... before it gets dark.

Have a lovely life.

The Healing Powers of Goldfish

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:22:58 GMT

Few things in life heal me like nature. Say I'm having the most horrid day (or series of days) in the history of the universe. My heart feels like it's in a vice. My mind resembles the first few seconds after you pour a puzzle out on the table. And then I take a walk in the woods or by a stream ... or maybe I just sit under a tree in the breeze. The best description I can come up with is that God uses creation like an IV drip straight into one of my major arteries.

Try this some time. You'll feel the life flowing back into you. This great big world, given half a chance, draws you back into balance ... into correct perspective. You, and your problems, no longer seem so huge when viewed against the backdrop of a planet. There is a power and majesty to it all ... a permanence that defies crises and urgency.

Take the lowly squirrel. Just because they're fast when they do move doesn't mean they're in a hurry. In spite of predators, harsh conditions and food shortages, they find time to chase each other around, scold strangers and sun themselves on lazy branches. These guys are a hoot. And that's just page one of this book. There are tons of bugs, birds, bobcats, bucks and blue skies. There's no end to it once you get settled in.

The plastic productivity our culture has pressed upon us is not God's original intent for humanity. He started us out in a freak'en garden for goodness sake. Come on. Why settle for concrete and neon. Step into the forest. Listen. Slow down. Soak in. Sleep if you want. Slip deep into the medication that God is trying to drip into your veins.

Who knows ... He may even include His secret ingredient ... the healing powers of Goldfish.

precision

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 03:00:10 GMT

Those who risk diving from great heights into small receptacles have to be the best. They're ranked way above average. Their life calls for this kind of precision. You have to be at the right place at the right time. You have to have your game on. You need to practice like a fiend. You must try and keep trying until you get it right. Otherwise you'll miss your target and wind up as a pile of mush on the floor.

This is what our culture would like us to believe. Close is not good enough. Only those who can hit the bullseye every time will survive. This picture reminds us of the demands that await us around each corner.

But (and this is a huge BUT) ... what if the hand holding the cup has more to do with our success than our accuracy? What if the diver was way off course and the hand moved the glass of water just in time to avoid disaster? And what if life is not so much about precision in performance. What if it's more about trusting in the hand that holds the glass?

Toad 1

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:50:01 GMT

Don't eat toads. They're just to look at. They catch bugs and hop around when the urge hits. I'm not thinking they make noises like frogs. At least I've never heard them partake of such activity. As long as they don't move, they blend in nicely in most situations. The exception would be if they were sitting on a nice pink piece of plastic or maybe wearing a lily white lace dress with matching gloves (but this of course would be for strictly formal occasions).

They're not nearly as aggressive as their neighbors the frogs. They mostly wait until something simple and basic passes by. Then they grab it with their sticky tongue ... maybe a lumberous beetle or a wounded moth. I guess we might call them opportunists. Some might go so far as to use terms like lazy or entitled. But that would hint at some sort of moral standard ... which simply doesn't line up with a toad's outlook on life when it comes to dining.

I tend to like toads. I've never been one to kill or injure them. If one is close to harm's way, I routinely rescue it. To show their gratitude, they generally deposit a few drops of pee on me. Everyone has their own sense of currency.

If toads have a human counterpart it would probably be similar to Tolkien's hobbits or maybe his depiction of the dwarf people ... though on second thought, the toad's disposition would most likely favor that of a hobbit.

Somehow I imagine that toads entertain a nice friendly outlook on things. They have to look up to experience almost everything there is in life. Anything of any significance that comes their way happens from above ... except for the occasional crawling bug. They live in a state of relaxed anticipation. I'm thinking that's pretty sweet. They have a few enemies. But don't we all?

If I had to pick an animal to be, the toad would rank up there close to the top. But then, so would the horse and the chipmunk and our old dog Boomer. I wouldn't mind spending a few days being him. But his story is for another day.

For any of you out there who think I'm trivial and silly for my ramblings ... well, I hope a toad pees in your eye the day after tomorrow while you're eating a bologna sandwich.

meet Tobius the Great

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 18:25:34 GMT

This is Toby the Basset. He has too much humor for a K-9. It's like God spilled a little too much comic relief into the mix when this crazy hound was conceived. His ears are walking hazards ... can you say "trip and fall"? His eyes are almost human ... like he's playing with your emotions: "I'm so sad. Please pat my little round head." Most Bassets are slow and lazy. This guy can jump like a sky rocket. He's way too fast for me to catch. But then, so is a rock.

Years ago these guys were bred to hunt rabbits. Toby has never even seen one of those dudes ... that is, until the other night on a walk. There was a cottontail sitting in someone's front yard. When Toby saw it, he flew into action. He was all about catching that little guy. Even after he ran out of sight, Toby was having a nose party with the lingering scent.

What were you "bred" for? What do you instinctively pursue ... without even giving it a second thought? Do you want to take pictures of sunsets? Do you feel for the old and lonely? Do you have this undying desire to fix broken things ... or mend damaged relationships? Do you hear music in the wind? Do you see the pain in a sick person's eyes? What does it take to pull on your heart strings? What gets your creative juices flowing. What makes you turn off the TV and jump into action?

We're all bred for something. God sees to that. Just make sure you don't go through life settling for photo opportunities like Toby. Find your rabbit and chase it.