One of my passions, as many of you know, is playing guitar. I’ve been playing now for about 15 years. For most of that time I’ve been leading worship. First in my youth group during high school, then at Mercer, then on the road throughout much of the southeast, and now at Lawrence Drive. I would never consider myself a great guitar player. I don’t intend to be falsely modest but I am simply a good enough rhythm player, but I really love to play.

I have several guitars that I have collected over the years, and most of them are fairly modest pieces that are primarily just functional, but I do have one crown jewel. I have a Taylor 310 that is my baby. I’m not saying I love it more…I’m just saying I had it before I had a wife or child so take what you will. My Taylor is a beautiful guitar that sounds better today than when I bought it (interesting fact, acoustic guitars develop a fuller richer tone as they age due to the way the wood ages).

Right now I am saving for another Taylor guitar. I’ve been saving for about 10 months. Every gift giving event I’ve simply asked for a few bucks for the guitar fund. I’ve stuck away my spare change and almost all my spending money.  And now I’m starting to get excited because I’m very close to being able to afford my new guitar. At last count I am a little less than $500 shy of my goal. I have spoken to the owner of my favorite guitar shop and once I decide which guitar I want he will put the guitar away for me till I have the final funds (an unofficial layaway if you will).There are two guitars I am looking at, a Taylor 614 and a 714. Both guitar are stunning and sound amazing.

If you haven’t noticed I am very excited about this guitar. I understand this will likely be the last time I will spend this kind of money on a guitar until…well ever. So I am very appreciative to my wife who has supported my desire to save for this guitar. She may not understand why we have to spend this much on a guitar but she wants it for me and that just one of the reasons she’s awesome!

I read in Matthew 17 a beautiful picture of Jesus’ patience with us. Chapter 17 begins “Six days later…”, which of course begs the question, “What happened six days ago?” Turn the page back and we’ll find out.

Six days earlier Jesus is walking with his disciples and he asks them who they think he is. Before anyone else can get a word in Peter answers that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus tells him he’s right but warns them not to tell other’s yet. Jesus informs them that not only does his road lead him to death, but if anyone wants to follow Jesus they must be willing to lose everything for his sake.

Then we get to the phrase “six days later”. What do you suppose went on with the disciples over that six day period? What kind of questions must they have had? It is out of this place of confusion that three of the disciples witness a miraculous sight. On a high mountain they see Jesus in all his glory, and not only Jesus but Moose and Elijah (the Law and the Prophets) are there as well. And again Peter says, in true church leader fashion, if God’s at work we better build a building.

I think it was at this point the God ran out of patience with the disciples. After all this time with Jesus they’re still not getting it. God overwhelms them and for the second time (never good to have God repeat himself) tells them Jesus is the Beloved Son and they should listen to him. Not hear is words and apply them to their ministry, not think he’s a swell guy, but really listen to Jesus.

After that the disciples are scared and confused. They fall down to before God’s glory in fear. But Jesus didn’t leave them there. Jesus didn’t walk away from them. He went to them where they were, touched them, and picked them up.

It is hard to see where it is that God is leading us sometimes. It is hard when life doesn’t make sense.  To trust Jesus as your Lord doesn’t make life suddenly easier, in fact Jesus said that to follow Him would be the same as giving up your life. But when we are wore out, tired and confused…and we’ve done all we know to do and still come up short, that’s when we see the miraculous God is still at work. We are not left to our questions or uncertainties, but Jesus meets us where we are, and picks us up to walk with Him.

I am glad my Jesus loves a stumbling, bumbling fool like me even when I still don’t get it. Jesus is always there to say, “Get up and do not be afraid”

God is Everywhere

Ok, I know it’s a couple weeks late. It’s a little hard to put the rest of my picks up after the season has started but oh well. I think the thing I love the most about the NFL is that everything is so different every year. Every year a lot of fools say what will happen in the season and then favorites lose and underdogs win their first two games. At the end of the day none of know and it’s a great ride all the way through.

With that being said, here are my playoff predictions.

 

Its been a very long time but I’m so excited to finally say its time for some football!! It’s a wonderful time of year, but before every season can start I have to watch a bunch “experts” talk about which teams will do will. So in the spirit of the “experts” I decided to make my own predictions. I went through week by week and picked every game, and then figured out what everyone’s record would be. I admit that I was surprised by the outcome. There are some teams that I expected to do well but due to schedule and what not its not looking so good and I have some teams picked to do really well that I might find hard to believe. But that’s the NFL. I like my picks and I think I could be as right as anyone else. So, without further foolishness, here are my NFL predictions good for only making me look silly by the end of the season.

 

So there you have it. No playoffs for the Jets or Cowboys, and it will be a long season for the Browns’ fans. Next time we’ll talk about the playoffs. Happy Football!!!