Posts from — June 2007

I purchased the movie Flags of Our Fathers a while ago and I’ve been waiting for a good time to watch it. I knew it would be tough to watch, but movies like this are always worth it.

I say “tough” without really meaning that. “Tough” was what those soldiers went through.

We need movies like this to remind us of the frailty of our situation and of the sacrifices that were made by people that we will never know. The movie’s last point was something along the lines of, “These men might have gone to war for their country, but they were fighting for their friends. They did it for their buddies. The guy behind them, and the one up ahead.”

I’d imagine that is very true. I could easily see myself simply wanting to crawl into the safest place I could find, curl up and pretend I was dead. Then when it was all over, get up and go home. The only thing that could push me forward was knowing that my brother was out there and needed my help. I couldn’t hide knowing that he needed me. I just couldn’t. Or, so I think now, warm and safe in my house.

I can’t imagine anything else that could push someone forward against horrible odds and almost certain death. Only the love of another person and the strength that camaraderie can provide.

Our soldiers do that for each other and they do that for us.

My daughter is only three years old. At this age, she really believes that her Papa can save her from anything. In fact, with her hand in mine, she will face the world without a single shred of fear crossing her mind. This is the same luxury that our soldiers have given to us – a true sense of security and peace that allows each and every one of us to wake in the morning and to go to sleep at night without ever having given a single thought to the possibility of being slaughtered by our enemies, simply because we are Americans.

After a movie like this one, or even after hearing a soldier’s story, I’m vividly reminded of those last lines in Saving Private Ryan where, with his last breath, Tom Hanks looks up at Matt Damon and says “Earn this James… Earn this.” He truly gave his life for another and he wanted it to count for something – something good.

I know it is not as direct as that, but I often wonder if I am earning the sacrifice of our soldiers, past and present. Is my life worthy of their suffering? Without those men and women I wouldn’t be – no, couldn’t be - a free man.

We owe them our lives – the lives of our sons and the lives of our daughters. Will I be able to raise my daughter to be worthy of that sacrifice? To the depths of my heart, I hope so.

The one thing I do know is this: our soldiers will protect us anyway.

And for that, I ask that God bless and protect them until they are safe at home with their sons and daughters as well.

I’ve been waiting for this for years! There was some talk a while ago about pads that would cover your desk and eliminate the need for an actual cord to power items still physically attached to the desk, and that was cool in and of itself.

But this is the invention I’ve been waiting for! Well this and transparent aluminum, which was actually invented a while ago as well.

The key is resonance, a very efficient and (in most cases) non-invasive form of energy transfer.  Using it the smart folks at MIT were able to power a 60 watt light bulb wirelessly from 7 feet away.  Really cool!

Read all about it here.

I can get along with just about anybody.

Seriously, I’m not joking. In my entire life I can literally count on one hand the number of people that I’ve met that I didn’t like. And, if I’m honest, the number is really only one person that I just couldn’t get out from under my skin.

Its true. Only one person in over 3 decades. Isn’t that amazing? Oh, I freely admit that there are some people that I like spending time with less than others, but thats just natural. The other? Not so natural.

A very good friend of mine said to me today, “Andy, your greatest strength is that you love people very easily.”

He’s right, I really do. In fact, its easy if you know how to.

You can do it too.

Seriously! Wouldn’t you like to be able to take almost every annoying jerk in your life and somehow turn them into a New Them? A Them that you can get along with, learn to like and eventually, maybe, even one day love? Who wouldn’t want that!?

The secret is maddeningly simple when you know it.

When I start to get to know someone I simply think to myself:

What was God thinking when He made them?

I’m sure you’ve met some people that have made YOU think that too, right?! Seriously though, I really don’t mean that in a funny way. I mean it with all sincerity.

I picture the Master Craftsman sitting in His workshop with a handful of new clay, pondering the beauty of the raw material of life. As His hands start to mold the clay, all of His Love and blessing pours into the form as he works it into a shape unlike any other ever created. His thumbs mold the face, and his fingers set the nose just so. He places the eyes in the exact way that He means them to be and He knits the strands of their being in a way that make complete sense to Him. He even numbers the hair on their head, each one having its place and purpose for that which He has called them to be – for what He is creating them to be, right before my eyes! Then, when the outside shell is ready, His Word breathes life into them and makes their spirit in His image. He creates them just like Him – He the Father and they the children. He knows each challenge and fear they will face; each triumph that will make their spirit soar. In His awesome wisdom, He knows and Loves this new creation and desires nothing more than a deep relationship with it. He wants to be loved by it in return.

REVELATION!

That jerk is the object of God’s desire!

Have you ever worked with someone, or known someone that is a hard and tough person most of the time, but then you see them with their kids and a new person leaps out of their eyes? They smile, they joke, they goof around and make funny noises and for a brief moment, you can see the love that they have inside finally come out on the outside.

That’s what I’m talking about. I envision the Love that God has for that person and try to see exactly what it is that He loves about them. Is it their laugh? Their heart? Or maybe its the kind of weird way that they stick their tongue out when they are concentrating on something. How many ways does a Parent love His child? It is nearly immeasurable. All you need to find is just one. One will make a huge difference in how you see that person.

Sure, with some people it is harder than with others. Some people take a bit of effort, but the more that you do this, the easier it is. We are called to be more like Him, and He is love.

Would you like another small revelation? God Loves His children and therefore they are lovable! Isn’t that alone an amazing thought? The person that you can’t stand is LOVED by someone! Loved by God, if by no one else. If you try to see someone from His eyes, it is hard to not like them.

This attitude really can help in everything – in family life, with friends, with coworkers, with neighbors – everywhere!

I know, I know… Some of you probably think that this is a childish and stupid philosophy. That’s really OK with me. You can live your life however you would like. In fact, I believe that you have a God given right to choose to live with those jerks and hate every minute of it! The choice is really up to you. There will always be jerks in your life, but how you choose to view them can really change how you feel about them.

Me? I’m going to go spend some time with some of my other friends…

They say that making several posts in a row with only a single picture and a few measly words of comment beneath is the Blogging equivalent of Al Sharpton’s presidential bids – you know that you’re out of the game, were probably never really in the game, yet for some sick, twisted reason you just can’t stop trying.

Ok, I admit it, “They” don’t say that at all – I just made it up, but it sounds about right to me.

There, now I’ve posted something more interesting than a darn picture.

This is beautiful…