No Regrets in '09

I'm blessed to not carry around too much regret in my life. Don't get me wrong, there's PLENTY of mistakes I've made and things that I have messed up so horribly, that it'd be easy to do. But for whatever reason (faith, awesome parents, just the way I'm wired, etc.) for the most part, I'm able to move on from mistakes and see them as learning opportunities.

But over Christmas I did something that I truly regret.

Actually, it was something I didn't do.

I pulled off the interstate on my way to go workout. It's a route I drive all the time. At this particular intersection, there's often a homeless person standing there holding a sign for some help. Many times I, like many people, will throw a couple bucks or some spare change into that person's hand. My wife will often run to a drive thru and bring the person a meal. She's good like that.

As I pull up to the light, a few cars are ahead of me, and I see a guy standing outside. I'm too far back to make out what his sign says. It's bitter cold outside and I suddenly start having this thought: "Give him your gloves."

My selfish nature instantly kicks in. "C'mon...they're nice black leather gloves. Just give him some spare change and be done with it" I tell myself.

I begin to fiddle with the inane Sports Talk radio that I'm listening to. Trying to buy time. But the thought still pops up in my head: "Give him your gloves."

The light turns to green, and the cars ahead of me begin to move. Meanwhile, my excuses continue to flow. "Nobody else is stopping....He'll be fine....I'll say a prayer for him..." etc. etc. etc.

Then, as I pull up closer, I see him take his hands out of his pockets and rub them together to warm them up.

That's the image that I can't get past. Because rather than doing something, I did nothing. I truly felt convicted by Jesus, that when it came to loving my neighbors, I was falling woefully short. For me to pull over, give that man a pair of gloves that I can afford to easily replace would not have required much effort on my part. What I mustered up was no effort. To quote the great Charles Barkley, that's just turrible.

A few hours passed, and I had blocked what happened out of my mind. Thankfully, Jesus wasn't done making his point to me.

I got into a conversation with my boss, and she was telling me about this exchange she had with a homeless man, just the night before. Basically, she took time to listen to his story, then went inside a nearby Food City and bought him something to eat for the evening. Then she said as she was walking away, he thanked her and yelled out a Bible verse for her to read when she got home.

Proverbs 3: 27-28.

As she recited the words, I knew that God was really speaking through her experience to hammer home his point to me.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.

Do not say to your neighbor,
"Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"—
when you now have it with you.

It's the verse that will serve as my resolution for '09. So I can avoid the regret of not doing the right thing for the right person when the opportunity presents itself again.

Thank you for reading. I pray that you and yours will be blessed richly in 2009!
lance

Just a Moment

As we inch closer to Christmas Day, I was inspired by this passage from Max Lucado that landed in my email box today. I share it with you along with blessings and warmest wishes for you + yours to truly enjoy the Joy of this season.

Merry Christmas!
lance

Just a Moment
by Max Lucado

It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment.

As moments go, that one appeared no different than any other. If you could somehow pick it up off the timeline and examine it, it would look exactly like the ones that have passed while you have read these words. It came and it went. It was preceded and succeeded by others just like it. It was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable.

But in reality, that particular moment was like none other. For through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred. God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.

The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.

God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.

God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother.

God had come near.

He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.

For thirty-three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure. He was susceptible to wooing women. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached.

To think of Jesus in such a light is—well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn’t it? It’s not something we like to do; it’s uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer.

He’s easier to stomach that way. There is something about keeping him divine that keeps him distant, packaged, predictable.

But don’t do it. For heaven’s sake, don’t. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.

It all happened in a moment. In one moment … a most remarkable moment. The Word became flesh.

There will be another. The world will see another instantaneous transformation. You see, in becoming man, God made it possible for man to see God. When Jesus went home he left the back door open. As a result, “we will all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52)

The first moment of transformation went unnoticed by the world. But you can bet your sweet September that the second one won’t. The next time you use the phrase “just a moment, … ” remember that’s all the time it will take to change this world.

Best of '08 - Books

Here are the books that made my fave 5 this year...

I'm sure everyone's favorite Macy's Department store elf-turned NPR cornerstone-turned best selling author's latest work made a lot of year-end lists. And it should. Sedaris proves the well is far from dry as he weaves together another bizarre series of shorts and observations on his family, his neurosis and his trip to Japan to quit smoking. One of the few (only?) writers today that constantly makes me laugh out loud as I read him.


4. Jesus Wants To Save Christians - Rob Bell and Don Golden. I've had to tone back constantly blogging about Rob Bell, as to quash the rumor that I have a man crush on him. Not true. Not true at all. I just love all his books, DVDs and tours. Who doesn't? His new collaboration (or "manifesto" as they call it) with Don Golden is a pretty sobering assessment of what Jesus says about Empires and how we as Christians that also happen to be Americans, should respond.

3. A New Earth- Eckhart Tolle. Oprah but this book on her list and it became quite the rage (you go, girl!) At times, it's a hard book to get through. Not because it's not any good, but because Eckhart (or "Big E" as his buddies call him) is such an intellect that he breaks out some major league spiritual philosophy. Prepare for your mind to be blown.

2. Sins We Love - Randy Rowland. This random find I made in my church library was a real treasure. Rowland is a pastor, the public address announcer for the Seattle Seahawks, and an outstanding writer. He looks at each of the seven deadly sins, why they entice us and offers pragmatic ways to overcome through the fruits of the Spirit.

1. Love is a Mix Tape - Rob Sheffield. A heartbreaking, hilarious, highly addictive novel from legendary Rolling Stone music critic, Rob Sheffield. If you're not a big music fan, then much of the narrative might not mean much, but for a fellow music geek who has long been enamored with what a fantastic writer Sheffield is, this was such an incredible read.

What reads were in your fave 5? Discuss!

Dirty Santa Gets Dirty

I survived. But just barely.

Of all the eye-rolling holiday traditions out there, the most painful for me is the office party version of "holiday gift giving."I've heard it called "Dirty Santa", "Bad Santa" and various other dubious terms. No matter what it's called, it's ALWAYS about 180 degrees away from what a real Christmas celebration is supposed to be about.

We just finished ours, and I thought people were going to come to blows over a $20 Starbucks gift certificate. It looked like a WWF-style smackdown was going to erupt over a minature air hockey table. The most coveted gift at our party was this (bear with me) crazy antique of a locomotive, that also somehow had shot glasses and a decanteur (or "whiskey flask" for those born after the 1930s) attached to it. Absurd, I know. But I thought my otherwise mild mannered co-workers were about to go all "Lord of the Flies" over who got it. Elbows were thrown. Insults hurled. Chants from the crowd made me think that we had all reverted back to 7th grade and a fight was going to erupt in the cafeteria.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Best of '08 - Music

Like all bloggers, I took our version of the hippocratic oath that basically states:

"I will use my blog during the month of December to post various lists of my favorite albums/books/movies/fill in the blank from the previous year."

So, as to not lose my license to blog, here's my fave 5 albums of '08:

Beck - Modern Guilt. Beck brings in producer Danger Mouse and a love of 60's surfadellic sounds. The result is one of the strongest albums of Beck's career. Whodda thunk the guy that gave us the novelty shchict of "Loser" would enjoy such longevity? I sure didn't. Glad I was wrong.


4. Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static. Made with 100% Solar Energy at his own personal studio, Jack's latest effort is 100% laid-back feel good vibe. (Um, kinda like all his other stuff.) Jack is really an under-rated singer and songwriter. But I think that's a big part of his appeal --how he constantly makes crafting a string of perfect pop songs together look so effortless.


3. Coldplay - Viva la Vida. This was the album (along w/ G 'N R's Chinese Democracy) that all the cool kids (and KanYe) were waiting for. And Coldplay didn't disappoint. Bringing in superproducer Brian Eno helped take Coldplays anthem-ready songs to a more unexpected (read=less U2) type place. Now, if we can just work on their latest stage outfits.





2. Metallica - Death Magnetic Did I really just put Coldplay and Metallica back to back on the same "Best Of" List? Oh yes I most certainly did! Like Coldplay, Metallica went the "bring in a super producer" route (Rick Rubin). In the process, they remembered that they were Metallica and delivered an album that shreds from start to finish. Considering they haven't done that in over a decade, it was very notable.


1. The Reconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely.
Jack White does it again. I'm really beginning to buy in that when it's all said and done, he is going to be this generation's Jimmy Page. The album is brilliant, and they topped it off by releasing what I thought was one of the best videos of the year, too, for Salute Your Solution...YouTubed here for your enjoyment.



(Honorable Mention: G 'N R's Chinese Democracy. I haven't actually listened to it yet, but I hear it rules. I just figure Axl took 13 years to make it...he can wait a little for me to get to it.)

All I Want for Christmas...

...is the ability to sleep in public while standing up straight. And I know you've dreamed about this possibility, too. Don't lie. You're busy juggling work, kids, social obligations, fantasy football drafts, book clubs and training courses on how to become a ninja. So am I. With so much going on, who has time to sleep during all this?

Well now we both do, dear reader, thanks to perhaps the greatest invention since the Chia Pet: The Vertical Bed.

Here's the full product description:

Vertical Bed is a sort of static prostheses that allows a person to fall asleep in a standing position. By bolting into cracks between the sidewalks, subway grates, or other rigid contact points, the suit will support it’s wearer with a minimum of visible hardware or occupied space, holding the sleeper’s weight with concealed harnesses. One-sided privacy will be achieved through noise canceling headphones and double-mirrored sunglasses. Additionally, an umbrella will clip in the rigid infrastructure for shelter. The project is designed for the visual performance of an alternate way of occupying urban space, born partly out of fantasies of minimal need and elegant futurism, and partly out of fears of the dehumanization of space. Occupants will absorb the vertical structure of urban architecture into their bodies.

The vertical sleeper is in a constant state of readiness, never succumbing to collapse. Homelessness is most often marked by the forbidden act of lying down on the sidewalk, an act that the vertical bed circumvents. The vertical bed will imply a streamlined, rather than failed, infrastructure. All of the components of the bed will store beneath a suit and within a business-person’s briefcase, using the proliferation of autonomous consumer devices to achieve a more true autonomy. By hiding in the open, the vertical sleepers forgo even the need for a phone booth to enact their super-hero transformations, in a sense, absolving themselves of the need for secret identities.

I have been looking for a way to catch a few Z's on the Metro AND absolve myself from my secret identity for a LONG TIME. Thank you, Vertical Bed!!

Oh, it also comes in it's own handy carrying case:


I really hope Santa is planning on putting this bad boy underneath my tree this year. Mad props to Basketbawful for this epic discovery!

Holiday Awesomeness Package

Ever want to learn how to bust some serious dance moves at your next office holiday party, re-gift that fruit cake AND make a donation to one of three very worthy orginazations? Well you my friend are in luck because the DNP Holiday Awesomeness Package is now online! (This is the web site/holiday card from my "day job".) Check it out and may you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy the most awesomest of holidays!!

Questions from a 3 year old

One of my favorite moments over the Thanksgiving break came as Luke and I were enjoying some football together on the couch. It's a rite of passage I've been looking forward to, teaching my boy about all the finer points of the world's greatest sport. Since Luke is only 3, we're starting with the basics: Peyton=good, Gators and Bama=bad, and the inherient flaws and limitations of UT's "Mustang" package. (Tampa 2, anyone?)

So we were watching a game when Luke starts to ask me a series of questions about the football players helmets. It went something like this:

Luke: "What is that, Daddy?"

Me: "A helmet, buddy"

Luke: "Why do they wear those?"

Me: "So they don't hurt their heads."

Luke: "What's that on the side of their heads?"

Me: "That's the team logo...it shows everyone which team they're on..."

And on and on it went. But I loved it, because I was getting to bond with my boy AND watch the game. Perfect!

All of a sudden, Luke gets this really confused look on his face. Then he starts to look upset. I ask him what's wrong, and then he asks me this golden nugget:

Luke: "Daddy, do football players have ears?"

So classic. I assured him that yes, those are just helmets that they wear ON TOP of their heads. That underneath, all football players do indeed have ears. Just not all of them have brains.

Dear Tracy Jordan

If you're like me, you've often wondered what the genius Tracy Jordan thinks about things like crayons and who invented beef jerky. Well you and I are in luck dear blog reader, b/c NBC.com is now unleashing Tracy to answer these questions in a weekly online feature. Oh happy day!