The Rabbit and the

Michael’s best friend’s “dad” was killed this week by a driver who ran a stop sign. Levi has been in and out of our house 100 times over the last 6 years and holds a very special place in the heart of our family. Though I don’t know much about the man he called “Dad”, I know he was a good man, a musician and that Levi loved him very much. Our hearts ache for our friend as we hold each other a little tighter.

The same day we learn about this accident Lisa called from school and told us about her friend, Claire. They had been in the ER with the night before with her because she was struck while riding her bike on campus by a fellow student who…ran a stop sign. Thankfully, Claire escaped that accident with only a twisted ankle and nasty bump on her head. It could have been SO much worse. Lisa too is holding her friends a little tighter this week. Life is fragile, precious and full of reasons to stop.

As I was thinking about these things today, I wondered to myself how many times I ignore the stop signs in my life and run over, or run by the people around me or even run right by God. My sister-in-law, Beverly, has a habit of running until she drops. She has so much energy and goes and goes, like the Energizer Bunny until she gets knocked out cold by some random illness. I tease her but I know, though I never had the energy she does, that before I had FMS I would go-go-go too until I just couldn’t go-go-go any more. It’s a sickness in our present-day society. I don’t know many people who take time to rest any more. Even when “we” go on vacations our days are filled with one activity or another. When will we ever stop?

Beverly’s own husband, Russell, brought a message in his church when we still lived in Miami about the principle of the Sabbath; how God ordained a time for us to stop. He even demonstrated this one command himself on the 7th day of Creation. Stopping is essential. We all need to start paying attention the stop signs in our life; I need to start paying attention to the stop signs in my life. There is always going to be something that needs to be done but nothing more important than people God has put in my life and my relationships with them. When I refuse to stop doing I refuse to just be…with God, with my loved ones, with my friends. When I fail to stop I fail to listen, to feel, to build up, encourage and value what is most valuable. When I forget to stop people get hurt, sure it’s not like Levi’s dad or Claire, but it’s still true.

God help me to remember to stop, take time to stop and make it a point to stop. Slow and steady…saves lives.

Faith vs. ?

The Question: Where is the line between faith and foolishness?

The Answer: There is no answer because the question is flawed.

Explanation: The question tries to set faith and foolishness as opposing terms, but foolishness is not the opposite of faith.

New Question: What are the correct opposites and how does that help answer the question that we’re really trying to ask?

Faith is the opposite of Unbelief.

Foolishness is the opposite of Wisdom and or Reason.

Faith can be foolishly applied to people, things or situations that are not worthy of it. When we don’t use wisdom and reason to choose where we place our faith we are foolish. But acting on a faith that is based in something or someone trustworthy is NEVER foolish. To not act on this professed faith is evidence that we don’t really posses faith in said person or thing at all and, by definition, are acting on unbelief instead.

In this thought process we see another contradiction in a popular view. We see that faith and reason are actually on the same side rather than opposed as some would like us to believe. It is true however, that faith often defies reason in its execution. But where faith is applied should be selected with reason and wisdom or else we are likely to find ourselves putting faith in places it doesn’t belong. God does not shy away from reason or wisdom. He invites us to study Him, search Him out, and evaluate His words and actions.

(Psalm 34:8, Jeremiah 29:13, Malachi 3:10, Acts 17:2; to name a few)

Faith: Belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially in the absence of logical proof. (Synonyms: confidence, trust, reliance, belief, devotion, commitment)

Foolishness: showing a lack of good sense or judgment, seeming ridiculous (Synonyms: stupidity, idiocy, silliness, imprudence, thoughtlessness)

Reason: the ability to think logically, regarded as a basis for knowledge, as distinct from experience or emotions. (Synonyms: good sense, intelligence, logic, wisdom, mind)

Wisdom: the ability to make sensible decisions and judgments based on personal knowledge and experience. (Synonyms: understanding, knowledge, insight, perception)

Unbelief: to not accept that something is true or real, to be uncertain or lack confidence in a person or thing. (Synonyms: skepticism, agnosticism, atheism, faithless)

Things I learned from Daddy

My dad is 83 and in the final chapter of his life on earth. I didn’t make it home to see him on Father’s day this year, but I was there a few days after. It didn’t really matter since he doesn’t know one day from another anymore, and it’s sad. Father’s day was the one day he had an excuse to brag about his 5 children, 15 grandchildren and 8 (and counting) great-grand children. He never waited for an excuse, but he always used Father’s day to its fullest. He is very proud of all of them.

After spending a week at his bedside watching for the brief and far-between twinkles of recognition in his eyes I am resolved to the truth that I will soon be separated from him for a while. It’s just one more reason to look forward to eternity. In the meantime I decided to collect some thoughts of things he taught me, either in word or by example (both good and bad).

• God sets the best example for good parenting.
• Loving kindness is an effective discipline technique.
• Parents need to be fully present with their family when they are home.
• Burping at the table is polite in some cultures, as is, drinking from your soup bowl.
• There is nothing more precious than a child’s smile.
• Women are beautiful.
• Take time to learn for yourself the things you are being taught.
• For every problem there is a solution.
• God takes care of his children.
• Everyone needs to hear the Gospel.
• The best way to serve God is to serve people.
• Use any ability or opportunity to share God’s love.
• You don’t have to be a preacher to change people’s lives.
• Churches can reach families by loving their children.
• Never sneak up on a man that is under the hood of a car.
• Cultural differences should be appreciated.

Of course there are all those little practical things Dad’s teach like how to change a tire, basic auto mechanics (my brothers got more of that than I did), how to handle tools and Boy Psychology 101. We were blessed with parents who believed in teaching their children as much of what they knew as they could. We didn’t always listen, we were typical kids, but a lot of it sunk in eventually. I just pray that when my kids are grown they will be able to look back and pull out some little pearls of wisdom they gained from my life, maybe even some of those I got from my parents; and I hope most of them are from my successes instead of my errors. Either way to God be the glory, because, like most parents, I am VERY human.

I'm a FRAUD!

Okay, I admit it! I am a fraud! I call myself the crazy kat lady (thecrazykatlady@gmail.com) or (thekatladys.blogspot) but I don’t ACtually have any cats! But my nickname has been Kat for most of my life (courtesy of my brothers), so I’m not stretching the truth too much…

I’m sorry; I know you’re disappointed in me. Let’s just say its wishful thinking; someday I hope to truly be the crazy cat lady. In the meantime I did something to cause my daughter to say I need to take the word kat/cat out of the phrase altogether.

I asked myself, if my family were cats what kind of cat would they be?….Here are my answers, minus names…see if you can guess.

The first one is a calico and I think I’d name him Sir. He is VERY affectionate and loves to be in my lap and is nearly always in the same room with me. He is a very social creature and will curl up next to any of the other cats to sleep when I’m not around. He’s not high-energy or playful except when given the chance to hunt birds outside in the yard.

This one is a Orange Tabby. I would call him Buzz. He frequently goes from one extreme to the other and is either ALL energy or NO energy. When he is full of energy he loves to pounce on all the other cats, pretty much anything that moves, and when he has no energy he will plop down anywhere. He is a joker, and loves to play games, get into mischief, and make messes. Buzz is also very affectionate and lovable and takes every opportunity to get your attention.

This would be Darling, she is the baby of the family and doted on by all the other cats. They bathe her, protect her and all of them act as if they are her mother/father. There never was such a spoiled kitten in all the world as this one. Even with all the attention from the other cats she is a mamma’s girl and stays close to me most of the time.

This elegant little lady is the queen of the castle. And she makes sure everyone knows it too. She comes when she wants, goes when she wants and usually gets what she wants. I think I would call her Mulan (Lani) She is kind and gentle and loving (when she wants to be) she rarely finds Buzz amusing but occasionally will condescend to rough housing with him, but frequently taunts him, you can almost see her laugh and smirk at him. She has a unique way of communicating and “talks” to us, with several different tones, in a way we always seem to know what she means.

Last, but not least, is this sexy little devil, I would call him Apollo. Yes, he is very god-like. He doesn’t walk, he struts, it seems as if he thinks he’s a panther instead of a house cat. He’s large and muscular and loves to be outside catting around the neighborhood. He’s smart and sassy and loves to wrestle with Buzz and act silly with Lani. He’s very fatherly to Darling and what I like most is that he will spontaneously come out of nowhere and snuggle for a bit then disappear as suddenly as he appeared.

Hmm…I think I have an over-active imagination….sigh…..or……meow.

Silver and Gold

Acts 3:6 "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you…”

What do you have to give? What has God made abundant in your life? Share it with those in need.

Needs come in all forms; some may need comfort, security, laughter, love, hope, faith, understanding, knowledge or wisdom. God gives each of us an abundance of something that we can share with others. What do you have? Time, energy, strength, sympathy, experience, knowledge, hope, love, compassion?

Don’t be fooled to thinking that if you don’t have money, you don’t have anything to give. Give from what God has given you, there are people all around you, today, that need what you have…

Jesus.

Feed the Hunger

We just finished watching August Rush and it awakened something in my 13 yr. old son. A deep hunger to create and recreate music. This desire has been in his heart for a long time and he has been absorbing anything his music teachers feed him, but he still hungers, still yearns for more, for the day that he knows enough to express all he feels in his soul. Oh, to be a prodigy like August, to be able to express all that is in his heart without the pain of learning, but to have it come to him as naturally as breathing. Yet the hunger lives and I pray will never be completely quenched a hunger to keep learning, keep seeking, keep expressing the music of his heart. I pray that I will always be able to feed his hunger, to pay for lesson and encourage him.

I love it when movies or books inspire people, stir up the hunger of their souls. I love it even more when a single ordinary life does the same. There are those who's hunger for adventure is stirred when they see sky divers, race car drivers, Survivor Man or Bear Grills. Other's are inspired by sports stars, actors or singers. Teachers can be great sources of inspiration when they choose to arouse the hunger in their students. I pray that mine will be such a life, one that causes those watching to realize their hunger after God and seek to know Him deeper than they've ever known anyone for only He can truly satisfy their hunger. Even the hunger they don't know they have yet.

It breaks my heart when those who once inspired others end up disappointing instead. It is a danger for all "leaders" a reason we can't take leadership lightly. We must stay on our guard, be transparent and humble always, because as humans it is inevitable that we will fail. Failure is most destructive when it is pridefully flaunted or fearfully hidden. But if I am careful to teach those around me how to think for themselves, how to learn for themselves and am honest about my own weaknesses then, with God's help, my failures will become teaching points and grace will cover my sin and reveal the greatness of the God I strive to serve.

I Love Men

I love men. Among my top favorites: my dad, my four big brothers, my husband, my two sons, my brothers – in – law and my childhood best friend. The list could go on a while. While I hear other mothers vent their exasperation at the energy and roughness of their boys, I applaud it. I can’t help but laugh when a see a boy climb over and jump off an obstacle in their path rather than go around it. I love to see them challenge themselves and each other to be fearless adventuresome warriors. I think it’s sad that our society has evolved to a point where men are reduced to either becoming entertainers or being entertained in feats of strength or adventure. It’s like those who dare to be the man God created them to be end up as little more than a circus act and those who conform to society are allowed only to drool over the images of other men doing what they only wish they could do. We have, in a sense, emasculated men as a whole. In the push for women’s liberation and “equality” we’ve entered the sacred realms of warriors and adventurers and removed any sense that we honor their strength and courage or that we celebrate their masculinity. Even the church, generally speaking, has softened its methods and messages and many men have either left “religion” to the womenfolk or become wimpy and ineffective Christians. All because there is little to nothing there that speaks to their soul, their masculine soul.

Before I continue let me clarify one thing. I am not implying here that masculinity is measured by how rough and rugged a man is. A masculine man is not always a sportsman or an outdoorsman but most men do share a sense of adventure; from the time they learn to walk until they lay down to die they seek challenges whether physical or intellectual. They hunger for discovery, and take pride in overcoming obstacles. I believe these desires are direct from the heart of God, a reflection of His image, in which man was formed. They are characteristics to be celebrated and cherished, nurtured and encouraged. They are vital to the growth of our societies, protection of our families and connection to God.

It is that sense of that of adventure and discovery that founded the “New World”, settled the “Wild West” and put a man on the moon. Without it we could very well be living the same as we did 1000 years ago. It is that same spirit that spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ from a handful of men in Israel to the majority of the world in record time. These men faced down stonings, beatings, prison, and death. They battled governments, soldiers, “the establishment”, and evil spirits. Christianity was not and is not for the faint of heart. Many men and women are still fighting these battles. American Christians, in general, have become weak and lackadaisical in their faith confusing their freedom from social or governmental oppression as a time to live at peace believing there are no real battles for them to fight now. Oh how very wrong they are.

I recently read a scripture that I’d not paid much attention to in the past and it caught my eye. Psalm 149: 6 “Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands…” and I thought to myself, here is a prayer I need to pray for “my” men. That they will walk as warriors in this world and as they continually live a life of praise to God; that they skillfully wield the “sword of the Spirit” against the Enemy of God; and that they will aggressively and forcefully pursue godliness and righteousness and walk as carefully as a soldier in a minefield so they are not trapped by temptation. They need to do this, not only for themselves, but for their families, their neighbors and friends. I have no doubt that if men took the same energy they spend on physical adventures and challenges and put it in to fighting against temptation and sin and all the Enemy’s attacks on the family and the church we’d see a dramatic drop in divorce, suicide, teen pregnancy, drug use and all the other things that are defeating and destroying us. All these things, that should not be even named among us but are prevalent to the point that the line between The Church and The World is nearly indistinguishable, would be bound and chained and cast out where they belong.

Rise up men of God! Flex those Spiritual muscles! (I swoon) Raise your swords Knights of God! There is a battle to be fought, a war to be won, a love, a beauty to rescue from the Dragon! Fight with brains, with brawn, with passion, with creativity, with all the great and wonderful gifts that God has bestowed on you. Your love will praise you and your children will honor you! “This is the glorious privilege of His faithful ones.” (Psalm 149:9b)