Taking it all in on rural route 17

Well, I'm writing this entry from the front seat of my momma's SUV on rural route 17. There are maybe 4 other cars sharing this road with us as we travel from one podunk town to the next. We're on our way back from a rather fun-filled venture to southwest Florida, just me and mom. Most people headed our way back from Florida would travel on the speedy interstate, but not my mom. You see, mom's not all about the fast lane and the merging car madness. Plus, she's one of them adventurous types. You know, the type that doesn't want to see the same thing twice. She wants to blaze a new trail. So this brings us to route 17, a slower road that takes us past many cornfields but not past many Walmarts. I sleep for most of the journey, but when I wake up I wonder why we've been in South Carolina for what seems like a month. I say, "Mom, let's get on the interstate. This is taking forever." She says," Cool, look at this cool town," or, "look at that deer," or, "look at that neato bridge. I don't like the interstate. It's too crowded. Plus, I wouldn't have seen all of this cool stuff." I just moan and lay back down, smiling to myself abut my mom's stubborn, adventurous spirit. But I wouldn't change my mom for the world. In fact, I think we could all take a page out of her book. It seems as if many of us are only content to live life in the fast lane, speeding along with everyone else to next destination. Life becomes a blur, and we discover that the destination isn't even as cool as we hyped it up to be. Where's the rush? Is start to think, "How often do I get to chill with my mom, who is one of my best friends? Why am I in such a hurry to get back home? Is it just watch T.V.?" No it's not. It's just that I have the same problem as most others. I haven't learned to enjoy the journey. Most of us don't even know why we're in such a hurry. Maybe it's because we think the next stop will solve our problems and relax our restless spirits. We treat life as this big problem that might be solved by the next big event around the corner. However, life is not a problem to be solved but an adventure to be lived. God uses the journey of this life with all of it's roadblocks and scenic views to prepare us for the final destination, our eternal home with Him. So let's slow down, take an exit off the interstate and see what kind of cool stuff God wants to show us on rural route 17.

Music I listen to that my mom discovered that she really liked: The Fray, Sufjan Stevens, Derek Webb, Shapiro, Keane
Books: Finished "Pilgrim's Progress" (absolute must read, and if you say you read it, but you were young when you did, read it again), finished "Red Moon Rising" (must read, proves that God is still moving in mighty ways and still wants to work mightily in our generation), still reading Journey of Desire

Hambones

This entry is entitled "hambones" because it was inspired by watching my dog Hungry Jack go to town on his special Easter hambone treat. My dad allowed me to give Jack the bone, and boy, was Jack excited about it. All he could do was stare at that hambone licking his chops. I asked him to sit, and then I laid the prized possession in front of him to enjoy. I enjoyed watching him tear into that pig bone with such intensity. Then I reached over to pet my friend who I thought would love me for providing this amazing treat. To my surprise, instead of wagging his tail at his beloved master, he growled at me. Can you believe that? The nerve! He wouldn't even have that bone if it wasn't for my generosity. He's just a dog. Doesn't he realize that the only reason he's enjoying his treat is because of the care of his master? Then it struck me. Are we any better than Hungry Jack? Don't we sometimes snap at God when He wants to have our attention, but all we want to do is gnaw on our hambones? I know deep down that Hungry Jack loves me more than his hambone, but you couldn't tell if he had a hambone in front of him. So let us live our lives in front of the world like our Master means more to us than our hambones. Let's be thankful for and enjoy the hambones in life, but let us also realize that God gives us hambones to show His love to us and invite us into a deeper relationship with Him.

Ft. Myers, here I come

Well, this may be news to some, but my next step in life may be Ft. Myers, Fla. Here is some info. about Ft. Myers that I grabbed off their website. "Ft. Myers, a thriving city rich in history and nature, serves as gateway to a stretch of islands known for their white-sand beaches, bird life and recreational opportunities." Beaches and recreation is one thing, but what kind of a place is known for their bird life? "The city hugs the shores of the wide Caloosahatchee River, which created the town and levered its importance during the Seminole Wars. Since the early 1800s, settlers and visitors of fame and wealth came to Fort Myers and area, most notably light bulb inventor Thomas A. Edison." I see that it is rich in history, I like that. "Professional theater, a sophisticated performing arts hall and two sports parks, which host the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins for spring training, provide entertainment in the Fort Myers area. Downtown is evolving into a lively night scene where clubs, coffee houses, street performers and cafes draw a young, artsy crowd." On second thought, I don't think I would fit in at all (See underlined items). "For nature lovers, parks preserve fragile habitat while providing trails for hiking, biking and paddling. Manatee Park is home to a herd of endangered Florida manatees that come to winter in its warm waters every year. Visitors can kayak among them or listen to their singing through special hydrophones." OK, I didn't know there were manatees. My decision is final. I'm going to Ft. Myers for the manatees. Come and visit. I am actually on my way there for spring break this week. Hello 80 degree weather and random storms.

Theme Music: "Never let go" - Matt Redman, More than Life by Hillsong United
Book: Pilgrim's Progress

Pilgramage

God has set a theme in my heart right now, and that theme is pilgrimage. God is showing me that He has redeemed my life from an aimless existance and given me a new direction, destination, and compass to help get me there. God is revealing what a dry and thirsty land this world really is, and I want heaven and eternity with God to become more and more glorious to me. I want my treasure to be in heaven. I want to sit in a rocking chair on the front porch of my mansion. The pilgrim's journey is by no means easy. I am always wandering off the path and being dragged back by the grace of God. The way really is narrow, and I want to be one of the ones who finds it. So as I strap on my spiritual backpack and pick up my walking stick, I encourage you to discover the great adventure that God has for you. We don't plan the adventure, all we have to do is follow the leader: Jesus. Be ready because the one leading us has no where to lay his head, and he wants you to die so that you can find true life. Here's some encouragement for the pilgrim: "Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage......They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion. Psalms 84:5" The journey makes us stronger and the destination is well worth it.

Theme Music: "On the road to beautiful" - Charlie Hall
Books: "Pilgrim's Progress (of course)", Red Moon Rising by Pete Greig, and Journey of Desire by John Eldridge, and the book of 1 Peter. Yes, I am currently reading all of those at once.
Deeper: Hebrews 11:13, I Peter 2:11, II Cor. 4:16-18, 5:1-8