Thing That Make My Smile

Here's a list of things that make me smile:

1) Seeing an older couple walking along holding hands.

2) Seeing a daddy holding the tiny hand of his daughter as they walk along.

3) A brilliant sunrise or sunset.

4) Watching my daughters ride their bikes.

5) Watching my daughters read a book.

6) Driving winding country roads through acres and acres of apple orchards.

7) Seeing a family laugh together.

8) Watching my wife scrapbook, something she loves doing.

9) Watching my kids sleep.

10) Getting up early and listening to the silence right before the sun rises.

11) Taking a walk late at night when the world around is sleeping.

12) Seeing someone take the time to stop and smell the roses around our front porch.

What are some things that make you smile?

Scaling Back

Life is catching up with me again and I need to make adjustments. Isn't it strange how that happens? You get settled into a certain routine (I love routine), you're comfortable with that routine (I love routine), the routine works for you (I love routine), then life happens and you have to readjust and change the routine (I hate changing routine).

So . . . the adjustment I must make involves this blog. I have a new contract with my publisher in the works. Now, usually, I don't say anything about a contract until I've signed it but things look like it's pretty much a done deal. If I'm wrong and it falls through, oh well. But since part of the contract is going to be that I deliver a finished manuscript of my next novel, Darlington, by September 1 I need to get cracking. And that means I have a time crunch. And that means I need to scale back even further on this blog. So from now on I'll only be blogging "occasionally." What does that mean? I have no idea. I guess it means when I feel like it or when there's news I need to pass along or something that's really heavy on my mind I just need to share or something funny that happened or . . . you get the picture.

I hate to do it, really I do, but September 1 is closing in quickly and I need the extra time in the mornings to write.

Please keep in touch, though. I'll miss your regular comments. And I know I don't say it enough but thanks for all the comments and prayers.

Praise and Prayer Friday

Okay, let's hear what great things God has done in your life this week. And what is weighing heavy on your heart this morning.

I'll go first. I'm praising God for a successful port removal and good health.

Prayer request. Next Wed. Jen and I begin leading a small group Bible study at our church based on the Fireproof movie (it'll go for 6 or 7 weeks). Please pray for us and the couples that will be involved.

Your turn. Don't be shy. Share with us!

Missing Time

Surgery went well yesterday and I am now port-less. Things are a little sore but nothing that isn't manageable. It's funny, though, what anesthesia does to you. They tell me they put in "twilight" which means you're really not asleep but afterwards you think you were.

After the procedure and you "wake up" you feel like you're fully awake and coherent and lucid, but hours later you have no memory of anything.

Jen said that on the way home from the hospital I asked her the same question or made the same comment several times. I have no recollection of any of that or of anything I said. She tells me all this stuff I said in the recovery room, people I talked to, faces I made. I have no recollection of any of it. I don't remember changing back into my clothes though Jen said I almost fell over. I don't remember Jen calling my parents from the car. I know we stopped at a gas station and I pumped gas but I have no memory of it. Weird.

Hey, maybe I was abducted by aliens. Isn't that one of the signs, missing time?

Whatever the case was, it's over and the port is history.

Now I focus on some exciting things coming up: I'm starting a new book; I'm training for another 5k for colon cancer in Harrisburg, PA June 13; I have a booksigning at our local Walden's June 20; and Jen and I are leading a Fireproof Bible study at our church starting next Wed.

It's Not About Me

In Children's Church we're continuing our walk through the life of Moses. Yesterday we discussed Moses and Aaron's first encounter with Pharaoh. Now understand two things: 1) Pharaoh was a god to the Egyptian people, and 2) Pharaoh was not a fan of Moses'.

So when Moses and Aaron, two hick Hebrews, went before Pharaoh, a god of the Egyptians, and said the God of Israel said to let His people go, I imagine Pharaoh did something like, "Ooooh, I'm so scared," and laughed.

Anyway, long story short, because of the insolence of the two brothers, Pharaoh decided to make life for the Hebrews impossibly difficult. The Hebrews, in turn, took out their frustration and fear on Moses and Aaron ("You brought this on us!").

Moses was confused, as I would have been too. He went before God and pleaded his case, basically telling God, "See, I told you so, I can't do this. Ever since I got involved things have only gotten worse."

God's answer is one of my favorite passages in Scripture. Exodus 6:6-8 says it all; I'll give you some of the highlights:

"I am the LORD, I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians . . . I will redeem you . . . I will take you as my own people . . . I will be your God . . . I am the LORD your God . . . I will bring you to the land . . . I will give it to you . . . I am the Lord."

Do you see it? I . . . I . . . I . . . I. And so on.

God is saying in plain words, "Moses, this isn't about you or your ability or your inability or your willingness or unwillingness. This is about me and what I will do."

Every time I read this I get convicted because there are so many things in life I try to do in my own strength and either fail or get frustrated because it's not going the way I think it should. I need to remember it's not about me, though. It's about God working through me and in me. I just need to step aside and let Him do His thing.

* * *

Tomorrow at 7 a.m. I get my port removed. It's a 15-20 minute outpatient surgery and I'm counting on there not being any complications.

Fat Guy Behind the Curtain

Last night I did a conference call with a ladies book group in Maryland who read and discussed Scream. I did one with the same group last year after they had read The Hunted. I always enjoy these type of things because it gives me an opportunity to hear the thoughts and questions someone had while reading my book. It's an invaluable experience.

Questions that always tickle me, though, is when someone asks what happens with a character after the story is over or after the character's role in the story ceases. I feel so terrible telling them I really have no idea. He or she is not a real person. I think in some way a bubble is burst. That whole Wizard of Oz syndrome.

The reader gets so engrossed in the story and the characters seem so real they assume the characters must live on after the final page. They come to me looking for answers, for hope, for information, and all they get is a little fat guy pushing buttons and pulling levers behind a curtain. How disappointing it must be.

I suppose I could always just make something up, though. Isn't that what story-telling is all about?

OK, praise and prayer time. My prayer request is for next Tuesday when I have my port removed, that the surgery would go well, there would be no complications, and the recovery pain would be at a minimum since I'll be going back to work the next the day.

My praise is for my wife, the mother of my children. She's wonderful. She's a blessing. She's a fantastic mommy. She's a Godsend. My girls love their mommy and that means everything to me. Any woman who would give up hours of could-be free time to homeschool her three daughters is a gem. And she doesn't just homeschool them, she connects with them, she takes it very seriously and invests A LOT of her time in the lives of our girls.

Now it's your turn. Share, please.

And for all the mommy's out there: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Liking Life

Last night we were watching America Idol and I was sitting on the sofa with my eight-year-old, Abby. At one point a commercial came on for cosmetics and something was said about this particular brand of makeup changing your life. "Whatever," Abby said (to the TV), "I like my life."

Those four words, coming from an eight-year-old . . . my eight-year-old . . . brought tears to my eyes.

I like my life. (I think it's what every parent wants to hear his or her child say).

It was cause for a little introspection. Do I "like my life"? Am I content with how things have turned out so far? Am I hopeful about where things are going?

I asked myself that question over and over again, digging past all the expectations of how I should feel or how I want to feel and finding blatant honesty: Do I like my life?

The innocence and pure joy of a child can sometimes be so convicting.

If you're in the mood for introspection ask yourself that same question along with these: Am I content with where I am in life? Am I fulfilled? Do I find meaning and purpose in my life?

The answers, of course, are between you and God.

Excuses, Excuses

It's our turn to teach Children's Church again at church. Usually we're on for four weeks, off for eight. And this time around I'm teaching on the life of Moses, picking up where he murders the Egyptian, buries the body in the sand, learns his fit of rage did not go unnoticed, and flees to the desert where he settles down in the land of Midian (I'll tell you, this is the stuff of great storytelling . . . and it's true!).

After 40 years of playing shepherd in the desert Moses is finally confronted by God in the form of a burning bush. Now this is where the story gets really interesting . . . and personal.

I've never murdered anyone and tried to hide the evidence (though I have sinned and tried to cover it up). I've never been an outlaw on the run (though I have tried to run from my mistakes and get as far away from my sin as possible). And I've never shepherded in the desert (though I have had some pretty stretching assignments from God).

But what Moses does next is something I can relate to, something I've done often enough that I have it pretty well rehearsed.

God tells Moses that He's heard the cry of the Hebrews enslaved in Egypt and is going to set them free. Using Moses. He's gonna be the point man, the go-to guy. And what does Moses do? Say, "Here am I, Lord, send me." Say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Say, "Lead, Lord, and I will follow, even to the death."

I don't think so.

He does exactly what I've done on more occasions than I care to admit. He comes up with all kinds of excuses. What if they ask me questions I can't answer. What if they call me a liar. What if I make a fool of myself. I'm a nobody. I can't speak well.

I'm NOT the man for the job.

And after each excuse God reassures Moses that's he's the man and God will take care of the details.

You've heard this before, God isn't looking for ability, He's looking for availability. When God calls you to do something, He doesn't care about your intelligence or your talents or your big bank balance. He doesn't care if you've got friends in lofty places or fancy letters behind your name. He only cares that your willing.

I won't beat this thing. You get the point. Be available. Be willing. Be committed.

And let God do the rest.

Praise & Prayer Friday

Praise and prayer day!

Here's my praise: that good news was abundant when I saw my oncologist, that I've once again witnessed God's faithfulness and power and sovereignty and . . . the list could on and on, couldn't it? Also, things are in the works with my publisher for a two-book contract. Nothing is signed yet but it looks positive. In this economy, any contract is nearly a miracle.

My request: tonight and tomorrow I'll be gathering at a retreat center with the other elders and staff from my church. I pray the time with be profitable and uplifting and encouraging.

Now it's your turn. Fire away. Share with us what God's been doing in your life (family, faith, work, writing, whatever) and what is heavy on your heart.