Concentration

Have you ever tried just being still and listening...Not to a person, not to a song or anything but quieting your mind. It's got to be an amazing discipline to be able to do that. I am wondering if that's what one of my pastors called "the noise" of Satan's scheme and one way he would distract us from God.

 

As I think about the busyness of life I could see how "busyness" could be an idol. I think sometimes we all do it. I have seen it so many places. Tell someone how hectic and busy your life is...there's a good chance that they are gonna compare their day or time...you know what I mean. It's almost like we're proud of it.

 

I think it's even embedded into that workforce. I was talking with a new acquaintance last night one of his observations was that the company he worked for wanted to make sure they were getting their money's worth. Employees are driven harder so that companies can be profitable. I am not saying that's a bad thing, I think we should work hard at work. But, we have been conditioned to multitask and allow ourselves to be constantly interrupted. No longer can we contemplate the best solution, we have to just get it done right then. It's now so ingrained that when I only work on 1 thing I can't think. I check my phone for messages, hit the internet for something that popped into my head, etc. etc.

 

I don't know, maybe I am the only one that suffers from the inability to concentrate. It's probably a symptom of a weak mind. But, I am ready to quit that life. I want to be able to focus... I want to be able to think things through. But, mostly I want to be able to hear from God.

 

All this came about as one of my friends gave me some good advice...he said, "You should pray about this ministry for 15 minutes a day...mostly listening". I tried, and currently, I can't do it. I figure it's just gonna take time and perseverance. The scripture comes to mind, "Could you not tarry with me for 1 hour?" I'd would have fallen asleep too...

 

Anyone have any 12 step programs to better concentration?

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Great question to ask your wife!

I was at the men's lunch at first Baptist Church...Pastor Dale was talking about the book "Don't Waste Your Life"...I have listened to that book and was excited to hear what he had to say about it. I knew that he'd have a completely different viewpoint than my own. While there were several things he mentioned that fell into that category, none struck me more than when he spoke matter of fact-ly with us at the end.

 

It was right at the end of his session, he looked at the 100 or so guys there, put his hand on his chin and tried to make eye contact with as many of us as he could. He mentioned how he had been preaching for 35 years. That in those 35 years he had buried a lot of people. He stated there was a small population of women that were happy widows. Not exuberant, not obvious, but you could tell they were relieved. A huge weight had been lifted from their shoulders. The widows were probably not beaten or anything, but, perhaps their now dead husbands were (my words) buttheads. Then he proceeded to tell us how he wanted his wife to be sad when he was dead...(that was pretty funny, we all had a good laugh at the wording of it)...

 

The point was that we all will leave some sort of legacy, what legacy will you leave?

 

So, the question I asked my wife this morning, "Honey, when I die are you going to be happy?"

 

Her face was sort of shocked..."No!". Then she asked what I was talking about....after I told her the stuff I mentioned here, she almost came to tears telling something that had been bugging her that she just kind of set aside... I am glad we got to talk about that. I still don't know if that's resolved..but, at least it's something that I am aware of now that I can really try to correct.

 

The book is really good and I highly recommend it..but, the practical aspect Dale added, that's the real stuff that helps put into action all the theory and words that I heard. The things that help be the man I was created to be...I am so far off course but glad there is a ministry that reaches out to guys like me that want make the changes but don't even know we need to make them. It's kind of hard to explain...Simply, thank you Lord for Dale and his heart for godly men wannabes.

 

Oh yeah, you need to talk to your wife.

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Besides my #1s birthday

Another thought has been plaguing my thoughts lately. It's that I feel like I should be doing something and I don't know what it is. When I am at work I catch myself thinking of what I want to be when I grow up...when I am home, wondering what I should do around the house....never do I feel content. That seems like something I need to figure out or dismiss.
I have been drawing an illustration for my friends lately. It's a timeline with a point on both ends. The farthest left point is labelled birth...the farthest right is labelled death...then, I put a Rocket on it heading from the left to the right....and label that states, "where are you?"

It's the same chart for every single person. The only variance and unknown is "where you are"... Sort of a solve for "x" type problem.

My oldest daughter turns 18 today...I remember how collicky she was and having to hold her as she feel asleep...rocking back and forth...singing a Boyz to men song, "it's so hard to say goodbye"...well the song and the times were before my Christian walk began...but, that is a sweet memory I have of her...oh yeah, the whole time she was crying so hard she sounded like a sheep..but, it was sweet nonetheless.

Do something.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy

To my eldest!!! 18 today. WOW!

I love you sugar bear!

Pictures my sister wanted

Ok, here they are...please excuse the mess...

http://thetaggs.smugmug.com/Family/TheTagg-Family/2010-House-Pictures/10861010_3oGvA#757746312_rydcN

it's only been  4 months since you asked...

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Doing well enough to get by...

I have noticed a trend. Not only in my kids, but me as well...We often do just enough to get by. Rarely do we make an effort at every thing we do to do the absolute best we can. I know when I fail at this it's usually due to thinking, "I can finish later"..but, sometimes it's, "Oh, someone else will finish that up". Once in a while I may do a bit extra on something that might draw attention to how much I do...but, usually, it's something I might enjoy doing anyway. It's like trying to get rewarded for obedience..when it's actually, I am choosing to do something that I want to do because I like it..and, oh yeah, it just happens to be something I am supposed to do. Then, make it look like you're suffering....oh, the agony of doing this thing I like...:-)

 

Even though this has become quite prevalent in my household lately...there are those rare and shining moments. The moments that go above and beyond. For example, my oldest son...on his own initiative cleaned Wally. (Wally is our trash compactor named after the famous Wall E from the Disney movie)...That's a job. And, unbeknownst to us, causing this horrific stench. We would come home and go, "Whew, that's nasty." Then we'd search around and think..aha, we found it. The wife left a sock near the counter...But, even though we got that out...we'd walk in the kitchen and wrinkle up our noses. Not any more, my son nailed it and did an absolute wonderful job on it.

 

We do have those moments...how do we have those kind of moments even more? Or maybe the question is better stated, how do I encourage everyone to go above and beyond? To see beyond just tasks that we need to do and see the end goal so that we can all work toward it?

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Predator v. Prey

I was thinking about the act of listening this morning while the pastor was praying and a thought occurred to me. Do I listen with all of me? Do I listen, so often like I ask the kids I coach, as a deer that thought it heard a predator? That led me to "am I listening like I am prey?" Isn't it that important? So, my pastor is praying am I am thinking about being prey...

But, isn't our relationship with the Lord that important? Doesn't life actually reflect a predator and prey type of scenario? Aren't we actually prey? Yes, we are. So many times I fall into complacency and feel like I am secure where I am. I actually stop listening for predators. I get used to my surroundings and get too comfortable. That seems to be dangerous doesn't it?

My father in law is a great hunter. He has many trophies of very large varying specimen of game. I suppose that those critters that now adorn his walls were at one time either hidden very well, or wise to hunters ways to allow themselves to develop those trophy like qualities...a deer isn't born with enormous antlers..I suppose it's time that allows them to get to their size. The only way they can enjoy time enough to develop such attributes...through cunning, wisdom and awareness. What happened that they are now a trophy instead of still wandering the pasture?

Are we the same? Are we the target of a hunter? Absolutely...and this hunter also seeks trophies.

How do we ensure that we do not end up on the mantle of our enemy? I heard some anecdotal saying...an ambulance driver stated, "do you want to know which of the patients I drive to the hospital survive? The ones that keep watching, they keep looking around, they stay aware." There may be no proof regarding that statement, but don't you just know that there is some truth to that? If the deer didn't let it's guard down, it may still be alive. If it didn't get used to the sound of that deer feeder, if it didn't lazy and just want to pick up the "free" corn.

We are being hunted. The hunter is the most crafty hunter that ever existed. It will require us to be aware, ever mindful and ever moving forward. That we do not become complacent or look for shortcuts or easy ways out. The hunter has "deer feeders" of all sorts that he uses to draw us out. His blinds are the highest quality...he's almost undetectable..

Almost. We have a savior, a guide, a watchman, an educator, that trains us up to be able to identify this hunters crafty schemes..

All we have to do is seek him like we are prey and he is our protector, shepherd....

Thanking God for swelling, cuts and bruises...

Today, my youngest daughter was upended on the street accidentally by one of her brothers that was sledding down the street. She was actually thrown down on her face as her feet were swept cleanly out from under her. It was like something you see on funniest home videos....except nobody was laughing. It was a scary moment that I can play back in slow motion in my mind.

I recall yelling out as I saw it coming. Nobody moved, nobody responded. I could do nothing. I can recall wanting her to stick her hands out to catch her self...but, she didn't. I remember clearly seeing her face bounce off of the ice covered concrete. I ran down...blood was everywhere.

I was scared and I needed someone to put the blame on. Someone that could take my wrath for this. But, there wasn't anyone to blame. I feel like it would have been much easier on me if there was someone there that I could rip in half for doing that to my baby girl...but, it was just an accident.

I am sure there are many psychological babblings that can tell me theories on why I felt that way. But, I don't think I need a doctorate to figure it out. I believe it's a desire for justice. My sweet angel was pummeled in the face and I wanted it to be made better. She was undeserving and, technically, I saw it coming, so I should get to call "black, black take backs" and wish to have that removed from history.

As I lay here thinking about justice, I think how it could have been so much worse. So many "what ifs" that make this seem like a piece of pie. I am thankful for swelling, cuts and bruises.

It really messed up my day...but, she's definitely alright and a lot of the swelling has already gone down. I am thankful it wasn't more serious...but, it's a lot tougher when your daughter gets hurt than a son...to me anyway.

It's the little things that matter

One of the things that really salvages my regard for all of humanity are times when I notice nice gestures that are given without regard to receiving credit... Some examples are:
Going to a fast food restaraunt and a guy sees that there aren't many tables and when he gets up he leaves a clean table for the people that are getting it next.

When I have been camping and people have left their extra firewood...

Those are thoughtful gestures that expect nothing in return. However, leaving "something" behind when you exit a bathroom...well, that's quite the opposite.

Be careful what you leave behind. Especially if it's from the behind !!!

Yep, it's in the little things.

The importance of punctuation

Many of us take for granted the little dots and squiggles. However, truth be known, they are extremely important in conveying the meaning the author intends to relay to the reader. There are no age limits in the requirements of understanding punctuation. As soon as someone learns to read, proper use and understanding of punctuation becomes very important. For example, if a 7 year old is reading an Abeka reading book and comes across a sentence such as..."My, but, isn't that fine?" the total lack of following the punctuation rules gives that sentence a totally different meaning and causes a huge disruption during class time.

My butt isn't that funny..