Today

21 04 2008

Today, I didn’t do a good job teaching at Church.

Today, I didn’t help call people to a greater purpose.

Today, I didn’t lead others into a deeper relationship with God.

Today, I was able to wake my daughter up and show her how much I love.

Today, I was able to tell my wife I love her.

Today, I was able to serve the women at church and drive then home from their retreat.

Today, well that is what happened today.





Longing

17 04 2008

Today my heart misses Africa.





Echoes of Something More

11 04 2008

I am a softy when it comes to movies and tv shows. I love to watch all kinds of movies and tv shows. Action. Drama. Comedy. And even Foreign. I love to get lost in the stories and plots. I love to see the characters develop and grow. I love to explore the plot lines.

But there is something more about movies that I love even more than the above. I love the echoes of something more. You don’t always hear them. Sometimes they are faint phrases in the background of a bigger plot. Sometimes they are so apparent that the echo sounds as if someone had just said it. Take for instance the move August Rush. The movie is about music right? Or is it? There is an echo of something more in the story. Don’t we all want to be found?! Don’t we all desire to play the music (our lives) the way it was intended to play?! Don’t we all want to connect to that rhythm that is being played across the world and across time?! Echoes of something more. . .possibly the connection of being found by the one who created us. . .Composing “music” with the God who composed life. . .Echoes of something more.

I was watching Eli Stone tonight. It is about this guy who has an aneurysm and now can see visions of the future. Somewhat of the future. These visions help determine which case he will try for a law firm. Before the aneurysm he didn’t have a conscience but now he does. At the end of tonights episode were these words. . .

“There is no faith without hope, no justice without compassion, no humanity without fairness. . .every one of us, the least of us, is still divine.”

Echoes of something more. . .





Champions!

8 04 2008

Kansas Jayhawks College Basketball National Champions!

I have been waiting. For 17 years, I have been waiting for tonight. Nervous all day. Kansas had been there before but never with a win in the last 19 years. Maybe this year would be different.

I went over to Margene’s for our annual National Championship game. Tip off and the game I have been waiting began. I screaming, yelling, jumping up and down and sometimes about to cry. At halftime we are up by 5. I am getting even more worked up because I know Memphis will make a run in the second half. Second half begins and sure enough Memphis comes out tough. Fast forward through some more yelling, screaming, jumping up and down and more nervousness, we are down with 2 minutes to go and I am beginning to feel that sinking feeling. I will be waiting for another year to come. Then what has plagued Memphis all year happens–poor free throw shooting. CDR misses 3 of 4 and Rose misses 1 of 2. 10 seconds left and we are down by only 3. It could happen! Collins brings the ball up the court. . .stumbles. . .passes the ball to Chalmers for a 3 pointer. . .and. . .(remember to breathe Matt!) it goes in. I jump up and hit the ceiling fan! The whole room jumps in jubilation!

Overtime. . .

Kansas settled into their normal quality game. 3. . .2. . .1. . .0 Yes! They did it! We won! Finally the championship has come. 17 years of being a die hard fan and I can sleep tonight with a smile on my face. One of the best basketball games I have ever seen in my life! Memphis played a fabulous game! They just missed some free throws at a crucial time.

Here is to Chalmers, Rush, Arthur, Robinson, Jackson, Kahn, Collins, Aldrich and the rest. Congratulations on being the best in the nation! The national championship trophy comes home!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!!!!!!

You can read more about at ESPN or KUAthletics or KUSports.





Jayhawks

6 04 2008

Tonight was the Final Four. I always love March Madness. Some years are better than others. This year has been one of the best I have ever seen. Most of the seeds worked out the way they were supposed to. You had a cinderella with Davidson.

My Jayhawks made the Final Four. Which honestly, it is always a good year when that happens. Two great games today between Memphis/UCLA and Kansas/UNC. I was hoping Memphis would lose. They didn’t.

Before the start of the Kansas game there is nervous energy. I made dinner and had everything prepared in time so that fixing dinner would not disturb the watching of the Kansas game. The game begins and I am jumping up and down (about to make a whole in the floor). Kansas had an incredible start to the game. At one time they were up 28 points. I am about to have a heartattack because I am so excited. Then Kansas went brain dead for 13 minutes of the game. I have another heartattack because they are losing their lead. I am about to throw something at the TV because I am so frustrated! UNC cuts the 28 point lead to 4. 4!!!!  Thank you to all those who know how much of a Kansas fan I am and not calling during this time! Then Kansas settles down and begins to rebuild the lead. The game closes with Kansas winning. I have my third heartattack of the night because my body can finally relax.

The championship game is Monday. We are so close. I am looking forward to the game. I will probably have more than 3 heartattacks during the game. I can feel it. We are this close to a championship! Rock Chaulk Jayhawk KU!