A Dog’s Perspective

We have a couple of dogs – an older one (Marilyn) and a younger one (Riley). The old one gave up chasing or barking at cars a long time ago. However, the younger one still keeps this ancient art.

The road we live on has the occasional car or truck ride by, but it’s not often. When a pickup or larger truck rides by, Riley sprints toward the road barking intently.

Don’t worry, we have one of those invisible fences that keeps Riley away from the road.

Riley chases the truck along the invisible fence, barking, until the truck has past our yard.

Dumb dog. When will you realize that you are wasting your time and energy. Learn from the older dog.

Recently we’ve noticed that Riley chases not only trucks, but also airplanes.

Yep, airplanes. Where we live, crop dusters fly low over us – close enough you can see the pilot, wave and he waves back.  

Riley hears the airplane coming, looks up, and chases it across the yard.

Again, dumb dog.

One day I had a thought that changed my perspective.

I wonder if Riley thinks that he is chasing away every truck that comes down the road and every airplane that flies over?

If so, he must feel pretty successful. Practically all vehicles that come down our road (that don’t live at Riley’s house) keep going by. Riley probably thinks it’s because of him. And we certainly haven’t had an airplane to stop.

If Riley does that – thinks he’s keeping trucks & airplanes away– I wonder if I do that. I wonder if you do that.

What do we try to control and that we think we control, but we really don’t?

I imagine that there are some days – from God’s perspective – that I look like Riley chasing an airplane.

How about you? 

Go fly a kite . . .

Yesterday was a great day.

Easter Sunday. Awesome time at church. We saw a lot people respond to the message of the empty tomb and receive real life from Jesus. That never gets old! We also saw lots of new people - our folks really invited their friends & family! Wow!

Spent some time in the afternoon talking with a young man that is fired up for the cause of Christ and his call to the ministry. That's always exciting and gets me pumped up!

Even had time to relax and fly a kite. Usually when you hear those words - go fly a kite - it is usually not a good thing, but yesterday it was great.

Spent some time hiding Easter eggs and finding them - something that I always enjoy with Katherine.

Even watched the end of the Masters to see Bubba Watson win in dramatic fashion!

How was your Easter?

Favorite Places . . .

This one of my favorite places to sit down with a cup of coffee and read. It's Muddy's Coffeehouse in Elizabeth City and it's one of those places where you can be a part of the conversation or get in your own world and read.

What is one of your favorite places? 

My View

Back in January, we did a sermon series as a church based on the book The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. (If you haven't read it, read it. If you have read it, read it again!) Get it here.

During that series, many of us began praying circles around many different things in our lives. I challenged our folks to pray circles around our property - where we will soon build a new facility.


Anyway, this is my view today of where I stopped on the prayer circle for some time with God. What was your view today? 

Small Things

We have a Sears riding mower that we have had for about 10 years. It still works well, but looks a little rough. A couple of years ago, I noticed a crack in the hood and thought that I need to put some tape or glue on it to keep it from getting worse. But I didn’t. I just kept forgetting.

Well, last summer, I noticed that the lawnmower hood has completely come apart and was now on the ground in 7 pieces. I really wished that I had put that tape on there when it was just a small crack.

So we finished up mowing last summer with no hood on the riding mower. It worked, but it looked horrible. I don’t know if I would’ve felt any worse riding around town with a car with no hood.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I researched about getting a replacement hood. Guess how much one of those cost? $500. Dang! Not getting that.

So, I pulled a Jim Spaugh. I used to tease my dad about being the King of Duct Tape. But I’ve out done him – and he’s no longer around to see my great accomplishment.

Instead of getting a $500 hood replacement, I bought $10 of red duct tape and taped together my lawn mower hood. (Check it out below).

Lesson to be learned: make the decision to fix something while it is still small and take action on that decision.

This whole deal could’ve been avoided with one small piece of duct tape two years ago.

The same thing is true in other aspects of life. What small thing in your marriage, finances, relationship, spiritual life, habits . . . that needs attention that you are avoiding?

Did you know that if you continue to do nothing the issue will be bigger and more unsightly  - just like my lawn mower? 

Awesome!

While at Catalyst last week, I heard this song in instantly feel in love with it and can't get it out of my head. Be careful, it might stick in yours as well :) The song is Beautiful Things by Gungor.

Great Video

I went to Catalyst last week in Atlanta and they showed this Tripp and Tyler video featuring Chris Tomlin. I couldn't love and laugh at this more.