It Ain't Over....

Lately there have been lots of sudden funerals....Lots of shocked people...lots of tears...
lots of "what happened?"...lots of remember whens.

This afternoon I am going to a funeral of a boy I grew up and graduated with. I came across some words from Max Lucado...that were pretty timely.

"Finally, the moment! Can you envision it?

Heaven! We’re about to enter His presence!

We don’t deserve it. We haven’t earned it.

We may even surprise the angels.

Angels are making the music. The music is like none we’ve ever heard. Suddenly, silence. Now, light—blinding light—as the Maestro steps into view.

Soon, we will walk with Him, talk with Him, and worship as He leads.

Soon God, the Author of Life and Composer of Hope, will speak our name—a name so mysterious and full o promise that only He knows it. It is our name—a new name—a name totally our own to be ours alone for all the days we spend in Heaven.

. . . our highest hope.

It’s the end of the journey.

It’s the beginning of eternal life.

It’s the moment you don’t want to miss."

~Max Lucado

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Now that is some news to smile about!
God, Thank You....for Lizzie and Billy. May they rest in peace...and those that they leave behind know that this is not the end.

In His Dust,

DCC

It Won't Last...

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I love this message from Paul....

it's good stuff for the summer- it's hotter than hades down here in South Texas...the humidity fogs up your sunglasses the minute you walk out the door- you are punched in the face with it.

Paul reminds us that it ain't over. although our bodies are wasting away...or melting.
He reminds us- DON'T GIVE UP!
No matter what is looks like...not a moment is going by that is not filled with God's Grace.
Hard times here are NOTHING compared to what is coming our way.
There's much more going than we see with our eyeballs.

God, Thank You for the always timely reminder that what we see is not what will last...what we see is not what matters...and where we live is not our final destination.

In His Dust,
DCC

iPhone 4...

Ok- iPhone 4.
It's pretty.
It's loaded with tricks.
It's fast.
It's fancy.
It's mine.

Makes wonder what else I would wait in line...watch the calendar and anticipate arrival of.....

God, Let it be You....and Only You.

In His Dust,
DCC

*Cartoon by Cuyler Black

www.inheritthemirth.com

Engraved...

So, it's summertime...you are sitting around minding your own business....you are hanging at the ball fields with Woody....picking mosquito bites...you may or not be wearing the same shirt every day for 4 weeks...but who is counting.

When the next thing you know you are getting put on a bus for camp.

Whoa -Whoa- Whoa there Nelly....

Reluctantly, you are dragged, bribed and pulled from the suburban.

The sights and sounds are of crocodile tears and screams of...
Why don't you love me?
I only want to be with you.
Why is Dad so mean to make me go?
I am only going to be sad all the day long....all of it.

You are way too sad look up and pose for any stupid picture I want to take...

however, you do have your Purell dispenser filled up and hanging from your "pack-pack."
It is officially "the worst summer...ever."

I get a little closer to examine the new "growth" on your forearm.

Me: Whatcha got goin' on there?

Mikey- (Sniff, sniff)....it's a tattoo.

Me: Wow. What's it say?

Mikey: Mommy. It's cuz I miss her all day long when I am at this camp. Now, I can look and see her. It's permanent so it won't wash off in the pool. Or EVER.

Me: It's gonna be a good day Big Mike.

"Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me." Isaiah 49:16

God, Thank You for being with us all the time..although we cannot physically see Your Name on our hands...we know from Your scars that our names are on Your's.

In His Dust,

DCC

Holy Polys...

So the story you are about to read is the truth and only the truth...the names have been changed to protect the innocent....although I am not sure there are any.

I go outside on the playground during VBS....to check on the shorties---they are climbing, jumping, swinging, sliding laughing...and then waaaayyyyy far away....in a dark muddy corner....I see this.

Doodle Bug Hunters.

Me: "Rollins, Katie Bug, whatcha doing over there?"

(They jump to attention...and smile...but with a crazy guilty look in their little eyes...)

Rollins: "Hi! What?!

Katie Bug: Hi! Ummmm...

Me: What are you freaks doing down there?

Rollins: Ummmm....well......ok. We are looking for "Holy Polys" and we are gonna find 'em.

Katie Bug: Yep.

With this they turn back immediately to their hunting expedition.

Imagine after all these years- to find out the little creatures that I have been calling Doodle Bugs or Roly Polys...were actually referred to as HOLY Polys....all this time.

It's true, you really do learn something new every day.

I am not sure if the new name "Holy Polys" are because they were hunting in a 2 feet deep x 1 inch wide pile of wet mud at Vacation Bible School, or maybe because it is on church property, but I like the new name.

I like it alot.

As I return from the safari....I start finding these homemade "quilts" all over the church

upon closer inspection...I see the messages on each of them

God Loves YOU...and UOY...
(the message here being He loves you backwards and forwards)

I Love God.

God's Word is true.

Jesus is God.

I guess...I found some of my own little-bitty, yet, profoundly large Holy Polys after all.

May your day be filled with finding Holy Polys every where you turn.

God, Thank You for placing Your reminders everywhere we go....in the ground, on the wall and even all over muddy little girls.

In His Dust,

DCC

Concessions...

He is a forgiving God...

as well as a provider of all the good stuff in life!

God, Thank You for leaving the Confession/Concession stand always open.

In His Dust,
DCC

*cartoon by Cuyler Black

www.inheritthemirth.com

Unashamed....

It's Vacation Bible School here at the church.400 shorties....going ape nuts about Jesus and how unbelievably-amazingly awesome He is!

Nothing better than starting your day with these faces.....Pure unrelenting, unashamed worship for Christ.
They are not afraid to put it all out there.It is challenging and humbling to watch.

"Praise the Lord. Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised both now and forevermore." Psalm 113

The word used for “Praise The Lord” is hallelujah – a combination of the Hebrew word for praise, halal, and God’s Name, Yahweh. Halal means to shine forth; to extol; to act clamorously foolish! With that in mind, let’s try it again-

"Hallelujah. Halal, O servants of the Lord, Halal the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be halal-ed both now and forevermore." Psalm 113

God is more than worthy of praise that is exuberant and undignified. When we lose our sense of dignity and self reliance we show reverence and honor to God.

When we embrace a childlike expression of praise we show the ultimate reverence-because in that moment we are clearly putting God’s desires above our peers’ desires.

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32

Bottom line- missing out on Jesus in your life is like going to Chris Madrid's and getting a glass of water.

God, Thank You for the opportunity to watch these kids do it right!

In His Dust,
DCC

Attention...

I got this a few days ago from my Mom. I was so moved by it- I had to share.

It was written from a Chaplain in Iraq: I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings.

As is the custom at all military bases, we stood to attention when The National Anthem began before the main feature.
All was going well until three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped. Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States?
I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin.

Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here in Iraq, 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward.

The music started again and the Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention.

But again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1,000 Soldiers standing at attention to do?? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.
But No!!... You could have heard a pin drop, while every Soldier continued to stand at attention.

Suddenly, there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium,
then a dozen voices...
and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers,
finishing where the recording left off:

"And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free,
and the home of the brave."

It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq and I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you. Remember them as they fight for us!

Please consider this as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad.

Many have already paid the ultimate price. Sincerely,

Chaplain Jim Higgins
Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad .

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What am I standing still for today?
What are you standing at attention for?
What are we standing out of respect for...

It had better be Him.

God, Thank you for the brave men and women serving our country all over this world of Your's. Thank You for our flag and what all that it stands for.

In His Dust,

DCC

The Lost Supper...

Have a great weekend and remember-NOTHING takes Him by surprise.

God, Thank You for knowing ALL OF IT....

and walking with us, through each moment of it.

In His Dust,

DCC

*Cartoon by Cuyler Black

http://www.inheritthemirth.com/

Under a Bushel? No!

In Jesus' day, lamps were simple and made from clay. They had a reservoir for olive oil and a "nozzle" where the wick would rest. Household lamps were small enough to be carried in the palm of the hand.

The lamp which Jesus was probably most familiar with was the "Herodian" lamp, made on a potter's wheel of thin, light-brown clay.

When it was dark enough to light a lamp, you'd set it high enough to illuminate everything around --- on a shelf in the stone wall of your home or on a wooden lamp stand in the center of the room.

"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed.
Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light."
Luke 8:16-17

Jesus' words about not hiding it were funny. I picture Him smiling as He said it- If you're going to light a lamp, you do it for illumination, not to hide or conceal it. If that were your purpose, you wouldn't light it at all.

So, that little light of your's??? You're gonna let it shine.

God, Please forgive us for all the times we hide The Light under a bushel. Thank You for the opportunities to Shine Like THE Son.
In His Dust,
DCC

Oooooh, That Smell...

So, I have just returned from my daily walk on the golf course-

which was a barrel of monkeys at about 200 degrees and the humidity of 400%.

However, to add to the fun...the course was being aerated today.

What is that? I'm glad you asked...it is the process of punching holes into the ground to allow water, oxygen, fertilizers, and (other stuff I didn't pay enough attention in science class to be able to repeat) to penetrate the soil and better reach the roots of your grass.

It's fascinating, I know.

The Smell was what got my attention.

Fertilizer along with some kind of ammonia (that could have wiped out Fort Sam Houston if the breeze turned), was flying through the air trying to kill me.

There I was, minding my own business, trying to shed off Teka Molina from lunch...and the air was so horrendous and strong that people were walking around with a snarl on their face...looking at each other...as if to say..."was that you?"

Seeing that it was 400 degrees....it could have been anyone.

Why am I blogging about this? Glad you asked...this reminded me of a lesson taught to me by Ray VanderLaan when I was in Israel in Jerusalem's Hinnom Valley.

The Hinnom Valley was at the end of a sewer channel. These commonly ran under the streets of ancient cities. Though the channels were probably used to drain rainwater from the towns, people also used them to dump human waste, garbage, and debris.
Trash and carcasses of unclean animals were continually burning in these valleys.

By Jesus' time, the Hinnom Valley (Ge-Hinnom in Hebrew) was know by its Greek translation, Gehenna, and it became the Hebrew picture of hell. Gehenna is mentioned in The Torah as well as The Qran.

As ancient Israelites emptied their garbage and sewer into the Hinnom Valley each day, they were given a vivid image of hell and an important reminder of the price for disobeying God's commands. It became a figurative name for the site at the greatest possible distance from heaven.

Without getting into a theological discussion on hell...I simply want to point out- that they had a literal picture of what it was like to be separated from God.

It Stunk!

OK, so here is the part where I weave the SACC golf course to the Hinnom Valley in Jerusalem.

They had a "picture",that invigorated all their senses, as to what separation from what God might be like.

Today my senses were shocked, into remembering this place...and therefore my heart was reminded, that messing with disobedience is serious and dangerous stuff.

When God tells me to stay away from someone or something- He means business. If He has to aerate my heart, He will.

God, Thank You for protecting me from people and situations that You do not want me involved with.

In His Dust,

DCC

Class Dismissed...

Teary Moms....Laughing kids...Notebooks are empty...Camp Trunks are filled...
Screaming Seniors...Crying Kindergartners...Splashing Water...

Sounds like summer....

God, Thank You for the change of seasons that You promised us in Genesis. As always, we can trust that You are true to Your Word.

In His Dust.
DCC

Oil Spill...

Seriously....what else are we gonna throw in there????
I know nothing about petroleum engineering...however, I do know that this seems to be a little ridiculous...we are throwing in hair, hay and I am afraid to ask what else, to "plug the hole."
We are seeking counsel and advisement from Kevin Costner and James Cameron...

This is the view from space...as big and overwhelming as this looks to our eyes...
it is not to big to Our Father's Eyes
We must remember, we have a God that hung the stars...
He made the mountains and tells the shores where to stop and where to start.
He is still on The Throne.

and He is closer than we think.

"His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

He moves mountains without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger.

He shakes the earth from its place
and makes its pillars tremble.

He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
he seals off the light of the stars.

He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.

He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted." Job 9:4-10

God, Thank you for being ever present- please calm our fears no matter how big or small.

In His Dust,
DCC