Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Was enjoying a little quiet time this morning before going for my turkey trot (gotta make room for all those deserts) and when it came to the point where I ususally jot down a couple of thoughts I decided to look back one year ago and see what I wrote in my journal 365 days ago. Here it is....it's a gratitiude list. I have to say if these items stay on my gratitude list the rest of my life I should continue to enjoy the ride.

My Gratitude list:

1) Today
2) A conscious contact with God
3) God's grace
4) Living sober
5) A loving family
6) Home
7) Resources to meet needs
8) Good health
9) Network of friends
10) Faith / church
11) Sanity
12) Life experiences
13) Healing wounds
14) Freedom
15) Golf

This list seems very appropriate for a guy that is getting ready to turn 42. I'm very much looking forward to the second half of my life and what God has planned.

Keep it in the fairway!!!!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Supernova CTB 1

Tonight, November 11, 2010, Keeley, Candice and I went over to UK to hear a lecture for astronomy enthusiasts. Attending this event was an extra credit assignment for Keeley. But, I think "daddy" enjoyed it more than the others.

The lecturer was discussing SUPERNOVA's. Now I have to be honest, I did not understand 1% of what the lecturer was saying. But the content was amazing. I simply sat there in awe of God's creation. Yes, all I could think about was "Are you kidding me"? GOD - the person that I have a personal relationship with and who loves me designed all of this!!!

Everyone enjoys a good star gazing opportunity. The next time I get a chance to star gaze I'm going to also use that time as an opportunity to talk to God and thank him for all that he does for me everyday I'm allowed to live on this Earth.

Keep it in the fairway.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Who is God?

I was taught very young that church was an important part of life. I knew this from how my Mom lived her life and the fact that we were at church, it seemed, every time the doors were opened. My Grandfather was a minister and to me he was larger than life when he preached. I'm not sure I really understood who God was, but I had this concept that God was a man that lived above the clouds and not only did he watch everything I did, but he would also punish me if I did anything wrong. This concept of God stayed with me for a long time.

Once I began to make poor life choices I became ashamed off myself and felt like there was no way God was ever going to forgive me. This shame caused me later in life to turn my back on God. I kept going to church and occasonally I threw up fox hole prayers like God please help me and I promise I will make better decisions. My spiritual life went into some very dark places to the point where I had completely given up on ever having a personal relationship with God. See I still had that childhood concept that God was a punishing God and I had not experienced God's grace.

Today, because I have sincerely asked God for forgiveness of my sins and turned my life and will over to God he has revealed himself to me as a loving and perfect father. He cares for me like no other person on Earth and instead of being just a man that lives above the clouds I now see that God is in everything and walks with me daily.

When we come to understand God properly, as a heavenly father, and begin to depend on God more He draws closer to us and we draw closer to Him. God, thank you for loving me during my dark spiritual years and never giving up on me as one of your children.

Keep it in the fairway.