Empty Nest?

Come next August, Sherri and I will be empty nesters. Yes I am sad and a bit scared, but I think the emotion I feel the most is restlessness. I can't put my finger on it. I realize this is the next phase and it is what Sherri and I have been working for over the past 21 years with Clayton and Maddie, but I can’t shake the feeling of restlessness. What will the next "phase" consist of? When this next phase was still far away I thought it would be a time that Sherri and I could travel, spend more one on one time, sleep late on the weekends, or maybe take long weekend trips without planning the adventure four months ahead of time. It would be a time we would move into the city or maybe the Galleria area and "downsize" and live the cosmopolitan lifestyle. Eat out even more, travel more, and enjoy the good life more. Now as it gets so close, I am restless. Do I really need more self time? Do I need to live the “good life”? Is that really the purpose of the empty nest phase? Do Sherri and I really need to get to know each other again? Heck we have been married for almost 25 years. Trust me; we know each other VERY well. We know the good, the bad, and the ugly. The kids (great kids) will be in college; our work is almost done. What work is left will take less time and more money. All this leaves me with is restlessness.

With this restlessness I have a bit of fear in the bottom of my gut. The fear comes because I think I know the source of my restlessness. I am afraid that God maybe stirring in me. Does God maybe have something Sherri and I should be doing during next phase other than enjoying the fruits of our 25 years of labor? I don't think he is sending us to Africa to feed the children, but what if there is a family here in Houston the needs a hand. I don’t think He is calling me to proclaim the gospel on the street corner downtown, but what about my neighbors and the people I work with everyday? I don’t think He wants me to adopt an orphan, but why not be a foster parent for a child that just needs a place to call home for awhile. I don’t think He wants me to sell all my possessions and give them to the poor, but maybe he is asking me to be generous beyond practicality.
Ok, I have been almost too honest with you here. All I have left to say is: I am not sure what’s next, but I am praying that my plans for the empty nest don’t push out God’s plans. I have lived long enough to know that God’s plans are always the best. I leave you with a verse we read in small group today. My hope and prayer for Sherri and I and all of you is this, no matter what “phase” you find yourself is that you take hold of life that is truly life!

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. I Timothy 6:18-19

My pastor made me mad last Sunday!

I am a member of Copperfield Church (don't hold that against the church). For the last few weeks the preacher (a guy I am usually at peace with) has been preaching on the beatitudes. A few have really gotten under my skin. But, last week was the last straw. If he keeps preaching the truth, I am going to have to find a feel good church to attend. Two verses he used that really made me mad were:

1 John 4:20:
If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Ephesians 4:29:
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Those of you that know me or my frequent Facebook status update can understand how disturbing these passages can be to me. It is not like the first time I have ever heard or read these passages; however, they really convicted me while sitting there in my chair. Of course my first was response was "back off preacher, you are starting to meddle." Then it happened, the Holy Spirit convicted me right there in church (the nerve).

Do I love God? Yes. Do I hate my brother? Yes, I am afraid I sometimes do. Maybe I don't actually hate, but my actions and words sure sound like I do. Ok, so there I am feeling like crap and the preacher hits me with the second passage. Only speak words that build up? Good grief, I am 0 for 2.


So what now? I have been thinking about it all day. I have two options. One, I could stop loving God. The option will not work. How could I, a sinful man, deserving eternity in hell ever turn my back on a holy God that gave me grace through His son Jesus Christ. Two, I could change. Who am I kidding? I cannot change. People don't change. My only option is to allow God to change me.

Strawberries are good...

Today while eating strawberries I thought to myself. Man these strawberries are so good. Every time I eat fruit I am reminded there is a God and he is good. If you ever doubt there is a God just pick up an orange. Sit down in a comfortable chair and slowly peel it. Then take a moment before breaking up the slices just to admire it. It is truly incredible. This perfection grew from dirt, sun, water and air! You will never convince me that an orange just evolved overtime to its perfection. God created it and did a perfect job.

Good Things

I may have to retire from my short stint of blogging. I really have nothing to say. I know most of you would respond "well that never stopped you from blogging in the past." And you would be correct. But this time is different. I am consumed with nothing but Obama, and how this country so quickly and willingly has embraced socialism. It did not even take a generation to ease into it. Just 100 days. I am consumed with it, yet I am bored with it. I have arrived at the point of no longer caring. My father always says "only the ignorant don't care." But that is a topic for another day. Look at Canada, they are socialist and they seem very happy. Maybe Jesus is a socialist. So, I am declaring a NO OBAMA week. I shall not speak of, cut down, or even engage in any Obama talk until next Sunday. For this week I shall speak of only good things. Let's all do this together! Here is a list of good things to discuss (in no particular order). Dogs, Mexican food, children, God, rain, the smile of a good friend, a parent's unconditional love, cash, Sherri, friends, laughing, The Office, oxygen, Barney, flowers, running water, grace, coffee on the patio with Sherri, Texas A&M, my bed, flip flops, Copperfield Church, Maddie, electricity, America, gravity, going to Marble Slap with the family at 10:00 pm on a school night for no reason, sleeping past 7 am, Krispy kreme donuts, Roomba, cats, Jesus, moo shu pork, Clayton, American Idol, recess, old friends, flannel sheets, wind, the beach in July, health, skin, funny mouse pads, cartoons, strawberries, marriage, air conditioning, vacations, FaceBook, camping, double sided tape, family, hospitals, lawn service guys, my mom and dad, spell check, Perdido Key Florida, extension cords, snow skiing, Christmas morning, fireworks, indoor plumbing, blogging about nothing, fireplaces in January, the ocean, grandparents, grass, airplanes, and old wedding pictures.

Back in Business

Hey campers! I am back. I have been delayed in blogging because I forgot my password. Yes I know it is not as dramatic as lets say deathly ill, held hostage by terroist, writers block, or busy advising Obama on his next stupid move, but it's the truth. Anyway speaking of Obama, nevermind I'm not going to go down that road. Not to be a downer my first day back, but I do believe that Obama is taking us down a road of total destruction that we will never recover. Dang it I said I was not going down that road. Speaking of Obama, have I told you all about my dog? We have a family dog. She is a Corgi and her name is Reeses. She is obese! She should weigh 25 pounds but instead she weighs 40! That is just not good. So we have put the gal on a diet. She is not happy about it, but luckily she is stupid and really can't remember that she use to get more food. Ok I am gonna ease back into this blogging thing. So for now Pierce out! Yes I am hooked on American Ideal already. And DWTS is great since bachelor dumpee Melissa is on it. Yes, I watch way too much television.

Skiing

I just completed my fourth day of skiing at Park City, Utah. We only have one more day. Maddie and I are going to be the first in line tomorrow morning and ski until 7:30pm. We love skiing. Actually, Maddie and Clayton are snowboarder dudes. Every time I spend a few days skiing I become aware of several things. First, I realize only a fool could spend time experiencing the snow covered mountains and not know without a shadow of a doubt that there is a God. Such incredible beauty and splendor could not come about by chance. It is the work of an awesomely creative God. Second, I rediscover that I really like my kids. I have a great time being with them. It is great to spend time with them sharing something that we all love so much. Third, I realize I am getting older. Muscles I never knew I had begin to ache. I don't go as fast down the slope as I use to and I take a few more coffee breaks. And last, I am reminded that skiing is expensive. I cant wait for the next trip!

Stuff

We have 21 lamps, in the downstairs alone, 96 drinking glasses, 65 coffee cups, 12 pillows on one bed and 28 crosses on one wall! I am not bragging. I am a bit embarrassed. Why do we have all this stuff? Do we need all this stuff? Sure I could blame it on Hobby Lobby and Marshall's. If it is that cheap you just have to buy it. When will it stop? Actually as I look around I am encouraged that it has slowed tremendously over the past few years. Most of the stuff I am looking at is getting to be a few years old. But still, at one point we bought it and kept buying it. I refuse to analyze why we collect so much stuff, but instead choose to start ridding myself of the stuff. I will not bring anything else with a shelf life of over 6 months into this house unless I remove 2 items. I am committed to this. I cannot be swayed. Oh look, a new Best Buy catalog...