Peace Be Progressive

And as the third straight week of deplorable national headlines comes to a close, Henrico County Public Schools is gripped by a rumor that threatens to extend the streak.  My 17 year-old brother-in-law came home Tuesday; and after sharing some unrelated disappointing news informed me that a he heard some were going to "shoot up" Highland Springs and Varina High Schools on the last day.  Needless to say "Big Mon", the hardest 12th grader on the East Coast, begged to stay home on Friday.  Yesterday, a friend of mine expressed she heard the rumor as well.  And dozens of 'more-than-a-conqueror' parents in the county have erred to the caution side and kept their children home today.  Don't you dare mention the word scared. 

The Best There Is

Usually, I'm all for an advantage that makes my team better and the other teams worse; inside or outside of the game.  But some things are just too grand in reality and emotion for competition.  Some things happen that remind us the playing field is indeed even.  The death of a player would be one of those things.  I've never dealt with a teammates' sudden passing, but after learning what the Dallas Cowboys experienced recently (DT Josh Brent  was charged with a DUI after a car crash that killed passenger, fellow teammate, and friend Jerry Brown), my heart went out to the entire organization and both players' families.  Speculation in a situation like this is minimal.  And one thing is for certain; you can bet that when Brent took that first drink he didn't think it would lead to the death of his college homeboy. 

Fingerprint

I would assume that this includes people of all ages; but many youthful, energetic, and creative Christians struggle with their individuality.  When I say this, I'm not referring to those dealing with sexual preference issues (maybe in another work). I'm talking about the trailblazers, the trendsetters, the planers, and the executors.  Because of the personality traits that are associated with being an achieved individual, many begin to look at their driven nature as almost a curse after giving or rededicating their lives to Christ.  Along with that, the "I looked at my hands and they looked new..." phenomenon sometimes has winners in the world feeling like losers in the Kingdom. 

Anti-Doping

This might be popular in many other fields, but I've heard this phrase used mostly in NASCAR circles.

If you're not cheating, you're not trying hard enough.

Such an unethical statement still seems to make a little sense.  Obviously when competing, whether trying to win a championship or a contract, a person or a team will exhaust every possibility within the guidelines to win.  But there always comes a point where brainstorming within the boundaries quickly gets stale.  At that moment, compromise almost always enters the mind of the competitive and the driven.  Even the most sanctified people may at least review their interpretation of the rules to see if an advantage can be gained.  Others with a lower sense of integrity flat out disregard any regulation.  Yet neither of the groups can be pinned with not trying.  I mean, no one really listened to their teacher when she said it's not whether you win or lose but it's how you play the game, right?  At least, not until you get caught.

Worship Scale - Second Entry

I take my hat off to the people who grew up in church and maintained a Christian lifestyle throughout their childhood and adolescence.  I also salute the young people who currently demonstrate Kingdom living even at their young age; because although I was afforded the same opportunities, I hardly took full advantage of them.  Instead, I mostly hid the knowledge of God or used it when I was in a situation I couldn't push or weasel my way out of.  Of course I now know I wasn't successful in either, but it was the merciful Hand of the Lord that allowed me to exist.  And because of this I recognize that early in my walk, I believe my frequent reflection of those times and how I've moved on promoted my worship.  But I'm thankful that my relationship with God has grown to where I now worship Him for simply His existence; because this is not a given path of progression.