How tall is your fence? As you drive around town you will see a wide range of fence heights. Most of the fences are around the seven to eight foot tall range, but some are well over nine feet and some seem to be ten feet or higher. I have noticed that since my neighbor installed his ten foot high fence almost no one can see into my back yard. In some ways I really like the fact that I have so much privacy in the back of our property, but in other ways I am not too sure that having extra tall fences in a good thing.
We are a people in desperate need of “community” or as Maslow said, “Belonging”. That is so true today. Even though we strive to be independent and self sufficient, we as a people have a built in need to belong to something bigger than ourselves.
I have notice in resent weeks that not all of the neighborhoods in McKinney have tall fences. As a matter of fact there are some communities around town which do not have fences of any kind or if they do have a fence it is a wire fence that does not provide any privacy. The people who live in these homes seem to have a greater sense of community or belonging. They have more activities outside and seem to know their neighbors better. As a matter of fact many of the cook outs or barbeques happen in the front yard rather than the back yard and the neighbors are always invited.
So, let me ask you, how tall is your fence? More importantly, do you also have social fence that travels with you from place to place as you go to different events. I believe that some of us not only like having tall fences for our back yards, we also like having social fences around us everywhere we go. We are quickly becoming a nation of people who live next door to strangers instead of neighbors. We go to church with strangers rather than “family”. As a matter of fact most people in the United States have fewer than five close friends. Some of you are saying, “I wish I had five close friends”.
Let me encourage you to take a personal step of social faith in people and get out there and make friends. Get to know your neighbors. Become better acquainted with those you work with daily. Invest yourself in people and relationships and I mean real relationships the kind that can only be developed over the diner table or the patio. To quote a famous American, “Tear Down that Wall!”
I know that it has been said, “Good fences make good neighbors.” That may be true, but extra tall fences turn your neighbors into strangers. So do what you can to become a part of this community and to take part in the lives of those who live around you.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Get Off the Phone
To say that we live in an information age is an understatement. To say that we are busier than ever, is also an understatement. You and I live in an age where we can communicate with almost anyone we wish anywhere in the world. We have telephones, cell phones, email, face book, twitter, and text messaging. We are connected like never before in history. Or are we?
The other day, my wife Mary and I were out for one of our long bike rides and we decided to stop and rest awhile on a bench at one of our city parks. It was a nice location in the shade of a tall oak tree and there was a nice breeze. We noticed a young mother and her toddler daughter walking near by and they had stopped to play in the water. At first it was a nice event to witness. Then we looked closer and changed our minds. The mother was spending her time talking to someone on the phone rather than interacting with her daughter. We watched for awhile then we rode on. In about 20 minutes we came back by the park and the mother and daughter were still there and yes, she was still on the phone.
Right then Mary and I took it upon ourselves to make a rule for all parents.
Rule: If you want credit for taking your children to the park you must stay off the phone.
Now I know there are important phone calls and I know that I have spend more than enough time talking on my phone, but there comes a time when you and I must decide what or who is important. As someone who has all of their children out the house (for the most part) I can tell all the young parents – SLOW DOWN.
That’s right, slow down, take your time, enjoy every moment with your children. Before you know it eighteen years will pass by and all your opportunities to spend meaningful time with your sons and daughters will be gone. Those walks through the park, those rides in the car, the game of catch or playing house will just be memories of a time that passed by too fast.
So, from one old guy who has been there – Get Off the Phone! Talk to your children. Discover their thoughts and ideas. Learn of their dreams for tomorrow. Dwell in their world of discovery, wonder and amazement. If you have teenagers the same go for you. Get Off the Phone! And get them off theirs as well. Talk with them about their dreams, struggles, joys, confusion, questions about life and love. Have meaningful conversation. Learn what makes them happy. Know what causes them frustration. Be a part of their life.
There will always be time for phone calls, but when you have the opportunity hang up the phone and give your total attention to those you love the most. Some day you will yearn for a call from your children and if you give them the time now they will give you the time then.
Got to go… My phone is ringing.
Love God. God Love Others.
The other day, my wife Mary and I were out for one of our long bike rides and we decided to stop and rest awhile on a bench at one of our city parks. It was a nice location in the shade of a tall oak tree and there was a nice breeze. We noticed a young mother and her toddler daughter walking near by and they had stopped to play in the water. At first it was a nice event to witness. Then we looked closer and changed our minds. The mother was spending her time talking to someone on the phone rather than interacting with her daughter. We watched for awhile then we rode on. In about 20 minutes we came back by the park and the mother and daughter were still there and yes, she was still on the phone.
Right then Mary and I took it upon ourselves to make a rule for all parents.
Rule: If you want credit for taking your children to the park you must stay off the phone.
Now I know there are important phone calls and I know that I have spend more than enough time talking on my phone, but there comes a time when you and I must decide what or who is important. As someone who has all of their children out the house (for the most part) I can tell all the young parents – SLOW DOWN.
That’s right, slow down, take your time, enjoy every moment with your children. Before you know it eighteen years will pass by and all your opportunities to spend meaningful time with your sons and daughters will be gone. Those walks through the park, those rides in the car, the game of catch or playing house will just be memories of a time that passed by too fast.
So, from one old guy who has been there – Get Off the Phone! Talk to your children. Discover their thoughts and ideas. Learn of their dreams for tomorrow. Dwell in their world of discovery, wonder and amazement. If you have teenagers the same go for you. Get Off the Phone! And get them off theirs as well. Talk with them about their dreams, struggles, joys, confusion, questions about life and love. Have meaningful conversation. Learn what makes them happy. Know what causes them frustration. Be a part of their life.
There will always be time for phone calls, but when you have the opportunity hang up the phone and give your total attention to those you love the most. Some day you will yearn for a call from your children and if you give them the time now they will give you the time then.
Got to go… My phone is ringing.
Love God. God Love Others.
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Wedding
My wife Mary and I were honored to attend the wedding of one of our friend’s daughter this past weekend. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding and we were blessed with fairly comfortable temperature and a nice breeze. The whole event was well done. It was a happy occasion for all involved.
Weddings are quite the ordeal to plan. From choosing just the right cake, just the right dress and just the right venue plus all the other details a wedding is a major event as it should be. There is no end as to how much some parents are willing to spend just to get their adult children out of the house.
Regardless of how much planning or how much money is spent on the wedding the whole event leads to and culminates with four simple words, “I Do” and “I Do”. Those four words change everything in the life of the Bride and Groom. By the saying of those simple words the covenant is sealed. Instantly the bride looses her maiden name and takes the name of the groom. This is a key moment in the life of every young couple. It is the moment when the groom says, take my name and I will make a life for the two of us. It is the moment when the bride takes the name of her groom and by doing so she is saying, I will take your name and I will follow you and join you in making a life for the two of us.
The same thing happens when Jesus Christ calls you to become his disciple. He calls you to follow him in the making of a new life for you. A life with a new purpose and a new name. From that moment you are know as a Christian. You are presented to the Father of the Groom as sinless and worthy of the Name you have agreed to take as His follower, disciple and Bride.
As with all weddings this one happened with great cost. It could not be paid with coins or cash or even credit. It was purchased with the blood of the God’s only Son, the perfect Lamb of God. No one has ever paid such a great price for a wedding, but it was what God the Father and Christ the Son were willing to pay so that you and I could live for eternity in the Father’s house.
The great thing about this spiritual wedding is there is room for everyone and all are invited. I’ll see you at the reception. Oh, one more thing, RSVP is required. You better do that now!
Love God. Go Love Others.
Weddings are quite the ordeal to plan. From choosing just the right cake, just the right dress and just the right venue plus all the other details a wedding is a major event as it should be. There is no end as to how much some parents are willing to spend just to get their adult children out of the house.
Regardless of how much planning or how much money is spent on the wedding the whole event leads to and culminates with four simple words, “I Do” and “I Do”. Those four words change everything in the life of the Bride and Groom. By the saying of those simple words the covenant is sealed. Instantly the bride looses her maiden name and takes the name of the groom. This is a key moment in the life of every young couple. It is the moment when the groom says, take my name and I will make a life for the two of us. It is the moment when the bride takes the name of her groom and by doing so she is saying, I will take your name and I will follow you and join you in making a life for the two of us.
The same thing happens when Jesus Christ calls you to become his disciple. He calls you to follow him in the making of a new life for you. A life with a new purpose and a new name. From that moment you are know as a Christian. You are presented to the Father of the Groom as sinless and worthy of the Name you have agreed to take as His follower, disciple and Bride.
As with all weddings this one happened with great cost. It could not be paid with coins or cash or even credit. It was purchased with the blood of the God’s only Son, the perfect Lamb of God. No one has ever paid such a great price for a wedding, but it was what God the Father and Christ the Son were willing to pay so that you and I could live for eternity in the Father’s house.
The great thing about this spiritual wedding is there is room for everyone and all are invited. I’ll see you at the reception. Oh, one more thing, RSVP is required. You better do that now!
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Owner's Son
I know I share a lot of stories about the Market Street grocery store, but this one is really good and it needs to be told. You may or may not know that Market Street is a family owned; Texas based company with the home offices in both Lubbock and Frisco. The owners are Christian people who have built their company to serve others and oh by the way sell groceries to as many people as possible. One of the keys to their success is customer service. As a matter of fact, I believe that customer service is their number one key to their success.
Recently, the son of the owner has come to work in the McKinney Market Street store. He is there to learn every aspect of the business. Before he leaves he will have worked in most of the departments. He is getting to know the business from the ground up.
The other day, he was working alone in a department at the end of the day. He was told that if he needed anything he could ask Mary (my wife) and she would help him. Well it wasn’t to long until he knocked on Mary’s door and needed help with a customer. The customer was requesting a service that Market Street normally does not provide. Long story short, Mary and the owner’s son worked together to meet this special request and satisfy the customer.
The lady was very appreciative of their extra effort and then she made this comment to my wife, “someone should give that young man a raise, he has been wonderful to help me”. Mary told her that she was sure that he would get a raise some day. When I heard this story my thought was, “yes, he is a hard worker, if he keeps it up he might own the whole company some day.”
The owner’s son reminds me that over 2000 years ago God, the creator of the universe sent His only Son to live among us (John 1). He walked among the very people that he helped to create. He walked on the sea shore and with each step on the sand he could tell you how many grains of sand were under his feet. Jesus came to earth and “learned the business” from the ground up. He saw with his two eyes full spectrum of the human spirit. He witnessed joy and happiness at a wedding. He experienced deep sadness and grief when his good friend died. He saw satisfaction in the eyes of the masses when their hungry stomachs were full of fish and bread. He saw the look of hope when he treated the woman at the well with compassion and grace. He also saw the look of anger and hate as seemingly religious men called for his death on a cross.
During his short time on earth Jesus saw it all, but more importantly the people of his creation saw him. The people were able to see God in the flesh walking among them. We got to see in a real way the very nature of God. And the good news is despite everything Jesus saw in the lives of people he still loves us. He saw us at our best and our worst. He knows our deepest thoughts and fears. He knows about our greatest moments of victory and he knows about all the times we have felt defeated. Jesus knows it all and the best part is He still loves you and me and He still says come to me all of you who are weak and struggling and I will give you rest.
Father God, thank you for sending your Son to walk among us. We pray that we were worth the trip.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Recently, the son of the owner has come to work in the McKinney Market Street store. He is there to learn every aspect of the business. Before he leaves he will have worked in most of the departments. He is getting to know the business from the ground up.
The other day, he was working alone in a department at the end of the day. He was told that if he needed anything he could ask Mary (my wife) and she would help him. Well it wasn’t to long until he knocked on Mary’s door and needed help with a customer. The customer was requesting a service that Market Street normally does not provide. Long story short, Mary and the owner’s son worked together to meet this special request and satisfy the customer.
The lady was very appreciative of their extra effort and then she made this comment to my wife, “someone should give that young man a raise, he has been wonderful to help me”. Mary told her that she was sure that he would get a raise some day. When I heard this story my thought was, “yes, he is a hard worker, if he keeps it up he might own the whole company some day.”
The owner’s son reminds me that over 2000 years ago God, the creator of the universe sent His only Son to live among us (John 1). He walked among the very people that he helped to create. He walked on the sea shore and with each step on the sand he could tell you how many grains of sand were under his feet. Jesus came to earth and “learned the business” from the ground up. He saw with his two eyes full spectrum of the human spirit. He witnessed joy and happiness at a wedding. He experienced deep sadness and grief when his good friend died. He saw satisfaction in the eyes of the masses when their hungry stomachs were full of fish and bread. He saw the look of hope when he treated the woman at the well with compassion and grace. He also saw the look of anger and hate as seemingly religious men called for his death on a cross.
During his short time on earth Jesus saw it all, but more importantly the people of his creation saw him. The people were able to see God in the flesh walking among them. We got to see in a real way the very nature of God. And the good news is despite everything Jesus saw in the lives of people he still loves us. He saw us at our best and our worst. He knows our deepest thoughts and fears. He knows about our greatest moments of victory and he knows about all the times we have felt defeated. Jesus knows it all and the best part is He still loves you and me and He still says come to me all of you who are weak and struggling and I will give you rest.
Father God, thank you for sending your Son to walk among us. We pray that we were worth the trip.
Love God. Go Love Others.
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