LUBBOCK VISIT

I spent some time in Lubbock last weekend. It was a short but good visit. I took some time to look at the Texas Tech campus and check out the sports facilities. I Jones AT&T Stadium (football) and the baseball stadium. I am fascinated by stadiums. I spend time looking at pictures of stadiums online, as strange as that may be. Here is a picture of me at the football stadium.

NECHES BLUFF OVERLOOK AND 4C TRAIL

I had a great time today hiking the 4C Trail in Crockett. It begins at Ratcliff Lake and goes 19 miles to the Neches Bluff Overlook. I didn't hike the entire trail. In fact, I began at the Overlook (a beautiful site to see) and hiked only 5 miles. It was a pleasant hike though. Here are some pics from the trail and the overlook.

FUNNY BIBLE VERSES WE NORMALLY JUST BREEZE OVER

[27] But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and to drink their own urine?” (2 Kings 18:27)
[51] And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, [52] but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. (Mark 4:51-52)
[19] But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. [20] And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. [21] And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. [22] And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. [23] Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them. [24] When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” (Judges 3:19-24)
[1] No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 23:1)

LOVE AND MERCY: DO WE REALLY MEAN IT

We often say that we are not judgmental, that we love everyone, but when that is put to the test, it quickly becomes clear it is not the case at all. I, for one, have experienced judgment and have judged so I know what it is like to be on both sides of the coin. Most people will never go through 10% of what I have gone through in my life, and I do not wish that anyone ever does. However, I believe there is purpose in the difficulties I have had in my life (some of them my fault and some not). We all make mistakes, and perhaps the big reason for my difficulties, particularly in the past 3 years, is that I am now more merciful and compassionate than I ever have been and more so than most people are. I have apparent problems with society, American culture, government, and the church, but nevertheless, although I will never understand the fullness of God’s mercy, I understand it better than most people ever will because I have received it so much more than most. For that, I am thankful. Some people are meant to share their full story, and some aren’t. I don’t know that I’ll ever have the freedom to share my full story, but I believe I will. God is constantly working on me so if I screw up, just know that I make mistakes just like you. We are all one choice away from running our lives. I’ve learned that the more we screw up, the more we are merciful and loving to others, especially those who are outcasts. Perhaps what all of us need is to make drastic mistakes in order to know what love and mercy is. I know that is not what we all need, but I also know from experience that the effect of mistakes is mercy. On this road toward perfection (which we will not achieve), let us all take time to love everyone including those who most think do not deserve it.