For my dear loyal readers out there, please excuse the silence of this blog over the last few days.
My mind has been clogged lately with disappointing sports games. The Mets are famously collapsing, the Colts are having a horrible start, and we won't even dare tread the grounds of college football and the disappointing Ole Miss game this past weekend. At least the Red Sox still have a chance at a world series visit. And how about those NY Giants? (Hey, I'd take Eli as my quarterback over Brees and those other "high ranked" qb's any day. )
Things at the Hummel house have stayed busy. This will be my second weekend in a row on call. Last week was filled with hospital visits (ministry related) and this week looks to be as busy. I have fallen behind on my reading and we will blame that on the lack of interesting content in today's blog.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
There are countless things about God that confuse me. I mean... seriously... try wrapping your mind around the concept of the Trinity. The single attribute that causes me the most trouble, however, would have to be God's holiness.
Read the book of Psalm and you will know what I mean. Psalm is covered with examples of creation crying out in response to God's holiness. Tree's dance! They clap their hands! The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, and the glory of God thunders. Yet we sit in church Sunday after Sunday, yawning through worship and allowing ourselves to be distracted because we do not know the words to today's chosen chorus.
Remember those toy bow and arrow's with the red rubber tips? As a child I was fascinated at how they always stuck to their target in cartoons but I could never get them to stick to anything. Lick the end and apply with force and it still slid to the ground. When it comes to my memory of God's holiness, I have a toy arrow with a non stick red rubber tip. The realization of God's holiness is motivation for righteous living. It is the motivation for worship and the electricity needed for life.
Read the book of Psalm and you will know what I mean. Psalm is covered with examples of creation crying out in response to God's holiness. Tree's dance! They clap their hands! The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, and the glory of God thunders. Yet we sit in church Sunday after Sunday, yawning through worship and allowing ourselves to be distracted because we do not know the words to today's chosen chorus.
Remember those toy bow and arrow's with the red rubber tips? As a child I was fascinated at how they always stuck to their target in cartoons but I could never get them to stick to anything. Lick the end and apply with force and it still slid to the ground. When it comes to my memory of God's holiness, I have a toy arrow with a non stick red rubber tip. The realization of God's holiness is motivation for righteous living. It is the motivation for worship and the electricity needed for life.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
coffee stains and so little time
One way or the other, nights at the Hummel apartment end up insomniac for someone. If Paul manages to sleep, I manage to stare to toss and turn. If I manage to sleep, Paul tosses and turns. Last night was my turn to be restless, hence I was unable to get moving this morning.
Work for me starts sharply at 8 am with staff prayer time. For some of you, the idea of not having to be at work until 8 sounds wonderful. For me, it's painful as I find 8 to still be way too early to be anywhere but bed. Nonetheless, I do as required. Every night I set my alarm for 6:40 so that I will have ample time to get ready and arrive to work early enough to unload my arms of bags, keys, and lunch before joining the staff. Of course, this never happens quite like I plan:
6:40 am- "What?? 6:40 ALREADY?? I JUST got to sleep! Not happening". Hit snooze.
6:50 am- "I showered and washed my hair last night. That gives me ten more minutes." Hit snooze again.
7:00 am- "I pressed my clothes last night". Hit snooze again.
7:10 am- .... apparently hits snooze in sleep.
7:20 am- throws cover back, stumbles around to find morning medicine, grumpily moves toward the bathroom.
7:46 am- dressed, ready, and hurring down stairs while muttering, "I really have to start getting up earlier."
7:53 am- still inching toward first intesection with one eye open, the other still asleep, wondering why Cypress Drive decided to get so busy the last two mornings.
7:56 am- finally notice that I am listening to a new Christian song on my xm. catch the phrase, "so little time" and realize that I have embarked on a brand new day that is waiting to be filled!
8:05 am - wondering what on earth is in my messenger bag that is so heavy and why i need it in there while sprinting to staff prayer. see children's minister and converse as to whether we have missed prayer time by the absence of the rest of the staff.
8:20 am- sit in my office with Bible open, reflecting on Psalm 19 and feeling good about the process. Remember that I really like my new thinline Bible that is all new, pretty, and perfect for carring around while speaking.
8:35 am- watch in slow motion as coffee mug turns over, drenching pretty thinline Bible, papers on desk, and khaki pants.
10:00 am- go to associational event being held at my church (for senior adults) and showcase my new look-- coffee stained khaki's. meet people from area churches. hear a good, profound lesson. contemplate life.
Work for me starts sharply at 8 am with staff prayer time. For some of you, the idea of not having to be at work until 8 sounds wonderful. For me, it's painful as I find 8 to still be way too early to be anywhere but bed. Nonetheless, I do as required. Every night I set my alarm for 6:40 so that I will have ample time to get ready and arrive to work early enough to unload my arms of bags, keys, and lunch before joining the staff. Of course, this never happens quite like I plan:
6:40 am- "What?? 6:40 ALREADY?? I JUST got to sleep! Not happening". Hit snooze.
6:50 am- "I showered and washed my hair last night. That gives me ten more minutes." Hit snooze again.
7:00 am- "I pressed my clothes last night". Hit snooze again.
7:10 am- .... apparently hits snooze in sleep.
7:20 am- throws cover back, stumbles around to find morning medicine, grumpily moves toward the bathroom.
7:46 am- dressed, ready, and hurring down stairs while muttering, "I really have to start getting up earlier."
7:53 am- still inching toward first intesection with one eye open, the other still asleep, wondering why Cypress Drive decided to get so busy the last two mornings.
7:56 am- finally notice that I am listening to a new Christian song on my xm. catch the phrase, "so little time" and realize that I have embarked on a brand new day that is waiting to be filled!
8:05 am - wondering what on earth is in my messenger bag that is so heavy and why i need it in there while sprinting to staff prayer. see children's minister and converse as to whether we have missed prayer time by the absence of the rest of the staff.
8:20 am- sit in my office with Bible open, reflecting on Psalm 19 and feeling good about the process. Remember that I really like my new thinline Bible that is all new, pretty, and perfect for carring around while speaking.
8:35 am- watch in slow motion as coffee mug turns over, drenching pretty thinline Bible, papers on desk, and khaki pants.
10:00 am- go to associational event being held at my church (for senior adults) and showcase my new look-- coffee stained khaki's. meet people from area churches. hear a good, profound lesson. contemplate life.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
a wordy thought
I use to be imaginative and artistic in expressing my thoughts. Jotting my thoughts use to be a therapeutic activity that painted the black and white events of my day into a rainbow of amusement.
Over the past year or so, it seems that the creative spark within me has lost it's petroleum (or whatever it is that energizes it.) After half a cup of coffee and a few bites of a blueberry bagel, I have concluded that all the many reasons for this can be summed into one of two explanations. Either my colorful expressive side has dwindled due to environmental factors, or it was simply a shallow phase, not deeply rooted into my uttermost being.
I once had an english teacher say that people are often their most creative in their mid teen years. This is a time in life when life feels its rawest and most expressive. This stage produces, as she said, some of the best poetry and writtings many of us ever produce. Those with the real talent for it continue in the process, developing this talent as they fuel it with experiences. Shelfing that thought for the moment, let's consider the thought that my dwindled expressiveness is the result of environmental factors.
The Negative. In college I learned the habit of staying on the go all the time. If I was not overloaded with responsibilities and commitments, something must be wrong so by all means add something to the plate. That's not to say that I did not have my share of lazy times. When I entered into the work force, I suppose the same stayed true. Burnout was a routine that happened every several months or so. I would get my second wind and off I would go with a full loaded plate in both hands. My personality was also that of a giver, often giving more of myself than I could afford to give to people, relationships, and those involved in the various projects before me. About two years ago, my burnout reached a new high. This was not all bad as I learned some necessarly lessons. The down side is that something inside of me has yet to be the same. The way I take on projects and relationships has held a inner distance that lacks the raw passion that has often made me expressive. Even now when things around me are good, I am drawn to complete laziness when possible.
The Positive. There are plenty of experiences in my enviornment to draw from. After all, I have a brand new marriage and love is in the air! I'm living in a different state for the first time ever. (My life has been full of travels and short term stays in other places, but this is the first time i'm actually "living" outside of Mississippi.) I have a brand new job with plenty of happenings and bright potentials.
Now let's consider that my situation is not influenced by my environment. Perhaps I was never that gifted to begin with. It is possible that that natural process of my youth, salted with the flavor of being ADD, brought forth a limited expressiveness that withers and fads in the late 20s.
I shall think on these things.... but not very long or hard.
Over the past year or so, it seems that the creative spark within me has lost it's petroleum (or whatever it is that energizes it.) After half a cup of coffee and a few bites of a blueberry bagel, I have concluded that all the many reasons for this can be summed into one of two explanations. Either my colorful expressive side has dwindled due to environmental factors, or it was simply a shallow phase, not deeply rooted into my uttermost being.
I once had an english teacher say that people are often their most creative in their mid teen years. This is a time in life when life feels its rawest and most expressive. This stage produces, as she said, some of the best poetry and writtings many of us ever produce. Those with the real talent for it continue in the process, developing this talent as they fuel it with experiences. Shelfing that thought for the moment, let's consider the thought that my dwindled expressiveness is the result of environmental factors.
The Negative. In college I learned the habit of staying on the go all the time. If I was not overloaded with responsibilities and commitments, something must be wrong so by all means add something to the plate. That's not to say that I did not have my share of lazy times. When I entered into the work force, I suppose the same stayed true. Burnout was a routine that happened every several months or so. I would get my second wind and off I would go with a full loaded plate in both hands. My personality was also that of a giver, often giving more of myself than I could afford to give to people, relationships, and those involved in the various projects before me. About two years ago, my burnout reached a new high. This was not all bad as I learned some necessarly lessons. The down side is that something inside of me has yet to be the same. The way I take on projects and relationships has held a inner distance that lacks the raw passion that has often made me expressive. Even now when things around me are good, I am drawn to complete laziness when possible.
The Positive. There are plenty of experiences in my enviornment to draw from. After all, I have a brand new marriage and love is in the air! I'm living in a different state for the first time ever. (My life has been full of travels and short term stays in other places, but this is the first time i'm actually "living" outside of Mississippi.) I have a brand new job with plenty of happenings and bright potentials.
Now let's consider that my situation is not influenced by my environment. Perhaps I was never that gifted to begin with. It is possible that that natural process of my youth, salted with the flavor of being ADD, brought forth a limited expressiveness that withers and fads in the late 20s.
I shall think on these things.... but not very long or hard.
Monday, September 8, 2008
A little bit of...
After six months away from the blogging world, the itch to regularly jot down my random thoughts on the world wide web has resurfaced. I previously held a blog page on that other big blog spot under my maiden name plus a "ster". Yet after three and half months of marriage, a new job, a new location, I felt a new blog was in order.
My old blog held the title "The written account of one Christian's journey." (I promise not to frequently mention to the old blog. In fact, this blog will be the only time. I only mention the former as a preface for the new.) My life will always be an account of a Christian's journey as that is what I am... a Christian on a journey. But since my life is often a goulash of likings to music, sports, coffee, and whatever else floats my boat at the time.... the new blog is hodgepodged together under the title "pigskin diamonds and latte frets."
If you are bored enough to read my ramblings about baseball, football, the flavor coffee I recently tried or what political issue I currently am following, please visit back often.
My old blog held the title "The written account of one Christian's journey." (I promise not to frequently mention to the old blog. In fact, this blog will be the only time. I only mention the former as a preface for the new.) My life will always be an account of a Christian's journey as that is what I am... a Christian on a journey. But since my life is often a goulash of likings to music, sports, coffee, and whatever else floats my boat at the time.... the new blog is hodgepodged together under the title "pigskin diamonds and latte frets."
If you are bored enough to read my ramblings about baseball, football, the flavor coffee I recently tried or what political issue I currently am following, please visit back often.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
