Tag: relationships

  • Behavioral Changes Don’t Equal Intimacy

    I’ve written twice this week about the content I focus on, whether it be television, radio, music, news, books, blogs, and tweets. It’s very true that the content we absorb and constantly wash our minds with determines the inclination of our emotions, beliefs, and thoughts. All that information takes up residence in our memories and must be housed. Contrary to popular belief, the mind does not lose or discard “irrelevant” information. That information is simply stored differently.

    It’s possible, however, to only pour “godly” or “Christian” content into your eyes and ears and still be far away from God.

    He is always present, but your heart’s orientation can still be far from Him. I don’t want anyone to have read this week’s posts and think that all they must do is stop pouring junk into their minds. That is an important step, but it is not the step that ultimately leads us into intimacy with the Father.

    We must each have the desire to pursue Him. A clean and swept house that is not filled will eventually be darker than it was previously. This is not something to fear, but a truth to respect and believe. If you’re coming out of a deep dark hole and you think behavioral changes will keep you safe, you have been misinformed.

    Most God dealings are shrouded in mystery. Let’s go ahead and acknowledge that and get it out of the way. There is no PERFECT explanation for how most things happen to draw us closer to God in intimacy. We see in part, for certain.

    Somewhere in these mysterious dealings with our Father, I am drawn. Slight hungers and thirsts deep in my core. In the pit of my stomach or breadbox area. I long for Him. I feel the draw. It’s not always there. But when it is, I have more faith to draw near. For the briefest moment, my heart is not completely numb toward Him. And if I pay attention and honor that moment as a pivotal point in my life, I respond to the Father with an open emotional posture. I ask Him to come. I tell Him I long for Him. I tell Him I love him. I let myself cry when necessary to maintain the posture of longing that begins to swell in my being.

    And I know He is pleased. He already accepts me fully. But He is pleased by the moments I choose to nurture that longing and cause it to swell within me. It is the faintest romance. But it is where I start. It is where I am.

    I am not intimate or close to God because I set pop culture aside. I am intimate because I am sensitive and attentive to my own spirit and when I sense that a moment has come, I love on Him a little. I cast my cares at His feet. I let it all hang out and just BE near Him.

    He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Come. Let us seek Him together.


  • The Perfect Pick-Up Line 2.0

    I’m sitting at Panera Bread with Nathan Holman, wondering how to best help him find the right woman. Well, maybe I’m not so concerned about the right woman as he is. I just wanted to see if I could play a part in it. So I brainstormed (yes, this is what I do with my spare minutes), and came up with a killer idea.

    Pick-Up lines are so last decade. It’s time for the pick-up line to step into the 21st Century. So here’s the plan:

    Step 1: Pick out the woman in a cafe (take your time: find one suitable to your tastes)

    Step 2: Make sure she’s not wearing a ring (that’s always a mood killer)

    Step 3: Get your camera phone ready for a picture

    Step 4: Plan your route to the restroom strategically for at least two strafing runs

    Step 5: Take her picture

    Step 6: Return to your laptop

    Step 7: Write a blog about the most beautiful woman sitting in your cafe, how you asked her out on a date, she said yes, and they both lived happily ever after (the details here can be your own)

    Step 8: Add the picture you took

    Step 9: Post the blog with her photo

    Step 10: Pick up your laptop

    Step 11: Carry it over to her table

    Step 12: Set it down gently in front of her

    Step 13: Calmly take your seat across the table

    Step 14: Smoothly swivel your laptop to face her

    Step 15: Say to her, “Hi, I’m ____. I was wondering if you could make this come true”

    Step 16: Get her number

    See how easy that was?!?!?!? You stud, you. Rinse and repeat.

    ******Emergency Step 17***********

    If she happens to look horrified that you took her picture without her consent and she makes a move to call the police to grab a random blunt object from her purse, grab your computer and run like hell!


  • A Thought on Married Life

    Married life is good. Let me tell you, I never thought I would enjoy spending time with my wife as much as I do. I enjoy her company.

    Simple things are what make life pleasant. Things like seeing her for lunch almost every day of the week. We enjoy most of the same tv shows (she’s not a Mavericks or Cowboys fan, for which I forgive her). She willingly and bravely suffers my movie addiction. I suffer her need to save money rather than spend (not so much a virtue on my part).

    I’m not looking at the big picture right now. Honestly, the big picture seems to fluctuate so often, I’d rather live day to day. We don’t avoid planning or setting goals, we just keep a few extras close to hand because we know our tastes and preferences change over time.

    God has blessed our marriage. I am blessed to be in covenant relationship with a beautiful woman who is ever increasing in playfulness and sense of humor. She’s better at several important things than I am, which makes her a valuable part of our family team.

    She’s pulling up in the driveway for lunch. Life is good.