They're Not Always Named Goliath

One of the first, if not the first story in the Bible that captivated my attention and imagination is the story of the battle between a young shepherd named David and a fearsome whose name is Goliath. Some of you are familiar with this story, others may not be. The story in it's proper context can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible (1 Samuel 16-17). Reading and re-reading the account of David and Goliath has supplied more understanding and insight each time I encounter the text. I learn more and more from the story as I read more slowly and carefully.
As a young boy, the action in the valley and the severing of the battle savvy champion Goliath's head grabbed my attention in Sunday School and made the boys laugh as the girls all squirmed at such a heinous and disgusting act. But reading the account again and again teaches that there were many lessons learned before the epic battle ever occurred.
Goliath was a feared member of the Philistine army, and an enemy of the Israelites. The time came when both of those armies made their camps on seperate hills across a valley from one another and a battle line was drawn. Three of David's older brothers were members of the Israelite army, but David worked two jobs; he was the shepherd of his father Jesse's flock of sheep as well as a servant of King Saul acting as his armor bearer and would play his harp for the King to soothe his anxieties. This was a time of war and for forty days, each morning and evening this tall, strong, heavily armed warrior Goliath would stand and shout, taunting the Israelites to send one of their own men to fight a winner take all battle. The scriptures tell us that the Israelites and even their King, their leader were both dismayed and terrified. The Israelates lost heart and were fearful beyond belief.
Meanwhile, David continued to care for his father's flock and deliver supplies to the stagnant battle front. From the home front it appears that Jesse had the idea that David's three brothers were in a ferocious battle in the Valley of Elah. Instead, they huddled and hid in fear from the monstrous man that belittled them day by day for over a month's time. David left the flock in the care of another shepherd and loaded the supplies to deliver to the battle front. Upon his arrival the armies had gathered on their respective hills to shout war cries at their enemy across the valley. While greeting his brothers he witnessed the giant from Gath, Goliath, step out of the battle line and offer his usual defiant attempt to pick a fight. David then witnessed the unbelievable. The Israelite army turned tail and ran like scared children in the face of danger. Of course they had their reasons and justification for fleeing from a battle that was ultimately the Lords. They claimed that Goliath stood to gain great wealth from the King of the Philistines for winning the battle single-handedly. This giant would be made part of the royal family, being given the King's daughter in marriage (what a lucky gal). Even his family would be exempt from paying taxes. Again and again the claims were made as to how and why this giant was unbeatable. David's oldest brother even chastised him probably to deflect his own guilt, shame, and embarrassment for his bewilderment that nothing had been done to protect Israel. When King Saul heard what David had been saying he sent for him. Although David was willing to take up the challenge of the one who everyone else feared, Saul couldn't believe a shepherd boy had the ability to win this challenge. David recounted to King Saul that during his time as a mere shepherd he was forced to fight both a lion and a bear while defending his flock, with such ferocity that he saved the lives of his sheep, and David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:37 NIV)
Saul then dressed David for battle by clothing him with his tunic, put David in a full suit of armor, shoved a heavy bronze helmet on his head, and gave him his sword. David tried to walk around and realized this armor and sword were too heavy and cumbersome and would be a hindrance rather than help. When I picture David clunking around in Saul's royal armor it reminds me of coaching pee-wee football and seeing little boys wearing pads and helmets they have never worn before, watching them is fun as what appears to be cleats, a big helmet, and a tiny body stumble, fall, flip, and trip.
David took his staff, went to the stream and chose five smoothe stones from the stream and put them in his shepherd's pouch and with his sling in his hand he approached the Philistine. What a shock this must have been to Goliath, who no doubt laughed heartily as he watched the Israelites scamper away each day upon hearing his challenge. Goliath approached this young boy, confidently no doubt. This mammoth man had a shield bearer in front of him as he moved toward the young shepherd. "As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him." (1 Samuel 17:48-50)
David teaches us all a lesson if we'll only look closely:

1. We all have the battles that we must face. We all have Goliaths in our lives even though as the title says, they're not always named Goliath. Your obstacle ridden battle may be well known among many others, or only by a few close and trusted friends, or perhaps you're battling in silence and the recesses of your emotion and soul. Who or what are you battling? Your marriage, your boss, your children, your parents, your addictions, and the list could go on forever. Maybe your battle is to just get out of bed in the morning and face another day because you know Goliath is waiting at the door to challenge you.

2. Whatever the challenge that lies ahead you have but one choice. RUN. We learn from the terrified Israelite army that they ran away from the fray and quivered in the safety of their camp. We also see a young shepherd boy who was without armor or sword run toward the battle. When your battles and challenges approach, RUN! Run toward the challenge, because the alternative is to shrink in fear day after day after day with no end in sight creating a sense of hopelessness. Hopelessness leads to excuses and the jusification of inaction. RUN toward your challenge.

3. David's training for such a battle is unorthodox for the rest of the fighting men. He simply tended his father's flock faithfully. Wrestling his sheep from the beasts of the field that sought to devour them. Notice that David tells King Saul that God delivered him from the paw of the lion and of the bear, and God would deliver him from the hand of this beast of a man. David had no reason to believe that God would not give victory for certainly the claws of the beasts were more imposing than the hands of a mere man, no matter how big they were. We must remember that no matter how big the rushing wave of battle approaches, our strength comes from living our lives day to day faithfully remembering that we can overcome that which paralyzes those whose faith is shallow, weak, or non-existent. Just do the small things to the best of your ability day by day and when the big events enter the stage of life upon which we live, our training will pay dividends beyond our wildest dreams.

4. Stooping beside a stream of water David carefully chose five stones. Why five? We can only guess. But five stones were placed in his pouch and to the battle line he marched. It must've been an absurd sight to see such a powerful warrior being approached by a man with a stick, some rocks, and a sling. If wagers were being made, David was definitely the ultimate underdog. He could've tried to slog his way to the battle line in kingly armor, but he had to fight the battle his way, the challenge must be met in the only way he knew how to fight. David had to grapple with Goliath in his way. The same is true for us all. When we try to emulate someone else, instead of being ourselves we will most definitely have difficulties. God created us individually and special in our own ways. We've spent a lifetime honing and refining the true person God made us to be, sometimes even by the people who rub us the wrong way, but like sand paper, those irritants smooth our rough edges. Don't try to fight your battles or climb your hills like someone else. Shed the armor that isn't meant for you and live the life that feels right in your own skin.

5. And always remember that the battle is the Lord's. I've wrestled with God, He always wins. I'm reminded of wrestling on the floor of our living room with my Dad when I was a small child. His strength was exponentially bigger than mine, and so was his restraint. There was no way possible that I could beat him no matter how hard I tried, how mad I got, or how much energy I expended. He was Dad, and although he pretended that sometimes I was getting the best of him, the living room wrestling match always was his. The outcome was his choice. I was weak, and he is strong. David knew that it wouldn't be armor or sword, a stone and a sling, or even his amazing aim that would conquer the Philistine hero. David knew that God would win the battle and was allowing David to be part of the story. Today in the midst of your monumental tasks and Goliath moments, the battle is the Lord's and he has a perfect record.

Identify and clarify the battles that are really worth fighting. Run toward your challenges, knowing that retreat breeds fear and self-loathing, and eventually hopelessness and defeat. Live your life doing the right things day after day, time after time, for we know that whether we're smiling or sobbing and God is smiling upon us, we're doing the right thing. Live in your own skin, being who you are as God created you and continues to shape you. And never, ever forget that ultimately the battle is the Lord's. Ask not whether God is on your side, for he is always with you. Rather ask, am I living on God's side. Get up! RUN toward the worthy battles that scare you! Keep living boldly even in the most mundane or tragic times! Be yourself, God made you, and keep letting Him shape you! And may your daily battle cry become, "THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S" They're rarely named Goliath, but there are great tasks ahead of you that can fill you with fear or the courage and conviction that God is bigger!

Playing From the Rough

Professional golf legend Ben Hogan once said, "Golf to me is a livelihood in doing the thing that I love to do. I don't like the glamour. I just like the game." As we see the Masters Golf Tournament wrap up this weekend I am compelled to apply Mr. Hogan's words to my own philosophy by which I live my life. Living is who we are and what we do, sometimes loving it more than other times. We mustn't strive to live for glamour, but for the love of life. When Mr. Hogan published his classic, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf, he challenged the way most people looked at the game of golf explaining that, "the difference between good and great golfers is not the quality of of their good shots as much as it is the quality of their poor shots, he allowed millions of golfers to become more forgiving of their misses. In doing so, they also learned to not dwell on their bad shots, but rather to learn how to get beyond them." (Fearless Golf, by Dr. Gio Valiante, p. 149) It is a similar way to coach a little league baseball player who walks away from a strike-out or a missed ground ball head hung low and tear-filled eyes to have a short memory. In other words, what's done is done, you know better now what to do now than you did a moment ago. Like life we are able to see figure out how to move beyond the temporary failure or gaffe and fix it. It is the simple art of playing badly well. The bad shot, decision, action, or statement allows each player in the game of life to learn how to get out of the tall grass and around the obstacles so that the memory will aid the next dilemma. I've learned a few valuable lessons from the game of golf which I attempt to play badly well. One is that when you make the errant shot that rolls to a stop in a place unintended and unwelcomed, you can no longer dwell on how you arrived at the place of confusion, dismay, and frustration. It is then the time to focus anew on how you right the next move. The next shot taken that may be in the midst of a grove of trees that create a blindness as to where and how to move forward creating doubt and panic, both of which are enemies to getting on the desired track. It is helpful to listen to the partner with whom you are playing the game, be it golf or life, whom you trust. They may see more clearly from a different vantage point how to orient the next action in a way that doesn't seem obvious, perhaps at times absurd. But trust in oneself, washing away doubt and frustration while listening to wisdom beyond your current situation may be another nudge to do what must be done to finish what was started. And, most often it is not by brut strength, trikery, or heroic tactics, rather a simple tap to a new and more manageable place in the game of life that leaves us able to see and act more clearly and decisively. In life, our most trusted advisor has a vantage point that no one else surrounding us possesses, and it is He, our loving and trustworthy God who can point the way toward our destination. There are many sounds that I love to hear. Favorites songs, children's laughter, intelligent conversations, tasteful jokes, the greeting, "Hey Dad!" The list could go on for pages, but, there is one sound that may seem strange to some, but not to others. That is the sound like no other of a golf ball rolling into the hole on the green that seemed so far away just minutes before. It meant that good shot or bad, I finished what I set out to do. I long for the day when faith is sight, and the sound I hear is the voice of God saying, "Well done!" Until that day, I know that I will spend time making graceful moves that impress those around me and others in the hard places, scratching my head and looking for what the next step will be. Jesus said to his disciples a short time before his arrest, "a time is coming and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:32-33 NIV) My father taught me the game of golf, and unwittingly taught me how to play the game of life. As a frustrated boy, on the green grass of the course we shared for a few hours he continually reminded me of how and what I was supposed to do. He never left me alone, he was always with me, even when I couldn't hit a ball to any desired locations. He was with me and he taught me and watched me struggle even to the point of anger. One lesson he taught me that I've never forgotten to this day is that you never throw your clubs down, because you'll have another shot. "In this life you will have trouble, but take heart!" Our character is not truly revealed in how we stumble, fall, or spend our time in the roughs of life, it is shown in how we get up and take the next shot without fear or doubt. Take heart!

The Scoundrel on the Other Side of the Glass

I don't like mirrors. I don't know if I ever will either. I've always seen mirrors as a reminder of the things I don't like about myself. How my ears stick out too far, or my mouth is crooked. I've seen too much belly and not enough hair. But each day I look into one of those dastardly contraptions and try to fix the imperfections and problem spots to face the day hoping that the reflective glass is only a liar, a tool of the devil meant to start my day in his way, filled with doubt and bewilderment at the beauty around me that I feel so unable to achieve no matter how much I try. It's just a quirk of mine that I've found many others share. As I was adjusting my necktie the other day, I looked down the way and saw something so unfair. A stunning reflection of a woman whose partner on the other side of the glass shining bfore her bled glory in that same glass I shared just a few feet away. It was as if I was doubly blessed to see my wife as she readied herself for the same day coming toward us both. It was then I realized that the mirror couldn't possibly be a liar because it was telling the truth. I especially don't like the mirrors in the carnival funhouses that distort our face and figure because I think the regular everyday reflective devices are cruel enough. They don't make me laugh. Now don't get me wrong, there are some mirrors I appreciate; rear-view mirrors and side-view mirrors on my truck. I've used mirrors to reflect light when I didn't have a flashlight handy. I've even been grateful to see that I have something on my face or shirt that needs to be removed or wiped away. But just to look at myself has never been a hobby of mine. The problem is that when I peer at the image staring back at me I have the bad habit of comparing myself to the images of others physical attributes that I admire or perhaps envy. I watch television and see the handsome fellows that make women swoon, or the rippling muscles that cause others to take a second look. I just see me. I must not be alone because when you turn on the television or listen to the radio you see and hear messages of how to rid yourself of wrinkles, lose those "love handles," or look years younger with washboard abs. We're obsessed with the external, and some even spend small fortunes to dive into the fountain of youth, beauty and blessing. The other mirror is the one that shines from within our soul, this reflection is oftentimes overshadowed and perhaps squashed by the desire for the outward images that receive such attention. The Holy Spirit is the One who calls us from our guilt and shame and will wash over us with the fountain of blessing that flows from the grace of God. It is the reflection that we often ignore while brushing our hair and tying buttoning our fashionable shirts. That is the reflection that pulls us from guilt into conviction and a desire for an inner beauty that will intensify even when years and gravity take a toll on the way we feel in our own skin. Some of the most beautiful people I know would never grace the cover of Vogue Magazine or an issue of Men's Health, but they are stunning in the image that flows from within them as they stare intently and intensively into the mirror of their soul. So nowadays when I look at the ogre in the mirror and thank God I never looked like Justin Bieber, I look to the mirror of my soul shining brightly from my Father in Heaven and pray that is the image that people around me remember and seek to emulate. Regardless of what we look like on the outside, we all share one thing in common. Remind yourself when you look in the mirror, no matter how you fell about what you see, we all share one common attribute. Our true appearance of majesty and stunning beauty is because we are covered with the fingerprints of the One who creates only masterpieces, His name is God, and in made in His image we are beautiful.

What?

"It's a healthy idea, now and then to hang a question mark on things you have long taken for granted." --Voltaire I've never seen the unknown as a healthy thing before in my lifetime. I enjoy security and the visible next steps across the ripples of living as I see the stones upon which I hop to cross a rushing river. I rather prefer carrying my pack filled with what I deem necessities across while traversing the obstacles that lie in the path of my desired destinations. Life doesn't allow a stone or a bridge to cross a divide and we're called to dive into the cold realities that carry us to new, unknown, and perhaps undesired locations. I've spent some time very recently in my rocking chair positioned on my porch thinking of the words of Voltaire and his, "healthy idea." I don't want to hang a question mark on my life or the lives of the ones that are so embedded in my heart that I couldn't shake them loose with all the tiny might I have within me. With the sound of the breeze blowing through the nearly barren field a block from my house and the sound of birds singing their songs of praise to the day I wrote four hand-written pages of those emotion filled treasures upon which that question mark was not welcome in my estimation. Then a new portion of that short statement took hold of my mind. Who and what have I taken for granted? I looked back through the list and with pen still in hand I made a mark beside each thing scrolled on that pad of paper representing all that has been, is, and hopefully will be dear to me. When I finished, I noticed that each line possessed its own check mark. Only by losing my footing on that slippery stepping stone and baptizing myself into a cold reality that robs one of his the breath within did I realize the power of Voltaire's wisdom. Hanging question marks was not only warranted, but necessary. The list, those four pages that seemed to be my possessions turned instead into a list of selfish entitlement that I did not deserve. Those words were now representatives of blessings that I am not promised, they were and are gifts if only for short times, and in Gods time. The last year of my family's life has been inarguably the most difficult one for the Stephenson team to endure. My wife Chrissy's father Lynn passed from this life after a long illness and much suffering and while bittersweet for the family, we knew he was restored to the perfection God created in him. Only a few months later a telephone call to our home on a Friday evening sent shockwaves through an already grieving family as Chrissy's mother passed away suddenly and without warning at her home. It didn't make sense to us. Helen and her husband Richard had just been with us for Christmas just weeks before. She had just beaten breast cancer, she was a survivor, and in an instant she was gone. I drove Chrissy to the airport and Caitlin and Connor and I flew to Kansas City a day later. The memorial was joyful because of her strong belief in Christ, but filled with tears and the knowledge that we didn't get to say, "goodbye." Just weeks later, Chrissy's Grandma called from Colorado to say that her Grandpa had passed away after a long and healthy life spent mostly on his farm in northeastern Colorado. It just seemed as if life was coming too fast and the bridge to the next steps in life was crumbling as we stood in the middle of it. For some reason, I took for granted that I'd see each of them again, and by faith we will. We were snowed in at home one day during a particularly uncharacteristic cold spell for our area in Texas when our ceiling collapsed and flooded our house. Fortunately I was the only one downstairs at the time and when the ceiling crashed down on me I heard Connor shout downstairs, "Dad! What did you do?" I didn't answer, instead I climbed from beneath a mound of soggy sheetrock and began to quickly assess the situation. Although not tragic in any sense of the word, I remembered muttering quietly, "seriously God? Seriously?" Although I knew God wasn't playing a cosmic game with us While moving furniture, filling buckets of showering water from the sky into our living room and bedroom I felt a sense of helplessness. I had always thought that life was supposed to be filled with the conclusions that I chose. Stanford psychologist Lee Cronbach wrote, "when we give proper weight to local conditions, any generalization is a working hypothesis, not a conclusion." My conclusions were not givens they were only the hypotheses that I hoped would end desirably for me and those for whom I care, or rather took for granted. The poet Alexander Pope once wrote a well known saying, "to err is human," and through the crucible of loss and trial, new places and new faces, I was learning to recognize my errors and have my hubris squeezed from me to make room for humility that was so greatly lacking in my life. I had control over many of my poor choices and errant steps, still there were those things beyond my control to which the only choice I had was my reaction and faith. A week ago I walked into the conference room at the church in which I was serving as the Senior Pastor. I had walked through those doors many times in the past year to sit in my seat at the head of the table as we conducted executive board meetings, committee meetings, interviews, and a variety of other activities. This time as I opened the door I knew it would be different. The same attractive conference table sat in the middle of the room surrounded by the comfortable and tasteful chairs surrounded it. I took my new seat and awaited what I knew would be the short agenda to commence. A few minutes later I handed to the those gathered a signed copy of my letter of resignation. An hour later my office was packed into boxes and ready to drive away from my parking spot in the lot for the last time. I had taken for granted that my spot at the table, in my office, and in the parking lot would be there until I created my new conclusion. I only had a hypothesis, ignoring some of the conditions, and missed yet another of the stepping stones I thought I owned. A new conclusion plunged me into the frigid waters of life. Perhaps I should've hung a question mark on that year of ministry that I had taken for granted. Something strange happened as I drove home in stunned silence along the route that took me home each evening, it began to rain. It wasn't a funny time for me, but I began to laugh quietly as my wife looked at me as if she needed to check me into an asylum. "What's so funny?" Chrissy asked with a more than quizical look on her face and tears in her eyes. "Every time I have ever moved anything during our time in the last year in my pick-up truck, it's always rained. Without fail, every time. I guess one thing is consistent lately," I said with what my wife calls my crooked grin. Pulling into the driveway the kids ran out the front door and saw the boxes and immediately knew what the meeting was about. Without words each of us unloaded the boxes into our garage and went inside to sit down to a family meeting about what was next and how everything was going to be alright. After all, God was, is, and always will be in charge. The meeting ended with a family hug, a hug I didn't take for granted. I had already begun to hang a question mark on those that I took for granted. I sat alone that night in a dark and silent house after everyone had gone to bed and pondered the rain that fell on my each and every move. Only God makes rain, and I had to think that God was showering me with the waters to remind me that even when His plan isn't the same as mine He still provides always. If those showers would nourish the land that provides our needs, my needs were, are, and always will be provided. My loving and gracious God is the only One upon whom I need not hang a question mark. Rather I must always examine the faith that I often take for granted, especially in the best of times. I pray now daily for the church staff, leaders, and members that I still love and miss already, that she will find the one who will lead them in a way that I couldn't and continue to flourish for many years ahead. I pray that God will show me the way across this next chasm to His destination for me and my treasures named Chrissy, Cait-Bug, and Connor (Rufus, as he likes to be called). And I echo the words of Brennan Manning that we all become ones that behold, "The dream of Jesus Christ which is the Kingdom of God, and the committed Christian buys into his dream." I'm now saving to buy plastic sealable rain-proof boxes for the next time I move. If you know of any bargains don't hesitate to let me know. I'm hanging a question mark on dry weather for the next time I load up boxes in the back of my truck. In the love of Christ. Amen and Amen.

A New Year, A Same Life

There's an imaginary line between 12/31/10 and 1/1/11.
Folks think that it's the, "Vegas," moment. What happened in 2010 happens in 2010. Try telling that to the couple having a baby in 2011. What about the one who lost his or her job in 2010. There are unresolved arguments and disputes that crossed that, "sacred," start-finish line. Memories abound, especially for those who believe that what happens in Vegas line.
What has the last year held for you, and what did you give to it? I believe that all of us have been given gifts and challenges during the last 365 days, and done great, good, and not so good things during the same period of time. How have you triumphed and fallen? Stumbled and sprinted?
Life happened during 2010, it was still happening when we woke up January 1, 2011.
After crossing that make believe border between '10 and '11, I needed to write a list to remind my selfish self of what a year brought me:

Sleeping in on the first day of 2010
coffee
breakfast
lunch
nap
dinner....
football games
baseball season
saying goodbye to an amazing congregation in Lubbock
learning to quit being arrogant all the time
seeing my Caitlin act and sing
meeting a new amazing church in Mesquite
learning not to like living in hotels
living in the home of a couple who have the gift of hospitality
discovering how good it feels to not be sick
lunches with new, old, and older friends
country music
TV
newly and formerly read good books
realizing how much I love Taco Villa and Orlandos
remembering how much I love El Fenix, Glorias, and Luby's
recalling how much running hurts when you love stupid restaurants
seeing generosity beyond belief
Dallas traffic...(wait, that's a different list for 2010, never mind.)
Dallas heat...(MAN!!! Sorry again, different list)
deodorant
finding a new dry cleaner
figuring out where to get my hair cut
Mesquite Barbecue
running more food off my widening self
a new home
a staff at church that took care of the new self appointed village idiot, namely: Rochelle, Carla, Betty, Eileen, Amy, David, and Rocky
getting past what may be the most disastrous Sunday service ever to be lead by said village idiot
counting my many friends that called to check in
my Mom and Dad who spent the last weeks with my wife and kids before they headed East
meeting my family at the Chicken Express down the road to lead them down Ranch Road when after a few months away, and our first night together and watching the kids run upstairs to their new bedrooms smiling ear to ear
Seeing Connor play football at SMU and at the American Airlines Center and watching him on the jumbotron in the stadiums
getting to be with Chrissy and her family as we said goodbye and honored my Father-In-Law Lynn at his heavenly homecoming
Not completely sawing off my leg with lawn equipment
spending Thanksgiving with the Chrissy's family, and Christmas with Chrissy's Mom and Step-Dad
Families Names like: Honey, Dad, Uncle Clint, Aunt Chrissy, Mom, Ami, Granddaddy, Grandpaw, Granny, Papaw, Aunt Melissa, Aunt Rachel, Aunt Vallie, Uncle David, Uncle Cody, Uncle Brian...
Seeing my grandmothers, Manna and Nannye
Knowing I've been loved more than I deserve, with the chance to love back just as hard.

At the end of my list I know something. You can pull out of one driveway, pull into another, and the One who was standing with my loved ones while I drove away, was waiting when I drove into the new driveway.

Then I realized, God was with me in the whole journey, as He was with you.

As always, I have no idea what tomorrow holds, but I know He holds tomorrow.

I just have to believe that God looked at me many times in the past year and thought as a friend once wrote to me in my bible:

"Hey Bonehead! Remember God loves you!"

Yes He does.

It's a new year, but the same life and no matter what tomorrow holds it's a good life. He's already there.

Postscript:
I originally posted the following words on New Years Eve, but Used Toy Store showed no post. The post showed up today. I share the first draft with you as well showing an unnatural devotion to TV, food, family, and well, food. No wonder Chrissy bought me a new suit last week.

2010 Thanks for...

Pork rinds on long road trips
pickled sausages on long road trips
long runs to run off above said crap I ate in the last year
a church I loved and will always love
a church I love and will always love
my guitar when I was alone
TV
Luby's
Taco Villa
watching Connor play football
watching Caitlin sing
not being able to completely saw off my leg with a hedge trimmer
sleep
my new friends, my old friends, and those who are so crusty they help saw off my rough edges
the books I've read this year
El Fenix
Not being arrested ever
ESPN Sports Center
Waffle House
Must again mention running so as to make sure Waffle House doesn't own me
The day my family showed up to our new home in Forney
My Truck and my dog Sammye
My cool office chair
Air conditioning!!!
Listening to my kids laugh
Thanksgiving with the the Doyle's and Moore's
Seeing my parents come to our home for Christmas evening
Seeing my brother David and his wife Melissa bring their kiddos, James and Sam to Forney to see us
My greatest blessings, my family.

Did I mention pork rinds? Oh, yeah I did.

2010

Lynn

My Father-In-Law, Lynn, was an amazing man who taught me much about faith in God. He underwent many challenges in his life, yet never questioned the love of his Savior. Many people have asked if he had been ill. He had been sick for quite some time. When my wife Chrissy was in high school in Crandall her father was in an industrial accident that left him with 3^rd degree burns over 90% of his body. He was taken to Parkland Hospital where he stayed for nearly a year. The doctors told the family that he would surely not survive such a trauma. They administered an experimental drug that helped his recovery but left him completely deaf. He developed a staph infection during this time as well that would plague him for the rest of his life. Although he was not given any chance of survival, he surprised everyone and eventually was able to live as a self sufficient man.

The first time I met Lynn I had recently begun dating his oldest daughter and I learned that I was going to have the chance to meet him. I really liked this girl and wanted to make a good impression. Chrissy had told me the story of his accident and subsequent hearing loss, so I did what any genius would do. I walked to him shook his hand and yelled, “HELLO MR. GUERNSEY, I’M CLINT STEPHENSON AND I’M DATING YOUR DAUGHTER!”

He looked at and said, “I’m deaf. I can’t hear you.” Thus beginning our relationship in which I’m sure he hoped his daughter would find someone with an ounce of brains. I'm not sure I ever fully recovered from that initial meeting

Several years ago Lynn was diagnosed with Parkinson ’s disease and with each visit we could see the effects of the disease on his body. Every January he would come and stay in our home with us for several weeks and with each visit we could see there was less and less of him. Yet he continued the practice I had seen him do each day on each visit. He would sit at our kitchen table for hours and study his bible. He never failed to attend church with us, and when he was at home although he couldn’t hear what was happening he knew that being in the company of other Christians and being in worship was vital for the believer. Someone teased me in the hallway that he was probably blessed that he never had to hear me preach.

Last year a great blessing occurred when Chrissy and two of her sisters were able to take him on a dream trip for them all to Ireland. The girls took turns pushing his wheelchair from castle to castle and site to site. Being with his daughters probably meant more to him than seeing the beautiful country. I know this will be a memory never forgotten or undervalued bythem.

Through all of his troubles I never once heard him complain.

At his funeral my daughter Caitlin sang a song, “This Is My Temporary Home.” I was about to preach the funeral message as I listened to her beautiful voice sing powerful words when I realized that this was the first time he ever got to hear his granddaughter sing. He was well. Although we’ll miss him as we said, “goodbye,” all of us knew that because of his faith in our amazing Lord, he went home, and by faith we’ll see him later. Maybe next time we meet I’ll remember not to yell.

So, thank you Lynn for allowing me to marry your daughter, my best friend. And thank you for teaching me more about faith than I’ll ever be able to teach in a lifetime.