School Spirit

On this date 12 years ago people died in the high school I was attending. People were also paralyzed and a few survived their wounds. I think about that at least once a year, usually more. Yes, I knew everyone involved including the shooter who was in my first two classes.

In high school there are always the corny cheers about being “proud to be a Pirate, yes I am…”.
Well at football games I usually wasn’t. We stunk. But 12 years ago tomorrow I was proud to be a Pirate. Some students from the prayer circle which was the target of the shooting made a huge sign and put it on the front of the school which was surrounded by TV vans from CNN, NBC, CBS, etc. The sign read, “Michael, we forgive you.” I don’t think about that part of the story as much. I wish I did. That is awesome maturity from high school students, unfortunately I was too immature to be a part of that at that point in my life.

Heath High School has since put in a memorial garden, which is nice. But I wonder what happened to that sign.

Another memorable moment from that season of my life was the entire school meeting in the lobby for the prayer circle the next day. Hearing the entire school body sing “Amazing Grace” truly was amazing. For a time every time I heard that song being sung by my peers I got chills.

Bike Commuter’s Dream

I generally have a pretty easy bike commute to work. It would still be fun to do this. Happy Friday the 13th.

God’s Masterpiece

Starry nights, sunsets, mountains, beautifully leaved forests; these are all beautiful creations of God. We find all different kinds of ways to experience God’s creation; whether this be by hiking, skiing, rock climbing or simply taking a picnic lunch. Nature is generally respected by people to some degree, even if they do not make efforts to preserve it (different post for another day).

However, I would like to point out that only one time was a creation described by God, “very good.” This is after he created man.  God finished creation with man, it was the pinnacle and his masterpiece. We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). No wonder he wants to be in a relationship with us. I guess that makes sense when we think about of all creation only human beings bring him worship. Why ask for anything other than the best? It is no wonder he sent his own son so that we may be saved (John 3:16), we are his prized creation, why would he want us to go to waste?

What does that say to us? Being the pinnacle of God’s creation must carry some type of responsibility. It seems, at least we are to praise God for creating us in His image. What an incredible gift!

What about how we treat God’s creation? If we respect and enjoy nature, should we not do the same with people?  It seems like we should do even more so. After all, the second greatest commandment–behind only loving God– is loving each other (Matthew 22:37-39).

The appreciation of God’s creation extends past the sun and the moon. It reaches human beings who are created in the image of God.

Happy Halloween

This year Erin and I handed out candy at Trunk or Treat.

I was a shepherd and Erin is a sheep. Most people got it.

However, four people asked if I was God (including one adult). One person asked if I was Jesus and still another Joseph.

Erin was asked if she was a  Q-tip and cloud.

Incidentally, that is my place of employment in the background.

Dare to be a Sinner

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “he who is alone in his sin is utterly alone.” He was emphasizing the importance of confession as part of the Christian faith. He was encouraging willingness to confess  sins to a fellow believer.

From my experience we are afraid to be viewed as sinners. Sure, we are willing to admit in a general way that we are all sinners.  But when is the last time you told someone, “I struggle with this” or “could you keep me accountable on this part of my life?” As a side note accountability groups/partnerships are not always men talking about sexual temptation (although it can be).  What if  we got together and said, “I really have a hard time accepting people sometimes because I am too judgmental,” or “I find myself complaining a lot and not contributing at church, keep me accountable as to how I am making a difference in the body.”

As a therapist I have experienced adults telling me things that happened to them decades ago that they have never told anyone else.  It is always freeing for them to share that. I can only imagine how “utterly alone” one must feel holding in things like that for years.

So now that I have taken Bonhoeffer language and “dared us to be sinners” how should we accomplish this? A vital part of this is trust. Forming relationships with people you trust is paramount, because in my opinion-second to not wanting people to know how crooked we really are–is our fear (justifiably) of people sharing this info with their cousin’s friend’s mother.

That being said we need to learn the spiritual discipline of keeping trust before we can develop the act of  confession.

I am just now taking steps in learning how to perform the spiritual discipline of  confession. For those of you who have been successfully doing this for quite some time, please give me some input.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

—-James 5:16

May we learn to keep trust, and confess our sins so that we are able to experience the healing power of a fellow believer praying over those sins and keeping us accountable.

Why Books are Better than Movies 100% of the Time

“I just saw (movie based on book). The book was better.”

Undoubtably you have said that, or at least heard someone say it. So why is it that the book is always better than the movie? I will tell you what I think are the two most important reasons why.

First of all, when reading a book a person is using their own imagination and creating the story how they want to do it because they alone are in charge. This makes the hero appealing to them in whatever way they want. The reader has power to make the characters look a specific way-within the boundaries of the description. The scene is pleasing to them–after all, they created it in their mind’s eye. There can never be disappointment in aesthetics because the reader (and the author) created  them.

Secondly, when watching a movie rarely are you able to enter the character’s mind. When reading a book the author regularly gives you a glimpse as to what the character is thinking, therefore you get a clearer picture of who they are.

I should also mention a more obvious reason–sometimes movies leave scenes out.

Those, I believe, are the reasons that books are always better than the movies.

Four Years of Marriage

July 30th, 2005 is the day Erin Grogan Lewis and I were married. It was a very hot day and I was not nervous at all. Erin looked incredible of course, I saw her first behind the old library at Murray State where we had a few pics taken. Then we had a bunch more taken outside in this garden..yada yada yada.

Being a therapist I see all kinds of stats about marriage and divorce. Couple hapiness and all that stuff. Most of the research says as time goes on marital satisfaction decreases. For me, however, that has not been the case. We had a rough patch when we first moved to Memphis, but for me at least, marital life has been better over time.

For us (I just checked with Erin) marital satisfaction has increased over the years. We agree that it is because the longer you are married the more use to it you are and it becomes more comfortable. I think our personalities lend for us to experience every situation like that. I am glad it fits with our marriage.

I am glad Erin and I are married and hope to enjoy wedded bliss for many years to come.

Been ‘Round

In the past two years I have experienced six countries (including my own). Last summer I went to Zambia and spent time in the capital of Lusaka and villages for about three and a half weeks. At the end of that trip I spent another few days in South Africa. Over Christmas I was in Trujillo, Honduras for two  weeks. This summer I spent a day in London, two days in Paris, and another two weeks in Zambia with most of that in villages.

Within the United States in the last few years I have been to Boston; Portland, Maine; Waco, Texas; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. I have lived in two cities. One in Kentucky and one in Tennessee. Currently in Paducah, previously in Memphis. From a racial minority to the vast racial majority. From amazing BBQ to average BBQ.

I have seen incredible poverty in Zambia, incredible sights in Europe, experienced different worldviews and accents within the same country (New England and Texas/Tennessee), and a division from Western comfortable life and shanty living divided by only a road (South Africa). I have witnessed fast lifestyles and slow living. I have been lauded for being an American and despised for being an American.

Most importantly, I have learned cultures by experiencing them. I am aware not everyone has the opportunity to travel like I have traveled so I do not want to communicate that this is something everyone must do to have a fulfilled life. I do want to share how this type of traveling can form a person. Throughout the next few posts I will share how these experiences have changed me.

ZamStory 4: Down in the River (or Tub) to Pray

The most important part of our trip was telling people about God. We were able to do this through the spiritual groups the Zambians were led through. Part of the waiting process involved being taught about God by one of the students at the bible college. Several people, based on the things they learned from these spiritual groups decided to become Christians.

Last year when someone decided to become baptized we took a ride to the nearest body of water which often times took a good amount of time and many of the Americans could not be present. So, we decided this year we would bring a portable tub for baptisms so more people could witness the birth of a new Christian brother or sister (as pictured below). However, some of the Zambians who were probably not completely separated from the witchcraft culture, wanted to be baptized down in the river so their sins would truly be “washed away.”

ZamStory 3: The Optical Fairy

The Optical Fairy a.k.a Erin worked especially hard this year. First of all,  she was the main retriever of glasses. Glenda and I would greet the patrons, take the ticket that described their need and called out a number that indicated which glasses to retrieve. Magically the glasses appeared in my hand. I then helped the patron try on the glasses and made sure they helped their vision(through an interpreter). So, while I sat at a table, Erin was working hard behind the scenes. Not only was she retrieving she was sitting at her “desk” pictured below taking inventory and organizing the glasses for next year. She was indeed aptly nicknamed the “optical fairy.”