Hearts on Fire

This week I have to undergo a stress test. Nothing to worry about ( I hope) but it'll make sure everything is OK.  I've never had a stress test, but I know what it entails.

In my mind, here is how I wish to view the test.

Especially the Ivan Drago Scenes.

But, knowing me, here is how it'll probably go.

Update: The stress test came back normal.  I've almost never had the word normal used to describe me.

Homeless Few

Recently I met with a friend in Grand Haven, Michigan. I haven't seen Tim in a long time, so it was a good time for catching up on old times. The excuse we used to see each other was to go see a statue that had recently been installed at a church.

Photo by Timothy McPherson

This statue (as you can see) is of a man laying on a park bench. It's not until you look closer that you see that the man has wounds on his feet. Yes,  the man is Jesus.

I have to admit (sorry, Tim) that when I first saw the statue, I was underwhelmed. It did nothing for me. That was then. I've now had the time to think on the meaning of the piece and now come to find it has moved me more than I realized. 

I grew up in the Salvation Army. For those who don't know, the Salvation Army is a church that has a large social services program. Most people have heard of the Army thrift stores, have had to go to the Army offices to get food, or have seen the Army helping during a disaster.  So, having grown up in that environment, the idea of helping others is deeply entrenched in my heart.

When most people think of others starving and in need, they think of those in other parts of the world, such as Africa.  I remember back in the 1980's there was Live-Aid, a giant televised concert designed to raise funds to send food to Ethiopia.  This is a great idea.  However...

Have you ever looked around you?  In your own country?  Your own city?

There is a song by Petra (yes, another Petra song.  I do listen to other groups).  It's called "Homeless Few."

In April of 2001, my family and I went on vacation to Washington DC.  Our hotel was only 5 blocks from the White House.  I remember walking down the street, toward the White House, and seeing a man sleeping on a grate on the ground.

This wasn't in some Third-World country.  This was in my nation's capital, within sight of the home of our president.  Had he looked out his window, the president (At the time, it was George W. Bush) would have seen the man.  And yet, everyone in the government (and me and my family, I'm sorry to say) just walked on by, without a second glance.

When I was a teen, a song by Phil Collins touched me.  It was called "Another Day in Paradise."

Do we just walk by, not looking back, when we see someone who is in need?  Remember...

Matthew 25:34-45

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

The War of the Grill

In my mind, it's mine. It's always been mine. I bought it at a garage sale. I took parts from others and pieced them together to make one good one.

I'm talking about my grill, of course.

It's a smallish gas grill. About three feet long by about a foot and a half wide. Not too big, it's just fine for me and my family.

Until the other day, there was no doubt that it was mine. It was lunchtime and I was in the kitchen, making a can of Spaghettios. Now, the grill sits on my deck, right off the kitchen. I happened to look out the window and saw a crow land on the grill cover, holding a piece of straw in its beak.

"No. It can't be doing what I think it's doing."

I stepped out on the deck and opened the grill.

Yep. It was doing just what I thought. There was a nest covering the entire grill area. It was huge! I don't know how long that bird had been building, but it had done quite a bit of work.

It had to go.

I picked up the nest (luckily there were no eggs yet) and threw it off the deck. I thought that it was over.

I was wrong.

The next day, I once again saw the bird.  Again, he had a piece of straw in his beak.

"No.  Not again!"

Yes.  Again, there was a nest.  Not quite as big (yet), but definitely there.  This time, I didn't bother to throw the nest away.  I turned on the gas, clicked a lighter and - poof - the nest crackled and burned away.  I saw the bird fly by.  I laughed at it and went back inside, believing the war had been won.

Sure.  Right.

This morning, guess who I saw.  He was back, this time with his mate.  They double teamed me.  My wife suggested that we just let them have the grill for the summer and we can just find another way to cook out.  NEVER!!!  Surrender is not a part of my vocabulary.

I'm not sure what my next move is going to be, but I'll think of something.  They say that crows are very smart and can even recognize humans and hold a grudge.  Bring it on.  The war is just beginning.

Inside The Blogger's Studio

At the end of each episode of AMC's Inside The Actor's Studio, host James Lipton asks his guest a series of 10 questions in order to easily get to know them.  I figure these questions are a good way for you to get to know me, as well.  So, here goes.

What's your favorite word?

As a big Disney fan, it would have to be "magic."

What's your least favorite word?

Suffering

What turns you on?

Putting others needs above your own.

What turns you off?

Hatred, in words and action

What sound do you love?

My wife sighing when she falls into my arms

What sound do you hate?

Children crying in pain

What's your favorite curse word?

Mother Pus Bucket (it's from Ghostbusters)

What profession would you like to attempt?

Music producer

What profession would you least like to attempt?

Anything with customer service

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

In order to understand my answer you'd have to know that in the first 30 years of my life, I lived in 20 houses.  So I'd like to hear God say, "Welcome home... The jam session with Jimi, Janis, John and Kurt starts in 10 minutes.

Why Should The Father Bother

I work in a factory.  I've been there for 10 years, so I know my job very well.  In fact, I've done my job asleep.  (Don't tell my boss.)  Often, I'll be listening to my iPod and paying attention to it and not my job.  Today was such a day.

One of the songs I listened to today was "Why Should The Father Bother" by Petra.  Have a listen for yourselves.

It's a very good song with a good message.  Only that message is wrong.

The lyrics to the chorus are as follows (for those who couldn't catch them):

Why should the Father bother to call us His children?

Why should the Spirit hear it when we pray?

Why should the Father bother to be concerned with all our needs?

Its all because of what the Son has done.

This song was released in 1979.  I've listened to it since the 80's.  I've never caught on that this is wrong until today.  The truth is Petra has it backwards.

The Father doesn't bother to call us His children because of what the Son did.  Exactly the opposite.  The Son (Jesus Christ) did what He did (died on the cross) because the Father bothered to call us His children.  He loves us, His children, enough that He wants to hear it when we pray.  He wants to know and care for our needs.  And He was willing to send His Son to die, so we may live.

One Down, One To Go

My daughter moved out again this past weekend.

I mean again, because a couple of years ago she left for college.  After a year, she dropped out and moved back home.  But she also brought her boyfriend with her.  So for the past year, my daughter and her boyfriend have been living in the basement, along with my son whose bedroom is also down there.

This weekend, they got an apartment a few miles away and we helped them move in.  By helping them move, I mean I threw their stuff onto a truck, had my wife drive the truck at high speed across town, and threw their stuff into their new apartment.  It took just under 4 hours to accomplish everything.

I'm not saying that I'm not going to miss her.  I will.  But it's time.  She's an adult and it's time for her life to begin.

Now, I can't wait for my son to go to college this fall.