Thoughts from Blake Road

A very light workout:

Jump rope-1 round

Heavy Bag-4 rounds

Double-end bag- 2 rounds

Upper cut bag- 1 round

Speed bags-2 rounds

11 rounds total

AN ODE TO THE WORD "OUT"

Some of us are stressed out,

Some have to get dressed out,

Some are burned out,

Others are just put out.

You may be tired out;

You can crank it up and rock out.

Never happens to me but you can cash out.

Quite frequently I spazz out,

And I'm ashamed to admit, I veg out,

And often feel tuned out.

Have you ever been called out?

Run out?

Cleaned out?

Wiped out?

Closed out?

Some of us are ready to go home and crash out.

Others have been chewed out

Blessed out,

or outright cussed out.

Many of you are outstanding.

A few are outsoken,

A couple are outrageous,

All of us can be outlandish.

I'd like to be an outlaw (in a good way),

I'm afraid I'm more an outcast.

I'd rather be outside than inside,

Outdoor is better than indoor.

You may not out do, but you can outlast,

Goodbye, God Bless,

Over and out!

I've always been a firm believer in doing your best at whatever task you find yourself engaged in.  I've also always been a firm believer that nothing you do will ever be exactly perfect, look hard enough and you will find a flaw or imperfection in everything you set your hand (or mind for that matter) to do. 

Sometimes when I read my sermon manuscripts or teaching outlines I shudder in embarassment because of my typos and meaningless, non-sensical scribbles. 

I look at some of my handyman work at the house and realize how far, VERY FAR, from perfect my craftsmanship is. 

I examine my relationships and see that I am far from a perfect husband, friend, son, brother, pastor...you name it, I am not perfect.  Are you? 

Theodore Roosevelt (my hero) once commented on being a perfectionist.  He said, "Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have."  I have adopted this philosophy but with the added caveat, "with the time you have". 

As I read my Bible I find it full of imperfect characters who God used in mighty ways.  Adam and Eve certainly weren't perfect, yet if not for them, neither would we be.... Moses certainy wasn't perfect-he killed a guy for crying out loud and he had a stutter or some other type of speech impediment.  Look at the apostles Peter, James and John, Simon the Zealot, Matthew, the others...imperfect to a man, yet gifted to accomplish great things for God's kingdom.  The lesson there, you don't have to be perfect to be a "mover and shaker" for the Lord. 

I find perfectionistic people hard to deal with, don't you?  They create tension wherever they go.  They can't be pleased and they have no joy. A perfectionist either thinks they have transcended the follies of mere humanity or they are so self-condemning and condemning of others that they depress themselves and everyone in their general vicinity.  I find perfectionistic people never actually getting around to doing anything because they are afraid they will make a mistake.  Or they take so long to do anything because they are being so cautious to "dot every  "i" and cross every "t" that you just lose patience and leave them to it. 

The truth is nobody living on planet earth today is perfect, we all make mistakes. The Perfect Someone did once live here, His name is Jesus.  My dad is fond of saying, "There was only one perfect being and they crucified Him."  That bears deeper thought than I can give it here.  Meditate on it when you have some time. 

Oh, by the way, that Perfect Someone is coming back, (very soon I think), then all those who love and follow Him will be perfect, just as He is perfect.  I look forward to that day.  Until then, give yourself and everyone else a break and just, "Do the best you can, with what you have, where you are, with the time you have." 

Some of my weight lifting buddies are interested in such things. 

"About 8 weeks out from State Powerlifting Meet"  My goals for the meet are:

1.  To actually enter and compete.

2.  Squat 400

3.  Deadllift 500

4.  Bench 300

(Singles last week- squat 355, deadlift 415, bench 260)

This is a deload week but I'm still keeping the main lifts fairly heavy and going light on the assistance exercises. 

Jump rope-3 min warm-up

Kettlebell snatches: 40x5x4

Box Squat (knee high box)-135x10, 225x10

Full Squat 135x5, 225x5, 245x5, 265x3, 300x3, 315x3

Leg curls-90x8x4

Pullup- body weight 4x8

Dips-body weight 4x8

Bentover BB rows-135x8, 155x8, 185x6x2

Dbell overhead press-30x10, 40x10, 50x5, 60x5

Incline situps-4x12

Cardio-30 minutes ez

1. Anna Cherry says:
   02/09,2010, at 14:50
   Visit Anna Cherry

   I am and will always be a healthy contributor of tears. That was a good blog. I was trying to think of something deep to say but all I could think of was it was good. I shed tears just the other day and all I could do was cry but when it was over I was greatful I could cry.

 Deep enough! 

1. tami says:
   02/09,2010, at 15:22
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   How is it, that when you write on a subject, that subject just happens to be something I've been thinking a lot on lately. Oh I know how. We have a Soveriegn all knowing God. I've been troubled lately with my lack of tears: during intercessory prayer, confession, and with my attitude toward others. I think I need some serious time alone with my Redeemer. I'm developing callouses and it's time to cut them off. Thanks

 A God thing?

1. loly says:
   02/10,2010, at 08:02
   Visit loly

   thank you for this. I find tears all too ready to fall and felt like that was a sign of old age and weakness. I have never been one to cry in front of people so have to make quick exits many times. Now I will not be so ready to hide them. Keep up the good work

 You are welcome.  If tears are a sign of old age, then why do babies cry so much?  As for tears being a sign of weakness check this out from the art of manliness website:

Lou Gehrig-July 4, 1939

It seemed as if the luminous career of Lou Gehrig would go on forever. The Yankee’s first baseman and prodigious slugger, was nicknamed the Iron Horse for his durability and commitment to the game. Sadly, his record for suiting up for 2,130 consecutive games came to an end when at age 36 Gehrig was stricken with the crippling disease that now bears his name. On July 4, 1939, the Yankees held a ceremony to honor their teammate and friend. They retired Gehrig’s number, spoke of his greatness, and presented him with various gifts, plaques, and trophies. Finally, Gehrig addressed the crowd and said, “Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” The crowd gave Lou a standing ovation and Gehrig cried some of the manliest tears ever to have been shed.

 

 

 

 

 

....So I owe Smokey Robinson for this post's title...thanks Smokey.  

I've been thinking about tears the last couple of days.  As a pastor I see and shed a lot of tears.  I grew up in a culture where grown men crying wasn't that unusual so I don't have any problems admitting I shed a tear from time to time.  It seems I've been crying a lot lately.  Don't suggest a good therapist, there are reasons. 

1.  I teared up Sunday while praying with a little girl who is grieving the loss of her loved one.  I miss that saint too.

2.  I teared up last Friday in confession and repentance after completely blowing my Christian witness with one of my unsaved friends.

3.  I teared up today after Ric told me he had led a young man to Christ during food distribution.

4. I teared up praying for my wife and her medical problems.

So I guess I'm just a weepy guy.  As the great theologian Popeye would say, "I am what I am." 

Wesbster's New World Dictionary offers this definiton of a "tear"-a drop of salty liquid that moistens the eye and inner side of the eye lids....  That's a rather clinical defintion, don't you think?  Sometimes I think we treat our tears clinically, like some kind of disease, dry up as fast as we can and get on with the "gettin' on".  Perhaps spending a little more time with our tears, and what brought them on would be a more healthy and spiritually beneficial exercise. 

King David wasn't afraid to deal with his tears.  Consider these verses from the Psalms:

"I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears."  6.6

'My tears have been my food day and night...42.3

And with a note of hope, "Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.  He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.  126.6

John the Revelator saw a vision of heaven and in it he observed, ...for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."  Revelation 7.17

We know that being a true disciple means imitating Jesus and every one knows that, "Jesus wept" (Jn 11.35).  So I encourage you to let the tears flow freely and unashamedly.  Thinking about my recent "journeys into teardom" I have come to some conclusions.

1.  Everybody needs someone to sympathize and empathize with them when they are hurting.  Cry with each other.

2.  Christians need to quit arrogantly presuming on God's grace and cry some real tears of true remorse and repentance when you sin, and believe me-you will sin occasionally.

3.  You should cry joyous tears when you see or hear of a lost person coming to Christ.  How often our response is, "that's nice".  When it should be an occasion for a "praise eruption" and joining the angel's rejoicing in heaven (Luke 15.7; 10) over that lost soul that's been saved. 

4.  You know you have a burden and you are in true intercession when the tears come as you bring someone to the throne (or your dad's office) for healing or help. 

What makes or made you cry?  I promise you, if we have a "tear revolution" around here we'll supply the tissues if you will supply the tears.  Deal? 

Tami,
I posted your response on the blog, but wanted to PM you with my response.  I'll post it with your permission.  My concern for the boys has it roots in several issues I see all the time.  First, the general lack of masculinity I see in today's men.  Not the foolish juvenile machismo we see displayed, but quiet, confident strength.  Also, I was fortunate(blessed) to be raised in the company of men who cared enough about me to teach me about manhood and masculinity, most boys today don't have that.  Third, was a deep conviction not to see anymore young men turn their back on God, leave the church and get out in the world.  Fourth I see a lack of culture, manners, and appreciation for higher things in our boys.  I'd like to see a new generation of gentlemen, renniassiance men, if you will.  There are enough bikers, rednecks, slackers, grunge type guys, and gangsters, what we need is a resurgence of men who care about their spirits, minds and bodies, familes, communities and certainly their churches.  Also, we have several men at our church who have a lot to offer, have reached the point in life when they need to start mentoring younger men and boys, for both their benefits.  So what I'd suggest to you is this:
1.  Think of some of the gaps you experienced as a girl at that age-in other words, what would you have loved an older woman to come alongside you and teach you?
 
2.  Observe the girls, what seems lacking in their character and development to you?
 
3.  What did you appreciate most about the older women who took an interest in you when you were that age?  Do that for the girls. 
 
4.  Take some time and read up on what the Bible says about femininity-teach that to the girls.
 
5.  This I think is the secret of teaching/mentoring- find out what is lacking in you.  Start teaching a girl how to overcome the same problem or avoid developing it.  Teaching tends to make us better students.
 
6.  Lastly, just be available to one or more of the girls.  Nothing excites a young teen like being included in the world of grown people.  Tell them your story, the good and the bad.  Show them your life.  Take her places you like to go.  Trust her with a secret.  Give her some responsibility that has real meaning.  Let her see you minister and help you do it. 
 
These are just my thoughts.  Other than the biblical teaching-the rest is pretty subjective.  I don't think there are any formulas or programs for this kind of thing.  You just have to sensitive to the Spirit and your own intuition.  I hope this helps.  
 

Yesterday I (aong with 24 other church members) saw the movie, To Save A Life.  I have to say I was very impressed with it.  I admit I was expecting the typical Christian film. Which basically means a good message, a gospel presentation, poor acting, not a lot of drama, some cheesy humor...you get what I mean.  However, I was caught off guard by this movie.  From the minute it began the real lives and real problems of teenagers were presented.  Sex, drugs, rock and roll, some cursing, a bit of violence, an awkward first date, an intense break-up, a school shooting and accompanying suicide, divorce, religion, salvation, forgiveness, an uptight pastor... and much, much more.  To Save a Life is a movie I highly reccomend.  It has some tear jerking moments (I didn't cry, but I'm pretty sure Ed did!).  But this isn't about reviewing the movie, I may do that later though.

There is a scene in the movie where "Jake" the main character is talking to his youth pastor about the suicide of his friend, Roger.  "Jake" says, "Someone has to own Roger's death". The implication is that someone needs to take the time to figure out why Roger killed himself and to take the necessary steps to prevent other kids from doing the same thing.  It wasn't Jake's fault that Roger killed himself, but some of his actions more his inactions, were factors in it (I won't do a spoiler here, go see the movie, it's worth the $10). 

This "Some one has to own this" is stuck in my heart right now.  How many things happen around us, people die, kids kill themselves, families fall apart, people quit coming to church, teenagers get hooked on drugs, and we know it, we shake our heads, we offer up a feeble word of ecouragement, maybe a quick prayer, and then let it go...we don't take ownership of it. 

This lack of ownership goes way back, way, way back.  Remember when God asked the murderer Cain where his brother Able was?  What was Cain's reply?  "Am I my brother's keeper"?  (Genesis 4.9)  He had killed Able, but his heart and the heart of many of us today comes out in that statement.  It might be rephrased as "I'm not responsibile for the actions of others."  Or " It isn't any of my business"  or "I can't own your problems, I have enough trouble of my own."  There is a taboo that has grown around taking responsibility for anyone other than yourself and then we go to great lengths to try and wiggle out of that one as well.

I say, if we want to see real progress in our ministry to this world, we need to "own" some things.  We need to take personal responsibility, make it our business to address and intervene in some areas.  Here is a very short list:

1.  We need to "own" each other's hurts.

2.  We need to "own" our friend's struggles.

3.  We need to "own" the salvation of our lost friends and loved ones.

4.  We need to "own" the fatherless and often times motherless children.

5.  We need to "own" the outcasts and those who are a little off the wall or different.

What if Jesus had not decided to "own" our sins?  We would be in a hopeless place would we not? 

What will you "own" this week to make a difference?