The Author of my days

Last night, I had a dream and then I woke up. OK, that's not surprising in it's own right. In the dream, it was the beginning of our service at church, when I usually say "Good morning, church" and share a scripture or testimony often relating to the first song we're going to sing. In the dream, we had pretty good attendance with many a face that I did not recognize. I don't know that I recognized anyone at all, but that's beside the point that I am dragging my heels in getting to...

I was sharing about how God has a plan for us and how that plan is not haphazard, how all of our days are planned by God. Basically, I was riffing on Psalm 139.

But then, the alarm went off. Actually when I came to, I realized it wasn't my alarm. After a bit of concentrating and gradually waking up, I realized I was awaken by a cricket chirping outside. Since it wasn't too long until the alarm was supposed to go off, I turned it off and went to do my daily Bible reading. Wouldn't you know it? The first thing on my daily reading schedule today was Psalm 139.

A bowl of cereal

I had a bowl of cereal for breakfast today. You may not think of that as big deal, but for me it was. I've been on crutches for a week and at times am feeling frustrated, helpless, and useless.

But that's not what's amazing about my bowl of cereal. Having a bowl of cereal for breakfast seems so simple. But not quite so if you're on crutches. Before eating the cereal I had to:

1. Hobble from the kitchen to the dining room carrying a bowl


2. Hobble back to the kitchen


3. Carry the cereal to the dining room and fill the bowl


4. Carry the cereal back to the kitchen and put it away


5. Carry a spoon (and my medicine) to the dining room


6. Back to the kitchen


7. Carry milk to dining room and pour over cereal


8. Put milk back in refrigerator


9. Time to eat!

Simple task, but not really all that simple. The beauty of it all was not apparent to me until we began worship team rehearsal before church. The opening some was "Every Move I Make" by David Ruis

Every move I make I make in You
You make me move Jesus
Every breath I take I breathe in You
Every step I take I take in You
You are my way Jesus
Every breath I take I breathe in You

©1996 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
Words and Music by David Ruis

Jesus was with me every step that I took just to have a bowl of cereal. Ain't God's Grace great?

My Right Foot

Yes, that's my right foot before your eyes there. Ain't it pretty? I am busy (ok not really busy) convalescing from spraining my ankle the other day. I was less than a month from my 43rd birthday before I had to make my very first visit to the emergency room.

So here's the short version, I was scrubbing mildew and such off the side of the house when I started to feel the ladder slipping. Because the side of the house is on a hill, it's hard to plant the ladder firmly. Anyway, as soon as I felt the ladder start to slip, I started to get down. Unfortunately, I did not get down fast enough. Next thing I know, I lying on the ground and my ankle is in the worst pain I personally have ever felt.

My wonderful wife very quickly takes charge and has the boys get dressed and sends them to a neighbors house so that they don't have to come along as she takes me to the emergency room. My ankle gets x-rayed as does my knee (which hurt too, but not nearly as much). Good news, nothing's broken. Bad news, I'm on crutches at least through tomorrow morning.

So what have I learned from all of this? Absolutely nothing! Ha, just kidding. I am actually quite thankful. Thankful for a wife who has taken care of me far better than I probably deserve. Thankful for two boys who have the start of a servant's heart and have occasionally been fighting over who gets to help Daddy. Thankful that worship singing still happened at our church even with me in the congregation rather than on stage. Thankful that it was my ankle instead of my arm, because hurting my arm might have prevented me from playing guitar for a long while. Thankful that God has set my feet upon a rock rather than a wobbly ladder on the the side of my house.

Ian getting ready to race

DSC_6070
Originally uploaded by donbecht

Here's a photo (taken by Don Becht) of Ian preparing to swim in a meet. Jennifer and Coach Trish are busy encouraging him as he gets ready.

It's been a while...

It's been a while since I was blogging. I just wanted to pop out a few
things that are on my mind... Sometime in the near future I need to spend
some time and work through some of the ideas that I have about Bible
studies for my two sons. I also have a bunch of songs that I need to get
back to finishing up my recordings of them. And then there's the boy's
swim meets...

R.I.P. Sean Taylor

Finally a little respect

The 6-1 Fighting Blue Hens of the University of Delaware are finally getting a little respect. We're now ranked #9 in the I-AA top 25.

Go Blue Hens!

I don't quite get it.

My alma mater keeps winning and yet drops in the rankings...

We're #10!

My alma mater (and 2003 Champions) are currently ranked #10!

The Sports Network - I-AA College Football: "10. Delaware Blue Hens"

The 9:11s of Jesus

On this day when we remember the events of 9/11/2001 and I personally remember the almost surreal quiet as I drove across the American Legion Bridge from Maryland to Virginia and could see the smoke rising that I knew was from the Pentagon, I want to remember some other 9:11s...

Matthew 9:11
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
What's happening:
The Pharisees are questioning Jesus' spending time with people he shouldn't. His reply in verses 12-13 "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
What this means for me:
Jesus came for ME!

Mark 9:11
And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?"
What's happening:
Jesus has been transfigured and His disciples have seent Elijah and Moses with Him. Jesus' response in verses 12-13 basically says that John the Baptist was Elijah preparing the way for Jesus.
What this means for me:
Jesus is the Messiah!

Luke 9:11
When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.
What's happening:
The 12 have returned after having had Jesus send them out "to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal." (v 1) They now withdraw to Bethsaida and thousands followed Him. He proceeds to feed the 5000.
What this means to me:
Jesus does not turn away those that are drawn to Him!.

John 9:11
He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight."
What's happening:
Jesus has healed a man born blind and his neighbors want to know how he received his sight.
What this means to me:
As Jesus explained to His disciples immediately before healing the man (v 4) "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." Let the works of God be displayed in me!