Recovering Pharisee

Have you ever found yourself not liking the Pharisees when reading about them in the Bible? Why do we not like them? I believe the main reasons are their "showy religion" and lack of compassion for others. They are religious people but very cold and mean spirited toward others. They also strike me as the type people who would always have to be right. Does this sound like some "Christians" you have met?

I believe the Pharisees are in the Bible for at least 2 reasons:

1. To show us what living for God does not look like. Jesus said He came to "give us life..." and He uses the Pharisees as examples of what this life is not.

2. To remind us that on our best day there is a Pharisee in us all.

I confess, I am a Pharisee to the Pharisee. I am angered so easily by their hypocrisy but fail to see my own. All joking aside, I struggle being around "religious" people. It's easier for me to hang out with people who's lives are full of sin that realize it than people who look at others condescendingly because they are self-righteous. This is why I am spending the next few months blogging about the life of Jesus. As much as we dislike the Pharisee in the Bible, we will like, yes even love, Jesus when we see Him for who He really is.

Fascination

I went to the practice round at Augusta National on Tues. The Masters truly is the "super-bowl" of golf. I imagined what it would be like to hit a shot from those fairways or putt on those greens. I guess for now it will remain a question. Who knows, someone may invite me to play some day. I could become the head coach at USC and have a membership there. Maybe I'll keep improving my game and make the senior tour and receive and invite. I think I'll just go with the hopes someone will invite me.

things have changed

I've noticed one big change in my life that has occured within the last 6 months. I typically sleep about six hours each night. This has been the norm for me for years. But lately I can go to bed at 9:00 pm and sleep until 8:00 am with no problem. I inquired a Dr. friend about this and he said I'm sleeping well because I am at peace within. I hope he's right! So peace out!

joy, joy, joy

I really enjoy leading worship in the 10:45 service. I am working with the best group of people you could imagine. Everyone is "low-maintenance". Seriously, they are very flexible. I look forward to the times we will meet together and worship. Jocelyn has wanted me to do this for a long time, so here you have it girl.

now I understand

OK so I lied! But it was an honest lie. I said i was finished blogging until Angela Carter informed me of what blogging really is. The other day I mentioned several things to staff members that I had been thinking about. Angela said, "David, why don't you just blog about these things and we can selectively hear what we want to from you. This way we don't have to listen to all the stuff you want to talk about." So this is what I will do! I'll write down what's on my mind instead of sharing it verbally with everyone. Thanks Angela, I understand blogging.

About the Santa Thing

Many wonder if they should teach their kids about santa. Jocelyn and I are by no means "anti-santa". We would never criticize others for having fun by teaching their kids the whole santa thing. Jocelyn and I have just chosen not to make a big deal about santa. We would like to spend this time teaching Grayson the true meaning of Christmas. We buy him stuff throughout the year and do not feel the need to saturate him with stuff as we celebrate the incarnation. I wrote about this because others ask, "What do you do about the whole santa thing?" the short is we are not going to highlight santa. We are going to hightlight Christ.

Puritan

I just got an old set of BenHogan Apex2 blades. I have been looking for this set for some time. They are supposedly harder to hit, but I'm not sure all the technology stuff is not just hype! All I know is they are the bomb. I'm anxious to see how I like them once warm weather is back.