How Many Lawyers Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb?

__________________________________________________
Such number as may be deemed necessary to perform the stated task in a timely and efficient manner within the strictures of the following agreement. Whereas the party of the first part, also known as 'the lawyers' and the party of the second part, also known as 'the light bulb' do hereby agree to a transaction wherein the party of the second part (light bulb) shall be removed from the current position as a result of failure to perform previously agreed upon duties, i.e. the lighting, elucidation, and otherwise illumination ofthe area ranging from the front (North) door, through the entryway, terminating at an area just through the primary living area, demarcated by the beginning of the carpet, any spillover illumination being at the option of the party of the second part (light bulb) and not required by the aforementioned agreement between the parties. The aforementioned removal transaction shall include, but not be limited to, the following steps:

1. The party of the first part (lawyer) shall, with or without elevation at his option, by means of a chair, step stool, ladder or any other means of elevation, grasp the party of the second part (light bulb) and rotate the party of the second part (light bulb) in a counter clockwise direction, said direction being non-negotiable. Said grasping and rotation of the party of the second part (light bulb) shall be undertaken by the party of the first part (lawyer) to maintain the structural integrity of the party of the second part (light bulb), notwithstanding the aformentioned failure of the party of the second part (light bulb) to perform the customary and agreed upon duties. The foregoing notwithstanding, however, both parties stipulate that structural failure of the party of the second part (light bulb) may be incidental to the aforementioned failure to perform and in such case the party of the first part (lawyer) shall be held blameless for such structural failure insofar as the non-negotiable directional codicil (counter-clockwise) is observed by the party of the first part (lawyer) throughout.

2. Upon reaching a point where the party of the second part (light bulb) becomes seperated from the party of the third part ('receptacle'), the party of the first part shall have the option of disposing of the party of the second part (light bulb) in a manner consistent with all applicable state, local, and federal statutes.

3. Once seperation and disposal have been achieved, the party of the first part (lawyer) shall have the option of beginning the installation of the party of the fourth part ('new light bulb'). This installation shall occur in a manner consistent with the reverse procedures described in step one of this self same document, being careful to note that the rotation should occur in a clockwise direction, said direction also being non-negotiable and only until the party of the fourth part (new light bulb) becomes snug in the party of the third part (receptacle) and in fact becomes the party of the second part (light bulb).

Note: The above described steps may be performed, at the option of the party of the first part (lawyer), by said party of the first part (lawyer), or by his or her heirs and assigns, or by any and all persons authorized by him or her to do som the objective being to produce a level of illumination in the immediate vicinity of the aforementioned front (North) door consistent with maximisation of ingress and revenue for the party of the fifth part, also known as 'The Firm'.
__________________________________________________

Rick Warren's Invocation

__________________________________________________
I've scanned the blogs this morning thinking surely someone was discussing Rick Warren's invocation, but I didn't find it at a quick glance. Through the years I've been hard on Rick, and I'm admittedly not his best fan, but I was pleasantly surprised at his boldness. Granted, Rick's invocation wasn't profound or theologically top-heavy, but it was clearly prayed to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray, 'Our Father who is in heaven............'

I was impressed.
__________________________________________________

Take Me In

_________________________________________________
This song ministered to me today. I've always loved it, the message is so pure, so clean, so simple--take me past all the religious expression about you and bring me into your presence!!

Take me past the outer courts
Into the Holy place
Past the brazen altar
Lord I want to see Your face
Pass me by the crowds of people
The priests who sing Your praise
I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness
And it's only found one place

Take me in to the Holy of Holies
Take me in by the blood of the Lamb
Take me in to the Holy of Holies
Take the coal, cleanse my lips, here I am
Take the coal, cleanse my lips, here I am
_________________________________________________

Slow Fade

__________________________________________________
I'm afraid.
My greatest fear is creating a circumstance in my life, and the life of my posterity, that I will regret throughout the remainder of life (and eternity). I've grown up all my life hearing statistics quoted of people who have 'taken the same path' and have become regretful of irreversable consequences. I do not want to re-create such a dilemma with my own dear children and their children, ad nauseum.

Can I be brutally honest? I'm afraid of walking entirely away from the anabaptist heritage/lifestyle which I have been handed. While I find myself continually frustrated to the point of insanity with it, I'm afraid of losing it also. What will my children 'look' like in a few years if there's no external restraint placed on their experience? What will my future generations believe if there's no tradition-based foundation to build belief upon? To what extreme will my posterity go in order to find ultimate fulfillment if there's not (dare I say) peer pressure to approve/disapprove certain activities?

These questions are absolutely absurd, and I know it; nevertheless, lately my heart has been almost locked-up with worry about them. Why is it so hard to let go of some things? Coupled with the fear, and compounding it no doubt, is the fact that seemingly 3-5 times a day I keep hearing the Casting Crowns song, Slow Fade. Every time I hear the chorus I almost shudder in panic.

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade,
choices are made,
a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade.
__________________________________________________

In Memory

__________________________________________________
As I sat at my desk this morning studying and having my morning quiet time/devotion I had a nagging feeling that there was something significant about January 9th. I mentally ran through the list of all my friends and their birthdays/anniversaries. None of them aligned with today. Throughout the morning I continued revisiting the issue but coming up empty as to what the significance was.

Sometime around 9:00 my dear wife called me and asked, 'Do you have any idea what today is?' 'No', I replied, 'but I know it's something because I have something in my spirit.' 'You really have no idea?', she asked. 'None......what is January 9th? ........Jan 9......Jan 9......Jan 9.......OH MY WORD!!! I CANNOT believe I forgot!!'

3 years ago today my own Dad 'exchanged time for eternity'. How could I EVER miss something as life-altering as that?
__________________________________________________