I'm really thirsty

I really like a challenge. I am very competitive (although maybe not quite as competitive as my wife), and I don't like to lose. I like a challenge when playing sports or playing a game. If I am playing basketball and teams are being selected, be sure to put me on the team that is the underdog. I find little satisfaction in being part of the team that "should" win. I want the challenge of being part of the team that has to give all it has to even compete. That is fun to me. For games and stuff like that, it's a blast.

But then there's real life. In real life, I have no interest in being challenged for the most part. Sure, there are times where I have to solve a problem or figure out how to get something to work. Those opportunities are exciting. If I can make it like an algebraic expression and solve for X, I'm gonna be all over that.

The things I don't like are circumstances that I can't control. That's not easy. For example: A relative is ill. Stuff at work is not going how we want it to. People are talking bad about us for no reason. That stuff is for the birds. Why would I want that for myself or anyone? That's all bad stuff. I want my real life to be easy and fun and enjoyable. But guess what...that's not always real life.

Real life is tough. The Bible even tells us that if we are Christians things won't be a breeze. In fact, it says life will be downright difficult at times. I've thought about this a lot the last year or two. I have heard this song (at the top) a number of times and feel like I can relate to it. I love one of the lines toward the end: "What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life, is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy."

Stop and think for a moment. What if...

For some reason as I am typing this I have so many thoughts going through my head I feel like I could write a book just on this topic. But I know there are a couple points I want to put out there to ponder.

Ultimately, we need to get to a place in our lives where we have a "thirst this world can't satisfy." If we are feeling good about life and loving every second and just going about our merry way, will we ever get to that place? It's a serious thing to consider.

One other thing that is on my mind is the question of what is good for us and what is bad for us. In light of my previous question, I tend to think that our definition of what is bad for us may differ from God's definition of what is bad for us. Don't misunderstand me here. One thing I believe that the Bible teaches is that God will at times discipline (for lack of a better word) us if we stray from the path He has for us. I believe that is what a loving Father would do to bring His children back to the right place. (In my view this is different than punishment as the Bible also teaches us that there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.) But separately, I think sometimes things happen in our lives that may even be caused by God that we would consider to be bad for us, mainly because they are trying and tough to handle. But here is the question...if something happens in our lives that causes us to turn to Him and seek His face more than before, could we possibly as Christians define that as a bad thing? I know it's difficult because we can't see the whole picture, but we need to remember that, no matter the circumstances, being close to Jesus and glorifying Him is our purpose here.

That concludes the post, really, but I just want to add a footnote of sorts. Remember that I am just typing my thoughts on life. I may be wrong on things, but I may be right. I am just going through life reflecting and trying to figure this stuff out, just like everyone else. Feel free to comment a question or observation even if you disagree with something I said. You won't hurt my feelings. I appreciate dialogue.

The text my wife sent me

My wife sent me this wonderful text message the other day. There was no specific event that took place to prompt it. Or if there was some event it was unbeknownst to me. Whatever the case she sent me this text, and it meant a lot. It didn't take much time for her to compose and send it, but I doubt I am the only husband who appreciates receiving encouragement from his wife. The message from her was sincere and heartfelt and made me smile.

Before I move onto the next part of the story let me suggest to you wives out there that husbands really appreciate your kind and respectful words. Husbands sometimes feel like all their wives do is put them down. Of course I have never felt like that (okay that's a lie). The truth is that we usually deserve it, but consistent kind and respectful words can help a husband learn how to treat his wife.

Okay back to the story (yes unfortunately there is more). After feeling so good about the text my wife sent me, I proceeded to come home after work and demean her right in front of a member of her extended family. It was about something that wasn't even a big deal, but the words I said and the tone with which I said it made her, as she put it, "feel dumb." So after the text she sent me that you read at the top of this post, I came home and made her feel dumb, in front of another adult. Anthony, FTW. Much sarcasm intended.

(By the way, FTW stands for For The Win, as if I was about to hit a game winning shot on the basketball court for example. I wondered for the longest time what that meant, then I googled it. You can find any answer you want on google. Sometimes the answer is even correct.)

So here's the point...

Guys, don't be idiots. We are supposed to love our wives as Christ loves the church. Don't talk down to her or treat her like she's stupid, especially in front of other people.

And ladies, even though you make great effort to encourage your husband and make him feel respected, he is going to do the same thing I did. He's a guy. Give him some grace and say more nice things about him. Eventually he will improve.

The last point is for the dudes. Check out this quote from a book I read a while back and really think about what it means (I'm not going to publish the name of the book here for fear I might lose my man-card, that is if I still have it):

"Some (men) may even go to their graves and never understand that to truly cherish a woman they must die to every scrap of self-interest."

If I had a nickle for every time...

"I'm too old to go back to school."  If I had a nickle for every time I have heard that in the past 10 years or so...

You see, for almost 10 years I have been working in admissions at Piedmont College, a small private college in Northeast Georgia, almost nine years in graduate admissions and now almost a year in undergraduate admissions.  In my current role I am in charge of recruiting and the admissions process for "adult learners" at the undergraduate level, which for Piedmont means age 25 and older.

Many I talk to are in one of two categories.  The first is those who haven't even considered the possibility of returning to school.  The other group is those who are beginning the process of gathering information, or perhaps have even made application, but they are very nervous and apprehensive about the whole thing.

I would like to give you just a few bits of insight that may help calm your fears as it relates to returning to school.  This is certainly not a comprehensive list of reasons to attend but will give you some food for thought.

1) You aren't the only one.

I can sense in so many of my prospective students that inside they are feeling like they are the only person on the planet that would possibly consider going to school at their age.  When that becomes evident I will just come out and say to them, "You're not the only one!"  There are a significant number of students enrolled all over the US who are working professionals, or perhaps have recently become unemployed after a 20 year career in manufacturing.  In fact, the average age at Athens Technical College is 26 years old.  That means the average student is an "adult learner."  Did you know that only 15% of currently enrolled college students are "traditional," meaning attend a four year school out of high school and live on campus?  Guess who the other 85% are...

2) It's more affordable than you think.

It is undeniably true that tuition prices across the country have increased significantly and continue to do so.  However, many colleges so value the life experience the adult learner brings to the classroom that they are willing to provide deep discounts.  As an example, Piedmont College offers the Neighborhood Grant Program, which provides a 50% tuition discount for those students who live in the Northeast Georgia area.  If you attend a technical school in Georgia often times the Hope Grant covers most or all of the tuition cost.  Add to that the Pell Grant and other types of funding and the financial aspect of completing a bachelor's degree is often a non-issue.

3) Folks are living longer these days.

So you're going to retire at 62 or even 65, you say?  Maybe you will be in a financial position where you can do that, and that would be wonderful!  But get this...in 1960 the average life expectancy in the US was 69.77.  The average life expectancy as of 2010?  78.24!  Because of the great advancement of medicine and medical training, we are living almost 10 years longer on average than we were 50 years ago.  For that person who is 60 years old and needs maybe two more years to complete a degree, they may still have 18-20 years left of living.  What a great opportunity to make an impact on your community late in life with the knowledge and training you receive from a college degree.

In summary, maybe you or someone you know has thought about the possibility of returning to school but discounted the thought because you felt like you were too old.  Whether it would be a bachelor's or master's degree, I hope what you have read makes you think a little more seriously about what the possibilities could be.



Note: Please ask if you are interested in sources.

Praise Him in the storm?

Have you ever been through a tough time and wondered where God is?

I think it happens to all of us where we go through times in life that it seems nothing can go your way. One thing after another happens as if there is someone out there controlling the universe in such a way as to cause every single event to work against us.  At those moments is when we are to cry out to God and ask Him for comfort and to make our situation right.

That's what we're told, anyway.

Now you would say, "Wait!  Aren't we supposed to call out to God in time of need?"  Absolutely!  You know the Bible says that God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).  That leads us to believe that at our weakest moments God is always there and we should look to Him when our weakest moments come.

But what about the other times?  What about the times that are seemingly wonderful?  What about the times we feel like we are walking on the clouds?  I would submit to you that the most important time to seek God and His presence and peace is during the times that things are going well.  When all in the world is right and you are smiling and singing a happy tune, do you seek Him like He is the most important thing in your life?

To expand on the analogy of walking on the clouds in the good times, surely if we are walking on the clouds we are bound to fall off at some point, right? My belief is that if we will seek Him during the good times, His presence will be so much more evident in the tough times. What's more, if we seek Him during the times when life is easy, we will learn how to see Him and recognize Him in every situation. That practice in the good times will prepare us to see Him when circumstances seem so overwhelming.

Fix your eyes on Him now, even when it may feel like you don't need Him to survive. Then, when circumstances make it abundantly clear that He truly is your only hope, you will feel His calming presence as if He is with you always.