I’m too tired to be creative or insightful tonight.

So I thought I’d share a meme that amused me greatly.

Hope you enjoy.

It’s hard to be joyful at 5 am.

It’s hard to rejoice before that first cup of whatever that first cup of coffee (or whatever caffeinated beverage of your choice maybe).

It’s hard when despite all your best efforts and intentions, you find yourself slipping back into old and unhealthy patterns of behavior, thoughts, and attitudes. You try really hard to be positive and encouraging only to end up being annoyed and sarcastic at the end of the day.

I still stand by the notion that Mondays are rude. They come barging in, interrupting a lovely weekend and the requisite Sunday nap. They don’t ask for permission to enter your life. They just come on in.

But when you have no joy in yourself, you can always go to God and find that His inexhaustible and unending joy can be your strength when you have none.

You can rest in God’s “eternal appetite of infancy, ” as G. K. Chesterton put it, where God never tired of the monotony of sunrises and sunsets and daisies. His joy never grows old or gets tired or runs out. His joy is always where your strength lies.

Tomorrow’s Tuesday. It will be challenging and frustrating at times. You will be tempted at some point to quit. May you find the joy of the Lord to be the strength that carries you through.

I distinctly remember as a little tyke going over to my grandparents’ house. I remember vividly that my granddaddy had several pairs of boots, and one of my favorite things was to put a pair on and walk around in them.

I don’t remember exactly how little I was, but I’m pretty sure those boots came up to my knees. For me as a kid, my granddad had some big shoes to fill.

Fast forward about 30-ish years to me being a Nashville transplant. I decided I’d go all in and buy me some cowboy boots of my own to make the Nashvillian status official.

I looked at countless boots in countless places in just about every pattern and brand out there. I ended up picking the very first boots that I had looked at when I first started.

As I found out after I shelled out the $228 for those Dan Post boots, those were my granddad’s favorite kind. It was a kind of a God-wink moment for me, linking me back to a legacy of my family.

Recently, I bought another pair of Dan Post boots. These were a secondhand pair I picked up at a vintage store. I like to think that, however remote the possibility, my grandfather might have worn these boots at some point. It’s an extreme long-shot, but I suppose it’s possible.

Every time I wear my boots, I can be thankful that I came from a good family and can carry on a legacy of faith and love to the next generations.

On a whim (and with the help of a $30 Amazon giftcard), I picked up a collection of early gospel recordings. It’s called Waxing the Gospel: Mass Evangelism & The Phonograph 1890-1900.

The recordings are extremely primitive. The technology was still in its infancy, and I imagine the wax cylinders that held these recordings would have deteriorated to a degree over time.

Still, you get a crash course in history. You hear the old hymns when many of them were brand new. Additionally, you will hear recordings by Dwight Moody, Fanny Crosby, and Ira Sankey (who partnered with Moody in many of his crusades during the 19th century).

You will probably need the book with the printed lyrics to decipher many of these songs. Still, that didn’t stop me from enjoying what are probably the earliest recordings of sacred music we have.

If you’re in the Christian music industry, you can think of this collection as a sampling of the very beginning of gospel music. Or if you’re just a big music nerd like me, you will appreciate where we’ve come from in terms of recording technology.

“Feels like there’s a million things coming at you today, but really there is always only one thing: Just. Stay. Calm.
“The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm” Ex14:14
Let the Spirit in dwell, before stepping into the day. This is the way calm comes.
For God will do the battle for you. 
You just do the breathing in Him” (Ann Voskamp).

#PreachingGospeltoMyself#StayCalmInHim

I had grandiose ideas about what I was going to write about tonight, but sleepiness won out.

These may not be my own words, but they are good words to live by when life can seem overwhelming (and it does seem that way for all of us at some point).

Just stay calm.

I made my weekly pilgrimage to my local Goodwill today. As usual, I went in with nothing specific in mind and not knowing what I would find — if anything.

Sometimes, I come away with jack squat. I don’t find anything. Usually, 50% off Saturdays are a bust for me with everything good already taken.

Sometimes, I find a few decent bargains.

But today I hit the proverbial $2 jackpot. I found a Doctor Who t-shirt for $1.99. Granted, it’s a medium which means I will have to hold my breath the entire time I wear it. But did I mention $2?

My inner nerd child is supremely happy and content right now.

I discovered a classic BBC mystery series that I’ve grown quite fond of. It definitely has the feel of a Lord Peter Wimsey or Agatha Christie, which I believe are both also set in the 1920’s.

It’s based on a series of short stories by G. K. Chesterton. I can’t personally vouch for how faithful it is to the books, but knowing old-school BBC adaptations, it’s probably very close.

The main character, Father John Brown, is a Catholic priest who (surprise, surprise) also is an amateur sleuth. His faith plays a prominent role in his detective work.

I believe there’s a new series based on the same short stories. I can’t imagine it could be as good as these, but I’m withholding all judgment until I’ve seen both.

“Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.

The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you” (John 20:19-21, The Message).

The phrase Shalom aleichem is a common Jewish phrase. It’s used both as a hello and a goodbye. I’m sure that when a typical Jewish person had grown up in Jesus’ day, he or she had probably heard and used the term so often that it became almost rote.

Not so with Jesus. He never said or did anything that wasn’t drenched with meaning and purpose. Especially here with the disciples who had barricaded themselves in the upper room out of fear and confusion.

“Peace to you,” or “God’s peace,” was Jesus telling the disciples, “You have many fears and doubts. I am giving you My peace, not as the world gives, a peace that transcends human understanding that brings healing and wholeness. This is the peace that will empower you to live sent as God’s ambassadors in the world and announce the forgiveness of sin found in God’s salvation.”

Only God’s peace can alleviate anxiety. Only God’s perfect love can cast out fear. Only in the shalom and hesed of God can you truly live out your calling and be a disciple maker.

May God’s peace be yours tonight, tomorrow, and every day after.

I’m thankful that my carpal tunnel seems to be clearing up. At least it hurts a lot less than it did on Friday. I’m also thankful to have a better diagnosis for my wrist pain other than “getting old.”

I’m thankful for my vintage Jeep Cherokee that still runs great. I found out recently that in 3 years, that Jeep will officially be an antique.

I’m thankful for the Spicy Thai Chicken Salad at Panera. It’s still one of my favorites.

I’m thankful for the day coming soon when it won’t be in the 30s in the morning and in the 70s in the afternoon. I’m sure the sinuses of most people in Tennessee will also be grateful.

Right now, I’m thankful for a soft and warm bed that will lead me (hopefully) to a good night’s sleep.

I’m thankful for my job and even that long, long commute that gives me time to listen to good music.

I’m thankful for those aged cheddar and dijon mustard chips I got at Target recently. Whooo good!

I’m thankful for my little black panther, aka my tortie cat Peanut who keeps me smiling (and sometimes laughing) at her silly antics.

I’m thankful for Jesus who loves me as I am but won’t leave me in my mess. He loves me well and whole and complete.

“Through the resurrection of Jesus God has redeemeed us and made us his children.  May God bless us with joy.  Amen. Our Redeemer has given us lasting freedom. May we inherit everlasting life.  Amen. By faith, we rose with Jesus in baptism. May our lives be holy, so that we will be united with Jesus for ever. Amen. May almighty God bless us,  the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen” (from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/e-blessing.html).

Sometimes when you google something, you get 15,000 hits, none of which are remotely related to your topic. Other times, you hit the proverbial jackpot.

I googled “Easter toast” and found this Easter blessing from the Creighton University webpage. I think it’s a fitting blessing to give and receive on Easter (or Resurrection Sunday, if you prefer).

Easter is all about a Love that wouldn’t give up. It’s about God’s relentless love for His people as displayed and evidence in Jesus.

There’s no greater love than laying down one’s live for a friend, but the ultimate sacrifice of love was Jesus laying down His life for us when we were His enemies.

But none of that means anything without the resurrection. If Jesus is still in that tomb, then the cross is an empty gesture, a meaningless act, and a tragic waste.

Thankfully, the tomb was only borrowed for three days, as the song says, and Jesus is alive. That means that Easter can be not just one day a year but every day of every year for those who have been made alive by God’s saving grace.

Thank You, God, for grace and mercy. Thank You for an empty tomb and nail-scarred hands. Thank You for death defeated and the grave overcome. Thank You for Easter Sunday.