why do YOU laugh?

My question is simple, "Why do YOU laugh?" I know why I laugh. I laugh when things are funny. I laugh when people are stressing out over something that isn't too big in the grand scheme of things...spilled milk, oversleeping, not enough/too much work. I laugh when I get nervous and when I'm scared--it's my natural defense mechanism, I just can't keep it in. I also laugh sometimes when I'm by myself, because I think about how silly I look at that moment.

So, why DO you laugh? Do you laugh at the wrong time? Do you laugh at inappropriate moments (during weekly staff meeting?), or do you never laugh?

I want to be remembered as a laugher.

myLIFEspeaks? what is it saying?

What is "myLIFEspeaks"? I'm glad you asked...

myLIFEspeaks is the beginning of an understanding of who I am and who God has created me to be. I realize after 9 years of having a son with special needs (Lane) that God has had His plan all along. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever gotten the point where you actually begin to accept the junk and the pain and look for the actual meaning in it? Have you ever looked at a horrible situation and thought it was an opportunity to bring you closer to a real living God? I know that sounds like the answer you might expect from a minister guy. I should say that right? I should know that God has a plan and He's going to take care of me, but what happens when somebody like me has more questions than answers (check out the rest of the blog if you don't believe it), and what happens when i speak those questions out loud?

I have to tell you I didn't get there overnight nor did I realize just how big it was until recently. I had to go through 9 years of asking God the question, "Why?" Not why did you do this to me but why do I have this life that is so amazing and I'm not doing ANYTHING with it.

myLIFEspeaks is about realizing that others are actually watching my life and taking notes...and not just my life but your life as well. If you think I'm full of hot religious air, just look at the face of your kids, your spouse, and your co-workers. Do you think you really have any secrets from them?

myLIFEspeaks...what is YOUR life saying?

prayer?

What happens when we eat and don't pray? Does God need to bless the food anymore than He already has? I think that He has blessed more than we give Him credit for many times. When I say thanks, if I don't really mean it, what am I really saying, "If I don't talk to you God, You might get mad, so I'm trying to appease you." ? Could that be true? How many prayers have i offered up that were so shallow and so full of me?

My deepest prayer ever? "Oh God please Help!"

Thanks!

are you CONNECTED?

Who are you CONNECTED to with your life? Most of us aren't because being CONNECTED means that we have to open up our shallow selves and let others see the junk, the pain, and the hurt.

What happens when someone looks at our insides and sees that we're not really ok? Do they bolt? What makes them even pretend to want to stay?

I think the answer is simple. We're all wired to connect with someone else. Without someone else to share the load with, we all will collapse under the strain and the stress.

just something to think about...

massacre hero

A 76-year-old professor who survived the Holocaust was shot to death while saving his students from the Virginia Tech assailant, students said.

By now you are probably like me. You have been glued to the television for some information about the Virginia Tech Massacre. You want more than Fox News and CNN's new "Massacre-mini-Series" and dark yet drawing theme song. You want to know more about the actual people and what went on.

I introduce you to Liviu Librescu, a true hero. The ironic thing about all of this is his nationality...Liviu was from Israel (by way of Romania). He survived hardships, the Nazis, the Holocaust, and surviving in the American University system. Monday all of that ran out for him.

If you don't know his story yet I encourage you to google him. You'll see the definition of Love surrounding him.

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."--Matthew 15:13. Professor Librescu lived out that love on Monday when he literally put his body in front of his classroom door to allow 18-24 year old men and women the opportunity to escape the wrath of a man with gun.

Why?

Did he think about his family? Did he think about his students? Did he understand Jesus' words? Did he just do what came naturally? Did he see his life as entering into the final stages and see the young lives around him? Did he care about others more than himself? Why would he do it?

Why do I walk the other way when hard things are in front of me? What would I do? I don't know how to answer at this point...I can only pray that God will allow me to escape the threat of a gunman to determine how my character will be revealed.

www.myLIFEspeaks.com

Blessings and Prayers,
--mike ><>

Wreck'D Weekend

I had such a great opportunity this weekend. On Friday and Saturday I had the opportunity to be involved in "Wreck'D" weekend with Fleetwood Baptist Church. We were in Eutah (pronounced Utah), Alabama at a farm that serves as a ministry campground. Awesome is the only way to describe that place.

Jeff Weathers is the Student Pastor there. You can check up on him at his ministry website, www.crashstudents.com Beware though, they are possibly the most competitive group that I have ever been around. They will compete in anything. I learned a new Olympic sport this weekend...Noodle Hockey! That's right, pool noodles, a whiffle ball, and cones that serve as goals...all lead up to one of the most competitive and NHL-esque intense activities you will ever be a part of. In fact, I don't think anyone even realized that it was raining.

I had the opportunity to share a couple of messages with the group. We had a blast spending time together.

Enjoy LIFE,
--mike ><>

so it begins

it's official!! i am now in the blogging world. let's see what happens next...