Back To School Memories

As the new school year approaches, it brings back great memories of growing up and getting ready for the new school year. Of course, my school year didn't start until the Wednesday after Labor Day, so the concept of preparing for school in late July is still foreign to me, even after 11 years of living in Atlanta!

This is my elementary school (which closed in 1978, and is now a retirement community!)-



I remember looking forward to that walk to school on the first day (yes, we WALKED to school!). Once we entered that school on the first day, it was celebration time for all the moms in the neighborhood! My mom would have all the other mothers over for a first day of school brunch!

In my high school years, I could not wait to go back, especially for my senior year. Not because it was my last year in school, but because I was getting back to seeing friends on a regular basis once again. My high school swing choir was a very close group of people. We sang throughout the hallways in between periods (especially the doo-wop songs of the late 50's and early 60's... and this was 1984!), we laughed, we held each other when there were problems. Our teacher, Mr. Ambrosino, taught us how important it was to laugh and love, and even pray! A few of us would have small group sessions after school, discussing God and how having a relationship with Him was so important. He influenced a lot of us, and we continue to stay in touch with each other to this day.

What great school memories!

Well Connected?

There is no doubt that we are pummeled with tons of messages everyday- many of them designed to entice us to purchase or try a product or service.

I read recently that we take in as much information in one day as folks several decades ago were exposed to over the course of a year!

We're not entirely innocent victims here- some of us constantly have our eyes glued to our smartphones and other technology. In Philadelphia now police have begun writing tickets for pedestrians who are walking and texting without paying attention to their surroundings.

So- here's the question- how much are we created to "take in" each day? How much is healthy and helpful? What are we choosing to expose ourselves to? At the end of the day, are our lives richer and more fufilled because of our level of connectedness?

Try this-- UNplug from your tech toys for a night- day- or weekend...and watch what happens. That'll tell you quite a bit about where you're at with these things.

Check your focus- Remember these words:

Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

Thanks for joining me weekday afternoons. Thanks to for being part of our J93.3 listening family. Please PRAY specifically for our upcoming Sharathon- It starts August 15th.

Steve

The Gift of Love and Family

Yesterday was my birthday. I received many birthday wishes through social media, and a couple of text messages. it does make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, in a virtual sort of way. But let me tell you about the greatest gift I received. One that will be a lasting memory.

I'm in the middle of a trip back to my hometown on Long Island. It is the first time in over 10 years that the entire family has been able to go. One of the people I wanted to see in the worst way was my Uncle Alan. He is my mom's only sibling. I lost my mom to lupus back in 1993, and have such great memories of spending time with her side of the family, including my uncle. So I made every effort to see if he was going to be around during this week. It so happens that the only day he and my Aunt Pat could get together was Tuesday July 12th. Honestly, I really didn't put it all together that it was my birthday. Packed the family up, met my brother and his family, and off we went for the hour drive out to beautiful Mattituck, on Long Island's North Fork.

The entire time was filled with love. Catching up on each others lives. Great laughs at watching the kids play in the pool. Having my cousin stop by who I haven't seen in over 15 years. Reliving the fun times we had in the past. Remembering my mom. It was just about being together as a family. I could not have asked for a better birthday. Love was the center of it all...

GOD was the center of it all. This verse came to mind-

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

Take the time with family. Let love be the center of it all. Let God be the center of it all.

That gift of love yesterday was truly the best birthday present I could ever receive.

Pondering

When was the last time you ponderered something? The dictionary defines the word this way:


–verb (used without object)
1.
to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate (often followed by over or upon ). -or-


–verb (used with object)
2.
to weigh carefully in the mind; consider thoughtfully: He pondered his next words thoroughly.


In the culture we live in speed is highly valued- multi-tasking is considered a mandatory life skill. When asking someone what they've been up to what would your response be if they said "I've been thinking a lot about..." or "I'm pondering life and my place in it!"


We don't give enough weight to carefully considering our lives, our commitments, activities, and the impact we can have when we sit at the feet of our Master and listen to him. Think about His words and what they mean to you today.


There is a time and a place to "Be still and know that I am God". Psalm 46:10. Take time to ponder. Consider your place in this world and God's call to use your life for His Kingdom purposes.

Yes, it's something worth thinking about! Steve