Anticipation

Over the past two weeks I have constructed a "carpetball" table for camp. It's a simple game of rolling a cue ball down a table trying to knock your opponents balls off the table before they knock all of yours off!

This week I was building with lots of kids around and I was asked over and over again, "What are you making?". I would explain and tell them when it would be ready. It was completed yesterday and the line of kids to play was huge.

Apparently, just watching the game come together before their eyes help build anticipation so much that they couldn't wait to play. Is it any different for us? Our eyes become full of something we desire and we cannot wait to have it!

Patience may be a virtue, but I can guarantee that patience is not easy!

Rich heritage

This picture was taken over Spring Break 2009! It tells the story of the Coyne family, my family! From the youngest to the oldest our lives become a rich tapestry of stories, laughs, crying, celebrations and heartaches! It's the stories of a normal family.

I hope that your life is filled with normal (goofed up) people like my life. They are also known as my family, and I could not love them more!

Simplicity, it's tougher than you think!

I was challenged a few days ago by the concept of living a more simple life. The entire Coyne family does not live extravagant (at least in my mind). The line drawn for "simple" vs. "a life of more" is ONLY IN MY MIND.

I am the one who thinks we don't have enough or need a new something, and at the same time, I have been to Haiti, Dominican Republic and Mexico and have seen people with far less than I have. Shoot, I can see that here in Prescott!

Life is not all about me! That sums it up. There is so many greater things to be concerned with other than a new TV or newer vehicle to drive. Maybe I just need to express myself some, whine a little then sack-up and move on? Maybe you can relate!

Sorry, it's been a while

I have been unmotivated to write lately. It's normal and sort of a "dry" time in writing and creating something worth sitting down to express.

The season is busier right now with baseball and camp starting soon, VERY SOON. I will try to update this more often.

I did see "The Cross" movie last night at my local theater! Amazing story and amazing physical feat! You should check into it!

Plans? what plans?

Lately I have this sense that we are moving forward at camp in exciting new ways. There are basic plans for expansion, but the reality is finances, and making sure our plans fit into the City of Prescott plans! Not always easy to navigate either one!

Throw on top of that the possibility of additional land (more than one option) and you get the sense that there is a lot of moving parts. Try to plan in this environment and you will understand what we are up against. Is it okay, for a leader of a God following organization to not have the plan? Is it okay to wait for God to show what's next?

Well, I am not that leader (Greg is), but I wonder about the conflict of a leader who is "supposed" to know what is next for an organization, and trying to find what God wants for the organization when it doesn't happen in the time frame that many would expect.

Honestly, can a God lead leader wait? More specifically, will those working with that leader allow the wait on God's vision to unfold? I am in....I get it!!!! It's going to be amazing and perfect! Can't wait to see what the next 10 years holds!

Fascinated

The sun begins rising in the mountain of Arizona just before 5 am right now! That means, you begin to hear birds and chipmunks outside my window. Normally, I am up and watching the news, catching up bills and email and spending time reading my Bible while it's still quiet.

While this is a morning norm for me, I have become increasingly aware of the beauty of the world we live in. Whether you would attribute what we see on planet Earth to a creator or not doesn't change the incredible place we call home.

Sunrise, the ocean, trees, grass, cactus, mountains, sky and stars...you name it. It's all amazing!!!! When was the last time you slowed down enough to take in some of what is all around you? When was the last time you considered where it all came from? For me, it screams that God is alive!!!!

Just caught this part of Genesis 3

Here is the passage.

²² And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." ²³ So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. ²⁴ After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

According to this, mankind was banished from the Garden because "Adam" then or ME TODAY might "take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever". I have thought for many years that Adam & Eve (plus the rest of us) were not allowed in the presence of God because they were "unholy" and God could not be in their presence.

Perhaps I have more to learn. I will keep you posted about additional thoughts! It just reminds me of how little I know about the nature of God!

You see it, you own it

As we prepare camp for the summer, each day seems to pick up speed. We have staff all over the place getting recreation items ready. We are replacing and/or upgrading things everywhere. It's also the time we are trying to catch other unrelated items to the performance of summer camp.

You know the little things like an exposed pipe on the ground that just needs to be reburied or a pile of trash or logs sitting somewhere (okay, maybe your home or camp is much cleaner).

Here is my thought, we try to practice the concept that, "if you SEE it, you OWN IT". That means if you see the pipe then go bury it. If you see the pile of trash then go pick it up and dispose of it! This type of work matches my A.D.D. thinking, so I take out my phone and write down what I saw and make sure I take care of it.

This applies to physical property here, but it can easily apply to people. If you hear it from them, then you must follow that conversation through. You hear it, you own it!!!!