Going beyond yourself

I have began training for another Half-Marathon. This will be my forth in Prescott, so I am familiar with the course and the prep needed. However...and that's a big HOWEVER, this time seems much harder.

Perhaps it's the 10 extra pounds. Maybe it's the 48 years of life. My times are greater and so are my aches and pains. I wouldn't want it any other way!

What the heck are you talking about? Harder, older, slower and more painful and I wouldn't want it any other way. I have begun to appreciate the VALUE OF STRUGGLE more now than ever before. If I am doing things that are BEYOND MYSELF, then I am in a position to depend on God and others to make it! I will do my part and at the end of this race day, I still have to run the entire 13.1 miles but mentally I am depending on God to get me through.

What was the last thing you attempted that was "beyond yourself"? Maybe you should do something physical like running a long race or taking a big hike? Maybe you should speak to someone you have been avoiding or giving something away that is valuable to you. Maybe your "someday I will do ????" just needs to start today!

Do something today that is SO BIG that you must rely on the Lord to see it done! Good luck and keep moving. You have a friend slowly running up and down the mountains of Arizona who understands.

Every trip has a destination!

As God began to unfold His plan for the Coyne family, He faithfully provided words to encourage us. These words were recorded thousands of years ago by the Prophet Isaiah. Here is what God said...

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

We knew without a doubt that God was moving us FROM United Christian Youth Camp TO something new. Our destination was unknown and required a new level of faith to see it through. He provided financially. He provided housing with family. God gave us peace when we were very uncertain.

What I have learned is that a JOB or MINISTRY is not the destination that interests God. I wanted those things because of the stability, but God knows better. As I write this post, we are 17 months into following God in the wilderness. He is making a way for us and providing streams where we never would have expected them. I cannot say it has been easy, but I can say, "It has been good"!

What is our destination? I don't know! Maybe we are going to wander for a long time and I'm okay as long as God is leading us through! You will find the same to be true when God begins something new for you! Enjoy the Trip!

When the road is unclear...

October 2014, Lori and I heard clearly from God to leave the camp ministry that we loved and home that we loved for something new He was doing! Wow! Without doubt we knew that God was at work, but this "leap without a landing spot" is scary and frustrating. I have left a ministry for another ministry, but this is the first time we are leaving without knowing what is next!

Over the next few posts I will un pack a few of these lessons, but what I can say today is: If God is moving you, like he did with Abraham, to a "land that I will show you" then I can appreciate more than ever the journey of Faith that you are traveling. Buckle up because it gets good...and very hard!

Simple life

The most challenging part of the trip to Switzerland for me was how simply the people lived. Hard work and provision for family plus time with family was the order of each day. It was amazing to find greater value in people instead of things! American culture does not do us any service by...

How would you finish this statement? Isn't it time that we consider what is really most important and live like it!

A good looser

Growing up with Joby was the amazing! We were the best of friends since grade school. We have so many great memories together that I cannot hardly remember them all.

We were brothers. I could not have asked for a better young man to grow up with!

It was because of this relationship that I learned to be a good looser! You see, Joby was a great athlete. He was tall and strong, left-handed and a great work ethic. During those early baseball years, he was an All-star and was able to play at a high level of success!

Joby was brilliant. He did amazingly well in school and graduated top of our class! Joby cared for people and was in church every weekend with his family. He served his parents/family by watching over his two younger siblings.

Bottom line: Joby excelled at everything and I was not! However, he won and excelled with such dignity that I learned to loose well. He was such a great winner, that I learned to be a good looser! To try and fail against such a humble person was the best thing this ego-filled young man could have ever experienced!

I thank God that I grew up with Joby Taylor. God has helped shape me through his influence in so many ways!

I was reminded of Joby and our friendship as I rode my motorcycle and thought about my childhood. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Who are you grateful for? Have you taken the time to tell them? Do it today!

Of all places to put this!

Recently I was visiting a camp near where I live. During a quick restroom break I had a funny experience!See if you can figure it out by looking at the picture!

Give up? Let me shed some light.

At the top of the frame you will notice the air-freshener. You will also notice its placement directly over the toilet.

As I was standing there using the bathroom, the air freshener decided to spray...right on top of my bald head. I just started laughing trying to understand who would put it right there!

Life lesson? "Don't take things so seriously, have some fun." Keep an eye out for what makes you laugh and tell someone today! Enjoy life!

My head smelled great! LOL

Becoming a servant

My best friend Joby and I mowed grass for years in Oklahoma. We created TC Lawncare and worked many days during the summer taking care of peoples yards. While it was work, it taught us about serving others! The Skaggs family would be nervous if their grass grew half an inch that week, so we took care of their lawn about every 5 days. We have so many stories about our adventures in mowing.

I bring it up now because cutting grass and a few church "mission" trips helped me to see the world differently! During our Senior year of High School, Joby and I both went to Haiti for a work trip. We helped construct a church building in the mountains.

I learned that I make weekly mowing lawns the same as an adult in Haiti makes annually! That truth rocked my world! God was forming in me a need to serve! To this day, I look back at trips like Haiti and mowing grass all summer as furtile ground for Servant training.

Who are you serving today? How has your past shaped your servant response to those around you? You can serve the less fortunate and well as the extremely wealthy, because God's love must be shown to all! You can serve those far away, a neighbor across the street and inside your own household. 

Don't forget to serve!

Boy Scouts

Sitting on a motorcycle for hours each day, I had plenty of time to think. Day 1 we covered nearly 500 miles arriving in Telluride, CO to camp for the night.

During that day I spent time just being grateful. Thinking through all the things that I was glad that happened in my life. I began with the earliest memories and worked forward.

It didn't take long to arrive at "Boy Scouts". I began at the earliest possible age and did not leave until I was 18 years old. I was one rank away from Eagle Scout (story of my life), but loved being involved.

Greatest lesson for me? Being in the Scouts helped forge me into being a hard working young man. Our troop was not driven by proper uniforms or lots of merit badges, rather we focused in on service and help to the community and scout camp.

I am grateful to have learned hard work, discipline and a love for the outdoors!

Think back over your life. What are you grateful for? Spend some significant time working backwards and discover all the twists and turns that your life has taken and how that has actually become a great part of your story today!

In the Summer of 2012, I was able to take a Sabbatical. In short, the camp gave me 4 weeks off after 10 years of serving to be refreshed and renewed. We took a lot of family vacation time, but in the middle I was able to go on an 8 day, 3,400 mile motor cycle ride!

During this time of the motorcycle, I spent a lot of time...thinking! Later I totaled up about 70 hours of sitting and thinking about my life.

Over the next few posts, I am going to begin to unveil some of what I discovered. This is done in part to remind me about all that God whispered during that ride and partly because I hope it brings reminder to you.

People are all that matters!

Over the years working with kids in the Church and at camp, I have made statements about the only things that matter are Faith and People.

I rediscovered this truth recently and wanted to remind myself and those around me who true this concept is!

I spent two full days riding my motorcycle and thinking about all the things for which I was grateful. I began at my earliest memories and moved forward. Two themes began to emerge; People and Experiences. All the other memories where less clear, but the experiences combined with people or the just those individuals in my life stood out the most.

Good and bad memories involve people who celebrated or agonized WITH YOU. All parts of my life where dominated by people like Joby when I was younger. My dad, brother and other young men during my time as a Boy Scout. Serving at Mission Trips because of Don or Doug (Youth Pastors)...okay, you get the point.

Why don't you take time and consider all those who have contributed to who you are and thank them! That's what I am going to do. Thank those people who are part of me and part of God's story in me.

David

The Road We Travel

In "The Message" Bible, Deuteronomy 10:12-13 says this:
"So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life."

My plans get in the way of what God is doing. It's blunt but true! Sometimes my life would have the verse above saying "follow the road that David thinks is best". Can you relate?

Most of us struggle with following the road that God has for us. It may me riches, but likely it means average income or being poor. His road could have suffering and hurt from those around us...probably lots of that. Success in our work??? Ha, there is no guaruntee of that for anyone!

Today, for me and you, submit to the road that God has laid out for you. Regardless of who you feel about where you are, the fact remains...that's where you are! Will you allow God to move you each day? Will you allow Him to be more directly involved in what you are doing?

Enjoy the trip my friends. The best road is the one that God has, it comes with the most support!

Trying something new in prayer

I am trying something new as a tool to help me stay organized when I pray! At first I tried an "app" for my phone but I didn't like who it operated so I kept looking. I found echoprayer.com.

This simple website allows you to write out the prayers that you wish to offer and follow. You can have the site email or text you the reminders in 5 minute increments.

I have it text me early in the day the recurring specific themes that I want to pray about and then I have it text me random prayer requests in the afternoon. My hope is to "pray continually". Hope this is helpful or comment back on your prayer tools.

God bless your day!

Truth in Advertising

Driving through Boulder City, NV recently I passed this trailer. While it's diffiult to read, if you focus on the trailer door you will see this phrase. "Veteran needs beer, gas and ammo $". Truthful statement!

You will also notice the Wood Canes and Carvings for $1 so this is not panhandling. This veteran is working to support himself/herself. I just loved the sign.

Also, the trailer is actually a flatbed trailer that they have mounted this truck-bed camper on it and now it's Travel Trailer...AWESOME!

Keep your eyes open on the road, who knows what you will see!

We will do it ourselves

Reading in "Money" magazine November 2011 edition, I found an article regarding how the economy has changed people. It's a great read!

It covers surveys in 2009 and 2011 regarding how the economy has affected families. There is a glaring result that caught my attention. The data suggests that in most households 2011 is better than 2009 and the future looks better for them. HOWEVER, it's definetly not because of the actions of the government.

It seems clear that families have lowered their debt, began saving more money and live a simpler life enjoying time with family more than ever! The government solution and/or economy does not look better yet they are optimistic because THEY ARE DOING IT THEMSELVES.

Sounds like the Country that I know and love. Join the rest and take control, don't wait for someone else to help!

Taking time to listen and learn

I was reminded recently about the power of listening and learning. I was doing some welding at a friends house. I have done this many times before and always with a long sleeve shirt. On the day in question, I wore a sleeveless shirt.

My friend said "you are going to get burnt, you better put on a long sleeve shirt", I responded by saying that I would change if I got burnt. I was talking about slag from the welding landing on my skin and burning me, he was talking about "sunburn" from the welder.

Have you ever done something like this? He and I even used the same word: burnt, but we meant different things from it. 5 days later my arm is peeling like crazy because I fried it. All this could have been avoided if I would have taken a few extra moments to clarify what he meant vs. what I meant.

Next time I weld, it's long sleeves for me, but I had to pay a price when someone who knew better was helping me and I did not understand!

Social norms...shattered!

Just before church on Sunday morning last weekend, I ran to the bathroom. First, let me give some context. Men have this unwritten rule that you really don't speak to other men in the bathroom. Perhaps this goes back ages to our early ancestors, or perhaps just to modern America, but that's the RULE!

So, there I was standing at the urinal and this young man approached and said hello to gentlemen next to me and then said "Hello sir" to me! I would guess his age to be about mid 30's and he appears to have mild "Down Syndrome" or something similar. I responded back and then began to think about what just happened.

To be honest, I was moved by this young man who saw a friend and said hello, then not wanting to be unfriendly, he spoke to me. FORGET THE RULES, he was being better than the rules.

I hope I can grow up and ignore stupid societal rules in order to care for people. Don't you???

Juvenile Leadership

All this talk about Debt Talks, US economy and a lot more has me fired up these days!

It hit a peak this morning when I was hearing news reports of the White House making excuses! Now before you get mad at me for picking on the White House or the President, I am making a point of Leadership. The Administration is the best example today, but I have heard the same things from all parts of the political landscape.

So, back to the excuses. When I hear statements like, "there was massive spending before we took office" or "we are fighting 2 wars", I get frustrated because these facts were known before President Obama was elected or his staff selected to serve in the White House.

Jim Rome (Sports Radio Icon) used to say "Scoreboard". Like it or not President Obama and White House staff, you CANNOT make excuses any longer! The Scoreboard says that you are loosing and no amount of words will change that. It's time for different action and some ownership of your actions since you took office.

The task at hand is massive, but we Americans believe that it can and will be done. This economy will turn around. People will go back to work and you can be part of the solution or we will suffer through until you are done and elect someone else who has the courage to Lead America!

Unexpected

My friend Chris gave a short talk this morning during a meeting about how God has worked in the Bible. Typically, He used unexpected means or people to accomplish great things.

Do we like the unexpected? NO, most of the time we don't because we see the unexpected as "out of our control". So, here is the line that Chris used to sum it up.

If we know that God works in unexpected ways and we learn to expect that to be true, then the unexpected becomes expected! Chew on that for a while and good luck today looking for God to send you something unexpected...it's always good in the end!!!!

I love you all.

Long term friendships

My wife has a friend who came up to Prescott for a visit. There were nearly inseparable during their early years. They met in the church nursery and she has remained in our lives ever since. As we have moved around during our married life, Lori and Kari have not seen each other nearly as much, but regard each other like "best friends".

While they have not spoken as much as times past, it was fun to see them together this weekend. The amazing thing about friends like Lori and Kari, is they can pick up where they last left off. There is no drama or pretense. Neither holds the other responsible for the amount of communication they have before getting together.

Value those who play this role in your life. Soak in the times when you can be together and don't worry about the times that you are apart! Good friends are hard to find sometimes, so make the most of the time you have with them!

2012 Budget discussion

You may not be interested in the politics of budgets for America, but I want to suggest that you should become engaged in the conversation. I watched this interview with Chris Wallace and Rep. Paul Ryan. It's a good discussion about the direction we are headed in our American spending.

I, for one, am glad that the future is being discussed BEFORE it can become reality. Perhaps we can all agree to ask Washington to payoff the debt, just like we have to do in our homes, counties and states.

Watch the interview here.