helping others who hurt

I have said this before, but I like "The Message//Remix: Solo" Bible. Listen to the concepts that Eugene Peterson writes about.

He describes the classic story of Job. A man who looses everything. He looses his family, wealth and his health as well! A "well meaning" friend came and prayed this prayer in Job's presence.

"So, what a blessing when God steps in and corrects you!
Mind you, don't despise the discipline of Almighty God!
True, he wounds, but he also dresses the wound;
the same hand that hurts you, heals you.
From one disaster after another he delivers you;
no matter what the calamity, the evil can't touch you"

Peterson then asks me to consider how Job would have felt upon hearing these words. I would have been ticked off!!!

So, how do you respond to people in difficult situations? Is it different for those outside your family? Instead of trying to have the answers, today try praying "Peace" over them!

a big drive for a short meeting

Yesterday I was up at 4:20am and left by 4:45. I drove to Henderson, NV (Las Vegas) for a 9am meeting with a pastor and friend! We wrapped by 11am and I dropped him off to head back home. That's right, I drove 8 hours for a 2 hour meeting.

The most common question that I heard was, "Why drive that far for a short meeting?" Well, the short answer is, "it's better in person". I have two perspectives on the value of meeting in person. 1) We lean too much on electronic communication and sometimes devalue the relationship in the process. 2) Some discussions (like this one) need face to face time to deal with.

The topic of our conversation was about partnering the camp I work with and the church he works with over the next 5 years. If it works, then it will have a huge impact on both groups, therefore, we meet together. In fact, we will meet together again in a month to continue the discussion. It's that big and it deserves this much attention to get it right!

Character in question

I was reading from the Old Testament today. It was a brief look at the story of Job. The study guide asked me to consider what I thought of the interaction between God and Satan. It also asked the hard question of the day! "Could I respond like Job if I lost everything?"

Hummmm? Great question and one that is not easily answered. Of course, I want to say "YES", but that is spoken from this place of health, family, no financial stress, etc! I am like Job!

So, what could I do? How should I respond? Well, I can look around at the things in my life and be grateful, but HOLD ON LOOSELY to all of it! None of this stuff will last...not even me! However, my relationship with God can last forever so I will work to follow Him and respond to Him!

6 pounds and counting

OK! I made a trip back to visit my family and we ate like pigs! Cost: 6 pounds of proud heritage!!!! Being a Coyne means you have to put on some weight when you are home...6 big ones!

On Sunday of the trip we ate batter fried strips of steak, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, rubarb pie, blackberry cobbler and a custard pie. That's just one meal, of which there were many like it!

The worst part is I ran 4 days during my visit to keep off more weight! Funny, I love being home...don't you???

A day at the pond!

Here we are fishing! Jordan, at 4 years old caught his first fish and then proceeded to catch a total of 6 fish. Of course, he caught more than I did.

The fish in this pond were amazing. They would strike at your bait nearly every time it was cast! Mostly perch or sunfish!

Thank you Grigsby's for allowing us to fish that pond. It was amazing! Here is a brief description of how the day unfolded.

In all, 13 Coyne's and 1 Grisby made it out to fish on a windy day near Welch, Oklahoma.
Chuck and Eli went first in Chuck's truck. An hour later a convoy of 4 additional vehicles left following my dad (driving at 50mph top speed) left. In all there were 17 seats occupied by 11 people.

We went to the Grigsby's to pick up Katy and the John Deere Gator. This required another truck and trailer to haul it. I doubt US Military operations have a more difficult coordination exercises! It was hilarious.

The above picture shows Jordan's big fish... Here is my first catch! No, it's not bait!

some funny phrases

My mom has always used some great phrases. Last night over dinner we were trying to record as many as we could think of from our childhood and other times in life. Here are a few of the highlights:
1. It's hotter than a pig under a gate
2. I'm busier than a 1-armed paper hanger
3. It's a thundergust of peckerwoods
4. He's strong as 40 acres of garlic
5. That rain is a "toad strangler"
6. She's worthless as tits on a boar

(Not all of these are used by mom, but have been heard around the Coyne household for as long as I can remember). I hope you take some time today to recall some of the funny things said in your household! Enjoy your life, it's the only one you have!

going home

We flew into Springfield, MO last night and drove 90 minutes to my hometown! Miami, OK and crashed at my parents house. What am I saying? It's not just my parents house, it's my "home".

Although I have not lived at this house since 1986, there is part of this place that makes it my HOME. For some of you the thought of home is not a good one, but I think the good and the bad that sometimes comes along with the place you grow up is blown away with the amount of memories that help make you into the person you are today.

I was out running this morning and seeing familiar sites reminded me of the friends, school and other memories that are part of the fabric of my life. It was great to think about those people who helped make me into the man I am today. In a word...THANKS. Too my peers, thanks for caring for a goofy afro headed kid. Too the adults in my life, thanks for seeing past acne and hormones into something that you would want to invest in.

While my life is not perfect and certainly my past is riddled with mistakes, I hope to repay all of your kindness by continuing to invest in those younger than me now in my life. Perhaps "home" for someone else can be as rich as mine is!