Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness. - Proverbs 16:31



"Oh well a touch of grey,

kinda suits you anyway,

Thats all I had to say,

but its all right

I will get by, I will get by,

I will get by, I will survive." - Touch of Grey, Grateful Dead

I got the chance recently to touch base with a friend of mine from high school through an alumni website. Really, friend isn't quite the right word - more like "associate" or friend in a Cold War kind of way. I mean, he was a good guy and all...voted best all around, gifted musician, real knack for conversation and quite popular. I, on the other hand, marched to a totally different drummer.

In my sophomore year, I walked the halls of school with a polyester, one-eared sock puppet on my hand. Really. I was voted most likely to "lather, rinse, repeat as needed" and nearly lettered in chorus. You can see we came from very different versions of reality.

Occasionally, he would tease me but, I could never really get angry and he never let it get too personal (which I appreciated). In fact, I kind of respected him and wanted to be his friend. I was just too awkward. So, we kind of had a mutual "understanding" with one another; I would allow him to tease me in a friendly, non-combative way and he would ease me into the social circles of the kind we all wanted to be a part of at that age.

Among some of his characteristics that made him stand out were his snappy, casual kind of air and fashion style. This was the time of the skinny tie and corduroy jeans. Torn up "Chuck Taylors" and a pinstripe, long-sleeve button down shirt. Spiky hair and jean jackets. 80's cool.

I could never get the hair right. Back then, even though I tried to do something with my mop, I rode a motorcycle to school and the helmet always gave me - well - helmet head. But that guy had great hair! When he let it go long, it would feather back just right. If he cut it, it would be long in the back (for the brief moment that mullets were in style) and spiky on top. And he was always combing it! He combed his hair more than the Fonz. Which brings me to my point of all of this time-travel.

We exchanged e-mail a couple of days ago through the website which, as an additional feature, includes a recent photo of the person. He's completely bald! "The ultimate karma for all the vanity in high school," he said. After viewing my picture he said, "What I wouldn't give for a head of hair like that!" Hmm.

Now, I think he's a great guy and I'm proud for him and his successes. He's a family man and entrepreneur. He plays in some local bands and homeschools his kids. He still finds time to chat with old, grey-haired friends.

But at least I have hair!

"Today's lesson comes from..."

I started leading a Sunday School class a number of years ago when the need for an adult teacher arose. I remember thinking at the time what a valuable opportunity it would be in that it would demand some focused time in God's Word. Back then, I wasn't disciplined enough to set aside time for study, but I longed for the benefits of a life guided by scripture. I longed to have Old Testament stories recalled and New Testament principles explained. Parables, prophecies, history, and drama all woven together with the common thread of God's great love for His creation. I felt that if I applied myself toward leading others it would result in my own edification. I was not disappointed!

These few years have gone by and the personal rewards of study have begun to bear fruit in that I have been awakened to my many faults and failures. As I have tried to live for God I have found that I am more keenly aware of His presence and even more so of His abounding mercy and grace.

And yet, I am embarrassed because of my lack of seriousness.

Several months back someone close to me had the good Christian courage to constructively criticize the way I manage the class. To downsize their point some, what they were saying is that I waste a lot of time "shootin' the breeze" and not enough time on the lesson. It seems that some members were actually taking the time to study their lesson and it was frustrating so much information wasn't being taught. At first the comments hurt - a little like hitting your thumb with a hammer. There was nothing I could do but let it throb. And I walked away hurt and a little angry.

That message stuck and I began to join it with other passing remarks and light-hearted criticisms until I convinced myself they were all personal attacks. I really started to fret over these things until one day the Spirit of the Lord revealed to me my sin.

I had made His class a measuring stick for my own popularity. I had devoted too much time to drawing attention to me and away from Him. I had been teaching in my own power and trying to rob God of His due glory. Each Sunday I failed to humble myself before Him in prayer and ask for His guidance and promise Him the honor. This was amazing insight for me and could only be of God because, honestly, I'm not that smart.

This selfish attitude was at the heart of a confrontation a couple of years prior with a dear lady in my church. At the time, she was our SS Director and had really poured herself into making positive reforms and building on strengths. There was a need to move classes around and when she approached me about changes in my class, I went off! That was "my class and no one was going to move us around," and "Why couldn't you just leave us alone," and on and on... to the point of her coming to tears. If I had to enumerate the most shameful moments of my life that day would be in my top 5, for sure. I asked for forgiveness from that lady and I believe she gave it. I've asked for forgiveness from God and I know He gave it. Yet, because we are forgiven there are still consequences. Mine is always knowing how I hurt my sister in Christ every time I see her.

All of this insight and revelation came to me, of course, two hours before Sunday School. I was absolutely broken at that point and prayed for forgiveness. That morning was completely for Him. I don't preach; that's not my calling. But that day, I allowed myself for the first time to be a conduit between the Living God and His people! Now, with great humility, I would like to report that my Lord allowed me to receive the reward of recognition that day! "Good lesson, Tom!"

Awesome lyric of the day

"And it stoned me to my soul

stoned me just like Jelly Roll

and it stoned me.

And it stoned me to my soul

stoned me just like goin' home

and it stoned me" - Van Morrison, "And It Stoned Me" - Moondance, 1970

Boink

After 14 years of construction on what is arguably the largest machine in the world, scientists are set to begin the most ambitious scientific experiment EVER.

The Large Hadron Collider near Geneva is where particles will begin to circulate around its 17 mile circumference tunnel, smash together, and recreate energies not seen since the universe was very young. The hope of physicists is to get a glimpse of the theoretical Higgs Boson, the so-called "God Particle."

Somehow, the revealed existence of the Higgs Boson will solidify thought and theory regarding the first moments of the universe. That is if we survive. It seems the LHC could create miniature black holes capable of growing and swallowing Earth. Or it could destabilize matter. Or it could create about a half-dozen or so other equally nasty scenarios.

But of course, scientists poo-poo the doomsayers. As James Gillies, head of public relations at CERN puts it: "What we are doing is enriching humanity, not putting it at risk." Frankly, anything that advances our understanding of God's creation ought to be thoroughly examined. After all, He is the one ultimately in charge of our destiny. If you really want to know how it all ends, I would like to refer you to the last book of His word.

Besides, when was the last time scientists created something that really did all that the "theorists" said it would? Anyone remember Y2K? One blogger put it best when he said, "Remember some people thought the Atomic bomb would ignite the atmosphere and incinerate the earth."

This thing clicks on Wednesday. See you Thursday.