Reviewing the day

How do you communicate with God? This spring quarter the Young Adult Sunday morning class is going through John Ortberg's book "An Ordinary Day with Jesus." The first session was titled Living in Jesus' Name and brought up the idea that we are called to live our daily ordinary life with Jesus in mind.
Colossians 3:17 (God's Word) Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Part of the deal is to realize that God is ever present in our 24/7 lives even though we often miss seeing him (think: the two men on the road to Emmaus and how they did not recognize Jesus although he was right there with them). An exercise that Ortberg believes is helpful is to review the events of the day in our mind before going to sleep. I thought it was a very practical idea and so below is the exercise for you to try. Let me know if it is helpful to living your ordinary life in Jesus' name.

Review the Day with God
1. Be still and quiet your mind of distracting thoughts.
2. Acknowledge Jesus' presence and invite him to guide you.
3. Recall the beginning of the day when you first awoke and review that scene as if on video. What is your reaction to it? Talk to God about you reaction.
4. Do this same review going from scene to scene through out that day and reflect on each one (some scenes may fill you with gratitude and others with regret). Whatever your reflection reveals to you talk to God about it and those involved.
5. End your review by thanking God for his mercy and love and ask him to refresh you with a good night of sleep.

Two results should come to anyone who does this exercise:
. You will become aware of any recurring negative patterns that will
--cause you to grow tired of the regrets
--increase your desire to mature and change.
. You will begin to be awed by His presence in the ordinary moments of your life.

Roger, over and out!

A Spent Day

Yesterday was my day off and I got to spend it doing what I wanted to do. My morning began by going to Cracker Barrel and enjoying breakfast. I got “Mama’s Pancake Breakfast” which included three pancakes, three strips of bacon, two eggs over medium and coffee. Mmmmmm, that was sure good. After leaving CB I went to Wal-Mart to get some golf balls and golf tees so that I can start the process of losing them because I had successfully lost my previous set of balls and tees. Golf is sure a strange game but more about that later. I then went to the post office to send a package of stuff to my favorite grandson, Ethan. Actually, he is my only grandson but that is beside the point. I then finally headed home to do some bathroom calking and play with the dog.


Three-thirty pm finally rolled around and I was at the Newport News golf course for a date with my son Aaron to play 9 holes of pasture pool. I will never be very good at this game nor will I even rise to mediocrity. I do however, enjoy getting my moneys worth by seeing how many times I can hit a little white ball between holes. BTW: On the 8th hole I may have set a course record for strokes (more is better, right)! Our game was played along side an older golfer who kindly showing us the error of our ways. We told him that we were not really golfers and he humbly told us he was not either but then showed Aaron and I that there is a difference between being honest and being humble. He patiently gave us some pointers that really seemed to work…when we applied them. It is amazing to me that anyone can have the patience he had and still look as if he were having fun in spite of his fellow hackers.
After leaving the golf course behind I headed back home and spent the evening with Keri…well sort of. She let me watch the West Virginia verses Pitt (I hate Pitt) basketball game in which the Mountaineers totally destroyed Pitt (yeah!!!) and then let me watch Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I do not deserve such a wonderful wife, and that is the truth!!!
Many of you are probably thinking…wow, what a waste of a day! I must admit that every day with this type of schedule would be a waste but from time to time, it ain’t so bad. Soooo, what would you have done? How do you spend your time off from work?

Eccl 9:7-9 (MSG) Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! 8 Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves. 9 Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange For the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one!

Roger, over and out!