Question....What does this picture look like to you? I searched for a picture and ironically this photo, among others, came up in google search. What do those rocks look like to you? Do they look like :

“Just a bunch of dumb rocks in water”. If they look that way to you then allow me to tell you there are people and or habits in your life right now that resemble these dumb rocks. They look like they are of no consequence and have no importance at all but they have major influences in your life. If they are not taken into consideration, acknowledged and addressed can cause you major strife. They can cause you harm and eventually become a consistent source of pain and discouragement.
“Stumbling Blocks”. If they look this way to you then you need to know that these blocks, just as the blocks in your life, are cause for concern but not alarm. You know and can see the stumbling blocks in your life. If you take the necessary steps to address them, marginalize them and conquer them then you can reduce their influence and effect in your life. You can control and determine how they effect your life.
“Stepping Stone". If you look carefully enough you will be able to appreciate these well laid stones for their truest potential. Just because something (person, habit, thing) CAN make you stumble doesn’t mean you MUST stumble. Stumbling blocks are only dangerous when they are not acknowledged and addressed. When they are correctly addressed then they cease being stumbling blocks and began to be stepping stones.

Stepping stones are placed on a path as a bridge from one place to another. They were placed on the path by someone that that crossed the path before you with the intent on helping you get to the other side. Smile and know that just when you think life has dealt you a blow, Christ has done you a favor. Praise him for you “stumbling blocks” because it means you’re going somewhere and Christ has already made a way.

Samuel James Howard

Adventures At Bruns Elementary

Wow. It has been a long time boys and girls. I know that I have lost any sort of momentum I created with the first (and only) blog but I humbly return with new adventures. For a few weeks I have been storing blogs for the future (I would hate to lose you all again), yet for today I must share with you an experience I had just yesterday.

Aside from my Iphone Christmas, New Job New Year and Personal addition to Black History (SLH Jr. Anyone?), I have had the opportunity to befriend an outstanding group of underprivileged students at Bruns Avenue Elementary School. I work primarily with 3rd Grade but I occasionally lend aid to 4th or 5th grade. On this particular adventure I was a chaperon (can you imagine Me a chaperon?) on a field trip to the Mint Museum. The trip was designed to expose the students to images and artifacts from the cultures they were studying and it did. I can honestly say the kids were interested (knock on wood) in the contents of the museum. If you are asking, NO the Museum itself is not the adventure for today. That distinction is awarded to the BUS RIDE to the museum. I'll have to blog more about the rest of the bus ride another time but what I do want to share is my experience playing "Rock Paper Scissors" with the 5th Graders. Normally I would win any game of RPS, but not on this day. I was not ready for the Bruns Avenue Competitors.
Rock, Paper, Scissors......First play I went to paper first because you would expect a Rock sign from any pre-teen in the first round. I was shocked to find out I had predicted wrong. As I fixed my hand flat to signal paper, my opponent raised his hands and began to make a post like an attacking Grizzly Bear (shout out to C). Dumbfounded I asked," What's that...you can't have a Bear in Rock Paper Scissors...Its called ROCK PAPER SCISSORS." His response was," That's not a bear stupid.....can't you tell...that's God!!"

(Yes....the Student said Paper, Rock, Scissors, GOD!)

I was defeated because my opponent pulled the Big Joker in Paper Rock Scissors. Therefore, the very next time you are playing RPS with someone born after the turn of the century, beware....Paper is NOT the correct first move!

When was the last time you gave grace?

I know this is a subject that you won't find discussed much by televangelists or sadly by pastors in the pulpit but the question remains; When was the last tine you gave grace? I only ask because as I examine my life I have a horrible imbalance of grace in my life....and I'm sure when you peruse your past life experiences you cannot deny that you share my predicament.

One of my favorite hobbies is to find the little ironies in life and the "Grace Imbalance" is one of the great ironies of life. Example---->Road Rage<---- we are absolutely furious when we are cut off on the highway, or if we aren't allow to merge, or if the person in front of us is actually driving the speed limit or a host of other things HOWEVER if for some reason we have to cut someone of to reach Oor exit OR are driving the below the speed limit because We are texting or having a phone malfunction OR if We don't let someone merge because we are in a hurry then We become indignant to the point where Rage makes us say and/or do things that are completely unneccessary, especially considering the other driver is probably ignoring us. We expect grace but are loathe to offer it.

So what does that make us? The answer is ungrateful. If we were really apprecaitive, if we really valued the unmerited and undeserved mercy, favor and forgiveness that we receive on a daily basis then we would be mindful to offer that same grace to others. When you humble yourself to admit that you NEED grace...and YES you Do NEED GRACE...then you can understand how much of a gift it is and how much everyone needs grace. What greater gift could you give this holiday season than Grace? To forgive someone that DOES NOT deserve your forgiveness, to show mercy to someone who you have caught with their pants down and red handed, to do something for someone they desperately need but will never know it was you that did it. Grace!!!

And if you need motivation to give more grace than you are currently giving...then think about the grace embodied in the event of Christmas; think about the grace that covers your imperfections, think about the grace in the form of forgiveness or mercy that you have received from the policeman that stops you for speeding but doesn't give you a ticket or the significant other that loves you when you are completely unlovable, or the friend that remains your friend even though devalued, discarded or destroyed the friendship. Grace!!!

There is absolutely no way for us to make the "Grace Imbalance" 50-50 but we can certainly try and make the world a better place in the process.