Just God

With so much happening in the world today I actually paused this morning to read from Oswald Chambers. Have you ever thought of how "we" tend to be very needy in our lives? It struck me so strong this morning that a lot of what I think about is myself, my family and friends, money, career and not much else lately. I don't always think about God.

What Chambers stated in My Utmost For His Highest was this: I am paraphrasing, but the basic thought was when will you become without lust, be selfless, etc. The only time is when you stop wanting God's blessings and just want God!

I thought about this very thing. I am always praying that God bless our days; that He bless our family and friends, our health, our safety, but I never actually came to the realization that if I just stop and hold tight and just want God, all that I pray for is already there.

I know I am not done with this and there is much that must be thought about, but if you are in need of a blessing or prayer or just need a break, maybe it would help to be still and know that He is God.

God Bless,

HB

Autumn

Well it's that time of year when the air gets nice and crisp and the leaves begin to change colors. I love the Fall and everything that comes with it. The peacefulness of the holiday season begins and of course it is all kicked off by that wonderfully creepy holiday - Halloween.

I remember dressing up for school on the weekend of Halloween and my sister and I would go trick-or-treating. It was great! Then, when we got to be "too old" to beg for candy, we would hand it out to all of the kids that would come by. It was a big deal in our house to put on the scary music and my dad would dress up in an ape mask and run around and scare the poor children, but they loved it!

Somehow as I've gotten older I have become more of a scaredy cat when it comes to the creepy movies and the trick-or treaters, but I still love the weather. Josh tries to get me into the spirit by watching Halloween or some other scary film and I have to admit, my curiosity always gets the best of me and I usually give in. I look forward to this Halloween and especially Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The holidays always represent the chance to see family and maybe that is why they are so special to me - well that and all the food!! HA! Anyway, enjoy the weather and celebrate this season.

God Bless,

HB

Goodbye my sweet girl

As you already know, Josh and I had the privilege of taking care of a sweet little kitten who we named Puff. We only had her for two weeks, but it really felt longer because we came to love her so much.

People ask us why didn't we just keep her, and the truth is I wish we had. Unfortunately our landlords would probably not be happy about us having a pet and Puff would have been pretty expensive, at least initially she would have.

I miss her everyday and Josh and I still have a toy of hers that we decided to keep to remember her. I have always been afraid of cats because of their claws and a lot of them bite, but since getting to know my friend, Adrienne's two cats I have become a pushover for them. When I first saw Puff she could barely open her eyes.

It was a very rainy Monday and her mother and siblings were no where in sight. I remember saying to myself "If I come home from work and she is still here I will try to help her".

I couldn't just let this tiny life stay outside in the rain with what looked like a very bad eye infection. When I got home from work, she was there in the same spot she had been all day. I picked her up in a towel and drove her over the Humane Society, but they were closed. I decided that when Josh came home we would get some food and I put her on a towel on our front porch. She slept on the mat outside of our door and when I walked out in the morning she was there waiting on me like I was her new mom.

I fell in love with her and the next day Josh took her to the Humane Society, but they were at capacity so they gave us a box some litter, and her toy. We kept her outside because she had too many fleas and the Humane Society said she was too young to de-flea. The following day I took her the vet to get her checked out because I was worried she would never be able to see. She did indeed have an eye infection and once the vet got her all cleaned up, he gave me the OK to bring inside.

It was a whole new world for her. At first she was frightened to walk around, but by the time we were getting ready to say goodbye to her, she had learned to climb and she wasn't afraid of anything, except falling off the arm of the chair.

And so I must finally say goodbye to my sweet baby girl. She was my little baby that would come poke her head out of the door and give me a look that said "come play with me", or "I'm hungry".

I will never forget my little baby girl Puff, whose name is now Powder Puff. I know that Josh and I gave her to a nice home and I know that she is happy and healthy. I also know that I couldn't get another kitten for a very long time because it would remind too much of Puff.

It's always hard to say goodbye, even when you know you are doing right by this tiny being.

We love you Puff and we will miss you!

God Bless,

HB

Hello.Goodbye.

Meet Puff. She came into our lives a little over 2 weeks ago. There is a stray cat that makes frequent stops by our house. On her last visit, she decided to leave us with a litter of kittens. I'm on my way out the door one beautiful Monday morning, and I look down to see three little white balls of fur sitting on my steps.

Heather and I decided that if we left them alone, the mom would take care of them and eventually relocate them. That was the case...except for little Puff here. She had a really bad eye infection that crusted over and prevented her from seeing. Well, Heather and I couldn't bear to think of letting a kitten starve (let alone, hear the pathetic mewing outside our front door). Unfortunately, the Humane Society is currently overrun with cats and kittens that are left uncared for by owners. They couldn't take Puff, and recommended that we care for her while waiting for the mom to come back for her. We took her to the Vet and had her treated for fleas and worms and had a nice box for her to keep on our front porch (in case the mom wanted to come back). After a day, we decided to bring her into the house....and effectively into our hearts.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm a dog person. I've grown up with dogs in my house, and have every intention of owning several dogs in the future. In fact, my only real dealings with cats are when I was very young. My parents have pictures of me in the front yard with a stick in my hands trying to teach a cat to roll-over and fetch. Needless to say, I wasn't fond of the idea of owning a cat....at first.

Puff is a very curious and funny kitten. It's been so much fun watching her get healthy and develop into a rambunctious little engine. She loves to attack hands, stuffed animals, shoestrings....you name it - she'll go after it. She'll run full tilt into a wall and then shake it off only to do it again 5 minutes later. I really will miss watching her grow up.

You see - we can't really afford to take care of a pet right now. Also, there are a lot more decisions to be made when owning a cat. Will you have the cat declawed? Are you prepared to cat-proof every wire in your house? I read up on a lot of "issues" with owning cats. To me, declawing a cat is a no-brainer. However, there are a ton of adverse reactions that can occur to such a procedure. I had no idea.

After several days of going back and forth, Heather and I decided to post an advertisemnt on the OBU faculty/student Classifieds. A friend of one of my students had been looking to get a kitten, but didn't want to buy one (seeing as how so many are in need of a home). She seems like a great person who will take care of Puff and make sure she has plenty of things to attack.

If I am this sad at seeing Puff go (after only 2 weeks), I couldn't imagine what it's like to let a child go after 20 years. Well, I take pride in knowing that Puff is alive today b/c of what a generous woman I married. She has a heart bigger than the moon (with a distinct soft spot for all animals.....except cockroaches and camel-crickets).

Still - I will miss coming home to play with little Puff. Heather and I prayed over her before she left our house - that God would watch over her and allow her to live a full life. I really believe God watches over all His creatures.

You can expect to see another post about Puff from Heather. I know she is extremely sad to see her go, but happy that it's to a good home.

And so - hello Puff. Goodbye Puff. Take care, and know that we love you.

JB

Psalm 143

O Lord, hear my prayer,

listen to my cry for mercy;

in your faithfulness and righteousness

come to my relief.

Do not bring your servant into judgement,

for no one living is righteous before you.

The enemy pursues me,

he crushes me to the ground

he makes me dwell in darkness

like those long dead.

So my spirit grows faint within me;

my heart within me is dismayed.

I remember the days of long ago;

I meditate on all your works

and consider what your hands have done.

I spread out my hands to you;

my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, O Lord;

my spirit fails.

Do not hide your face from me

or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul.

Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord,

for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

lead me on level ground.

For you name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life;

in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble,

In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;

destroy all my foes,

for I am your servant.

This is my favorite Psalm. I first read this in college at a time when I needed to hear these words. Is there ever really a time when we don't need to hear these words or any other scripture. At times of despair, worry, even happiness and joy we still need to remember that God has us, always, in His hands. We are His servants, not the world's. We are at His mercy, not at the mercy of our jobs, or money, or any other "thing" that we can easily give ourselves over to. Psalm 143 is my prayer for you and all of those people out there who need comfort.

God Bless all of you and may your day be lifted by Him!

HB

Back to School!

Well.....it is about that time year where students are back to school and for most college students that means paying bills, running into old friends and finding your way around campus again. It is nice to be back, but at the same time it is also nice to have a quiet campus for the summer. We had a nice summer and there have been some great surprises as well. First Adrienne and Brian got engaged and now Elizabeth and Dave are pregnant with baby #2. Congratulations to our friends and we are praying for you as you embark on these new journeys in life. This time of year is always nice to reflect on the changes that have occurred in our lives over the past few months. Josh was the world traveler this summer. He went to Spain in May with the Wind Ensemble and then went to New Mexico in August for the Alessi Trombone Seminar. I have been working all summer, but what I have learned is that this job is preparing me for the future. It may not be what I want to do with my life, but I am very blessed to have work and also be teaching clarinet. Back to school always used to be a time of shopping for new clothes and books. Now it has become a time of reflection and prayer for a happy, healthy year!

Many Blessings!

HB

For "Boo"

Following my dad's example, I began keeping a journal several years ago. While I am not quite as diligent as he, I always make sure to write down important goings-on in my life and the lives of my friends.

I was looking back a few days ago, and came across an entry on this date 4 years ago. No - there was no national disaster or terrorist attack. It was actually quite a beautiful day as I can recall. However, that night I received some very sad news. One of my best friends growing up had passed away.

Shannon Bowen (AKA - Boo) was one of the kids I grew up with once my family moved to Attalla, Alabama. Before moving there, my brother Chad and I were basically the only kids around (and so he just drug me along with him as an accomplice to whatever he was doing at the time). Once we moved, in August of 1983, there were almost a dozen kids within a one block radius. It was great. I really learned alot and went through most childhood rites of passage with these guys. For those keeping count, here's the roster: Shannon "Boo" Bowen, Jon Works, Terry-Michael Elrod, Cory Elrod, Chad and myself, Casey Pearce, Jamey Pearce, Dusty Pearce (all from the same big and wonderfully mischevious family), Johnny Christopher, and the lesser prevalent Shane Works and Steve Bowen.

You can only imagine the trouble we got into. I learned to play sports, ride a bike, wage full-scale war (divided up into two teams and limited to two block boundaries), explore the woods (we had the trails and the ominous deep trails), camp out, and wreak all kinds of havoc to oncoming cars with these guys. They really were my best friends.

What follows is my journal entry for August 10th, 2003. For this entry to make sense, you should know that Shannon was in a bad car accident several years earlier, which had paralyzed him from the waist down. As bad as it was, he really made the best of the situation - buying a truck he could still drive, playing basketball in wheelchair leagues, etc.:

"Right now I'm kind of shell-shocked. Mom called about 2 hours ago to tell me that Shannon Bowen died today. He went in for surgery b/c of a rod in his back. There were complications...he didn't make it.

This is probably the first person who was really close to me that has passed. Cory Elrod called mom to tell her. He said something that is very true - "At least Shannon is out of that wheelchair. I'll bet he is running all over heaven." Seeing someone as active and full of life as he was resigned to a wheelchair was so sad - very much like seeing animals in a zoo (caged). He was like another older brother to me.

I can remember moving to Attalla like it was yesterday. Jon, Boo, Casey, Terry-Michael, Jamey, Cory, Dusty, and Johnny. Learning to ride bikes, play football, baseball, basketball, pitch-up-smear, war, establishing rival clubs and engaging in week-long feuds (spying on one another for top secrets), bike races in the trails, camping out on trampolines - man how I wish I had a picture of all the guys.

Boo was a great guy who was a friend to everyone. He always called me worm (a nickname i picked up in church youth group). even after I was well over 20 years old and taller than him. He would be 30 years old by now. Man it was so much fun back then. The only thing you had to worry about was not coming outside enough. If a few afternoons went by w/o your presence, you would be called a homeboy (or in my brother Chad's case - T.V. Guide...due to his always saying he couldn't come out b/c of this show or that).

Now Boo's gone; Jon Works - married twice with 2 kids; Terry-Michael - married twice I think; Casey Pearce - married with one kid; Jamey - still at home I think; Cory, Dusty, Johnny - all married with children...all living within an hour of good old Attalla. Cory is in youth ministry, Dusty followed his dad into the railroad business, and Johnny-Roc...I believe he's still managing a yard-maintenence business to finance his "indiana-jones'esque" adventuresome lifestyle.

Father - be with all of them. Let them each know that I love them and cherish my years with them. I keep thinking about the movie Stand By Me. The dynamic of that movie really captures what my years growing up on Greene Street were like. However, there is a tinge of sadness b/c you know it can't stay that way forever. I always think about a few of the last lines of the movie:

As the years went by we saw less and less of each other until we were just faces in the hall. That happens: Friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaraunt.

I never had any friends later on in life like the ones I had when I was a kid - does anyone?

Definitely not me! Here's to one of the best times in my life. Lord - take care of Boo and tell him I'll take him in a game of one on one when I get there. "

I hope you will forgive the indulgence of this post. But isn't that what blogging is all about? JB