life interrupted...pt2

(disclaimer...all this happened mid January and I'm recovering quite well)

After the initial interruption, 5 long dreary days tick by. Test after test, scan after scan...nothing. The relief that nothing serious had been found is deadened by the question, what's wrong?

As if the unknown wasn't unbearable enough, my thoughts flatlined. Just blank stares at the wall or ceiling in front of me...the best moments were when I could just dose off to sleep. After the initial shock I had hoped / assumed that there would be some profound life altering thoughts or that I would gain some profound spiritual insight...but nothing.

The only thoughts I had were concern for my family and the slow realization that I was no longer immortal. Up to that point...death and sickness was something others experienced.

Little did I realize at the time that those two (simple) thoughts would begin an earth shattering transformation in my life.

pardon the interruption

Life has been interrupted. Like a barking dog at 2am after a long days work, January interrupted my comfortable existence.

After weeks of wiping away a runny cold, and feeling the low rider vibrations in my chest every time a I took a breath; I went to the local hospital. Not like they could really help me. The place looked like Trading Spaces on the first morning. So much for a bad economy...these guys have money...o...that's right...they lied to their creditors, which has nothing to do with this story.

The ole doctor routine kicks in, they jam a prob under my tongue and strap a velcro cuff around my arm. Beep...Beep...Beep... ??? "Let's try the other arm." Beep...Beep...Beep... "No way!" Let's get him back to the room and have one of the nurses check it. Beep...Beep...Beep... ??? "Get another machine!" Beep...Beep...Beep... ??? "Find me a manual cuff." "Umm Umm...286/190?" "I'll be right back." "Mr Alford, we are going to have to move you to another room, we are not setup to handle someone with your blood pressure."

Wheelchair arrives, off we go...TRAUMA UNIT??? Trauma Doc opens the curtain, "Mr Alford, If you want to see your kids next Christmas (only 10 months away), you may want to let us admit you and find out what is going on with your blood pressure." ???OK???

Let's just say...life has been interrupted.

Day of the Kings

As a family, we celebrate the day of the kings. On the 12th day of Christmas, Jan 6, some Latino cultures celebrate the giving of gifts to coincide with the day the kings gave their gifts to the baby Jesus.

A few years ago in the attempt to get out of the commercialized nightmare that Christmas can become...we made a switch. On Christmas eve, we open the gifts given to us by relatives and friends. On Christmas day, we spend the day reflecting on the Christmas story, Jesus, and family. Most years we even bake a cake...it helps our youngest to grasp what's going on. Some years we bake tons of cookies and deliver them to people who have to work on Christmas.

On the day of the kings, we recount the story and share gifts like the wise men / kings did with Jesus. Of course, we also throw in a feast. Most years it's crab legs, shrimp, and steak. This year Kristina surprised me with oysters as well.

Tonight was the night! We fed ourselves like kings, then we shared gifts. The cool part is I don't feel that I'm overshadowing the purpose of Christmas. And Christmas goes from being 1 big day to 12 days of celebrating the arrival of our Savior.

A great by product is that our family buys all of its gifts at around 50% off the week after Christmas.

All in all, we are trying to create signposts throughout the year that point us back to God. There is a lot of time to wander with just Easter and Christmas.

Top 10 List #2 (The Positive in 08)

10. I learned that I need a spiritual rhythm in my life. So I've adapted the liturgical calendar to provide spiritual markers to keep me from wandering.

9. My son (Connor) is becoming a man...time with him is precious and running out.

8. Ministry isn't what it is cracked up to be, but being a spiritual leader is an exhilarating and challenging experience.

7. The point of prayer isn't communication it is communion.

6. Eugene Petterson's writings have been a God-send.

5. I adjusted to life with good friends...it's been a long-time since I've let people in too close.

4. Christmas can actually be fun and great...Scrooge no more!

3. Speaking truth in peoples lives is tough, but it is freeing when you say what God has put on our heart.

2. God provision is amazing.

1. My wife is the most amazing woman in the world, and I married way out of my league

Top 10 List #1 (Negative Things Learned)

This is the first of several top 10 Lists I plan to publish...this will let me get a lot out of my system in a efficient manner.

(These reflect things learned over the last 10 years of church leadership, or relearned this year) (If you are bothered by any of them...spend some time soul searching before calling...lol)

1. When someone says that its a 99.9% to 0.1 % that something will not happen...prepare to get the snot beat out of you with a pitiful 0.1%.

2. When people promise...get it in writing...then get a witness...so you will have someone to talk to when it doesn't happen.

3. How ironic that my generation can deconstruct centuries of Christianity without giving a dime or an hour, but call the sincere actions of those who give and volunteer at Sunday School legalistic??

4. It amazes me how the internal system that gets us to school and work on time, and helps us not forget the most remote facts...never seems to work on Sundays or when it their time for nursery.

5. Normally, those who are stoked about the vision always have something else more important to do, and those who rarely speak get the vision done!

6. What is committed to at a planning meeting can almost always be assumed to be a momentary lapse in judgement!

7. Most people of my generation are all about a relationship with God, but don't bother to explore how God defines that...they assume they can define it for themselves.

8. If traditional church is so wrong...what do we have to show for all our right?

9. A lot of people say. "I'm all about freeing people to embrace Jesus...as long as you don't ask me to (insert...pretty much whatever)".

10. I've learned that you value what you put your time and money into; therefore, the church normally isn't worth more than cable.

presidential debate idea

I've always been a political junkie, but this year I keep throwing up in my mouth at the outlandish lies that each candidate wants me to digest. So I've come up with what I think would be the greatest presidential debate of this election.

No it's not a sumo style wrestling match...it's a tad bit simpler.

Each candidate should be required to watch their own TV ads, and the ads of the groups that support them and defend them. Give the owner of the ad 5 minutes to explain it, then the opponent 5 minutes to defend himself. After they get done, have a panel of fact checkers lay out the truth in the ad, the hypocrisy, and the lies.

Anyway, I think it would make for some interesting TV.

not homeowner improvements

This morning I was reading Luke 6 and verses 47-49 jumped out at me. I grabbed "The Message" and found these words: "These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. the are foundation words, words to build a life on."

In my own life, many times the words of Jesus can digress to being just additions to my already established life. However, you and I should constantly ask ourselves, "Are Jesus' words foundational or just additional luggage for the journey?" I think that to often his words are mere trinkets that will fill our shelves with but have little to do with the core of who we are and the destination of our journey.

Luke 6: 47-49 "Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." (esv)

update

It seems strange to me how a place once so familiar can become so awkward. The past few days have been spent trying to remember how to do some of this blogger stuff. I think that I've got it working.

You will still be able to access my blog through ChrisAlford.org or you can go directly to ForeignCulture.tv.

back to the future...

Many moons ago, I discovered Blogger and became an active blogger. It was early 2000 when I first experienced the thrill of blogging.

However, over time it became a ranting place. Life took over, and blogging had to take a back seat. I've attempted several comebacks, but nothing seemed quite right. But, I'm returning to the blog address where it all started and we are launching all over again.

Welcome to ForeignCulture!

I'll be customizing the blog as I go...