Thanks

Thanksgiving is designed for reflection.  So here are my Thanksgiving “Lists”

Things I’m very Thankful: (the No-Brainers)

1. God.  Of course a pastor is going to say this, but if I was working in a factory I would still be as dependent on God as I am working in a church.  Since I can can literally talk about this issue for days on end I’ll leave it at that!

2. Mariah.  I’ve been on a 17 year sleepover with my best friend, and in many ways it seems like we’re just getting going!  Love it!!

3. The Kids. Pure joy, mixed with momentary frustration, topped off with tons of laughter.

4. Family. Living and Dead, I’m proud of who God choose for me to come from!

5. Park Lake Drive Baptist Church.  Has given me purpose and drive, allowed me to see my past experiences clearly, and a passion for the future.  Pumped everyday I get to “go to work!”

Things I’m Thankful: (Out of the box)

1. New Socks and Underware.  I finally know why fringe family members got you these for Christmas, it’s because they all understood how nice it is having all the new fuzzies next to your skin before the washer kills them!  I might be passing out new pairs of Hanes under the tree this year!

2. Bacon. It makes life so much better!  If I live to 80 its only because I didn’t eat as much bacon as I wanted to!!

3. A Bald Head.  No bed head, no worries!  It always feels good when people rub on it, and a nice shinny head pulls people in!  I should have shaved it in my early 20′s and lived the carefree lifestyle I now enjoy my entire adult life!  Bald is Beautiful in so many ways!!

4. Being from Detroit.  It is awesome being “From” Detroit, because it means you’re not “In” Detroit!

5.  HDTV.  I can’t believe we used to watch TV any other way!

Things I’m Thankful for:(Texas Living)

1. Tornado sirens.  They actually mean something down here!

2. Sunsets. If you haven’t seen a Texas Sunset, I can’t explain it to you!

3. BBQ.  Goes along with my thoughts on Bacon

4.  Dallas Cowboys.  Its refreshing to see on a yearly basis the humbling of rich men that glory in excess!

5.  High School Football.  The passion and community pride is unrivaled!

Thankful on a Deeper Level:

1. All the pain and heartbreak I’ve experienced in my life has allowed me to appreciate the joy and happiness God blesses me with.

2.  I’ve made mistakes, which saddens me at times.  But I’m thankful that God has grace and forgiveness in abundant supply!

3.  Worship allows me to refocus what this is all about.  True Worship for me is a humbling experience, coming to God with nothing but baggage and dirty hands, and having Him accept my offering anyway leaves you stunned at His goodness.

4. Children remind me that I have a responsibility to honor those who have come before me by instilling the values and faith into the next generation.

5.  Heritage is a gift and responsibility all wrapped up into one.  This is my time to add to it, and it is up to me to honor it and embrace it for those who come after.  It never has been about being perfect, its always been about the long haul for the entire family and community.  This is has created a strong motivation in my life and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be the caregiver of the Heritage for Park Lake and my Humphries Nation!

Please feel free to leave your “Thanks” in the comments