Where is the Lord (in that)

God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah in the first part of Jeremiah and asks the Israelites why they did not ask this question:

"Where is the Lord?"

Profound little group of words. It's a short statement I haven't been asking too much lately to be frank - "Where is the Lord?"

Just how many demands or requests do I get daily?
How many "opportunities of a lifetime" do I see weekly?
How many non-Lordly things do I see, do or speak hourly?
How many fires to put out come up regularly?

I need to ask that question much more frequently

"Where is the Lord?"...... in any of that?

Israel Forsakes God
1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:"
'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.
3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,'
"declares the LORD.
4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, all you clans of the house
of Israel.
5 This is what the LORD says: "What fault did your fathers find in me, that
they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became
worthless themselves.
6 They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and
led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, a
land of drought and darkness, [a] a land where no one travels and no one lives?'
7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you
came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.
8 The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD ? 'Those who deal with the law
did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied
by Baal, following worthless idols.
9 "Therefore I bring charges against you again,"declares the LORD.
"And I will bring charges against your children's children.

RIP - Terrence Kiel

Terrence Kiel passed away last Friday in San Diego. A former starter for the Chargers, TK had run into legal and drug problems, and was released.

A sad day for Lufkin and the Kiel family. His funeral is Saturday in Lufkin and I'm sure will be attended by many NFL stars and lots of friends and family.

This has really bummed me this week. So many work so hard here to keep folks on the straight and narrow.

My favorite City

In the words of Willie Nelson - Hello walls.... as my blogging friends are long dispersed.

It was so wonderfuly to see my college daughter, Megan, at ACU this past weekend. As happy as I was there - it saddens me I don't get to Abilene, my hometown, more often. I realize the six hours between Lufkin and Abilene - coupled with my heavy workload - means we won't witness much of her college life. And, it means I just won't see my parents or my hometown friends much.

I miss Abilene. I miss big church with big Accapella singing. I miss young Christians on fire for change and for Christ. I miss the people and church of Abilene.

And, I guess I even miss alot of the city of Abilene. What would my favorite city look like? It would look a lot like Abilene. But, it would be further east in the Winter, and further north in the Summer. And, the water would be so much softer, and tastier. In the end, I don't know if perfect weather, or traffic, or work, or water matters. Maybe it does - I've never lived in a perfect city. Maybe I tend to miss those things that I can't change.

But, I do miss home.