Now, time for the "Create An Album" Game!

OK, here's the challenge.  Name 1 or 2 songs in each of the below categories.  Preferably (and for extra points), make them songs which are unfamiliar to most people.  In other words, not heard on the radio but darn well worth the $1.29 to download:

"Hauntingly beautiful"-
Alan's entry-  Spell by Marie Digby; December by Norah Jones

"Great melody line"-
Alan's entry-  Red Light by Jonny Lang

"Tells a memorable story"-
Alan's entry-  I'm Not That Girl by Idena Menzel- from the Wicked soundtrack

"Makes you want to dance"-
Alan's entry- Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy) by tobyMac

What are your personal, obscure favorites?

My Family...

...is my pride and joy. Perhaps you can get a glimpse of why in the photo taken today.

Things Have Been A Bit Quiet...

...on the Greenbeans Blog for a while, I realize.  The truth is, I've been a bit distracted and even a little uninspired as of late.  I have been dealing with the harsh reality of an economy gone bad- corporate downsizing.  Let me say up front, I did not lose my job in this process.  It is pretty much business as usual for me.  However, the personal turmoil involved in the "potential" to lose your job can be pretty tough.

I've known of the coming headcount reductions for several months now.  While I appreciate the transparancy on the matter, knowing what's coming is hard.  A friend of mine used the analogy, "If I'm gettting a heart-bypass, I don't necessarily want a play by play from the surgeon while I'm on the table.  Wake me up afterward and let me know what happened."  Well, I don't think that's the answer either, but the fact remains that changes in corporate structure are never pretty.  Ultimately, I can only hope that the end justifies the means and that sustainability and renewed growth is achieved.

There is one thing that I have learned through this long and difficult process.  If you are looking for job security in any company, you are playing a fools game.  You hold those keys, not corporate

America.  Your best bet for job security is not found in any company, but by making yourself highly employable.  And that is not totally achieved by a diploma or an impressive resume.  Mostly that lies in the day to day details of how well you do your current job and how far you press to create value.  Oh sure, in tough economic times it may not gaurantee the position you are currently in, but it sure opens doors to future opportunities.  And one fact remains- that no matter what happens, there's always something bigger and better waiting for you if you are prepared to earnestly and prayfully seek it out.

There Are Things...

...that I will never fully understand- The theory of relativity; free-choice versus predestination; how wig kiosks in the mall make it. 
One thing I don't fully understand, but know to be true, is that we have some choice in how our day will go.  Oh, not that we can choose what will happen to us, but that we can mentally prepare ourselves for meeting the day's challenges with an air of optimism.  We can wake in the morning and say, "Lord, I don't know what today holds for me, but I do know that you are beside me and will guide my thoughts and actions."  Notice that I say "guide" my thoughts and actions and not "steer" them.  For in the end, He is my captain, offering the sound advice of a proven, surefooted navigator.  I, however, quite often ignore the iceberg that was pointed out some miles back.
Regardless of what today holds for me and my family, I will at least try to face it with the realization that my reaction to a situation will make it better- or worse.  Nothing in between.  And knowing that I am not facing this day alone makes all the difference.

Now It's Time For...

...which picture is older? Extra points for naming the 3 people who are in both pics. Extra, extra points for naming the Boy George look alike in the bottom photo.

For Those Of You...

...who have ever felt that life was on hold or that your dreams have been put on the shelf, I have some good news: God may be doing His best work in your life during your downtime.  Why do I say that?  Well for one I've felt it in my own life and seen what comes of the waiting.  I will refrain for a moment from getting "preachy" and offer an everyday, practical example from my own experience.

I have enjoyed a long career with my company- almost 17 years.  A few years back I decided to try something different within the organization, going from sales management into a marketing position.  I moved my family to beautiful town near the corporate headquarters, set up my office, bought a nice house and for 3 years thoroughly hated it.  "Oh, you made a mistake", you might say.  Hardly.  God systematically broke down a hardened, ego-inflated heart over those 3 years.  He forced me to re-evaluate my life and re-engage with my family.  For me, He drew a clear line in the sand between my livelihood and my life.

The bible is full of stories of great men and women who, despite their own ideas of what they should be doing with their lives, had to wait upon the Lord.  Take the apostle Paul for example.  Many people think that he was converted on a Damascus road and instantly began his world-changing ministry.  The reality is that after his first brush with ministering to the Jews he barely escaped with his life.  This led to 3 years of seclusion and study in Arabia and eventually 5-6 years back in his hometown of Tarsus.  Can you imagine that?  Paul was raised and trained in Pharisaic law, had been converted to Christianity in one of the most dynamic ways possible and now he was back in his hometown making tents.  Now that's a dream put on a shelf!  It's also God working on a very hard case, moving a man from self-centered to servant.  As you know, the story has a happy ending.  Barnabas, a lesser know apostle, seeks Paul out, asking for help to preach to the growing church in Antioch.  And so begins the next 20 years of Paul's worldwide ministry. 

Are you in your "Tarsus" right now?  Waiting for something... anything?  You're in good company if you are.  It may be that your train has been derailed because of a financial misjudgement; a failed marriage; a lost job; a tragic accident or chronic disease.  Maybe it's due to circumstances for which you have no control.  Whatever the case, there is something great in store for you- God precedes His best work in our waiting.

As F. B Meyer wrote almost a century ago, "As you go down the long corridor you may find that He has preceded you and locked many doors which you would fain have entered; but be sure that beyond these there is one which He has left unlocked.  Open it and enter, and you will find yourself face to face with a bend of the river of opportunity, broader and deeper than anything you dared to imagine in your sunniest dreams.  Launch forth on it; it conducts to the open sea." 

I Don't Know About You...

...but I've always enjoyed the political commentary of George Will.  Straightforward, thought provoking commentary about politics and history seems to be his forte.  While I don't agree with all of his views on things, I'm always left with the conclusion that they are well thought-out and believable, undoubtedly more so than my own.

Yesterday I sat next to George Will on a plane from Washington DC to Columbia, SC.  He's shorter than I thought, but with a head of hair I can only hope for at his age.  Sort of a less wrinkled Lou Holtz, minus the bubbly personality.  Well, that's not exactly correct because he giggled several times while reading a biography of the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, underlining the best parts with a blue pen.

"I see you're reading about the late Senator Moynihan, Mr. Will.  Did you know him well?"

"Yes.  He was a very dear friend", he said.

"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss", I said. 

After a pause, "Why are you heading to SC?"

"I'm presenting to a group of local veterans tomorrow about the Battle of the Bulge", Mr. Will said, never looking up from his book- that dirty blond hair being blown gently by the airplane's overhead air spout.

Giggle, followed by an underline with the blue pen.

For those who don't know, I only appear idiotic.  It's a mere surface trait to a brilliant mind.  I actually have some scope of knowledge regarding American history and knew that the "Battle of the Bulge" was not an Oxygen channel original reality show about weight loss.  I decided to go for the throat and impress this tiny but wicked-smart politico.

"So, er, who's your favorite historian on the subject. hmmmm?", I said.

Giggle, sigh, blue pen underline. 

Never looking up from between the pages of his dear friends life he said, "The memoirs of Truman".

Oh, yes of course, the memoirs of Truman!  Darn, I should of thought of that.  After that brief exchange I left the poor man alone, lost in his memories of the distinguished gentleman from New York.

Sniffle, sigh, underline...

So begins...

...a new series of entries in Greenbeans, featuring some of my favorite pictures of dear friends. Today I salute George and Jennifer. Thanks for your friendship! The Greenbeans.

Recently...

...Leslie and I had a fireplace and patio installed in our backyard. While the project took two months, the company that did the work did a great job and took pride in their work. While there are some final touches that need to be made, such as landscaping, I thought it was interesting to watch the work being done. Here, you will see much of the work being completed from the vantage point of my upstairs office.

What Has Chris Lost in Afghanistan?

About 50 pounds and counting, that's what! Come home soon my man and we'll do what we can to fatten you up again. We miss you!