Birthday Cards

Well, Lord willing, it happens on Thursday.

It is statistically highly unlikely to have 50 more of these.

50th birthday cards are a strange combination of reality and morbidly funny.

I thought I would actually put into practice any (reasonable) 50th birthday card advice. Here is the start…

“Look back and marvel at how far you’ve come.”

• If I took this literally, I have come 1,431 miles from a hospital delivery room in Ft. Worth, TX on October 20, 1966.
• If I took this philosophically or reflectively, I’ve traveled nearly as far. A rather shy, quite, introverted person to a calling that puts me in the front of people, speaking, and expected to be in extroverted situations many times.
• Spiritually, by the grace of God and the power of the resurrection, I have advanced and have further to go.

“Act old enough to know better, but young enough not to care.”

• I have attended meetings recently with younger pastors and they are now talking about me the way I used to talk about the older pastors. This is both exciting and scary.

“Make a list of 50 things you’re thankful for.” (I’ve included people as well)

1. God, (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit)
2. The Bible
3. Renee
4. David
5. Emily
6. Silas
7. Bianca
8. Any time with family
9. Parents (including Renee’s parents)
10. grandparents (including Renee’s grandparents)
11. Siblings (Les and his family, Mark and his family, Drew and his family, and Gayle)
12. Faithful preachers
13. Churches (especially Eastside Baptist Church)
14. Alex Veillard and his family
15. New Horizon Home
16. Friends
17. All previous churches and pastors
18. Mentors
19. Missionaries
20. Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist family
21. Home
22. Health
23. Clothes
24. Books
25. Reading
26. pets (even Cleo)
27. Neighbors
28. Twin Falls
29. Idaho
30. Colorado
31. New Mexico
32. Texas
33. Mountains
34. Backpacking
35. Camping
36. Chick-fil-A
37. Sonic
38. United States
39. Pizza
40. Transportation
41. Bicycles
42. Lawn mowers
43. indoor plumbing
44. Heat
45. Air Conditioning
46. Sunshine
47. Rain
48. Snow
49. Mail
50. Birthdays

“Write two notes: one to your 20-year-old self, and another to your 60-year-old self.”

• 20 year old Paul:
  Dear Paul,
  Make the most of every moment. Spend more time with Renee. Hug your children more. Listen better, Treasure your family more. Read your bible more. Preach with greater compassion. Exercise more. Laugh more. Don’t worry about what others say about you. Take fewer naps. Be slow to speak. Guard yourself. Complain less. Be more grateful. Give more. Hike more mountains. Plant more in your garden. Thank God for everything.
• 60 year old Paul:
  Dear Paul,
  Make the most of every moment. Spend more time with Renee. Hug your children more. Listen better. Treasure your family more. Read your bible more. Preach with greater compassion. Exercise more. Laugh more. Don’t worry about what others say about you. Take fewer naps. Be slow to speak, Guard yourself. Complain less. Be more grateful. Give more. Hike more mountains. Plant more in your garden. Thank God for everything.