Jamie Booth

Home Ownership

Amazingly I haven't burned it down yet.  Despite my tampering with electricity, messing with the furnace, and attempting repairs I have never done before, I haven't burned down Becky's and my new home yet.  

I am returning from a bit of a break from the blogging world.  This past month has been extremely busy, mostly because Becky and I bought our first home so my daily trip to Home Depot has replaced any type of writing.  Things are beginning to fall back into a bit of groove though, so I am hoping to be writing and reading more.

A few have been asking, so let me give a bit of an update.  We are fairly settled into the house.  Although we are still trying to figure out where everything will permanently go, there are no boxes left to unpack.  We are also starting to fix things up here, and there, so hopefully by the end of this week Jack's room will no longer be pink!  

A few have also asked what I have enjoyed the most so far about home ownership.  There are so many aspects of home ownership I enjoy, but the best is that we (Jack) can be as loud as we want and it doesn't matter as there is no one in the apartment below us to annoy by jumping, screaming or just running around.  

Some have asked what I think about all the responsibility of owning a home....my first reaction is that there is a lot!  I had to buy my first snow shovel, and use it on the day we closed on the house!  Fixing everything, opposed to calling a landlord.  And then there is that mortgage payment each month....that just hurt for the first time this week!  Ouch!

Playing on One Buttock

I am not a musician.  I have, however, had the privilege of knowing several gifted musicians throughout my life.  Those gifted musicians I know have many differences (different instruments & styles of music), but one thing I notice they have in common is that they all play with emotion.  

I read recently that Benjamin Zander, long time conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, encourages his musicians to become "One Buttock Players."  He doesn't believe that you can truly convey music by simply playing it musically correct, you have to play it with emotion as well.  And when musicians play with emotion quite often you will see them rocking back and forth from one buttock to the other...thus becoming one buttock musicians.

To be a great musician takes emotion.  In fact, no matter what your field is, it will take emotion to be great.  If all your doing is going to work, punching the clock, sitting around waiting for it to be time to leave, how successful do you think you will be?  But, if you bring emotion, intensity, eagerness and determination to your job what can be accomplished then?

The same principle applies to your family, to your relationship with God, and to your personal life.  If you want to be successful in those areas you have to go after them with emotion as well.  If you want to see your marriage improve, you can't be content to sit in front of the TV every night.  If you want your relationship with God to improve you can't be okay with simply sitting on a pew each Sunday. 

What do you think would happen in your job, your family, your relationship with God, if you went from being a two buttock to one buttock player?  What do you think would happen if you gave it everything you got and held nothing back?  

13 Years

Becky and I were back in Missouri for Christmas and I had intended on writing a few posts from the Midwest, but spending time with family came first.  So, I am just now getting around to reflecting on some experiences from growing up in Troy, Missouri. 

First thought...Sometimes you only get 13 years.  I went to a fairly average high school. There were around 200 kids in my graduating class.  Most of those I graduated with transferred into the school system at some point or another, but there were a few, like me, that completed their entire education in Troy.  Not many, but a few of us toughed it out from kindergarten all the way through our senior year together. 

Here is the sad part.  As important as my faith in Christ was to me growing up, I can actually think of some of those kids that I went to school with for 13 years that I never talked to about Christ.  Never mind the hundreds that I knew for shorter amounts of time, there were actually kids that I knew for 13 years that I never once talked to about my faith!

Perhaps a few saw that I lived my life a little differently.  Several of them probably knew that I was the president of my school's Bible club.  Maybe 20 of them had to listen to my speeches in English class that I chose to give on God & the Christian faith.  But I messed up, as I never took the chance to personally share with them what was the most important aspect of my life.  And now, the chance I had to tell them is gone.

Sometimes you only get 13 years....sometimes less.  I had 13 years, kindergarten through 12th grade.  You may only have a few years of working with someone before they take a new job.  Or 4 years together at college.  Will you miss the opportunities liked I did to share what is most important to you?

I Have A Confession....

I have a confession.  Although I have lived in New England for over 7 years now, I still do not like the Patriots.  I know I run the risk of losing the confidence & respect of people from my church and community, but I just feel like I need to come clean.  Most weeks I find myself rooting for whoever it playing the Patriots, it doesn't matter who it is.  I admit, my dislike of the Patriots is irrational.  I can't really name anything in particular I don't like about them...I just have a "bad feeling" every time I watch them play that makes me want to root for the other team.  

Ironically, having grown up in St. Louis and going to several games with my parents, I still find myself following the Rams even though they are currently tied for worst record in the NFL (1-10).  Call me loyal I guess.

Anyway, tonight is Monday night, Patriots vs. Saints and I am saying go New Orleans!

October Means Missions

My favorite month on our church calendar is October.  I love October as that is the month we set aside for our missions emphasis.  For us here at Calvary, October means getting serious about missions.  Not that we aren't serious about missions year round, but October is a month we set aside for God to take us to a new level in our missions support.

Today we had Bob McGurty, who serves as the India Area Director, with us.  He had a lot of good stuff to say, but he had one great quote that I keep thinking about..."Sometimes a nurse with a stethoscope can get in somewhere a pastor with a Bible cannot."  The bottom line is that we all have a part to play in supporting missions.  For some it is preaching, for some it using technical skills like nursing or computers to open doors shut to most, for others it may be praying for missionaries, giving to missions, and even going on short term trips.  The bottom line is that God is not limited in how He can use us, so we shouldn't put limits on ourselves.  Maybe you don't have a degree from a Bible college or seminary, but God still wants you to be a part in supporting missions.