life

Almost two years ago I was in the southwest corner of Louisiana and a little lost! If you have ever been in some remote parts of south Louisiana you might understand how lost I felt. First off, no counties it is parishes. Now I was raised in LA (lower Alabama) so I have a good handle on “remote” but what I encountered was new to me. I pulled into a parking area of a “filling” station. There stood a local who I summarized as “knew his way around these parts”. He did but what he did not have was a good working knowledge on English! He began to describe in a heavy Texas type southern draw coupled with a French/Cajun creation that was unattainable to my ears. I smiled, thanked him and continued my journey? Lost a bit but exposed to a tribe of Americans I didn’t even know existed. I felt almost as if I need to contact National Geographic cuz I had a scoop for their next edition.
Have you ever been in a place where you’re not sure where you are and your surroundings are strange or new? Often life, at least mine presents me some clues to me that I am on a journey spiritual and otherwise! As I meet people here and I ask questions about themselves, their vocation, beliefs, and etc. I am so reminded that we all get so focused on our destination we miss the journey! I look back now and think while I was on that particular course did I get all the good out of it? Or did I blow through a time and season looking at the end only, did I forget to soak up the journey stuff.
This week, a few blogs will be posted by some new friends that Shari and I have gained since living here and they will testify to this journey ideal. Listen up they may not be able to tell you where you are right now but you will know you’re not alone!

My I present Michel Oliver Lough, one great kid!
Tomorrow I will blow out 23 candles on my birthday cake! Daddy asked me to be his guest blogger today, and to tell you Coastal Community Church blog readers one thing I cherished being raised in the Oliver household for the past 23 years (although I’ve been married and gone for 2 years). Well, I couldn’t possibly narrow it down to one, but I just started a second job and worked 13 hours before coming home to write this blog so you can bet I’ll keep it short and sweet!

- seeing my parents talk to each other and treat each other like they love each other… sounds simple, but I never saw it any other way, and I sure am grateful for that.
- sharing a bed with Cadence and Bo when we were little -even though we all had our own bedrooms. I miss living with them and seeing them everyday. I’m grateful that we’ve grown up and become best friends.
- leaving the house, going to my parents’ room to say bye and my dad saying, “make good choices”. I could count on that like clockwork, and I loved having the feeling that they trusted me to know a good choice from a bad one on my own. For the most part, I’d say I did all right!
- living with my parents meant most of the time, one or ten of their friends would be over. especially when we had a hot tub! I loved seeing my parents be friends and laugh - belly laugh - over just about anything with their friends. I want to have a group of friends like my parents have, and I want my kids to look out the blinds onto our deck and think “hmm, maybe my parents are cool after all” just like I did.
- probably the coolest thing about being raised under Mike and Shari Oliver is the fact that I am taken care of even in my parents absence. People bless me and pray over me just because of who my parents are and because my parents mean so much to them. That’s cool!
peace, love, and rolltide (isn’t that how he usually end these things),
Michel Oliver Lough

A cowboy proverb best states my thoughts on our friend Tony Brower; "real cowboys never run, they just ride away.” The cowboy in him made us all love him greatly. If you were fortunate enough you got to see how he lived and loved! Rare was the day his wide-open smile did not make you feel better about life and your day.

Through thick and thin he fought, and in his words he “cowboyed up” and made the very most of life. His music, his passion for God and life made him who he was! Some people can enter a room unnoticed, not Brower, he filled the room up from an embrace to an infectious smile that demanded your attention.

Was he perfect-NEVER in fact when he messed up he did large enough for the world to see. It was like watching a rodeo you didn’t have to guess when he fell off his horse. But never was there any question as to his love for God and the hope he had in Christ. When he fell he got up and dusted off and saddled again.

He rode away last night but he left some legacy stuff! Let us look at what he left.

He showed us how to ride in pain.
How to repent
How to worship
How to laugh
How to love
How to forgive
How to make the most out of a day

Not only did he leave those Tony-like dimples on his girls face he left them some roadmaps for the days ahead and from time to time they will remember the fight in the cowboy. So, one day when they fall, they will remember to dust off and saddle up and ride on!!!

Blessings to the Brower Family and lets all ride with a bit more pride!

The great struggle for many is settling the whole idea that the daily stuff we enter into is luck, chance or providence. I have a solid belief that my daily living is left up to two things, my willingness to engage in life and believe my steps are being orchestrated from someone a bit smarter than me.

Psalm 37:23 (NLT)
The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.
He delights in every detail of their lives.

I do find it amazing how when good stuff comes our way we are very quick to claim God is with us, but when adversity comes we righteous folk get puzzled about the situation we find ourselves in.

I am pretty settled on life’s ebb and flow. Have you got a life view that helps you understand the swings of both good and bad days?

Love to hear it!

Peace and Love

Haggai 1:5 (KJV)
Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

What an interesting proposal… consider my WAYS!!! Have you ever set and thought about your ways, your choices, and your experiences. Not that I am your most cerebral person you have ever met, but of late this passage has ran though my mind daily.

I, like us all are afforded “ways” or choices, and responses to life and all it unfolds to us. I asked Shari the other day “ am I suspicious in nature or perceptive?” Of course she paused and said “mostly perceptive”. She is my greatest fan!

I think the older I get the more I am ……let’s just say ultra perceptive. I am reminded of the poker proverb, “ Trust everyone but always cut the cards”. I try to be balanced in my approach to people and life in general but man I sure look for motive and reason in every situation. HELP…… Where did the simple Mike go?

In the overall scheme of things I am pretty much the same guy, but man my radar is on high sensitivity! I feel am to chart my path carefully and I am tuned in closely to all that is going around me. Example, I go with Bo to see a movie (Yes Man) and I come out with plans and direction for me, Bo and anyone who would lend an ear.

The NLT translation of Haggai 1:5 sounds like this:
“ Consider how things are going for you!” Feels like God is saying, how is that working for you? So, have you seen changes in behavior or thinking? Do you see yourself sometimes thinking about your choices or responses? Give consideration to your life at least it is some comedic relief.

Peace and Love!

- Gas has dropped like a rock after the election?
- Did Pearl Harbor Day just get glazed over?
- If Bama does not have the facemask call late in the game?
- Is President elect forced to sit out on the lawn to have a smoke?
- Christmas has got here very quickly?
- How do I get to Griffin to see friends working 6 days a week?
- What is Auburn going to do with out Tubby?
- Why did people bring their dog to see Santa this weekend?
- How does a professional athlete shoot one of the two legs he has making 7 mil a year?
- How many people are losing their jobs!
- I still wonder when I see the how Christmas and its message can still bring peace and hope!

This year at best has been difficult, families incomes are challenged, many have lost love ones, and most have endured some hardship…. but in the end we still are hear looking to visit the idea that Christ came to a people who were lost, struggling with political instability, poverty and hardship and He then announced hope and peace and brought life and liberty to a hurting society. That message is as applicable today as then, settle your hearts in this; through the power of the written word of God and the influence of His Holy Spirit, Life, Hope and Peace are three great gifts sitting at the feet of the real Christmas Tree …..The Tree of Life!

Peace!!!

We all have heard the expression “bottom line” mostly shared to express some sort of finality either in a cost of a financial expression or a simple declaration of the end or a limit of a thought.

You know how settling you feel when you have some “bottom line” limits in you life. We all need bottom line declarations as to define areas that have an end to a belief, a thought, or expense.
It is like when you buy a car, your sales person at some point says, “here is the bottom line”, meaning no more additions or surprises.

Have you had an addition or surprise in life that pushed your “bottom line” before? I know I have sometimes found myself adjusting my bottom line in some things and felt the frustration of all the variables we all get in life. I guess the bottom line is I wish life could be like buying a car! No hidden cost, no real surprises.

You ever been beyond a predetermined limit you set? What is a bottom line in your life!

Peace and Love!

We all experience natural seasons from the sweltering hot summers to the bone chilling winters. They come and go impacting our daily living! Right now here on the gulf coast we have beautiful weather in this time of fall. The humidity is down; the water is chilled, and cool evenings are the norm.

But, as you are well aware we have seasons of life that come from the core of who we are whether it is spiritual, emotional, or positional we have very clear seasons that have unique circumstances that impact all that we are feeling presently. You may be in the coldness of the winter right now where things are dormant and no real blooming is taking place. Or you may in a bountiful harvest season getting all the results of this cycle of living.

Often, we don’t get settled in our seasons of life and we labor to expect some things that are not available right now. A great example is wonderful vine fresh tomatoes! You know the taste of that fresh veggie in your salad or just between two slices of bread; it has a season and we love it while it is here!

Life is that way; each season has both taste and experience that is only there in that moment. What season are you in now? What foods do you like in the 4 seasons we have? If you don’t like where you are now, hang on, learn and get what this seasons is to provide for you and look forward to change of the next season!

Peace and Love

This new job I have has one central tool needed……talking to people! It is quite amazing how many various types of people are in this world! Big ones, little ones, educated, not so educated, single, married, and every other manner of person coming to the gulf coast looking for something.

I know this; all of them have pride from where there from, love to talk about their favorite hobby, their favorite football team, their family, or career. The bottom line is every one of us has a story to tell and we love to be accepted at various levels.

I believe as a Christian it is paramount for me to accept people where they are and put value in people’s lives by listen to them share their personal stories. By engaging in small talk with interest of people we open future doors to be a beacon of hope.

I have met some of the most interesting people who have remarkable stories and I so appreciate the opportunity to hear brief glimpses of wonder-filled that we all have!

Have you allowed others to tell their story? It is so cool to tell our story and how we love our spouse, kids, team, jobs, and hobbies…. Show some love today! Engage a little, allow others the gift appreciation, ask them about their kids, talk about cool their car is…..find some means to put value in a depleted society. We all matter and love to be heard!

Here it is, I have another new moment here! A birthday is here on the gulf coast; in fact a 51-st birthday. When I think of being over 50 it just amazes me how quick life moves! I never contemplated life in the 50s and all that it offers. It really is cool to have good health and hopes for a bunch of living yet to do.

I will say this though, as I look back I have some things I would have done differently as we all would do, but for the most part NO REGRETS.

Take it from me, live well and enjoy every day cuz it moves quickly. I see too many people not taking full potential of all that is in front of them!

Love you all, have a great weekend.

Roll Tide!!