Mike Oliver's blog

Hello World, please forgive the lack of communiqué on the forefront of all that is both good and beautiful…….
Today, two years ago Shari, Bo and I along with some sad but willing attendants drove a very full Uhaul to Mary Esther Fl. to embark on a journey seemingly so well planned and thought through. We were so excited yet very unsure of our future. As I have said before going in, I so was sure of what we were doing and months later I thought “what was I thinking”? Leaving lifelong friends and a solid position at a cool church!
Two years forward and adjusting daily we have the joy of still having precious friends and memories that represent almost 25 years of living well. Today we have additions in our life who maybe living proof that maybe we were supposed to embrace this next chapter and leave a lot of security and head smack into the unknown.
Here is what two years have taught me.
-never under estimate the power of having the investment of friends
-plan all you can but be ready to make adjustments ( life gets in the way of plans)
-never too old to learn
-never too old to make mistakes
-I have a great wife
-family is cool, especially when you have new baby in the mix
-If you live on the gulf your old friends stay in touch ( wonder if we had moved to say..Kansas, would we have the “do-drop inn” ratio be the same)
-Being humble is good, getting humbled is hard
-Change is good, but it cost
-No replacement to the past- never try to replicate the past, let it be memories and wisdom but it is the past.
-Nothing more secure than having an old friend and nothing more exciting than adding new ones.
We are right now enjoying the ride, and seeing possible the next big step in getting a grove for the Mangos! Please pray for wisdom and direction.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
If I had a dollar from every time I heard this passage quoted, confessed and spoke on, I might be able to assist Obama in some bail out efforts. I wonder sometimes if we get it entirely. I know we need faith to match our struggles, I get that but I need to know what in the world was the apostle Paul saying.
We so live in a vacuum in this part of the world that loss or losing have never been palatable. We grew up hearing “succeed”, “Win”, “Victory all through life “. We parents have told our kids “get that education so you can be somebody and win in life”. I wonder if we preached the idea with a winning based out of our own desire and passion.
It is no wonder we so gravitate to concept of confessing “more than a conqueror”. It fits our DNA. It matches our culture and rearing of success and performance. Reading the context of Romans 8 makes me more understand that life in Christ is eternal and not governed by even “death” itself and nothing can separate me from Christ love.
But I don’t think Paul penned this passage to defend our need or wants in everything to come our way or win the next quest or challenge. You know, beat the bad guys to the prize as it were. See, I can’t even explain “more than a conqueror” in a temporal way? Like, “we really double won that one”?
A lady in scripture named Esther was submitting to a possible pending death sentence to make a request to the King on behalf of her people and she made this statement,” and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther was more than a conqueror, not because she was going to wax words of eloquence and so dominate the king with charm and charisma and gain freedom for her people and be lauded as the next diva. She found victory in having a devotion to Him over life itself. Our conquering is in a love and devotion of the ONE who GIVES us the victory, not the victory. Esther basically concluded, I may die but I can’t lose.
At the end of all our believing, struggles, and ups and downs this world offers……
Lets borrow a phrase from the movie Tombstone…”Looks like we win!”

From time to time I get some small reminder of what an incredible life I have been afforded and get jolted a bit to make the very most of this life God has given me. Not excluding the fact of having a great wife whom I love greatly and enjoy three fantastic kids I was able to live in a circle of friends who are the salt of the earth.
Here is what grabs my mind every now and then! I get this memory of a Josh Doss who loved God with a passion and commitment that was second to none. He would do anything for his friends except let them win in golf, ping pong, or whatever game was on. I think of a Barry Whatley who was large and in charge. He seized the moment of everyday and had a laugh that made you laugh and he made sure his fiends knew he was there for them. I think of a Ray Prestage who had a smile as big as his heart. He was as diverse as anyone you knew and could do most anything, especially sing! I think of Tony Brower who was the epitome of a fighter, musician, and cowboy. He had the ability to fill up a room whenever he entered the doors. Like, you never needed to ask, “Is Tony here?”
The common denominator of these four great men is they all were passed from this life way too early! They all seemed to have an uncanny ability to be passionate friends and be aggressive in their lives. They had infectious smiles and lived life at a high level that made you want to emulate some or all their traits. Ok, before we bring these four into sainthood we who knew them well knew they were not perfect but made life matter.
James 4:14
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
Life is fragile and we do not have a lock on when we get to die. But we do have time now to impact friends, chase our passions, make someone smile, and prove life is worth living to fullest!
Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75.
Benjamin Franklin

What you don't know can't hurt you ... right? (Annoying buzzer sound) Wrong!
In keeping with that same logic is this expression,” ignorance is bliss”. I tend to think ignorance is just ignorance! I know we all have limited knowledge in many aspects and never will we know or even be aware of everything in this world in which we live. In fact we are not wired to know all things, only ONE can handle that. That is why he told the garden dwellers not to eat of the tree of KNOWLEDGE and good and evil. He wanted them to eat the tree of life. Not a bad option.
But this passage is a spring board for my thought today! Hosea 4:6
my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
I was honored to have a window of time to befriend, mentor, and love a young man named Josh Doss. One of the most energetic, passionate God loving people I ever knew. He was a joy to know. Funny, competitive and faithful are the positive traits that stood out when I think of Josh.
But the story takes a horrific turn physically. After battling symptoms and finding a proper diagnosis he was left learning of a disease neither he nor anyone near him ever heard of. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) (also known as "Cutis hyperelastica"[1]) is a group of inherited connective tissue disorders, caused by a defect in the synthesis of collagen (a protein in connective tissue). The collagen in connective tissue helps tissues to resist deformation (decreases its elasticity). There is no cure for this disorder.
My friend Josh fought, played and loved till the end, but could only fight long enough to see and hold his wife whom he loved beyond himself and his newborn son (who too has been diagnosed too with EDS) for a very short time! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jalM5jW6Ow
So many of his close friends became aware of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and were able to understand all that Josh was us against and no one knew the pain and the fear of the unknown that must of captured his thoughts.
So we who loved Josh were forced to know of this horrible disorder want to make awareness of it in every means possible we can. Please hit this link and become aware and vote to bring awareness to this disease. http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/235097?src=wallp... . What you don't know can't hurt you right? Wrong Learn and Vote!
Peace and Love.

Almost one week beyond knee surgery I have spent way too much time sitting, aching, reclining and hobbling! I am not one to sit and veg out. Now from time to time, sure watch a movie or the latest AI segment or whatever. But man this is killing me!

But I have a few confessions I need to share.

• After 52 years I have learned to walk correctly-heel to toe!
• You put the crutch opposite side of injured leg? Who knew!
• I was a little over confident in my progress
• I have great kids; they seem to be very mindful of POPS being in pain.
• I need to be grateful for small things!
• It is a shame I have to be flattened to get still.
• I tend to be do it my way first.
• I think I have to do everything and sometimes you can’t.
• I am aware now I need to get back in a gym VERY SOON! Be grateful of your ability to work out.

Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live. ~Jim Rohn

Peace and Love!

Most of you who follow me know I am a little interested in The BCS Championship game! When I was born October 31, 1957 I was born in south Alabama and from the time I was aware of college football till present I have followed the university with passion. I am a fan for sure but it’s deeper than a 3 letter word. I want to know how we play tonight, and three years from now too. I look at recruiting, coaching, and projections. I know where former players live and work today; I remember their jersey number and plays they made while at the University!
Being just a fan is so emotional tied to success! I follow and support the University of Alabama both good times and bad. I see “fans” often lose heart in loss and trails. Tonight there will be a winner and new fans will come on board to Bama or Texas. I want a win tonight in a big way but my allegiance to the University is deeper than a single win, a season or even Championship. It is a measure of loyalty which is a lost art in these “what have you done for me lately days”.
Like the scripture says, “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart”
August 3rd 1974 I committed my life to Christ and I have remained loyal to that confession till present. I am pleased with some qualities in my life and some qualities I need to beef up for sure. But I remain loyal to God , My lady, my kids , my buds and my call .
A defender of our Christian faith named Polycarp facing execution was allowed to renounce his loyalty to Christ and escape his peril. At that moment he defined loyalty to the highest and made this statement:
'Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me injury. How can I blaspheme my King and Savior?"
What has our loyalties, our passion? Can you remember when your commitments were challenged and how proud you were when you remained loyal?
Peace and Love and ……….ROLL TIDE!

Sharing with a friend last night I reminded him something we all know but fail to rest in way too often. After hearing his circumstances I remembered what I tell me from time to time and reminded him this simple truth… “God is your source”.
We tend to lean on what we do, what we know and get secure on our ability to be “self sufficient “. The difficult part of self sufficiency is the word “self”. It maybe just me but too many times our friend “self “ tends to shine like a rock star then in one moment it shows up non- sufficient.
God reminded us through this passage on Isaiah
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. Isaiah 31:1
When we are making the cash and rolling at work and home we get this independent feeling and false sense of security that WE have done all this! Here lies the foundation for two ugly emotions to roll. One is pride. We get this haughtiness and sense of accomplishment. The other ugly emotion is the bookend of this play. After you have placed confidence in your self sufficiency and hit the inevitable wall of lack, fear comes in and puts demands on your “self” that in the end our “self” is found wanting!
Don’t get me wrong, God places gifts in our lives to have success in life and if we are smart, we use our talents and time to honor him and live in fruitfulness. But we are thinking best when we know there is only one who is all sufficient. This thinking gives us two better bookends of emotion. One is humility, always thanking God for fruitfulness and the other is trust, giving us an anchor in times of need.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan
Not sure where I stand on that quote, but I can say 2009 was one for the books! I had a range of experiences and emotions that I never dreamed I would be involved in. I have met some new and incredible people this year and have missed being with people I love greatly at the same time.
We have an empty nest and that is weird for sure. Cadence is married now! Bo has decided to be on his own. Oh wait the nest will be empty for two weeks…Michel and Jake will move in while they find a nest of their own.
Building a church from scratch (that means 0 or zero) and creating a new business has made this year very challenging as well. We are so blessed to have some great people around us now on both fronts and are so looking forward to seeing the next steps completed.
This unstable crazy world we live in demands two things from us! One, a complete trust in God and secondly a sense of humor goes along way.
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

Jeremiah 31:17
"There is hope for your future," declares the LORD,"And your children will return to their own territory.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
I love how Luke’s account of Christ birth was so in the now! “Today” he has been born to you!
In a moment the nowness of God brings into focus the “good news”. Historically there was a place and a time where the birth of the Messiah happened and was well recorded. We are told of a manger, swaddling clothes, and wise men who sought him out. A miracle moment for sure; the beginning of hope!
The Christmas account may of ended in print in Luke’s Gospel…… but whether July or December there is a now moment where Christ desires to find a “now unto you” birth place, not in a lowly manger but in receptive heart. The evidence of the good news is not just tied to history but is found now in lives hoping no longer to fear but to receive the GREAT JOY!
May the now moment of an endless Christ capture your fears and bring you great JOY during this season!

Man this week compared to last week has inched by! This was most likely due to not feeling well, Shari being on a long stretch away, and little actual conversation. I enjoy having some quiet time but wow I feel like I have been in solitaire confinement!
The times will change today! Shari comes home, I have a cold beach wedding on Saturday and Cadence’s wedding is one week out. I get to meet a new couple this weekend and spend an evening cooking and enjoying fresh seafood from Joe Patti’s market!
Speaking of food! Here is food for thought; did you ever think you could say “I would not wanna be like Tiger!” I have heard a lot of people say what he should do, but I more in tune of what I should do. What can I learn from such a “fall “from a lofty place? I have an idea that the story of this athletic icon has a few more wrinkles yet to be discovered.
One thing I have reminded myself in Tiger’s tail spin is this….wealth and fame is good but ask him right now what is important. In fact there is no dollar amount that can recover what he has lost right now! Parents of young kids who have idolized this great golfer now have to explain what has happened to this golfing machine that approached the game with incredible discipline and focus. Remember the phrase, Jesus mentioned in Luke, “Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. “
So our suggestions of what Tiger should do are really not the point. Remember Tiger’s life is nuff said!
Peace and Love!