Tis the Season

I love Christmas. I love this whole time of year - from Katelyn's birthday on Nov 15th until New Year's Day - it's just the best.
But, I have to say today is a special day. Today is my anniversary. Thirteen years I've been married to an incredible woman. Thirteen years that have been full of excitement; some sadness, some hurts, but most of all thirteen years full of loving life.
God has been good to us. That's the understatement of the century. We have the two most wonderful kids to ever walk the face of the earth. We have lived in eight different houses (sort of nine). We've called five different states "home" for a time. And through it all, we've grown to love each other more each year. (I suppose I can only speak for myself, huh?) But, what has made the difference for us is the fact that I believe we KNOW that it's God being good to us. He is the center of our lives.
Many people say that God is their focus. I do. And right now even more people than ever talk about Baby Jesus. But, if God isn't really at the core of who you are - and not in a "I go to church 3-4 times a year, I own a Bible, I even pray every now and then" kind of way. I mean God at your core - if He's not there, life is hard. Life can be no fun. Life can drop you in places you never thought you'd be. But, with God right there with you...it's all good.
So, today I celebrate! I don't deserve to be as happy as I am. I am more blessed than I ever should have been. And I owe it to a wonderful, amazing, beautiful woman. I love you, Kara!

Thankful

To have a day set aside just to remember that for which I am thankful is a good thing. I need to do it more. I have so much! To some people it may not seem that way; but, to others, I live like a king. And for that I am thankful.
I have the most wonderful wife in the entire world. (I know - some of you are saying, "No sir, you don't. I do." Sorry. You're wrong.) She is the epicenter of a sometimes tumultuous world I live in. She is the love of my life - in every way. Often, while I sit in the living room across from her, I wonder why. Why in the world did this incredible, intelligent, beautiful woman ever agree to marry me? Why does she even allow me in her home!? But, she does. And, I think she likes me. And for that I am thankful.
Last night I tucked my kids into bed after a short Bible lesson, some silent reading,and prayers. I look at those two and I can not recall where the time went. I drop the oldest off at middle school every day and I think, "Why am I doing this? He's only 6 isn't he?" They grow too fast. But, my children are a beautiful gift from God that I do not deserve. I just hope to return them to Him someday in as good a shape as I got them. They are amazing and I am so proud of them. And for that I am thankful.
I talked to my Dad the other day - it was his 73rd birthday. What an amazing man. He is a rock in our family. He married amazingly well, too! He makes up half of what is the greatest parenting tandem I've ever experienced. For years I wondered if they would ever "get it." Now I wonder why it took me so long. But, I have made it to this point in my life, in large part, due to my Dad - and my Mom - being the remarkable people that they are. They have always loved and guided me. Not once did they kill me. And for that I am thankful.
Earlier in the month I talked to my brother on his birthday - a man 14 years my senior. I have never gotten to know him like I would like to. But, I know he's another remarkable man in my family. I see it in his children and I know it from what I see in him and in his wonderful wife. I missed talking to my sister on her birthday this month; and I missed my brother-in-law on his birthday this month. (Busy month!) But, I emailed - this generation's version of "staying in touch" I suppose. And though I don't talk to my siblings as often as I should, I know they love me. I know they think about me as I think about them...because that's how we were raised. I have a fabulous set of brothers and sisters in law - on both sides - and nieces and nephews that I am so proud of...and miss so much so often. But, I was blessed to be born into, and marry into, a family that loves and cares about each other - even across the miles and the years. And for that I am thankful.
God gave up His Son, to die on a cross, for me. That is a ridiculous statement. The Creator of the universe would never give up anything for me! Certainly He would never allow any part of Himself to DIE on a cross to forgive my innumerable sins. But - He did. And for that, above all else, I am thankful.

The Challenge of...Aging

To watch my kids get older and experience new aspects of life is a tremendous joy. There is, however, a drawback. As each beautiful child gets another year older (one of them turned 9 years old last Saturday), so do I. To see these kids hit landmarks (12 is around the corner for the other one) is so exciting. But, facing the realization that parents also deal with landmarks (40 is around the corner for one of them!) for some reason, doesn't quite hold the same joy. It's funny though. Kids look ahead and say, "I can't wait to be 12, or 16, or 21." Adults look ahead and say, "I can't believe I'm closing in on 40, or 50, or 65." We also tend to reflect as we see these mile-markers ahead...and that's a good thing. "What have I done in life?" "How have I changed the world around me?" "How did I get HERE?" These are common questions, I imagine. And important questions.
However, I want to ask some different questions. See, I don't need to be fearful of growing older. I take decent care of myself, so (Lord willing) I don't have any pressing physical concerns. So, the questions I want to ask are, "Am I growing in my relationship with my God every single day? With my wife? My kids? Am I cultivating a home that will provide blessings and confidence for my family?" And instead of looking over my shoulder and dwelling on what might have been and asking, "Why did this have to happen?" - along with the relationship questions - I want to daily pose these questions to myself: "What am I going to do to make use of today? How can I improve today? How can I make a positive difference...today?"
Asking those questions is asking to be challenged, isn't it? Well, so be it. With God as my helper, I want to take on these challenges. I want to face challenges like Caleb, who, at 80 years old said, "Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said" (Joshua 14:12).
Give me this mountain...whatever it is.

The Struggle

OK - 2 in one day. A little indulgent don't you think. Maybe you're right; but I just had to share this, too. It's another song. See, I'm trying to be a little more open to "Religious Rock/Pop" music. So, there's this song by Run Kid Run called "Freedom." Here is a portion of the lyrics: "All my chains I can't disengage and I don't believe that I want to. One hand sings your praise, the other brings me shame. I have selfishness to blame" Isn't that the Christian life almost in a nutshell?! It reminds me so much of what Paul says in Romans 7: "I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate...And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway" (Rom 7:15-19). That is such a potent passage. You know why? Because that's the apostle PAUL writing that. HE struggles. And if Paul can admit that the Christian life is tough, surely I can!
"Freedom" also includes an answer to this dilemma: "I scream, ' Father, please I need rescuing. I need You and You alone.'" What a coincidence - Paul provides the same solution: "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 7:24-25).

Give Me Your Eyes

"Give me your eyes for just one second. Give me your eyes so I can see, everything that I keep missing. Give me your love for humanity. Give me your arms for the broken-hearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me your eyes so I can see." This song by Brandon Heath has a great message, doesn't it? Allow me the ability to NOTICE! And when I notice someone that needs attention, give me the wisdom to act, the courage to show love and compassion - not in a pitying way, but in a way that reflects the love of God to someone who needs it.
We all see them. We all probably know many of them - the broken-hearted, the ones forgotten. Galatians 6:9-10 seems very relevant: "So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith." "Give me your strength when I am weary. Give me your arms to guide my way. Give me your voice when mine will falter, to say the things I need to say." No, those words aren't in Mr. Heath's song; but they're in my heart.

A Time for Everything

OK - it's all said and done now. We have a new President-Elect. Not my #1 choice, but that's OK, too. As means of concession, I have even taken down some of my most critical posts. Why? Because it's time to move on. It's time for me to focus on what I can do to make things better - better for me, better for my family, better for my congregation. It's time to get to work on what really matters - my God, my family and my faith. It's time to look around and see who I can share with, who I can help and inspire and push and pull to be the person God needs them to be. There is much to do for the Christian today and it has very little, if anything at all, to do with who sits in the Oval Office. We told our kids the other night to remember what Paul tells Timothy in 2 Tim 2:1-4: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (NKJV). See, our point in wanting a President who is at least favorable to Godly pursuits is not so we can have more money or a stronger military or even for him to keep us safe from terrorism. Our objective in praying for good leaders is for GOD'S SAKE! We want good leadership so we can lead a quiet life and live in godliness and decency so we can be free to share the Gospel with others - so our example can shine out to the people around us and we can draw them closer to God...because that's what HE wants!
Do we need strong leaders? Certainly. Would I rather have seen someone else in the White House - perhaps even a couple of other "someone elses" running for the office? Sure. But what it comes down to is this: God is still God and I am still His loyal, loving, devoted, humble, thankful servant. And this is my prayer: "LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!" (2 Chronicles 14:11)

...they all create this haze.

There's a song by 3 Doors Down called "Running out of Days." Here's the lyrics:
"And all these little things in life, they all create this haze. There’s too many things to get done, and I’m running out of days."
That is profound - as profound as you can expect from some rockers from Escatawpa, MS. There is so much to distract us today. We have 24-hour-everything channels on TV; we have mp3 players that allow us to have all our favorite music non-stop and digital radio stations if that doesn't work for you; and of course, the internet that has SO much information - good and bad - at our fingertips 24/7. You and I can keep ourselves "entertained" ALL the time. So, my question is this - are we paying attention? To anything? Do we notice what's going on in the world around us AT ALL?! Are we taking the time to take care of what's really important or are we "running out of days?"
Look at this election cycle - both candidates are questionable, in my opinion. One is FAR more questionable than the other (see http://www.neverfindout.org/ for instance); but, are we paying attention to what this government is doing? To what our public officials are doing? To where our money is being spent?
Look at our culture. Kids in SF, CA were taken to their homosexual teachers' lesbian wedding the other day. They were joined in "marriage" by the MAYOR!!! (http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=285766) And it was called, "a teaching opportunity." Holy cow! A 13 year old boy was killed in Chicago by another kid who TOLD him he was on his "death list"! (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-conn-murder-bond-15-oct15,0,2460679.story) What are we doing?!
Look at where we are religiously. This article (http://christianactionleague.org/news/hidden-strength/) says that it's a good thing that we have so many denominations. What?! It's a good thing that we are not the people that Jesus asks God that we become? See John 17:20-21 - "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me" (emphasis mine). So-called "competition" between denominations is GOOD? Our competition is to be against the garbage mentioned above! Wow!
Are we paying attention? Do we have time to change before we deteriorate completely?! Dude, if we hold a mirror up to this nation, we should see PaxRomana. We are Rome repeating itself in many ways. Lift the haze! Don't run out of days...
"And all these little things in life, they all create this haze There’s too many things to get done, and I’m running out of days."