A Chili Night

Tonight we did something extremely fun for some of our students... We had a 'Chili Night' out in our backyard... Now - I know what some of you are thinking - "Chili Night?" Yep - we decided to have a fun, fall evening... I made my (in my mind, at least) World Famous Chili and I grilled hot dogs for (what else) chili dogs... We had one of those 'fire pits' from Lowe's where we roasted marshmallows for S'mores... And - we made an effort to have caramel and apples... It ended up more like delicious 'cement' - but it was a nice effort...

But the students had a great time... They visisted with each other... Some they knew already - and others they got to know better... We sat around on our deck and one of our boys led us in a few worship songs and the National Anthem (that's one of those random moments that someone starts to be goofy, but we all ended up singing it to the end!)... But as we were singing songs like "Marvelous Light" or "How He Loves Us" - I began to see that even in that kind of environment - these kids were worshiping the Lord together... It wasn't perfect - it wasn't even always pretty... But it was beautiful... Psalm 47:6 says, "Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises." And that's what we did...

Nights like these are important for any organization, but especially the Church... We need to be with each other outside 'The Building' to really get to know each other... And when fellowship and worship break out in that type of atmosphere - look out! And may I recommend that you do it with a chili dog in hand. What a tasty night!

Meetin' Time

Almost always in the 'professional world' you will find yourself in a meeting of some kind... Whether it be for professional development, or just a brain-storming session - you are going to be grouped together with your co-workers and peers... As a teacher the first part of my professional career I attended these meetings on a regular basis... They would vary anywhere from our weekly staff meeting on Thursday mornings to periodic Union meetings after school... I must be honest - I usually drifted off to 'a distant land' in several of those gatherings over that five year period... It's not that I didn't care - but I seldom had any direct interest or input, or so I thought at the time... I did enjoy the few moments before the meeting started to get to visit with my colleagues  which (as I look back now) was the most important part of the meeting process... Relationships are key to making an organization work...

As a church staff - we have pastoral meetings semi-regularly... In contrast to my approach on 'teacher meetings' - I have come to look forward to these staff meetings... It's a chance to pray together, do a short study and discussion (which I like very much), take care of logistics, and find out what's happening across the building... I always feel closer to the other pastors every time we close... In that short amount of time we have shared about ourselves and found out about the other people we serve with - Which is important for people on the same team... We need to be of 'one mind'...

 "Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace." 2 Corinthians 13:11

So I look forward to the next 'not so chance' encounter with our pastoral staff in two weeks... Who knows - maybe we'll come up with something that will greatly impact our church, our community, or even - THE WORLD!!!

Rain Will Fall

It's amazing to me that the song from Led Zeppelin (cleverly titled "The Rain Song") has some pretty deep insight into our lives... "Upon us all, a little rain will fall..." I'm reminded of that on days like this - cool, rainy, gloomy... A definite change from the days of 65 degrees and sunny that I was enjoying so much, recently... But you know what's interesting - How could I enjoy those beautiful days as much if there weren't days like this? I wouldn't - I couldn't - I shouldn't (ok - I threw that one in - I was on a roll!) 

Here's a practical example: How would you know how delicious a cold, refreshing, sweet, caffeinated, sugar-filled soda is unless you've tried it's 'diet-substitute' knock off - You can't, right..? You have to have tasted the bad to enjoy the good...

The same is true in life... We all desire easy going, stress-free, trouble-free lives... Here's the catch, though - We have to have those cruddy, 'rainy' days to really appreciate those times in our lives... If everything is great normally - do you know what it becomes? NORMAL! Normal is no fun - it's just... Normal... It's ordinary... Where's the fun in that? I'd rather be able to look forward to those times when God is showering me with His favor - even if I feel like He's not present...

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

So - get your umbrella and fedora out and sing and dance around a light pole on this rainy day... Because tomorrow - you've got some rejoicing to do!

My Hiatus

It seems that people often like to choose different - sometimes 'fancy' words when they are going to be absent from their normal lives for a period of time... They use words like SABBATICAL or HIATUS... I remember in college often hearing that a professor would not be teaching this semester because they were on "SABBATICAL" - most of the time doing research for something or other... I believe that word comes from the Jewish "Sabbath", though - but that's a different blog in and of itself... I however like the other word, though... HIATUS... Go ahead and say it with me, "HIATUS"... It's one of those tasty words that just 'rolls off the tongue'... Hiatus by definition means, "a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc." (Dictionary.com)

Well that's what I feel like I have been on for the month of September... My last post was on September 1 - and that has mainly to do with my son... It was nothing he 'meant' to do, but the little guy has certainly taken his mother and me on a 'roller coaster'... And not one of the fun one's where you get off and immediately say, "Let's go again!" No, no, no... It is one where you are in the middle of the ride screaming like a little girl, "GET ME OFF THIS THING!!!" He got sick... At first we didn't think anything was wrong with him - then 'here we go'... 18 days straight... 2 different hospitals... 3 different rooms... And a partridge in a pear tree... We saw countless doctors and nurses - some were fantastic, others could spend a little more time in the books then watching 'House' or 'ER'... 

My wife and I were determined to not leave our son in this dark time - so we spent every night in different circumstances so we could be with him... Some were spent in a single hospital bed - together!!! Some were spent on a hard, but roomy couch-thing... Other nights found us on floors, chairs, and in lobbies... We had a few times of comfortable showers, but not many... Fortunately for us, though - the cafeteria food was good... So that softened the constant blows... 

But - happy to say - we are home... I am at my computer 'semi' regularly - and hopefully will be able to join the ranks of 'Blogging', yet again... And I actually have some pretty good material for the next several installments... God sure teaches you a lot in the cruddy times of life... Good thing He's always there...

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Fall Is In the Air

It's beginning to feel like fall already... Days are pleasant... Nights are refreshingly cool... School buses flood the streets in the early morning... and the lights are brightly lit every Friday night... This is the start of my favorite time of year... I'm a huge fan of 'fall'... I like the weather (days where shorts are appropriate, but jeans and long sleeves fit the bill some days) - I like the smells (still cut grass, but add the hint of bonfires and leaves) - I like the colors (the trees begin to whither away, but in their demise they show their true beauty)... It may have something to do with the fact that I was born in late October, as well... But whatever the reason - I like it...

I have many memories in my life that have taken place during the 'Augtober' months... What? Like you can't figure out what I'm trying to say... Anyways - I digress... I remember raking leaves in the yard with my family - weenie roasts in the back yard - hay rides at church... A little bit later was pick-up games of football and harvesting crops with my dad... In college and teaching fall always meant marching band... Almost every weekday and weekend was spent playing, marching, or teaching other people to play or march... All good memories...

Now - my fall's are a little different... I'm not sure exactly what my memories are/will be of fall for this season of my life... I don't rake very often - I don't get to harvest at the family farm anymore - and I don't plan on seeing the sideline of a football field to blow a horn or teach drill... And I may still play the occasional pick-up football game, but life is changing... I hope I never grow tired of seeing the beauty that God puts in our lives - not just in fall - but in every day...

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)

Sleep Is Over-rated

This new identity of mine ("Daddy") has led to a change in sleeping habits... I've never been a 'great' sleeper before - but I finally realized why parents of young children always look a little 'glazed over' in the eyes... They don't sleep a whole lot - and as of the past few days - neither do my wife and I... But that's okay... Even in the thick of diaper changings, late night feedings, and the constant wails of a 2 week old baby - I wouldn't change a thing... God has blessed us so richly - far more than we deserve...

I remember when my brother had his first son how excited he was... The experience and the change in lifestyle made him a 'new man'... It softened his heart and made him more of a grown up... I remember him saying once that he "couldn't imagine life without him now"... Those words got me thinking, "If my insensitive goon of a brother can handle this whole 'dad' thing - surely I can, too..." And you know what - he's exactly right... I can't (and wouldn't want to) imagine my life without our little boy... My priorities have sure shifted from trying to buy toys for myself and eat out whenever we wanted - but I'd take the moments I spend looking at that face more than a new guitar ANY DAY!!! But you know - I'd take both if someone's buying!

It's Just a Little Spit Up

The past ten days have been some of the most emotional of our lives... We have been parents now for 10 - almost 11 days by now... We've begun to discover how we can function (not so good at times) on minimal sleep... We've also started to see how blessed we are to have a well behaved baby... (for the most part) He sleeps when he's supposed to... He eats every couple of hours... And he gets his recommended amount of 'poopy' diapers every day... Actually - he gets more than his share, or so it would seem...

Today, however, was different... He didn't eat well today... He didn't want to... He just would rather sleep... "Okay" we thought... No big deal... But later in the day - we fed him and - Oh, yeah - Up it came... We had 'projectile'... All over mommy!!! Needless to say, my wife was a little discouraged... "What's wrong with him?" - "Is it my fault?" - "What did I eat?" - "Is he going to be okay?"

But - we don't need to worry... In fact - we need to remain happy - even 'cheerful' and think about all the good stuff God is doing in our lives... "Why" you may ask..? Well - "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. (Proberbs 15:30)

I don't know about ya'll - but I'd rather focus on the good stuff so we feel better... So - look at someone with a 'cheerful smile' and tell everyone the 'Good News' about Jesus Christ...

Don't you feel better now..?