A "WOW" Moment!

I had a "Wow" moment this morning. In order to get to that let me take you back to...oh.... the beginning of this week. We have had a lot of rain here over the past few weeks. Now, if you are in the southern parts of the States, please do not take that as a snub to you. But we have. We keep getting these huge gully washers. You in the south know what those are. Heavy deluges of sheet after sheet of rain. Needless to say, my grass has grown over those days. Problem? Well, the timing of my week has been mismatching the available moments to drag out the mower and actually cut that lush blanket of green stuff that needed to be brought under control.

So...(getting to the "wow")....I woke this morning knowing that again I would have no time to cut it this evening and knowing that tomorrow was pretty much shot and that of course Sunday is not the day of mowing but the day of musing. That leaves Monday...NO, I am taking a van load of kids to camp! So....I had the idea of seeing if my eldest child could handle the responsibility of mowing the lawn.

Caleb is now 10 and will be 11 in January. He is a responsible boy, but is he able to handle the job? I have him drag out the mower. We go through the pre-mow checklist. Gas? Check. Oil? Check. Primed? Check. What is that thing under the mower called that actually cuts the grass? "Blade, Dad." Ok, Check. What happens if you get your foot under the mower? ...you get the idea. This is serious business. Life or death in the power of a 10 year old! I gave the lecture on watching out for rocks and to not get cute while mowing. He pulls the cord, it cranks, I lecture on cutting the tall stuff and doing a good job. He takes off and as far as I know, has done a great job.

WOW!

Where has the time gone? When did my firstborn child become tall enough, strong enough, and even decisive enough to be able to handle such a job? It has been happening everyday for the past 10 years. (Pause while I grab a kleenex.)

Where is this all going? In reality, I don't know. I mean, yes, I know what I want to say here, but what is next in his life, for him as a growing young man? I don't know. That is somewhat scary, yet I have a responsibility to teach, live, and just simply allow him to expand as he is ready. Problem is....I don't want him to be ready. I want him to stay little, controllable, maintainable, and even dependent upon me. I don't want to let the rope out and let him step out, and sometimes mess up.

But the beauty of God's Word states that I have to train him and teach him, why? Because one day he will be most likely having the same conversation with his son or daughter that my father had with me. Not just about mowers, but about life, and about making wise decisions and even how to handle failures and mistakes.

I need to teach him the joy of doing it God's way and the pain that comes in trying a wrong way. I have to warn him, but in the end, I have to remember that there will be a day when I won't be there to grab him or choose for him. What then? Will he choose wisely? I hope so. I hope that there will be many more "wow" moments where I am able to see the growth, maturity, and power of God working in him.

One thing that comes to my mind in all of this is that I can't stop leading and living the kind of life before him that shows how important God is and how involved God wants to be. I want to show him, not just tell him, how wonderful God is and how special it is to be called a child of God. That it really is a "WOW" thing to be in the will and arms of a gracious, loving God.

Oh,and another thing....Now I have someone else to mow the lawn!

Happy Father's Day!

We come again to another turn in the yearly cycle where we have celebrated a New Year, Valentine's Day, the entrance of Spring, Motherhood, Veterans, and soon, Fathers.

As I am a father it is a bit more personal for me. As well, we welcomed our 4th boy into the world just three weeks ago. This is a very special Father's Day indeed.

The greatest challenge we have as dads is to realize that a very high standard has been set up for us. The God of this universe is referred to as, "Father." His place in our existence is such as Creator and originator. James tells us plainly that from Him comes all that is good in our lives.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17

We have the classic passages where Christ describes the generosity and fairness of God. Where God is seen as a loving Father who would not withhold any good thing from His child.

"Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:9-11

I also take note of what Christ had said just prior to that passage.

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Mark Twain is credited as once saying that when he was 13 he realized how stupid his father was, but by the time he reached his 20's he couldn't believe how smart his father had become.

Our job as fathers is not to seek the approval of our children. We are to seek the approval of God, our Father. We are not here to emulate man's philosophy of raising children, but we are to emulate the philosophy of God in how He seeks to raise us into the image of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Our ministry is such as the Father has for us.

May we as fathers look to stop being selfish, self-centered, and more enamored with the reflection of our faces in the mirror of God's Word. May it reveal our faults, but may we then seek from that same book to rectify our lives according to the truth of God. Let's live each day as fathers. Let's live each day in such a way that our heavenly father is seen in us for our children's sake and for the rest of the world to see.

Newest Member of our family

The Lord has graciously allowed our family to add another member to the ranks. Elijah was born yesterday around 2:01 PM. Thank you to those who prayed for Kelly and the little guy. Pray now for us as we adjust to another little one in the house.

Here is the little man.

Humor From The Aged

Believe it or not, but my mother sent me this and I just wanted to share it here. Very cute and for some it is one you have heard before, but I hope it tickles a part of your funny bone today.


The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady because she had just gotten married for the fourth time. The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband's occupation.
"He's a funeral director," she answered.
He then asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living. She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years.
After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly,
Explaining that she had first married a banker when she was in her early 20's, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40's, and a preacher when in her 60's, and now in her 80's, a funeral director.
The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.
She smiled and explained, "I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go."

Allow for Space in the Music

I frequently get e-newsletters from Christianity Today (a very evangelical magazine and ezine). Some of them are good and some are infuriating, but this particular article stood out to me as one that was well written and challenging.

The content is about dealing with the uncomfortable situation of being a true friend to some individual suffering through chronic or lifelong pain or suffering. What words of comfort are truly comforting? What words are well intended but in the end cause more frustration or feelings of wanting to withdraw even more.

As a pastor there are times I feel void of any ability to offer hope to someone. I have individuals in my family and in my church who struggle with persistent physical or emotional turmoil. What are my choices of communicating hope to these people. What can I say that won't hurt them more and drive them deeper into despair?

This article was a good reminder of some things to be aware of and conscious of. There are times we are totally unaware of the burdens that some people carry and so we find ourselves saying things that are hurtful without knowing it. Those are different situations from the ones that this article addresses.

May we learn to Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (Romans 12:15)

I like the last part of the article where it derives the title. Sometimes it comes down to us simply living out the truth we wish to verbally share. Sometimes we simply need to shut our mouths and let our actions relay the truth of comfort the person truly needs.


Allow for Space in the Music | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction