Category Archives: Theology

Restoration Thinking #7

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We’ve had a tough week in Bowling Green.  At least 6 families from our church family  have had major situations in which they need prayer.  This is heavy stuff, and some of the situations are deeply joyful, some are deeply mournful, and others are not as threatening, but equally stressful for all involved.

In Acts 2:42-4:37, the disciples began doing something they had not formerly done.  They became a family.  A community.  They sold what they had and gave to the poor amongst them.  Consider the following text:

Acts 4:32  All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

What an amazing testimony of the power of Christ in these people!  I don’t read in this, that they became a cult, or a commune, but a faith community.  They became part of one another, because they undoubtedly understood things that  we often do not.

Remember, they had the Apostles with them.  Men who were with Jesus daily, men who experienced his kindness, his sternness, his grace, and his love.  How else would the early disciples have learned to “share everything they had?”  What I think was going on, was that these men had begun teaching and undoubtedly modelling the love that Jesus said they must do.  After all, he said, “by this will all men know that you are my disciples; that you love one another.”

Ok, I can’t provide jobs for people necessarily, nor can I drop a big check in the hands of my needy brothers and sisters always.  But what can I do?  FIND something to do.  Do what I can.  Pray.  Share my goods, share my home, share my ear, my love, my prayers.  Give them time and spend time with they who are in need of a brother or sister’s encouragement.

There’s an interesting dynamic that I am NOT through studying; that is, what was so amazing about the blood of Christ that changed this community?  After all, this was not a group of weird people who were viewed as oddballs and freaks in the 1st Century Jewish society.  These were people who “prais(ed) God and enjoy(ed) the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Ax 2:47)

Favor of ALL the people?  Why don’t we come out of our shell, Christians?  How utterly true are the words of this great song by Casting Crowns:

But if we are the Body
Why aren’t His arms reaching
Why aren’t His hands healing
Why aren’t His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren’t His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way.

How can we improve?  Are we more concerned with doctrine and doctrinal purity than love?  Are we more concerned with rituals and traditions than listening and praying with our friends? 

God be merciful to me for not being a worthy disciple.  Lord, you are holy, and your son is holy – through whom we may approach you.  Your Spirit enables us to be your children.  Lord, bring your spirit on us.  Help me to be neither hostile toward any Christians, heritage, or background that I find stifling.  Help me to embrace Jesus, and us (your people) to be passionate followers so that your people are highly regarded in the world.  Please Lord, help us to be your body in this world!  Forgive my foolish ways and sins, and be continually working out your perfection in my life through your Spirit.  Jesus, empower me to sit at your feet and listen to you.  Help me to make you real again, and listen.  I believe Lord, but I struggle.  I am heavy right now with many thoughts and concerns of those in our immediate family of believers, and I pray that you will hear our prayers and bless them all with what you know they need.  Amen.

Majesty – the Grand Canyon

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This past week I was blessed to be able to work in Arizona.  It was productive work, as I met with chapters around the state – 10 or 11 in all.  But being a Christian and an outdoorsy kind of guy, I couldn’t get to Arizona and not see the Grand Canyon.  For Drew’s pictures, click on the link below: 
http://picasaweb.google.com/drooellis/Arizona 

Of course the rest of the state is pretty as well – in its own way.  If you grew up with horses, knew the names to at least 5 John Wayne movies and had a flare for the exotic, the Canyon state is pretty amazing all the way around.

I arrived in Phoenix on Tuesday – they were on the end of a record-breaking heat streak, which ended Tuesday at 108 degrees.  It was hot, but not unbearable at all; as they say, it was a dry heat!  hardly any humidity at all.  Wednesday I was in Tucson, and the temps were around 85.  Thursday I drove up to the Grand Canyon.  And was demoralized by the fact that on the way, about 70 miles out, it began SNOWING!  Yes, snowing… it was 43 degrees.  By the time I got to the park, it was snowing huge flakes (the kind you don’t ever see in Kentucky, Tennessee or Alabama).  I went ahead and went into the park, and when I got to the canyon, it was a complete “white out”.  There was nothing but fog, clouds, and snow.

I prayed for the skies to clear… I mean you just don’t come this far and not see this magnificent manifestation of God’s wonder.  I ran a couple of miles, went to the lodge, and about the time I got to the car, I decided to go hang out on the trails.  I got to the edge, and could see nothing.  Every now and again, the wind would blow the fog up out of the way, and I got to see some space!  And then, almost in a span of 15 minutes, it all cleared up.  I got to see the canyon! 

In subsequent musings, I found the following Psalm that conveyed my amazement and wonder.  Praise God for his majesty, the fact that he humbles us, and the fact that he lets us experience his wonderful world.

Psalm 77:13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
       What god is so great as our God?

 14 You are the God who performs miracles;
       you display your power among the peoples.

 15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
       the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
       Selah

 16 The waters saw you, O God,
       the waters saw you and writhed;
       the very depths were convulsed.

 17 The clouds poured down water,
       the skies resounded with thunder;
       your arrows flashed back and forth.

 18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
       your lightning lit up the world;
       the earth trembled and quaked.

 19 Your path led through the sea,
       your way through the mighty waters,
       though your footprints were not seen.

 20 You led your people like a flock
       by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Were the Psalm to continue, it might say something like this:  (Drew’s thoughts…) 
     You carve the earth with the breath of your nostrils,
      the canyons and rivers proclaim your greatness.  As a child
     draws in the dirt with a stem, the mountains are a mere
      reflection of seconds of Your glory. 

     The rocks cry out and the flowers display your great power;
      the gentleness of Your love and Your artistry and might.

     Your Spirit touches me as I am overwhelmed by the sight,
      and my breath leaves me as if the Spirit took me by the hand.

     The LORD is great.  He is mighty and good, and there
      is no god, no man, no creature as majestic as the LORD.

Blessed be the name of Jehovah!

If your eye causes you to stumble… (Cory Hunt update)

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I wanted to post this so my friends can pray for Cory’s continued healing.  Sounds like the Lord has done some awesome stuff in this situation.  His blog can be found at:  http://octimesquartet.blogspot.com/ 

-Drew

Thursday, May 8, 2008

AMAZING Grace!

Forgive me as I’m sure this will get long-winded, but I feel the need to let you all know just exactly what I’m feeling.

Many of you are aware of the trauma I had with my eye early this year. After one surgery and many prayers, we fixed one problem. This was followed by months of follow-ups and continual bleeding in my eye. Then last week, we found that I had a detached retina and surgery would be necessary to repair the detachment. At that time, doctors told me I would not likely regain any vision in my right eye, but the surgery would save my eye ball itself, to keep me from having to get a glass eye.

Yesterday, I went in for surgery. My doctors planned it to be one-and-a-half to two hours and would include reattachment of the retina with a sclera buckle, possible pneumatic retinopexy (a gas bubble in the eye which would require me to be head down again for a week or two), silicone oil, laser therapy, cryotherapy, membrane dissection as well as a possible lensectomy. We prepared for this surgery for some time and arranged for a family friend from church to do my anesthesiology. She has a rep for being the best in town, but it’s also comforting for mom, dad and myself to go into an intimidating situation with a friend in the room.

Adding to this, my insurance that I had to cover the last surgery dropped me a few weeks ago. I was on a short term policy and the contract I signed had an option for them to not allow me to renew after six months. I had no way to pay for this surgery and that was a great burden on my family and I. My doctor setup an appointment with the State Work Rehabilitation Office. The day before my surgery, I heard back that I had been approved for federal assistance through Services for the Blind, covering all of my doctor and hospital expenses, a true blessing and relief.

I’ve never been much of a worrier, I just can’t think of an instance where it has helped any situation. Whatever happens, happens for a reason, and no matter what, it is in my best interest. It’s hard to see that sometimes – very hard – but I believe it wholeheartedly. So we (mom, dad and I) went to the surgery feeling upbeat, positive and eager for continuing the healing.

After saying our goodbyes, my anesthesiologist, Kathy, wheeled me into the operating room where I found Dr. Friedlander (my talented doctor and surgeon) and an old classmate, Emily, who was scrubbing in as one of his nurses for the procedure. There was also a med student from Illinois who was there to observe the surgery. It was a party! I asked Dr. Friedlander if he would do the silicone oil, if at all possible, so that I wouldn’t have to spend several days with my head down. (I’m graduating from college on the 17th of this month and really wanted to walk across that stage when my name was called.) He said he would do what he could, said goodnight and that was about it.

I woke up in a daze with the familiar itch of stitches in my eye, ointment on my good eye and one question… “did he put the silicone oil or the gas in my eye?” The nurses in recovery weren’t sure, but they didn’t have instructions to put me head down, so it must have been oil. This made me pretty happy. But I had no idea what was to come.

Sometime later, they brought my parents to the recovery room and my mom grabbed my hand and asked if I had heard the good news. She told me that Dr. Friedlander found that my retina was NOT detached, he cleaned up my inner eye and sent me on my way.

There are truly no words I can write to tell you what kind of joy this gave me. I didn’t want to ask any more questions because it hurt to cry, it was pure delight. Dr. Friedlander removed the old congealed blood, scrapped more blood off my lens and did some work with the laser to prevent further bleeding within my eye. My parents told me when he came out to tell them how things went (just 45 minutes after going under) that he had a big grin on his face. (I’ve also learned through all of this that when your doctor is happy, you should be happy – when he is not, you should not.)

Today, I went in for a post-operation checkup and removal of the bandages. It’s itchy, red, swollen and looks like I got in a pretty good argument with a fist and lost. But when I opened my eye… I COULD SEE. For the first time in months, I could count fingers a few feet away, detect motion, see color – all out of an eye that I had been told was all but lost. My lens is scratched and a cataract is forming and will require a quick, routine surgery. My optic nerve still has damage to it and will not likely heal, so I won’t likely be able to read with that eye again, but the fact of the matter is I CAN SEE!!!!

I know that we don’t all share the same religious beliefs but I just have to say, I truly have been touched by God throughout this whole ordeal. This truly miraculous turn in events is just one part of a much bigger picture. God has walked with me through the dark, lonely moments at night while wondering what the next day will bring; He has forced me to give up my selfish ambition and will to succeed on my own, and has brought me to rely on only His strength.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Paul writes:

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.“

What a privilege it is to know that true, unconditional love; to lay my worries and cares at the foot of The Cross, and to trust that everything that happens to me is all part of a much bigger plan. There’s nothing I can do to earn or deserve it, it’s all by the Grace of God.

I’m truly grateful to you all for your e-mails, kind words, thoughts and especially prayers. I wish that there was some way for me to repay you for the outpouring of kindness and love… I look forward to seeing you all in the near future and singing a sing with or for you, and appreciate your continued prayers for healing, but mostly joyous thanksgiving for a true miracle.

-Cory

Busy times…

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It was just this past week when I had quite a wake-up call. 

Not only did we lose our precious “nephew”, Ethan Powell to Leukemia, but my dear wife was gone all week with the family in Memphis/Shreveport, the kids were with my Mom & Dad, and I found myself alone.  Several nights… while alone and busy doing work at home, I realized just how fortunate I was to be a part of a community of believers in Bowling Green that is passionate about caring for one another.

A dear brother came and cut my grass, countless phone calls, emails, cards, and otherwise prayerful meditations of people in our behalf were on my mind.  I’m not gonna lie to you, the loss of Ethan stunned me.  Even though I know all of the textbook answers about suffering.  I’ve read the Lee Strobel books, I’ve studied C.S. Lewis and various Christian theologians and apologists, but until you see a perfect little child who has yet to make a decision with a rational mind – die because of a ruthless disease – it’s not terribly real.

God is good.  He is big.  He knows more than I do, and I know that a lot of people were brought closer to him because of their realization of Ethan’s illness and perhaps their OWN deserving what an innocent child got.  Regardless, it is a time to fall on our knees and humble ourselves.

Another great tragedy has occurred in Bowling Green, KY this past week.  Sparing the details, a well-respected man in both church and community passed away by his own purposeful actions.  I found out I have “moderately abnormal” cells in a biopsy they did on me last week, and while not terribly alarmed, the Dr. wants to be sure and remove the spot on my skin.  Work is so busy that I feel like I’m standing on the seashore shoveling sand as quickly as I can, but another two, three, dozen waves come in every moment.  It’s been a heavy last few weeks.

Father, your word says that those who will do what’s right will be tested.  It says that you love those whom you punish.  Whether or not my life (and others around me) are being punished right now, I know you love me, and want my heart.  Forgive my foolish side-tracked mind, and may I be the champion of wisdom and holiness that my family needs.  Thank you for the sunshine today.  Thank you for the fun time watching “Are you smarter than a 5th Grader with my kids and wife”.  Thank you for cars that run, Christian bro’s and sis’s that love, and for our silly happy dog.  Thank you for the wake-up calls that remind us that you’re still here, you’re better than everything around us, and you want us to join you.

Whenever two or three are gathered in My name…

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…I am with them.  This past Sunday we were out of the country… well, it felt like it!  I was coming down with what I now know was STREP throat, and was laid up in the bed trying to get some rest – which of course I never got since my 7 year old wanted to sleep with Daddy.

We had our annual Spring Convention in the Dixie District of the Barbershop Harmony Society.  In lovely Greenville, South Carolina, the weather was pleasant most of the weekend, and since my quartet was trying to qualify for the International Quartet Contest (the Big Stage!) this summer, it was a big deal for us.  I’m in a comedy quartet called Lunch Break with a dear brother named Shane Scott .  Shane and I almost always share the room, and the other 2 of our quartet buddies share their own.

Shane and I have much in common – especially our faith in Christ.  It would appear that we’re going to be spending a fair amount of weekends in a hotel room on Saturday night/Sunday morning, before either early Sunday morning flights home to Nashville, or perhaps Shane will take the Sunday off (full-time minister for a church in Nashville).

Some months ago, Shane asked me, “hey buddy, on some of these Saturday nights/Sunday mornings (late, late after the afterglow shows), why don’t we share the supper together.”  I agreed that it would be an ideal time and a great idea to share that great communion together in our solitary moments  – So this past Sunday in South Carolina we enjoyed a few minutes together as Shane read out of Isaiah, and we ate some bread and drank the wine together.  GREAT times!

One of the neatest things about it, was that I wasn’t feeling well.  Shane said, “it’s ok buddy, you’re ox is in the ditch – why don’t we do this another time.”  I insisted that we go ahead, and he just pulled a chair up to the bed and we still made it happen.  It was a great moment, and I felt refreshed even though I wasn’t with my spiritual family at the church in Bowling Green.  I couldn’t help but think about the passage where Jesus told his disciples, “where two or three are gathered in My name, I am with them.”  We continued to talk for a few minutes about our special bonds in Christ, and how it was only through Him that we could share in such deep times of devotion together – and perhaps in time, we can use those moments to sharpen one another’s spiritual swords.  Shane is a great friend to me, and a great mentor to my son, Jacob, who loves him dearly.  …Fact is, almost nobody DOESN’T LOVE Shane.  He’s a selfless servant of Christ, who’s about as wacky as a human can be, and still be G rated!

Oh, and our quartet did well… we did in fact qualify to go to the “big show” this July, and will be fortunate to be one of about 45 quartets from around the world going for the International Championship.  Great, great times, with great friends.  Feel free to visit www.lunchbreakquartet.com and leave us a comment!

Voice of Truth

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I’ve been listening and re-listening to Casting Crowns lately on the way to work in the mornings.  It’s a great time to get my head together on my 1-hour drive to Nashville, and the lyrics to this song have been repeatedly coming to mind for me.

This song speaks to the nature of Satan’s craftiness.  More than anything else, for Christians, he may use our own guilt; the deceitfulness of our own hurting hearts from the sins of our dark places.  I love these artists!  They’re clearly conveying the truth of God’s word in the lyrics of this song, and allude to the choice we have of listening to the various voices that battle within us. 

“Voice Of Truth”

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I’m in
Onto the crashing waves To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He’s holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I’ve tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. ‘Boy, you’ll never win!’
“You’ll never win”

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says “Do not be afraid!”
And the voice of truth says “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they’d have had the strength to stand

But the giant’s calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I’ve tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again “boy, you’ll never win!
“You’ll never win”

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don’t seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

The truth is – we will listen to God’s voice of truth if the Lord Jesus is our master.  Father, I pray for the strength to listen to the voice of truth – whatever its source.  If it is holy, it is from you, and I pray for the courage to listen to it.  I pray for the strength to be the holy man of God I hoped to be long ago, a pillar of strength and holiness, and always a reflection of your Son.  You are far more holy than I can ever be.  Father, forgive my failures, and help me to laugh at the waves in the strength of the King.

Maxxxxx!!! That is NOT a chew toy!

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You know that belly-laugh you get sometimes?  It feels really, really good when that happens.  Tonight I got to see Jacob having that, and it almost happened to me just by watching him.  He was watching “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” – of course, the Jim Carrey version – and was laughing amazingly.  One of the funniest spots to him was when Max – the Grinch’s dog – jumps up and clinches his teeth into Grinch’s tail… he squirms and grimaces as only Jim Carrey can, and screams, MAX!  That is not a chew toy!  If we had Tivo Jacob would want to see it 20 more times!

This is a beautiful time of year.  There’s a gang at work that wanted to do something different this year in stead of swapping gifts, and they contributed quite a few $$ to the local boy’s home in Nashville.  The thought has occurred to me a number of times recently – as I’ve come across several Scrooges – that the spirit of giving is what the season is all about.  It is the warmth of family, the kindness of self-less giving to others, and the realization that things are new during this season.

I didn’t grow up celebrating Christmas as a Holy day.  I now can’t help but reflect on the meaning behind the day.  The “whovenile delinquents” in Jim Carrey’s “Grinch” were ones who GOT IT.  They do not allude to Christ in the film; after all, it’s a feel-good happy story of an ugly creep who was spoiled in his youth against Christmas, and how he’s redeemed by the heart of a little girl.  But the thing that appeals to me more and more in the last few weeks, is that in Christ’s birth, the beautiful story of the ages is brought to fruition.  The virgin mother child herself bearing the savior of mankind, and giving us “second birth” as the song says… that is the beauty of the Christmas story! 

The Grinch was redeemed in the end of the story… but not by Jesus.  It’s interesting; the Grinch brought back the gifts he had stolen from the Who’s in Whoville, and he finally understood that it was about kindness and warmth because of something greater than yourself.  The 3 gifts to the Great King were Gold – the bounty of Kings, Frankencense – a costly spice that is used by royalty, and Myrrh.  As Dan Melear said this past Sunday… Myrrh doesn’t fit.  It’s the same root word in Hebrew as “Marah” – or bitter waters.  It’s the spice/ointment they used for embalming bodies in that time.  It was a bitter herb’ish type ointment or spice, depending on its form, meant to cover up the stench of death.

Embalming Fluid as a gift for the Savior of all Mankind upon his birth?  Come on!  …yet could there be anything more appropriate?  I don’t know all of the history of the socio-economic value of Myrrh in that ancient world, but I know that it was used in the burial of Jesus’ body.  2 of the 3 gifts were the gifts of Kings.  The third was perhaps prophetic of the greatest gift he would offer mankind; his own self.  His own body in our stead.  His own legacy of kindness, compassion, love, truth, and his own legacy of setting the standard.  the Anointed One was the epitome of hermeneutics.  He defines what our interpretation should be.  Love, kindness, compassion, mercy, truth, and obedience.  If we “get” that… maybe we would start to see Christmas in a little bit different light.  I’ll close with my favorite Christmas hymn’s lyrics from the 15th Century:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Leaf Playing & Real Quality Time

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Last weekend Jacob & I wanted to spend some quality time together.  And for the first time, he is getting old enough to actually help me work!  I had to get the leaves collected around our house, so I put a rake in his hands and I held the blower and went to work on the front and back yards. 

Jacob worked on the spots up close to the house, and got his little pile together, and was so proud of it.  He’s so smart.  I mean it doesn’t require much intelligence to rake leaves, but many kids don’t figure out how to do things the right way, and actually care to work!  I know I didn’t…  but I went to look back at his work, and although he had missed some spots – he had done a great job getting most of the leaves out of the flower bed and all in one pile.  I only gave him meager instruction, but he did a great job.  He was so proud of his work.  Leaning on his rake, he was standing there as if to say, “yeah… check that out, Daddy.”

So we got the leaves all together, and when all was said and done, there was a 4 – 5 foot pile of leaves about 15 feet in diameter.  Big pile!  So right when Jacob said, “daddy, how is this fun, Daddy?”  I grabbed his 65 pound rock solid little body by the leg and an arm – and swung him into the big pile of leaves.  He panicked for a second, then said, “hey Daddy, do that again!!!”

He had no idea that work could be fun.  And lo and behold, working with Daddy proved to be a memorable experience.  I can look back on my time with my Dad, and some of the most quality times I had with him were times working, playing, scouting, or just hanging at the house. 

I was reminded of the Lord’s love for us.  It is for our own good that he allows us to be challenged, to work, to feel the load of daily cares, and responsibility.  It’s in the small things like REAL quality time that we spend with him that we grow truly close to Him.  Time in prayer, time in the word, getting to know him as our relationship grows closer to him; and then out of nowhere he throws us in the leaves; and shows us the simple joys of life in him. 

I’ve been continuing to read a book by Lee Camp called Mere Discipleship.  More than anything, I’m beginning to understand that the Lord wants a real relationship with us, not some sort of proof-texting mastery of the Scripture; and a card-punching unblemished attendance record at church.  What I never knew before – thanks to God for some graduate study in this – was that we are often guilty of Bibliolatry, and worship the Bible itself, rather than seeking a relationship and true quality time with the Lord.

How much more does he want us to be devoted and dedicated to him out of love rather than fear!  Understanding what he has done for us, in redeeming us from our wicked separation from him, is paramount to any relationship we will develop with him.  I pray that God will continue to bless me with quality times with my son, and the presence of mind to MAKE quality times with my children, and not just be task oriented and meaningless with our co-existence.

Amberlee’s Prayer tonight…

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Picking up midstream…

… and um, thank you for Jesus, dyin on the cross, because Jacob doesn’t want me in his room, and because I don’t want him in my room, because I love my piggy bank.  And thank you for Jacob, and for Mommy & Daddy, and Molly and Kate (friends), and Nanna and Pap, and thank you for doughnuts, and for Santa Claus by my sheet (next to her bed), in Jesus name, Amee-un.

Praise God for the innocent heart of a child. 

Reminiscing

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Tonight, Elizabeth and I took a much needed break from working our house over… finally getting settled in to our first house we’ve been blessed to own.  In moving stuff around, I found 2 videotapes that have been hiding for several years. 

One of the videos was of Jacob when he was about a Year old.  We had taken him to the Zoo in Memphis (a GREAT one!!), and he was such a chatterbox!  He was talking to the monkeys, the tigers, flamingos, and all the while that crazy fuzzy velcro hair of his sticking up everywhere!  He has always been a Mama’s boy, but there were several times he clearly wanted to come to Daddy.  But Daddy was so busy filming everything else that he didn’t get a chance to love on him until near the end of the Zoo trip.

There was a time after Jacob had come to Daddy on the video when my Dad – Pap – was looking down at the Rhinocerous in the mud – and Pap started smacking the rail at the lookout spot.  My Mom – Nanna – was standing between Dad and Jacob’s view.  Jacob was looking around every which way to see what Pap was doing.  It wasn’t but a few seconds before Pap smacked the rail again (to try and disturb the Rhino’s slumber) when Jacob puts his little hand down and pats the rail himself!  It was much more of a pat than a smack coming from the one-year-old.

I was amazed that this little guy is exactly the same now – at the age of 7 – as he was 6 years ago.  He loves mimicing his Daddy, his Pap, his Mama, and whomever he admires; he loves playing, throwing stuff, teasing you into tickling him more, and more, and more!  

Why don’t we mimic our Master like Jacob did Pap?  Why don’t we still long to please him?  To make him proud?  Is there ever a time when we maintain our pure-hearted diligence to please and obey him as we did when we first obeyed the Lord? 

There are a whole lot more things I got out of watching the video… most of which were sentimental warm feelings.  After all, this is a baby boy that was so unbelievably sweet and happy, and we were blessed with him by God.  And then… Amberlee asked, “can we watch me as a baby, Daddy?”  So we cruised back in time only 3-4 years to watch our little girl.

Praise God for his love and blessings!  I pray that he will guide me into holiness in the same tender way he did when I first became a father, and was so concerned about being a perfect example for my son.  And most of all, I pray that I will try to mimic the every move of my Savior, and with child-like enthusiasm to obey and serve.