work

I took Josh to work with me yesterday. We had a great time.

Thankful for such a simple memory.

Caleb... you're next!

seven

Even though we have already celebrated all three boys' birthdays back in America -- it's our tradition to have pancakes on birthdays... and Josh wanted to go Stanley Beach on the south side of Hong Kong, followed up by xiao long bao for dinner (his favorite). I'm so proud of who he is and absolutely honored to be his dad. This is the verse I most often think of about being a father:

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children are a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." Psalm 127:3-5

todays top ten.

why I love raising three sons:

1. they are fun people to be around.

2. coming home from work to be greeted in the driveway by the voices of little crazy warriors.

3. wrestling. mud. knives. adventures. bruises.

4. the "dad, what about....?" questions I get every day.

5. durability.

6. seeing them get crazy giddy when april shows me affection or wears lipstick.

7. incessant laughter. recurring stories about bodily functions. some things never change.

8. all the hard moments where I know I fall short of perfect love, and they still love me.

9. watching them find a boundary, and then push it to the limit or break something in the process.

10. they will be men one day, and by grace, lead their own families in what matters most.

maybe how the west was won, maybe.

i was at a rehearsal dinner lastnight for some friends getting married. I'm really happy for them, and was thankful to have been a part of their wedding weekend. truth be told, I've lost track of how many rehearsal dinners I've been to at this point, and that doesn't really matter. For the most part, those evenings are the same. Meaningful. Sometimes awkward. Usually funny.

I have to say, tonight I was reminded again about the importance of a father's blessing. I myself I have received such grace from my own dad. It was really great to hear another son receive his fathers blessing. Not everyone does or has the opportunity to. So, I figured while I can, for as long as I can, that's the goal I'm aiming for with my sons.

April and the boys couldn't make it tonight, so on the way home I ran into wal-mart and picked up a little toy for the boys. No, they didn't need another toy, but I did want another opportunity to look them in the eyes, and tell them they are special to me. So, I got them a cowboy-kit, complete with guns, knives, handcuffs, spurs, and a canteen.

What's funny is that after i got back and we had our little father / son / cowboy moment, I jokingly said, "hey, guess where this was made?" -- Josh, 1 second later -- "let me guess... China?"

Yep. The wild west, made in the east. Makes sense. 

1-2-3.

                                            

a story worth telling - part 4.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:3-4

a story worth telling - part 3

So, after hearing Josh share his desire to pray because  he believes, we all sit around this little beat-up coffee table that has been in our family for 30 years. Josh wants April to pray first, so she prays, then he prays, and then I pray. 

I cannot tell you how precious his words are to me, but I can say that I am convinced  his sincerity and genuine interest in the things of God, most importantly, the work of Jesus Christ, is true. We may plant and water, but God is the one who grows. 

The ongoing work of God rescuing human hearts is evident in our oldest son's life. Later that night, he wanted me to read the whole thing all over again. We decided we would try to read a little bit every day. So he slept with this new favorite book at the edge of his bed. The next day, he's reading it again, and insisted he bring it in the car. It is a reminder to me every time he asks me to read to him, that God always and forever more committed to us than we could ever be to Him. 

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:16-21

a story worth telling - part 2

The living, the living—they praise You, as I am doing today; 

fathers tell their children about Your faithfulness.  

Isa 38:19

So, the other day, April and I took the boys to Monkey Joes for a little time away from home. It's one of their favorite places to run around and play. While out that day, April had found the Jesus Story Book Bible. For a few weeks, Josh had been asking me about "his" bible. We were excited to get this for him.

So after an afternoon of playing, we get back home. Caleb and I are in the kitchen making casseroles for Thanksgiving. He and I are having a blast in there. Meanwhile, Josh and April are on the couch. They sat there from 4:30-7:00pm. I know what you are thinking, me too... that's a long time. Movies don't last that long. Certainly, the attention span of a 5 year old is not that long. However, Josh was so interested, enthralled might be a better word, with the story of Rescue. 

What I love about this little Bible is that it reminds anyone reading of the consistent theme of redemption, of God's relentless pursuit of people, and how all things point to Christ. To have such a Christ-centered understanding of the Bible at an early age -- everything else in the Bible makes sense if you understand the main point: Jesus - who was, and is, and is to come. 

April read him his new Bible from cover-to-cover, at Josh's persistent request. After hearing it, he simply said:

"I believe in Jesus and I want to pray".

a story worth telling - part 1.

Being a parent is the most rewarding and most difficult thing I have ever done. Rewarding because you see the fragility of life, you know firsthand the power of love, you re-experience the gospel all over again from the Father's perspective, you are in the front-row seat of these precious little lives, and to see them grow as people - is awe inspiring. 

Difficult, because you are all-the-more-aware of your own sinfulness, selfishness, and weaknesses. Because love compels us, "difficult" means dying to self and consistently putting other needs before your own. Parenthood can be really painful as well, because when they hurt, you hurt. Hands down, the past five years of parenthood have been some of the most intense seasons of learning how to be more patient, more loving, more compassionate, more consistent, more... like a reflection of God's love. 

Truth be told, it's tough to remember there is only one perfect Parent. So, when I do reach the end of my strength, mercy, patience, interest, love, etc -- There is always One who never does. Because He is alive in me -- then I must be quick to share with my children the life-changing reality of God's perfect love. 

walmart tents really work

This weekend I took Josh and Caleb on their first father / son camping trip. It was awesome. The first night it rained pretty hard, but the Wal-mart tent held her own... The next day my Dad joined us and we took the little guys to Callaway Gardens for the day. That night, we braved the elements again, the temperature dropped to around 30, no one really slept, but it was worth it for sure. All in all, a great weekend filled with hilarious moments, good conversations, and quality time.

perfect peace

坚 心 倚 赖 你 的 ， 你 必 保 守 他 十 分 平 安 ， 因 为 他 倚 靠 你 。

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isa 26:3

While I try to blog every day, there are days where that doesn't happen. So much has been happening in these days. After sharing the news of our transition to Hong Kong on Thursday at encounter, we spent the weekend in Montgomery with our family, spoke at Christchurch on Sunday, then went to another fall festival that afternoon, and then our week gets flipped backwards with encounter beginning on mondays for the next three weeks. Life is moving pretty fast. 

One thing I continue to experience is the promise and provision of peace - the kind of "shalom" peace (or as they used to say/mean the wholeness of God) when I stay my mind on Him. It's not to say there's not stress, or drama, or low moments -- but it is totally true that in those moments when I am aware of human frailty -- that perfect peace is my reality as I choose to trust in Him. 

By the way, Josh, our oldest son, has begun to ask me lately about "his" bible, and if i will tell him more stories about Jesus. Last week, he said he wanted to go "where you preach daddy". I am humbled by these words of his, and more than anything hope to point him towards Jesus. My desire to be the perfect father gains sobriety fairly often when he sees / I see how imperfect I am . April and I saw an old friend at a wedding this weekend, and she remarked  "Being a parent so reminds me of my sin and need for a Savior. I am in counseling because of it. I feel at though I am making no progress in my faith" --- Now that's honesty for you. She's right about the reminder. My point in saying this, is that imperfect people can and do know perfect peace - as we stay our minds on Him.

these people make me laugh.

Today for the most part is a day to do nothing, on purpose. It is so good to be around these little clowns. When Luke is old enough, I'm pretty sure the laughter will be multiplied all the more. It's days like this where its cool / rainy and we're forced to stay inside that random hilarious moments happen. 

raising sons that will be men

Every father leaves a legacy behind. I am thankful for my dad, who never failed to show me, tell me, and hug me - all to say he loves me. Still to this day, I can count on him for those same things. Imperfect he is -- and so am I, but now as a father, I can see through eyes of grace, how in our weaknesses and shortcomings, 

God's perfect fatherhood shines through. 

For my sons, I know one the greatest legacies I can leave them -- is that they are convinced they are loved by the Perfect Father, by way of an imperfect father who knows the difference. 

These sons will be men one day who will know grace, love, and honor. 

being still in the new normal

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Ps. 46:10

Stillness is more of a posture of my heart, than a reality in my experience these days. Perspective is everything. Admittedly, perspective is a choice, and one I must choose daily, if not hourly. If stillness means no movement, then that pretty much happens when I'm sleeping... I assume. 

Right now, I have 8 lbs of wonder, wrapped in a yellow outfit, with small rabbits around the chest.Big blue eyes are staring up. His little mouth, which trembles slightly when he hiccups, and his little arms that are almost always moving, stretching -- are tiny signs of my own condition before our Holy God. Dearly loved. Greatly held together. Created and Sustained. 

In the background, Rita Springer sings "distant shores and the islands will see your light..." , the dishwasher is running, and Josh and Caleb are playing dinosaurs. April is in the kitchen getting the sink ready for Luke's bath. It's in this moment, where I am choosing to be still, and know, that He is exalted among the nations and on the earth. We want to be a part of seeing His exaltation among the nations. We want our children to participate in the kingdom, to be an active part of seeing His kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven. 

The bath is ready and that's a good thing. Luke just pooped through his diaper, outfit, and it's all over both of us. Not bad. Not bad at all... 

candyland

Yesterday was a good day. Everything went as planned until mid afternoon when April called needing me to come home. It wasn't a hard choice, I dropped what I was doing and went home to help her with the boys. It's not that work wasn't important, but that I am committed to what is more important. I want her to know that. 

After a mediocre-cold veggie pizza from Papa John's that took 75 minutes to be delivered, we played Candyland with Josh and Caleb. Good clean fun; I always lose, and Josh and Caleb always win. Actually, Caleb plays in Caleb-world, and is all over the board, from Gramma Nut's to the Ice Cream Princess... there's no order. 

After that, it was bath time and book time for the boys, and then bed. I walked down the stairs, kissed April, and went to meet with an old friend who was hurting pretty badly. I got back a little after 10:00 and little Luke just had his bath and his hair was looking pretty much awesome and fuzzy. 

In that moment, I realized from early that morning until then, I had been something to someone all day long. The sequence went like this : breakfastmaker/ dad / leader / teacher / leader / husband / leader / son / dad / candylandman / childbather / bookreader / husband / marriage counselor / dad / husband. I could not imagine life outside of those relationships. Roles and responsibilities are always designed to point us back to God. I'm pretty sure any responsibility I have is designed make me aware of my need for Him. Check. 

Marriage. Fatherhood. Ministry. Family. Friends. It all goes back to Him. (Romans 11:36) 

When it was all said and done, I came up for air, and realized that the tyranny of urgent had NOT gotten the best of me today, but that I (with Christ in me the hope of glory) had kept in pace with the Spirit of God. People remained more important than projects.  What an incredible difference to not be stressed out, even though there is a mountain of work waiting at the office and growing list of things to do. 

I sit in my office now, caught up on all email. All voicemail. Checking things off the list. Breathing in. Experiencing Him. Really thankful. By the way, the text for tomorrow night at encounter? 

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus as Lord (needy, humble, desperate, dependent, grateful) 

so walk in Him. Col 2:6

welcome to the world.

Instantaneous joy. More love than any one person could adequately articulate. We are blessed with another little person to love ... humbled at the intricacies of God's creation. More pictures to come when we get home from the hospital. To sign up for our e-newsletter, click here

 

                                               

t-ball and tears.

See what kind of love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God, and so we are. 1 John 3:1

We reflect love like we know love. 

The other day at t-ball, Josh was having a hard time. Partly due to exhaustion and partly due to him being a little a stubborn he was reluctant to play. This moment for me initially was a pivot point. Flesh or Spirit.  I confess my pride of “What will people think of a coach whose own son doesn’t even play” went across my mind. Then God’s mercy did. How many times have You seen my junk and been filled with compassion, interceding in my messy little tball game to show me Your love? 

As this little scenario unfolded, I chose to walk in the Spirit. I did the best I could to encourage Josh, but after barely hitting the ball, and crying all the way to 1st and 2nd base. I realized he needed rescue. No amount of encouragement would help. So, I walked out to second base, still denying my pride, especially to the overly helpful coaches on the other team decked out in their coach shorts and tball cleats. There’s honesty. But then I realized again, that this was not about me. Never was. Why let it be about me anyway? This was about Josh having fun on a team. Humble me. April gives Josh the choice to be a part of the team or not play. After seeing the rest of the team playing, Josh wants in, kinda. The next at bat – I promised Josh I would swing ride beside him, and run all the bases beside him. That made the difference. Every dusty little step of the way, I was right there. Encouraging him with words, and encouraging him with my presence. Maybe that’s what he needed in the first place. To be reminded by me, that whether he plays or not – I love him. I do.

Fathers - do not provoke your children, lest they grow discouraged - Colossians 3:21

I noticed as we rounded the bases, that his little heart grew more confident. Before long, he was back to normal… reflecting on this little team, what he knew about himself and about me; That I loved him and would be beside him. I do love him. What a joy he is to be around. The thing is – nothing changed in my heart for him. I knew, no matter what, his worth in my eyes. He is worth any awkward moment on a 100*F tball field. 

I think the Oh-God-moments begin in my mind, when I think that even in his “worst” moments --- my love for Him is not open to debate (even when my pride rears it’s ugly head) – and then I think on a Heavenly Father scale – who does not wrestle with pride because HE IS THE BEST, how much joy He experiences when we don’t lost heart, and when we do stay in the game, swinging the bat, running the bases, remembering He is here.