Quiet! Be Still!

Mark 4:39 (NIV) ~ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm

Lord, as I lay my head down to sleep this night, I put my trust in you to watch over those in the path of Gustav.

Black Bear, Black Bear, What Do You See?

Black bear, black bear, what do you see?
"I see little boys looking at me"

Black bear, black bear, what do you hear?
"I hear little boys giggling in my ear"

Black bear, black bear, what do you smell?
"I smell little boys, the scent sure is swell"

Black bear, black bear, what do you feel?
"I feel hungry enough to eat through this steel"

Black bear, black bear, what do you taste?
"I taste disappointment, they ran without haste"

Black bear, black bear, what do you say?
"See you next year boys, be ready to play!"

Inspired by our recent visit to the delightful little free zoo at Oschner Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin where the boys got up close and personal with a Black Bear and also by our boys' love of Eric Carle books.

Are You Ready For Some....FRATERNITY!

This was my last Thursday morning sleeping in. Our Men's Fraternity group will be kicking in to high gear starting at 6am next Thursday and we'll go every week until Thanksgiving. We are hoping to get through both the 2nd and 3rd years of Men's Fraternity this year and are offering a repeat of the 1st year as part of our Wednesday night programs so that even more men have opportunity to grow into authentic Christian manhood.

Actually, this blog was part of my manhood plan as it developed last year as I participated in year one as a way to focus on those areas of my life I needed to focus on as an authentic Christian man, to work on being all the man that God wants me to be.

I pray that God will work through these offerings on Wednesday's & Thursdays to grow a vast army of Christian men in our community and that the whole Body of Christ will reap the blessings of men who reject passivity, accept responsibilty, lead courageously, and expect the greater reward of salvation.

Yes, football season is upon us. But are you ready for some FRATERNITY brothers? I can't wait till Thursday morning's kickoff!

Football Problem

OK, so I went to the first Monday of "Contagious Leadership" by John Maxwell this week. He concluded lesson one with a reference to what he called the "football problem."

My thoughts were immediately racing as to what this could mean? Is that where you are sitting in the pew at the 10:45am Sunday Service in November and the pastor's sermon goes way long and you wonder if anyone will notice you peel off after you go up for communion so you can get home in time for the Noon kickoff? Is it that Junior football practices and confirmation fall on the same Wednesday nights and you wonder why your son just can't do a couple hours of catechism study for one week during the summer instead of missing football? Is it the desperation of not being able to hear the hours of pregame chatter on Sunday morning so that you can set your best fantasy league lineup when one of your best players is a game time decision and you have usher that morning? Is it the fact that you are often asked to pass the peace with the guy in the next pew who is a diehard Packers fan and that afternoon they'll be playing your beloved Bears? Just what is this football problem?

In a nutshell, Maxwell sees it as you have 22 people on the field in dire need of a rest and 50,000 watching them in the stadium in dire need of some exercise. This is the problem many churches have. A few weary workaholics and a multitude of Sunday morning easy riders. Got quite a laugh in our group. We all understood the analogy right away, as we wouldn't have been there had we not all been regulars on the field. The goal was to hopefully lead some of those others to join us on the field. But we also need to look at the analogy all the way through. The 22 often feed off the energy generated by the 50,000 supporters. The 22 might be able to make a thunderous crack as they crash into each other but the 50,000 can roar a "joyful noise" loud enough to be felt on a Richter scale. Yes, there are often just a few Martha's but that frees up so many to be Mary's that can spend time at the Master's feet. (of course, it would be nice if some of those Martha's got their Mary time too)

No, the "real" football problem is that our society's passions are such that instead of parables about a prodigal son or the widow's mite we resort to sports to find analogies universal enough for all to understand. If only we had as much passion for serving God as we do for supporting our favorite teams. If only we could recite the Word as easliy as we can list the name and number of every Chicago Bear on the team 23 years ago. If only we squirmed at our breakfast tables in anticipation of going to worship on a Sunday morning as much as we do in our pews when the benediction doesn't arrive by opening kickoff.

Football season is upon us. May God help us to keep our pigskin passions at bay so that we may keep our eyes fixed on the prize and do all that His will requires of us.

Radio in the Car

So I went to pick the boys up at daycare after work yesterday and the White Sox were on the radio already as they were completing a suspended game from earlier in the year with the Orioles before the night game scheduled for later that evening. I got the boys and we headed for home and a commercial came on the radio during the game about the dangers of drunk driving. Something to the effect of "if you drink and drive, you might as well have a tattoo on your forehead that says 'loser.'" Ok, I'll buy that. Excellent public service message. As soon as the commercial ended, my 5 year old chimes in from the back seat.

"Can I drink and drive?" he asked

"No! Why would you want to do that?" I responded

"Cause I want a tattoo!" he retorted

Oh the joys of parenting. So now, here I am trying to figure out how I explain drinking and driving is bad and you don't want loser tattoo'd on your forehead without confusing him into thinking that if mommy is drinking a bottle of water while driving, she isn't breaking the law. I gave it a try.

"Why can't you drink and drive daddy?" asked the three year old next

"Cause the police will catch you and you'll got to jail." I cautiously responded

"Oh, OK." he answered.

So now we must wait to see if the next time I have a coffee or my wife has a fountain drink in the car and if we get challenged for drinking and driving by our sons.

Cravings

Saturday night's message at church was all about cravings. Funny how God always puts the Word before us that is effecting our lives at that very moment. Of course with my sister--my bride, I'm sure it struck her a bit differently than it did some of the rest of us. Hormones lead to cravings and this past week she's been on a "chili-dog" craze. We have many months to go with this current pregnancy (oh, didn't I tell you all that we are pregnant?...well, we are) and I'm prepared, I've got Buffalo Wings in the freezer (her usual late night craving with her earlier pregnancies) and she stocked up this week on Chili and hot dogs.

Of course she's working out still at the Y and hoping to maintain a healthy weight throughout, I just hope the same goes for me as the beneficiary (er..ah...victim...) of the sympathy cravings, as I get my share of the chili dogs and buffalo wings, etc.

Grow Up!

Last night in church we focused on our CRAVINGS, our hunger for the junk food of this world when what we really need is the pure spiritual milk. The service was built around this verse:

1 Peter 2:2-3(NIV) "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

I got a lot out of the message and our discussion of it afterwards in community group but what really caught my attention and made we want to dig a bit deeper into the Word was the notion of "growing up in our salvation." How many times through the years have I heard "GROW UP!" and even occassionally still today when my wife catches me in a "maturity-lapse" I hear it from her. But does growing up in our salvation differ from growing up in general? For instance, part of growing up is taking responsibility for one's actions. But in the case of my salvation, Jesus already took on that responsibility and paid the price in full for all my sins, even those I've yet to commit, with his death upon the cross. So just how does one "GROW UP" when it comes to one's salvation? Well, time to let scripture interpret scripture:

Ephesians 4:7,11-13 (NIV): "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it... It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ"

Colossians 4:12 (NIV): "Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured"

Philippians 3: 14-16 (NIV): "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained"

Hebrews 5:14 (NIV): "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

James 1:2-4 (NIV): "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything"

Growing up in general means taking on our own identity, separate from that of our parents and peers. Growing up in salvation means, as the Philippians 3 passage above states, "living up to what we have already attained." It is "standing firm" not in our own will, but "all the will of God." It is about serving others and perservering, about attaining "the whole measure of the fullness of Christ".

You see, when we grow up, we become ourselves, we gain an independent identity. When we grow up in salvation, we completely lose ourselves in Christ Jesus and have no identity apart from that of Jesus.

God, I hear you telling me to "GROW UP!" I ask that you equip for the journey ahead, as I go out to lose myself in Jesus.

When Tears Fall On A Smile

Our oldest ready for his first day of school! (We were not so ready!)

In honor of my oldest boy starting kindergarten after a few mommy (and daddy) tears this week.

They walk patiently down the hallway, she tries to hold his hand,
He balks and pulls his hands away, this is not what he had planned.

"I'm a big boy now," he says as he marches proudly onward,
She is left to wonder how, "when had this occurred?"

That he had grown up overnight, a big boy he was indeed,
How could that escape her sight, she was no longer in need.

But there he was on day one, triumphantly entering his classroom,
And she stood proud of her young son, venturing further from her womb.

When tears fall on a smile, its not sadness they portray,
And if you listen for a while, it will rise after a brief delay.

"I'm proud of you my little boy, you are truly rapidly growing,"
"And these are my tears of joy, my mother's heart is glowing."

Our boy is getting bigger, we cannot stand in the way,
And so with a tearful vigor, we watch him and we pray,

That God would keep him safe, whilst he is not in our care,
And that his absence does not chafe, Lord, hear our prayer.

By leaps and bounds our boy has grown, we thank you Lord for that blessing,
A love of Jesus in his heart is sewn, the full armor of God his dressing

So mommy is able to let him go, she will see him in a while,
A hug will bring forth her joyful glow, as tears fall on her smile.

Coaching

Well.

That question has now been put to me. Should you take your experiences, your gifts, your talents, and put them to work equiping others? No. We are not talking about some athletic enterprise here. No need to worry about me bringing some radical new playbook to your kid's football or soccer team. This is a different coaching opportunity entirely. It is a request to be a "Community Life Coach". A two year stint supporting and building up the Small Group and Community Group leaders within my congregation.

After prayerful consideration, I have accepted the opportunity to serve God by serving others in this manner. I pray that he equips with me with all that I need to do His will in this ministry.

Church Directory

It's picture time again. We've been at it as a congregation for over a month now and my family will take its turn in front of the lights and lenses this Saturday morning. When you have 5 different worship services spread out over two days and two seperate locations, church directory is a big bonus in helping to familiarize yourself with the whole Body of Christ.

It's not about what your wear, will the picture turn out good enough that you'll buy lots of copies or Christmas cards, etc. It's not about marking a milestone ["you see, that's what our family looked like in 2008"]. It IS about recognizing each other. Putting a face with a familiar name or a name with a familiar face. Familiar. Familiar!

It is about FAMILY. When the Family is so large, its good to have a little direction when it comes to recognition.

Fishing

Our youngest (even lost this pole right after snapping this pic)


First Fish!

On our recent excursion to Lake Wisconsin, the boys enjoyed several boat rides and made a few attempts to catch a fish. Finally, on the final evening of our vacation, we dropped a few lines in right off the pier...not even casting mind you, just dropping a baited hook straight down. BAM---FISH ON! My 5year old soon had caught five fish, including three separate species by the end of the evening. What a night. He had a ball (although he was disappointed that we had to throw them all back). It was his first successful fishing outing, though in my book they've all been successful as he's always had a good time even without catching an actual fish. The next day he was even grabbing minnows out of the bucket for my brother-in-law and I to use...fearless little hand reaching right in and grabbing them...though we didn't get a bite that morning before we headed for home.

A great vacation, made more so by the boys enjoying themselves. My 3year old, a big fan of Scooby Doo kept saying it was "An Underwater Mystery" as we rode on the boat and tried to fish (something he learned from Scooby I guess) and you know, he was right, fishing is sort of an "underwater mystery." My 5year old also coined a new phrase on the trip home. "Potty Park." That's what he calls the Interstate Rest Area's since you pull over, take a potty break and then get to play in the playground a little before getting back on the road. It sure is a "Potty Park"!

School starts tomorrow for the 5year old. He will begin Kindergarten at the Lutheran School. They grow up too fast! But glad we got to spend some great times with them in Wisconsin

Free Ferry

The Lodi-Merrimac Ferry awaits us every summer,
But it doesn't run in winter time, ice is such a bummer.
We park on board and then get out to enjoy the ride,
Cruising along the water, on cables it does glide.
It used to hold just twelve cars, but now it can handle fifteen,
Carried to the other side over waters that shimmer green.
To one side a railroad bridge that seems to beg the question,
Why not build a highway bridge? Its the obvious suggestion.

I for one love the ferry. We rode it as young kids heading to the Dells in summer and now ride it every summer we head up to my sister's place (and then we usually head out on her boat to see it from the water as well). I love the wait for it to come to your side, with a chance to hit the snack bar for popcorn or ice cream and then you board and get out of your car and enjoy the ride across. At my sister's is also a local cable channel with a static live shot of the ferry dock on her side (so you can judge how many ferry's the wait will be for those Madison commuters like her and her husband who live up there).


On Board the Ferry


Ferry in Background, My oldest in foreground

Mini-Vacation / Bears Pre-Season

Last night we drove up north to begin our last mini-vacation of the summer. Today we spent time at the old homestead and the boys got some Grandma/Grandpa time as well as catching the movie Space Chimps. Of course, I was also home and able to catch Da Bears first pre-season game. Nothing to special. They didn't look good, but they didn't look bad either. We shall see, I'll withhold expectations for a few more weeks.

Ah, family, football, & fishing (this weekend)...what a way to spend a vacation

Weary Travelers

This weekend we offered free parking and free water to those of our neighbors who were coming downtown for the annual celebrations there as our church is close to the action and we are part of that community. At least one person who parked couldn't believe we wouldn't seize the opportunity to fund raise. Free? With parking at a premium and demand high, why not take advantage?

Why not take advantage?

My wife and I live in heart of Illinois but have family in northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. That means we've done our fair share of road warrior travels. In that time we've learned a thing or two. We've seen the difference in price the gas stations right at the exit charge as opposed to those a few blocks into town charge. Or that franchise fast food places at rest stop/oasis menu prices tend to be higher than if you visit that same franchise in any town. Hmmmm. Take advantage of the weary traveler. Oh, I'm sure that part of it has to do with higher costs related to being out in the middle of nowhere, and that not all businesses gouge the weary traveler but in my experience, it seems to be the norm. Most gas stations/fast food joints at highway exits have signs on them warning you not to use their bathroom unless you buy one of their overpriced products. You don't usually see those signs at gas stations or restaurants in town(exception being urban areas with weary "foot" travelers.)

Then there is Wall Drug. Mind you, I've never actually gone to Wall Drug. My wife's family lives north and east of there so there has not been occassion to go to Wall, South Dakota but we see the signs for hours and hours as we head towards it each year. Wall is en route to Rapid City and Mt. Rushmore and those are long drives away from the east without much civilization once you cross the Mizzou. So Wall Drug is in prime position to gouge. Instead they offer free ice water and 5cent coffee to travelers. Sure they offer all kinds of roadside attraction fun and trinkets that can quickly eat into a weary travelers wallet, but the concept of free ice water and 5cent coffee has always struck me as something rare in this world.

That is what the Body of Christ should strive to be. The "rare in this world" respite for the weary life traveler. The one that washes your feet, nourishes your body and soul and strengthens you for the journey that lies ahead. It should be about serving our neighbors rather than taking advantage of them. When we meet a weary traveler, our focus should be on "how do I restore their strength" and not on "what an inconvenience they are to me" or "how can I take advantage of this weaker person."

Puzzled

Last night was puzzle night. My sister-my bride and I were working on a 1000 piece Big Ben on the dining room table while my older son worked a 32 piece Mickey Mouse one next to us. Needless to say, he got done first. OK, the fact is we still are not done with ours (we plunk a few pieces in a night as stress relief/mind sharpening exercise. In the process of the evening, we noticed that both boys were voracious. They ate before I got home. They ate again when I got home. They snacked on through the night and still wanted more. This is far from the norm for them. Usually they either eat their supper and don't snack at all, or barely touch their supper and then later want snacks. So the fact they ate as much as they did was...puzzling.

Well, tomorrow night we take them back up to grandma's and then we spend the weekend on Lake Wisconsin with their aunt & uncle. We haven't been up there in over a year so it will be nice to get up there and out on the boat. The boys will get a chance to fish a little and we'll get a chance to rejuvinate in the fresh air and beautiful surroundings.

Day Off? Hardly

I worked an extra hour tonight so I wasn't home till later in the evening and Monday is my sister--my bride's usual day off at home. Of course, it was a hardly a "day off" for her as she had the boys at home with her and I returned to an house that had been cleaned from top to bottom. Its all part of her brilliant vacation plan. We used to make our vacation plans and then on the last days before going, would leave the house a complete disaster as we concentrated on packing the right things which might mean stuff we didn't want to take was left all over the place.

A couple years ago though, my wife and I decided that before a long trip we would get the house completely clean and have all the laundry done, etc. That way, upon return from vacation, you entered a home clean and fresh with nothing to do. It makes the usually dreadful return from a great relaxing vacation a little more palatable.

Great job sweetie. House looks great and your efforts allowed me to concentrate on getting the yard likewise when I got home. Can't wait to start our vacation in two days!

Why Are You Doing This?

Saturday night after worship, I did my 2.5 hour shift in the church parking lot. As part of our community's annual celebration event downtown (parking is at a premium in the area), we open our church lots up for free parking (with other businesses in the area charging as much as $5 to park). Obviously our lot was pretty full if not completely full at most times that night but my wife and sons and I enjoyed talking to folks and handing out free water and it felt good when a spot would open up and you could actually find a parking spot for the cars that pulled in.

One gentlemen pulled up and I had noticed a spot open in the lot across from where I was so I directed him that way and he went over and parked. A couple minutes later he walked up and asked if he could make a donation, but I refused it and offered him a free bottle of water. He then asked "why are you doing this?"

It was an apt question in today's world. Why would we open our parking lot to the community for free while other lots were using the opportunity to raise money (many for great charitable causes mind you so I am not condeming them for it)? Why add the free bottle of water to the already free parking? Hmmmm. It seemed obvious to me from my perspective but when this stranger asked the question of me on Saturday night, I was struck by the fact that for many, selfless acts of service are perceived as either insane or an attempted conjob. It was as if he was asking, "what's the catch?"

Of course, the answer to his question was right on the free parking sign. "Because God's Love is Free," or in other words, the "catch" was that God loves us, so much so that he sent his only son, Jesus the Messiah, to save us from our sins and take our punishment of death for us so that we might have life.

Romans 3:22-24(NIV): "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

A free parking spot and bottle of water is nothing. It is the very least we can do for our neighbors. But perhaps, it will provide an impetus to a few of those who ask the question, "Why are you doing this?" to seek out an answer and find out that there is so much more God offers them "freely by his grace." "What's the catch?" Well, as a fisher of men, my prayer is that the catch is you. That you come to know the saving grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

August, Born in July

The name August is a great one,
No really that's what it means.
And with it comes the hot hot sun,
Scorching the summer scenes.

So would you name your son August,
Or is that naming gone awry?
Perhaps it is even a bit unjust,
When your son was born in July?


What's in a name? Well, in my case, "greatness" but also the humor of being an August that was born in July. Either way I guess it still makes me a Caesar!