covering a decade in one post

It's wild how much happens in a decade, and how certain themes stand out to different people. Be it good times or tough times, God uses so many things shape a person.

In 2000...

• I bought a kerosene heater and filled our bathtub up with water just in case Y2k went down. It was the first house we owned together.
• My wife and I welcomed in the New Year together by counting down with folks from our church. Just a few seconds before midnight, I gave her a pair of diamond earrings.
• I got my first writing assignment from someone... and I gave it away to them for free.
• I went to my first National Youth Worker's Convention.
  
• My wife was a teacher in the public schools, and I was a youth pastor in a great church.
  
• It was just Katie and I... and our dog.

In 2001...

• My son, Joshua, was born to us... what an incredible blessing. His life helped save two others within just months of his birth.
• My dad responded to an invitation to receive Jesus into His life in a new way.
• I went to my second National Youth Worker's Convention. While I was gone, my wife became ill.
  
• A group of guys and I coordinated a huge weekend in Chicago for thousands of teens.
  
• Our senior pastor left to start another church, and so I started doing a lot of the preaching in addition to the youth ministry. It was still a great church, though.

In 2002...

• My son took his first steps... and I saw them.
• I went to my third National Youth Worker's Convention... this time as a speaker. While I was gone, bees infested my home.
  
• I ate the best steak in my life... probably the best meal in my life. Some place in Sacramento that I never caught the name of but could find if given the chance.
• Our church hired a new senior pastor.
• I was unjustly let go from my position at the church. I had to work as a waiter to help my family get by, in addition to anything else I could find. I also had to decide if I wanted anything to do with "church world" anymore... which meant a huge crisis in my faith. Instead of hitting auto-pilot, I entered into some deep soul digging... and came out on the other side more in love with the Lord and His Church ("on it's good days and it's bad days") than ever before.
  
• I entered a new church and took on the youth ministry role there.
• My family and I sold our old home and took on a new home.

In 2003...

• My son, Daniel, was born to us... another incredible blessing. His life filled added to our hearts in so many ways, including an understanding that life is fragile.
• We invested into our new home... painted walls, landscaped the front yard and back yard, put up borders and themed rooms around our boys... added a banister... you get the idea.
  
• I went to my fourth National Youth Worker's Convention... with a dream team accompanying me. While I was gone, my kids became incredibly sick.
  
• Our new church began to plan for a new youth building. I began coordinating and brainstorming ideas for this with key leaders, as well as with staff in the church on what this might look like. A lot of enthusiasm.
• The youth group grew in size and in depth... teenagers were giving their lives to Jesus all over the place. One night, 40 kids came to place their faith in the Lord. It was amazing!
  
• After conversations with my senior pastor and hearing his definition of success... I started to worry for my job.

In 2004...

• I began to become someone I wasn't... to keep my job.
• Katie and I started to work on our garage... these birds used to come into them because the roof wasn't sealed. So we sealed it (with the help of family).
• I spent the spring and summer packing up our old youth building, having high school ministry meet in my backyard, middle school ministry meet under a tent, and desperate to get into the youth building our church was putting up. I wore myself out.
  
• My bride and I celebrated ten years of marriage together.
  
• In September, we met for the first time in this new building.
• In October, I was unjustly asked to step out of my role as a youth worker and reassigned to another role in the church that had a four-month timeline to its longevity. I went home during lunch... and told my wife the news. We sat around the table in one of the rooms we'd invested time into painting and prettying up since owning it. I remember looking at the green carpet in the next room... we'd put that in, too. Funny how you remember certain things like that. That night I showed up to my first responsibility the new job required... with a chosen smile on my face.
• I got the lights. Some of the kids whom I'd impacted TP'd my office. Funny how you remember certain things like that.
• I went to my fifth National Youth Worker's Convention. For the first time... not as a youth worker. During that week, the Lord again challenged me with what I would do with people who give Him a bad name. When I realized I was one of them, and He still loved me, I again fell in love with His church and its potential. ("The church is a whore, and she is my mother." - Augustine)
  
• I started looking for other job options... but knew that I still needed to give my best where I was... so I did.
  

In 2005...

• I was told I was doing an amazing job in my new role... my job was extended another four months. I kept doing my job as best as I can... and I kept looking.
• My wife got to watch a neighbor girl she'd connected with and brought to church get baptized. We call that simple act of loving people around us and seeing what God does with that "The Nikala Factor."
  
• We sold our house. We had to repaint a few of the rooms... tear down some of the borders that we'd chosen to personalize it... that was difficult.
  
• My job ended. I sort of slipped out under the radar... not a lot of fanfare.
  
• We moved into my wife's parents' house... "just for a few months." After all I was sure I was going to get hired somewhere where I was in the final running. They were on vacation... the house was small, but empty. We weren't complaining.
• I didn't get the job. Oh.
  
• I was offered another job. But it wasn't the right fit on my end. And then I wanted another job, but it wasn't the right fit on their end. (you can copy and paste this statement several, several, several, several times)
• I started blogging... not like I had anything to say that anyone would want to read, but I needed a way to try to stay sane.
  
• I was offered my "dream" job - the one I'd always wanted. But God wasn't in it... and I turned it down. Which made me ask, "If that's not my dream job, what is?"
• We were running out of money. Still living at my in-laws modular home, and they'd now returned from vacation. Shared space... one roof... two households.
  
• I started writing professionally... someone actually asked me to write for them and they offered me money. And then someone else read that, and offered me money to write for them, too.
• The church I was let go from in 2001? They lost their senior pastor... and asked me to come back and start teaching there while they searched for a new one. That became a regular job for almost nine months... and I had the chance to reconcile loose ends from the past while making an eternal impact.
• I went to my sixth National Youth Workers Convention - because a buddy of mine let me mooch off of him and another buddy on the top leg of the convention spotted me a registration.

In 2006...

• We were still in my in-law's home.
• My son Joshua started asking questions on his own that inspired him to ask Jesus to be His Lord and Savior. Wow!
  
• My wife and I began to ponder and imagine planting a church. And so we started... and moved to the town we thought it would be best to plant in. We began the process... and then we stopped. And started again. And then stopped.
  
• We were again running out of money... my wife started working at Panera. I took on a part-time job at a Boys and Girls Club... and as a freelance writer for the Kalamazoo Gazette... and still as a Sunday speaker for that former church... and still looking for the "right fit" with a church... job hunting every second of every minute of every hour of every day.
• My oldest son began Kindergarten - homeschooled by the best teacher I've ever known (my wife).
  
• I was offered another writing job... this time one that paid regular money every week. My wife was able to quit Panera. That was a really, really great conversation. That company also offered me a full-time role... which I really pondered taking. "Was this supposed to be my new job?"
  
• The Kalamazoo Gazette began to groom me for a staff role. I had several front page articles... which was weird since I'd never taken a journalism class in my life. "Was this supposed to my new job?"
  
• A church we'd started attending was taking steps to bring me in as a staff member... I might eventually lead a satellite church they would start in a year. "Was this supposed to be my new job?"
  
• I started talking with this church in Ohio. I think it was literally after having spoken with 400 other churches on some level... and I really wish I was exaggerating. So to me the conversation was quite routine. The guy on the other end tells me some stuff, I tell him some stuff, and it ends up being another "non-fit" one way or the other.
• I kept talking to this church. One phone call had members of their staff asking me questions. I was tired of interviewing the "right" way, so I just said what I thought. No masks. No desire to impress. Full disclosure. And strangely... they kept talking with me.
• We were invited for a visit. I came with my family... I knew I'd turn the job down. We got off the highway and suddenly... my heart started to break for the people of this town.
  
• Two weeks later, I went to my seventh National Youth Worker's Convention. And in the middle of it knew I needed to accept the job that had been offered to me by that church.
• My wife flew over, and in 36 hours found our house. We came back a couple weeks later to sign the papers (and for me to preach the Christmas Eve service). We then moved in a week later (and were helped on the Michigan end by everyday people whose lives we'd touched simply by loving them as our neighbor).

In 2007...

• I began serving Connection Church as its Lead Pastor. That was and still is so completely humbling. I determined to never become someone I wasn't to tell people who God is.
  
• My youngest son - Daniel - place his faith in Jesus as His Lord and Savior... and we celebrated!
• My wife and I decided that we would hold everything in our life - our house, vehicles, yards, and so forth - very simply and loosely... just in case wanted to use it for something awesome.
  
• I realized that part of being a lead pastor means cleaning up after people's carelessness... sometimes my own, and sometimes other leaders - past and present. But that's part of the gig, and I won't hide it.
  
• Since our church met in a movie theater, I kept the main projector at home throughout the week. I had a crazy idea to use it on the side of our house and show movies to the neighbors... and we did, and it was a ton of fun.
  
• After many days and weeks of helping and coaching him, Katie and I watched Joshua ride his bike without training wheels!
  
• My first book (with my name on it - not someone else I was ghost-writing for) was published.
• My mom lost her husband... and four days later was served notice that she couldn't sell her house to the only person who was interested in it. She soon began to fight for her house when the city got quite silly and self-seeking. So I called the press and the grassroots fight began. She eventually moved to Ohio near us.
  
• Our church moved out of the movie theater and into a rent-free building (while the next building was being built).
  
• I went to my eighth National Youth Worker's Convention... again as a speaker. My family was sick while I was gone, and of course... I got sick - pink eye, sore throat, stuffy nose - you name it. And my electronics failed in my presentation. I bombed it bad.

In 2008...

• I had the chance to baptize my mom for her faith in Jesus. Wow... another amazing privilege.
  
• Our church started a second service... wow.
• One of my boys called me weird... made me laugh.
  
• My neighborhood and my church did something awesome together for a neighbor who was dying.
• A building was built for our congregation to gather in. I was determined to keep our values with it in check.
  
• I shared my secret with the world.
• I went to my ninth National Youth Worker's Convention... again as a speaker. I think I actually did what I hoped to do that time... of course, my family got sick while I was gone.
• Again... we got caught doing something right. This time it was at Christmas.
  

In 2009...

• I finished writing a book... and used the income from that to take my family on an amazing vacation.
• I found out the book I finished was going to be published by a "big dog" in the publishing world.
• My boys did the sports thing some more... and showed me more of how amazing they are in character. (Not to mention, Joshua scored his first touchdown, and Daniel had a great soccer season.)
  
• My wife and I were floored by God one night.
• Somehow... fifteen years of marriage went by. And by that I mean they were absolutely amazing... which is why my bride and I celebrated it by renewing our vows together and going away on a special trip "just the two of us."
  
• Daniel started Kindergarten... also under the greatest teacher in the world.
  
• Our church blessed our socks off... fun cards and cakes... a great dinner filled with all the trimmings. What a great group of people!
  
• I went to my tenth National Youth Workers Convention - this time as someone behind the scenes who helped support things for the people I've grown to become great friends with.
• We became pregnant with our third child. Totally joyful... totally on purpose... totally a God thing.

Wild.

I know I started out this post simply and ended up doing some dumping along the way. I apologize if that bothered you, but I felt the need to just be honest... a couple of times I pondered deleting some things I wrote, but I'm tired of playing that game. If something is wrong, I'm not going to dance around it.

On the other hand, the reason I went there is because so much of life right now feels "right." Not because it's "good and happy and nice" but because we've been sandpapered by life and backward choices people have made in our direction... and we've sort of learned to recognize what really matters and what doesn't. Like how we need to spend more time in relationships and less on our stuff... and how there is a much larger Story to live in than "how much money?" and "how many did you count?" and "me, me, me."

I think it's why last night Katie and I talked a bit after we put the boys to bed (after the countdown to the New Year). We're so exceedingly grateful to God where we are at, thankful that He's taught us so much about ourselves and people and what it means to serve Him. So again - if it seems like I have some unresolved issues with anything above, it's not... it's more than I've not let those things define me as much as I continue to let them refine me.

Maybe that's the best any of us can hope for from where we've come. Because if you reverse that... you're always stuck in the past.

Me? It's a new day, and a new decade.

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:13-14)

things i've pondered all year

So it's just a half hour into 2009, and this is a little junior high-ish, but here goes...

Man, I'm tired... I haven't slept all year.

Oh no! I just realized I haven't paid bills all year.

Wow, I'm hungry... I haven't eaten all year.

There might be a mess on the carpet, since the dog hasn't gone out all year.

Speaking of that, I think my bladder is about to explode since I haven't used the bathroom all year.

I'm feeling a bit spiritually dry. Probably because I haven't read my Bible all year.

Wow. We usually don't let things like this go, but that Christmas tree has been up all year.

I think there's something wrong with my cell phone. It hasn't rang all year.

Well, the Samson era is over. I think it's about time for a haircut, since I haven't gotten one all year.

I know I'm eating healthier these days, but a little junk food couldn't hurt, right. Besides, I haven't had any all year.

Thanks for playing along. Feel free to add your own.

It just seemed like ages since I'd written any thing,
since I hadn't posted all year.

a sign of joy

So I'm in Michigan right now, hanging out at the in-laws for a few days to celebrate Christmas. (They have cable... I'd forgotten what a clear picture looks like on a TV)

On the drive over I saw a fellow on the corner in an old town we once lived in, doing his thing. It wasn't the guy in this video, but you've probably seen a guy like this in your town.



Once upon a time, this was my job.

Not literally, but... well... it's hard to explain. (My wife gets it, though.)

What I wanted to share is that our lives are like this sign guy. We're all pointing toward something, and if you recognize that you might want to be sure it's something valid you can enjoy pointing to.

In the Bible, we find words like "evangelism" and "worship" and complicate their meaning with things we do "in church."

But really... it's just the joy of being a sign holder, and letting that joy come out.

Maybe that's why so many people enjoy Christmas... people who may not normally realize how available "peace on earth" is and all the signs that are pointing to God all year round. This season causes us to put up our feet and recognize the Light of the world that shines in the darkness, though the darkness has not yet understood it.

And that's where true joy to the world can be found.

slow ride... take it easy

Time passes differently for everyone.

"Bart's" phone doesn't ring as often as he'd like it to. After seven months of unemployment, he's heard all the cliches from his well-meaning friends, and they no longer feel comfortable being around him because nothing has changed in his life. He wonders, "Do they think I'm lazy?" They wonder, "I wonder if he thinks that I think he's lazy."

Bart looks at the phone and counts the milliseconds in between rings... which barely come.

His friends look at the phone, flip it open, and continue on with life.

Time passes differently for everyone.

Then there is "Sara" who is itching for graduation. She's not sure what's exactly happening after she gets her diploma, but she knows that it will be "better" than how things are now. At least she hopes so, for right now she is swamped with a to do list that she's quite convinced will change once she's in the real world.

So she turns all her papers in, and all of her teachers receive them. They sigh as they do, knowing that Sara's paper is but one of many that they will have to read. Each educator longs for the days when they were in school and had all sorts of time to kill... at least, it seems that way in their memories. Life in the real world seems a bit different than they thought it would.

Time passes differently for everyone.

"Art" is finding the current fiscal crisis to be more of a spiritual crisis "Where is God in this?" he wonders, "and why is this happening to me? I had my retirement all planned out. Now... nothing." He keeps watching the endless scribble of the Wall Street updates, trying to understand what seems like random computer code. So he relies on the explanation of others to tell him what he thinks he's seeing.

Which is what he does spiritually, too. He's too worn out to look for God himself, and so he keeps hoping someone will explain what he can't seem to see in his faith anymore. There are some in his life who are helpful in this, and others who only seem to add to the confusion... as if they just don't get how serious a crisis he's going through... as if they only see his crisis through 2-dimensional eyes.

Time passes differently for everyone.

How should we respond in these moments?

Most of us know the advice for such times when the clock doesn't tick as fast as we'd like is to just wait it out. Or write a better resume. Or network more. Or read a book on this or that. Or knock on more doors, and knock harder.

Or "just trust God."

(Notice the quotes - that indicates a cliche versus actually trusting in God, because if we actually trusted in God we wouldn't care if things turned out our way or not. Seriously, think about that for a moment.)

So where do we turn when none of those band-aids provide the surgery we need?

• First, we must recognize the temptations we face in times like this. When our confidence and self-esteem are attacked, we are in a dangerous spot of isolation - not necessarily shutting us down relationally in life (so we can still appear normal), but internally creating all sorts of fears in us that paralyze our ability to make choices. Sometimes we are so fatigued that we lash out at those closest. Most often, though, we wake up for our day already worn out... which can easily get in the way of us seeing what God is genuinely up to.
  
  Only we don't realize the true level of any of that on our own.
  
  
• Second, we may have to finally face up to some very practical challenges - such as not having enough money to pay the bills, meet our deadlines, or keep up with friends. It could be that we feel that we've done our part, but there is a small reserve of effort we've held back because we don't want to be disappointed. We may even find ourselves tempted not to take part in productive spiritual habits like prayer, Bible reading, and tithing.
  
  Isn't it odd how in times when we know we need to trust God more we hang on to the things that keep us from trusting Him?
  
  Some of my boldest steps spiritually happened when I threw myself forward with the last ounce of prayer I had... the last moment of wakefulness I could muster before my body collapsed into sleep... or setting aside that "first 10%" of our limited income to join into the beyond-us movement of God.
  
  Such things don't make a whole lot of sense on the surface, but in hindsight you find they are the emergency shock paddles of defibrillation to your soul.
  
  
• Third, or perhaps "first," maybe it's time to slow down. I know that's ridiculous because when you're slowed down against your will you find that everything in you wants things to change in a second at hyper-speed. And yet sometimes we are challenged with a hurdle because God wants our attention. Even in those times when being in a trial has nothing to do with your spiritual state, setting aside intentional time to slow down and "take it easy" with Him can calm your soul, and produce unexpected spiritual growth in the midst of struggle.

We are not immune from falling away on our hardest days from the hope that seems so clear on our best days. And yet we always have a resource in the Heavenly Father - One who promises never to leave us or forsake us. Failing to call upon Him relationally from the places of our ache denies us access to His comforting Presence in the midst of the very time we need Him most.

And we also have a resource in a community of imperfect people on the same journey we are. That's what a Church is - "people and God" fleshing it all out in practical ways. We remind each other of what is true when the blind spots become our focal point, and help each other find something powerful to do "in the meantime" - a purpose for our lives that turns us into proactive builders with the pieces of our lives instead of reactive lumps to the attacks of the Enemy.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

five

Five years ago, my wife and I were blessed with a little guy we named Daniel.


Today... we celebrate that amazing day.


It's something of a challenge since his birthday falls during "the Christmas season." Nonetheless, we're putting in 5x the effort.

I love that little guy.

old church

Speaking of old school, I recently joined a Facebook group regarding my old church - specifically, the one I came to know Jesus in when I was in high school. We were all remembering different aspects of those days, and I wrote about my initial visit to the Sunday night worship service that was geared for students (we had a mid-week large program and then the weekend Bible study).

Son Village... that was my first experience with "worship" music. The memory is still clear - I'm new and know none of these songs. Yet everyone around me is singing their guts out. Some kid down the pew is doing something with his voice that sounds like different notes to what everyone else is singing - it sounds beautiful... I think I've heard of that before - something called "harmonizing."

"I can't do that," I reason. Forget this worship stuff.

Then I hear another kid in front of me named Danny singing his guts out - probably literally, because he's certainly not hitting any of the notes he's supposed to and it's not quite like the other guy's deal.

"I can do that," I reason. Let's try some of this worship stuff.

Because... well... both guys were doing a beautiful thing.

I still have my black half-sized sheet notebook full of weeks of lesson notes. Who knew I would then be taking notes that to this day I still steal from. Um - I mean, borrow from. Thanks, Dan.

old school

Recently I was sorting through some clothes so that I might donate some to a yard sale fundraiser our church was doing. Now I'm a rational man, but I oddly find that I have to do this at least three times before any yard sale. Often I think I should hang on to an item, only to later rethink it... mainly because I ask my wife to help me the third time.

We all need people to help us rethink our conclusions about what matters.

It was interesting, actually... I would hold up a shirt and we'd both decide if it was worth hanging on to based on the "look" and "era" it mentally and emotionally brought us into. For instance, I haven't regularly worn suits since my early days in professional ministry - so there really wasn't any point hanging on to the JC Penny blue pinstripe or the Chess King puke green number.

"Pittsford and Pioneer Faith stuff," we'd say, referencing the churches I wore them in. They easily landed in the donation pile.

Then there are these polo shirts that I wore when I served in a larger church. This was in my latter days as a youth pastor when I needed to be "approachable" by teens and yet "professional" enough that the adults felt good paying me.

"This looks like a First Wes shirt," we'd summarize. "Old school."

And so on.

It's odd how a thing can connect you to a feeling.

As another example, I recently saw yet another old school chum on Facebook that I used to have a tight relationship with as a kid. Then junior high made us walk down separate hallways, and after that high school kept the snowball of separation going. By the time we'd reached senior year we finally had our first class together, only to find that the friendship had somehow fallen to the side - so we settled for chosen ignorance across the room.

That's so wild, especially when you consider all the sleepovers we did growing up.

So we connected, and he asked if I was "Tony Myles that also went to Dooley School and lived off of Braintree?"

I was, and I volleyed back, "Yes - that Tony Myles whose finger you bit in second grade when I asked you for your apple during lunch. But who's holding any grudges?"

He went on to say that he drives by my old house everyday, and oddly happened to buy our old lunch mother's house. "I don't recall biting your finger, sorry about," he said. "I do, however, remember your parents taking us to a Bulls game and also, I remember the class having a picnic by Boch and it started to rain. We all ran to your house. Remember that?"

After sensing those old school feelings and thoughts as I stared at his picture and considered our fading friendship, this is what I wrote:

You bought the old lunch mother's house, huh? Mrs Sowka? (That's the only one I remember - because she taught me what the middle finger meant one day during recess.)

Speaking of fingers... no worries.

I remember that day - Mr Acardi's class for me. We all ran into my house and suddenly there stood many kids in front of my dad's velvet paint of a topless hula girl. Actually, my mom remembers that part... I remember everyone playing with my GI Joe and Star Wars toys.

Weird timing for us to connect. I was recently looking through my senior year book and found something you wrote. It was after we were in a writing class I believe... you said something like, "Weird how we didn't talk much this year." And I remember that was weird, too, since we were pretty tight growing up.

So I'm sorry that happened.

My wife asked me just today if I go back to high school for a week if I would. I said, "Yeah, as long as nothing changes in my life today." (I've seen too much sci-fi) She asked what I would do differently if I could retain all that I know now. I said, "I think I'd try a few things I didn't try - like maybe a sport or a play - just for the experience. But I think the big thing would be that I would talk with people differently, because the things that seemed to be such a big deal then really weren't, and I'd know that. Yeah, I'd talk with people differently."

The more I consider stuff like this, the more I hope I'm talking with people today the way I should be talking with them today. That even if we geographically are separated, we lose nothing.

Lest our relationship get pitched aside like an old suit that somehow feels dated.

Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.' "

Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town. (1 Samuel 20:42)

this is a test

My digital watch has been set ahead one day - meaning, when I look at its date it's one number higher than the date it's supposed to be.

I'm not sure how it happened... maybe when I set it for Daylight Savings or something.

I first brushed against this reality when I wished someone a belated birthday because I thought I was a day late. They said I wasn't... that was puzzling to me.

Then I was saving a file to my computer and wondered why the one I'd saved a week before was off a day... that was odd, too.

Finally I went to sign a document that required a date... and it hit me - I had been referring to an inaccurate reference point.

Keep in mind, I would have arm wrestled you on this had you questioned me. Why would my digital watch be wrong? It keeps great time and is one of the more noted brands.

And yet... I was wrong.

The Bible says to "Test everything." Don't believe me? Here, let me quote it to you:

"Test everything. Hold on to the good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

I find it intriguing that the word "everything" is there... I looked it up in the original Greek language and found something amazing - the word "everything" is translated "everything."

Ah.


Which means, essentially, that we are to test everything to figure out the good. So basically we're encouraged to ask questions... yes, it is absolutely allowable for us to even test if our belief systems are valid. This also means that the Bible is saying, "Test everything, which means this book, too."

Hmm.

Some people are afraid of doing that... maybe we should be. Meaning, maybe while it is okay to test the Bible it doesn't mean we shouldn't do so with fear and trembling.

But it is okay to test it. Not to rewrite it, but to let it rewrite our understanding of it.

That means that if you've been coasting along on theology that you picked up several years ago, it might be good to revisit it to be sure it still holds true. It also means that if that theology is still true, you can gain further confidence in it. In this way you are not only studying the Bible but you're letting the Bible study you.


This floors me... ready?

When "tested" internally and externally, the good news is that the Good News remains good news after you test how good its news is.

I share that as someone who continues to do so, and always seem to find that this is a reference point that never seems to change.

The only catch in all of this is to test with a teachable heart and not a hard-hearted one. For instance, sometimes we "test" God by pushing back on His grace and cheapening it.

"Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes (1 Corinthians 10:7-9)

That said, I wonder... what in your life do you need to test?

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

"If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else." (Galatians 6:3-4)

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5)

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. (2 Corinthians 8:7-8)

"...you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1:3)

things i learned in 2008

No, the title isn't incorrect. It seems like at the end of the every year people do a list like this that sort of covers whatever they learned in that year. I've already learned so much in 2008 that I wanted to drop my thoughts down here... well, that, and I wanted to be the first blogger ever to do a restrospective of this year.

• You should be friends with the people you work with. I know there will come times when this makes things awkward, but I've found that after a year of doing life with the people I serve with I couldn't imagine being as effective for Jesus without having the relationships we do.
  
  It's odd because before I came here I was told by a former boss that I shouldn't aim for this but instead come in and positionally "establish my authority" and avoid getting too close with staff. I asked why, and he said because one day I'd have to have a hard conversation with a staff member and it would get messy because of the friendship. My theory at the time was that this was baloney, because it implies that friends can't speak hard truth into each other's lives. After a year of trying this theory out, I think I'm sticking with it.
  
  Yes, we've had hard chats... and somehow by God's grace and our effort we're still groovin'.
  


• Theology is most complex when it is simple. I've been writing another book for the past few months that I finished last week. It was really a great challenge - a book on deep matters of theology that was to be written without a denominational bias and presented to a younger mind.
  
  Try that one on.
  
  The good news is that when I finished I was again amazed at the blessing it is to spend time in the simple complexities of God's Word. There's something very freeing about exploring issues like salvation, end times, and everything in between without your own bias being able to be a factor. It causes you to see the common ground Christians can find with each other and removes layers of unintentional arrogance we often don't realize we've waded into. After all, if people who walked with God all throughout history could get together to form the Apostle's Creed in times of heresy, certainly people who walk with God in present days can live it out together.
  
  
• My wife rocks. Granted, I've always known this but since my mom has moved in with us I have seen my wife take on such an amazing posture of servanthood that she's somehow even topped herself. Sure... she has her moments as we all do when the schedule of life adds up. It's the fact that she chooses to roll her sleeves up and press on, though, that most amazes me.



• Investing in the emerging generation is essential. I am finally in that stage I knew I'd one day be in when I'm having to have puberty conversations with pre-pubescent boys. I've learned from working with teens, though, that if I don't have these conversations now I'll have more difficult ones later. So instead of avoiding the topics I'm diving in as they come up from a biblical perspective. So far so good.



• I am in a very undeserved opportunity. In our church it's been exciting to see the different steps people are taking with Jesus Christ... many their first into salvation, and still others their next into discipleship. Every day I am humbled and awed of what God is up to and (for some reason) has invited me into. We've prayed through several strategic concerns over the past year, made some great steps forward, and are doing our best to be the people of God in our area.
  
  
• The next election will be huge for America. There are so many factors on the table, from the potential of a "first" this or that kind of president to what shifts might happen globally, economically, spiritually, and so forth. Personally I'm hoping for a President who daily leans to the voice of Jesus Christ and honors Him as King.



• Not every person who calls themselves a Christian believes in reconciliation. I don't need to share the details on how I concluded this in 2008, but I am simply amazed at that which is so foundational to Christianity - reconciliation between us and God - is so often overlooked between church folk when it comes to extending it to each other. Again, I'm not just talking about the particular instance I've recently experienced because it's rather common. Why do we resort to "agreeing to disagree" when Matthew 18 has a clear plan? Insults from afar are easy, but if Jesus has reached out to us in all our junk that should keep us motivated to become bridge builders instead of fence architects.
  
  Argh... "Samsonite." (That's my code word for personal baggage... we all have it, you know. Might as well own up to it.)
  
  
• The church is still Jesus' plan to share His hope with the world: I'm more and more convinced of this everyday... life change is happening to households which then passes off the the next generation and so forth. People are embracing a change in how they do business in order to make space for God. The local church is having a global impact... not to mention a local one... and it rocks.
  
  Yes - there are some bad examples still out there. It seems like some churches throw extra ingredients into the menu of what God's cookin'. They read the Cookbook and decide that they don't like this or that... or maybe they like "this" a little bit more than "that" so they put a lot of "this" in that creates a flavor of Christianity (if it's even that anymore) that tastes like something "else." So people try to "taste and see that the Lord is good" but end up tasting and seeing that __________ (insert church name/denomination slant/pastor so-and-so) is ____________.
  
  Please note that there are TWO blanks - one for the who and the other for the perception... and unfortunately both will be equated with God. Meaning, often people will not question what they are receiving because they've grown up in a particular denomination/theology/association or always been under a certain pastor. No matter where the authority comes from the question should always be asked if it tracks back to God or merely the rantings of humanity. For more on this, refer to an earlier post.
  
  Sorry... "Samsonite" again.

So there it is... just a few weeks into 2008 and already some good notes from life and the Lord. I hope to keep my pen handy.

How about you? What notes have you already taken in this year?

i'm in 2008 now... the view is nice.

So the ball has dropped and once again we cross over into a new year.

To my friends in a time zone other than the Eastern one I'm in right now, I'd love to tell you about the future... it's pretty cool. We have flying cars and everything... the new trend is a silver jumpsuit (everyone is wearing it) and we've decided to digest little pills instead of large meals. Don't worry, though, Larry King still is on CNN.

“We are never satisfied with the present. We are always anticipating the future as if it were coming too slowly, wanting to speed up its pace. Or we remember the past, devising ways to preserve it, since it vanishes too quickly. It is folly to be wandering about, trying to find our way in times that don’t belong to us. We have forgotten about the present time that we have. So, never living, we are always hoping to live. We are always prepared to be happy, but never are.” – Blaise Pascal, 1658

in between...

So we're in the midst of that in-between time of Christmas Day and the New Year. Maybe you've put the tree away, taken the lights down, and poured your egg nog down the drain. Or perhaps you're like me and wore a Christmas shirt today, defying the idea that Christmas is merely a day on the calendar but can be celebrated all year long (because "God with us" didn't just happen but "is happening").

Perhaps that's another blog post in itself.

Much has happened in my neck of the woods in the past week, including welcoming my mom into our home. She's had a hard run with her house (see links to the right), and we just had to get her out of that situation. We're thankful to be able to add to her life right now and are doing our best to be the hands and feet of Jesus to her.

Hopefully 2008 will be a good year for her and all of us, especially as we seek out Jesus our Lord. It is through Him alone that we find eternal life, and I also believe it is through Him alone that we uncover abundant life. Most of the time we have lost the plot of His Storyline... we tell Him that He can "drive" our lives but then we quickly turn around, make Him a hood ornament, and take the wheel away as we put our own hands on it.

In recent days I've become all the more convinced that the Narrow Road is difficult, yet exceedingly freeing to walk. People will threaten you at times for trying to embody the things Jesus spoke about, but nonetheless there is something rather amazing about not living in fear of man or the smallness of our insecurities. If we settle for mere "belief" in God, we will shrink back... but if we engage in believing and also following God (and His belief in us), we will plow forward in whatever direction He's left His drips of blood to follow.

Today we agreed as a church to do things that will help further the PLOT in our lives... in case you're interested, here's what we're doing to end 2007 well and start 2008 right.

• Day 1: Write/type a list of your prayers for 2008.


• Day 2: Intentionally talk about a part of your faith journey with someone who is far from God.


• Day 3: Spend 10 minutes of quiet/stillness before God.


• Day 4: Read Matthew 5-7 in one sitting.


• Day 5: make a new friend.


• Day 6: “Fast” by using the full length of time you would spend eating a meal to instead skip it and pray that God would break your heart for those around you.


• Day 7: Take action on doing something that God has shown you… even if it’s hard.

Feel free to join in... no reason why we can't fan the flame God is trying to spark in us, even right now.

a long time ago in a suburb far, far away...

When I was about five years old my family moved from one suburb in Chicago to another about fifteen minutes over. It was just far enough for me to have to switch schools, and so I knew I'd have to make new friends. I remember the day I looked over from my new backyard to another and saw two boys about my age playing in a sandbox... Mike Gallo and Scott Kaderabek.

I had on a cheap Superman Halloween outfit that I'd saved from last year... because sometimes you just need a little extra edge. Wearing plastic hero gear always does that when you're five... especially the kind that has the hard plastic mask (when did Superman ever wear a mask?) that had 1/8 inch slits that would cut into your eyelids while the cheap rubber band compressed your face into it (and the staples holding the rubber band together gnawed their way into your earlobes).

Yes... I have baggage.

Anyway, what happened in the moments that followed has been replayed over the years with all the drama that great epics seem to have.

(cue intense music, "da da dum...")

Me: "Hi! Do you guys want to be
friends?"

Mike: (turns around and slugs me in the stomach)

Scott: (gasps)

Over the years, Scott would serve as mediator to the infamous Myles/Gallo wars... Mike and I would fight over dumb stuff that boys often fight over. Often I'd feel Mike was a bit of a bully while I'm sure he felt I was often a bit of a nuisance who egged him on. Our parents would get involved, our dogs had a fight or two, and somehow Scott tried to be both of our "best friends."

The one thing we'd all temporarily bond over, though, was Star Wars. The three of us each had at least one official Hasbro Star Wars blaster and some knock-off version of a lightsaber that would keep us plenty busy chasing each other around in the yard. Good times... especially when I'd get to be Luke Skywalker (until I realized Han got Leia and began wanting to be him instead).

In high school we bonded a bit more when some drunk kids jumped us in a crab apple filled parking lot. If I recall, it was because they pulled up, said something rather demeaning, and I picked up and threw a crab apple at their car out of anger. Keep in mind they were well on their way out of the parking lot, a good fifty feet away... and for some odd reason, it was the first time in my life when I threw something that I actually hit it. Granted, it was the worst time for it to happen, and Mike and I walked away fine. Scott, on the other hand, ended up with a hole in his head that at the time seemed about the size of a football... which makes me wonder why I only gave him a small wash cloth to dab the blood away.

We had some good laughs commiserating at our freshman lunch table about it, and then for some reason we separated again... Scott moved down to Missouri and Mike and I started running in different high school relationship circles. Then I moved out of the neighborhood, and later on so did he.

Time passed.

This past September, I joined Facebook. Then in his neck of the south, Scott did, too. Somewhere in California, Mike decided to create an account of his own. I'm not sure how, but we all found each other. Turns out Scott is recently married while Mike has been (get this...) working for everyone from Lucasarts to Sega as a game designer (yeah, the guy actually hung out at the Skywalker Ranch).

Right now we're battling it out on Facebook's "Jedi vs Sith" application, and I couldn't be happier than a 9-year old girl about her new Hanna Montana notebook.

Isn't it funny? Some things never change, and some things do, and sometimes those things that never change help bring back together the things that do.

a church and a building - not the same thing

Given my last round of history with a building... I'd invite you to worship God with me.

Our church just had its first services in some other place besides a movie theater. This is a transitional building until we get into one being built, and through God's grace it's being provided to us for the cost of utilities. We've turned the side nooks into everything from cafe space to meeting rooms.

It used to be a kitchen and bath showroom, but these days it's gathering space for Connection Church. Pretty cool.

nywc - atlanta: retrospective

So the ride home was pretty cool... first we said goodbye to my buddy Scott, and then ten hours with my other buddies and co-laborers Mike and Jon. This was their first convention like this, and so debriefing on the way home was a lot of fun. We hit a Sonic, listened to some new CDs, talked about some logistics about our church's move into a new facility, laughed out loud at an audio of comedian Jim Gaffigan, and took some leaps together spiritually about the stuff that matters. I know these guys better than when we started the trip, and I'd guess they know me better, too.

Here's what's interesting, though. In years past when I've gone to these conventions there's often this big WOW moment for me with God that I take away. Sometimes I have to fight for it, and other times it just sort of falls into my lap (and feet) in the middle of nowhere. This year, though, it was different. Time has passed, and while I am still in love with Jesus and the future of the Church (and believe students play a huge role in that), I found myself more of a giver and less of a taker this round.

It crystalized for me during Louie Giglio's talk... Louie was wrapping up his message and asked the a question to the effect of, "Maybe you're in one of the darkest moments of your life..." and then this guy in the crowd stood up (before Louie even finished the sentence).

I remember thinking, "Wow. That guy's probably hurting... someone should put their hand on his shoulder." This thought started in my head while I was in my chair but by the time I finished it I realized I was already on my way over to him. After several rounds of "excuse me" to get to him, I found myself praying with/for this guy I didn't know.

Within moments, others were standing in the room... a very powerful moment. As I looked around I realized that there are a lot of people today who are where I was not that long ago. I'm realizing more and more each day that the trials I've gone through aren't just for me but for others... while the do produce in me a certain kind of empathetic compassion, they also should create a kind of action through my life that helps restore lives as Jesus works through me.

Sometimes... this is hard. Sometimes... I only have so much to give. Sometimes... I don't want to.

And yet... there I was, floating out of my seat before my brain even realized it. Then there was that guy whom I spoke with during the middle of the night in the hotel lobby... and that homeless guy I was compelled to help without thinking about it.

I'm not sharing that to pat myself on the back... far from it. Rather, as I look back on where I've come from I think it's something God's using to influence where I'm at today.

I hope that's a good thing.

God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response. Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway! Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way. Affirm your promises to me— promises made to all who fear you. Deflect the harsh words of my critics— but what you say is always so good. See how hungry I am for your counsel; preserve my life through your righteous ways! (Psalm 119:33-40, MSG)

birthday blog

What to say about another birthday?

Saturday rocked! It was another day to spend with my amazing family...

waking up to smiling kids and a loving wife singing to me...

a big breakfast with all my favorite special foods...

back to bed for a second-wind sleepie...

heading out and watching my oldest play a great soccer game...

chasing my youngest through a grassy field...

hearing my wife tell me we're going to Smoothie King...

drinking a big smoothie...

hearing the happy birthday song again...

opening up presents...

realizing that some of my presents were from money my son spent on his own...

learning that my "big present" was bigger than I thought...

going out for a steak dinner...

having the manager give it to us for free because it got messed up...

eating ice cream cake after having the family sing to me again...

learning there were more presents...

hearing the happy birthday song as both boys headed off to bed...

hearing the happy birthday song again in the morning when the boys woke up...

hearing the happy birthday song again today, just because....

Yeah.

school's out for summer

Today was the final day of kindergarten...

my little guy is now a little boy.

He reads... books.

Knows lots and lots of numbers, too.

A whole bunch of stuff I never knew at his age.

Must have one heck of a teacher.

Oh yeah... that's my wife.

So we celebrated.

And yes... Chuck E Cheese was involved.

Not to mention his first game of laser tag.

I look forward to this adventure with my youngest, too.

Today, though, I'm just amazed.

time - part 3

Can I just tell you what it is like to see Superman Returns at the 12:01AM opening show on IMAX 3-D?

First of all, lots of drunk people. For some reason, I was the one sitting next to all of them. They have underwear outside their clothes and red towels tied around their necks... I mean, "capes." And they smell like they've been super-drinking.

Second, lots and lots of trivia. One of my super-brothas a few rows in front of me would occasionally stand up before the movie and go, "Okay, okay, okay... Lex Luthor... or... Magneto?" And then we'd all shout and vote. My favorite was, "Okay, okay, okay... what da heck wuz dat flying-triangle-S-thang Superman threw at the bad guys in Superman 2?" No one knew the answer to that, because - sadly - it is a shameful part of Superman epics.

In any event, the whole thing rocked. No spoilers here, so don't worry. I'll just tell you that I had the prettiest girl on my shoulder and was amazed that I got to see such a geeky movie at such a geeky time of night with such a hot wife. Okay... I'm gushing, yes. Then again not too many women would do such a thing for their Superman-obsessed man. Perhaps timing reveals a lot more than we'd think.

Take for instance the fact that even though we were 40th in line (and arrived an hour and a half before the movie) I was still able to sit in the middle of the middle of the movie theater (the best place to be). Then throw in the energy that is a midnight showing... everyone and their brother wearing a Superman shirt and striking up crazy conversations with each other. Normal people don't do this, but when you gather in community over a common purpose in the right timing amazing walls can be broke down through Super-natural means.

Before the movie started, I leaned in to my wife and whispered, "This is my favorite part of the movie... this moment, just before it begins, being here with you." No kissing up on that... it truly was. Sometimes timing reveals a lot more than we'd think.

time - part 2

Today... well, I don't have much going on. I am officially out of work and it seems as though I can hear the clock is ticking... even though it doesn't tick. Ever get those moments, too? Every second where you don't know "what's next" seems like an hour or a day or a year.

Ever notice how time moves a bit differently when you know something is changing?

There were a few rays of hope, though. First off I had a chance to go visit the great metropolitan newspaper that I've become a reporter for. (Er... I mean, a freelancer for. It just sounds more Superman-esque the other way). They ran a story I wrote for them in a featured section and want me to do more. So... maybe?

Then I got a call from Schwan's which is like a company that delivers ready-to-make food and crazy ice cream creations to local houses and customers. They might want me to work for them, which would a full-time job with benefits - not to bad in today's economy, eh? Perhaps another opportunity, so... maybe?

But then there's this gnawing feeling in the back of my spirit that maybe God isn't done with me in ministry yet. I'll need to write a whole other post on this, but basically I'm looking into some innovative and out-of-the-box ways to serve where I live. That would mean raising financial support in order to pursue this, so... maybe?

Ever notice how time moves a bit differently when you know something is changing?

Maybe I need to push back from the table and just look around me a bit. It's not like this is bad by any means. In fact, I get to hang out with my wife and boys (and yes - even the dog) a bit more versus if I was just a busy madman. As it stands, I'm just a madman-minus-the-busy. Even some of the people in the world who "have it all" miss out on the humble royalty that this is.

So maybe this is a time in my life that is more than a "transition to the next thing."

Maybe this is a thing of time all in itself.

Maybe I'm as richly blessed as a king and just don't know it.

Maybe my perspective needs to change.

Maybe?

Ever notice how time moves a bit differently when you know something is changing?

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)

time - part 1

Ever notice how time moves a bit differently when you know something is changing?

It's weird... like a dualistic dichotomy between fast forward and slow-motion. I see this in my boys as they age and wonder, "Look how fast they've grown!" while simultaneously thinking, "This is a moment that is thick and rich and full of so many things that I want to slowly take in right now." It shows up all over the map, too, most notably when life throws a curveball like a sickness or a death - be it an individual or a dream. It can even be in those moments when your hand reaches over the table to touch another hand of someone who means the world to you... not to mention having a 2-year old grab the hair on your arm and stroke it with his tiny little boy fingers.

Anyway... yesterday ended a 9 month or so run of me teaching at Greenville Community Church - an innovative community of Christ followers with a heart to touch people of all spiritual backgrounds in a relevant way. My history with the church began in 1999 when I joined the staff for almost four years as an assistant pastor over many things. My tenure has included that season of ministry to youth, college, kids, leaders, and the praise team, not to mention being a regular teacher back then and even now. Without going into a whole bunch of details, the church lost its senior pastor last fall due to some issues in his life and I happened to be available to serve. It's been an amazing season of a long commute where I would show up and how that Jesus Christ showed up through me.

So this was my last official Sunday... and they spoiled me. Earlier in the month they threw a potluck dinner complete with cards, financial gifts, and plenty of laughs. Yesterday I got up to preach and before I could open my mouth they shot into a surprise video of Superman footage with me superimposed (no pun intended) into the mix. I even walked away with a life-sized cardboard stand-up of the new Superman to take home. Add a Chinese buffet afterwards with some good friends and it was a pretty sweet day (because I like rice... rice is great if your hungry and want 2000 of something).

Perhaps what was the greatest blessing, though, was the slowing down I mentioned earlier. After service I did something I hardly ever do - I went to the back of the meeting space and hung out at the door like an old school preacher. Not only did I get the chance to shake a whole lot of hands, but I heard stories from people whom I'd never know God used me to touch. Some of them blew my mind, while others provided a bit of encouragement that I will treasure in days to come. At the end of it all, I asked if I could flip the lightswitch (more on that in the next post or two).

When you leave some place... you look at the building a little differently.

You take in the faces more fully.

Life is a little slower.

The truth is that while they celebrated me as a hero of sorts, these people are actually my heroes. They have been the church AND the Church to us... encouraging us with words and lifting us up in prayers. In the midst of someone telling me they were going to miss me, one of my closest friends at GCC said, "I won't." Of course I spun back around and said, "What?" The reply back was, "Because I still plan on staying connected with you."

Perhaps this is where time collides a bit. In the temporal I find myself missing these people and who they have been to my family. In the eternal, though, I know this is all but a prelude to heaven. Once we're there, the purity of a relationship with Jesus Christ - the one true Hero - will unveil these relationships to a whole new level.

Hmm... perhaps that's why it's called eternity.

Ever notice how time moves a bit differently when you know something is changing?

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

looking over my shoulder...

It's time for a little 2005 reflection. Feel free to add your own stuff in the comments. That said, here's my spin:

TV Shows

• Best TV show I didn't expect to like in 2005: Lost
  
• Best TV show I expected to like in 2005: Smallville
  
• Worst TV show I expected to like in 2005: My Name Is Earl
  
• Worst TV show I didn't expect to like in 2005: Martha Stewart's version of The Apprentice

Movies:

• Best movie I didn't expect to like in 2005: Batman Begins
  
• Best movie I expected to like in 2005: Revenge Of The Sith (I know I'm supposed to say Narnia, but I didn't - it's #2)
  
• Worst movie I expected to like in 2005: Fantastic Four
  
• Worst movie I didn't expect to like in 2005: Fat Albert

Books:

• Best book I didn't expect to like in 2005: Intentional Diversity by Jim Lo
  
• Best book I expected to like in 2005: Summoned to Lead by Leonard Sweet
  
• Worst book I expected to like in 2005: The one I'm writing (only because it is driving me crazy)
  
• Worst book I didn't expect to like in 2005: Wesley and Sanctification by Harald Lindstrom

God:

• Best God-thing I didn't expect to like in 2005: Writing more... who knew I'd actually like working on books, articles, curriculum, and (gasp) a blog? What the heck is a "blog," anyway?
  
• Best God-thing I expected to like in 2005: Hanging with my family more.
  
• Worst God-thing I expected to like in 2005: Having some "time off" full-time ministry... argh. (No blasphemy intended... I still honor Him in this.)
  
• Worst God-thing I didn't expect to like in 2005: Smaller paychecks (Again, no blasphemy intended - just honesty... God and I have worked this one out)

Honorable mentions: Attending Mars Hill this summer; teaching at Greenville again; going to NYWC with Scott and Brian; finishing my job at First Wes with integrity; almost being done with my Master's work; learning what simplicity is all about; interviewing with some very cool churches; watching my family grow in faith; understanding what "daily bread" really means; and making new friends via my blog (whom I may never meet on this side of heaven).

Looking forward to in 2006: God answering prayers for a full-time job, a place of our own to live in again, having our dog back with us, and seeing my family start to feel like we have space to be ourselves. Oh... and the new Superman movie, too.

May we be the type of people in 2006 that the Lord dreamed we would be in 2005.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)