Speak(ing)

If I could capsulize yesterday in a couple Bible verses, the following two would be a great start:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." (John 14.1)

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (John 15.4)

Maybe a few of you can receive hope from them, too.

First Day of PreSchool

This morning, we sent our son off to preschool. He was so excited and couldn't stop talking about the playground. I had to remind him that he might have to hang out in the classroom some to learn a few things. He had no trouble kissing us goodbye and playing with his new friends.

 

 

 

p.s. This kid has an incredible mother. After dropping him off at school for the first time, she spent the initial two hours of her morning doing ministry and sacrificially impacting the lives of three other moms. Way to go! 

Fearless

The latest book from Max Lucado hits bookstores today. Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear tackles that which “has taken a hundred-year lease on the building next door and set up shop.” (5) Fear. As Lucado points out, “We fear being sued, finishing last, going broke; we fear the mole on the back, the new kid on the block, the sound of the clock as it ticks us closer to the grave.” (5) Fearless leads us into our fears by helping us admit their existence, captivating and inviting narratives, and an intense focus on Jesus. I would highly recommend the book to anyone looking for a handle on fear.

First, in Fearless, Lucado helps us stare our fears in the face. In the fifteen chapters, we encounter the following fears: insignificance, disappointing God, health, kids, challenges, worst-case scenarios, violence, death, what’s next, God’s absence, global catastrophes, and God getting out of our boxes. Whether I thought I struggled with the specific fear mentioned in a chapter or not, there was something in each chapter that helped me recognize ways in which I am susceptible to fear that I did not realize. I appreciated Lucado’s inclusion of fears specific to individuals or individual families and fears on national or global scales. He understands the global and local characteristics of the 21st century. Fearless honestly unveils a wide spectrum of fears, and does not allow the reader to sidestep any of them.

Second, in typical Max Lucado style, Fearless shares powerful narratives that allow readers to laugh, cry, contemplate, anticipate, and join the storyline of the book. Whether it is the opening story of his brother’s death, the twist-at-the-end story of the conversion of “Jack,” or the story of the woman who did not believe the man standing in front of her was Max Lucado, each narrative presents an opportunity for the reader to identify with the characters, consider their own reactions to the plot, and enter into a readiness to deal with the specific fear being presented. Lucado’s books always offer inviting stories, and Fearless does not disappoint.

Third, Fearless moves effectively from welcoming narratives to biblical narratives often involving Jesus and his disciples. In each biblical narrative presented, Jesus is the star of the story, and Lucado reveals how he confronts and overcomes any and all forms of fear. We experience Christ walking on water, feeding thousands, calming storms, and transfiguring on Mount Hermon. Lucado challenges and encourages readers by exposing the disciples’ fears and Jesus’ reassurances. Also, on several occasions, in the midst of these biblical narratives, Lucado provides bullet lists of Scriptures that readers might want to post on their bathroom mirrors or car dashboards. The biblical narratives lead readers to Jesus, the One who reassures us: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”

Like a light shining into the darkness of a world filled with terror threats, financial collapses, and unsightly doctor’s reports, through honesty, stories, and an eye toward Christ, Fearless empowers readers to fear less. The book is a quick, piercing read that I highly recommend.

Happy Birthday Son!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love my kids, but I need help!

As many of you know, Heidi and I became parents to a 3rd child over the summer. Words can not describe my emotions, thoughts, joys, and fears occurring simultaneously as Hudbud experienced life beyond the womb.

Today, I'm reminded that he won't always be a newborn. In fact, he turned one month old a couple days ago, and has already entered the realm of 3-6 month clothing. Furthermore, both of my other children have birthdays this month, and my own rolling over to 32 is but a few months away.

Simply stated, parenting ain't easy. There's much to worry about, much to be sorry for, and much that will not be revealed until it's too late to fix! On the other hand, there is much to celebrate, much to fondly remember, and much to look forward to!

With all that in mind, I wonder how the individualism of our suburban culture affects our parental abilities. In other words, how many of us are bearing the burdens of parenting in isolation secluded from the prayers, resources, hugs, suggestions, and support of others?

In our training with Mission Alive, the following motto is hammered into us domestic missionaries: "No one should church plant alone." Perhaps the same statement holds true for the parent. Whether there are two parents in the same household, two parents sharing responsibilities while living in separate households, or one parent attempting to shepherd their children, perhaps no one should parent alone. Our kids are gifts from the Lord, and gifts are meant to be shared. Maybe we need each other.

I had an hour-long conversation with two parents today: one with children long out of the house, and one with children in elementary school. We brainstormed ideas for connecting with local parents who may be carrying their parenting responsibilities by themselves.

At the beginning of our time together, we conversed introspectively discussing the following question: "As a parent, with what do you need immediate help?" Spawning from this question were sub-questions such as: "How might I discipline my children in productive and formative ways?" "What are the best ways to tackle homework?" "What do my children need in terms of nutrition and exercise?" "How can I encourage my child to spend more time playing outside and less time in front of the television?"

With these questions as primers to the pump, as a parent, with what do you need immediate help? How can I assist you in pursuing the help you desire?