One year ago from now I woke up this early asking myself why in the world I was getting up this early. I hate getting up before 8am as it is, but on a Saturday it is horrible. The habitual morning ritual is that I had to stop and think for a second to answer the question. I was getting up to go to Ignite at New Life, the church's one day training conference. It was my first opportunity to check out the church at a larger level, and Al had been telling me for a couple weeks, "You need to be there to see a part of what we're all about." A little unsure of what God was doing with us but excited to be a part of it, going to Ignite was a moment of clarity that we were making the right decision to be part of New Life.
Now a year later I'm again waking up at an ungodly hour to get ready to go to Ignite. As the catch phrase goes, "How much difference a year can make." Last year I participated and took in the workshops and sessions, was a secret-shopper for the day. This year I am running out during the intro with the pastoral team, co-teaching two workshops, and participating in a third. For weeks I've been one of the ones to tell people, "You need to be there to see a part of what we're all about."
Thinking about all of these changes this morning was a moment for me of being thankful for God's bigness, His love, His providence. Over the last year He has literally and in my heart changed "I'm going to check out this church" into "this is my church;" and I could not be more thankful. Thankful for the amazing pastoral squad that I get to be a part of, for the best church location I get to be family with, for the new friendships, for the renewed sense of life & faith, for Him simply being Him.
We need to rely on honest hindsight in order to be able to see the future clearly. And what I see in the past year (and beyond that) gives me assurance for the next year (and beyond that).
Can't wait to see what happens in the next year!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Mourning
Within 24 hours both an aunt and a great-uncle of mine passed away last week. We have been going non-stop with a wedding and an all-church service that I feel like I haven't even been able to process this.
Aunt Bunny ~ February 20, 2009
Ruth "Bunny" Whited, 67, passed away on February 20, 2009 at her home, 110 Imperial Heights Drive, Ormond Beach surrounded by Family and Friends after a short battle with ALS. Bunny was born in Chicago, IL on March 21, 1941 to Roy and Ruth Moss.
Bunny married Richard (Dick)Frank Whited on February 10, 1962 and just celebrated 47 years. She is survived by her husband, Richard; a daughter, Dawn Wilson (Vance) ; and 3 sons, Frank Whited, Anthony Whited and Gregory Whited (Nikki), 11 grandchildren. 2 brothers; Richie Moss (Karen) & Roy Moss (Barb), 2 sisters; Jean Zajicek (Robert) & Rita Villanueva (Paul). Bunny loved to walk the beach, spend time with family and friends and play bingo with her bingo buddies. Bunny was known for her love of family, children and everyone felt a sense of "bliss" in her presence. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memori al donations be made in honor of Bunny at Walk to Defeat ALS, Team Bunny, 3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, FL 33619 or Hospice of Volusia/Flagher 555 W. Granada Blvd, H-8, Ormond Beach, Fl.32174. Condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.myspace.com/teambunnny . She will be cremated and her ashes will be spread on her beloved ocean.
Uncle Tommy ~ February 21, 2009
Gene "Tommy" Cobb 71, was born April 4, 1937 in Beales, Kentucky to Fred and Dorothy Miller Cobb. Tommy was a self-employed concrete contractor in the Indianapolis area for over 25 years and drove an oil truck for Muessing (Stucks) Oil Company until retirement. Tommy will be remembered for his devotion and un-conditional love for his family and his love and talent for playing guitar and singing country and blue grass music. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. Donations may be made to the Wheeler Mission in memory of Tommy. He was preceded in death by brother, Roger Cobb; sisters, Ruth Goodwin and Wanda Harvel. He was married to Louise Cobb for 47 years. Survivors include daughters, Terri Lambert (Randy), Indianapolis, Debra Williams, Portland, IN; grandchildren, Scott Lambert (Carrie), Fishers, IN, Jessica Lambert, Indianapolis, Suzzane Gosa (Kelvin), Portland, IN, Mindy Armstrong (Matt), Portland, IN, Josh Williams (Shawna) Portland, IN; great-grandchildren, Haley Gosa, Portland, IN, Shyan and Mylea Williams, Portland, IN; sisters, Opal Rust, Roseburg, Oregon, Sharon Mann, Paragon, IN; brothers, Ozzie Cobb, Greenwood, IN, Bud Cobb, New Castle, IN; numerous nieces and nephews.
Aunt Bunny ~ February 20, 2009
Ruth "Bunny" Whited, 67, passed away on February 20, 2009 at her home, 110 Imperial Heights Drive, Ormond Beach surrounded by Family and Friends after a short battle with ALS. Bunny was born in Chicago, IL on March 21, 1941 to Roy and Ruth Moss.
Bunny married Richard (Dick)Frank Whited on February 10, 1962 and just celebrated 47 years. She is survived by her husband, Richard; a daughter, Dawn Wilson (Vance) ; and 3 sons, Frank Whited, Anthony Whited and Gregory Whited (Nikki), 11 grandchildren. 2 brothers; Richie Moss (Karen) & Roy Moss (Barb), 2 sisters; Jean Zajicek (Robert) & Rita Villanueva (Paul). Bunny loved to walk the beach, spend time with family and friends and play bingo with her bingo buddies. Bunny was known for her love of family, children and everyone felt a sense of "bliss" in her presence. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memori al donations be made in honor of Bunny at Walk to Defeat ALS, Team Bunny, 3242 Parkside Center Circle, Tampa, FL 33619 or Hospice of Volusia/Flagher 555 W. Granada Blvd, H-8, Ormond Beach, Fl.32174. Condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.myspace.com/
Uncle Tommy ~ February 21, 2009
Gene "Tommy" Cobb 71, was born April 4, 1937 in Beales, Kentucky to Fred and Dorothy Miller Cobb. Tommy was a self-employed concrete contractor in the Indianapolis area for over 25 years and drove an oil truck for Muessing (Stucks) Oil Company until retirement. Tommy will be remembered for his devotion and un-conditional love for his family and his love and talent for playing guitar and singing country and blue grass music. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. Donations may be made to the Wheeler Mission in memory of Tommy. He was preceded in death by brother, Roger Cobb; sisters, Ruth Goodwin and Wanda Harvel. He was married to Louise Cobb for 47 years. Survivors include daughters, Terri Lambert (Randy), Indianapolis, Debra Williams, Portland, IN; grandchildren, Scott Lambert (Carrie), Fishers, IN, Jessica Lambert, Indianapolis, Suzzane Gosa (Kelvin), Portland, IN, Mindy Armstrong (Matt), Portland, IN, Josh Williams (Shawna) Portland, IN; great-grandchildren, Haley Gosa, Portland, IN, Shyan and Mylea Williams, Portland, IN; sisters, Opal Rust, Roseburg, Oregon, Sharon Mann, Paragon, IN; brothers, Ozzie Cobb, Greenwood, IN, Bud Cobb, New Castle, IN; numerous nieces and nephews.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
"Hold me daddy."
The Moss fam is sick right now. Baylee, our 2-year old, had an ear infection for a couple days, but that flowed into fever and being lethargic for the last 3-4 days. She's coming off of it, but it's been hard on her. Now, Jeannette & I are following in her footsteps, not with ear infections but with the cold. I guess we've been going overboard on the sharing lessons lately.
Monday & Tuesday Baylee had a really high fever. She was a walking space heater. I came home Monday from church/Moody and she was just laying in the bed, whimpering and sniffling. I knelt by her and asked, "What can daddy do Baylee?" She didn't say anything. Just sniffled.
"Do you want some water?" From laying on her side with her head jammed in the pillow, not even looking at me, only her mouth moved, "No."
"Do you want me to rub your back?" "No."
"Do you want something to eat?" "No."
"Do you want Floppy (her bunny)?" "No."
"Well what do you want daddy to do baby?"
She finally turned, looked at me, sat up, sniffled, and then said, "Hold me daddy."
No good father would need to think for a second on that one.
So I laid in bed with her and held her. "Held her tight" as we say, for probably over an hour. She eventually fell asleep, but I still had her next to me, holding her.
I won't always be able to do that, and I hate that truth with intensity. She's 2 now, but when she's 25 and sick I don't think she'll be asking me to hold her. She'll maybe ask me what medicine to take or what she needs to do. That is a good thing - she'll need to know how to take care of herself at 25. But in my heart as her daddy I know I'll want to just hold her. So for now...I'll hold her any chance I can get.
I think that the fact I'm sick right now coupled with thinking about holding Baylee has made me realize a truth about my relationship with God.
When I first came to know Him I always asked for His involvement, His help. I was a young, toddler follower who constantly said "Hold me." It was all about what He would and could do, and I ran to Him for it.
Now that I've been on this journey for almost 20 years now, I'm more apt to ask Him what He wants me to do. "God, how can I fix it?" "What's your advise God?" "Where do you want me to go?" All good questions and after 20 years of following Him I hope that I've matured and am somewhat able to do a few things on my own.
That being said, God is indeed our Father - and a good father, not the jerk kind that probably over 50% of our society thinks of when they hear that noun. He is THE father, and any natural feelings I have as a father or of how a father should be can in part be traced back as echoes of who He is.
I'm not the only father who wants to hold his kids.
So, with the things I'm going through right now I will indeed ask God for His direction, His guidance, and His help. After all this time - I better.
But first and foremost I will return to being a child, I will embrace His heart, and I will pray, "Hold me daddy."
And I realize now, that is the prayer He's been wishing I would pray.
Monday & Tuesday Baylee had a really high fever. She was a walking space heater. I came home Monday from church/Moody and she was just laying in the bed, whimpering and sniffling. I knelt by her and asked, "What can daddy do Baylee?" She didn't say anything. Just sniffled.
"Do you want some water?" From laying on her side with her head jammed in the pillow, not even looking at me, only her mouth moved, "No."
"Do you want me to rub your back?" "No."
"Do you want something to eat?" "No."
"Do you want Floppy (her bunny)?" "No."
"Well what do you want daddy to do baby?"
She finally turned, looked at me, sat up, sniffled, and then said, "Hold me daddy."
No good father would need to think for a second on that one.
So I laid in bed with her and held her. "Held her tight" as we say, for probably over an hour. She eventually fell asleep, but I still had her next to me, holding her.
I won't always be able to do that, and I hate that truth with intensity. She's 2 now, but when she's 25 and sick I don't think she'll be asking me to hold her. She'll maybe ask me what medicine to take or what she needs to do. That is a good thing - she'll need to know how to take care of herself at 25. But in my heart as her daddy I know I'll want to just hold her. So for now...I'll hold her any chance I can get.
I think that the fact I'm sick right now coupled with thinking about holding Baylee has made me realize a truth about my relationship with God.
When I first came to know Him I always asked for His involvement, His help. I was a young, toddler follower who constantly said "Hold me." It was all about what He would and could do, and I ran to Him for it.
Now that I've been on this journey for almost 20 years now, I'm more apt to ask Him what He wants me to do. "God, how can I fix it?" "What's your advise God?" "Where do you want me to go?" All good questions and after 20 years of following Him I hope that I've matured and am somewhat able to do a few things on my own.
That being said, God is indeed our Father - and a good father, not the jerk kind that probably over 50% of our society thinks of when they hear that noun. He is THE father, and any natural feelings I have as a father or of how a father should be can in part be traced back as echoes of who He is.
I'm not the only father who wants to hold his kids.
So, with the things I'm going through right now I will indeed ask God for His direction, His guidance, and His help. After all this time - I better.
But first and foremost I will return to being a child, I will embrace His heart, and I will pray, "Hold me daddy."
And I realize now, that is the prayer He's been wishing I would pray.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Interesting Perspective from PENN
Jeannette & I saw Penn & Teller when we went to Vegas about 5 years ago. Penn Jillette, the tall one who does most of the talking, makes some interesting comments in this video:
Proselytize:
Interesting.
Proselytize:
- To induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith.
- To induce someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine.
Interesting.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Not Even 1 Random Thing
Despair INC, one of the funniest companies out there, just came out with a great new shirt in response to the infamous Facebook note: "25 Random Things about Me"
Here is the image of the shirt and their explanation of it:
1 RANDOM THING
I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW 1 RANDOM THING ABOUT YOU.
It's become one of the fastest moving fads in the history of social networking. In one week's time, over 5 million narcissists, braggarts, exhibitionists, and serial jabbermouths have posted notes to Facebook, disclosing "25 random things" about themselves to their online network of family, friends, friends-of-friends, and of course more than a few pseudo-friends who are just keeping up appearances because they lacked the guts to decline a "friend invite". All the while, these very same people are exposing their dirty laundry, trivial observations, unsolicited fantasies, yawn-inducing confessions, white-washed biographical highlight reels and probably a hefty share of outright lies to an armada of sexual deviants, unstable stalkers, future blackmailers, potentially nefarious foreign and domestic intelligence agencies, and a legion of marketing bots- all of which are probably paying closer attention than those the list was intended for (for reasons best left unmentioned).
Just what kind of "random things" have been revealed via this mass act of egotistical disgorgement? Why, a friend of journalist Dan Zak of the Washington Post confessed, "I have pooped my pants more than three times as an adult." Dallasite Mandy Aguilar reveals, "...my dog kisses me on the mouth. It's cool." An associate of Time magazine reporter Claire Suddath inexplicably revealed, "I like to tape my thumbs to my hands to see what it would be like to be a dinosaur."
Multiple the pointlessness and puerility of those three disclosures times 41.6 million- and you'll begin to get a sense of the sheer enormity of this catastrophe. Has there ever been a greater amount of trivial idiocy manufactured in a smaller amount of time and then forced upon a greater number of victims in the history of human civilization? Okay, besides the blogosophere then?
Unlikely.
This is probably one of the most ingenious things I've seen in awhile, and if I had a couple bucks to spare I'd buy the shirt within seconds. Maybe I'll get a cut of Obama's 800 billion and then buy it.
Here is the image of the shirt and their explanation of it:
___________________________
1 RANDOM THING
I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW 1 RANDOM THING ABOUT YOU.
It's become one of the fastest moving fads in the history of social networking. In one week's time, over 5 million narcissists, braggarts, exhibitionists, and serial jabbermouths have posted notes to Facebook, disclosing "25 random things" about themselves to their online network of family, friends, friends-of-friends, and of course more than a few pseudo-friends who are just keeping up appearances because they lacked the guts to decline a "friend invite". All the while, these very same people are exposing their dirty laundry, trivial observations, unsolicited fantasies, yawn-inducing confessions, white-washed biographical highlight reels and probably a hefty share of outright lies to an armada of sexual deviants, unstable stalkers, future blackmailers, potentially nefarious foreign and domestic intelligence agencies, and a legion of marketing bots- all of which are probably paying closer attention than those the list was intended for (for reasons best left unmentioned).
Just what kind of "random things" have been revealed via this mass act of egotistical disgorgement? Why, a friend of journalist Dan Zak of the Washington Post confessed, "I have pooped my pants more than three times as an adult." Dallasite Mandy Aguilar reveals, "...my dog kisses me on the mouth. It's cool." An associate of Time magazine reporter Claire Suddath inexplicably revealed, "I like to tape my thumbs to my hands to see what it would be like to be a dinosaur."
Multiple the pointlessness and puerility of those three disclosures times 41.6 million- and you'll begin to get a sense of the sheer enormity of this catastrophe. Has there ever been a greater amount of trivial idiocy manufactured in a smaller amount of time and then forced upon a greater number of victims in the history of human civilization? Okay, besides the blogosophere then?
Unlikely.
___________________________
This is probably one of the most ingenious things I've seen in awhile, and if I had a couple bucks to spare I'd buy the shirt within seconds. Maybe I'll get a cut of Obama's 800 billion and then buy it.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 09, 2009
Rescue me from this poop
Yesterday I spoke at church on the topic, "The Reality of Sin." I had some thoughts that I didn't share in the message that I still wanted to get down.
Friday afternoon I walked out back to take garbage to the alley. The backyard is Stitch's bathroom, so the white snow that was still on the ground made his dog piles pretty obvious. After getting a plastic grocery bag from inside I started the wonderful task of picking up after him. Late at night when I let him out I don't go out with him because of the Chicago cold, which is also reason enough to let things go for awhile with a "I'll pick it all up later." Seeing the brown/white contrast Friday afternoon - it was time to pick things up. It didn't look like much though. Upon starting I realized it was going to have to wait a little more. Frozen poopcicles are difficult to break free. I knew 50 degree weather was coming Satrday, so I decided to leave things for one more day.
Saturday afternoon Jeannette, Baylee, and I were going to go to Lincoln Park Zoo to enjoy the first nice day in a long time. We were outside ready to go when I remembered about the backyard treasures. "Let me go and pick these up really quick, there wasn't a lot yesterday."
By this time on Saturday, around 1pm, most of the snow had melted. Snow that had been covering up probably over a month's worth of Stitch's squattings. There was a LOT! There was definitely more than what I saw on the surface Friday. I literally almost filled a plastic grocery bag. Not fun, not pleasant.
My little backyard experience brought the reality of sin home to me in a real way:
If I would pick up after Stitch immediately I wouldn't have a bigger mess to deal with later.
Isn't that just how the junk in our life is also? If I'd just deal with things, not leaving them to the mercy of lame excuses, I'd have less of a mess to deal with later.
But no - I left things. Had a huge, disgusting mess to clean up, holding back a gag reflex at times. Had to wash my hands. Made Jeannette & Baylee wait for me, missing out on part of our planned fun.
Disgusting. And experienced because I didn't just take care of things immediately, when I knew they needed to be taken care of.
Romans 7 is a great passage to read in regards to our struggle with sin. I'd suggest you check it out, especially verses 14-25. Here's my paraphrase of verses 24-25:
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this backyard of disgustingness? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Friday afternoon I walked out back to take garbage to the alley. The backyard is Stitch's bathroom, so the white snow that was still on the ground made his dog piles pretty obvious. After getting a plastic grocery bag from inside I started the wonderful task of picking up after him. Late at night when I let him out I don't go out with him because of the Chicago cold, which is also reason enough to let things go for awhile with a "I'll pick it all up later." Seeing the brown/white contrast Friday afternoon - it was time to pick things up. It didn't look like much though. Upon starting I realized it was going to have to wait a little more. Frozen poopcicles are difficult to break free. I knew 50 degree weather was coming Satrday, so I decided to leave things for one more day.
Saturday afternoon Jeannette, Baylee, and I were going to go to Lincoln Park Zoo to enjoy the first nice day in a long time. We were outside ready to go when I remembered about the backyard treasures. "Let me go and pick these up really quick, there wasn't a lot yesterday."
By this time on Saturday, around 1pm, most of the snow had melted. Snow that had been covering up probably over a month's worth of Stitch's squattings. There was a LOT! There was definitely more than what I saw on the surface Friday. I literally almost filled a plastic grocery bag. Not fun, not pleasant.
My little backyard experience brought the reality of sin home to me in a real way:
If I would pick up after Stitch immediately I wouldn't have a bigger mess to deal with later.
Isn't that just how the junk in our life is also? If I'd just deal with things, not leaving them to the mercy of lame excuses, I'd have less of a mess to deal with later.
But no - I left things. Had a huge, disgusting mess to clean up, holding back a gag reflex at times. Had to wash my hands. Made Jeannette & Baylee wait for me, missing out on part of our planned fun.
Disgusting. And experienced because I didn't just take care of things immediately, when I knew they needed to be taken care of.
Romans 7 is a great passage to read in regards to our struggle with sin. I'd suggest you check it out, especially verses 14-25. Here's my paraphrase of verses 24-25:
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this backyard of disgustingness? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Superbowl Recap
I know now that it was the Steelers and the Cardinals in the Superbowl, and I also know that the Steelers won. All trivial information.
Halftime show was GREAT! Bruce is...well, to be cliche, the man! I admit, I don't think "10th Ave Freeze Out" was the best song to start off with because it's incredibly old and not as many people would know it, but - he is the Boss. "Born to Run" and "Working on a Dream" I guessed he would play and was correct. For the uninformed, during "Working on a Dream" the guy standing behind him was indeed "the guy from the Sopranos" and the woman behind him was NOT Reba, it was his wife. I, like everyone else in the country, thought the last song would be "Born in the USA" - however "Glory Days" was a better pick. It goes along with the history of rock music that people still don't understand the meaning of the song. "Born in the USA" is not a happy, patriotic song. People love singing the chorus but don't know the verses. Bruce knows the meaning of his song - so he picked "Glory Days" - which is indeed a happy, friends hanging and celebrating type song. He was the man.
Commercials were OK this year. The beer commercials are normally a lot funnier, but this year they were rather lame. These were my favs:
#4 - Bob Dylan song
#3 - Careerbuilder.com
#2 - "I'm Good"
#1 - Free Doritos
Last night at our 20's homegroup we were talking about who is left that would be good for the halftime show. U2 and Bruce have been the best, but who is there that wouldn't be lame? Here were some of our ideas:
- Bon Jovi
- Billy Joel
- Coldplay
- John Mayer
I can't remember who else we said, probably because those are the 4 I would approve of. :o)
Halftime show was GREAT! Bruce is...well, to be cliche, the man! I admit, I don't think "10th Ave Freeze Out" was the best song to start off with because it's incredibly old and not as many people would know it, but - he is the Boss. "Born to Run" and "Working on a Dream" I guessed he would play and was correct. For the uninformed, during "Working on a Dream" the guy standing behind him was indeed "the guy from the Sopranos" and the woman behind him was NOT Reba, it was his wife. I, like everyone else in the country, thought the last song would be "Born in the USA" - however "Glory Days" was a better pick. It goes along with the history of rock music that people still don't understand the meaning of the song. "Born in the USA" is not a happy, patriotic song. People love singing the chorus but don't know the verses. Bruce knows the meaning of his song - so he picked "Glory Days" - which is indeed a happy, friends hanging and celebrating type song. He was the man.
Commercials were OK this year. The beer commercials are normally a lot funnier, but this year they were rather lame. These were my favs:
#4 - Bob Dylan song
#3 - Careerbuilder.com
#2 - "I'm Good"
#1 - Free Doritos
Last night at our 20's homegroup we were talking about who is left that would be good for the halftime show. U2 and Bruce have been the best, but who is there that wouldn't be lame? Here were some of our ideas:
- Bon Jovi
- Billy Joel
- Coldplay
- John Mayer
I can't remember who else we said, probably because those are the 4 I would approve of. :o)
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