Praying with Baylee at the flag pole

See You At The Pole is a national day of prayer that started while I was in high school. On the third Wednesday of September the flag pole becomes a rally point for students all over the country to gather together to pray for their families, friends, schools, and country. 

Today Baylee and I gathered at the pole before she went in to class. Trying to explain it to a five year old I said, "We can talk to God any time we want, but today is a special day because while we are praying here there are people all over the city praying by their school flag poles. Remember when we went to New York and San Francisco and Orlando? There are kids praying at their schools there too."

"What are they praying about?" 

"They're asking God to help their schools, and to be with their family and friends. Do you want to pray to?"

"Yes! Dear God - please please help my school! Amen!"

Then she looks up at me, "Like that? Was that a good prayer?"

"That was a spectacular prayer Baylee!" 

I sat her in my lap and thanked God for her and for her mommy and brother. I asked God to protect her at school. To help her to learn well. That she would have a lot of fun. That she would be a great leader and a great helper. And that He would bless Mrs Larose and the rest of the teachers.

After I said Amen she looked at me again and smiling said, "Thanks dad"

Trusting Him to answer. 

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Why 9/12 is as important as 9/11

Yesterday was a post about 9/11. 

But today is September 12th. 

Everyone goes back to the grind, back to the busyness and hectic pace. There will possibly be a few mentions of 9/11 throughout the day:

"Did you see any of the memorials on TV?"

"Did your church do anything special?"

 

Conversation will be sincere, but probably brief. But it's 9/12. We've moved on. 

9/11: Already Starting to Fade

World War I. is incredibly interesting. The stories of what soldiers went through are phenomenal. They are meaningful because of my related history as a citizen of our country. But not experiencing WWI firsthand I don't have an emotional connection to it. I don't feel it.

But 9/11 I experienced and 9/11 I felt. Not as a New Yorker would have. Not as one of the victim's family and friends would have. But in my own way as a Chicagoan, as a husband, as a youth pastor, and just as a guy looking at a screen with complete disbelief.

And now it is 2012, eleven years later. I found this cartoon yesterday that pretty much sums it up:

My bittersweet birthday present

September 4th is my birthday (mark that on your calendar for next year). 

September 4th this year was also Baylee's first day of Kindergarten. A day I was incredibly excited about and not looking forward to. She's done half day preschool a couple days a week before so school isn't anything new to us. But full day is different. Kindergarten is different.

It's one of those landmark days where you look in two different directions. The look ahead is excitement about the little woman she is growing into but also melancholy because the days of her always being around are gone. Eyes back are joyful because of the special times we've experienced but also slightly saddening in knowing at times as a parent I could have done better.

But between the two looks is September 4th. Today I laugh and I cry while looking back at pictures from the last few years. Today I hug her tight and kiss her cheek repeatedly. Today I tell myself to be constructively critical but not to beat myself up. Today I say to her what I've said at various times before: "Do your best. Be a leader and a helper. Have tons of fun. Daddy loves you so much."

Just can you slow down a little bit on this growing up stuff? A little bit? 

Aug 2nd: Gospel appreciation day

I am declaring that August 2nd is Gospel appreciation day!

• Let all those who love Jesus and say they are followers of Him live like it!
• Remember that sin is disgusting and you did NOTHING to redeem yourself - Jesus did it ALL.
• Embrace the life that you did not earn but were given based on the sacrifice of Jesus. 
• Find joy in the truth that you could change nothing about yourself that would make God redeem you or love you more - both before you met Him or after. 
• Find peace in the truth that God is continually working on you and is always with you.
• Find passion in the truth that God wants you to join Him in what He is doing in the world (though He doesn't need you to accomplish it).

Appreciate the Gospel today!!!

• Appreciate the Gospel by caring about the type of person you are!
• Appreciate the Gospel by caring about the type of character you have!
• Appreciate the Gospel by caring about the type of words that come out of your mouth!
• Appreciate the Gospel by knowing the names of those who live around you!
• Appreciate the Gospel by learning the stories of those you interact with! 
• Appreciate the Gospel by treating cab drivers and waitresses and fast food workers like actual human beings and not endentured servants. 
• Appreciate the Gospel by speaking truth from a spirit of compassion and not of judgement!
• Appreciate the Gospel by disagreeing with people respectfully and not in harshness! 
• Appreciate the Gospel by communicating your disagreement of politicians without insulting them!
• Appreciate the Gospel by being concerned with how the poor are treated!
• Appreciate the Gospel by being concerned with how immigrants are treated!
• Appreciate the Gospel by being concerned with how the LGBT community is treated!
• Appreciate the Gospel by caring about the manner in which you talk to people!
• Appreciate the Gospel by being a person of truthful character! 
• Appreciate the Gospel by being an honorable person! 
• Appreciate the Gospel by being a person of justice!
• Appreciate the Gospel by being a person of purity!
• Appreciate the Gospel by being a lovely person!
• Appreciate the Gospel by being a person who can be commended!
• Appreciate the Gospel by being a person of excellence!   

Appreciate the Gospel by living it!

Because how you live out the gospel with the people you actually interact with day in and day out is more important than if you bought a spicy chicken yesterday. 

Gospel Appreciation: not just Aug 2nd.  

Everyday!