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

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? 

Who is 3yrs old today?

This guy is!

 

So thankful for my little man! He is growing up to be such a fun, smart, and super caring little boy. I couldn't be more proud or grateful - so glad I get to say I'm Jaxon Zion Moss' daddy!

Passing on the Star Wars legacy & being a good dad

Yesterday was the unofficial Star Wars day: May the 4th be with you. I wasn't going to get home till late from a work trip, but Jeannette and I talked on the phone earlier in the day and decided it was time for the kids to experience the movies. Being my kids they've obviously heard of them and know who some of the characters are, but they hadn't seen them yet. 

Both got incredibly excited when Jeannette explained what the day was and that we were going to watch the movies when I got home. Evidence of their excitement came in this text that I got from Jeannette during the day:

Clouds of power, clouds of beauty

In Nashville for work yesterday, the city was under tornado warnings. The guy who handed me car keys at the rental booth said, "Might want to hunker down in the afternoon." Yes, he said "hunker down." It's Nashville. A Starbucks and a CVS I stopped at both had signs up stating, "Closing early due to impending weather." Apparently the storm was something to be concerned about. And of course the church I was at was smack dab in the middle of it all.

In the afternoon the sky shifted hue in the blink of an eye. Darkness came in an instant. I stepped outside when it first started up and took this video of the hail coming down:

The father who keeps his promises

Sunday night our family visited Mosaic, Erwin McManus' church in West Hollywood. It was an incredible service and Erwin gave a phenomenal message, as expected. Before we left for church though, our kids had their hearts set on going swimming at the hotel. We knew we wouldn't be able to make visiting Mosaic if we took a dip, so we ensured them there would be swimming when we got back. 

While buckling Baylee in after church the first words out of her mouth were, "We're going swimming when we get back, right dad?" I love swimming and having fun with my kids, so with complete confidence and intention I said, "Baylee, we are going to swim! I promise you! Unless the pool is broken, we will swim. And if for some reason it's closed when we get back then I promise we will go in the morning." The result was one huge smile.

Now take the fact that 8pm Los Angles time is actually 10pm to Baylee and Jaxon's little Chicago bodies and add to it a 35 minute drive back to our hotel, and result is two zonked out little kids. Gone. Comatose. At this point it didn't matter if the pool was open or not.

But it did matter in the morning. At 7:45am Baylee was awake and the first words she said were, "Daddy, do we get to go swimming?" But she didn't stop there. She added the other words. She played the trump card. She called me out.

Want to help make a movie?

Misha Geno, my friend from church, makes movies. She is an amazing fashion designer with a great artistic eye and passion for story telling. She uses her art as a wardrobe stylist to bring characters to life within their story.

Misha has an sweet opportunity before her! She has been asked to be the wardrobe stylist for a feature film called, "The Umbrella." 

She explains that the movie is "about Jared, who is haunted by his past, not dealing with his pain, and disengaged from life in the present. He uses his “imaginary” umbrella to shield him from life, but he soon must make a choice: to finally let go of his umbrella and find the freedom that comes from living honestly." 

The film is being made by YWAM (Youth With a Mission). Oh, and I forgot to mention, it's being filmed IN AUSTRALIA!!! 

Do you want to be part of the crew with Misha? She is looking for partners! People who want to join the film crew! Check out this short video:

Please consider joining Misha with me! This is going to be a really amazing film!

Check out the full story about the film by clicking HERE.

To download the informational letter on how to partner with Misha, CLICK HERE

A passion to end modern-day slavery

Highlighting the Passion2012 conference in Atlanta from this past week, this is pretty amazing 3 minute video. It's worth every minute to watch:

And now I'm asking myself what it looks like to join this movement on a day to day basis. 

Thoughts?

A New Year's Benediction

This is a New Year's benediction that Neil Gaiman, one of my favorite authors, gave a couple years ago at an event:

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. May your coming year be a wonderful thing in which you dream both dangerously and outrageously.

I hope you will make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and you will be liked and you will have people to love and to like in return. And most importantly, because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now – I hope that you will, when you need to, be wise and that you will always be kind. And I hope that somewhere in the next year you surprise yourself. 

May we draw closer to Jesus this year, and beg him to fulfill that prayer.

New Year's posts from last couple days:

• Week in Review #16-26 and/or Year in Review
• How to not fail at a New Year's Resolution

 

First day of 5 years old

Yesterday we partied.

Yesterday we celebrated.

Yesterday was about going from this moment...

To this moment...

 

But today it hit me. Again.

As she woke up, as she got ready for school. 

As she yelled, "Daddy! Daddy!" when I walked in the door.

As we we painted and as I gave her piggy back rides.

Today the reality of days continually being added hit me. Again.

My awe of holding this little one has only grown, even more than she has.

I want her to get bigger as much as I don't want her to.

These are the pains of being a daddy I guess. 

But I wouldn't trade them for all of the world.

The Bears lose, but the buddies win

Sunday night the Bears destroyed the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 39-10. My sister was at the game, so yes, I was incredibly jealous. Break the 10th commandment and ask for repentance jealous. Why? Because the week before, on Monday night, the Bears were destroyed by the Detroit Lions with a final score of 13-24. And that was the game I was at.

Everyone Mad Libs

The only people who don't like Mad Libs are the people who don't know what they are. And Nazi's. 

So for all of the unfortunately misinformed, and for all of the short evil dictators with little mustaches out there, this is the idea behind Mad Libs:

A reminder of - "I want to holded"

Back in January I shared this story of Baylee almost bringing Jeannette and I to tears (happy ones): "I want to be holded" It's actually one of the most read posts ever on my blog.

Well, Saturday night before bedtime Baylee and I had the below conversation. It was another reminder of wanting to be held.

Me: "Baylee, will you promise me that after you turn 5 that you won't get any bigger? Can you just stay like this? I really like you this size."

Baylee: "Sure. Wait just a minute." 

She then turns around in front of me, closes her eyes and clasps her hands, "God, please let me be five for a long long time. Amen."

She then turns back to face me and says, "I hope he answers that dad because I like it when you hold me." 

And again...she near brings me to tears.

Tonight's moment made me think of the one back in January. Very lucky to have this little lady in my life - because she continually points me toward seeing what is most important.

"Lord...teach me to pray like a 4 year old. Amen"

White Ribbon Day: Remembering 9/11 [VIDEO]

The day after the attacks, my friend Dave Trout came to me with 8-10 hours of 9/11 news footage recorded on one VHS and an idea for a video. The plan was to create for church a montage video, set to the song, White Ribbon Day. After two all nighters, about two hours before services started, the memorial video was finished. 

Here it is:

Where were you the morning of 9/11?

It was a Tuesday. But you probably already knew that.

That morning I had breakfast with Dane Mentzer, a friend who at the time was a student in my youth group. We ate at the McDonalds on LeGrange Ave in Frankfort, right across from Lincoln Way East. Once done eating, we continued our conversation in the car while I took him across the street to the school's front door. After he got out, I headed back across the street to hit Starbucks before going to my office. 

Since Dane and I were talking, I hadn't turned on the radio yet. But once alone, I tuned to Eric & Kathy on 101.9. They weren't their normal joking selves and it was obvious something had happened. 

"Again, for those just tuning in, we've had reports that there was a terrorist attack in New York just moments ago." 

Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by?

An incredibly busy city:

The capacity is of people with places to be. 

Jobs. Classes. Projects.

Meetings. Appointments. Tasks.

Daily, hundreds will drive down this street, LaSalle Blvd:

"The 1st day of school" or "Why blinking sucks"

Yesterday she was...

And then I blinked, and today she is...

12 Years of God's Grace

12 years ago today my life changed. 

Standing upon a little hill on the Myer's castle grounds, I remember Jeannette walking into view with her dad. My jaw dropped. The family and friends present ceased to be. In that moment the realization was overwhelming: this beautiful woman walking toward me was going to be my wife. I'm going to spend the rest of my life with my friend.

What I didn't know in that moment was everything over the last 12 years that she would be in the midst of everything we would walk through:

Revisited: I Lost My iPhone!

I've been blogging and processing life on this site for a few years now. According to the "stats" for the site, this post has been viewed more than double than any other post I've done:  "I lost my iPhone!"

Apparently a lot of people could relate and were feeling the pain.   =)

Since it was originally posted a year ago today, I'm sharing the story again: CLICK HERE