Thankful for my beautiful, sweet daughter

Everyone has dreams about their future. On December 4, 2006 a nurse said to me, "here you go daddy, meet your daughter." And for the first time I was able to hold this dream come true: 

And now today, six years later, she is still that dream. I am so thankful for my beautiful Baylee, my sweet daughter:

We went to Jewel this morning to buy cookies so she can celebrate with her friends at lunch. As we were walking the sidewalk to the main door I picked her up and prayed...

"God - thank you for this awesome little girl. (She interupted me at this point and whispered, "Big girl") ...for this awesome BIG GIRL! For giving mommy and me such an amazing daughter. I am so thankful that I get to be her daddy and I am so incredibly proud of who she is. Thank you for making her so much fun, for making her so caring, for giving her so much energy and with a sweet spirit, that she is helpful, that she tries so hard, and that she is growing up to be such an amazing BIG girl. Give her a great, fun, amazing birthday"

And now back in my office writing this, with somewhat watery eyes, I pray the other prayer I do every Dec 4th...

"Dear God...please slow down the time"

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? 

Pastoring: the happiest of jobs, the most painful of jobs

Within the same hour yesterday I came across two different articles that speak about the job of being a pastor: 

• One from Forbes: The Ten Happiest Jobs 
• And one from a daily devotional that a friend from church forwarded to me: What Our Pastors Wish We Knew.

Though seemingly in contradiction of one another, both are accurate. 

To be honest though, I hope more people read the second one.

 

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you." 1 Thessalonians 5:1

Share this by clicking one of the below icons:

Meatballs and Spinach and Mother's Day

As we're walking down the street after church I say to Baylee, "Today is Mommy's day. She gets to pick where we are eating."

"Ah man, the day she gets to pick she's going to choose something I don't want like meatballs and spinach!" 

Jeannette laughs and says, "Why in the world would I pick that? And besides, you love meatballs."

Baylee passionately responds, "Not with spinach though!"

My highly entertaining kids. And I am so thankful they have a mom like Jeannette! She is an amazing super mom and I couldn't have asked for more in a mom for my kids. I am immensely grateful for her!

Happy Mother's Day Jeannette!

Also, other Happy Mother's day shout outs to:

• My awesome mom whom I love immensely.
• My awesome Nana who is phenomenal!
• My way coo' mother-in-law Chris
• My sister-in-law Shannon who needs prayer because she is a Star Trek fan.
• My sister-in-law Chrissy who I know is at home laying on the couch right now (or will be).
• My awesome step-mom Barb
• My awesome grandma Loomis
• And to all the "Mom's" at New Life Lincoln Park!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ALL YOU MADRES!!! 

Thankfulness for someone who encouraged thought

A great man of God passed away yesterday: Chuck Colson.

There are leaders of the faith who have inspired me, those who have equipped me, those who have encouraged me. But Chuck Colson is a leader who challenged me to think about and understand my faith. And in doing so he inspired, equipped, and encouraged.

The first time I ever heard Chuck Colson I had no idea who he was or that it was him I was listening to. At the beginning of his song, "Heaven in the Real World," Stephen Curtis Chapman had a sound bite of Colson saying this:

"Where is the hope? I meet millions of people who feel demoralized by the decay around us. The hope that each of us has is not in who governs us, or what laws we pass, or what great things we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people. And that's where our hope is in this country. And that's where our hope is in life." 

His life story is about that hope. His story is a testimony to the powerful grace of God.

If you've never heard of or interacted with the work of Chuck Colson, I highly recommend you do.

Read his obituary press release here.

Read his story here.

Check out his books here. If you want some suggested starting places I'd go with The Faith, How Now Shall We Live, and The Body. 

And check out this video...

The Daydream Believer: Dec 30, 1945 - Feb 29, 2012

I have always been a Monkeys fan. Loved reruns of the show when I was little and have always loved their music. The Monkeys Greatest Hits isn't one of those CD's you listen to all of the time, but when you do bust it out it is guaranteed to produce loud volumes, big smiles, and sing-alongs by even the most untalented of voices (speaking of myself).

So finding out that Davy Jones passed away yesterday was a sad blow to cherished memories. I can't think of him or The Monkeys without starting to hum this song...

The end of this was always my favorite, when they all battled over who would stand in front. 

This week indeed is an appropriate time to crank up "Last Train to Clarksville" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday." Appreciate this artist and all of the great enjoyable times he contributed to over the years.

Two words you can say that will give someone an instant spirit boost

A couple weeks ago I did a message at church that I felt really didn't go over that well. It wasn't my worst ever, but it wasn't as I had hoped. The collateral damage wasn't a huge dark cloud, but there was a mixture of frustration and questioning of self. My sense of perfectionism can be rather brutal at times.

After service a guy from our church asked me if I could send him the notes from a message I'd done a few weeks prior. Out of my mouth came, "Sure, no problem." In my head was, "Obviously not wanting today's stuff." Despite my pity party I emailed the notes later that afternoon. 

In the morning my inbox had a simple message from him saying thanks for the notes. But he also had this post script: 

Would it even be worth it if you could go back and change the past?

This past weekend I finished reading Stephen King's newest novel, 11/22/63. From his website, this is the book's premise:

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed forever.

If you had the chance to change the course of history, would you? Would the consequences be worth it?

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life—a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

Explore the Possibilities...

Stephen King is an amazing story teller. Though I've enjoyed all of his last few novels this is by far one of his best ever. It has a great pace that demands you don't put it down. As the description explains, the theme throughout is dealing with the past. Not just JFK's assassination, but the moment a little girl becomes paralyzed, the moment a boy's family is shattered, the moment a relationship is changed forever. This great book got me thinking.

Is it possible to stay married for 63 years?

Today my grandparents answer the question with resounding YES!!! 

And not just married for 63 years, but in love for 63 years. 

These are two of the most dear people in the world to me, and I would not be the man I am today if not for them. My thankfulness for their impact on my life is eternal. Our family is more indebted to their steadfast and faithful legacy then we ever will probably realize.

Love you so much Nana and Papa! 

Happy 63rd anniversary!!!

Week in review #14

This was one of those weeks filled with everything. Some excitement, some low, some fun, some dull. It was all over the map:

I get to live here!

This was the view from my window last week when flying to Connecticut:

Over the last year I've traveled all over, 

visited many of our country's major cities. 

Have met all kinds of different people, 

seen all kinds of different places, 

and eaten all kinds of different foods.

No skyline is more beautiful than this skyline.

No streets more exciting to explore than these streets.

No city more incredible than this city.

And I get to live here!

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:

Pastor Troyer

When I was in 6th grade my family started attending Bethel Baptist church in Merrillville, Ind.  We had floated around other places for awhile, but didn't really feel at home anywhere. The fact we moved about a 1/2 mile from Bethel and that many of my classmates attended the church made the decision to be there rather easy.  It quickly and easily became our church "home." 

The pastor at Bethel was Marv Troyer.  

I am honored to be able to say that he was and always will be my pastor.

A week ago today Pastor Troyer past away.  He was 77.  Today in Ohio is a memorial service for him, and it is killing me that I am unable to be there.  I would love to be able to add my voice to the many people I know will be sharing stories and words of appreciation for this great man of God.

Someone will mention his huge smile and laugh.  

Someone will mention his Amish stories.

Someone will mention his preaching.

Someone will mention his heart for people and his leadership.

So many stories, so many words that can be shared.  

I hung out at the church a lot with my youth pastor and did my college internship at Bethel, so I was able to interact with Pastor Troyer a lot outside of Sundays.  And I do have fond memories.

Rich

The first time I saw Rich Mullins was in the summer before my freshman year of high school.  Our youth group went to a conference at Taylor University, where he was the recording artists for the weekend.  My friends and I had front row center for this guy I had never heard of, but by the end of the night would never forget.

My birthday, my mayorship, my grandpa

Today is my birthday.  I turned 36.  Four more years on this side of the hill.

Presently, our family is driving south down RT 41 in Indiana to my parent’s fishing trailer near Terre Haute.  It’s about a 3 ½ hour drive, and just for clarification – Jeannette is behind the wheel right now.  Baylee is watching the Incredibles, Jaxon is out cold, and I’m spending some quality time here with my Mac Book Pro (once you go Mac you don’t go back).

Coming down 41, not too far south from 90/94, we passed the McDonalds in Highland, Indiana.  This is a special McDonald’s.  This is the McDonald’s that I am the former mayor of.  Yes…I’m serious.

The Funniest Flight Attendant Ever

Last week I flew to Connecticut for work.  In full disclosure, I have misspelt Connecticut every single time I've attempted to write it for the last month.  Thank God for spell check.

Boarding my return flight, I was done being in Connecticut.  Nothing personal to anyone from there, I was just ready for home.  Didn't get an aisle to myself, but shared one close to the front with a guy whose named I later learned was Ivan.  Ivan was born and raised in Brooklyn NY, flying to Houston for med school.  The imminent accent crossroads before him was rather humorous to me.