Well, it's been about two months since I last wrote something. Taking a little break I guess. I try to write only when I feel inspired, so I don't fill up the blog with fluff. Also frees up more time to play with y'all! Just wanted to say I'm still thinking about you guys and praying for you all the time. Have really enjoyed getting to watch you grow up. Rhett took his first steps this week and will doubtless be happy to have an easier time following you around soon, Keegan. You clearly are best friends already. Looking forward to all the great times we will have together from here into eternity.
On an interesting side note, you are both older brothers now! If all goes well, you will get to meet your newest sibling early next year. Exciting!
I love you guys!
Dad
Friday, May 27, 2016
Friday, March 18, 2016
A Powerful 2 Minutes
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. " - Hebrew 3:13
I remember it, somewhat vaguely now, but it has stayed with me for a long time. A medical school classmate had emailed me to encourage me when he had learned that I was considering quitting medicine. Just a couple lines. Probably didn't take him more than a couple minutes to produce. But what an impact. Filled my sails to know that someone felt it important enough to lift me up.
I have paid attention to it since. Times when friends or family have, seemingly out of the blue, written, called or texted to say they were thinking of me or praying for me. Very encouraging. Nothing quite like it. Now I have determined to employ it myself. Not to the point of the messages becoming trite and worthless, but every so often to accomplish what the NT writers exhorted in the verses mentioned above.
Just days ago, I had someone tell me that the two sentence text message I had sent them while their spouse was in surgery was almost overwhelming - one of the nicest things someone had done for them in a long time. Small investment perhaps. Enormous impact.
Just wanted to emphasize that words are powerful. Use them to build up your brothers & sisters or even your enemies. Little, targeted missiles of love that destroy Satan's strongholds & establish God's kingdom. Can't help but feel God smiling down when we use them. Both the giver and gifted are blessed. But use them wisely, because as I mentioned previously, they can seem frivolous if overused, over-dramatic or simply timed wrong. Be intentional about looking for opportunities where a kind word would be needed and then deliver, along with a prayer for their well-being and the words' intended effect.
That's all. Love you boys!!
Dad
"Though it's crazy, amazing
We can turn a heart with the words we say.
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die.
So speak life, speak life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak life.
When the sun won't shine and you don't know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak... (life)."
From "Speak Life" by Toby Mac
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. " - Hebrew 3:13
I remember it, somewhat vaguely now, but it has stayed with me for a long time. A medical school classmate had emailed me to encourage me when he had learned that I was considering quitting medicine. Just a couple lines. Probably didn't take him more than a couple minutes to produce. But what an impact. Filled my sails to know that someone felt it important enough to lift me up.
I have paid attention to it since. Times when friends or family have, seemingly out of the blue, written, called or texted to say they were thinking of me or praying for me. Very encouraging. Nothing quite like it. Now I have determined to employ it myself. Not to the point of the messages becoming trite and worthless, but every so often to accomplish what the NT writers exhorted in the verses mentioned above.
Just days ago, I had someone tell me that the two sentence text message I had sent them while their spouse was in surgery was almost overwhelming - one of the nicest things someone had done for them in a long time. Small investment perhaps. Enormous impact.
Just wanted to emphasize that words are powerful. Use them to build up your brothers & sisters or even your enemies. Little, targeted missiles of love that destroy Satan's strongholds & establish God's kingdom. Can't help but feel God smiling down when we use them. Both the giver and gifted are blessed. But use them wisely, because as I mentioned previously, they can seem frivolous if overused, over-dramatic or simply timed wrong. Be intentional about looking for opportunities where a kind word would be needed and then deliver, along with a prayer for their well-being and the words' intended effect.
That's all. Love you boys!!
Dad
"Though it's crazy, amazing
We can turn a heart with the words we say.
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die.
So speak life, speak life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak life.
When the sun won't shine and you don't know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak... (life)."
From "Speak Life" by Toby Mac
Saturday, February 27, 2016
The Cure for Depression
There will come times in your lives where you will find yourselves depressed. Life will have lost its luster. Maybe you'll feel like you're just not getting anywhere. Nothing seems exciting or interesting. You may even feel sad or lonely. This is normal. Unfortunately, many don't realize that this is only a season. Ecclesiastes says "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" - this is just one of them.
What to do about it? The only cure I have found is to get your mind off yourself and put it on others - both God and your neighbor. Pray, praise, spend some intimate time abiding with the Lord, and then go find someone to serve! Volunteer your time rather than sitting about, doing something as simple as visiting widows, loving on some orphans, or cooking for the homeless. Probably best to pick one of the above and just go to town. Give a few people a lot of personal attention. Listen to them. That's all most people want. Someone to notice them. A heaven-sent friend.
You will find that when you're finished your heart will be fuller. The day will seem a little brighter. Best of all, you will be satisfied knowing your time was well spent.
Don't wait to jump in. Maybe spend your first day just talking to a friend and discussing ideas along these lines. This will help you get motivated. But set something up right away. Ask others (pastors or friends on social media) if you don't already know where to start.
Later, when you have some off time, spend it setting up your next service activity or teaching yourself a skill you can employ on the behalf of others. There are times when you will find yourselves just needing to rest ("veg"). That's okay. We all need "me time". Just make sure to put a reasonable cap on it, or you will find yourself wasting time and getting depressed about that. So, as John Ortberg would say, abide then ABOUND!! Btw, listen to his sermon series on this when you can - awesome stuff.
Well, that's enough for now. Jesus, your mom and I are all praying for glorious victory for you! I love you guys!
Dad
What to do about it? The only cure I have found is to get your mind off yourself and put it on others - both God and your neighbor. Pray, praise, spend some intimate time abiding with the Lord, and then go find someone to serve! Volunteer your time rather than sitting about, doing something as simple as visiting widows, loving on some orphans, or cooking for the homeless. Probably best to pick one of the above and just go to town. Give a few people a lot of personal attention. Listen to them. That's all most people want. Someone to notice them. A heaven-sent friend.
You will find that when you're finished your heart will be fuller. The day will seem a little brighter. Best of all, you will be satisfied knowing your time was well spent.
Don't wait to jump in. Maybe spend your first day just talking to a friend and discussing ideas along these lines. This will help you get motivated. But set something up right away. Ask others (pastors or friends on social media) if you don't already know where to start.
Later, when you have some off time, spend it setting up your next service activity or teaching yourself a skill you can employ on the behalf of others. There are times when you will find yourselves just needing to rest ("veg"). That's okay. We all need "me time". Just make sure to put a reasonable cap on it, or you will find yourself wasting time and getting depressed about that. So, as John Ortberg would say, abide then ABOUND!! Btw, listen to his sermon series on this when you can - awesome stuff.
Well, that's enough for now. Jesus, your mom and I are all praying for glorious victory for you! I love you guys!
Dad
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Don't Wait to Celebrate!
I opened my bathroom cabinet to pull out a new bar of soap today. Was about to pull another from the 12 pack of Dove Mens that I'd been using when I saw a fancy box of "Yardley of London". "Why not?", I thought, and popped open the expensive stuff. Wasn't like we were saving it for guests.
As I enjoyed the new scent and feel, I pondered how infrequently I "shake things up" and break out of the monotonous routine. Just handling things a little different each day might make them a little more exciting and enjoyable. Such things help our hearts find new reasons to praise God and stay joyous - and more usable for His purposes.
So, that's all my sons. Find ways to "shake things up" and remain passionate about life. Think twice before saving things for later. For one, you're not guaranteed a later and, two, God says He'll provide for later (should we doubt he has these kinds of things in mind too?).
I love you guys!
Dad
As I enjoyed the new scent and feel, I pondered how infrequently I "shake things up" and break out of the monotonous routine. Just handling things a little different each day might make them a little more exciting and enjoyable. Such things help our hearts find new reasons to praise God and stay joyous - and more usable for His purposes.
So, that's all my sons. Find ways to "shake things up" and remain passionate about life. Think twice before saving things for later. For one, you're not guaranteed a later and, two, God says He'll provide for later (should we doubt he has these kinds of things in mind too?).
I love you guys!
Dad
Sunday, February 14, 2016
The Great Commission
Last night I was on Facebook and came across a post by a friend I knew from medical school. Unfortunately, instead of remembering the good times we shared as members of a Medical Campus Outreach fellowship group, all I could think about was my quitting the profession. Although I firmly believe I made the right choice in leaving it behind, something about that career blunder (shouldn't have entered it to begin with) left me feeling guilty/shameful. A failure of sorts. To this day, I've tried to avoid my old classmates because I didn't want to be reminded of it.
As I shared this feeling with your mom, she initially tried to say it was okay, because I would never have ended up where I did in life (with her and you boys) had I not gone down that road. That, while true, didn't really make the pain go away. Still felt like a failure. Then she said something along the lines that I wasn't a failure because of who I was in Christ and what I was doing for God's kingdom. Bam! Talk about blowing away all feelings of self-pity. How could I not see that? She was right, my success in my career or education meant nothing compared to what I was doing towards the great commission. This is huge and something I can't emphasize enough to you, my boys.
Don't ever feel ashamed by where you go or can't go in school or professionally. Perfect GPAs don't matter. Degrees don't matter. Flashy jobs don't matter. All that matters is are you actively living to glorify God? Don't seek to be the best at something. That's vanity. Seek to glorify God with your best efforts. Resolve to make an impact in this world for Him, using well the limited time you have here.
When it comes to school/career, first ask yourself what you would most like to accomplish for God's kingdom. Then go acquire the tools you need to accomplish it. And, if I have taught you anything through my own professional odyssey, it's okay to start over.
I can't wait to see where your passions take you. Please, please, please - do what you love! Your God will meet your needs, and I'll teach you his basic principles of responsibility. You just need to let your hearts fly, with the grace he gives you.
I love you both so much,
Dad
As I shared this feeling with your mom, she initially tried to say it was okay, because I would never have ended up where I did in life (with her and you boys) had I not gone down that road. That, while true, didn't really make the pain go away. Still felt like a failure. Then she said something along the lines that I wasn't a failure because of who I was in Christ and what I was doing for God's kingdom. Bam! Talk about blowing away all feelings of self-pity. How could I not see that? She was right, my success in my career or education meant nothing compared to what I was doing towards the great commission. This is huge and something I can't emphasize enough to you, my boys.
Don't ever feel ashamed by where you go or can't go in school or professionally. Perfect GPAs don't matter. Degrees don't matter. Flashy jobs don't matter. All that matters is are you actively living to glorify God? Don't seek to be the best at something. That's vanity. Seek to glorify God with your best efforts. Resolve to make an impact in this world for Him, using well the limited time you have here.
When it comes to school/career, first ask yourself what you would most like to accomplish for God's kingdom. Then go acquire the tools you need to accomplish it. And, if I have taught you anything through my own professional odyssey, it's okay to start over.
I can't wait to see where your passions take you. Please, please, please - do what you love! Your God will meet your needs, and I'll teach you his basic principles of responsibility. You just need to let your hearts fly, with the grace he gives you.
I love you both so much,
Dad
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
A New Year
"And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new"." - Revelation 21:5
The wise man, or rather the man made wise, will find himself at some point in his life realizing, like King Solomon once did, that there is nothing new under the sun, that all seems vanity. Fortunately, it is God who gives that world-shaking revelation - right before he shows that all things are made new in Him. Yes, right before he offers that man a glorious view of himself. It is He who gives all things purpose, newness... life. Every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17). Jesus said that "everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but he who drinks of the water that I give him will never thirst" (John 4). We will never see life as vanity ever again! Praise God from who all blessings flow.
So, here I am in what has become a routine - watching the baby channel in the living room with, well, Rhett. Keegan, you would be here too, but you're taking a nap after a wild morning. I'm enjoying your constant smiling, Rhett. You've taken over Keegan's old bouncer and are loving it. That toy was a score!
Mom let me out today to watch "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi". It's a pretty violent war movie, but the themes within - courage in the face of death, laying it all on the line (with memories of your wife/kids still fresh in your minds) to do what is right - are very powerful and convicting. I will always thank the soldiers who sacrifice so much to fight evil in this world. Though a veteran myself, I will never see myself as equals with these kinds of men that serve on the front lines. I tell you what, though, I will fight as hard and courageously to protect you boys and our family from evil.
A big part of that fight, though, is the daily routine. It may not seem very valiant, but honoring God with my service to family and community, is most certainly so. Staying disciplined with my spiritual training is even more important than the physical. I need to indulge in the means of grace to receive the power of God's spirit for good in this world. That is a daily fight. A fight against sleepiness, irritability, rage, anhedonia, spiritual dryness, grief, despair, etc. Sometimes we find ourselves losing, other times gloriously winning. But the fight is never fully won until we are glorified and at home with our heavenly Father.
My big question today was, am I ready to go home? Would I be okay with God taking me out of this world at any moment, feeling like I have done all I can. Yes. As much as it grieves me to ponder leaving my family behind (I'm looking at your smiling face, Rhett), I know the Lord is good and would sustain you in my absence. I would eventually get to enjoy eternal life - life at its fullest - with all of you! Until that day he takes me home, I will relish every moment here with you boys! I will enjoy getting to be your father - teaching you, encouraging you, providing for you, serving with you, laughing with you - loving you. I feel like I have said this all before, but these are the things I would want you to know above any other.
Well, back to playing on the rug...
Love you boys so much,
Dad
The wise man, or rather the man made wise, will find himself at some point in his life realizing, like King Solomon once did, that there is nothing new under the sun, that all seems vanity. Fortunately, it is God who gives that world-shaking revelation - right before he shows that all things are made new in Him. Yes, right before he offers that man a glorious view of himself. It is He who gives all things purpose, newness... life. Every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17). Jesus said that "everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but he who drinks of the water that I give him will never thirst" (John 4). We will never see life as vanity ever again! Praise God from who all blessings flow.
So, here I am in what has become a routine - watching the baby channel in the living room with, well, Rhett. Keegan, you would be here too, but you're taking a nap after a wild morning. I'm enjoying your constant smiling, Rhett. You've taken over Keegan's old bouncer and are loving it. That toy was a score!
Mom let me out today to watch "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi". It's a pretty violent war movie, but the themes within - courage in the face of death, laying it all on the line (with memories of your wife/kids still fresh in your minds) to do what is right - are very powerful and convicting. I will always thank the soldiers who sacrifice so much to fight evil in this world. Though a veteran myself, I will never see myself as equals with these kinds of men that serve on the front lines. I tell you what, though, I will fight as hard and courageously to protect you boys and our family from evil.
A big part of that fight, though, is the daily routine. It may not seem very valiant, but honoring God with my service to family and community, is most certainly so. Staying disciplined with my spiritual training is even more important than the physical. I need to indulge in the means of grace to receive the power of God's spirit for good in this world. That is a daily fight. A fight against sleepiness, irritability, rage, anhedonia, spiritual dryness, grief, despair, etc. Sometimes we find ourselves losing, other times gloriously winning. But the fight is never fully won until we are glorified and at home with our heavenly Father.
My big question today was, am I ready to go home? Would I be okay with God taking me out of this world at any moment, feeling like I have done all I can. Yes. As much as it grieves me to ponder leaving my family behind (I'm looking at your smiling face, Rhett), I know the Lord is good and would sustain you in my absence. I would eventually get to enjoy eternal life - life at its fullest - with all of you! Until that day he takes me home, I will relish every moment here with you boys! I will enjoy getting to be your father - teaching you, encouraging you, providing for you, serving with you, laughing with you - loving you. I feel like I have said this all before, but these are the things I would want you to know above any other.
Well, back to playing on the rug...
Love you boys so much,
Dad
Friday, December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas!
I'm lying on the couch with a bad cold this morning - this glorious Christmas morning. Couldn't sleep due to my symptoms, so I rose early to spend some time with God. Have been watching videos of Pastor John Piper expound on the idea of "Christian hedonism" - that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Please find time to read his book or watch him preach on this topic - it will bless your life immensely. I may have written on this concept on here already. No problem - emphasis is a good thing!
I want so much for you, my sons, to know the same joy I have found in God, through an intimate relationship restored by the work of Jesus. These writings are all in vain if I only encourage you to seek worldly pleasures in this life. However, there are innumerable pleasures that, when we realize that they were graciously given to us by God, bring him glory when we delight in them.
Piper mentioned that the fruit of a joyous heart, delighting in God, is love. Not merely obedient servitude, but fervent, heart-felt, emotional love - sincerely wanting the very best for others, indeed God's best. So, the quick lesson for today before I enjoy a celebratory morning with you both is this: Your ability to love effectively (the horizontal relationships) is proportionally dependent on your satisfaction/contentment with God (the vertical relationship). Seek God's glory in every experience you can, requesting that you may find it and be enraptured by it! Thereby you can find contentment (joy/peace) in this life, and the love that you share throughout will leave a glorious legacy.
I love you boys so, so much - chiefly because I see God's glory in you so easily.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Dad
I want so much for you, my sons, to know the same joy I have found in God, through an intimate relationship restored by the work of Jesus. These writings are all in vain if I only encourage you to seek worldly pleasures in this life. However, there are innumerable pleasures that, when we realize that they were graciously given to us by God, bring him glory when we delight in them.
Piper mentioned that the fruit of a joyous heart, delighting in God, is love. Not merely obedient servitude, but fervent, heart-felt, emotional love - sincerely wanting the very best for others, indeed God's best. So, the quick lesson for today before I enjoy a celebratory morning with you both is this: Your ability to love effectively (the horizontal relationships) is proportionally dependent on your satisfaction/contentment with God (the vertical relationship). Seek God's glory in every experience you can, requesting that you may find it and be enraptured by it! Thereby you can find contentment (joy/peace) in this life, and the love that you share throughout will leave a glorious legacy.
I love you boys so, so much - chiefly because I see God's glory in you so easily.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Dad
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