i played full court, fully competitive basketball with nine high schoolers. yes, there was pride in my effort to play like a teenager and it caught up with me. midway through game 2 - i caught an elbow in the throat. i could not swallow for an hour and had to eat ice cream for dinner (that part wasn’t all bad).  this would hurt at any age but it really slowed me down and i felt elderly among these young studs. there are some spiritual parallels but i am not going there. God is like the ice cream... satan is like the elbow? sometimes we cannot swallow the truth.... ok i will stop.

 

today was a good day. it was a hard good day. i went in to my meeting with my counselor, mentor and heard some pretty powerful words spoken over me. i do hurt. my soul is a struggling place. but hearing God’s affirming words: “john I am proud of you” is healing for me. unfortunately i have the  busy man disease. i am beginning to hate that and must fight for space to hear Him. in these days his words are

 

My wife went out of town for the day leaving the three kids in my care. With my mom knowing this she called me to invite us for dinner at J&S cafeteria. Upon arrival, the first thing mom said to the girls was, “Are you excited about Santa coming?” Under my breath... actually not under my breath... I said too bad he is pretend. Hopefully I am not becoming a grumpy Santa party pooper. My childhood Santa experience was positive we have just chosen to put the word “pretend” in front of Santa.

 

So we continue down the food line gathering veggies, chicken pan pie and blue jello. At the end of the line our the check lady (who we basically know) hits a bell for elf like tray carriers to give us a hand. They asked “where would you like to sit” and I said in the back. The girls begin to follow until something stopped them in their tracks. I kid you not Santa (real old man with real white beard and all) and Mrs. Claus were decked out in their clothing and sitting in J & S Cafeteria in our

 

This is why money exists... to take the twins and my wife to the movies. Tonight was the first experience for the girls. They knew no movie theater etiquette nor did they care. Daddy, what is that flickering light in that tiny window? Look there is another tv up there. Mommy, are we at church? Mommy, what are those black curtains for? Daddy is that my lemonade? Daddy, don’t eat all the popcorn!  So innocently loud they spoke and it was so sweet.

There is nothing like providing a fun experience that pulls the family together.  My wife and I swapped smirks of delight because our little babies were now able to sit through an hour and a half Bee (or lower) movie. Oh I dread when they are 25 years old :) and on their first date and that boy reaches over to  hold my daughter’s hand. Stay little for now... girls. After all we have to see Veggie Tales in a couple weeks.

 

 

i can relate to the truman show. it is like people are watching my every move.  i am watching my every move. It is sort of like i have a mirror with me all the time and i look at me (yuck). my own story is interesting... if i am the audience. i know there is something more then what i can do and there is something wonderful right around that is from the Father. the problem is i must stop writing and give the pen to the Author and Perfecter of my faith. So what is the Story of God? Not I but Christ... who by the way lives in me. It is like in a typical movie when the hero, the star is surrounded by the crowds and the camera captures the person in various ways. But in the background there are people who are apart of the film (which i would imagine this is still exciting) but are not the central figure. That is a humbling moment for the aspiring actor. but that is the Story of God! Christ is central. He is the hero. By His Grace He lets us be apart of the redemptive plan that has, is

 

The Story of God is Christ. He is the alpha (beginning) and omega (end) of the redemptive epic laid out in the Scriptures. A friend pointed out the “we are God’s workmanship” verse in Ephesians 2:10 literally reads “we are God’s poem”. His beautiful words and full expressions are manifested in and through us. So we become apart of the Story of God. Not the main character but a humble place that we may behold the star power of Jesus. It is so simple. Maybe so simple it is overlooked. My church focuses on three vital relationships: intimacy with Christ, community with believers and influence in the world. I would say Christ in us is the intimacy, Christ with us is community, and Christ through us is influence in the world. That is alot of “Christs” and some what repetitive but isn’t that keeping Him center stage? In the spotlight. I am not talking about Jesus Christ Superstar even though I heard it was a good play. I am talking about the living Christ walking this earth through me,