It Goes Too Fast

This year marks the 25th anniversary of my high school graduation. Tomorrow, my son graduates high school. How the heck did that happen? I remember, as if it were yesterday, gazing through the window at Hillcrest Baptist Hospital in Waco with a goofy grin on my face thinking, "that's my boy!" I remember Josh learning to walk by chasing after a cookie that someone was holding in front of him at church. I remember... I could go on and on. What is really amazing to me though, is the fact that I look into his eyes and I see that the little boy has become a man. Don't get me wrong, he still has a whole lot to learn about life, but he has become a man.
I have always heard how hard it was to parent teens, but I must honestly say, he made it a piece of cake: he is considerate, compasionate, generous, loving, and content. He has been a joy to parent.

I can't wait to see what God is going to do through his life. There has even been some talk of ministering to the poor in a third world country, who knows. But this I do know, Josh, God has something really cool planned for your life and I pray that you will reach your full potential in Him. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't or that your dreams are impossible. I pray that you will seek God everyday and that you will find the godly woman that God has picked for you. I also pray that your family will change whatever part of the world you will call home.

Please know that your Mom and I are here for you, we love you, and we are proud to call you son. You are awesome. Congratulations!

Children are Expensive

$200,000! That is what the projected cost of raising a child born in 2007 would be when that child reaches the age of 18. This is based on the "typical" middle income family. That number seems a bit low to me, but let's assume that it is correct. What could you do with an extra 200 grand? Imagine the possibilities: a new house, a traveling adventure, a better retirement. If you have multiple children then- imagine.

The truth, however, is that we as parents are making an investment. An investment in the future. Not only are we investing in the possibility of being grandparents, but really we are investing in the future of our world. Imagine the possibilities: what if your child is the one who grows up to find the cure for cancer? what if your child becomes president of the United States? what if your child is the school teacher who changes in a positive direction the lives of hundreds of children? what if yours is the child who saves lives of those in a burning building? what if yours is the child who finds a way to thwart starvation in our world? what if your child is the one who starts a non-profit that changes the future for millions of people? what if your child grows up, gets married, and is a great spouse and parent and impacts those in their nuclear family?what if your child takes the greatest news in the world, that Jesus loves them, to a place that has never heard before?

I guess $200,000 is a small price to pay for changing the world.

I also hope they remember this investment when they pick my nursing home.

Family

This past weekend, I performed the marriage ceremony for my niece and her new husband. As a part of that event, my wife's family from Texas was here to participate in the festivities. It was an awesome time of connecting with some folks that we love very much. You see, I am fortunate in that I even have a great Mother-in-law. As fourteen of us spent hours together in our home, I was reminded how important family is, and how important people are. Specifically, I was reminded how significant those closest to us really are. Throughout our life time, we don't really connect closely with that many people. We, of course, know a lot of people, and have many that we would consider friends, but when it comes to those folks that come into our homes and really feel at home and we still feel like it is home while they are there, the numbers become quite small. In their book about relationships, concerning those individuals that feel at home, Will Miller and Glen Sparks call it Refrigerator Rights. Those with refrigerator rights are the folks that come into our homes and open up the frig without asking permission. When you think about it, those are the most significant people in your life. I hope that you will recognize those people in your life and treasure them as a precious gift. I know I do (as long as they don't drink all of the milk).

Gran

This past week, I returned to Texas to officiate the funeral of my grandmother, whom we affectionately called Gran. As we celebrated her 99 years of life, several thoughts crossed my mind:

1. She really embodied the life of a Christ-follower. She was sacrificial in her love, and clearly made her relationship with God the center of her worldview.

2. Life as a human being ends. I know that sounds obvious, but even the longest of lives come to a screeching halt. Our time here is temporary, a drop in the bucket really, and each and every day should be lived as an incredible blessing from God.

3. After God, people matter most. God has blessed each of us with special people in our lives and we should take the time and energy to make them a priority-be the first to call, tell them you love them, apologize, and make time for them. We never know how long we will have them in our lives, nor how long we will be around.

4. Heaven will be an awesome place. As we participate in that great reunion in the presence of God, it will be a blast to be reconnected with those who have gone before us. In fact, whatever life throws at us now, can not possibly compare to the joy that Heaven will bring.

I thank God for Gran. She was awesome and I am grateful that she is where she wants to be.

WOW!!!!!

Yesterday was the culmination of an amazing time in the life of our church. After months of preparation, we officially called an African-American to serve on our staff here at MHBC. What was so incredible was the fact that not only was this individual called, but he was voted on unanimously, and was received with great enthusaism. As a 72 year-old Anglo church, that was an amazing step forward for us as we strive to reach everyone in the community surrounding our church campus. God has blessed us with the opportunity to reach children and youth from all backgrounds, but we have been unable to connect to their families. I pray that yesterday was the first step in building new bridges to those of different ethnicities in our community and city.

It has always baffled me that we go to work with people from different backgrounds, we workout at the gym with people of different races, we dine in the same restaraunts with those that are unlike us, and even cheer on our children at sporting events with those from different cultures, yet we are unable,too many times, to be united by the one thing that should unite us the most: our love for Jesus.

I don't know what the future looks like for MHBC, but I can't wait to see what God is going to do next!

A Team Sport

As football season gets going full speed, I am reminded of the significance of team. There are so many talented players that play football week after week, yet they rarely win. Some teams, in fact, are loaded with talent, yet they seem unable to pull together to outscore their opponent. Many times, the problem is that all the talent in the world can not win unless the individuals realize that they are part of the whole. The team must become more important than the individual if success is going to be a reality.
Church is the same way. Success, defined as honoring God, does not occur in the life of the church unless the whole becomes more important than the individual. Like a talented football team that can not win, a church with loads of talented people, plenty of financial stability, and beautiful buildings can not accomplish success if they do not work together to pursue a common goal. Team is essential if the church is going to become everything God intends it to be.

The Big Apple

I just returned from my first trip to New York City. It was an exciting place to visit, with an endless list of things to do. I enjoyed the museums, the New York Philharmonic in Central Park, the Broadway shows, and even the subway. Perhaps, though, one of my favorite times was my lunch at ESPN Zone. I walked in and asked to be seated for lunch and the hostess asked me a question I have never been asked at a restaraunt, "Would you like a recliner? They are really comfortable." "A recliner, in a restaraunt," I said, "well, of course I would like a recliner."
The next hour and a half was phenominal. I sat in an amazingly comfortable recliner, with a tray that covered my lap, sitting right in front of two gigantic TV's one showing ESPN and another showing ESPN2 surrounded by a dozen smaller TV's with other sports programing. I don't even remember if the food was any good, because it didn't really matter. "This," I thought, "is how every restaraunt should be."
Yes, New York City is a special place, it is unlike any other city in my experience, but I will always remember that Monday lunch at ESPN Zone- if only it had been football season!