Well, I survived! Last week end I got away with my 3 sons for an over night guys time away. A family in the church have a great place on Lake perry that they loaned to us. A fabulous log home with a huge deck, right on the lake and a pontoon boat to boot. We fished and ate and boated and tubed and watched movies and played cards and laughed and just generally had a great time. That evening after dark we had a huge bonfire, and we sat around it and talked. Actually I did most of the talking, because I was a secret mission and it was time to share it.
A year ago, through a program called Men's Fraternity I discovered the biblical definition for authentic manhood, and I have been in pursuit of it ever since. You see, no ever told me what a authentic man was, or how to live as one, or to make a plan that made life happen for me instead just to me. Therefore, I never passed any of that information along to my 3 sons,; and I was on a mission to change that. So we sat around this fire after having a great day together and I shared my heart for manhood with my guys. Then I challenged them to begin their own quest for authentic manhood by pulling out battle ready swords and actually knighting them that were ready to accept the challenge. They knelt and I anointed them with oil representing the Spirit of God and them as men of God. Then I knighted them, swearing them to an oath: To be without fear in the face of their enemy. To be brave and upright, that the Lord may bless them. To speak the truth, no matter what it may cost them. To take care of and stand up for those less fortunate then them. To trust God to lead and to guide, to provide for and protect them. To serve and follow Christ whole-heartily, every day of their lives. Then I presented them with their own sword, to remind them of this moment and that they were to live as warriors before God. Then we all gathered around the one being knighted and I prayed a blessing upon their life. It was an awesome moment for me. One I have been planning for months and have imagined a hundred times.
I may never know the full impact of that weekend. I know what it meant for right now. Will they accept the challenge & live it? I can only hope they will. Will they pass it on to their future sons? I hope so, for that is my prayer. For now, I know this. I did what God was asking me to do. I face my fears, I strive to be brave & upright, to care for and stand up for less fortunate then me, I tell the truth, I trust God, and will serve and follow Him with all my heart. I will continue to learn about and pursue authentic manhood; and I will encourage my sons to do the same. And God willing, they will.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
get away
I'm really getting excited about a upcoming get away I have planned for my 3 sons and myself. We're going to a lake and spend a couple of days boating, fishing, playing cards, staying up late, eating what we want and when we want, not worrying about how we smell or if the toilet lid is up or down. In other words, even though we're all adults, we get to get away and act like kids! I can hardly wait!
I don't think we have ever done anything like this. I've taken 'road trips' with them; but not all three at once. Oh yeah, I have a few meaningful moments planned and I'll write about them when I get back. But mostly, it's about getting away and just being guys, forgetting about the troubles that may beset us, laughing until we about bust, enjoying the love we have for one another. And if nothing else happens - that would be enough for me.
I don't think we have ever done anything like this. I've taken 'road trips' with them; but not all three at once. Oh yeah, I have a few meaningful moments planned and I'll write about them when I get back. But mostly, it's about getting away and just being guys, forgetting about the troubles that may beset us, laughing until we about bust, enjoying the love we have for one another. And if nothing else happens - that would be enough for me.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
the Dash
I was reminded today that this life is truly just a dash in the time line of eternity. We're only here for a very short time - a dash! What you do with it, how you live it, matters - or at least it should.
There was a young man in Montana named Kyle. He was an only child killed in crash at the age of 15. He wasn't very athletic, but he loved music, especially the sax. His dream at 15 was to get accepted into the jazz band at his school. He loved life and his Lord and Savior, KJesus Christ. I found out as I prepared for his funeral, he would take verses in the Bible that spoke to him and personalize them by writing in his name.
He was only a freshman in a rather large school, but the day after his death, you couldn't walk down the hall past his locker because it was blocked with flowers and cards and hand written notes, attesting to the impact he had had on the lives of students of ages and grades. They had to release school early because so many were in grief.
At his memorial service, for over an hour, student after student, got up and spoke about how Kyle had impacted their lives for good, many for eternity. At the cemetary, the jazz band was their playing 'Amazing Grace' in honor of his dream. For weeks after his death, students would drop by his house to sit with his folks and tell more KY stories, bringing healing to their hearts.
Kyle impacted everyone he ever met, for good and for Christ. He did more for the kingdom of God in 15 years than most of us may do in 70. That is living the dash to the utmost. It is never too late to do the same!
There was a young man in Montana named Kyle. He was an only child killed in crash at the age of 15. He wasn't very athletic, but he loved music, especially the sax. His dream at 15 was to get accepted into the jazz band at his school. He loved life and his Lord and Savior, KJesus Christ. I found out as I prepared for his funeral, he would take verses in the Bible that spoke to him and personalize them by writing in his name.
He was only a freshman in a rather large school, but the day after his death, you couldn't walk down the hall past his locker because it was blocked with flowers and cards and hand written notes, attesting to the impact he had had on the lives of students of ages and grades. They had to release school early because so many were in grief.
At his memorial service, for over an hour, student after student, got up and spoke about how Kyle had impacted their lives for good, many for eternity. At the cemetary, the jazz band was their playing 'Amazing Grace' in honor of his dream. For weeks after his death, students would drop by his house to sit with his folks and tell more KY stories, bringing healing to their hearts.
Kyle impacted everyone he ever met, for good and for Christ. He did more for the kingdom of God in 15 years than most of us may do in 70. That is living the dash to the utmost. It is never too late to do the same!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
What a terrific 4th of July!! Yesterday may go down as the very best 4th of July - ever!
We (Carole & I and all of our kids - 2 of which made it) were invited to spend the day with a friend and in her pool. What a blast! I do believe Levi & Ethon spent at least 5 hours in the pool challenging each other to feats of skill & strength (and an occossional attempt to drown one another). I even got in on some of the challenges! We got too much of everything!! Too much fun! Too much laughter! Too much great BBQ! Too much sun! And then we drove out of town and enjoyed a wonderful fireworks display! If it would be at all possible to say thank you to Cindy too much, I would; but I don't believe that could be a possibility! On our drive home Carole & Levi both expressed the wish to stay home today, they were too tired to even want to get up and go to work, they were wanting a day to rest. That's when you know it's been the best time ever!
It's a pretty special gift, this gift of friendship and family. And when friends become as dear to you as family; well that's even more quite special. I believe it's what God desires for us and delights in when we get it and when we enjoy it. If I'm right, then God was truly delighted with us yesterday! I could easily swing into a small sermonette here; but that might ruin it! I just hope and pray we, none of us, will ever forget the power of the gift God's given to us to delight in and enjoy - the gift of family and true friends.
PJ
We (Carole & I and all of our kids - 2 of which made it) were invited to spend the day with a friend and in her pool. What a blast! I do believe Levi & Ethon spent at least 5 hours in the pool challenging each other to feats of skill & strength (and an occossional attempt to drown one another). I even got in on some of the challenges! We got too much of everything!! Too much fun! Too much laughter! Too much great BBQ! Too much sun! And then we drove out of town and enjoyed a wonderful fireworks display! If it would be at all possible to say thank you to Cindy too much, I would; but I don't believe that could be a possibility! On our drive home Carole & Levi both expressed the wish to stay home today, they were too tired to even want to get up and go to work, they were wanting a day to rest. That's when you know it's been the best time ever!
It's a pretty special gift, this gift of friendship and family. And when friends become as dear to you as family; well that's even more quite special. I believe it's what God desires for us and delights in when we get it and when we enjoy it. If I'm right, then God was truly delighted with us yesterday! I could easily swing into a small sermonette here; but that might ruin it! I just hope and pray we, none of us, will ever forget the power of the gift God's given to us to delight in and enjoy - the gift of family and true friends.
PJ
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Have you considered prayer?
I had a talk with a person today who's from a foreign country and has moved here and currently working in a Christian book store. You know what they told me? 'Christian's are the hardest people to please.' They said they get so frustrated because Christian's are so mean and difficult. They told me I would be surprised by the names they have been called because the speak with an accent. I told them, I probably wouldn't be too surprised, after all I've been a pastor for over 20 years, 24-7 dealing with Christian's.
This isn't the 1st time I've heard such tales. My kids attended a Christian college and worked in the community. You wouldn't believe the stories they would bring home about how this or that well known Christian acted in public. Or the stories their friends told about how they hated to have Christian's to come to their table to be waited on because they demanded so much, stayed so long, and tipped so little.
Now I know there a precious few of you out there that read this blog, but there's enough that if we'd decide enough is enough we could do something about it. When you witness it, put a stop to it. Speak up; but don't challenge the the inconsiderate perpetrator - instead ask them if you could pray for them. You and I really can make a difference. And this idea that Christian's are the worse of the worse has to change if we're ever going to stand a chance to win a few to Christ! So let it start here!
One more challenge. Next time your eating out, ask your waiter or waitress if there's anything you can pray about for them when you bless your meal. Believe me, they'll appreciate it and you'll get great service to boot.
PJ
This isn't the 1st time I've heard such tales. My kids attended a Christian college and worked in the community. You wouldn't believe the stories they would bring home about how this or that well known Christian acted in public. Or the stories their friends told about how they hated to have Christian's to come to their table to be waited on because they demanded so much, stayed so long, and tipped so little.
Now I know there a precious few of you out there that read this blog, but there's enough that if we'd decide enough is enough we could do something about it. When you witness it, put a stop to it. Speak up; but don't challenge the the inconsiderate perpetrator - instead ask them if you could pray for them. You and I really can make a difference. And this idea that Christian's are the worse of the worse has to change if we're ever going to stand a chance to win a few to Christ! So let it start here!
One more challenge. Next time your eating out, ask your waiter or waitress if there's anything you can pray about for them when you bless your meal. Believe me, they'll appreciate it and you'll get great service to boot.
PJ
Monday, July 2, 2007
It Feels Good...
I won't tell you from where I started my day, at least not from the frame of mind; but let it suffice to say I started it on my knees. Then this afternoon I had this wonderful experience happen to me. A couple preparing to get wed came for some counseling. I sat and listened and prayed and before I knew it God was 'blessing their bones' through what He was leading me to say. I know, because the tears did flow and their countenance did change. To me, that experience is simply amazing! And it feels so-o-o-o good to be in a position to be used by God to make a difference in another person's life. So good, I often wonder who is really the 'winner' in such events, them or me. In truth, I guess I don't care. I just hope and pray God will always find me in a place to be used by Him to touch someone else's life for His glory. Way to go God!
PJ
PJ
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