Summer 2011

My plan is to record the events of summer and not let them slip away into the empty void that is my brain, where they become forgotten history. This might not be good blogging but hopefully it will be good record keeping.

Summer has begun. Today marks the end of our first weekend end of summer and here is what has happened.

Friday I came home very tired, ready for school to be out and encountered a very tired wife who was ready for me to be home some. It seems that we have been lacking in consistent parenting these past few months and our kids have been forgetting some simple items of being a kid. Like listening and obeying. Shar and I are big fans of consistent parenting but have admittedly slacked off, so Blake and Anna got a lecture before dinner about the new rules of summer. 1st time obedience, consequences, listening, .... and other stuff. Then we went swimming. Our kids like most love the the pool and we feel very fortunate to have a neighborhood pool that we can use all summer long.

Sat morning we woke up early since we were still on school schedule and ate breakfast. Then Blake and I went fishing and Anna opted to stay home with mom and watch cartoons. It was at this event that Blake landed his first good fist of the summer and I believe he is hooked on fishing for now. It was about a 1 1/2 pound bass I believe and he set the hook and reeled it in on his own. The picture will hopefully tell you the truth.

I then had graduation which I really do enjoy. It is good to the kids one last time and on graduation day everyone is clean and well dressed so it leaves a good memory in your mind. These kids are special to me because they were the freshman class when we arrived at Keller. These boys played for me as freshman and have grown in front of my eyes these past 4 years.

We I got home we ran a few errands before heading to the Woodward's for dinner and swimming. Great time with our new friends and our kids are within a year of each other so playing is relatively smooth. We are grateful for this family and had a great time with them.

Sunday church, where our good friends Charlie and Lana Moore were excited about the baptism of their oldest daughter. She is going into 3rd grade and is such a mature and sweet girl. Charlie did a wonderful job and controlled his emotions the best he could. After the baptism our small group and the Moore's family all surrounded the Katie and Lana and Charlie to congratulate them. The awkward moment was when Blake watched the other people hug Katie. He then slowly made his way toward her. Neither really knew what to do and as the uncomfortable side hug took place Lana and I laughed. Charlie kept an eagle eye on Blake the whole time. It was funny.

Lunch and naps were followed by Blake and I attending Marcus Pittman's graduation celebration which was followed by yard work and more swimming. Then Blake and I fished again. I caught one bass and Blake got 12 blue gill/sun fish. (?)

I can't explain to you how much I love summer time.

Anna Jo

My little girl will turn 6 tomorrow. Tonight I told her the story of her actual birthday minus the adult details. She loved the fact that Mrs. Dana was the first to hold her and that her mom got a neat necklace for having a little girl.

More to come about our little princess but for now I want to say that I love her and want her to stay my little girl for forever, but can't wait to see all the ways that God will use her a she grows.

Happy Birthday Anna Jo.

Sad Girl 2

So she is looking at the picture of her and I and crying and tells me that when she looks at this picture it reminds her of how much I love her. She is doing her best to beat me up.

So I calmly hesitate and try to think through the various reactions that I can and should have. I never lost my temper with Anna during this event which is something I am working on, but I needed to make an impact on how serious her behavior is in class. So I told her to sit there and think about what she did, and then I went to talk to Shar.

Shar was no help. She was tired and had endured a long day and basically told me to deal with it. So I did. I went back into the room and told Anna that I was very disappointed with the way she acted in class and then informed her that she would be getting a spanking. Her crying had stopped by this time but when I said that she look at me with her head slightly tilted to the side and her eyes began to fill with tears. She got down off the bed and turned around, placed her hands on the bed spread and looked forward.

And then I gave her the softest spanking in the world. Honestly I was wanting to be careful in this spanking but in doing so I actually missed and barely even made her flinch. She then turned to me, and began to cry. With Blake the idea of the spanking is not near as bad as the actual event. With Anna the idea that a spanking will take place or has taken place is often greater then the actual spanking. She hates them.

We hugged and she cried and all was better in the next few minutes. This morning when I woke her up I gave her plenty of love and we agreed that she would visit her teacher and apologize for having to move her clip. I later found out that she kept her word and all was well. We make a progress with Anna in the last 24 hours. It ended up to be a good teaching moment.

Sad Girl

Anna got in trouble today. Had to move her clip because she was talking in class. This has happened more than once this year and her reaction toward the importance of this event has often been less than what we desire as parents. Shar and I agree that comparing Anna to Blake is not wise, but the one time Blake had to move his clip as a kindergartner be was heart broken.

Anna has often "forgotten" that she moved her clip or considered it a minor offense but we have stressed that the actions in class are very important. Today she told her brother that she was going to be brave and just tell dad that she had to move her clip. She remembered that when Blake told dad that he had to move his clip, he got a hug and did not get in trouble. Sharla corrected Anna by reminding her that it had happened to Blake one time and that this was a ongoing problem for Anna. She did not like that answer.

When I got home from spring ball tonight Anna met me at the door and quickly confessed her sins and shed a single tear. I gave her my stern look and as I noticed her reaction turning toward sadness and a slight fear of my reaction, I gently told her that I was disappointed and sent her to her room.

I entered her room as she sat on her bed crying and gave her the abrupt direction to go shower. Following her into the bathroom I again told her that I was disappointed with what happened today and informed her that she would be in trouble. This was not what she wanted to hear and her tears began to run once again.

When I came into Anna's room she was sitting on her bed crying holding something in her hands. I sat on the floor across from her bed and asked her what she thought about her actions at school. Between the tears she expressed her sorrow and looked down at the object in her hands. I then asked what we should do about her behavior in class and all she did was cry and look down again at her hands. I noticed the significance that Anna was placing on the item in her hands and asked her what she was looking at. She then showed me a small framed picture of me holding and kissing Anna Jo when she was just a baby. She looked at the picture, looked at me and began to cry even more.

The rest of the story tomorrow. Goodbye for now.

John 4

Still feeling very blessed to be at The Hills church. For those of you with smart phones out there you can download an app, or whatever you non iPhone people call it, and get live streaming of worship, old sermons and other cool stuff. Check it out and let it bless you.

John 4 today. The story of Jesus and the woman at the well and the living water thing. Very great lesson presented by the new associate minister whom I do not recall his name but he is coming from California so he must be good.

The question to consider is who are we in the story? Are we Jesus? Are we the woman? Are we the disciples in town?

Jesus: The giver of the water that will never cause you to be thirsty again.

The Woman: The person who is in sin.

The Disciples: In town making preparations for Jesus.

I always knew I was not Jesus, although some prideful place in my mind allows me to consider the possibility that I am the bringer of this amazing water. But I recover from that and remind myself that God can work through me but it is always God doing the work. So I say to you that I am not Jesus.

The Woman is a sinner and an adulterer and I am not that bad. I know and believe in Christ and do a darn good job of living a very comfortable life in my christian bubble. I would notice Jesus if he approached me and I would not be on my 5 spouse. Nope. Not me.

I did always see myself as the disciples in town. Working for Jesus so he could do great things. Not perfect but definitely not a Samaritan and I am mindful that Jesus really needs me to buy him food because he already used his "make a bunch of food" miracle and he could not do that twice.

Sadly, today I was slapped in the face with the truth once again that I am the sinner needing water. I am the lost person who chases a thousand other things to fill the empty spots in my life, instead of turning to the giver of life and being filled with him.

The adultery of the woman is sin, but confronting her current sin might not be the point. Instead the point could be that looking for items on this earth to fill my life is not what Jesus is wanting from us because those things always leave us thirsty back at Jacob's well. We need what only Jesus can provide and I will remain thirsty until I accept that reality.

I need to wake up. I need fresh water. Water from Jesus.

Japan

The tragedy in Japan is just awful. Here are some pictures that should give you a deeper insight into the conditions that exist there now.

I lived in Japan when I was 9 years old. My dad was stationed on Okinawa in 1983 - 84 and we went to live with him on base for a long summer. It was a great experience and we made some wonderful memories there.

2011 C

Life sails by us at an unrealistic rate. I am amazed at how quickly the days, weeks, and months fly by.

I am under the impression that one of the wisest actions that Sharla and I have taken in our recent lives has been to attend a parenting class at church. It is amazing to me that for years we have attending training for our jobs and even classes and education for our marriage, but once we had children we seemed confident to lean on our inclinations or the models that were handed down from our parents. Both are good resources but alone only offer to repeat the mistakes made by our parents and create voids in the nurturing of our kids. A parenting class taught us techniques and reasons for doing or not doing certain things that would otherwise be a natural response. I am grateful for The Hills offering Growing Kids Gods Way and even more grateful or Shar making me go. Even 18 months later it is still paying off.

We are sampling a new church, kind of. It is actually the same church but at a different location. The Hills was asked to take over the South Lake Church and this location is very close to our house so it seems logical to see if we fit there. We as a couple have agreed that the most difficult thing about moving is finding a church. We you leave a community that you love and that loves you it is very trying to find a similar match. We have grown into the family at The Hills (old North Richland Hills) and felt a community there. Now we are trying a new building, but have the benefit of the same leadership and a key blessing which is the lessons of Rich Atchley. All of this to say that this was our first Sunday. It went well, but it is still new and will not be home for a while, if it becomes home at all.

Anna has begun her soccer career. It is not a smooth as it was for Blake who would rather kick a ball than eat. But she did enjoy her first practice last week and her first game on Saturday. We got our lips beat off 11 - 4, but she had fun and looked great in her uniform. We will see if the year improves. As always I am coaching because no other dads felt the need to do so. Coach by default is the actual title.

While at the park the other day with another dad for church and his two girls, we decided on a notable piece of wisdom that I will now share with you. His daughter was doing some jungle gym activities that she had not done before. The events were not too exciting but she was conquering new ground thanks to Anna going ahead. We agreed that she was doing these new items because it seemed natural to stay with the friend you trust, from church none the less. The wisdom goes as follows. "Peer pressure causes change. Some for the good and some for the bad. Either way, change will most likely occur."

Have a good week.

stupid people....

Stupid people make me mad. Follow the link to see a stupid person.

2011 B

Where does the line fall, in secular work, were you are devoted and committed to your job, but you could most likely rather be doing other things?

Why is it in the secular world that we are seemingly forced to strive to succeed and reach new goals in our "work", when we are promised that "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of he field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."? 1 Pet. 2

The problem is not whether we are hard workers. The problem is that the work of this world is not my priority. It is my job, not my existence.

I want to be a "stranger in the world". 1 Pet. 1.

I want the wisdom of Solomon.

"I need, I need, I need". Name that movie if you can.

Respond to the serious part above if you are willing.

Church.

I am amazed at how God placed the church; something so fragile yet so powerful in the hands of humans. It is so very amazing to me.

The Hills Church here in Ft. Worth where we attend is doing some amazing things. I am so very pleased to be here and have the chance to worship, grow and work here. It has been a struggle and the opportunity to take an active role has been often difficult for me (not so much for Shar), but I continue and still feel blessed and directed by God in the fact that we are here. And at the same time I feel sure that where we have landed is not a perfect place. Being new, and the church being so large, I am unaware of those at this time but I am sure they exist.

At the same time, my childhood church is dealing with the failures of humanity and struggling to hang on to it's identity and still reach out to a changing world that continues to need Jesus. It pains me to watch my parents and family (Donielle and Kenny) struggle and work through church issues that seem somewhat clear from the outside, yet are so cloudy and complex when you are surrounded by them.

In all of this activity my brother in law is turning out like his father, who would be in line for Sainthood if it was a common practice. Kenny has allowed the scriptures to guide his thoughts and actions and attitude and is a great example to the body there in Escondido and continues to be a clear example of a Godly man, husband and father to me.

Without reenacting the entire event in California, I would like to pose a few questions about church. Your opinions would be very interesting to me.

Q. What is the role of an Elder in (a.) Church's of Christ and (b.) in Christianity?

Q. At what point does their authority get to be questioned or challenged by the body they serve?

Q. Are Elders (a.) CEO's or (b.) Shepherd's or (c.) both?

Q. Does the size of the church dictate the actions or responsibility of the Elders?

2011 A

So that Fruit of the Spirit thing that sounded so pious and righteous has not happened yet. Sunday night we discussed it as a couple, Monday night beat us up, Tuesday night I had a soccer game and now we are, the kids are in bed and we have no fruit. Beat down.

I would like to talk about how much cool stuff the kids have and how I am trying to decide where to draw the line and how to keep them grounded. Blake got two cool Air Nerf guns for Christmas along with a Rip Stick and a remote control Air Hog helicopter and to top it off a portable basketball goal for the house.

Anna got this stinking Baby Alive that you have to feed and then change it's stupid diapers. We have enough Pocket Pets to start a zoo and with her own camera and fake Ugg Boots she is ready for high school.

Do we need this stuff? No. Is it sooooo cool? Yes. And we do, believe it or not, limit what we give and have family give to our kids. So where is the line to be drawn and how to I teach my kids in this new age of stuff and electronics and computers, how to be confident in what is unseen, since "the things that are unseen are eternal."?

Any advice is welcome.

Also, I hate to proof read so if you get a typo, sorry.

2011

Happy New Year to the 3 of you still out there. I am going to make a commitment to this blog thing and see how it goes. No promises.

If I try this then it would be good to hear from you. Leave a comment and make it real. I am o.k. with you not liking my posts or having a different opinion to my ramblings. This really should be a two way street.

This year Shar and I are going to be more specific in our parenting. We have good kids but are very aware of Satan and how his lies are powerful and often unseen. We want to be overly intentional about what we do with our kids. We took a very long and detailed parenting class in spring of 2010 called Growing Kids God's Way. Wonderful study and we are implementing still many of the things we learned.

One item that we are going to work on as a family will be the Fruits of the Spirit. We are planning on teaching the kids this values that God holds in high priority and hoping to provide a clear example of these items as we teach them.

Question. What do you think about our plan?

Question. What do you remember from your childhood that had a large impact that was beneficial in future years?

Question. What is your favorite fruit. Real or of the Spirit?