Kids

Its Sunday afternoon, and I'm exhausted. But in a good way.

This morning at church I taught 16 3rd-5th grade boys about God (or tried to!). Every week in KidZone at Crossroads Community Church, I work with these young boys and try to share my excitement about our awesome God. It's not easy to keep their attention, but I try my best to think and communicate on their level. (Cathy tells me I act like a 5th grader most of the time, so I think I must be serving in the right ministry!)

I love working with children, and always have. I think a lot of this came from my own family situation when I was growing up... I was the second of three children born within three years of each other (David is a year older than me, Teresa two years younger). About ten years later, my parents had a fourth child, a girl named Angela.

To us older siblings, Angela was our "kid sister", and we had a lot of fun teaching her things and keeping her entertained. I remember that we would make up games for Angela to play: homemade board games, puppet shows, fun "homework" that she would complete and we would grade, etc. Angela loved the attention, and we enjoyed coming up with new stuff that she hadn't seen before. (This was before the days of video games, and my parents limited the amount of TV we watched, so we had to do SOMETHING.)

Fast forward ten or so years... After graduating college and moving to Greenville, it wasn't too long before I met Cathy and the boys, in 1989. The boys and I hit it off well, mainly because I was only 22 and still had a lot of "kid" left in me. The first day I met Brandon, he was sitting in the living room of Cathy's duplex in Spartanburg, playing Mario Brothers on his brand new Nintendo system he had gotten for Christmas. I loved video games too, so Brandon and I spent long hours working our way through the levels of that game.

Cathy and I were married the next year, and I became the boys' official step-dad. We had a lot of fun together in those years. I remember some highlights:

• One day, I took the boys to Dorman High School (the old one) in my old 1966 Pontiac. We played football for a bit, then got bored and decided to roll down a steep grassy hill, again and again. We had a ball.
  
• Playing "horsie" with Zachary in the living room of the duplex. This is one of the rare photos of Zach when he was not dressed in his Superman outfit (PJ's with cape), or sporting his favorite combination of plastic goggles with pacifier. (We'll get those pics posted here in a few days...)
  
• Going on the ferris wheel at the "redneck carnival" when it came through Simpsonville.
• At Myrtle Beach, a thunderstorm came up, and started pouring hot rain in sheets. The boys and I decided it would be cool to experience the storm first-hand on the porch, in our bathing suits...

Here's the proof I'm not making this stuff up! (Click pictures to zoom...)



When the boys got older, I missed having little kids to entertain, so I began volunteering to work with the kids at church. Since my talents lie mainly in the area of entertaining kids, I would always volunteer to do games during Vacation Bible School at Temple Baptist, and later at CRCC. A couple years ago, God helped me to realize that I have a special gift for working with kids, and that's where he wants me to be.

As long as I have breath in me, I intend to do just that. I'm looking forward very much to having some grandkids in a few years, who I can pour into as I tried to do with Angela, Brandon, Zach, and the kids at church. Children are such a blessing to me, and God frequently uses them to teach me lessons about humility, innocence, trust, and love.

I guess in a lot of ways I am just a big kid...and that suits me just fine.

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
(Mark 10:13-16 ESV)

Blogosphere

Blogosphere.

Now that's a cool word!

I don't know who coined the term or when (actually, you can read about it here), but the old blogosphere is growing by leaps and bounds every day. There are lots of folks, myself included, who never thought they would find themselves committing their thoughts to paper (silicon? ether?), but now find themselves doing it regularly. It's fun, it's addictive, it's strangely comforting...

For me, blogging is a release, a way of expressing things that need expressing. When I started my blog, I really didn't think anyone would read it, and frankly that doesn't matter so much to me. If I knew for a fact no one would ever read these posts, I'd probably blog anyway. If it blesses someone else, or brightens their day, that is an added bonus. For me, it is a way of documenting my journey through life, and recording how God is working in my life.

In the same way that I have joined the blogosphere within the last few months, many of my favorite people in this world have done the same...

• The most recent splash in the b-sphere was made yesterday by none other than my beautiful and talented wife, Cathy. Cathy works for Crossroads as our communication director, and has a real knack for expressing how God is working in her life. In the past, this knack has taken many forms: teaching, writing newsletters, writing devotions, etc. Now, she has her own blog, and it'll be top-notch (like everything she puts her efforts into). Love you, Catherine.
  
  
• The first in the family to blog was my son and family trendsetter, Brandon. Just between us (and anyone on the internet who reads this!), Brandon wasn't big into writing when he was in school. He was the kid who triple-spaced his essays and narrowed the margins so he could reach the required number of pages. But sometime between then and now, something changed, and now Brandon authors one of the funniest, most compelling blogs around. He, too, has the knack...for a good read, check out his blog.
  
  
• Brandon's wife, Megan, started blogging shortly after I did, and also has a wonderful writing style. I've enjoyed learning more about my new daughter-in-law via her blog, called "Life of Growing". Megan, keep up the good work!!! Also, I'm digging the new "grass" header...
  
  
• Zach's girlfriend, Sarah Slice, is also a fairly recent addition to the blogosphere. Although Sarah's first post was just before Christmas, she has really hit her stride and is cranking out some really deep, though-provoking posts. You go girl. Check out Sarah: Plain and Tall here.
  

Second son Zach has not yet graced us with a blog, but I'm sure it is because he wants to devote his every waking moment to his studies at NGU. Zach, if that's not accurate, don't burst my bubble. ;)

Technology really is changing our lives, mostly for the best (I hope). Blogs provide us with glimpses of feelings, thoughts, and emotions we might not otherwise get to see in our daily interactions with people. They are a permanent testament to what God is working in our lives, and how much he has blessed our days.

One day I will go on to be with my Lord, but I hope that my blog posts will live on, allowing my grandchildren and their grandchildren to understand a bit of what motivated me, what I loved, and who I was.

Blog on!

Proud

There are two kinds of pride...

The first is the bad one, the one the Bible speaks of so often, the one which creeps in as the most subtle of sins. You know, the self-centered self-focused kind of pride. The "look at me, I'm all that" type of pride. As Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines it, "an inordinate self-esteem." You know it when you see it.

The second is more benign -- it is the great feeling of well-being you get when you've done something well, or when you have accomplished something you never thought you could. It is the warmth you feel inside for a job well done, for being "best in class". It is the pride of a beaming parent.

Well, this weekend, I had two occasions to well up with pride - the good kind!

The first of these occurred Saturday morning. Cathy and I drove up to North Greenville University to watch our son Zach play in an ultimate frisbee tournament. His team, the NGU Ninja Geese, played seven or eight games Saturday in the chilly weather, and it was a lot of fun to watch. Good athleticism on display, as well as good sportsmanship. The Geese are really a class act.

As I watched the game, I realized I was proud of Zach for a number of reasons. I was proud that Zach had selected such a great Christian university to attend. I was proud that he is knocking the spots off his schoolwork, with all A's and B's (and straight A's last semester!). I was proud that he has surrounded himself with a great group of Christian buddies, the kind that make lifelong friends.

But I was particularly proud to see Zach acting in a leadership role, as captain of his ultimate team. He played this role well, finding the balance between challenging his teammates, encouraging them, pushing them to higher levels of performance, keeping his cool during tense moments, etc. It's hard to lead others and gain their respect, but I saw Zach doing just that, and boy did it make me proud. Zach, you're the MAN.

The second event took place exactly 24 hours later, on Sunday morning. This morning at church, David Walker was out of town, and our other son Brandon led worship at Crossroads. Not just led it, but really LED it. It was an awesome thing to watch.

As with Zach, Brandon has made me proud in so many ways over the past few years. I'm proud that Brandon graduated with good marks from North Greenville. I'm proud that he is a hard worker, working two jobs faithfully, day in and day out. I'm proud that he has worked and worked and worked to improve his musical skills, AND his spiritual walk, to the point where he leads worship as well as -- get this -- as well as Aaron Keyes and David Walker, who were his mentors. I'm proud to point out to people in the congregation, "That's my son, leading worship today." I'm proud that he trusted God to find him the perfect companion, and waited until the Lord brought him Megan. Brandon, you're the MAN too.

I realize of course that it's God (not me) who is working all things in our lives for His purposes... It is not my mastery of parenting skills that has brought Zach and Brandon to this point, oh no! I think we can all agree on that one, lol! It has been God working on them, shaping and molding them, building them into clay vessels for his use.

Is it wrong for me to feel such great pride as a parent? I don't think so. In today's world, with all the temptations and pitfalls out there, and with so many young people falling to them, I think I have every reason to be proud.

In fact, I'm sure of it.

God is good!

Closing

Today is a notable day. And no, not because its Halloween.

Today, Brandon and Megan closed on their house! And all the things I worried and fretted and prayed about turned out just fine. Probably due to the prayer, and not the worrying (see previous post).

Tonight, Brandon and Cathy and I went over and just walked around the empty house (Megan had to work). It was really exciting to think about not only what God has done over the years in that little house, but what awesome things He has yet to do there.

It is my prayer that God will bless Brandon and Megan's marriage, and that their new house will become a home filled with love, laughter, and good memories. I pray that God will continue to allow that neighborhood to be safe and trouble-free. I pray that those rooms that hosted so many small groups and Bible study groups in years past would continue to be used by God for his purposes. (And on a more earthly level, I pray that any flimsy repairs I may have done will continue to hold up! Ha!)

So, the big move will happen Friday, but unfortunately I will be out of town (I'll explain why in tomorrow's post). It will be good to have Brandon and Megan so near by.

At the risk of repeating myself (again), God is good!

Anxiety

Be anxious for nothing. Wise words from God's Word, but easier said (read?) than done.

Its Monday night, Oct 29th, and the closing for Brandon & Megan's house is Wednesday at noon. But, we found out this morning that the termite letter indicated some prior damage to the wood under the house. So, the lender needs either 1) a letter from a licensed contractor stating that the damage does not require repair (i.e. does not affect the house structurally, or 2) proof that the damage has been fixed.

If scenario 1 happens, then we should be good to go for closing on Wednesday. If, on the other hand, scenario 2 happens, then closing will probably be delayed, according to how much damage must be repaired and how long that will take.

According to the contract, the sellers must pay for any termite repairs, but even so it causes us problems. Brandon and Megan have already given notice at their apartment, and must be out Sunday. Of course they are welcome to stay with us for as long as they need, but where will they store their stuff?

I think the point of the Lord's words is that if we truly trust Him to look out for our good, then we will not be anxious about anything, but instead will accept circumstances as His will for us. But oh, that is hard to live out!

If you're the praying type, pray that things will work out for the Wednesday closing. But also, pray that we can be OK with the situation, and trust His will.

Pliney

Well, this morning my son Brandon and daughter-in-law Megan signed a contract to buy the house on Pliney Circle where Brandon spent his teen years.

We all have a lot of good memories from the ole Pliney house...

Like the time Brandon and I had lowered the basketball goal so we could have a dunking contest. We were using those "mini" basketballs, the ones most normal people can palm. I proceeded to throw down a monster dunk, hang from the rim, and then follow up by clenching my fists and yelling out in a great roar. A moment later, after hearing a noise behind me, I noticed that the nosey neighbor lady was standing ten feet away, and was trying to ask if she could get a clipping from our yellow rose bush. I'll never forget the look of horror on her face as she saw my antics.

Or like the time Cathy saw an animal in the far part of the yard, and tried to attract it with "Here, kitty kitty", only to find out it was a (rabid) fox that the animal control folks had been looking for. Cathy later said "I thought it looked a bit orange and pointy-nosed for a cat..."

Or the time it snowed, and the boys invited their friends over for a massive snowball war until the wee hours of the night. Or the time a cat had a litter of kittens under our house, and they clawed their way into our warm ductwork and had to be rescued by hand through the floor vents. Or the times Brandon would challenge Zach and I to a game of half-court basketball (the two of us against him), and the game would inevitibly end up with Brandon getting mad and slinging the basketball across the yard.

Or the time... Well, you get the idea. Our family had a lot of wonderful times in that little house.

Interestingly, the house was hand-built in the early 1950's by a local preacher, "Pastor Brandt." I think God has had his hand on that little house over the years. We'll see just what he has in store for it next.