I enjoy the study of theology. I am one of those guys who would
gleefully spend hours pouring over a book written by a guy who died a
couple hundred years ago about theories of the atonement. Yet lately I
have come to realize all the more that study is nothing if it is not
lived out.
My dad once told me, somewhat tongue in cheek, that those who can, do,
and those who can't, teach. While that certainly is not a hard and
fast rule, I feel that without caution it could become the case in my
life. Knowing what to tell someone is one thing. Living theology day-
in and day-out is another.
This has become even more evident as I have walked with friends
through rough spots in their lives. It has become more evident as I
have become a husband and father. It is has become more evident as I
have served as a pastor for the past five years.
So now I press on to bridge the chasm and become more and more in
practice what I have learned in my study. (And I am starting now as my
boys eagerly ask me to come "play bugs.") May God grant me grace to
become a godly man in more than just theory.
Last night our church had an emphasis on international missions. Carrie and I decided to do something bold and daring: we brought all three boys into the service. Caleb did really well last week during our Ethiopia report and Josiah would sleep, so we thought we could chance it. Noah, however, starting crying at one point and as he was in my lap and Carrie was holding a sleeping Josiah, I took him to our family room in the back of the sanctuary. Within a few minutes Caleb had escaped and joined us.
I really wanted to be a part of the service. About the time that I was second guessing my decision, Caleb asked what Pastor Michael was talking about and I said "missions." Without missing a beat he asked me, "Daddy, why do you keep going to Africa?" I told him that there were people there who don't know Jesus and Daddy goes so that they can hear about him. Then I told him I would take him with me one day when he was older. "When I'm 4?" "No a little older." "Oh, OK, when I'm 5?" That small conversation made it all worthwhile.
I prayed over him as he was going to sleep last night that God would give him heart for the nations. I eagerly look for that day!
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7
So this past week, I have been thinking a lot about why my wife is great. Here are just a few of the many reasons I am so blessed.
She buys me coffee creamer. No big deal to some, but I don't really need it. She buys it because she knows the special holiday creamers I enjoy a lot. So she makes a point of buying them. So good.
She likes college football almost as much as I do. I mean how many other wives remind their husbands that it is almost time for Game Day and throughout the week look for the channels that the games are coming on. Love it.
She pushes me. Not literally (well sometimes...). She doesn't let me make excuses or give less than my best. I need that.
She aggressively cuts coupons. I am talking takes an entire morning to search blogs, websites, and newspapers to save money. And then she gets things for free or for 19 cents. What? How ridiculously cool is that?
She stays home with our boys. All day every day. I had all three of them the other night for a couple of hours and I stand in awe. I mean I love them but when all three are going nuts, I don't know how she does it. Seriously. Its a special gift of grace.
She wants our family to be Christ centered. For example, she found this awesome activity for our family to do this Christmas called a Jesse Tree. You can check it out here.
She supports, encourages and sacrifices so that I can do what God has called me to do. I would never be able to do all that I have done without her love and support. She is my perfect helpmate and I am grateful for this gift.
These aren't the only reasons but they are the ones that have been swirling in my head this past week. I know there will be more to come!
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-12
Tonight we were on the back deck, getting ready to grill. Something fell from one of the trees and made a loud clank as it hit the roof of our small storage shed. Caleb, our three year old, asked, "what was that, Daddy?!" so I told him. Then he asked the obvious follow up question, "why did it fall?" I then began to attempt an explanation of gravity to him. In the middle of what I thought was a good explanation, he said, "hey Daddy watch my car!" and drove it down the steps.
As he drove his Hot Wheel monster truck down the handrail, I couldn't get gravity out of my mind. What would life be like without it? It is essential for all that we know. Without it, my grill would float away. Without it, my excitement over college football season would be pointless. Without it, driving to the hospital for the arrival of our third child would be precarious at best.
Gravity is God's idea along with electricity, atoms, seasons, and everything else we take for granted or think nothing of from day to day. When you take a moment and actually stop to think about how amazing gravity is, how can you not stand in awe of the infinitely creative, powerful, and sovereign Creator?!?!
"For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!" Psalms 92:4-5
So last night I was supervising the Splash Zone (a.k.a. bath time for the monkeys). Noah, our 1 year old was pouring water in his mouth, letting it pour down his chin, and grinning from ear to ear. Caleb our 3 year-old had a Thomas the Train bath toy in one hand and a toy submarine in the other. All of the sudden I realized what he was saying. The words were something like, "Hello Jesus....Hello God....I'm riding on Thomas....I'm riding on the submarine...Let's go underwater...OK!"
At first I wanted to laugh. Then I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, "Yes!" I want my boys to know and love Jesus more than anything. I want them to think about Him all the time. I want Him to be central in their lives. The fact that even when he is playing in the bath he is talking about Jesus makes me smile. (We'll work on some of his theology later...)
One day they will both be faced with a decision whether or not they will follow Him. I cannot make that decision for them. It must be their faith placed in their Savior. Until that time I hope that my conversations and actions take every opportunity to present the greatness of Christ to them.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9
