“I’m Hungry.” Hunger is relative.

Last night after a great weekend and wonderful evening with some friends, it was time to get the kids to bed before a four day week of school.  (I should note here that we topped off delicious meal with orange Crush and root beer floats.)  The kids were given specific instructions for getting ready for bed, and without delay one of our kids chimed in…”I’m hungry.”  Okay, so I realize that kids at this age must burn through calories at a rapid pace as they sprout up like weeds in my landscape, but come on.  We just had a big meal, and it was already time for bedtime.  To make matters worse, our child continued to whine and complain and whine and complain and whine and complain.  Does this sound familiar to any of you?

Leanne took the brunt of this episode as I was “Skyping” with my parents, but the pouting was still underway as I came up to say my good nights.

Leanne and I both shared with our child that we understand that feeling of hunger, but we also explained that many in the world experience a hunger far worse than that every night they lay down to sleep.  Where we’re going in Kenya, my guess is that many of the children who call the Mathare North slums home experience this feeling of hunger all the time.  This includes our sponsor child Jonathan.  After this discussion, we took time to pray for Jonathan and others in Kenya and around the world who are experiencing hunger.  We also were especially thankful for the blessings of food, shelter, safety, etc.  that so many in the world don’t get to experience.

It was interesting to see the change in heart.

…continually impacted by Kenya…

It’s Not Groundhog Day

Last night, I watched the early 90’s classic movie – Groundhog Day.  I haven’t seen this movie in years, and it was a great way to relax after a busy day at work.  In this movie, Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray) repeats Groundhog Day over and over again.  Initially, he tries to use the repetition for his own personal benefit.  Then he gives up and decides that he can make a mess out of his life day after day after day without consequence the next morning.  The movie gets good though when Phil decides that he is going to use this dilemma as a gift to help other people.

Naturally, the movie made me think.  The end of the movie reminded me that we should make the most of each and every opportunity that we have.  Today is the day that we can make a difference.

The other thing that really hit me this morning is that despite the times when we feel like we are running around in circles repeating things over and over again, we are guaranteed that things will be new every morning.  Lamentations 3:22-23:

22Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
       for his compassions never fail.

    23 They are new every morning;
       great is your faithfulness.

I’m looking forward to new things to come every day.  A new adventure.  A new start.  And I’m thankful that I’m not stuck on the same day over and over and over again.

Ready, Aim, Fire – Our “Little” Girl Heads to Middle School

Hannah So yesterday, I put my daughter on the bus for her first day of middle school.  I’m still amazed that I could be at this point of my life already.  How am I old enough to have a child in junior high?  It seems like yesterday that I was visiting her at her preschool (where this picture was taken).

Hannah is really growing up fast.  I’m blown away by her maturity, her kindness, and her internal and external beauty.  I’m excited by the new opportunities that she will face as she moves forward in her academic pursuits.  I’m also excited for the new opportunities to see Hannah as she matures into a young woman.  She is showing many signs of heading down this path already.  She wants to be in the know regarding the different adult conversations that Leanne and I are having.  She wants to pick out her own closes and have her own style.  She is taking more of an initiative in communicating outside of school with her friends.  She’s physically growing.  She’s even starting to watch some of the same shows that Leanne and I enjoy.

Smilebox_155203774Some of this is scary.  It was kind of strange to see some of the older eighth grade boys on her bus (and to see some of the older guys and girls at our church’s youth group).  As a parent, I want to make sure Hannah is safe, and I want to protect her from the influences that could lead her down the wrong path (not that all older kids are bad).  But I’m also reminded of an illustration from Stu Weber’s book, Tender Warrior.  Our kids are like arrows.  Our job as parents is to direct our kids towards the “Target.”  And then as our kids get older, we need to let go of the bowstring.  We need to give up control of the arrow and trust that it will fly to the “Target.”  This milestone in Hannah’s life is one of those times where we loosen our fingers just a bit on the bowstring.  I know that we’re not perfect parents, but I also trust that we’ve taken the steps to aim our “arrow” in the right direction.

Kenya – Already Having An Impact At Home

Our whole family is diving into this Kenya thing.  If the kids could go along on the trip, I think they would be game for the idea.  The kids are becoming aware of the financial aspect of this trip.  Isaac actually sat through the first meeting we attended where we learned that the trip would cost $6,000-$8,000.  Obviously, the money thing is a big aspect of whether or not we’ll be able to go.  When Leanne and I submitted our initial applications this past Sunday, we did so by taking a step of faith expecting that God would provide the resources necessary to take this trip.  Together, we’ve been brainstorming ways that we can save money for the trip and focus our attention on the people we will serve in Kenya.

Leanne had the brilliant idea of building and selling chicken coops.  Then she mentioned that I should sell my baseball cards.  The kids want to sell eggs and golf balls.  I’m not sure which if any of these ideas will take off, but it’s great to see the wheels spinning.  One thing we’re doing is eating a meal of rice and beans one night a week.  Not only is it a cheap meal, but it also gives us the opportunity to think about how others in the world eat every day.

I knew all our conversations were hitting home yesterday when I went to pay Isaac for cutting the grass.  This summer we agreed that it would be a good idea for the kids to start cutting the grass (under supervision of course).  This would give them a chance to help out, and it would give me a chance to work on other things outside while they were cutting the grass.  We agreed that they would get a small “paycheck” for completing this task and doing a good job.  Well, Isaac cut the grass on Tuesday, so naturally, I wanted to follow up on my end of the deal.  When I went to pay him last night, he simply said that he wouldn’t take the money – that we were saving for Kenya. 

Whoa!  Needless to say, I was blown away.  I don’t know yet how we’re going to come up with all the money required for the trip, but I’m already seeing that it was worth taking the leap of faith.

Kenya – Why me?

So this Sunday, I submitted my initial application to go on a two week missions trip to Nairobi, Kenya next August. Taking two weeks to fill out the application, I wrestled out loud on Facebook about why I would consider taking a trip to somewhere that is nearly half-way around the world. I thought I’d take a few minutes to document here some of my thoughts:
1. I’ve never been there before. Okay, that may sound a bit selfish, but some of my other reasons will be as well. While I’m not the adventurer that my brother (David) is, I think Kenya would… be an adventure. Kind of a bucket list type place – if you know what I mean.
2. To meet one of our sponsor children. Leanne and I have sponsored a couple of girls in Haiti over the past few years (with Compassion International). This summer we started sponsoring a young boy from the slums of Nairobi through CMF/Hope International (His name is Jonathan, and he shares my birthday). If we go to Kenya, we will probably get to meet him-amazing!
3. Going to Kenya would give me an incredible opportunity to serve with my wife. I love being with Leanne. Planning the trip, figuring out all the logistics and the finances, actually going on the trip, serving, and recounting stories TOGETHER is so much better than just doing it apart from each other.
4. I’ve been on mission trips many times before, and the bonding that happens among the group going on the trip is unbelievable. A great reason to go on a trip like this is to bond with people like never before. (Several of the people I’ve gone on mission trips with while I was in high school got together this weekend for our eighth annual family camping trip.)
5. Stretch me. For those who didn’t know Stretch was one of my nicknames growing up. I’m quite sure that a trip on this level will stretch me in many ways. Stretching is good. Stretch my understanding of God’s love. Stretch my comprehension of the planet we live on. Stretch my comfort zone. Stretch…
6. Help & serve Kenyans who are stuck in poverty. If you’re reading this, you’re likely more wealthy than 97% of the world. The people we’d be serving in Kenya live in the poorest, nastiest slums located in Mathare North, Nairobi. By helping to create educational opportunities for the children, by providing health care, & by literally bringing light into the slum homes, I can help make a difference!
7. Part of following the Great Commission – go into all nations…. I’m excited about the opportunity to live this out on a new level.
I know there are other reasons that I don’t even know yet, but this exercise gave me the opportunities to process some of the major reasons to consider such an adventure.

Tony Campolo @ Christ’s Church of the Valley – 8/30/2009

This weekend, Tony Campolo spoke at our church. I have had several previous encounters with Mr. Campolo, so I knew it was going to be good. He was the youth pastor at the church I grew up at several years before my dad took the position. He spoke there as a guest speaker. I heard him at Grove City College several times. And he was one of many speakers the last time I went to Creation back in 1997. He was inspiring every time I heard him before, and I wasn’t dissappointed this time. See below:

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Name That Chicken Contest

You may have heard…

We got our chickens today! Six hens (at least that’s what we’re planning). We need your help though with what we should name them. So here’s your chance to chime in. Send me your name idea as a comment to this post. We’ll choose the top 10-15 names and put it to a vote.

Slow Down, You’re Moving Too Fast

Do you ever feel like you’re too busy? I have felt that way more recently. With three weekends in a row where I am away from home and with a busy schedule during the week while I’m home, I am certainly feeling like life may be too busy. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy most of the stuff that I’ve been doing – trip to Texas to see my brother graduate from University of North Texas, trip to the Poconos to go camping with some of the best friends a guy could ever have, trip to Elk Neck State Park to camp with the Cub Scouts, piano lessons, Cub Scout meetings, picnics with friends, etc. I just wonder if life sometimes gets in the way of living the way we were meant to live.

Getting away from everything allows you to put things into perspective. At my recent camping trip up in the Poconos, we were each asked the question: “What are three things that you want to do in the next year – until we meet again?” So how did I answer this question?

1. I want to figure out where I fit into leading and serving at my church. This past year has been a bit challenging for me related to my involvement with the small group ministry at my church. Many aspects of what I’ve been through have caused me pain and perhaps disillusionment (if that’s a word) that I could not imagine. Despite this, I’m convinced that it’s important to be involved in our local church.

2. I want to be more intentional in my time at home between 5:30PM and bedtime. This does not need a huge explanation other than I do not want to waste the time I have with my wife and kids. They mean way too much to me!

3. I want to get back into some kind of regular exercise routine. I’ve used the excuse of my new position at work long enough (I’ve been in the position for a year and two months). For one, I want to lose a few pounds (5-10 would be just fine). Secondly, I want to be in decent shape, so I can enjoy many years with my wife, my kids, and hopefully someday my grand kids (whoa, did I just say that). Finally, I want to set a good example for my kids for their own fitness and health. It’s not that I haven’t been exercising – I still run. It’s just more sporadic now than it used to be – one week I run five days – the next week I’m lucky if I get in one run. I think having a goal race or event will help me to achieve this goal.

So getting back to my initial paragraph, I’m not sure what the answer is to my busy life. It’s hard to make decisions that will carve away things I like to do. I certainly do not want the three things above to add more busyness to my busyness. I guess I just want my priorities to be in the right order. I want to live a fulfilled life and not a filled life.

More wrestling to do…

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