Author: Wick

Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, Writer, Poet, Friend, reader, coffee enthusiast, hockey Wing-Nut, musical participator, etc...
Posted in Different Scriptures, Different Thoughts

order.

Posted on by Wick

I’ve confessed before, I’ve got a bit of OCD.  Just enough, that I enjoy an orderly room.  That’s probably not saying enough, though.  I cannot kick back and relax in a room, unless I’ve tidied it up a bit.  Sometimes that’s annoying or offensive to my wife, as she’ll think I’m doing it with grumbles…but usually I think of it as my way of contributing to the home.  I’m generally at work for many of the days hours, while she does just about everything and then some.  And there’s just something tasty about bringing order to chaos.

Over time, we’re hoping to teach that same appreciation to our daughters.  This can be seen as teaching them responsibility, or teaching them chores, or obedience.  But it can also be seen as connecting them with the heart of God.  Not to say that God is a bit OCD, although sometimes the clouds do line up just so.. 🙂

“In the beginning, God created…”  (Genesis 1:1)  Verse 2 goes on to say that the earth was “formless and void”.  The Hebrew word here is “Tohu wa-bohu”, which is hard to explain, other than saying a great confusing chaos of nothingness.  A churning, orderless place, before God begins to speak into it.  When He speaks, order is brought into chaos.  He continues to do this, as his human creations begin to live their own way, bringing their own bits of chaos once again.  He introduces the “Law”, and brings order to the ways of human existence.  We’ve been created “in His image”, and He is constantly at work to restore that image – not just for our sake, but for the sake of all creation!

It’s easy to think that Jesus is doing just the opposite.  That he was sent to turn everything upside down, bringing about a new kind of “holy chaos” to the ordered world.  But as we read the scriptures, we see that the ordered world that was existing, was not founded on any kind of order that God created.  God’s own people had begun to live by systems and orders that were very much centered on themselves.  Jesus wasn’t simply about “deconstructing” the world as it was known.  As we see in the beatitudes of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus is announcing a new order as he continues to declare himself as Lord.  The citizens of this new Kingdom will not make much sense according to the orders and systems of this world.  But they are learning the new order, and ways of living being offered to new creations who desire to live with Him forever in a renewed creation.

Not that I’m advocating saying to the kids, “Now Junior, do you think God is happy when you leave your dirty socks on the floor?”  This isn’t about learning a new path to manipulating their behaviors.  But it is about pointing out, as we guide our kids towards bringing order to chaos, we are connecting them with a deeply embedded connection to their Heavenly Father.  It exhibits self-control, which also just happens to be a part of the fruit of the Spirit.  May God be with us as we pick up dirty laundry, collect the dishes, and straighten up all the cups in the cupboard….err….you know what I mean. 🙂

Posted in Uncategorized

don’t take your kids to vegas.

Posted on by Wick

So if you happened to catch my “Flickr” pictures at all in the past week, you may have noticed I traveled to Las Vegas.  A close friend who I’ve known since college actually earned the trip through his work, for him and one guest.  He asked me if I’d like to be his “plus one”, and that way our wives could hang out for an extended “play-date” while we were gone.  Sure enough, the offer included flight, some great free food, tickets to a great show, staying at the Bellagio – and all under the accountability of a fellow man who wants to honor God and his family.  Yes please. 🙂

It ended up being a great trip, as imagined.  Sure, there were quite a few times where one of us had to briefly explain, “No thanks, I’m not here for ________  (women, gambling, getting drunk, and/or any variation on these).”  Which is why, if asked whether or not Vegas* is a good place to take a vacation, I’d quickly answer “No, don’t go.  There are sooo many better places for your money and time.”

But if the question is: “Someone else is paying for everything, can I enjoy time in Vegas?”, my answer would be “Of course!  Make sure you take your wife or an accountability partner, and have a great time!”

Also, if the question arises – “Is Vegas a good destination for people with kids?”, my answer comes quick as well “No way.  Any references to decency and child-friendliness that exist in Vegas, are simply to trick parents into coming.”  The character dressed in whatever childrens pop-icon might exist that year.  The over-sized 3-d images of circus-themed what-nots.   The festive decor and music being pumped through your eyes and ears above the siren-song of the slot machines.

Which made me wonder – where is “Vegas” in our everyday life?  What have we brought into our home, simply because it comes to us under the guise of “child-friendly”?   One could spend forever making a list of specifics (toys, foods, entertainments, etc.), so think instead of the over-arching veins.  The foundations of Vegas are self-pleasure and the fulfillment of personal desires.  How much of our parenting is spent making our children happy, and how much is spent helping them to move “outside” themselves?

I’m not against giving my kids something to make them smile, but if my primary focus as a parent is to always keep my kids happy, fulfilling their every wish – I’m taking them to Vegas waaay too often.  As parents learn every day – living simply, cultivates a grateful spirit.

*Obviously this doesn’t apply to the entire “Las Vegas”.  I recognize it’s simply a city, with schools, and fire stations, and public playgrounds, etc.  My opinion and responses here are entirely dedicated to “The Strip” that in most minds represents “Las Vegas”.  Sidenote – if you’re ever in Las Vegas, you need to visit Winchells Donuts, located directly across from Mandalay Bay!  Best and freshest donuts in Vegas, and incredible service to dunk them in!!

Posted in Different Moments, Different Thoughts

lent – a family trip to Easter week

Posted on by Wick

“I think I’ll give up…..applesauce!!” She said, as she looked down at her bowl full of uneaten applesauce.

It seemed like another case of me accidentally pretending my 5 year old has the capabilities to understand what teenagers from my youth group do.  It makes sense for me to think this, when you take into account the amazing ability of a teenager to act like a 5 year old. 🙂

Nevertheless, the conversation continued and a better understanding of this “Family Trip” to Easter was going to be like.  We were talking as a family about what sorts of things go on when we take a “family trip” anywhere.  Preparations are made.  Bags are packed.  Laundry is washed.  We bring things to occupy us along the way.  These are all things that we do in order to make arriving at our destination as enjoyable as possible.

I think our kids were able to make some of those connections as we talked about them.  But then they realized their applesauce needed cinnamon…etc.  Still, it was a fun talk to have.  I’m proud of our girls for selecting toys that are meaningful to them, to put up on a shelf until Easter.  Who knows, mommy and daddy may even get fresh batteries and new outfits for those toys – at add to our Easter celebrating. 🙂

This year I’ll be giving up drinking anything but water and black coffee (hey, sometimes I gotta stay awake!).  This should help my health out, as well as save some money making it easier to give.  I also hope to regularly use that pair of tennis shoes I purchased a while back, that still look amazingly crisp and white. 🙂

But why?  Why do we make changes, and do anything different during the 40 days leading up to Easter?  (sidenote: for anyone who counted, it’s not a “true” 40 days. Traditionally, as Sunday’s are miniature “celebrations of Easter”, these were not tallied in the count to 40)  The number 40 in scripture usually comes connected to a time of preparation, testing, or transition into something more that God has planned.

The Truth is that no matter where we stand during these 40 days, we all stand in need of God. We look forward to the Celebration of Easter together, all on the same ground, eager for Jesus Christ and the work accomplished / being accomplished in Him.

We are invited during this season to purposefully remember. To remember both as individuals and as a community. To recognize our place before God. To recognize our oneness with each other. To recognize a beautiful tension of finding ourselves as sinners transformed as saints. To give of ourselves in a way that leads to a life deepened in relation to God and others.

Looking forward to Easter week, and the promised land God has in store for us…