Category: Uncategorized

Quite literally.

This past month has been a journey, one that has offered us growth and revealed more about who we are as individuals, as well as a family.

It begins with the regular hobby of my wife (and some other women too?) of exploring open houses.  Dreaming about what it’d be like to have a bit more elbow room, closets in each bedroom, and sidewalks to teach our girls how to ride their bikes.  It’s not about being unsatisfied with our current home, realizing there are areas of the world, and even the U.S. where to have a home like ours is beyond the largest dream.

Which highlights one of the first major differences.  One of the things I’ve loved about my wife ever since we began dating in college, was her desire to change things.  She does not become complacent easily, and always asks the question “What could be?”.  Usually, for a guy with the personality that would be quite fine surviving in a house of any size as long as the dishes are done (my OCD coming through)…I haven’t traditionally responded well immediately.

But a few weeks ago, she was “ooooh”-ing over a particularly nice house in the historic end of town.  She even convinced me to come with her.  I went through the motions, and tried to “do” what was asked, without quite taking the endeavor seriously.  The house, after all, was beyond our “budget”, and it was a pipe dream.  I don’t enjoy looking at a car unless I’m going to drive it…that sort of thing.

Later that week, the price of the house was reduced in such a way that it became a possibility.  I caught my wife’s vision for “What could be?”, and we immediately transformed life into that of house-selling/buying.  Had a contingency offer accepted, based on selling our current home.  Then the waiting began.  We heard all sorts of advice, from “claim the property in prayer, and it’s yours”, to “if it’s God’s will, it’ll happen”, to the much more preferred by me – “guess you can just pray, and wait, and see if it happens”.

But these range of responses, along with a recently renewed practice of praying together regularly, added to the recent study of Luke 18:1-8, and we’ve had some good times.  What is the will of God, in regard to my home?  I teach that God cares about the smallest detail, and encourage teens to pray about anything their hearts are impacted by, no matter how silly.  All of this points to the fact that God hears our hearts when we pray for this move to happen.

Perhaps He will still actively move in a way that opens the door to this move.  It seems the door is closing, however, tempting us to ask the question – what was/is God up to?

In moments like this, we cling to the fact that God continues to be faithful.  Even the passage in Luke 18 doesn’t emphasize the widow “got her way” eventually.  It points to the fact that that faith was found, God’s complete Justice is coming, and encourages the disciples to not lose heart.  To keep praying, and that is the point.  We continue to be incredibly blessed, not simply because we have a home and other material comforts…but because we have a God who hears when we pray.

Like I said…maybe it’ll still happen.  But no matter what, I look forward to continuing to pray often with my family toward whatever may come….God with us. 🙂

This past weekend I attended “Wild At Heart”, a 24-hour retreat designed to help men re-capture their God-given masculinity…and have fun while doing it.  I have to admit, I’m not the first to raise their hand when it comes to “Who wants to come to this manly man of a man thing, where we’ll do manly stuff, and discover how God made men different from women?”  So when this opportunity presented itself, I didn’t exactly race to the table.

I was raised by my mom for a good portion of the “growin’ up” years.  As captured pretty good in Donald Miller’s book “To Own A Dragon”, he talks about growing up without a father as always feeling like the rest of the world knew something you didn’t.  Now, my mom did a pretty spectacular job raising 5 kids by herself for a while.  And if I would’ve allowed my dad now, to be my dad when he married my mom….well, I wish I would have. 🙂

I realize by now, there’s nothing actually missing.  In fact, through life’s difficulties I’ve probably grown a lot more, and added to the characteristics I would have otherwise naturally acquired.  I’m thankful for what God can use, even if it wasn’t what He desired for our lives.

But even with all that, when it comes to “typical” man categories (women, sit down…don’t get offended….I realize there are plenty of you who are “into” this stuff…much more than me.) like fixin’ cars, shooting animals, and knowing every sports statistic that is currently and historically relevant….I’m generally uninterested/inexperienced.  But I still love the guys in my life, who do naturally enjoy these things for some reason.

That was my main reason for going, and the same reason I’ve been attending “Mens’ Fraternity” here in Decatur every Thursday morning.  There is a HUGE group of men out there who relate really well to sport and hunting analogies.  And in the midst of analogies I’m not a big fan of (Emphasizing over and over again how much we need to utilize humility as some type of tool/weapon in order to “win”, etc.) there are definitely things worth hearing/talking about.

Guys being vulnerable, and pursuing the heart of God.  Recognizing it’s not about dominating the home or workplace, but serving it as Christ.  Discovering what risks/adventure God is calling in your life specifically, and having faith to step forward.   Surrounding yourself with a “band of brothers” who can support each other in these things.

Not sure these are specifically “manly” callings….but it sure helps for men to be honest about them when they’re separated by gender for a bit.  Good relationships being built, and God is receiving glory. 🙂 

This week’s Old Testament reading comes from the book of Daniel.  I’d confess that beyond the popular story of the Lions’ Den, and short passages here & there in my studies of Revelation and other apocalyptic writings, I’ve not spent much time with Daniel.

The readings are short (7:1-3, 15-18), and just enough to get a dream and its’ interpretation.  Daniel sees four great winds “churning up the great sea”, and four great unique beasts coming from that sea.  In the 2nd section we get the interpretation: “The four great beasts are the four (kings) that will rise from the earth.”

Before we get caught up in wondering which current or future governments will rise from the earth, we recognize there were four primary oppressive governing bodies over the Jews.  This isn’t news, as we can find this interpretation in several commentaries, and it definitely fits with the message of Daniel/scripture.

1. Chaldeans
2. Persian Monarchy
3. Grecian Monarchy
4. Rome? Turkish Empire? Syria?  (the jury seems out, but sure seems like Rome)

But the primary focus, even beyond these debates, seems to be found in verses 13-14, and verse 18:

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.  He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed….But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever – yes, for ever and ever.”

A good reminder, for sure. 🙂