An upgrade

My youngest daughter went to the dentist the other day. After some anxiety due to not knowing what to expect when the dentist started cleaning her teeth, Esther finally relaxed. After the cleaning, the dentist gave my wife the lecture about getting rid of Esther's pacifier so that her teeth would grow in straight. The dentist thought she had the trick for getting rid of the "sassy". She led my daughter to the treasure box where she could pick a toy in exchange for her pacifier. Then she made the mistake of showing her the old pacifiers that other kids had thrown in... Esther said, "I want that one!" She had made her selection: she picked out a new pacifier from the box of used ones.

The Revolution.

Just listened this morning to Rob Bell's sermon series called "Revolutionary Christmas". It was mind-blowing. I can't even tell you about it. Get it if you can...

No time to observe...

It's been so crazy for the past few days that I don't think I've stopped to really look at life as it's been passing. I feel as though I've been holding my breath - kind of like when I'm straining to lift something heavy. It's just been a busy week. Usually, in the midst of a week like this, it's tempting to feel like it will never end... But it always does. Things even out, slow down, and eventually morph into something different. Breathe. Just breathe.

Mooey, llamas, and a sheep's bum

Taking my oldest daughter to Kindergarten has been an awesome experience. We get to laugh and sing all the way to school in the mornings. The bus would make it much easier on us in the mornings, but I'm so glad that I get to spend the time together in the car instead.

We've been making up stories each day about a cow named "Mooey". She has two friends named Connie (a cow) and Patch (a dog). Her regular morning routine is to play hopscotch - which is very difficult when you have four legs - and playing jacks - which happens to be really challenging when you have hooves instead of hands. Then she usually takes a walk around the pasture, counting the fence posts. There are 199, by the way. It's the biggest number that Mary Caite knows. And if there's one missing?? You'd have to ride with us to find out what happens...

During the trip to school we also get to see the llamas and sheep at what I like to call the Llama and Sheep Farm. (Imagine that...) Try saying this really fast: "Llama, llama, llama, sheep, llama, llama..." There's even a sheep that has been marked with green paint on its bum. I'm glad my wife doesn't keep track of me like that... We're always on the lookout for white horses, too. They're Mary Caite's favorite.

When we finally get to school, she's still young enough to give me a kiss good-bye and it's off to class for a day of fun. Spending time together on the way to school is better than just having a few extra minutes to get ready in the mornings. It's so much more valuable to have that memory making time.

Who do I want to be?

Who do I want to be? That’s the big question for me today. I’m not talking about a career search or anything. Actually, it’s due to the fact that I’ve realized in the past few days that I have this tendency to strive to be like others that I admire. Whether it’s their personality, their leadership style, whatever - I find myself frustrated by my attempts to keep up. And on top of that, I’ve subtly replaced pursuing Christ-likeness with becoming more like another person. So why do I do it? Is it because Jesus wouldn’t qualify to fill my position at the church? Is it because the friends I have wouldn’t like to hang out with Jesus? I don’t think either would be true… but the way I’m thinking is as good as if to be like Jesus were not my highest goal. How ridiculous is that?

Lord, I want to be like You. Then I can truly be myself – the one you created me to be.

Anticipating the moments to come

So, I started a new journal this morning. It's an exciting thing for me. It got me thinking about how many totally unexpected things end up filling each journal that I complete. The recognition of this truth makes my heart beat fast in anticipation. Moments come in all sorts of shapes. There are boring, dreadful, fun, startling, deep, dreamlike, surreal, scary moments. What will come? It's in the hands of the One Who knows the number of our days, Who knows the plans He has for us, Who writes our names in the one place that will matter - the Book of Life.