I don’t get scared very often. When I do, it is typically by something my kids are doing, like that scary feeling I get when they start running for the street. Every now and then I’ll get intimidated by a situation or humbled by an opportunity. The other day I was just straight-up scared by my surroundings. The other day I went to the scrap yard....
It was a normal Tuesday morning. Driving into work and school, we were saying our morning prayers. Every day we pray for each other, we pray for those who are sick, and we pray for several other random things. Actually, I never know what is going to come out of Caleb’s mouth....
I woke up this morning reflecting on what it really takes to change the world. The last several days were amazing. Speakers like Adam Hamilton, Diana Butler Bass, Rachel Held Evans, and my own pastor, Mike Slaughter, made some incredible points on the status of the modern-day church. Each speaker had a very carefully crafted and unique message on what it takes to change the world, and yet I walked away.....
I have a small confession to make. Last week, while I was away with the Army I got into trouble. Someone actually pulled me aside and gave me a brief talking-to about my behavior.
I was walking through the PX (Post Exchange), chatting with my wife about what I was shopping for, when someone stopped me. He was in civilian clothes, so I didn’t know his rank, but his tone had definite authority...
The other day my wife sent me this picture of my son Caleb. Apparently he was finishing his chocolate milk when all of a sudden it plummeted from the kitchen island and spilled all over the kitchen floor. She turned around to get a towel and when she reappeared to clean up the mess there was Caleb, drinking the milk off....
For the past decade I have traveled for the Army. I’ve been around the world and had the pleasure of serving with some amazing people. Throughout that entire time, my wife has stood by my side while never actually going with me. The thing about the Army Reserves is that all my trips require me to leave, then return home. In the Army they call it TDY (temporary duty) and a steady season of TDY is one of those things that can really make or break a marriage.
I recently made a long drive from Ohio to Washington D.C. and I need to be honest with you; it was the ugliest drive I've ever seen. It was like God had reached down and painted the entire landscape of the nation gray. There was no sun, there were no clouds, just a gray back drop to the country side that was quite forgettable. The trees had no leaves, there was no evidence of anything that could have even possibly bloomed. There were piles of old snow, riddled with dirt and grime.
There I was - smack dab in the middle of what was supposed to be an easy demolition project. We were finally removing the 1970's classic drop ceiling from the kitchen. The idea sounded simple enough, remove the drop and replace with new drywall. The hope was that it would leave the kitchen feeling more open and more inviting.
Yesterday marked the 6 month anniversary of me giving up alcohol. Yup, 6 months sober and it flew by. I simply can't believe that I've been serving with the Next Step family for that long, nor can I believe how much I've grown in that time period.
Well, we are one day into lent and I have already flubbed at least once. I didn't mean to, actually I did mean to - I flubbed on purpose. The pizza was right there and it looked delicious. I don't regret it, but it got me thinking about how much I will waffle on my lenten promises. What makes some years better than others? How do I negotiate the next 40 days so that I can arise a Lenten champion?