Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

My family’s camping craziness

Posted: March 27, 2013 in Uncategorized
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During a search of Bryan’s unpublished blog posts, the following draft was found.  Bryan wrote this in the summer of 2011.  This is how he should be remembered:  a wonderful husband, a loving father, a humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a fun-loving dad, as evidenced by his words here…

I want us to be a camping family – big time.  But the first step to get little kids camping is to do it inside first.  We got the tent up in our playroom.  Now we need to actually spend the night out there.  We’ll roast marshmallows in the fireplace and sing nutty old songs.  The A/C and running water is nice.  Real nice.  And no blood suckers.

This photograph was selected for the post because it was taken around the time that Bryan originally wrote it.  Please continue to be in prayer for Christy, Hannah, Logan, and Noah, Bryan’s beloved wife and 3 beautiful children whom he loved very, very much…and find ways to help them now and in the future.

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A Gracious Dad, A Drunk Son and Living Forever.

Posted: September 17, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Tullian Tchividjian (yes, that’s really how you spell his name) tells a story with an unexpected ending that will produce conflicting feelings in you and, perhaps, shed new light on what the Gospel really is.

Field of Dreams: A Catch With Dad

Posted: September 4, 2012 in Uncategorized
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I lost my grandfather about a year ago, and at his memorial service, it struck me that he was once young. My age. And how I wish I could have a five minute catch with him like this classic clip from Field of Dreams. Not sure how much heaven will be like Iowa, but it will be amazing to see him young and healthy again. And possessing a wicked curve ball.

Here is the time, seize it, do your best.

Posted: August 28, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Here is the time, seize it, do your best.

Eminent historian David McCullough writes the following:

There is a story that goes with the painting of Theodore Roosevelt by John Singer Sargent that hangs in the White House. Sargent, it is said, had been waiting about the mansion for several days, hoping for a chance to see the president and talk to him about doing his portrait, when one morning the two met unexpectedly as Roosevelt was descending the stairway.

When might there be a convenient time for the president to pose for him, Sargent asked.

“Now!” said the president.

So there he is in the painting, standing at the food of the stairs, his hands on the newel post. It is a great portrait, capturing more of the subtleties of the Roosevelt personality than any ever done of him. And it’s a good story. Moments come and go, the president was telling the painter. Here is the time, seize it, do your best.

Happiness and Coffee Filters

Posted: August 13, 2012 in Uncategorized
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My wife and I have three children, and our youngest is the biggest firecracker.  As a two year old boy, he seems to view our house as the Serengeti Plain – eat or be eaten.  One of his favorite tactics when he is hungry is to open the pantry door and try to help himself to anything he’d like, which quickly incurs discouragement from his mother and father.

One day, he pulled out coffee filters and wanted to eat them.  Coffee filters.  I suppose that would help him be more regular, but of little other value.  Then I got to thinking, aren’t we all a little like that?  We have a felt need and we grab for something to fill it, without really knowing if it will help or hurt. 

The search for happiness is kind of like that, and our culture the pantry.  So much in it will not meet the need we feel.  In fact, it will make our condition worse if not properly used.  We have to trust the One who stocks the pantry that He knows best and will give us what we need, when we need it.  And that when we ask for bread, He will not give us a stone.  Or coffee filters (Luke 11:11).

A Sweet and Bitter Providence

Posted: July 30, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Love this short video from John Piper and Desiring God – A Sweet and Bitter Providence – on how “God is plotting for our joy.”

Thoughts on Gym Guy

Posted: July 23, 2012 in Uncategorized
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I love jogging.  Love it!  I would go twice a day if I had the time.  Ear buds in.  Lakes circumnavigated.  Very liberating.  And just as passionately, I hate going to the gym to lift.  Hate it.  No matter how many times someone wipes down the machines, it’s still nasty.  And every gym smells the same – stale.  One of the worst parts of going to the gym is seeing “Gym Guy.”  Jim Rome does a great job unpacking who this is:

“Gym Guy!” We all know Gym Guy. You know this cat. He’s the guy who rocks the weightlifting gloves…that he re-velcroes before every big set. Unless he’s truly a purist, and then just goes with chalk. The same guy, who grabs a complete stranger and says, “Yo bro, can I get a quick spot?” only to freak out if you try to spot him or assist him in any way screaming, “I got it. Don’t help me!”

It’s the same guy who when you’re in the middle of a couple of sets, asks if it’s cool if he works in, when he knows it not, and sweats up your machine. And if you tell him no, you’ve got a couple sets left, he’ll just set up shop five feet away and just stare at you until you’re done, muttering under his breath about how bad your form is. And the second you’re done, he stomps over and adjusts the weight as quickly as possible making sure you know how much stronger he is than you. Gym Guy grunts like he’s passing a kidney stone and loudly drops dumbells on the floor after his dumbell press so everyone knows he’s “the guy” using 120 pounders.

Gym Guy also loads his 60 megabyte iPod with Godsmack and Megadeath. And has different playlists for different workouts. The “pecs” playlist. And “delt” playlist. And trust me, they all rock…hard! And Gym Guy isn’t there to work out. He’s there to work! This is a job to him. In fact, he doesn’t even call it working out. To him, it’s training. Oh, and Gym Guy also double-fists his beverage…a gallon sized jug of water, chased by a bottle of “Carbo-Force” energy drink that he sips between sets.  And, of course, he records each of his sets in a tattered notebook.  Can’t slack, sucker!

So next time you are at the Y, look out for Gym Guy.  And stay away.

C.S. Lewis on humility

Posted: July 19, 2012 in Uncategorized
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C.S. Lewis on humility

“…Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man, he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him, it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”

(C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

George Washington, Prayer, and the Fourth of July

Posted: July 2, 2012 in Uncategorized
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This Fourth of July, I thought it appropriate to post a blog on a prayer of George Washington’s.  A lot of historians have claimed our Founding Fathers were deists, not Christians.  Washington’s prayer below seems to radically contradict that claim.  Read over this prayer, pray it yourself and Happy 4th!

“O eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural corruption, that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee, the everlasting God, in righteousness and holiness this day, and all the days of my life.

Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments. Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber.

But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, friends and kindred unite us all in praising and glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Saviour, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father.”

-        From William J. Johnson, George Washington, The Christian (New York: The Abingdon Press, 1919).

This Momentary Marriage: Ian & Larissa’s Story

Posted: June 26, 2012 in Uncategorized
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A co-worker recently showed this video at our weekly Family First team meeting. An amazing testimony to the true meaning of love and marriage.

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