Falling Down

As Schaeffer learns to walk and to further test his boundaries, I find myself consistently confronted with the same dilemma. That is, when do I intervene and remove the chance for pain or injury? One of Schaeffer's favorite things to do is to climb on... well anything. The fireplace hearth, the couch, window sills, chairs, other babies, etc. I know I shouldn't intervene all the time, but I must admit that it is painfully hard to sit and watch knowing that pain may insue. I am learning when to intervene, when to do nothing and when to stand crouched and ready to catch a falling child. I can't help but be reminded that God must often feel the same way watching me as I do watching my son. It reminds me to be like Paul rejoicing even in times of trouble because I know that it will lead to maturity and God's glory.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,   a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I think it's worth point out that God isn't even trying to change Paul's behavior, but this demon is allowed to harass him as a preventative measure to guard against boasting. Oh that I would be able to react with joy as Paul when I fall like my son.

God teach me as you did Habakkuk to rejoice when things are bad and show no sign of improvement (Habakkuk 3:17-19). I pray that I, and my family, would find our identity in you so as to remain unmoved by the turbulent waters of this world. That we wouldn't succumb to the fad of trying to find our identy in our job, pocketbook, sexuality, denomination, or anything else that this world uses to replace you as the source of identy (and as such the source of our joy... but that's another post all-together). Amen.

Love Doesn't Divide

Commodities, stocks, trade, exchange, futures... these phrases don't have much meaning for most of us in our daliy lives. The only time we hear or use these words are in our monthly meetings with a financial advisor, if at all. We work hard to manage our resources in the most benificial way. Take time for instance. There is only so much time in a day; so much time to sleep, eat, work, read, exercise, spend with friends, etc. Once that time is up the next day arrives whether or not you are finished with the previous day. It would be nice if I could borrow and sell time from one day to the next to essentially speed up or slow down some days but alas that isn't how it works. However, the greatest commodity that we manage in our lives isn't time. It isn't financial at all. It is love. While that may sound a little crazy and even stupid think of love as a commodity, that's exactly how it occurred to me when Schaeffer was born. I love me wife with all that I am and now another person is coming along that I should love with all that I am; how am I supposed to divide my love? I refused to be one of those parents that abandon their spouse for their kids; or to love one child more than another. I am happy to say that as soon as Schaeffer was born I didn't have to think of a way to manage my love because my love had mysteriously multiplied. I didn't think too much about it at first other than to be grateful for my lack of a quandry about how to manage my love; but upon further reflection I am left with one shining truth. Love is the only commodity that doesn't divide. Rather, whenever you give it away, it multiplies.

Schaeffer

Schaeffer Emet Calk arrived 4 weeks early on April 14, 2010. He was named after philosopher, theologian, and author Francis Schaeffer (who you can read more about here: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Schaeffer ). His middle name comes from the Hebrew word for truth, which is often paired with the pronoun El in the Bible to create El Emet (God of Truth). But enough of the particulars... After a short stay in the hospital (The Best are Born at Baylor) he came home and has since begun to enrich our lives beyond reckoning. I feel that I have grown more in the last 5 weeks than I have in the entirety of my life. God is already using him in our lives, making us more malleable to His hands. So much, so that if the world were to end tomorrow little Schaeffer would have made it a better place. Soon after his birth Leslie and I decided upon a verse that we hope and pray will embody his life. Now, I ask you to join us in praying this prayer for him. Leslie and I are not so proud to think that we can raise Schaeffer on our own and without any help. That's where you, our friends and family, come in. So please continue to walk with us...

Hebrews 13:20,21: Now may the God of peace who puts all things together, makes all things whole, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please Him, and make us into what gives Him most pleasure, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Fruition of a Dream

On our wedding day I stood at the front of a church filled with our closest friends and family and gazed down the aisle as the most beautiful woman entering the sanctuary. In that moment I was able to picture, in vivid detail, our entire life together. I pictured us buying a home, having children... I could see our family grow larger as our children matured and have kids of their own... I could even see us growing old and grey together. I knew that we would be able to overcome any obstacle, and that our love for one another would continue to grow. A few weeks ago, part of that vision became a reality when we found out that Leslie is pregnant.

After two years of praying for God to bless us with a child our petition was granted. Today we went in for our first sonogram! Our baby is growing perfectly (due on May 11) and Leslie is feeling pretty good. She hasn't been too nauseated, and hasn't really had any cravings to speak of yet; both of which are blessings. We are both a little nervous and VERY excited about everything that is in store for us.

On our wedding day Ross King's Will You Walk With Me played as I stood and waited for Leslie to come down the aisle. To this day we continue to live the words of that song as we walk side by side through life. "We will climb the highest mountain, swim the ocean, touch the stars; if we're together I know we can go so far. Will you walk with me? The rest of your life will be spent right by my side. And I know you will see that the road will not be so hard, the Lord will light our way and love will be our guide. Take a step, say you'll be my wife. Come with me, let's take a walk through life. I will learn from you, you'll learn from me and in the end I know we'll see that we could not have made it on our own. Will you walk with me?"

So, as we journey on, we invite you to join us on our journey. We were created with a need for relationships and friendships of all kinds in order to live life to its fullest. Leslie and I want to thank you for enabling us to live an abundant life... and to take this opportunity to book childcare.