Blessings #534 to #560

534.  Eager babysitters for Beka
535.  A parent's "thank you" for a phone call and for making a difference in their child's life
536.  Students coming after school for help with math and having fun
537.  Fun conversations with my students
538.  Exceeding expectations at the Gifts of Hope Open House

Obedient Faith

This is a much longer post than normal, but I thought I would post the transcript for today's sermon, in case anyone might be interested.

Awhile back I was enjoying one of my favorite hobbies - looking at books on a popular book seller's website - and I came across a book by John Piper titled, "What Jesus Demands from the World." The title caught my attention, so I started to read some of the reviews. Not surprisingly, some of them were not so positive - John Piper seems to have that affect on some people, sometimes even me. So I skipped to the one star ratings, because I was curious what people found wrong with this book. What I read was a little startling. Some of the criticism was based solely on the premise of the title. Some reviewers were incensed with the idea that Jesus made demands on us, insisting that Piper was promoting a "works" based theology and ignoring salvation by grace. One writer insisted that Jesus makes no demands on any of us and to teach that he does is wrong. After-all, Jesus is all about love and mercy and grace, not about expectations, or works.

An Awesome Gift

It has been a dry couple of months. It has been a time where problems seems to multiply and one problem leads to another before the first has been solved. For that matter, some problems seem to have no good solution with no end in sight. It has been a time where I have felt inept and ineffective as a church leader and as an educator. I have felt unappreciated, and often like I am in the way, like I have been more a bother or hindrance, than a help.

It has been a great time to beat up on myself and feel sorry for myself. A great time to hang my head and mope. I have daily thoughts of wanting to quit (a variety of things and almost everything), or to at least make minimal efforts in the things that I do. I have wondered what those I am suppose to be mentoring and leading and teaching could possibly be gaining from their relationship with me. I have wondered why they would want to continue meeting with me. I have wondered how much damage I have done.

Blessings #491 to 520 - I Love My Family!

I am halfway through this experiment of counting blessings - or at least trying to acknowledge more blessings in my life - and the constant is always family. If nothing else, I am constantly reminded how blessed I am to have such an incredible family around me who love me despite my many faults, who don’t mind spending time with me, who love God and are seeking to grow in their faith. I have no idea why God has chosen to bless me in such an amazing way, but I am so grateful that he did. I can’t imagine three people being any more important to me than Sandy, Colby and Calli and I can’ imagine there ever being any others that I would want to spend so much time with. I am so proud of them and so blessed to be the husband and father of this family. If that were not enough, God has given me even more blessings, beyond them! I am a very blessed man!

Blessing #463 to 490 - Time with Family is the Best!

463. Reading Claire’s “gifts” and being included in them

464. A wife who is so easy to live with, so easy to love, quick to forgive, quick to laugh, who listens to my grumbling without complaint, who keeps my life organized and frees me to be more involved than I should be. Not everyone has a spouse who makes life easier and better and few can say that marriage has been relatively, with fewer arguments than years of marriage, but I can and I am grateful. I don’t say it nearly enough, but Sandy is an incredible blessing in my life and she should be at least 500 of my 1000 blessings.

465. Leadership challenges, even when they are hurtful - they force me evaluate and re-evaluate what is important to me and reminds me of my own imperfections and weakness.

466. Frontline - a great pick-me-up after a couple of difficult days

467. The anticipation of possibilities - TheCommon.org

Submission

We throw around a lot of words and concepts in our Christian language that supposedly have significant meaning, unfortunately, they seldom carry much weight in the reality of how we live our lives. In the midst of a song with a chorus that moves our emotions, we sing passionately about many things that we seem to fully believe, but when the music stops, so does our passion. Or we track along with a sermon that tugs at our heart and we fully embrace the difficult things of faith, until we meet face to face with the difficult things of faith, and suddenly our embrace is more like a fleeting touch.

Filters

We all use filters. Filters do wonderful things. I am always grateful that my last gulp of coffee in the morning is free from the nasty crumbs of coffee grounds, thanks to a simple paper filter. I am grateful for the filters that keep my car running, that keep lint out of my clothes and keep the air from our heating systems cleaner. 

All filters have two basic functions - to let the stuff we want pass through and to stop the stuff that we don’t want. Photographers use filters as well. Often their filters help the camera see things the same way our eyes see them. In that way the filter actually enhances reality, allowing us to see things the way they truly are rather than blindingly bright or tainted by certain colors. But photographic filters can also distort reality, to present it in a way that they artist wants it portrayed. The filters still function in the same two ways - allowing what the photographer wants to come through, but keeping out the light that is undesired - but that doesn’t always mean they make the final product more realistic, sometimes they are purposely unrealistic. Filters are used to create desired effects, not always to enhance reality.

Blessings #436 to 462

436.  Pictures of Colby and Calli flourishing at Niños de Mexico and hearing stories of how their love for one another was expressed during the trip

437.  Welcoming Calli home from Ninos de Mexico and listening to her, “I’m so tired...” turn into non-stop talking about the trip for more than two hours!

438.  Tears of sadness/tears of joy

439.  New children to sponsor - Brenda, Francisco, and Victor

440.  Two days with longtime friends - making up for too much time apart

Blessings #401 to 435

401.  The chance to watch Calli compete at the state track meet and get another PR - 9 feet!

402.  An unexpected road trip with Sandy

403.  Finding a tasty “hole-in-the-wall” place for lunch in an unfamiliar town

404.  Excitement from colleagues, friends and family for Calli’s accomplishments

405.  Being able to Skype with Colby while he is in Mexico

Another Top 40 Seattle Trip - Blessings #387 to 400

Every year another 8th Grade Seattle trip serves up many blessings and reminds me why I do what I do - teach. This year was no different. It actually starts before the trip itself, even at the beginning of the year when I hear from students that one of their goals for the year is to make the cut for the trip (blessing #387). It is even better when I see it motivate them in their work in class (#388) and better still when I hear from parents that they are seeing the effort at home as well (#389). As the trip draws near, the anticipation of the students and their excitement to receive their invitation can be felt. One of the greatest moments is delivering the invitation (#390), especially to some who thought they might not make it (Parker and Ben #391).