So, I led worship last weekend at the Branch in the University area. Those church sure know how to worship!
It has been some time since I've played with anyone. Honestly, prior to preparing for last Sunday, I hadn't picked up my guitar in months. So, thanks Grayson for the invitation, I really enjoyed playing with you and the other guys! And thanks for forcing me to dust off the guitar. I'm inspired.
Last night I played through some of the tunes that I've written over the last year and got the idea to record this one as it actually has finished lyrics. I posted the lyrics here as well.
This is a fun way to get an idea about a song...
Me And The Thunder Sons
I turn my face
To a blazing sun
Your glory falls
Your Kingdom comes
Oh my God You are you are You are
Such a Holy love enough, enough, enough
Oh but still I must have more
Lying here on my kitchen floor
Jesus have your way
Meet me face to face
I pledged my head
To a holy love
Put down my paper picked up my guns
We took the hill
Me and the Thunder sons
We didn't quit till Thy Kingdom Comes
Singing Oh My God You are, You are, You are
Such a holy love, enough, enough, enough
Oh, but still we must have more
Lying here on Your sanctuary floor
Jesus have your way
Meet us face to face
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Wide Open Places
“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.
Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-11
In my Bible there is a break here with a new heading called “The Narrow and Wide Gates.” While I often find these headings helpful; sometimes they can cause me to read each section as a stand-alone. Sometimes a break in scripture doesn’t mean there was a break in what was being taught. Often if you read before or beyond a heading you can find context otherwise missed.
The fact is when we get to Matthew 7:13 Jesus has been talking for a while – well past lunchtime. I don’t know if he paused and collected himself, took a sip from his water bottle, but I do know he never said ok, now I will talk about a road and a gate and this should be separated contextually from what I was just talking about.
He continued saying,
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
I have heard these two verses of scripture taught on from the pulpit many times. And mostly, they have been delivered as a warning. The message would come with a cautionary tale of people who fell off the narrow road into sin. The implication that living a holy life, a good life, is really hard and the margin for error is just shy of a sliver. There was a sense that once we accept Jesus into our hearts, we have a long narrow restricted journey to look forward to. The upside of course is that if we can somehow pull “the narrow road life” off then when we die it will be worth it cause heavens waiting.
In all honesty, the narrow road has never sounded like much fun and as far as heavens concerned, why do I have to wait?
What I find interesting is directly before the narrow road comments, Jesus talks about Gods expansive goodness. He describes how most of humanity isn’t aware of how much God wants to give to us. How receiving from God is as simple as asking. He describes God as a good and loving father who wishes to give us our hearts desire. Quite a contrast to what I’ve been taught regarding narrow road Christianity.
I would like to suggest that the verses directly before the narrow road section of scripture provide context for the narrow road Jesus talked about. In fact I believe Jesus was laying the groundwork for an incredible truth found in the Narrow road/gate story.
So here’s what I think – Jesus was referring to himself. He is the narrow gate and the narrow road. He was giving those in the crowd a heads up regarding what was to come. He knew the plan. He knew He was going to die and rise from the dead for us. He new He was going to make life abundantly available to us. (I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10)
Jesus died and rose so we could have life. It is His gift to us – available for the asking. Its something we can ask for and then receive. Its something we can search for and it will be found. It’s a door we can knock on and it will be opened. It’s a good gift from a loving and good father. We can only accept it or not. It’s not something we can earn or strive for.
Here is the thing, there is never striving when it comes to Jesus. There is only and always surrender. And surrender is how we say yes to God, its how we receive; it’s the narrow gate and road engaged. Through Jesus, we have died, been reborn and been given a new life. The narrow gate and road is a decision to surrender to God and once we have accepted Jesus into our hearts we enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Through this narrow gate, we receive the treasure – the one that is beyond imagination, a relationship with the King and citizenship in His Kingdom. We enter through the gate - His name is Jesus, The Way The Truth and The Life - and into a Kingdom that is beyond what we can ask or imagine. But he still wants us to ask and imagine.
The Kingdom of heaven is the “life” Jesus refers to. The Kingdom is not something we enter at our physical death. The Kingdom is something we get to live here on earth. So lets get this scripture right. It’s not a strict striving hardship works based religion we’ve entered into, it’s a wide-open love affair. It’s simply saying yes to His love and yes to becoming love
I think that the narrow road and gate leads to a landscape that is grander in scope than we could possibly imagine. That the journey found on the other side of the narrow gate is bigger than our wildest dreams. That Gods Kingdom isn’t a someday Kingdom found at the end of an arduous and sever journey. On the contrary, His Kingdom is a today Kingdom where we personally know the God that told us to “ask and it will be given” – We know the God that “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20) The God who said, “Everything I have is yours.”
I don’t think there is a road on the other side of the cross. I think it’s more like there is a landscape of wide open spaces. A landscape full of oceans and mountains and plains and deserts and planets and galaxies and that they are ours to discover and claim for the King. I think this is the joy set before us, to discover the goodness of God in the land of the living. (Psalms 27:13)
I would like to introduce you to a life where the Kingdom of God is at hand and those that know His love and know who they are in the context of his love can engage this Kingdom in the here and now. Its wide open.
Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-11
In my Bible there is a break here with a new heading called “The Narrow and Wide Gates.” While I often find these headings helpful; sometimes they can cause me to read each section as a stand-alone. Sometimes a break in scripture doesn’t mean there was a break in what was being taught. Often if you read before or beyond a heading you can find context otherwise missed.
The fact is when we get to Matthew 7:13 Jesus has been talking for a while – well past lunchtime. I don’t know if he paused and collected himself, took a sip from his water bottle, but I do know he never said ok, now I will talk about a road and a gate and this should be separated contextually from what I was just talking about.
He continued saying,
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
I have heard these two verses of scripture taught on from the pulpit many times. And mostly, they have been delivered as a warning. The message would come with a cautionary tale of people who fell off the narrow road into sin. The implication that living a holy life, a good life, is really hard and the margin for error is just shy of a sliver. There was a sense that once we accept Jesus into our hearts, we have a long narrow restricted journey to look forward to. The upside of course is that if we can somehow pull “the narrow road life” off then when we die it will be worth it cause heavens waiting.
In all honesty, the narrow road has never sounded like much fun and as far as heavens concerned, why do I have to wait?
What I find interesting is directly before the narrow road comments, Jesus talks about Gods expansive goodness. He describes how most of humanity isn’t aware of how much God wants to give to us. How receiving from God is as simple as asking. He describes God as a good and loving father who wishes to give us our hearts desire. Quite a contrast to what I’ve been taught regarding narrow road Christianity.
I would like to suggest that the verses directly before the narrow road section of scripture provide context for the narrow road Jesus talked about. In fact I believe Jesus was laying the groundwork for an incredible truth found in the Narrow road/gate story.
So here’s what I think – Jesus was referring to himself. He is the narrow gate and the narrow road. He was giving those in the crowd a heads up regarding what was to come. He knew the plan. He knew He was going to die and rise from the dead for us. He new He was going to make life abundantly available to us. (I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10)
Jesus died and rose so we could have life. It is His gift to us – available for the asking. Its something we can ask for and then receive. Its something we can search for and it will be found. It’s a door we can knock on and it will be opened. It’s a good gift from a loving and good father. We can only accept it or not. It’s not something we can earn or strive for.
Here is the thing, there is never striving when it comes to Jesus. There is only and always surrender. And surrender is how we say yes to God, its how we receive; it’s the narrow gate and road engaged. Through Jesus, we have died, been reborn and been given a new life. The narrow gate and road is a decision to surrender to God and once we have accepted Jesus into our hearts we enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Through this narrow gate, we receive the treasure – the one that is beyond imagination, a relationship with the King and citizenship in His Kingdom. We enter through the gate - His name is Jesus, The Way The Truth and The Life - and into a Kingdom that is beyond what we can ask or imagine. But he still wants us to ask and imagine.
The Kingdom of heaven is the “life” Jesus refers to. The Kingdom is not something we enter at our physical death. The Kingdom is something we get to live here on earth. So lets get this scripture right. It’s not a strict striving hardship works based religion we’ve entered into, it’s a wide-open love affair. It’s simply saying yes to His love and yes to becoming love
I think that the narrow road and gate leads to a landscape that is grander in scope than we could possibly imagine. That the journey found on the other side of the narrow gate is bigger than our wildest dreams. That Gods Kingdom isn’t a someday Kingdom found at the end of an arduous and sever journey. On the contrary, His Kingdom is a today Kingdom where we personally know the God that told us to “ask and it will be given” – We know the God that “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20) The God who said, “Everything I have is yours.”
I don’t think there is a road on the other side of the cross. I think it’s more like there is a landscape of wide open spaces. A landscape full of oceans and mountains and plains and deserts and planets and galaxies and that they are ours to discover and claim for the King. I think this is the joy set before us, to discover the goodness of God in the land of the living. (Psalms 27:13)
I would like to introduce you to a life where the Kingdom of God is at hand and those that know His love and know who they are in the context of his love can engage this Kingdom in the here and now. Its wide open.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Top Twenty - Songs
Slow Runner – The Stakes Were Raised, Trying To Put Your Heart Back Together
Winter Sleep – Weighty Ghost
Regina Spektor – Laughing With
Piers Faccini – A Storm Is Going To Come
Phoenix – 1901
Pearl Jam – Among The Waves
Patrick Watson – Man Like You
Mutemath – Spotlight
Katie Herzig – I Hurt Too
The Great Northern – Driveway
The Envy Corps – Walls, Story Problem, Baby Teeth, Before The Gold Rush, Wires & Wool **just get the album**
Elbow – Grace Under Pressure
Deadman – Severe Mercy
David Gray – Fugitive
Better Than Ezra – Particle
Beirut – A Sunday Smile
Athlete – The Outsiders
Arcade Fire – No Cars
White Rabbits – Percussion Gun
Oasis – Get Off Your High Horse Lady
The Killers – My List
Winter Sleep – Weighty Ghost
Regina Spektor – Laughing With
Piers Faccini – A Storm Is Going To Come
Phoenix – 1901
Pearl Jam – Among The Waves
Patrick Watson – Man Like You
Mutemath – Spotlight
Katie Herzig – I Hurt Too
The Great Northern – Driveway
The Envy Corps – Walls, Story Problem, Baby Teeth, Before The Gold Rush, Wires & Wool **just get the album**
Elbow – Grace Under Pressure
Deadman – Severe Mercy
David Gray – Fugitive
Better Than Ezra – Particle
Beirut – A Sunday Smile
Athlete – The Outsiders
Arcade Fire – No Cars
White Rabbits – Percussion Gun
Oasis – Get Off Your High Horse Lady
The Killers – My List
Thursday, October 29, 2009
To Love in Turn
So, I have been writing like mad these past few weeks. Its been an odd thing this, but I suddenly have two books due - crazy right? Anyway, I have been posting the daily devotionals that will be edited at some point and put into the new Open Table. The Open Table is a small group study for new believers with a film and participants guide.
Chapter one is on Love. I think I have the chapter finished and thought I would put one more segment up. This is part four and follows on the heals of my last blog. If you think about me in the next 6 weeks, pray that God would release His love and Kingdom message through this project.
Oh, also, there are supposed to be two to three questions at the end of each section for the reader. I'm not very good at asking those questions as I rarely read them let alone answer them when reading a participants guide - maybe I should start. Anyway, if you think of a question that would help drive the message home, let me know. Thanks!
To Love In Turn
Yesterday I wrote about how John referred to himself, as “the one Jesus loved” and how this revelation of Gods loves is available to us.
Shortly after I discovered these verses in scripture God began to speak to my heart. I started thinking about Johns understanding of Jesus love and wondered if I was capable of loving in the same way.
Recently, one night at the super table while holding hands with my family, I told my wife she was “the one” I loved, that I loved her best, she was my favorite. Then I looked at my oldest daughter and I told her the same thing. I moved on to my son and finally my youngest daughter repeating myself as I went. You are “the one” that I love…
And you know what, it was true and everyone at the table knew it. Somehow I was able to love each of them best.
Paul tells us in Romans 8:11 that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. It stands to reason then that we should be able to love just like Jesus does. In fact, I think that’s why we are here. We exist to know Gods love and love in turn.
That’s what this new life we have entered into is all about. The moment we surrendered to Gods love, the moment we received our salvation, we said yes to love and yes to becoming love.
I would like to suggest that the “Christian” experience, journey, walk, or whatever you want to call it, isn’t just about going to church, it’s also about becoming church. It isn’t just about going to heaven when we die, it’s also about bringing heaven to earth while we live. It isn’t just about receiving the beautiful love of our Savior and friend Jesus, it’s also about becoming that same love. And I am convinced that the only way to become love is to know His love as John did.
Several years ago, I began dialoging with God from John’s perspective. When praying I would thank God for His love, not the wide vague concept of love but the personal intimate one of a kind love God has for me. I don’t pray this way out some insecurity or arrogance, on the contrary. I have learned that the more aware I am of how much he loves me, the greater capacity I have to love those around me. I can say to my wife, my kids, my neighbor, the guy sitting next to me at Starbucks “you are ‘the one’ I love.” A person cant give away what they don’t posses. That’s why it is so important that we begin to see ourselves as God does, thereby possessing love and giving it away in greater measure.
I encourage you today to ask God to love you best, to reveal to you that you are “the one” that he loves and then begin to love those around you like you believe it.
Chapter one is on Love. I think I have the chapter finished and thought I would put one more segment up. This is part four and follows on the heals of my last blog. If you think about me in the next 6 weeks, pray that God would release His love and Kingdom message through this project.
Oh, also, there are supposed to be two to three questions at the end of each section for the reader. I'm not very good at asking those questions as I rarely read them let alone answer them when reading a participants guide - maybe I should start. Anyway, if you think of a question that would help drive the message home, let me know. Thanks!
To Love In Turn
Yesterday I wrote about how John referred to himself, as “the one Jesus loved” and how this revelation of Gods loves is available to us.
Shortly after I discovered these verses in scripture God began to speak to my heart. I started thinking about Johns understanding of Jesus love and wondered if I was capable of loving in the same way.
Recently, one night at the super table while holding hands with my family, I told my wife she was “the one” I loved, that I loved her best, she was my favorite. Then I looked at my oldest daughter and I told her the same thing. I moved on to my son and finally my youngest daughter repeating myself as I went. You are “the one” that I love…
And you know what, it was true and everyone at the table knew it. Somehow I was able to love each of them best.
Paul tells us in Romans 8:11 that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. It stands to reason then that we should be able to love just like Jesus does. In fact, I think that’s why we are here. We exist to know Gods love and love in turn.
That’s what this new life we have entered into is all about. The moment we surrendered to Gods love, the moment we received our salvation, we said yes to love and yes to becoming love.
I would like to suggest that the “Christian” experience, journey, walk, or whatever you want to call it, isn’t just about going to church, it’s also about becoming church. It isn’t just about going to heaven when we die, it’s also about bringing heaven to earth while we live. It isn’t just about receiving the beautiful love of our Savior and friend Jesus, it’s also about becoming that same love. And I am convinced that the only way to become love is to know His love as John did.
Several years ago, I began dialoging with God from John’s perspective. When praying I would thank God for His love, not the wide vague concept of love but the personal intimate one of a kind love God has for me. I don’t pray this way out some insecurity or arrogance, on the contrary. I have learned that the more aware I am of how much he loves me, the greater capacity I have to love those around me. I can say to my wife, my kids, my neighbor, the guy sitting next to me at Starbucks “you are ‘the one’ I love.” A person cant give away what they don’t posses. That’s why it is so important that we begin to see ourselves as God does, thereby possessing love and giving it away in greater measure.
I encourage you today to ask God to love you best, to reveal to you that you are “the one” that he loves and then begin to love those around you like you believe it.
Monday, October 26, 2009
He Loves Me Best
I was reading the gospel of John several years ago. Somewhere along the way I realized that John – the author - had a unique way of referencing himself. Three times he wrote about himself in the third person, as the “one Jesus loved.”
“One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.” (John 13:23)
“So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved…” (John 20:2)
“…And saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them.” (John 21:20)
Now I grew up hearing preachers refer to John as Jesus’ favorite. You know, Jesus just had a special spot in his heart for John. As a kid I thought it was kinda cool how Jesus had a best friend. So a couple years ago, when I discovered that John was the fella that started the rumor, well, I have to admit, I was impressed. “I like that John,” I thought – starting nice rumors about himself like that.
Oh by the way, I don’t know if you have heard this yet but Jesus loves me best…
The more I thought about it, I realized that if anyone knew about Jesus and His love, it was the disciples and John was one of those fellas. He was with Jesus for three years. He was there when Jesus was moved with compassion and healed two blind men (Matt 20:34). He was there when Jesus wept before raising Lazarus his friend from the dead. (John 11;36). He was there when Jesus healed, restored, delivered, forgave and fed people (The Gospels). He ate, slept, prayed, laughed, cried - he did life with the love that is Jesus. He witnessed with his own two eyes the love that is Jesus poured out to the lost, weak, blind, def – you name the need – John watched love meet it.
He then witnessed love whipped and beaten and spit upon and cursed. He watched as Jesus was spread out, nailed to and the hung on a cross - love in human form giving up his life for all of mankind.
And then John was there for the resurrection, when love displayed his hands and feet to the disciples. He watched love ascend to heaven and experienced love again when it descended in the form of the Holy Spirit. If anyone knew what love looked like it was John.
And this same disciple went on to write a book about love. He went on to tell us all what he’d witnessed. And this is the same disciple who wrote about himself, as “the one Jesus loved.” In essence, the man who knew intimately what love looked like and felt like and acted like went on to tell us that this same love who was Jesus, loved him best. John had a revelation of God and described it as a uniquely shared love that was only available between the two of them. Essentially, what John communicated through his gospel was that as far as he was concerned, he was Jesus’ favorite. Jesus loved him best.
The Bible says that when Jesus went to the cross, he did it “for the joy set before him.” I have recently come to understand that we – you and me and the guy sitting next to me at Starbucks – we are that joy. Jesus loves each of us individually and intimately. And if Johns correct, then somehow we can know Jesus love in such a way that we could say about ourselves “I am the one Jesus loves,” I’m his favorite, He loves me best.
John’s revelation is astounding; Jesus can love each of us as “the one.” How cool is that? What’s more amazing is that Jesus can love each of us as “the one” without undermining His love for someone else. I think Johns understanding reveals the heart of Gods love. You see, from John’s perspective, Jesus was able to love Him best without contradiction.
There is available to us a unique relationship to this love. The heart of God even now speaks over each of us and he says “you are the one that I love."
Jesus doesn’t go to a cross because he has to, he goes for the joy that was set before him. That joy is a unique relationship with me and you. He went to the cross so that we could say with absolute certainty, “I am the one Jesus loves.”
“One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.” (John 13:23)
“So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved…” (John 20:2)
“…And saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them.” (John 21:20)
Now I grew up hearing preachers refer to John as Jesus’ favorite. You know, Jesus just had a special spot in his heart for John. As a kid I thought it was kinda cool how Jesus had a best friend. So a couple years ago, when I discovered that John was the fella that started the rumor, well, I have to admit, I was impressed. “I like that John,” I thought – starting nice rumors about himself like that.
Oh by the way, I don’t know if you have heard this yet but Jesus loves me best…
The more I thought about it, I realized that if anyone knew about Jesus and His love, it was the disciples and John was one of those fellas. He was with Jesus for three years. He was there when Jesus was moved with compassion and healed two blind men (Matt 20:34). He was there when Jesus wept before raising Lazarus his friend from the dead. (John 11;36). He was there when Jesus healed, restored, delivered, forgave and fed people (The Gospels). He ate, slept, prayed, laughed, cried - he did life with the love that is Jesus. He witnessed with his own two eyes the love that is Jesus poured out to the lost, weak, blind, def – you name the need – John watched love meet it.
He then witnessed love whipped and beaten and spit upon and cursed. He watched as Jesus was spread out, nailed to and the hung on a cross - love in human form giving up his life for all of mankind.
And then John was there for the resurrection, when love displayed his hands and feet to the disciples. He watched love ascend to heaven and experienced love again when it descended in the form of the Holy Spirit. If anyone knew what love looked like it was John.
And this same disciple went on to write a book about love. He went on to tell us all what he’d witnessed. And this is the same disciple who wrote about himself, as “the one Jesus loved.” In essence, the man who knew intimately what love looked like and felt like and acted like went on to tell us that this same love who was Jesus, loved him best. John had a revelation of God and described it as a uniquely shared love that was only available between the two of them. Essentially, what John communicated through his gospel was that as far as he was concerned, he was Jesus’ favorite. Jesus loved him best.
The Bible says that when Jesus went to the cross, he did it “for the joy set before him.” I have recently come to understand that we – you and me and the guy sitting next to me at Starbucks – we are that joy. Jesus loves each of us individually and intimately. And if Johns correct, then somehow we can know Jesus love in such a way that we could say about ourselves “I am the one Jesus loves,” I’m his favorite, He loves me best.
John’s revelation is astounding; Jesus can love each of us as “the one.” How cool is that? What’s more amazing is that Jesus can love each of us as “the one” without undermining His love for someone else. I think Johns understanding reveals the heart of Gods love. You see, from John’s perspective, Jesus was able to love Him best without contradiction.
There is available to us a unique relationship to this love. The heart of God even now speaks over each of us and he says “you are the one that I love."
Jesus doesn’t go to a cross because he has to, he goes for the joy that was set before him. That joy is a unique relationship with me and you. He went to the cross so that we could say with absolute certainty, “I am the one Jesus loves.”
Monday, October 12, 2009
Aimee - Peeing In The Bushes
Have you ever just wanted to tell a story but you have no context. Well this is one of the stories that was originally edited out of the S&U book. However, I am working on final edits right now and man if I am still not trying to find a relevant truth where this story works… We shall see.
Years ago, after walking home from school, Aimee, Joel and myself found the house locked up. Mom wasn’t home and so we had to wait outside. After a couple of minutes Aimee announced that she had to pee. A couple minutes after that she said to me “I’m going to go pee in the bushes.”
I thought that this was grossly inappropriate. Now if Joel had needed to pee, I would have told him to go pee in the bushes. But Aimee was a girl and so, well, it was just different, that’s all.
I told her she wasn’t allowed to go pee in the bushes and that she would just have to hold it till mom got home. I thought I had made myself clear but…
She glared at me and said, “I will pee in the bushes if I want to.”
“I am the boss and you have to listen to me!” I shot back. Looking back, I don’t think that statement ever got the results I was looking for…
Now Aimee was beyond mad, enraged, yeah that’s the word. I think she said the first thing that came to her mind, the only thing she really could have said at that moment, “Then I’ll pee in my pants!!”
It worked. Now I was enraged as well. You see, if it was unladylike to pee in the bushes it was definitely worse to pee in your pants. Plus, like any dictator I didn’t appreciate being questioned. “You are definitely not going to pee in your pants” I yelled.
“I will too” she screamed back.
And then...she did.
Years ago, after walking home from school, Aimee, Joel and myself found the house locked up. Mom wasn’t home and so we had to wait outside. After a couple of minutes Aimee announced that she had to pee. A couple minutes after that she said to me “I’m going to go pee in the bushes.”
I thought that this was grossly inappropriate. Now if Joel had needed to pee, I would have told him to go pee in the bushes. But Aimee was a girl and so, well, it was just different, that’s all.
I told her she wasn’t allowed to go pee in the bushes and that she would just have to hold it till mom got home. I thought I had made myself clear but…
She glared at me and said, “I will pee in the bushes if I want to.”
“I am the boss and you have to listen to me!” I shot back. Looking back, I don’t think that statement ever got the results I was looking for…
Now Aimee was beyond mad, enraged, yeah that’s the word. I think she said the first thing that came to her mind, the only thing she really could have said at that moment, “Then I’ll pee in my pants!!”
It worked. Now I was enraged as well. You see, if it was unladylike to pee in the bushes it was definitely worse to pee in your pants. Plus, like any dictator I didn’t appreciate being questioned. “You are definitely not going to pee in your pants” I yelled.
“I will too” she screamed back.
And then...she did.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Eva's Bible - Love Poem
I had in my possession an amazing holy historical artifact - my Grandma Eva's Bible. My dad finally sequestered it but not before I had a chance to read through and scan some of the contents. This was her bible for over 50 years. It was marked on nearly every page in every ink color you can imagine.
Eva Clark was a holy person. She prayed. Always. Her prayers are resounding still. I think the blessing and favor that God has released on us Clark's is due to her praying.
Anyway, I found several little notes she kept in her Bible. Today I thought I would post this little cut out piece of paper that had a poem about the love of God.
Lord, thank-you for your wonderful love that is beyond my ability to comprehend!
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