Daddy, can we watch Spongebob?

We just got DirecTV installed.

I can now watch all of Michigan's football games (or record them for later and/or repeated enjoyment).

For some reason, my girls are not feeling my excitement... The highlight for them is that they can watch Spongebob Squarepants now.

Their excitement is easy to see... As soon as naptime is over, it's, "Daddy, can we watch Spongebob?" As soon as dinner is over, it's, "Daddy, can we watch Spongebob?" As soon as they finish whatever they were just doing, it's, "Daddy, can we watch Spongebob?"

You get the picture.

But there's a dilemma.

You see, nobody has invented Spongebob TV or the Spongebob Channel ("All Spongebob, all the time!"), so I often have to tell them, "Spongebob isn't on right now, Girls."

What's amazing to me is to see how they respond when I tell them that... It's like they can't quite wrap their little minds around that little factoid.

They don't yet understand that there's a programming schedule... A timetable... A timing issue. All they know is what they want. And they want it now.

I wonder how many times Daddy God hears us cry out our list of wants (at every waking moment) & watches with parental delight when we are completely perplexed by the timing.

I'm just saying....

Then ya take a left at the old Johnson farm...

Have you ever gotten directions like that? I have.

The "signs" are obvious to the person giving them, but it's this weird, cryptic language to the rest of us.

God is taking our church on a journey, & for the last several years I've felt at times like I was looking for "the old Johnson farm" to know where we were heading.

But something has changed.

I've known for years where we're headed, & I've known that I've never been there before. And I've had this feeling all along that when we got there, I'd just "know it."

Well, the scenery is beginning to take on a warm familiarity... Like we're getting close to home. Like when you've been gone for a while & then start getting close & smell the air & think, "Wow... I forgot about that smell!"

No, I've never been here before... But it's good to be back!

One Savior

Jennifer & I have the great privilege of walking with a family though a very difficult custody battle right now. We are honored that they would allow us to be with them during this very difficult time in their lives, but we take no pleasure in watching their suffering.

Part of this process involves government regulation & litigation. As I have watched this whole nightmare unfold, I have seen once again--first-hand this time--why our founding fathers never intended for our government to become what it is today.

I also see why God warned Israel of the dangers of having a king. God warned Samuel that the Israelites would demand a king, that He would give them one, & that the king would become lord over their lives. What started out as a God-given cry for leadership in the people of Israel became consent to bondage... All because that God-given desire was misdirected upon men instead of God.

These custody proceedings prove this principle again today in 2008... Man can NEVER take the place that only God can fill: the just & fair leader of mankind. The government can NEVER be the savior of mankind or even one man... Only Jesus can do that!

Just the Beginning

He stood there with tears streaming down his face.

As Jen & I finished praying for him, I knew that he had encountered the Living God.

Maybe he came because he'd heard about our music... or our loving people... or one of my messages... or maybe just because he was desperate for what only God can give: hope, life, & true freedom!

Whatever his reason was, I'm just glad he was there today. And I'm glad God met him there.

I'm glad God was there today... & I hope it was just the beginning!

So... It's instinctive?

I was helping Hosanna get on one of her favorite websites a little while ago.

She's pretty savvy with a computer, but she was having some trouble & needed a little help.

I was watching her enter the web address & I noticed something: she would do the hunt-&-peck method on the keyboard (to be expected at 7 years old), & she would look up at the screen after every keystroke to make sure what she meant to type is what she saw on the screen.

As I sat there watching, I remembered back to my childhood... Back to my mom's IBM Selectric Typewriter (Yes, sports fans & fellow geeks: this was before the PC or the MAC!) & I remember teaching myself how to type using the same old hunt-&-peck method. I remembered doing the same verify-every-keystroke thing, looking over the little silver ball with all the characters on it & the little black ribbon (anybody remember those?) onto the paper to see if I was getting what I wanted on the page.

Then it hit me... We instinctively require feedback!

No matter how old (or young) & no matter what level of development, God has created us with an innate need to "check the compass" & make sure we're headed in the right direction. Throughout life, He constantly guides us with gentle nudges & little course-corrections that--for the most part--go completely unnoticed by us.

We truly are fearfully & wonderfully made!

Pretend you said, "Yes."

We're in Atlanta visiting some family. Today, we were in The Container Store & the girls were playing make-believe with their cousin, Caleb.

(Jen was "playing", too... She's wanted to shop there for years!)

But, anyway...

The kids were playing & one of the girls said to Caleb, "Pretend you're my boss."

Without hesitation (and with his own idea of what he was going to pretend), he answered, "No."

Not to be deterred, she shot back, "Pretend you said, 'Yes.'"

Amazingly, Caleb said (even quicker than the 1st time & like it was his idea all along), "Yes."... and then they went on playing. Her way.

I stood there watching & couldn't help but wonder how often this happens in our walk with Christ.

How many times does He tell us to do something & we shoot back, "No," only for the Holy Spirit to nudge us in the direction of His will? Then, just like Caleb, we consent to His idea... & think it was ours!

The next time God speaks to me, I hope I remember what I saw today & just "Pretend I said, 'Yes,'" right then.

11 Years... Amazing!

Today was me & Jennifer's 11th anniversary... How time flies when you're having fun!

I've enjoyed every minute of this most-special day... All because I was with my Sweetie!

I love you, Baby!!

Some Independence-Day Perspective

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day. I'd heard about some problems where he is so I asked him about it.

"Well," he said, "let me put it this way: 2 years ago, this was the worst place in the country. Today, it's the safest."

Wow... That's quite a turn-around in just 2 years!

Then I asked him about the weather. "It's about 110 or 120 today," he said.

What... 120?!! Where on earth IS he?

He's in Iraq.

He's in a place where people understand freedom... Not only what it's worth, but what it costs. He's with people who are thousands of miles away from everything they value & hold dear fighting for all that someone else holds dear.

I know the 4th of July is a birthday celebration of sorts for the USA, but it's really about independence. I hope the people of Iraq have the great privilege of celebrating their independence for many years to come.

I also hope that our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, & Marines get to come home soon... & get the hero's welcome they deserve.