From a friend named Nicole--released from the comments...
I found myself in Wal-Mart on Halloween night at 9:30 buying food for our Bible Study group the next day. I pulled into the one of many checkouts open...apparently no one shops on Halloween(all out being scary:). Anyway, the guy working had a HUGE tat of the grim reaper, which was sort of ironic being on Halloween and all. Before I even thought about the words leaving my mouth I was asking him about his tattoo. He told me how it reminds him of how he almost died. He told me the story and I was then able to ask him if he knew where he would go when he did die one day. He looked at me puzzled, I explained the gospel to him and asked him to think about that question every time he looked at his tattoo. I invited him to the college Bible Study and we figured out we knew some common people.
He told me I should get a tattoo, I told him I was too much of a whimp to get one. He advised I should just be intoxicated then it wouldn't hurt as much, I told him that probably wouldn't be a good idea. I have thought about a tattoo, the Hebrew letters for integrity, that is probably what I would get "IF" ever! So, being intoxicated wouldn't really go with that theme :) We laughed and parted ways! I was on a high though, because being in the midst of something God is doing is thrilling! I knew that night I was right where God wanted me to be, and it was peaceful!
So, what started out as a usual run to Wally World turned into a divine appointment...
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
10 Great Memories on My 10th Anniversary
On the eve of our 10 year anniversary my wife and I decided to write down 10 of our favorite memories over the years. Here are mine in no perfect order.
1. The births of all three of our boys (the walk down the hallway to Sam, the late night run to the hospital for Joeler, the mid-day call that Ash was on his way).
2. The early morning run on my wedding day. Dec. 18th 1999 at 7am I was up running with Joey and Adrian around the campus of SHSU. I was so nervous about the wedding I felt like I could run forever. I couldn't believe I was about to be married to Michelle and even though I was tired from playing video games the night before (sadly) I needed that run.
3. Dancing to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", Caedmon's Call's "Somewhere North" to my wife on our wedding day. So thankful my mom talked sense into me that I needed to have a dance. I have to throw in Frank Sinatra Christmas CD that we played in Fredricksburg on our honeymoon.
4. Letters and pictures from my girlfriend Michelle Marquart when I was in Indiana preaching bad sermons and she was in California in the summer of '99
5. Watching "Muppet's Christmas" in a Super 8 Motel the night after Samuel was born. Eating fast food on the bed and glowing all over with joy.
6. Being overdressed for a play in Dallas on our second anniversary. We were decked out and everyone was wearing jeans. Expensive tickets. Casual atmosphere. Bad planning. Lots of laughs.
7. Michelle wearing a blue dress and meeting me at the airport after 3 weeks away on an Istanbul study trip. I was so glad to be home and couldn't wait to see her. She made welcome home signs and put them all over our seminary house.
8. Snorkeling down a river in Mexico called "Tres Rios". Laughing at all the misadventures of the trip too many to count (on just one day).
9. Countless encouragements when God has spoken to me through Michelle. I can be so wound up with an issue or discouraged by something it can feel like barbed wire. How many times after talking about it on a date or through prayer, it unravels like cheap yarn?
10. "Robbie there's a roach in the bed!" nuff said.
Can I have another 10?
1. The births of all three of our boys (the walk down the hallway to Sam, the late night run to the hospital for Joeler, the mid-day call that Ash was on his way).
2. The early morning run on my wedding day. Dec. 18th 1999 at 7am I was up running with Joey and Adrian around the campus of SHSU. I was so nervous about the wedding I felt like I could run forever. I couldn't believe I was about to be married to Michelle and even though I was tired from playing video games the night before (sadly) I needed that run.
3. Dancing to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", Caedmon's Call's "Somewhere North" to my wife on our wedding day. So thankful my mom talked sense into me that I needed to have a dance. I have to throw in Frank Sinatra Christmas CD that we played in Fredricksburg on our honeymoon.
4. Letters and pictures from my girlfriend Michelle Marquart when I was in Indiana preaching bad sermons and she was in California in the summer of '99
5. Watching "Muppet's Christmas" in a Super 8 Motel the night after Samuel was born. Eating fast food on the bed and glowing all over with joy.
6. Being overdressed for a play in Dallas on our second anniversary. We were decked out and everyone was wearing jeans. Expensive tickets. Casual atmosphere. Bad planning. Lots of laughs.
7. Michelle wearing a blue dress and meeting me at the airport after 3 weeks away on an Istanbul study trip. I was so glad to be home and couldn't wait to see her. She made welcome home signs and put them all over our seminary house.
8. Snorkeling down a river in Mexico called "Tres Rios". Laughing at all the misadventures of the trip too many to count (on just one day).
9. Countless encouragements when God has spoken to me through Michelle. I can be so wound up with an issue or discouraged by something it can feel like barbed wire. How many times after talking about it on a date or through prayer, it unravels like cheap yarn?
10. "Robbie there's a roach in the bed!" nuff said.
Can I have another 10?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Why Santa Comes to Our House (this year)
I'm as passionate as Charlie Brown on steroids about the commercializing of Christmas but I thought I'd offer a few lines in the midst of some solid (and very strong) arguments against Santa why (this year) we've decided to include him.
1. Santa is make-believe. We are a house filled with make-believe. Everyday I come home I'm blown up at least a dozen times, downsized to a Lego man, turned in to a monster, then back to a superhero. We act out countless scenarios of good guy/bad guy. Before I kiss them goodnight we talk about how breakfast will be chocolate-covered crickets and squiggly worms. Santa stays in the category of make-believe--the same place where fairy tales and kids stories thrive. Should his bowl full of jelly belly ever eclipse the Savior, it will be toast. Pun intended.
2. Santa is generous. Let's face it. After every whiny kid has peed his pants on cheep red felt telling Santa what he or she wants, Santa just keeps giving. Year after year. Outside of some stale cookies, nobody every thinks to give Santa a gift. Superman comes and goes and hangs out incognito most of the time, but Santa works year round in his giving frenzy (or at least his elves do). Since we're having fun, we'd like to highlight that charity.
3. Santa has potential. Since he's make-believe you can make him into whatever you like. This year our Santa will love Jesus. In fact, he goes around the world at great cost to himself to tell people the good news of the birth of Jesus. He gives everyone gifts to remind them of the greatest gift ever given--the gift of God's Son. Okay, a little hokey--but none of their Playmobile pirates do that (yet).
1. Santa is make-believe. We are a house filled with make-believe. Everyday I come home I'm blown up at least a dozen times, downsized to a Lego man, turned in to a monster, then back to a superhero. We act out countless scenarios of good guy/bad guy. Before I kiss them goodnight we talk about how breakfast will be chocolate-covered crickets and squiggly worms. Santa stays in the category of make-believe--the same place where fairy tales and kids stories thrive. Should his bowl full of jelly belly ever eclipse the Savior, it will be toast. Pun intended.
2. Santa is generous. Let's face it. After every whiny kid has peed his pants on cheep red felt telling Santa what he or she wants, Santa just keeps giving. Year after year. Outside of some stale cookies, nobody every thinks to give Santa a gift. Superman comes and goes and hangs out incognito most of the time, but Santa works year round in his giving frenzy (or at least his elves do). Since we're having fun, we'd like to highlight that charity.
3. Santa has potential. Since he's make-believe you can make him into whatever you like. This year our Santa will love Jesus. In fact, he goes around the world at great cost to himself to tell people the good news of the birth of Jesus. He gives everyone gifts to remind them of the greatest gift ever given--the gift of God's Son. Okay, a little hokey--but none of their Playmobile pirates do that (yet).
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Great Tattoo...
I've recently had some opportunities to connect with people around their tattoo. It's about the easiest way to engage in conversation with a complete stranger. All you ask is...
"Wow. I like your tattoo. What's the story behind that?" You can launch in to all kinds of topics from there that are all relevant to me.
For instance, "did that stinking hurt?" [big one for me]
"How did you finally choose that one over another one?"
"Will you get another one?" etc.
"What's it mean?" [from here it's pretty easy to cross over from the temporal to the eternal and into the spiritual. Many times a tattoo has real significance]
Yesterday at Legacy Books I was meeting someone to talk about college ministry in our church. We ended up talking with a great guy that works there about his tattoo.
It led into a great conversation about his life, moving to Frisco and his hopes of obtaining a better life here. We were able to talk about the church we're apart of and invite him out. Good conversation.
Leverage the tattoos all around you.
Tell someone today...
"Wow. I like your tattoo. What's the story behind that?" You can launch in to all kinds of topics from there that are all relevant to me.
For instance, "did that stinking hurt?" [big one for me]
"How did you finally choose that one over another one?"
"Will you get another one?" etc.
"What's it mean?" [from here it's pretty easy to cross over from the temporal to the eternal and into the spiritual. Many times a tattoo has real significance]
Yesterday at Legacy Books I was meeting someone to talk about college ministry in our church. We ended up talking with a great guy that works there about his tattoo.
It led into a great conversation about his life, moving to Frisco and his hopes of obtaining a better life here. We were able to talk about the church we're apart of and invite him out. Good conversation.
Leverage the tattoos all around you.
Tell someone today...
Friday, December 4, 2009
Parenting is Incarnational Ministry
One thing that parenting does is allow you glimmers of the glory of God's heart in the incarnation.
We've been gone for a few days on vacation and it's no surprise to us that today has been tough. For one, we usually need a day for everyone to readjust. But all three boys have been sick. Last night I noticed one of my boys had what looked like chicken pox all over his body and his cough hasn't improved in 3 weeks. Moreover, our 1 year old has had a barking cough. So while it snowed in Houston I took our oldest to the doctor for the bumps all over his skin while Michelle took our youngest to another doctor for his cough.
Since my oldest son has had strep throat he's familiar with the "swabbing" that makes him gag. Today he wanted nothing to do with the test.
The nurse cajoled. I encouraged. The doctor demonstrated. Nothing seemed to work.
I had to get down on my knees, look him in the eyes with a cotton swab in my mouth and take the journey of suffering with him. He was able to muster the courage to swab his own throat as he watched me swab mine.
This afternoon the same son struggled desperately with the taste of the cough syrup. It was less than strawberry flavor. Less than pancake friendly. We cajoled. Encouraged. Threatened. Insisted. I even put sugar in it. Nada.
Desperate for him to finish his teaspoon I asked, "it tastes bad doesn't it?" His head nodded. "It tastes gross?" Affirmative. "I'm so sorry. Come sit on my lap and tell me."
He lamented the strawberry vile of despair--he wept with great sadness. But he finished the medicine. When I put my anger to death and quit trying to sell it as "yummy" and just met him in his fear it made all the difference.
Tonight was the same. After celebrating Christmas with family the boys were wired. Didn't want to go to sleep. At. All. I spanked. Stated the case. Commanded.
But tonight I needed to get down on the carpet. Forget the coughing. Forget that they are contagious with strep and I'll probably get it. Forget the tickle when you swallow. I needed to lay in the guest room in the dark and let them hear me breathing. They needed me to be with them--near them--go through it with them. It made all the difference.
Moments like this remind me of my own need--my own restlessness--for God to come down to me--in my helplessness and need. What I'm so often reluctant and unwilling to do God did with no reserve hesitation (John 10:18).
Note the steps of God's journey to us from Philippians 2:6-7.
Though equal with God in resplendent glory and perfect fellowship of joy, Jesus...
"made himself nothing..." [low]
"...taking the form of a servant..." [lower]
"...being born in the likeness of men." [lower]
"And being found in human form," [lower]
"...he humbled himself" [lower]
"...by becoming obedient to the point of death," [still lower]
"...even death on a cross." [lowest]
In the mercy of God salvation comes through the incarnation of the Son. This incarnation displays the eternal glory of God's heart for lost, desperate, and miserable sinners.
Sinners like you and me. Sinners that need a Savior to come down to us. To meet us where we are. A Savior willing to do the unthinkable and be near us--with us. This incarnation looks us in the eyes and makes us come face to face with courage-inducing love.
Parenting gives us plenty of opportunities to incarnate the love we profess to our children--and in so doing remind us of the One who did this perfectly for every time we don't or even won't.
His love can make me thankful for the tickle I feel in my throat.
We've been gone for a few days on vacation and it's no surprise to us that today has been tough. For one, we usually need a day for everyone to readjust. But all three boys have been sick. Last night I noticed one of my boys had what looked like chicken pox all over his body and his cough hasn't improved in 3 weeks. Moreover, our 1 year old has had a barking cough. So while it snowed in Houston I took our oldest to the doctor for the bumps all over his skin while Michelle took our youngest to another doctor for his cough.
Since my oldest son has had strep throat he's familiar with the "swabbing" that makes him gag. Today he wanted nothing to do with the test.
The nurse cajoled. I encouraged. The doctor demonstrated. Nothing seemed to work.
I had to get down on my knees, look him in the eyes with a cotton swab in my mouth and take the journey of suffering with him. He was able to muster the courage to swab his own throat as he watched me swab mine.
This afternoon the same son struggled desperately with the taste of the cough syrup. It was less than strawberry flavor. Less than pancake friendly. We cajoled. Encouraged. Threatened. Insisted. I even put sugar in it. Nada.
Desperate for him to finish his teaspoon I asked, "it tastes bad doesn't it?" His head nodded. "It tastes gross?" Affirmative. "I'm so sorry. Come sit on my lap and tell me."
He lamented the strawberry vile of despair--he wept with great sadness. But he finished the medicine. When I put my anger to death and quit trying to sell it as "yummy" and just met him in his fear it made all the difference.
Tonight was the same. After celebrating Christmas with family the boys were wired. Didn't want to go to sleep. At. All. I spanked. Stated the case. Commanded.
But tonight I needed to get down on the carpet. Forget the coughing. Forget that they are contagious with strep and I'll probably get it. Forget the tickle when you swallow. I needed to lay in the guest room in the dark and let them hear me breathing. They needed me to be with them--near them--go through it with them. It made all the difference.
Moments like this remind me of my own need--my own restlessness--for God to come down to me--in my helplessness and need. What I'm so often reluctant and unwilling to do God did with no reserve hesitation (John 10:18).
Note the steps of God's journey to us from Philippians 2:6-7.
Though equal with God in resplendent glory and perfect fellowship of joy, Jesus...
"made himself nothing..." [low]
"...taking the form of a servant..." [lower]
"...being born in the likeness of men." [lower]
"And being found in human form," [lower]
"...he humbled himself" [lower]
"...by becoming obedient to the point of death," [still lower]
"...even death on a cross." [lowest]
In the mercy of God salvation comes through the incarnation of the Son. This incarnation displays the eternal glory of God's heart for lost, desperate, and miserable sinners.
Sinners like you and me. Sinners that need a Savior to come down to us. To meet us where we are. A Savior willing to do the unthinkable and be near us--with us. This incarnation looks us in the eyes and makes us come face to face with courage-inducing love.
Parenting gives us plenty of opportunities to incarnate the love we profess to our children--and in so doing remind us of the One who did this perfectly for every time we don't or even won't.
His love can make me thankful for the tickle I feel in my throat.
Who Do You Say I Am?
We are home from our 10 year anniversary celebration in Playa Car, Mexico. We had a blast. One way we were able to join our friends Jeanna and Justin of 11+ years was because my wife found a great deal for a few days if you're willing to sit through a "90 minute" presentation.
If you've sat through a time share pitch or something similar you're familiar with the approach. Great location. Great opportunity. Great deal. Great pressure in the final few minutes.
Ours was a good experience from a man who professed to be a born again Christian of 8 years. He had two couples who were Jehovah's Witnesses buy the plan the day before. I noticed he had a book in his pocket and he later pulled it out to show us "What the Bible Really Says." A gift from the couple he thought were Christians.
Walking past the tanning aged on the way to slurp lemonade with the closers he asked, "okay...you guys are pastors. What's the difference between what these guys believe and others?" He showed the book that was given as a gift.
I said the biggest difference is their understanding of who Jesus is. For Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus--for all his exalted status as the "firstborn" is still a created being. He is not one with the Father. To legitimize this belief they have their own false translation where the "word was a god" rather than what the Greek clearly says (John 1:1). This is what separates them from being Christians.
Justin replied, "it comes down to what Jesus asked, 'who do you say that I am (Matt. 16:15)?'"
If you've sat through a time share pitch or something similar you're familiar with the approach. Great location. Great opportunity. Great deal. Great pressure in the final few minutes.
Ours was a good experience from a man who professed to be a born again Christian of 8 years. He had two couples who were Jehovah's Witnesses buy the plan the day before. I noticed he had a book in his pocket and he later pulled it out to show us "What the Bible Really Says." A gift from the couple he thought were Christians.
Walking past the tanning aged on the way to slurp lemonade with the closers he asked, "okay...you guys are pastors. What's the difference between what these guys believe and others?" He showed the book that was given as a gift.
I said the biggest difference is their understanding of who Jesus is. For Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus--for all his exalted status as the "firstborn" is still a created being. He is not one with the Father. To legitimize this belief they have their own false translation where the "word was a god" rather than what the Greek clearly says (John 1:1). This is what separates them from being Christians.
Justin replied, "it comes down to what Jesus asked, 'who do you say that I am (Matt. 16:15)?'"
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