On the 12 Day of Christmas...

Let's review, shall we?

12 Days of Christmas: God's Gift to Me
First Day: a wife
Second Day: 2 years of running
Third Day: 3 years of stable residence
Fourth Day: 4 children
Fifth Day: 5 year plan
Sixth Day: 6 books
Seventh Day: 7 episodes of disappointment & failure
Eight Day: 8th grade year and no memory of it
Ninth Day: 9 years of wonderful marriage
Tenth Day: 10th grade salvation experience
Eleventh Day: 11 years of work



My passion is baseball. Most of you who know me personally know that all too well. I cannot get enough. It's been that way since I was eight years old. I had the opportunity to play organized baseball throughout my childhood and I enjoyed every second of it. Even as a young adult, God gave me just enough ability and perseverance to play. On this last day of Christmas blogs let me just state that the number 12 was sewn on my back as I played for the Asbury College Eagles.


The baseball field was the most effective classroom setting I ever experienced. My coaches and teammates throughout the 12 years I played were the greatest teachers. There was something about the team concept and the experiential learning environment that was just right for meeting my educational needs. Basic but important lessons and skills were learned and developed during these fun years. Not everyone gets a chance to play sports at the college level, and I am so grateful to God for that chance.

On the 11th Day of Christmas...

God has given me 11 years of work. This might sound lame but with the current economic meltdown, I am reminded of the fragile job market and how I am not burdened with unemployment. Many are struggling, trying to piece together life with little resources, or none. To some small extent I can relate as there was a period of six months that I was unemployed. This period began just days before our second child was born. I was sent home--laid off/let go/freed up/downsized/available for other opportunities--whatever you want to call it. This was a scary time with medical bills on the way. God, in His mercy, opened up a new door and the fear was replaced with thanks. Although I am confident that all my needs will be met, I also understand that I am not immune to the reality of this down turn in prosperity.

Modest living with responsible and strategic financial planning, all wrapped up in faithful devotion to the One that makes life possible; that's the only advice I can give. Now back to work...

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

I've been granted new life because of Christ and God's work of grace as my 10th grade salvation experience will testify. That story is remarkable because it's my story. I didn't always have this opinion though. Early on, I was content to believe that my experience of faith was ordinary and anti-dramatic. As my faith matured and my knowledge of who God is expanded, my opinion changed.

I was an average kid I guess, with typical youthful tendencies and attitudes. Even though I had grown up in the church I was confused about what it meant to be a follower of Christ. My understanding was that attendance on Sunday was sufficient. As I got older, I struggled with direction and wrestled with identity (as most youth do I suppose). In the fall of my sophomore year in high school I met a classmate named Rodney Prater. We had an art class together and this meeting and the subsequent time spent as classmates set in motion a bigger story of what God was doing in my life. Our interactions together seem innocent enough, especially to outsiders who might have been paying attention. Although casual, our conversations and the way he conducted himself played big in my mind. Questions started to form but not to the extent where I was prepared to ask.

It was Super Bowl Sunday that year when he was on his way to his youth group Bowl party. Of course, being January, it was dark and the Kentucky country roads are as straight as a silly straw. Driving to the party, he rounded a bend in the road to fast and crashed head on into a electric poll. His car sunk down off the road and into the ditch below the road above. A day had passed before he was found. It was assumed by the medical professionals that he died upon impact. When the news broke, I was devastated.

It was at this point that the questions that had begun to form were now concrete and demanding my response. I couldn't understand why a person like Rodney, a serious and faithful follower of Jesus, would be gone this way, and so soon.

The only thing I knew to do at this point was to ask the questions out loud. I sought out the pastor of the church I attended each Sunday and began unwrapping the hurt and confusion and fear. The only thing he could do for me was to present to me again who Jesus is, and in this context, the message started to make sense. Shortly after, I decided to be a serious Jesus follower. I believed.

I am convinced that God's plan all along was to use Rodney Prater's life and death to get to me. There are probably others that can make this same boast. My faith story is big-time, as are all stories of salvation, because God brought me from death to life.

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

God has given me 9 years of wonderful marriage. The main pastor of our church recently said in a weekend message that marriage is the greatest exercise of self discovery. How true. I have learned so much about myself in these nine years that at times I haven't liked myself very much. Hilary is the real hero in this story as she has had to live with me. She is not my "better half," nor does she "complete me." She is, however, my life partner who supports and encourages me in good times or bad. We hold each other accountable to all that God wants in our lives. Accountability is the part no one likes but it's the part that creates the best fruit.

Marriage is an on-going spiritual retreat that requires thoughtful effort and honest responses. It is a practical demonstration of a spiritual reality, that being, the relationship between Christ and those who follow Him in devotion. Our lives of faith are stronger and maturing because of our relationship with one another. Our relationship is at it's best when we are investing in each other, seeking the best and serving one another. Funny how that same formula works as we pursue God. Our closeness or distance to God correlates with our attitude and service to others.

My marriage truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

On the 8th Day of Christmas...

12 Days of Christmas: God's Gift To Me.

First Day: a wife

Second Day: 2 years of running

Third Day: 3 years of stable residence

Fourth Day: 4 children

Fifth Day: 5 year plan

Sixth Day: 6 books

Seventh Day: 7 episodes of disappointment & failure

Now here is where this Christmas series of blogs gets dicey. I don't have eight of anything. I really only have two choices, ideas that seem plausible. The first being Facebook, as Kate Gosselin keeps appearing as a friend suggestion. I could befriend her and claim that I know someone with 8 kids. It kind of weirds me out that her profile pic keeps showing up to begin with, not to mention the idea of befriending a single, female Hollywood star.

Or, I could go with the fact that I have no memory whatsoever of 8th grade year. Seriously. I know the name of the building I walked into every morning that year but that's it. I don't recall any teachers' names or funny pranks or anything associated with any extra curriculars. There was my three day bus suspension for fighting, my failed attempt with the Speech & Drama team, the cracking noise my voice started making, rigging the locker so I could forget the combination, the incessant acne, and the archery unit in P.E. Other than that, my mind is drawing a blank.

On the 7th Day of Christmas...

As much as it hurts, pain and defeat are healthy. God has allowed me to experience much of it during my life. This Christmas I am reminded of 7 episodes of disappointment and failure, that when looking back, has strengthened my resolve to be better and do more. Here is my short list:

born with a damaged eardrum which caused severe hearing loss,

Christmas Eve emergency room party with a leaky appendix (the gift that keeps on givin'),

cut from the high school baseball team junior year,

denied request of marital blessing from my now father-in-law,

back-to-back church collapses (i was on staff at both churches, you connect the dots),

laid off from a job and unemployed for 6 months,

failed initial ordination board hearing

Hindsight is 20/20 and only after a period of time do I realize the growth as a result. Without the presence of impossible circumstances and unmet goals, can we really understand the goodness, grace and purpose of God?

On the 6th Day of Christmas...

Books are a highly valued commodity. I enjoy reading, more and more the older I get. There are 6 books that have played an important role in shaping my thinking. Those titles are:

Bible,

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis,

The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien,

Soul Survivor: How My Faith Survived the Church by Philip Yancy,

Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky &

The Screwtape Letters also by C.S. Lewis.

There are lots of other very important books, works that effect in different ways, whether emotionally or intellectually. Books are like music or film or fine art, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What titles would make your list of influential books?

On the 5th Day of Christmas...

Recently I have undergone some much needed self-examination and God has given me fresh insight on His plan for me. As a result I have developed a 5 year plan designed to keep me focused on obedience and productivity. I have always been a dreamer type, but there was a time not too long ago where my ability to think and act beyond the present was missing. What used to be wild dreams without much of a framework for realization has become a calculated blueprint of action that will lead me toward the things that matter most: people, purpose and productivity. That blueprint calls for investments, both big and small, in every area of my life. If I am obedient and focused then I should see and hear God as He stirs my heart and directs my path. I'm sure there will be changes in the blueprint along the way, but I am also sure that if there weren't then I would be following my plan instead of His.

On the 4th Day of Christmas...

12 Days of Christmas: God's Gift To Me. (Click on the link to read the intro if you missed it.)

First Day: a wife
Second Day: 2 years of running
Third Day: 3 years of stable residence

There is nothing more miraculous than a child being born. I have been blessed with 4 children, three born and one to come (January 17th if not before). Parenting is a wonderful and yet strenuous exercise; the hardest road I have ever traveled, but also the most rewarding and meaningful. The two quickest ways to self-discovery are marriage and parenting. I enjoy both and am the better as a result. Not only can I contribute to the demands of the day with my activities and production, but I can effect the generations though the lives of my children. God's plan for them begins with me.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas...

God as given me three years of stable residence. From college graduation till November 2006 I have lived at nine addresses. The stat line is as follows: 9 towns/villages, 3 greater-metro areas, 3 states--all in 8 years.

My family and I love our home in Cincinnati. It's a slightly older home with a little character which contributes to the warmth that resonates within. We enjoy the relationships established with neighbors and the opportunities that come from a city its size. The advantages of living in a city are numerous and too good to pass up. Our family enjoys sports and fitness at the YMCA. The kids love the Zoo and the Museum Center at Union Terminal. Hilary and I take in a concert at Music Hall from time to time, and during the heat of the summer, I can be found at Great American Ball Park.

Slightly over a year ago, God came out from nowhere to bless our home by securing our safety with the removal of a badly broken tree. Here is where the above pic is relevant. The wind from hurricane Ike made its way north and did some serious damage, including splitting our 100 year old tree that sat less than 10 feet from the roof line. Taking out a tree of this size and situated as it was is no job for a rookie. Professionals cost huge bucks and for our modest lifestyle, impossible to pay for. A request from the insurance company was initially denied. Several weeks later, an adjuster shows up out of the blue ready to cut us a check. God not only has given us stability but also safety.

Three whole years in one place feels very nice. The memories and God stories are piling up.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas...

Two years of running has been a backdoor blessing. What I mean is that the benefits from the miles have been unexpected. I began running against my will as I was registered for the 2007 Chicago Half-Marathon without any warning or preparedness. So I had no choice but to find a training plan and get going. Almost immediately after beginning a program I was hooked. After the miles started piling up and my training rhythm smoothed out I began to experience the "high" of competition that I missed since my college baseball days. At my age, running has become a great athletic activity to cultivate and manage my desire to compete. Being the most competitive person I know, running has also become a stress reliever because I can set my own goals and work toward achievement with very little outside distraction. And then, of course, are the health benefits of running. I dropped 25 lbs. which, as a result, changed my eating habits because being at a healthy weight feels fantastic and now I know the difference. My sleep is much better, feeling more rested in the morning. The hardest part about running isn't the physical effort but the mental effort. For me, it can be a grind. After two years of training, I feel as if my mind is stronger, tougher.

Now my goal is to complete a half-marathon in two hours or less. I am very close. A new pair of shoes and a season without injury should put me over the top. Having a goal is the only way I can get through training. The hours and the miles and the pounding is all worth it on race day when I'm packed in at the starting line with thousands of other runners. It's a natural buzz for me when I can see the finish line and finally step over. Maybe I'll see you on May 2nd in Cincinnati for the Flying Pig. Never too early to start training.

On the 1st day of Christmas...

God has given me a wife. Not just any wife, but one perfect for me. Yes, she is beautiful, smart and talented, but that is not why I married her. I married her because she is a follower of Jesus and serious about her faith. During our dating years, I quickly learned that what we share is a common understanding of what we want our lives to look like. Our views and aspirations on marriage, church, family life, social activities and parenting comparatively showed similar earmarks of purpose. After 9 and a half years of marriage, she continues to be a person of purpose, not losing sight of God's agenda for her life. She is the most patient, kind, sincere and giving person I know. Thankfully, she lives with me. To live with me and all my baggage, these traits are a must.

12 Days of Christmas: God's Gift To Me

A longstanding tradition of mine is to use the month of December to clear my schedule and reflect. I enjoy the end of the calendar year because it has become a time of looking back and for looking ahead. As my personality goes, these two behaviors stand out very clearly. I find it rewarding to both review and to plan. In some ways, these activities, reviewing how my time was spent and what I experienced along with planning goals and action steps for the future, have become a personal act of worship. When I get quiet and consider my life in this way, I see God at work. This year is no different. Truly, I enjoy and benefit from God's authority both in and around me.

As Christmas approaches I'd like to share some of these blessings as a daily acknowledgment of God's riches and purpose. To do this I will use the 12 Days of Christmas model. Starting today I will post 12 consecutive blog entries reflecting on God's unique gifts to me. The church calendar teaches us that the 12 days don't actually begin until Christmas day, December 25th, but due to our culturally driven (pre) holi-day excitement and because my family travel schedule would get in the way of daily entries, I have decided to traverse the common path instead of the religious one.

The first day of Christmas is coming up...

Heaven

Heaven is a place like no other. Sorry. What a stupid opening line, of course it is. Scripture is filled with hundreds of references which, in my view, reveal heaven as a place of special mystery. As a major subject, the Bible describes heaven in simple language but also in a fashion near the abstract. The apostle Paul writes, "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven..." (2 Corinthians 12:2). When considered in a topical study, it is clear that heaven was understood as varying degrees of God's authority. From an expansive list of biblical references, Paul's, in his second letter to the Corinthians, seems to give the best single summary of the place and mystery of heaven.

The Bible uses both a singular and plural form of the word. The verses with the plural form, as in "heavens", seem to point to nature; that is, the vast expanse above the earth. That space called heavens is that part of creation that rises above and expands into the universe, where the stars shine brightest. A remarkable place; I told you. In the singular form, the context of heaven broadens to claim that it is more than just created space. Heaven is God's dwelling, a supernatural establishment of His complete rule. Jesus associates heaven as a kingdom. Heaven is a place for those who belong, a community where Christ is King.

The attitude of each of the biblical writers who write about heaven is clearly one of hope. From what they could see--clouds, birds, weather, stars-- the heavens are a place that is untouchable; and so from that perspective, a viewpoint of awe and worship to God the creator. There is also a sense of deep mystery because heaven is God's lair, not seen by the living. So many questions arise. What does heaven look like? What are the activities of heaven? Describing God's realm of authority over the entire universe almost sounds abstract because how can one understand completely and express in words what it is to experience heaven?

A city,
hidden treasure,
field,
net,
mustard seed,
all metaphors used by Jesus to stir faith. Heaven is not far off. It is being revealed and yet is coming. So much to be and so much to do. Let us prepare ourselves to be "caught up to the third heaven" and see the very face of God.