I Love Her!

I love her. Shhh. It’s not my wife…well, I love her too, after all, she is a big part of my new love. Last week we welcomed home our first daughter. To be honest, I am still scared to death as to what that means. Please join me in my prayers (and I’m sure the prayers of every dad out there) that long dresses and turtle necks will come back in style before she reaches the teenage years!

In all seriousness, I love my daughter and she has done NOTHING to deserve that. In fact she has cost me sleep (my wife more than me). Speaking of costs, do you realize how much it costs to have a child. And that is before you get them home. She has, in just a few days time, gone through an entire box of diapers. She can’t talk or walk so she is completely dependent on my wife and I. She has gotten louder as her lungs have gotten stronger. We have to lug her around everywhere we go, if we go anywhere because in some ways she keeps us chained to the house. But I love her. I love every moment with her. She is beautiful. Even that belly button thing that is about to fall off. So to recap, I love her not because of anything she has done, in fact she’s pretty needy. I love her because she is mine.

That is how God’s love works for us. It is not based on what we do or don’t do. God loves us unconditionally. He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). God loves us regardless of the mess we make (Romans 5:8-10). And let’s face it, we make some pretty big messes with our sin. Don’t we? And the good news is there is nothing we can do to change His love for us (Romans 8:38-39).

If you have a few minutes check this video out that deals with this love. The song starts at about 50 seconds but the intro is fun so enjoy.

all about Christ,
David

Martin Luther King, Jr.

A little late on getting this post up. Brian and I had talked about paying tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr on our blog, but we also, as always, wanted to spur you on.

"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent."

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and

conscientious stupidity."

These quotes are attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr. There are a few things I have learned about him I want to pass on to you (I found these on the Twitter stream of @ShaunKing). We know Martin Luther King, Jr is a larger than life legend, but in truth, he was only 5' 5". Shorter than the average man. In school, at Morehouse College, he was an average student, not an academic elite.

Martin Luther King, Jr was just 39 when he shot. So he lived a relatively short life, at least by American standards. He was 26 when he LED the Montgemory Bus Boycott! TWENTY-SIX!!! He was only 34 (I'm 32) when he gave his most famous speech, a speech that has been heard around the world, "I Have a Dream".

The most inspiring thing, to me, about Martin Luther King, Jr was that he let God use him. You don't have to be a giant, an academic elite, wait till you are older. No, in fact, it can all start RIGHT NOW if you let God use you. Then you too will have a dream.

Let me close with one of the more painful (spurring) quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr.

"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live."

Have you discovered something you are willing to die for?

all about Christ,

David

Why Hope?

A friend asked the other day why is the New Year is so full of HOPE when circumstances for most have not changed? I've thought about that for a while now. I think I understand, at least from a Christian leadership perspective.

HOPE is the catalyst for changing circumstances. It's a starting point. It's a beginning. HOPE gives us the ability to look past the frustrations we may find ourselves immersed in. We all want frustrations to end. We all want to see perseverance. The problem is HOPE, at face value, is not enough. It's a power chord that needs to an outlet.

HOPE begins as a dream or a vision of what could be. Dreams and visions are not meant to stay in your head. They will never be achieved if they stay in your head. HOPE must be grounded in active FAITH. FAITH requires action on our part. Maybe another way to say it is FAITH is HOPE lived out. HOPE must be grounded in thought out BELIEF. How can I achieve "X"...well I need to do "A" and "B"...and probably need to do "C" and "D" as well. I was once told, if you believe it, you can achieve it. While that is a little "pie-in-the-sky", the truth is every HOPE needs a plan, which means it is achievable, maybe not easy, but achievable.

Take your HOPE and live it to the full, share it with others without reserve and know that it can be done.

all about Christ,

David

THINK

I'm done with New Year's Resolutions...and here is why...

They don't work...I look the last few I have made and they didn't work. I read this week that University of Minnesota reported 80% of people give up their resolutions within the first 60 days...

They bring guilt...when you don't meet your goals or purpose guilt moves in.

They don't matter eternally...weight loss, organization, learning to play the guitar are great things but they are not going to matter eternally.

They focus on self...most of the time the focus is always on guess who?  Me...