Lunch @ El Burrito Poco

Of course we would have Mexican...

Holiday Haul: Day 3

Well, Yesterday was a complete success! Why? Might you ask. I got to stay in pajamas all day long! Here I sit a day later in the same pajamas. I have not stepped foot outside in over 30 hours. 

Oh its was a great day with family as well.  Tons of fun opening presents with all the little girls, got some video, it was very cute. They are at a good age. They get so excited. I'll try to post soem video of the present opening later.

After opening presents, we had very lazy, relaxing day with family.  We ate lots of food, watched some TV, and just hung around the house. I think we watched all of the movie 'A Christmas Story' in pieces during the commercials of all 25 NBA Games.

The girls were non-stop energy, the entire day.  But hey had a lot of fun. Its really fun to watch them have fun and become friends.

Today will be filled with more relaxing, kids playing and I think some of us are going to try to get a hold of some after Christmas deals. Meijer Thrifty here we come!

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Alayna loves her playdough icecream shop. Thanks Grammy!

Holiday Haul: Day 2

Well, We've made it to Michigan! Merry Christmas everyone!

We had a wonderful morning of opening presents and making breakfast. Then....We spent the rest of the day Packing....

Let me just say, as a family that is not our greatest gift. 

But, We did make it to church, well, we almost made it in time for the 4 o'clock service.  So we hung out and tried again for the 6 o'clock service.  We were all so excited for Alayna to go up on stage and hear Pastor Rick tell the Kiddos the Christmas story.  Well, first she refuse to go up. then just as the story was already started, she decided she wanted to go up. So Rachel took her up, with everyone watching! Then, about 2.5 seconds later she wanted her bracelet that was in the car. So, since we couldn't get it in 1.02 seconds, a melt down began. So, Rachel, in front of everyone, had to take Alayna out of the service.  They were able to come back in for a few minutes, before the girls gave up and left to get ready for the car trip.

We got out of church in good timing, and even found a drive-thru open, for our 'special' McChristmas Meal!  We were a little worried when we started that drive. There was some snow and a few accidents on the road before we even got out of town.  But by the time we hit Angola, all was good. The roads were dry clear and safe the whole way.  We made it to GR in under 3 hours.  

Today we will open presents with the Lamport Clan (Part 1)  Alayna is so excited to be here. The girls slept well.  Alayna Got her Birthday presents from Grammy and has already found 3 toys that we left here in August!! Its been a productive morning, especially after having to rig up a new coffee making process. (Grammy's new coffee maker is broken already) Never fear, Dan-Guyver made it happen!!

We hope to have a great day with family, opening presents, eating a roast, that already smells amazing and maybe even a Ping-Ping tourney!

Have a great Christmas Everyone!!

The Holiday Haul: Day 1

Today begins our Holiday Haul.  We will spend the day getting packed up and having our 'Fort Wayne Baker' Christmas Celebration.  We have a lot fo clothes and presents to pack up, as well as gathering all the 'convenience devices' for travelling with kids. We need 4 different video/media devices to entertain Alayna, and probably 2-3 contraptions for Makenna, i.e. bouncer, swing, baby ATV.

But in between all that we plan to read the Christmas story, open presents, have a nice breakfast, and maybe even build a gingerbread house.  We will then continue packing before heading to church for the proper Christmas Celebration with our new Church family.  I was there last night and I can tell you I am really looking forward to Alayna going up on stage with all the other kids to discuss the Christmas story with Pastor Rick.  I'll try to get a picture or some video.  We, then get the girls in their PJ's and leave right form Church for Leg #1 of our Holiday Haul.

Seeing Redemption in the Census

Like many people. We go through Christmas time clinging hard to the fact that 'Jesus is the reason for the season'.  We know it and we believe it. But we often read through and liten to various accounts of the Christmas story and fail to truly soak in the richness of this story, the redemption that can be seen even now.

As I read through Luke and 'glance' through the specific details about the census and Joseph being pledged to be married to Mary, I have often wondered about some of the facts.  

1. Joseph seems to be the one who fits the qualifications of 'line of David, and from Bethlehem' NOT Mary.  
2. It seems that at the point of Jesus birth (definitely conception) Joseph and Mary are not Married, yet.

So, doesn't that mean that Jesus wasn't born in the house and line of David? That is what some might conclude.  But if you take a good look you can see the message of redemption even here.

The fact that Joseph had the right credentials points to the fact that God's salvation was promised and planned.  God put thought into His plan for salvation and even let us in on part of it. It shows that there is a special-ness to it, that it just wasn't going to happen 'when He got around to it'. (There are a tons more signs that God had pre-planned this an other parts of His redemption story.)

Also, The fact that Jesus was born of Mary, yet she did not have the right credentials, shows us the adoptive nature of our salvation. We, as humans, have no real claim to salvation.  God had every right to exclude us from salvation, just as Joseph had the right to exclude Mary from his family (because she was pregnant). But Joseph 'chose' her.

Then, even more, we can see God's redemption in the pledge to be married.  Salvation is a covenant made with God, one that supersedes rules, guidelines, or technicalities.  Joseph made a promise and he followed through on that promise, even when it was hard.  he even allowed Mary the benefits of his family and name when they weren't technically married yet.   

And to think, if there wasn't a census, all of these details would not have had the stage on which to com forward.  It is because of the census that all of these details became relevant in that day.  Not that those details weren't there or wouldn't have still been true, but through the census they were verified and recorded.

I always breezed past the details of the census, but now I see God's redemption even in those 'small' details...  

Alayna having fun in the bathroom.

The Holiday Haul: Introduction

So, we have this 'Haul' of a trip coming up to visit family over the holidays.  To us it seems like a usual Holiday trip. But as I talk to people and explain our plans, I am realizing that many people don't do as much travelling.  So, at the recommendation of one of my friends and volunteer leaders (he might of been joking), I decided I would blog this trip. So, if your are interested, follow along. I'll post at least once a day. Maybe some pictures, maybe even some video.  I'd love it if you commented with some of your family Holiday events as well. 

Here is our general itinerary...

Friday, after Christmas Eve services we are headed to Grand Rapids for the Lamport family Christmas festivities.

Tuesday/Wednesday we will head to Illinois for the Baker Family Christmas celebration

Saturday its down to St.Louis for my cousin's Wedding reception

Sunday we drive all the way back to Fort Wayne.

Hope you enjoy the 'Haul', I know we will!

The Ugly Side of Me

Have you ever experienced yourself being a jerk and yet at the same time felt helpless to do anything about it? Sometimes, I am just pluggin along through my day and I think I'm doing just fine, having a great day, but then it hit me. Did I really just say that?  Oh wait, they could have thought I meant it this way, oops!  Why did that conversation end so awkwardly? 

I know we are all selfish individuals. Some of us are just better at hiding it than others.  But whenever I get a glimpse of that in me it is really disturbing.  Not because I am not used to myself being a jerk or inconsiderate, but because of how it comes about.  Usually, my incredible wife will point out to me where I have, in the near past been such an idiot. At these points I try to hear her and repent of my lowly ways.  This is not disturbing because I can easily distance myself from past behavior. (as long as it is more then 5 minutes in the past)  

But in those rare occasions where I actually catch myself in the midst of a jerkified incident, its like watching an episode of The Wonder Years. You know, when you can so strongly identify with the lead character and you really want to root for him but the you see him get so awkward that you begin to squirm in your seat as you watch. That is what I am talking about.  I don't like it. I wish I wasn't an idiot sometimes. I will probably be thinking a lot today about how to not do that again...

Church Discipline

While reading 1 Corinthians 5 I see a clear explanation of how believers are to handle each other in instances of sin. Well, its not completely clear. But what is clear is that there is some responsibility to the community of believers to offer some serious discipline for each other in cases of, most likely, regular sin patterns.  There is the specific example of sexual immorality that is explained, but Paul also throws in a few other instances of sin. I don't think that the purpose of the list is to create a "newer law", just to give some examples.  

The main point here is that we are as a community to apply discipline to those that are regularly engaged in sin and still calling themselves a believer.  We are to put them out of the fellowship. Tell them they cannot identify themself as a believer if they are going to live that way.  This also brings up the question of eternal salvation, but I dont think that Paul was intending to address that issue either. The Hope here is that the individual will realize what they are missing in the community of believers on their own and come and repent.

 It is clear in other places in scripture that God is the only one who has the power to affect that anyways, not humans.  But we are to exclude these hypocritical believers from our fellowship.  But, that doesn't really happen, not with regular church goers. We definitely exclude pastors and other leaders when they sin, whether continuous or a one-time incident.  But I don't think I have ever heard of a "lay" person in a church being excluded form the fellowship.  

But how would that work anyways. If you tell them they can't come to your church tehy can just go to the church down the road. If you had a coalition of churches and they we excluded from all the churches in the area, they could easily just go a little further away to another church.  Either way if there was a coalition of churches excluding a person from church that would probably be horrible PR fr the church in that area. The News media would probably get wind of it and have a field day.    Its obviously a scriptural mandate to discipline believers, but if we as the church in the US today wish to truly attempt this we have a lot fo work to do.

Makenna's new world

She really enjoys her excersaucer!

North Point's iBand

via youtube.com

My favorite viceo of the season!

The Family Camel

Alayna loves the Camel at the Christmas service!

Leading by Proxy

In 1 Corinthians 3 & 4, Paul is trying to teach his readers about how to follow spiritual leaders. Mainly that they should take what they say, compare it to scripture and only keep what is in agreement.  All the while being sure not to make too much of the person the teachings come from.

For a ministry leader, or a parent for that matter, this offers a sobering warning.  Don't lead people to yourself, lead them to Christ.  I know, when put like that is seems terribly simple.  But, like many in ministry, we lead others within the context of relationships.  The basic premise here is that I try to connect with others, as friends, drawing them to me., in order to give them a glimpse of who Jesus is.

Now, I don't think that there is anything wrong with this approach, Jesus did it, Paul did it and lays out the plan quite clearly; "Follow my example as I follow Christ." (1 Cor. 11:1).  But Paul's warnings in 1 Corinthians 3 are very real.  We want to lead people to Christ, not just to be followers of ourselves.

So, where is the line? Where is relational ministry pure and honest? Where does it become self-seeking?

My Personal Bible

I have heard(or read) a few different people deliver the statement "all scripture is equally inspired, but all scripture is not equally applied." The main idea here is that if it is in the Bible then God had direct oversight in its inclusion, but passages that outline the details of the plunder from one particular battle in one particular war in the Old Testamant, are not as relevant to the lives of most people as say, the passages of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. I think most people could agree with that.

Well, as I have attempted to give equal time in my study of the bible, I have definitely noticed this to be true. But am also wondering if this can be taken one step further. If you drop in to the mix that God has creates us all uniquely as individuals; different likes, dislikes, talents, and abilities, would it be safe to say that soem passages or genre's of scripture are more relevant or easy to engage in than others?

This also, shouldn't be too hard to agree with. I know plenty of people that receive incredible benefit from spending time reading Psalms. The poetic verses and emotional content give words to many hearts in prayer. I myself have a hard time reading Psalms and feeling s though it provides much connection to God, or relevance in my life. I receive the most benefit from reading Romans and most fo Paul's writings. Yes, it is much more intellectual, and I am more intelectual than emotional. But, I would say that I have many times experienced a strong emotional connection to God through these very intellectual readings.

Which leads me to this idea. Should we as believers gain an understanding of what the breadth of the scriptural content, but mainly for the purpose of understanding which parts are more for "us" (individually) and then spend more time in those places?

Now I would probably assume that this is what most people do inadvertently. But, How many of us feel so guilty continuing to go back to the same sets of scripture? Feeling like 'I really should go back and re-read Leviticus.'

Faith vs Sin

Ya know its funny how we can live for Christ for years and grow and learn, even receive degrees based on the bible, and yet His truths continue to come alive. I suppose that there is the truth that there is just so much to know and learn that it will take more than a life time to fully understand it but there is something more spiritual going on there. God's truth truly is living. Not in the sense that it changes, but that it has this conversational quality. It becomes new. God Him self reveals and explains himself new to us as we pursue His truth. And this is not just a standardized schedule of new information that 'we' all need to get. He does so in a personalized way.

I have always been drawn to the concepts of sin, faith, and redemption. Not that others aren't, I've just noticed that I am in a particular way. So, I thought that I had a fairly advanced understanding of these concepts. But just in the past week God has revealed His truth to me in a way that seems so basic and foundational. And that's the amazing part of it; God blows me away in His simplicity. Ya see God is not concerned with complexities and impressing people with advanced intellect. He is more concerned with impact and life change.

So here's what it was...

Last week I was preparing for a teaching and I was going through some of the basics of the gospel message, Romans, John 3:16, etc. As I was wrestling with concepts and allowing God to mold the message I was trying to answer in a particular way the question of "why would God do this?" in reference to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Obviously the answer id because he loved us. But I felt that I need to root that out more and see if God had more there to say than just that He loves us. Not that that is not sufficient, but that there was another aspect to why. I began to meditate on the concepts of faith, sin, and righteousness. What came to me was that sin and faith are the exact opposite of each other.

If sin is saying "God your ways are not what I believe to be what is best for me"

And that sin separates us From God and breaks the relationship we can have with Him

And saying "God I believe your ways are what is best for me" would be the opposite.

Then isn't that faith and doesn't that make faith the opposite of sin?

See, we talk about sin and think about all the individual sins that we have committed. I am beginning to think that the individual sins only apply in this world as far as consequence and intensity. But God only really looks at the amount of faith and the desire to follow Him.

Then as I was continuing to read in Romans later in the week I came across this verse, which I am sure I have read so many times, Romans 14:23b "and everything that does not come from Faith is sin" and that sounds exactly like sin and faith are opposites.

God's amazing that;s all I can say...

God's Love of People

As I begin the Book of Romans, I take a special notice to what I normally just pass over. Paul, in all off his letters, shows is genuine care , concern and love for the peopl ethat he is writing to. He truly cares for these people. he is not just writing cordial greetings to set up what he really wants to say. I can tell he cares because he stakes his ministry and relationship with God on his statements towards these people. He sites God as his witness to his longing and encouragements he recieves from them. Furhtermore, he is genuinely encouraged by them. He could easily come to thee people as an authority and teach and preach as he sees fit. But, he is really encouraged and edified by their faith.

I need to continue in this example. I wouldnt say that I do not follow in Paul's footsteps, but I know I could be doing better...

"Make Every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holyness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheretince rights as the oldest son. Afterwards, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done." Hebrews 12:14-17

We must be patient before the Lord. It is too easy to look at what is immediately infront of us and make decisions based on that state of things. Our humanity and captivity ion our human bodies is often distracting from eternity. Esau sold his birthright for a meal. I can relate. He was probably so hungry he thought he was going to die. At that point he probably thought that a birthright would be of no value if he were to die. Even more if he kept his birthright and died, his brother Jacob would have recieved the right anyways. It wasn't as if he sold it outside fo the family. But he failed to follow in his grandfather's example. Abraham believed that God could bring Isaac back from the dead to fulfill His promise. Esau, was short-sighted on God's ability and on teh bigger picture.

I need to remember to remain faithful to what I knwo to be true of God and of eternity. The current worldy state of things, my current view of reality, which can be easily flawed, is not superior to what God has made sure. That is the faith I do not see.

Lord strengthen me and help me to continue to see the things of faith that are not visible to me...

Discipline and Faith

Today as I read Hebrews 12 I am significantly in need of these words. v7, 'Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children." God thank you for your discipline, please guide me towards the heart condition or lesson I need to learn.

v12 references proverbs 4:26. This chapter tells its reader to gain wisdom and understanding at any cost. God, Give me wisdom. I know that you tell us, (James1) that you wil give wisdom to all who ask. I need your wisdom now.

I want to stress out or scramble to do 'what I can do' to fix this situation. I need to be patient. Seek you wisdom, and have FAITH that you will work where I cannot see. I know that this thing that I stress over is something you want to see successful. I will believe, like Abraham did, that you can bring about your promises in another way than I can see or than what goes along with nature. You are God, and you will be honored and praised in this event. I trust you Lord, you are faithful. Teach me your ways andlet me understand your intentions. I love you My God...

Hebrews 11, 'Faith'.

As I ponder faith, 'being sure of what you hope for, and certain of what you do not see', I am drawn towards the 'unseen' part of faith. I normally have no trouble having faith in the 'sure' and 'certain' area. I fI ma told or read or sense that someting is to be true then it is easy for me to have assurance about it. But it is the unseen that I have trouble with. Knowing what is unseen or keeping the unseen in teh foreground of my daily life, that is a struggle for me. I have alot of faith in the less visible prts of the things that I easily see, but I don not do as good of a job at the things that are truly unseen. I can have faith that our house will sell because everyday we clean it and live in it, so we 'see' it and I can have faith that it will sell. I can see everyday my wife's belly getting bigger and so I can have faith that our baby is growing and that God is prpareing us to be parents. But I forget about other things that I maybe should have faith in. I need to have more faith in the fact that God is at work where I am not. Lord please increase my faith and help me to have faith where I do not see.