Well, somehow I missed the fact that yesterday was the 4th birthday of this blog. I started this blog 4 years ago as a means of staying in contact with old friends. After about 6 months of fairly pointless posts I began blogging on denominational issues. That led me to believe that this blog could be used for meaningful conversation online, and it has been amazing how many doors have opened for me because of this blog. I love to write here, and I love to think through the posts that carry substantive material. Unfortunately, from a blog perspective, I have never been more busy in all my life as I am right now. My pastoral responsibilities are keeping me incredibly occupied which is fine with me because I love what God has called me to do. That being said, I hope to blog in the near future about a couple of posts that have been brewing in my head for a few months. They both promise to be substantive, and at least one promises to be a bit controversial.

So, for now let me say thanks, on this my blog’s 4th birthday, for all of you that visit so often and for those of you who just stop by on occasion. I continue to be amazed at the number of people who want to stop by. Please know that I sincerely appreciate it!

I don’t KNOW if I will, or will not, correspond with anyone for the next few days. Tracy, the girls and I are taking advantage of the extended weekend and we’re heading to the lake for a few days thanks to the generous hospitality of some friends from our church. I’m looking forward to relaxing, spending time on the water, and coming back from Osage Beach nice and tanned (and hopefully not sunburned ). We should have wifi while we’re down at the lake but I’m not planning to spend excessive amounts of time using it. So, I’ll talk to you each when I get back. Until then, have a fantastic Independence Day.

Yesterday, while I was working at the office, my girls stopped by with some Valentine’s cookies for me. We took a couple of pictures and I had to throw them up on the site. I know I’m not nearly the photo blogger my wife is :-), but I figured now was my chance to post some pics. 

Today is the second anniversary of the birth of my youngest daughter, Kessed Noel. Becoming a dad for the first time was truly a remarkable experience and after doing so I was convinced that I couldn’t love anyone as much as I love Sarah Grace, but I was so, so wrong. Kessed Noel entered our lives at 7:30am two years ago today and showed me that instead of my life having to be divided it was able to be multiplied. I love my little girls and today I praise God for giving me Kessed! Thank you Lord.

Blogging will be slow for the next week or so. I won’t write as much and, according to my statcounter, you won’t read as much. I am curious, though, in this slow blogging season, if you would share with me what your favorite books of the Bible are and why?

I’ll start:

Old Testament: Isaiah

I am amazed at the greatness of God in Isaiah. Whether the prophet is talking about God’s glory or God’s mission or, the greatest message of all - the coming Messiah, there is no avoiding the greatness and majesty of God in the book. It is a captivating book to me.

New Testament: Philippians

I love the message of the gospel as seen in Philippians. Beyond that, I love the clarion call to partner with other believers to be on mission with God as we see it in Philippians. I also appreciate the no-nonsense message about following Christ as we see in places like Philippians 3:10-11.

What about you?

I read an interesting article today by Tom Ehrich in the Indianapolis Star. He writes about churches that spend more time at Christmas whining over the people who aren’t there than they do considering how they can meet people where they are and introduce them to the gospel. Now there is a significant part of the article that I’m not comfortable with, mainly allowing our worship services to be primarily consumer driven, but I think the author makes some valid points, particularly about giving people substance rather than what we perceive to be pleasing and fun. You may want to take a look at it yourself. The follow quote was my favorite from the article.

Of all the possible roles to play, we seem to have chosen the least savory. We play the uncaring innkeeper: There’s no room for you here as you actually are. We play the Roman census-taker: Do it our way, or else. We play the shepherds’ employer: Stay out there in the cold, even though light is shining not far away.

I say stop the whining, and rev up the preaching. Let’s touch their hearts, not tickle their ears with clever Advent homilies about John the Baptist. Let’s love people, not berate them for spurning our treasured offerings.