fathertide

Attitude is Everything

2011-08-26T14:28:00.000-05:00

Don't you hate it when your parents turn out to be right after all.

I'm spending a Friday afternoon at home with the boys. The first in a long time. I've had a busier summer than expected that ended with a two week class in Atlanta, followed by the start of the fall semester. Corrie finally gets a long stretch of time to work on the last chapter of her dissertation.

When it's 100 degrees outside, these afternoons can be very long, especially since Ezra doesn't always nap. Staying inside the house all afternoon gets old, but if we try to go somewhere else, Ezra will fall asleep, taking a late nap which then throws off bedtime.

This afternoon, however, it's been pretty easy. The boys are relatively happy and Ezra's not to cranky (yet!). But I think the biggest difference in this day than others is actually ME. Not me in the sense that I'm a super-parent and able to keep my boys happy, but me in the sense that my attitude or mood is in check. I have a tendency toward crankiness too (shocker! I know), especially when I am tired and lack a lot of good alone time. My crankiness results in impatience and an unwillingness to be understanding or creative when interacting with the boys. I am very conscious of my attitude today, and I am making sure I stay positive. The result is a conflict-free afternoon (so far), and even the boys are in good moods. (I could write a whole other post about how kids' moods reflect our moods.)

Right now, I'm writing this blog post. Ezra is outside playing by himself...oops, I think he just climbed up on top of the lawn mower…

Where was I…oh right. And Isaiah is "recycling" using his recycling truck. I'm sure in a few moments I'll be asked to be bad guy to Isaiah's super-hero, but that's OK. It's easy to be bad buy when you're in a good mood.

ahhh, spring

2011-03-27T18:48:00.000-05:00

Wow. What a winter!

I've not blogged in a while. I could write up all the reasons why I haven't blogged, but let's just say I've had a crazy winter. Which leaves me to say, ahhh spring.

The weather has broken in Macon. The cherry blossoms have bloomed, the grass has had it's first cut, and we are planning what veggies to grow this summer. (Probably heirloom cherry tomatoes.)

And with spring comes baseball. Or in our case "wee-ball" (t-ball).

Isaiah is playing for the first time. While we've always played a bit in the backyard, there's a little more to it when there are 10 other boys you have to share the ball with. There's also that thing of trying to teach the fundamentals. Eye on the ball, glove on the ground, step and throw, run hard, always hustle, etc.

The first couple of practices were rough, and the first game wasn't much better. But this past week, Isaiah's team did pretty well not creating a pile-up on top of every ground ball. Wee-ball is really just about having fun anyway, and I enjoy the fact that there's no competition involved yet. The boys just get to play. And the parents get to help, teach, and laugh. A lot.

Saturday

2011-01-29T14:49:00.000-06:00

It could not be a more beautiful day; 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

We did some projects around the house today. One of which was building a birdhouse. So if you see any homeless birds, send them our way.

The Morning Drive

2010-12-13T08:51:00.000-06:00

A few mornings a week I drive Isaiah to his preschool. Sometimes we never speak, but sometimes we have some pretty in depth conversations. This morning was one such conversation (as best as I can remember):

Isaiah makes spitting noises.

Me: What are you doing, Isaiah?

Isaiah: I'm just pretending to spit fire like a dragon.

Me: What color is the fire you're spitting?

Isaiah: Ummm, it's purple and yellow and green and blue.

Me: Wow!

Isaiah: Yeah. It's lots of colors because he's a striped dragon. He has lots of colors.

Me: Can I roast marshmallows in your fire?

Isaiah: NOOOO!

Me: Why not?

Isaiah: 'Cause that's dangerous. You can get hurt!

Me: Oh.

Lesson Learned Today: Don't roast marshmallows in multi-colored dragon fire, you can get hurt.

Road Trip Essentials

2010-11-26T06:28:00.000-06:00

Sorry I've not posted in a while. Right now, it's Friday after Thanksgiving and I'm at my parents' house in VA. I've been road tripping the holidays since I was in college, and though I do get tired of the driving sometimes, I think I've come close to perfecting the art of the road trip. There are certain things I always do when preparing for a road trip (which I probably get from my dad).

First, it's always a good idea to start a road trip with a clean vehicle. I didn't wash the van, but we did clean EVERYTHING out and vacuum it really well. We also vacuumed the car while we were at it.

Second, you have to be sure to pack all the right things. Aside from clothes, toiletries, etc., we have to be sure pack food, snacks, and different forms of entertainment for the boys. We like to limit the amount of TV the boys watch everyday, but when it comes to road trips, we're a little more lenient. After all, it's nice to be able to drive at lease 3 hours at a time before stopping.

Here's a picture of Isaiah, seemingly in a trance from watching a couple of hours worth of Winnie the Pooh.

Third, when driving with small children the food may get eaten, the videos may get old, and the trip is not over yet so other forms of entertainment must be discovered in order to survive the last leg of trip. The other day, Ezra decided to nap 20 minutes before our scheduled stop, so we kept on driving. Corrie was driving, so I moved to the back of the van to prepare our lunch, but also to help keep Isaiah occupied. This is where I recommend having an iPhone. Isaiah and I watched some videos of our recent trip to the zoo, looked at pictures of silly things we had done at home, and also took a couple of silly pictures ourselves.

Finally, no road trip is complete without a flat tire. This happens to be my first flat tire in all the miles I've driven over the years, and thankfully, the tire went flat in the driveway overnight after we arrived.

And there we have my quick guide to road trip essentials. Happy Thanksgiving!

I am here.

2010-10-11T18:42:00.000-05:00

October Baseball

2010-10-06T08:24:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it on facebook. here is Ezra dancing during our post-game celebration of the Braves making the playoffs.

Don't stop believing!

At 30...

2010-10-01T18:51:00.000-05:00

I'm the father of two beautiful, fun-loving boys.

I'm the husband to an amazing woman.

I read more books than I ever have.

I can still run three miles in under 30 minutes.

I still haven't shaved my goatee.

I'm a bigger Braves fan than ever (it helps living in the heart of Braves Country).

I'm in my fifth year of full-time campus ministry and loving it.

I have a few gray hairs...a couple of which are in my goatee.

I'm asleep most nights before 11pm.

I eat more salad than french fries on a weekly basis.

I drink coffee every day, even when the low temperature is 76.

I read something by Henri Nouwen at least once a year.

I'm learning more now than I ever have.

I'm thankful for the first 30 years of my life.

On Friendship

2010-09-19T19:17:00.000-05:00

A few years ago I read a book called The Search to Belong by Joseph Myers. The book talks about the universal longing of all people to belong somewhere, but more than that Myers contrasts the myths of belonging with the reality of belonging. For example, one myth of belonging is that we should have a lot of people in our lives that are our "close friends." Have you ever noticed how many people you say are your close friends? Is it really true? Myers believes that there are different levels of belonging from social to intimate; social being the largest level of belonging (nationality/citizenship) and intimate being the smallest (spouse/closest friend). And in between are other levels of belonging that exist in church, schools, work circles, friends, good friends, etc.

You may not find this that interesting, but I write it because these days I am thinking a lot about friendship. We live in a new city and now have new circles of people we interact with everyday. I meet pastors, youth pastors, faculty, staff and students all the time, but are any them my new friends? Maybe. Only time will really tell. In the mean time, it's hard to live in a new place trying to find the people you can call your friends.

That's why it was such a blessing to have our close friend (and I don't use that term lightly) Matthew visit us this week from Mississippi. We've known Matthew for about 8 years; he played music at our wedding, held our boys when they were just babies, cleaned our dishes after small group countless times, and been a sounding board, movie buddy, fellow LOST follower, idea filter, ministry partner and great friend. But one true mark of a good friend is this:

A good friend not only loves spending time with you, but he also loves spending time with your kids.

From Drop Box

Matthew stayed with us for 4 days, and in that time he read books, sang songs, made up songs (about dinosaurs), fed, was woken up by, and babysat our boys. All in a spirit that showed he really loved them, not just tolerated them. I am glad to say that Corrie and I have a couple of friends that love Isaiah and Ezra in this special way, and we are glad that these friends continue to keep in touch even when we are apart. Because if what Myers writes is true, there only a few people we will ever know who are friends like that.

28 Days Later

2010-08-29T13:08:00.000-05:00

Four weeks. That's how long Corrie and I went without eating any meat.

I meant to blog more during that time, but with the semester getting started up last week, life got crazier by the day. But now we are on the other side of our Vegetarian Experiment, and I have some thoughts about these last four weeks.

The first 10 days were pretty hard. I caught myself several times beginning to fix myself a sandwich and realizing my choices were peanut butter or...peanut butter. I also craved chicken or burgers a lot during those first 10 days, especially when I could smell them.

Sometime around mid-month I found myself not craving anything anymore, and automatically looking at the vegetarian options in grocery stores and restaurants (which are often times very limited). My habits were changing, and with my tastes. Though I can't say that I tried a lot of new veggies in the last month, I can say that I am willing to order them and eat them a lot more than I was before.

And that is one of the primary reasons I did this: to change my habits. Habits are tricky things. They are a part of who we are, but they can also hold us back from being better than who we are. I am fortunate enough to have a metabolism that can handle grease, meat, and sugar pretty well, but just because I don't gain weight from fatty foods doesn't mean I should not eat healthy. What's really at stake is not so much my current health, but my long-term health. I would love to be as healthy at 40 as I am 30, but I won't be if I don't adjust some habits between now and then.

If you're wondering how we celebrated our four-week meat fast - we got take out from Five Guys Burger and Fries!

Wesley Week

2010-08-26T09:26:00.000-05:00

The semester has officially started!

This week is Wesley Week for us, which means we are doing different events all week to welcome the freshmen and returning upperclassmen to campus. We've had our first Tuesday night supper (called SEESAW), our first worship, and a bowling night. We still have a cookout tonight, a game night tomorrow, and a lake day on Saturday. These are long days and late nights for me, but it's fun to finally be among the students. Here's a glimpse at some of what we've been up to:

From Drop Box

Lorin and Gonzalo crack eggs for a breakfast we prepared for new international students.

From Drop Box

Our first worship.

Bowling night.

Now that's Friday Night Lights

2010-08-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

The Vegetarian Experiment

2010-08-01T07:07:00.000-05:00

Remember this post?

While I'm not as far along on that list as I'd like to be, starting today Corrie and I are going to ~~try to~~ be vegetarians for one whole month. We have checked out some cookbooks from the library, we have bookmarked promising recipes, and we've been talking about doing this all year. So now is the time!

Maybe you are applauding our efforts to venture in to the vegetarian world. If you are, then thanks (and we'd like some recipe suggestions.)

Or maybe you have this t-shirt and you're wondering why anyone would ever not eat meat. If you are wondering why, then this post is for you.

It's no secret around my family that I've always been a picky eater. Even though I eat a lot more vegetables now than I ever have, I still have a tendency to sift through a casserole and politely set aside those items I'd rather not eat. My picky-ness is really not a big issue (Corrie might disagree), but I am growing older and need to be more mindful of what I'm eating. Not only that, but I have two boys who are watching me eat every day, and their habits will be tied directly to mine. I want to set a healthy example for them, and that means adding variety to my diet.

The other main motivation behind our vegetarian experiment is just to see if we can do it. We all like challenges of one kind or another. Some like to build things, some like to play golf, some like video games - we do these things for the challenge of bettering ourselves at them. The same is true for us. We hope we will better our lives by eating only vegetarian this month - better them by what we eat and better them by identifying with those who choose this lifestyle. Vegetarians are often ridiculed (especially in the South), when in fact, they should be celebrated for embracing a way of life that runs counter-cultural to the fast-food eating America we live in.

I'm hoping to blog throughout the month so as to chronicle the experience. If you're brave, you can join us. If not for a whole month, then maybe for a day or a weekend. OR, you can just read along and live vicariously through us. That's fine, too.

What I'm Doing, part 2

2010-07-31T11:28:00.000-05:00

The Wesley House

In my previous post, I mentioned a few of things I'm doing this summer as I prepare for the new semester. There are other things I'm doing as well, things I do because I'm a new minister in a new city.

I'm trying to connect to the local Methodist churches in the area. I do this by attending their Sunday services, visiting with their pastors, and getting to know the people in the pews. Campus ministry is always in need of people who care about what we do and are willing to give their time and talents to help our ministry succeed. And the only way to meet those people is to go find them in their churches.

I'm also creating excuses to get on campus and meet those individuals I'll be interacting with during the semester. As a campus minister, I'm not officially a part of campus life, but it's always good to know people on campus who can help us in any way with our ministry during the year. (You can read more about my thoughts on that here.)

Of course, I'm also interacting with students as much as possible. Getting their thoughts on the ministry and getting to know them. This is my favorite part by far - it's what it's all about.

There's a lot to being a campus minister. I hope this gives you a glimpse in to what my life is like as a Wesley Foundation director.

What I'm Doing, part 1

2010-07-25T13:40:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, but as the family gets settled at home, I'm getting settled at "the new Wesley House", as Isaiah calls it.

Many people are wondering what I'm doing these days. What does it mean to be a campus minister starting a new position in the middle of the summer?

Well, there's quite a bit to do, but it's not all hard laborious work. The past few days I've been completing a budget request for the Georgia United Methodist Commission on Higher Education and Campus Ministry. They are the primary funding source for all UM campus ministries in North and South GA. The budget request is a detailed account of our past, present, and proposed budget as well as an evaluation of our ministry, campus minister, and board of directors. It is many pages long and time consuming, but I appreciate having a body of people who care about campus ministry to report to and support me in my ministry.

I'm also reading, thinking, praying, and writing a lot. This semester I'll be preaching most every week to the students who come to the weekly worship service at our ministry. Preaching is not something I take lightly, and I don't usually preach on a passage unless I've been pondering over it for a few weeks (sometimes a few months). So while the students are away for the summer and the Wesley House is quiet, I spend a lot of time with my Bible and notebook, making notes for the all the sermons-to-be.

Take the Tour

2010-07-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts since the move. We're slowly finding our new rhythm here, and I hope to share a few more pics and stories soon. In the meantime, take a tour of our house.

Party Time

2010-06-13T21:35:00.000-05:00

Isaiah went to a friend's brithday party today. It was an intergalactic affair with planet birthday cakes, an astronaut's suit, and a rocket ship pinata.

Check out his mad pinata hacking stills. And yes, that's me encouraging him in the background.

Sunday Afternoon

2010-06-13T13:49:00.000-05:00

Right now I'm laying in bed listening to the Braves game.

Corrie is napping beside me.

Ezra is napping in his bed.

Isaiah is having quiet time, which I hope turns in to a nap. (But I'm not holding my breath.)

Ahhhh, Sundays.

Macon House

2010-05-30T14:20:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pics of the house we're moving in to in Macon. The board and students are currently painting it for us, and there will be new carpet as well. Here is the house from the street.

Below, room on the front of the house as you walk in the front door.

Room directly behind the above room with kitchen in the distance.

Same room, different view. The door in the distance on the left goes down to the basement level.

Closer look at the kitchen with the utility room directly behind. The kitchen is directly behind the carport.

Bedroom in the upper level (probably Ezra's).

Bedroom again, on the front corner of the house (probably Isaiah's).

Same room, different view.

Master bedroom, back corner of the house.

Master bedroom again with master bath on the left.

And there you have it. Sorry, it was dark in the basement and I don't have pictures of that. But if you come see us, that's where you'll be sleeping!

Me and the boys

2010-05-21T07:13:00.002-05:00

Corrie is having a much needed and overdue weekend away with a friend,

so it's just me and the boys. (Aunt Riri arrives later today for a

little support. She's good help, just don't expect her to change

diapers!)

The weather has been less than ideal, so we've been discovering inside
activities. Below, you will see that yes, we play ball in the house.

But we also made play dough. That's right. Made it. From scratch.
Eat your heart out June Cleaver!

JESUS07

2010-05-20T12:48:00.000-05:00

This is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. I'm a big fan of vanity plates, especially deciphering the messages they are supposed to be communicating. But I am completely stumped by this one.

Here are a few possibilities:

The driver is hispanic, and their name is Jesus (pronounced HEH-soos). They graduated high school in 2007.
The driver is hispanic and owns six (06) other cars. The other cars have plates that read, "Jesus 01", "Jesus 02", etc.
Someone named Jesus ran for office sometime in 2007; the driver was a faithful supporter.
The driver is a devout Christian who was caught up in the early stages of the 2008 presidential election, but wanted to make a social and theological statement about their beliefs. VOTE Jesus 07!
The driver is a devout Christian who likes to study the end times (eschatology). A thorough interpretation of Revelation and an observant look at the world revealed to this person that Jesus was coming back in 2007. (In which case, I assume they were pretty disappointed New Year's Day 2008.)
Upon further examination, the driver now realizes he/she was off by 1000 years (Revelation is so tricky), and therefore kept the plate because now Jesus is returning in 3007.

What do you think?

There, and back again

2010-05-18T15:10:00.001-05:00

Last week we took a road trip to Georgia and back. We wanted to visit Macon one more time before moving there, and we wanted to go to the wedding of our dear friend Shelby, which was in Atlanta.

Road trips are not as easy as they used to be. I used to drive home from college in only one stop and that was to get gas and food. Now, we're lucky to make it 3 hours without stopping. But if nothing else, there are always stories to tell at the end of the day.

So over the next few days, I'm going to share some stories from the road. Adventures, conversations, and other tidbits that happened on our way there, and back again.

on Solitude

2010-04-20T10:24:00.000-05:00

"Keep your eyes clean and your ears quiet and your mind serene. Breathe God's air. Work, if you can, under His sky."

Thomas Merton

Change

2010-04-19T14:44:00.000-05:00

A theme of our lives right now is change. We change diapers, we change little boys' clothes, the boys change/grow everyday. Our lives are revolving doors of change. Just when you get used to one thing, it is replaced by another.

And yet, amongst all this other change, there are even bigger changes ahead. Last week, I accepted the position of Campus Pastor at the Wesley Foundation of Macon in Macon, Georgia. This is not a change we saw coming. I mean, I did apply for the position and interview for the position, but if you had asked us in January if we thought we might move this summer, we would have said no.

So, why move? Why now? The boys are not the only ones changing these days. Corrie and I are changing, too. We're growing as people, as parents, as a couple, and in our faith just by living life. One major thing that has changed in our hearts since Ezra was born is a desire to be closer to our families. We are keenly aware of how far away our boys' grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins live - and that has changed us. The desire that grew in our hearts became a prayer, and that prayer became a way for us to be open for God's next movement for our family.

We are truly happy in Oxford. Each new day with this decision makes us aware of how much we will miss this place. Our friends have become our family, and we are beginning to grieve the loss of community we will experience when we leave. This is also an exciting time for the Wesley at Ole Miss. My time as campus minister here has been characterized by building and foundation laying for a ministry that needed to figure out who it was. That has happened, and good things are stirring. I feel like Moses looking over the promised land - seeing it from a distance, but not experiencing it in person (Deuteronomy 34:1-4 ).

But we are also very excited about what's ahead. We believe the new position will enable me to minister and grow in ways that complement and challenge who I am; we believe there will be good space for Corrie to write her dissertation; and we believe Macon will be a great environment to raise the boys (especially since we'll be closer to the Braves!).

Ezra

2010-03-19T16:29:00.001-05:00

con·tent·ment

[kuh n-tent-muh nt]

-noun

1. the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T10:28:00.002-05:00

Retreating

2010-02-28T20:47:00.000-06:00

Our Wesley had a joint retreat this weekend with the Wesley from the University of Arkansas. My friend, Omar, is the Director there, and last fall we decided that a joint retreat would be a good idea for each our ministries. We had 32 students altogether, and it was everything we wanted it to be for them.

Our speaker was our friend JD Walt, Dean of the Chapel at Asbury Seminary, and alum of the Arkansas Wesley. He challenged our students to live Jesus' story, a story of down, versus the story of the world, the story of up. (See the Asbury Reader site for more on that.) I could tell the students were getting a lot out of each session, and I am very thankful for events like this that complement and propel our everyday ministry.

But the retreat was also good for me personally. I needed time with like-minded pastors to remind me that I am not alone. Campus ministry is pretty lonely; no one understands what you do, there is sometimes minimal support from the surrounding community, and the fruit of ministry is not always immediately seen. I am also realizing that I think and minister in a different way from a lot of other pastors, which makes my job even more lonely. Omar and JD were such an encouragement to me this weekend - affirming me, praying for me, and just listening to me.

(The picture to the right is just before parting ways today. I call it "Los Tres Padres.")

Ash Wednesday Reflection

2010-02-17T11:13:00.000-06:00

The season of Lent is marked by the discipline of self-denial. Just this morning on the radio I heard two broadcasters discussing what one of them should give up – coffee, sweets, or meat? Some give up things in an effort to be healthier, some give up things for the challenge of it, some give up things because everyone else seems to be doing it. At its core, however, the season of Lent is a journey back to God.

When we read the words of the prophet Joel, it is easy to focus on the fasting, weeping, and mourning the Lord asks of his people. These are practices associated with repentance, attitudes that are expected of us during this time. But these practices are empty if they do not turn us back to God. The Lord's first words are, “Even now, return to me...rend your hearts, not your garments and return to the Lord, your God.” This is an invitation from the Lord God to return, to once again be recipients of his loving kindness.

The self-denial of Lent is meant to open up space in our lives and in our hearts for God to speak, work, and move. By emptying our lives of things that we regularly enjoy, we are saying no to the world, and yes to God; we are accepting the invitation to return. Unfortunately, many will wonder about the rules of Lent, concerning themselves more with perfecting the rite, than perfecting the relationship. Those same broadcasters from this morning discussed whether or not Fruit Loops were considered sweets since they are technically a breakfast cereal.

It is similar rule keepers that Christ addresses when he teaches on giving alms, praying, and fasting. The hypocrites, as he calls them, have become slaves to themselves, so guilt ridden about doing all the right things that they do them all wrong. I believe their position can be summarized by this quote from Henri Nouwen:

“There is an awareness of sin that does not lead to God but to self-preoccupation. Our temptation is to be so impressed by our sins and failings and so overwhelmed by our lack of generosity that we get stuck in a paralyzing guilt. It is the guilt that leads to introspection instead of directing our eyes to God. It is the guilt that has become an idol and therefore a form of pride. Lent is the time to break down this idol and to direct our attention to our loving Lord.”

In this season of Lent, I do encourage you to deny yourself one of life's pleasures. Coffee, sweets, facebook, or music – whatever it is that would help create space for God in your life. But let us not become preoccupied with selflessness during this time of denial, but on the loving God who invites us to return to him.

Why I love LOST, part 2

2010-02-02T10:31:00.000-06:00

LOST is driven by a larger story, a story that has a definite end.

The second reason I love LOST is because there is a larger story at work. The individual stories of the characters drive the day-to-day action of the show, but the larger story is what keeps us longing for more.

In Seasons 2 and 3, it was hard to tell where exactly LOST might be going. We all knew The Island was mysterious, we all knew there was more to learn, but when Locke, Desmond, Jack, and Eko kept pushing that button, I really felt like a mouse in a maze never being able to find my way out.

The finale to Season 3 changed all that when we moved from having flashbacks to having flashforwards. Finally, after 3 long seasons, we were glimpsing the future and a small taste of where the show might be going. The flashforwards continued to inform us about individual characters, but more than that, they made us even more aware of the larger story - the mystery of The Island and of Jacob.

The other part of this is that we have the end in sight. After Season 3, the producers of LOST announced that they the show would end after six seasons. At first, I think I was disappointed, but then I realized how genius it was. By setting some boundaries, the producers and writers were able to write with the end in mind, which I think has made the show so much better ever since. (In fact, I would now say that every show should set limits because almost every show drones on and on until finally it gets cancelled and it ends in mediocrity.)

And so, here we are. Ready to start the final season and hoping that many of our questions will be answered. I say many because if there's one thing I've learned watching LOST, it is to treasure mystery and not expect every question to have an answer. After all, it is the mystery that has helped the show last six seasons, and it is mystery that will help it endure even when it is all done.

Many of my thoughts were inspired by The Gospel According to LOST, by Chris Seay. A worthy read for any fan of the show.

Why I love LOST, part 1

2010-02-01T10:07:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow night marks the beginning of the end for LOST fans. The final season will kickoff with a 2-hour premiere, and we will be watching. When LOST first started, we were still avid Alias fans (still are really), so we decided not to watch LOST. But then we moved to Oxford and some of our new friends insisted we check it out. Now, here we are, almost 4 years later, and anxiously awaiting the start of the final season.

LOST is possibly one of the most intelligent, well-written and yet frustrating shows I've ever watched. Intelligent because of the philosophical, biblical, and historical undercurrents that make up the show's complex story line. Well-written because it has so many pieces that all seem to fit together...I think. Frustrating because you never really know what's going (which is what we hope the final season will reveal).

But for all that, and the fact that Oceanic 815 crashed on my birthday, September 22 (it's true, look it up); there are two main reasons why I love LOST.

LOST is a show built on the stories of people.

This could be said about any show, but LOST is unique in that almost every episode of the show through Season 3 follows a character's life before the crash. Through these flashbacks we learn who these castaways are, what they've done, and how they came to be on the plane that eventually crashes on The Island.

If not for these flashbacks, we would have no real connection to the characters. Our opinions and emotions toward each character shifts as we learn more about who they were before they came to The Island. We see them as real human beings with real human problems and real human brokenness. We see The Island gives these castaways a second chance, a way to redefine their lives. If not for the flashbacks, the only thing we would have to shape the characters are their present actions, and who really wants to be judged solely based on what people see in the here and now.

Think about it. When you are with a new group of people, what do you spend most of your time doing? You tell stories about yourself, usually things that happened in the past, and you hope that people will receive who you are not based solely on your present actions, but on your history as well.

LOST Example: Kate. Kate is the girl next door (or grass hut) on The Island. She is the middle of a love triangle, she is strong yet vulnerable, pretty yet rugged, sweet yet sassy. If the show were only about what happens in the present, we would think Kate to be the perfect heroine, and the dream girl of every guy. However, we learn as early as episode 2 in Season 1 that Kate is a fugitive in the custody of a U.S. Marshal. It takes time for the rest of the picture to fill in, but we learn that Kate is far from the girl next door. Kate murdered her abusive father, robbed a bank, married a guy under a false name, etc. etc. The thing that characterizes Kate most is her ability to always run away. Instead of dealing with life head on, she runs.

Island Kate starts off in a similar fashion. She desperately wants off The Island so she can avoid what faces her back in Iowa (murder charges). She also remains fickle as to her allegiance, running which ever way seems to meet her needs. BUT, by the end of Season 5, Kate is done running away. In fact, Kate has the opportunity to leave The Island behind and forget it all while sitting in a submarine heading toward America. Instead, she convinces Sawyer and Juliet to join her in running back to try to save the others!

And this is what makes LOST so great! Kate is a prime example of the personal transformation that happens on this show, and the power of one person's story to pull us in to the bigger story. Kate is only one example of many, because LOST is about how all the different characters, with all their different backgrounds come together for something big and momentous (which we don't really understand yet). BUT, the show is driven not just by what happens on The Island, but the stories of those involved.

Reason number two comes tomorrow...

Happy Birthday Ezra!

2010-01-26T10:19:00.000-06:00

Possibly the cutest 1 year old you'll ever meet!

Happy Birthday Poppa!

2010-01-12T22:13:00.002-06:00

Back in the Saddle

2010-01-12T08:48:00.001-06:00

Wow. What a month.

Yesterday I walked back in to my office for the first time since Dec. 11. Usually I dread going back to the office after a long break, but yesterday it was quite refreshing to sit at my desk, go through the mail, check voicemail, and then get to the business at hand. (Which included calls concerning a fallen tree on the property, a leaky gas line on the property, and a burst pipe in the rental house.)

I never intended to be out of the office for a whole month, but our holiday season was quite crazy. I traveled to Houston for a conference and returned to an overtired wife and mother-in-law due to another double-ear infection in Ezra. The next week Corrie's dad joined us, Ezra still wasn't sleeping at night, and on Dec. 23, he had tubes put in. The day after Christmas, Corrie's parents left. On Dec. 27, I preached at our church, and the bronchitis Corrie had been battling got so bad she could hardly move for two days. And Isaiah had rotovirus, which meant a lot of....well, you don't need to know that. Needless to say, I was at home during this time taking care of the boys and Corrie.

Finally, on New Year's Eve, Corrie was well enough for us to travel north so we could spend time with her family and my family. We were gone 10 days, had 2 more Christmases, 3 birthday parties, 2 dinosaur birthday cakes, and maybe 1 good night's sleep.

Now we're home and trying to find the routine again. We love our families and we're thankful for their hospitality. We're also thankful to be part of a university community so that we can take the time to visit them during the holidays. BUT, it sure is nice to be home. Hopefully, everyone will stay healthy for a while, and Corrie can find the rhythm of work she needs to finish her comps.

And in case you were wondering, we're not planning any more trips right now. If you'd like to see us, you're welcome to come on down!

A Hymn for the Nativity of Our Lord

2009-12-24T09:21:00.000-06:00

by John Wesley

Glory be to God on high,
And peace on earth descend;
God comes down; he bows the sky,
And shows himself our Friend!
God, the Invisible appears!
God, the blest, the great I AM,
Sojourns in this vale of tears,
And Jesus is his Name.

Him the angels all ador'd,
Their Maker and their King:
Tidings of their humbled Lord,
They now to mortals bring;
Empited of his majesty,
Of his dazzling glories shorn,
Being's Source, begins to be,
And Christ himself is born.

See the eternal Son of God,
A mortal son of man,
Dwelling in an earthly clod,
Whom heaven cannot contain!
Stand amaz'd, ye heavens, at this!
See the Lord of earth and skies!
Humbled to the dust he is,
And in a manger lies!

We, the sons of men, rejoice,
The Prince of Peace proclaim,
With heaven's host lift up our voice,
And shout Immanuel's Name:
Knees and hearts to him we bow,
Of our flesh and of our bone,
Jesus is our brother now,
And God is all our own.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

2009-12-20T06:44:00.002-06:00

Micah 5:2-5a

2 * But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

are only a small village among all the people of Judah.

Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you,

one whose origins are from the distant past.

3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies

until the woman in labor gives birth.

Then at last his fellow countrymen

will return from exile to their own land.

4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

Then his people will live there undisturbed,

for he will be highly honored around the world.

5 And he will be the source of peace.

"I'll be Home for Christmas" is a popular song at Christmas because of the common desire to be with those we love during the holiday season. Many are fortunate to have a home to return to; many are not. Many will travel and find that home; many will stay put not having anywhere else to go.

No one understood the desire for home more than the Israelites in exile. Generations of God's people were born and raised in a land that was not their own, growing up hearing stories about the land God had given them, and the days when they had their own king ruling justly over them, instead of a foreign oppressor imposing his will.

It is this desire that the prophet speaks into; he speaks of life, freedom, and peace. But the source of this peace will come in an unexpected way, a child. He will be born in Bethlehem, a town so insignificant that it fails to appear in all the rest of the Old Testament. And there is no mention of this ruler vanquishing the enemies, but of leading the flock with the Lord's strength, and in the majesty of the Lord's name. This ruler will be different. This ruler will truly lead as God himself leads, and the people shall finally be "home".

Advent Action: Are you already home for Christmas? Look around your community and find those who have no one returning home to them for Christmas, and extend your family to include them. Invite them over for Christmas dinner, spend time with them on Christmas Eve, or take a group of friends caroling to their home.

Somebody's gotta do it...

2009-12-10T15:43:00.000-06:00

People often wonder what I do and what it means to be a campus minister. There are many parts to my position, some of which seminary adequately prepared me for: preaching, teaching, writing, developing leaders, answering questions about about God and the universe, etc. etc.

There are other things that seminary did not prepare me for: fundraising, keeping budgets, house maintenance, computer problems, etc.

One of the most important parts of my job happens twice a year. Like Jesus teaching on the mount, crowds flock to the Wesley House with excited anticipation. The line extends throughout the house, everyone longing to see, but only a few being able to experience the wonder of it all. What is this holy event that I'm describing? The Pancake Exam Break, of course! And one thing seminary did not teach me, but I have learned with much practice is how to make a griddle-sized pancake. OR as someone said last night,

"That's not a pancake. That's a MANcake!"

Second Sunday of Advent

2009-12-06T09:48:00.000-06:00

Malachi 3:1-4

"I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty.

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.

Christmas is usually considered a time of joy and celebration, and in many ways it is. But the words of the prophet remind us that Jesus' coming is not without heartache, too. The Lord is being sought by the people, who are looking for the age-old covenant to be fulfilled (see Gen 12:-13; 2 Sam 7:12-14); they are longing to be the people God promised they would be, dwelling in the land God promised them, and living in God's presence.

"But who can endure the day of his coming?"

Christ comes to keep the covenant, but like any promise, our side must be kept, too. God does not desire blind obedience, but heartfelt, life-changing devotion. To be refined like gold and silver means allowing all the old, corrosive elements of our hearts to be painfully removed in order to shine in the light of God's love. Will we heed the words of the messenger, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8)? Will our lives reflect the life-changing devotion God desires from us?

May this Advent season challenge us to prepare our own hearts to receive God's promises by shedding the dross from our hearts, and filling them with God's love.

This post originally appears on theorchardadvent.blogspot.com

First Sunday of Advent

2009-11-30T14:43:00.001-06:00

**This post originally appears on our church's Advent blog. Feel free to check in with that one as well throughout the season.**

Zechariah 14:4-9

On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives , east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake inthe days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

On that day there will be no sunlight, no cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique day - a day known only to the Lord - with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.

On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterrean Sea, in summer and in winter.

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

The first Sunday of Advent represents the hope of redemption. We relive with the historic people of Israel the anxious waiting they did for the anointed one (Messiah). At the same time, we ourselves are waiting for the final redemption of all creation.

The passage from Zechariah illustrates the now and later aspect of redemption. Zechariah's words depict a deliverance from exile - a harsh reality for the Israelites - and yet something they've experienced before. (Note how God will part a mountain in order to deliver the people - eerily similar to how the Red Sea had been parted in Exodus.) But also in Zechariah's words are pictures of a day that needs no light and filled with living water, a day where God is God and no other name can stand. God would deliver his people from exile, but there is still more to come.

What are you waiting for this Advent season? Are you waiting in line to get the best deals? Are you waiting on the interstate in holiday traffic? Are you waiting on loved ones to come home?

As you wait, reorient your heart towards the One who is coming.

The Boy Loves Books

2009-11-20T20:06:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in a post a while back, Isaiah loves to read. In fact, he loves to read so much that he has many of his books mostly memorized. For instance, The Great Dog Wash (which came out of a cereal box) is one we've read several times lately, and I no longer read this book to him, he reads it to me. Granted, it's not that long and it does rhyme, but still...

Another one his favorites right now is the Read Aloud Bible Stories book, which I have to say, is pretty cool. The stories are well summarized, easy to understand, and have good illustrations.

We currently have volume 4 (above), so if anyone is wondering what Isaiah might enjoy for Christmas, I would guess volumes 1-3 (available on Amazon). In fact, since Isaiah does have many of his books memorized, we are in need of restocking his library, so feel free to pass along any of your favorites as well.

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

2009-11-10T16:11:00.000-06:00

Tis the pre-Season

2009-11-06T09:16:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite seasons of the year is Advent (the other is Lent), and now that November has arrived I have started some pre-season reading in the book of Malachi.

I've never intentionally read Malachi, but it seems like a logical choice to read before Advent. Malachi is the final word before the start of the New Testament. Through Malachi, the Lord continues to confront the people of Israel with how they have strayed from the righteous way. These confrontations anticipate the ministry of both John the Baptist and Jesus as they will one day preach, "Repent for the kingdom of God is near!"

If you're looking for something to read over the next three weeks, give Malachi a glance. How do these words confront us in preparation for Jesus?

What Isaiah Likes To Do

2009-10-30T07:46:00.001-05:00

(aka Suggestions for Christmas)

Isaiah has reached a really fun age. He is very active in how he plays, and it seems he has an even more active imagination (if you can imagine such a thing). He has several imaginary friends; the most popular being Maya, armadillo, and Robin Hood. They appear in the bathtub, outside the window, at the breakfast table, and especially in his room when he is in there alone.

Some of his favorite activities include ridding our house of dragons and crocodiles, as well as chasing the rhinos (see picture).

When Isaiah is not imagining a new world to play in he really loves puzzles, Mr. Potato Head, and his train track. Toys that beep, talk, or make some other noise don't entertain him as much anymore - he really uses his mind a lot when he plays.

Of course, the other thing Isaiah really likes to do is read. We probably read about 10 books a day and some of those over and over again. He likes Dr. Seuss, The Berenstein Bears, Curious George, Thomas the Train, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and I don't know what else.

I hope you have found this update on Isaiah both helpful and entertaining. I would write more, but I have to go chase the rhinos...they're everywhere!

The Streak has Ended

2009-10-18T09:58:00.000-05:00

Well, it happened.

We had two sleepless nights on Thursday and Friday with Ezra, who was running fever and had some congestion. Our pediatrician met us at her office Saturday morning to give him the flu test...and he passed with flying colors...which is not a good thing.
The doctor prescribed tami-flu for both boys (chances are Isaiah has it or is getting it or will get it), and said they shouldn't go anywhere all week.

Thankfully, Corrie and I are feeling good, though we are a bit sleep deprived. We were just thinking this past week that we had made it through 7 weeks of the semester without either of the boys getting sick. I guess now we're just getting it all out of the way at one time.

It's REALLY Official

2009-10-13T14:03:00.000-05:00

Living the Story

2009-10-13T11:57:00.000-05:00

I got the chance to preach at my church on Sunday morning in Oxford. My work for Wesley was less than normal the week before, so I got to spend extra time preparing the sermon.
It is from the Joseph story in Genesis 39:1-6. I think it is one of my better ones, so I'm linking to it below. Feel free to give a listen when you have some time.

You can listen here.

Or download from iTunes here.

The Natural

2009-10-03T14:23:00.000-05:00

As the baseball regular season draws to a close and we grieve the Braves so close yet so far last week *sigh*, the game lives on here in our backyard.

Isaiah received a tee ball set in May from Aunt Riri and then spent the summer hacking away at the tee (not the ball). This is no surprise because who really expects a 2 1/2 year old to be able to hit a ball off a tee.

Then over Labor Day weekend, we went to a Braves game in Atlanta and Poppa bought Isaiah a souvenir bat. It's wooden and really the perfect size for toddler. And when I say perfect, I mean perfect. Look at these pictures:

Where's the ball? You may ask. Well, it's not on the tee because he hit cleanly into in the infield (usually straight up the middle). And you will also note that he hit from both sides.

Maybe he'll be on the resurgent World Champion Braves team of 2030.

Same Blog, Different Look

2009-10-02T20:12:00.005-05:00

While the boys were napping today, I decided to play with my blog and what you see is the product of that down time. The blog is exactly the same, it's just organized differently and laid out differently. Here are some tips on navigating:

Posts: The posts are on the far left and you will need to click on the post title in order to read the entire thing. Unless you came to the blog via a link from facebook or twitter.
twitter: My most recent tweet is now above my posts, next to the little blue birdie.
Books, Blogs, etc.: On the far right side of the blog you will find my current reading and my list of blogs I read regularly. Also on that side will be any special add on, like Matthew Clark's new CD which is there right now.

I hope it's not too confusing for you. After a while, I'm sure you won't even notice.

To be or not to be...

2009-10-01T11:00:00.001-05:00

I turned 29 last week. On my birthday I was talking to my friend Omar, who is also a campus minister, and he suggested that I make a list of 29 things to do before I turn 30. I think that is a really great idea, but in the week since I turned 29 I have not been able to come up with 29 things I'd like to do before I turn 30.

What I have come up with are things I'd like to be about. What do I mean by that? Well, I want it to be more than a to-do list. Corrie and I talk a lot about being vs. doing, that is, our lives are defined by who we are, not by what we do or accomplish. We live in a world of upward mobility, where moving up and doing more is what defines our lives. But is that what life is all about? And more importantly, as a follower of Jesus and lover of God, is that what God is calling us to be about as we live our lives?

So my list is centered around things I want to be in my thirtieth year, not just things I want to do. Here they are:

Run a marathon
Be a vegetarian for one month
Read one classic work of fiction every month
Take a 5 day monastic retreat
Get Corrie flowers for no reason multiple times
Take Isaiah to Braves opening day in April
Read through one book of the Bible every month
Be more organized and productive at work
Write something significant every month
Take a weekend away with just Corrie
Give Corrie more time to pursue her studies

**For more on being v. doing, read anything by Henri Nouwen.

Fall Magic

2009-09-29T09:59:00.001-05:00

The Official Word

2009-09-10T12:10:00.008-05:00

I just received the following email:

D.,

You have completed all of the requirements for the MDiv degree. I will be posting your degree this afternoon, and your diploma will be mailed in the next couple of weeks. It should arrive early to mid-October.

Thanks, and congratulations!

Cue Hallelujah Chorus....now!

Read Along

2009-09-08T12:14:00.004-05:00

We are currently in the season of Kingdomtide in the Church Calendar. This is a time to focus on the ministry and person of Jesus. Every fall, Asbury Seminary publishes a common text reader for students with the goal that we will learn about the kingdom together by reading together. This reader is also published daily online at www.asburyreader.com. I encourage you to bookmark it and read along. Below is an excerpt:

p r e p a r e t h e w a y f o r t h e l o r d
a prelude to kingdomtide

Three hundred years of Heaven‘s silence. Not a word. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, enters the greatest prophet of them all, the forerunner of God, and the floodgates of Heaven open. Words literally begin falling from the sky like rain. John, “The Baptist" emerges at the river‘s edge declaring a message as hot as it was hopeful. His urgent message reverberates through the labyrinthine corridors of history, reaching back to Isaiah yet echoing from the locked gates of lost Eden.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

...click to keep reading.

The End of the Beginning, part 2

2009-09-06T20:12:00.004-05:00

Our time Oxford started with a great deal of excitement, but also with a fair share of fear and trepidation. In a six month time period, we were going to experience a new home, new positions, new friends, new church, and a new baby. Somewhere there's a chart of the most stressful things that people have to deal with and I think all these are in the top 20 (if not 10). We will always look back fondly of that first year in Oxford, but I look back now and realize it was very much a honeymoon period for us.

This is especially true of the ministry at Wesley.

I came in with grand ideas, plans, and expectations. I had just come from seminary, after all, and I was feeling pretty confident in my ability to run a top notch ministry. All my ideas, though, quickly fell by the wayside when I realized what the ministry (and the running of the ministry) was versus what I had expected. There's not enough room to here to go in to detail, but suffice it to say that while I was excited about where God had led us that first year, I was also disappointed and frequently frustrated.

One expectation that did not match up has to do with how I perceived myself when we got to Oxford. In my overconfidence and naivete, I expected to be the teacher for the students, the one imparting wisdom and guidance, the one leading and inspiring. This is what it means to be a leader, right? While some of those things might have been true, I see myself now more as the student, not the teacher, a follower, not a leader, and a journeyman, not one who has arrived. My role as campus minister has more to do with listening to students than telling them things, and empowering them to be leaders by first being faithful followers...through my example as a follower of Christ.

Forty hours of classes, three years, and two kids later, I am finishing my seminary career. I am once again reminded of the seedbed, and now I understand what I didn't understand three years ago. While the seminary is a special seedbed, a unique season of learning and growing; the life of ministry is one as well. Sometimes we (as ministers) get so caught up in helping others grow that we fail to see how God is trying to grow us as well. But we need to see each ministry opportunity, each season of life, as its own seedbed and be asking God:

What are you trying to teach me? Am I being teachable? Forgive me for not seeing what you want me to see, or hearing what you want me to hear. Open my eyes that I might see, my ears that I might hear, my heart that I might be truly transformed in to the likeness of your Son.

The End of the Beginning, part 1

2009-08-28T22:41:00.010-05:00

96 credit hours + 35 classes + 23 As + 9 Bs {3 classes were Pass/Fail - I passed all 3} + 5 years = 1 degree.

Five years ago, Corrie and I had just moved back to Wilmore, KY. We had been married just over a month, and within the next few days I would be going back to school. I had spent the previous year as an intern for Wesley here in Oxford as a way of confirming my call to ministry (and to be close to Corrie - whew, glad that worked). Now, I was about to start Asbury Theological Seminary - a more formal way of beginning my life as a vocational minister.

We lived in a basement apartment just behind

Asbury College. In fact, I even did laundry in my old dorm a few times because it was closer (and cheaper) than the laundromat. The basement was maybe 500 square feet, and as I started school, our income came from Corrie teaching adjunct English classes, and I working part-time for a church in downtown Lexington.

I remember listening to JD Walt during New Student Orientation talk about how seminary comes from the word seminarius, meaning "seed bed". He went on to say that seminary is much more than a place to learn about God, but it is a place where we begin a season of growth to really come to know God.

As I went to my first classes, I could see that what JD said was true. I sat in awe of my professors; they had spent their lives studying, writing, and living in their respective fields of study. They were so knowledgeable, so published, so well known, but more than that, I could tell that they really desired to know God.

My dad thinks seminary is a place that teaches you to grow facial hair to be more like Jesus. He's half right - it is a place to learn to be more like Jesus (I grew the goatee just because). Many think seminary is a place to learn theological terms, theories of biblical interpretation, ancient languages, and pastoral counseling skills. As if it's the vo-tech for pastors. But seminary is much more; seminary is place to be fed from the rich resources of Christian tradition, passed down from those who first heard, saw, and touched (1 John 1:1) the minstry of Jesus to those who faithfully give their lives to teaching it to men and women called of to God lead the Church.

Just after a year of living back in Wilmore, Corrie got the itch to start the process toward her PhD. Soon after that we received word that the Wesley position at Ole Miss was going to be hiring for the next year. We began to pray about our next steps. We didn't really want to live in Mississippi (10 and 12 hours away from our families), and I wasn't sure I was ready for a full-time ministry position. God called us anyway. With 56 of 96 hours complete, and no full-time ministry experience, we moved back to Oxford from Wilmore on July 1, 2006. Corrie received a full fellowship from Ole Miss to pursue her PhD, and we were expecting our first baby the following January.

to be continued...

You know you're a parent...

2009-08-21T07:36:00.001-05:00

...when waking up at 6:15am is sleeping "in".

40 Days of Prayer for Campus Ministry

2009-08-18T08:50:00.003-05:00

Yesterday marked the beginning of 40 Days of Prayer for Campus Ministry. I hope you will join with us in praying for campuses, students, and ministers. A prayer guide can be downloaded here, and you can also follow it on facebook and twitter.

A Tale of Two Donalds

2009-08-17T19:55:00.005-05:00

Today started as any other Monday would start at our house. Early.

I don't know if I had a case of the Mondays or just a lot on my mind, but I felt a little bit in a funk this morning. I was ready to spend some time in peace and quiet at the Wesley House, as well as get some tasks accomplished today. I was not expecting to have an adventure.

------------

One of the people I follow on twitter is Donald Miller. He wrote Blue Like Jazz several years ago and it was a pretty big hit in the Christian-verse. I've read it a couple of times myself, and I always thought it was a fun, thought provoking, and faith challenging read. Anyway, I follow him on twitter and I've been reading his blog quite a bit, too. He's been talking about his new book more and more, and upon reading some samples on the blog, I began to get pretty excited about it. I was even more excited when he announced that a promotion for the book would be hiding manuscripts all over the country for people to find - from hints and directions via twitter (and facebook).

------------

This morning I'm leaving Wesley's treasurer's office on campus and Corrie texts me, "Donald miller is hiding one in memphis today." Immediately I call her and ask, "Do you want to go?" She says, "Sure!" After a little more discussion we realize that taking the boys on this venture might be too hard, so my sweet, loving, and beautiful wife lets me go to Memphis to look for this manuscript. I traded in my blah of a Monday for a Quixotic adventure.

As I head out of Oxford, I realize that I could be driving to Memphis for nothing. It takes an hour and fifteen minutes to get there and what if the location is sent while I'm driving. I try not to think of that, and I just keep driving. I've already called my friend Michael who lives in Memphis; we're going to eat lunch together if nothing else, and since he lives there, he might be able to help me find it quickly.

As I drive I receive a text that says the location will go out around noon. Perfect. I'm due to arrive in Memphis around 11:30am. That gives me thirty minutes to find a place to station myself and also familiarize myself with the surroundings. Michael suggests a place just off I-240 on Union Avenue, close to the interstate but also just east of downtown. I find a spot in the McDonald's parking lot, and I wait.

...and I wait.

Noon comes....and goes.

...and I wait.

Finally, at 12:54pm, the location is sent, and I'm off. I need to get to

Marlowe's, a BBQ and ribs place just down from Graceland. AH. Of course! Graceland is an iconic place to hide something in

Memphis. Why didn't I think of that?

My station close to the interstate pays off since I have to head south 7-8 miles to get to the Graceland part of town (thanks Michael!). Corrie is feeding me directions over the phone. The race is on!

As I exit off the interstate, I realize I'm only 2.5 miles from Marlowe's and only 10 minutes has passed; I think to myself, "I might actually get this thing!"

I cruise by Graceland. I go through what seems like 20 stop lights (it was probably 5 of them). Then I see it. Marlowe's Ribs and Restaurant. Complete with, not one, but two pink cadillac limos in the parking lot. (Just call and they'll pick you up and bring you to the restaurant!)

I pull in, get out of the car, and walk in to the restaurant. There aren't very many people around. Could I be first? I look around for a book, package, anything that looks out of place, but I don't see anything.

There's a gift shop to the left. I walk in there looking expectantly. Nothing. An older gentleman walks in to the gift shop and goes behind the counter. I walk up and ask, "Do you know anything about a book that's hidden here?"

He responds, "I sure do." He reaches down behind him and picks up a bulky manilla envelope and says, "I'm supposed to give this to the first person who shows up." And he hands it to me!

YES! I found the book. I call Corrie - she is ecstatic. I call Michael - he laughs out loud. (Then says he'll meet me for lunch there at Marlowe's.)

I had gone out to the car to make those calls, and on my way back in to the restaurant, three other searchers are coming out. They congratulate me and then we talk for several minutes about ourselves, Donald Miller, etc. Turns out they're all musicians of some kind (one is even the violinist for Skillet - whoa!), and they were camping out on twitter today, too.

On the cover of the manuscript is a letter written by Donald Miller

extending his congratulations. He explains that this copy is numbered and signed, and that he hopes I will enjoy the read. Then he states,

"I'd love the opportunity to talk with you more, which is why I'm including my cell phone number, ***-***-****. I'd be most grateful if you didn't share this number with all your friends, but please do give me a call. I would love to "meet" you over the phone, learn more about you, and get your feedback on whether you think this book is any good. I look forward to hearing from you soon."

So, if you'll excuse me, I have some reading to do, and a phone call to make.

Excited like it's 1991

2009-08-13T12:10:00.002-05:00

I feel like I'm in 6th grade again.

The summer of 1991 was a very exciting time for Braves fans. Even though I was only 11 years old, I was fully aware of The Miracle Season. At the All Star Break, the Braves were in last place in the division with a record of 39-40, 10.5 games back of the Dodgers, who were in first. By the end of September, the Braves had won the pennant and were on their way to the World Series. The Miracle Season lasted 14 years. It began a string of winning seasons for the Braves that lasted until 2005 – 14 straight pennants. Everyone in the world of baseball knows how special that is, so the last few years have been rough for me. The Braves have struggled, and just when there seems to be a glimmer of hope – a losing streak dashes my heart upon the rocks. What I tell people is that the past few years, it's like I've been dumped by the same girl over and over and over again – and yet I keep coming back for more.

And now, mid-August with 48 games left in the season, there is a glimmer of hope. At the All Star Break the Braves were 2 under .500, but since the break they are 8 over and have only lost one series. As of today, they are tied for second place in the division with the Marlins and 4.5 games back of the reigning World Series Champions, the Phillies. AND, this weekend the Braves play the Phillies in Atlanta. Best case scenario, the Braves are 1.5 back after Sunday night. Worst case scenario is my heart gets broken...again.

Worth your 3 minutes

2009-08-11T10:37:00.001-05:00

When the right brain meets the left brain.

(HT to statedog for finding this)

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Cousins

2009-08-06T15:40:00.000-05:00

Pray for Campus Ministry

2009-08-04T07:52:00.003-05:00

I am a campus minister. Many people try to describe what I do as "youth ministry". No offense to youth ministers, but NO. It's not youth ministry.

A campus minister picks up where the youth minister leaves off because we are on the college campus, where the students are taking the next steps in their journey. We're also different from youth ministry because many youth go to church because their parents want them to. The new found freedom of college life means not doing those things anymore, and (as statistics show) church/church-related activities are one of the first things to go. So I minister to students who truly desire to grow in their faith as well as those who are searching and wondering what this crazy life is all about.

There are campus ministries on every college campus in the United States, but they often fly under the radar, go unnoticed, and receive very little praise or attention. But it is these ministries that are producing the next generation of leaders in the church.

I am a campus minister with the United Methodist Church, and some of us are committing to pray for campus ministry for 40 days as we head in to a new school year. We are inviting you to pray with us, and if you'd like to lean more, please visit this site. The more we pray, the more students' lives will be transformed by God's grace through our ministries.

Are we there yet?

2009-08-02T15:28:00.001-05:00

Blue Like Play Dough

2009-07-27T22:14:00.004-05:00

The more I talk to other dads, the more I realize that my experiences as a dad are not that unique. What I feel, whether that be pride or frustration, is common to those who live with small children. My feelings were affirmed even more when I read Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer.

This book is written primarily for moms. The recommendations in the front cover are all by women, and the way the book is promoted obviously has a female audience in mind. So, when I began to read it I thought that I would not really enjoy it that much. I'm a guy afterall. But I was wrong. Though every story is from a mom's point of view, I believe the book touches on issues and feelings any parent must deal with - when to let go, the tension between personal time and making sure enough time is spent with the kids, how to talk to your kids about hard topics, and making decisions with family in mind and not just with you in mind.

The most refreshing part of this book is its honesty. Goyer's story is raw and hard to swallow, but she presents it with vulnerability, sensitivity, and even humor. She is a reminder that just because we are parents does not mean we have it all figured out. All we can do is trust God to continue to shape us in to what he wants us to be - like play dough in the hands of a child.

*The biggest weakness of the book is its title. Many will see it and instantly think it is a play off of Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller - well, it is. But the two books could not be any more different. I was quick to judge this book by its cover, but I will also be quick to recommend it because it proved me completely wrong.

Aarrrgh

2009-07-20T11:13:00.003-05:00

As a dad, I take it upon myself to teach my sons the really important things in life. Things like "touchdown", "you're out", "swing batta batta", and "Go DUKE!"

Isaiah and I have been reading a couple of pirate books lately. They are very entertaining and, it turns out, educational. For instance, did you know pirates don't eat spinach or change their socks?

The fruit of reading these books has been Isaiah learning a new phrase:

"Scurvy dog!"

Read. This. Book.

2009-07-13T09:45:00.003-05:00

I don't usually recommend books I've read for my seminary classes, but I just finished a book I think everyone should read. It's not a distinctly Christian book (meaning you probably won't find it in LifeWay or Family Christian), but it is about Christianity...or rather the power of living our faith faithfully.

Same Kind of Different as Me is a the story of a sharecropper turned homeless man and a wealthy Texas art dealer whose lives intertwine at a homeless shelter in Fort Worth. If I tell you much more, I'll ruin the story.

But I will tell you that this is more than a story. There are complex issues addressed in this book, issues of wealth and poverty, issues of race, and issues of faith. Though it reads pretty easy, it is not for the faint of heart.

The Meaning of the Ham and Eggs

2009-07-06T06:48:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, I tweeted this:

Many people give eggs, but we're called to give ham.

Since then, several people have wondered what it was all about. Well, yesterday at church, the preacher gave an illustration in relation to Romans 12:1-3. It went something like this....

On a farm, there was a Chicken and Pig talking about how thankful they were for the farmer. The Chicken had the idea of cooking breakfast for the farmer the next day. She said, "I'll sponsor the eggs if you'll sponsor the ham." The Pig thought for a minute, and then said, "I like the idea, but you only have to give eggs, I have to make the ultimate sacrifice."

As Christians, we are called to give ham. The passage in Romans, the words of Jesus in Mark 8:34-38, and Peter's command to be holy as God is holy all reflect the idea that we are meant to give our whole lives to Christ, not just parts.

Food for thought.

Almost done...

2009-07-03T14:06:00.005-05:00

There's light at the end of the tunnel....and no, it's not the train.

After almost 5 full years, I am two credit hours away from finishing my Master of Divinity degree. Today, I finished an exegesis of Galatians class. You may be wondering what "exegesis" is, well, it's studying the original language of the Bible in order to come to a deeper understanding of the text. I've been working on my final project all week, and I emailed it in just a little while ago.

Here's a taste of what I had to do...

Maybe you had to diagram sentences in english class growing up. Well, we do it in Greek too. What you see (sorry it's a little small) is my diagram of Galatians 6:1.

Run it out!

2009-06-29T08:35:00.000-05:00

Is it too early to start?

Overdue

2009-06-13T05:33:00.002-05:00

These are long overdue. Here's our trip from May through the eyes of my iPhone.

Sweet Summer Saturday

2009-06-06T13:33:00.006-05:00

I woke up this morning in a stupor and in a strange bed.

Everyone got to bed a little later than usual last night, Ezra needed someone to walk him at 3:30am, and Isaiah needed someone to lay beside him at 5am. When I laid beside Isaiah, I resolved to just sleep till morning in his bed - which means being kicked and head-butted in the back and hoping I don't fall off into the floor.

Though Friday night's sleep was less than grand, we got up this morning, did the breakfast routine, and decided to walk together to the Farmer's Market. It was about 63 degrees as we left the house, Isaiah in the stoller, Ezra on my back.

After making rounds at the market, we walked up to the Square so Isaiah could play on the playground in front of the First Presbyterian Church. After multiple slides down the curly-q slide, several pets of a friendly yellow lab, and 10 times around the garden path, we made our way to Square Books Jr. - another favorite play spot. Along the way, we stopped to say hello to (and chase and partly terrorize) Mommasita, the cat that lives in Off Square Books. On to SBJr, where the toys are always out and there are plenty of books to scan through.

We get there just before Storytime and Isaiah's friend Emily comes with her mom for the story, too. They sit together (mostly) for the story, and then go to the table for today's craft. The craft is gluing pieces of paper to another piece of paper to make a bear. Emily's looks like a Princess Leia bear; Isaiah's a Picasso bear. You didn't know we were nurturing a creative genius, did you?

After some more play time, it's time to walk home. Isaiah points out the "big truck" and Ezra sleeps on Corrie's back.

It's all quiet now. Lunch was served and naps are now being taken. I'm off to mow grass in a few moments, and later we're going a friend's house for a cookout. This is a well-balanced Saturday - family time, alone time, time for play, time for work, and time with friends.

I only hope for a full night's sleep - in my OWN bed.

Road Trip

2009-06-02T06:06:00.005-05:00

We're back.

Maybe you didn't know we were gone, but we were. We spent two weeks traveling through 9 different states to visit friends and family, AND so I could graduate from seminary. There will be more pics and stories to share, but for now, here's a map of our round trip.

View May 2009 Road Trip in a larger map

States: 9

Miles: 1,666 (estimated)

Nights away from home: 13

A chance to see lots of old friends and hang out with family: PRICELESS

Playing for Change

2009-05-15T16:00:00.010-05:00

So, what if a guy with a portable recording studio went around the world and recorded different artists, street musicians, and groups all playing and singing the same song and then edited them together in to a single track?

It would look and sound like this...

A Welcome Interruption

2009-05-15T10:14:00.003-05:00

I'm finishing a paper today for one of my classes. This is the second of three papers I'm writing within a 2.5 week period. I was working along when the phone rang:

Isaiah: Hey Daddy!

Me: Hey buddy!

Isaiah: Daddy look!

Me: What is it?

Isaiah: Look!

What I was supposed to be looking at was Isaiah building with homemade play-doh. I can't wait till I finish and I can go home and build stuff, too.

Not Good PR

2009-05-08T13:26:00.005-05:00

My sister does PR (public relations). As her family and those who know her best, we still don't know what that really means except for a free trip to Pasadena every year.

Though I don't really know what PR is, I'm pretty sure this is bad PR.

Wesleyan Murder Suspect Wrote 'Kill Johanna,' 'OK to Kill Jews' in Journal, Police Say

Would someone please tell the astute headline writers at FoxNews to be more careful with how they describe a mass murderer? This person is a student at Wesleyan University. I am a Wesleyan (theologically), but that does not mean I am anti-Semitic or that I kill women.

So, world, please don't think all Wesleyans are evil. Wesleyans have a hard enough time of it as it is. In fact, we believe in a God of love who offers saving grace to all, not just a few. So I would say we're pretty loving, wouldn't you?

Isaiah's Week in Tweets

2009-05-04T08:47:00.004-05:00

After giving twitter up for Lent, I re-entered the twitter-verse a healthier person. I definitely feel like the time away gave me some freedom from twitter that I did not have before. (I'll probably write more about freedom and Eastertide later this week.)

But I also decided over Lent that I wanted to set up a twitter account to capture some of Isaiah's funny sayings. If you haven't seen him in a while, you may not know that he is quite verbose. He talks all the time - to me, to Corrie, to Ezra, to Rigby, to Emily Elizabeth, to puppy...to no one in particular. So when he says something especially cute, I tweet it. (tweet = twitter message)

If you're on twitter, feel free to follow him (@isaiahsays) and me (@dmerrix). His updates are protected, but I will approve you.

isaiahsaysI like my outfit.

isaiahsaysWhoa! What a train! http://twitpic.com/4ije9

isaiahsaysStay here.

isaiahsaysWhat is mahna mahna?

isaiahsaysI'm gonna make ice cream Daddy. I'm gonna make ice cream.

isaiahsaysGiddyup!

isaiahsaysHello Donkey!

isaiahsaysI wanna touch the dark. Ooh. It feels good.

isaiahsaysDADDY! DON'T EAT BREAKFAST PLEASE!

isaiahsaysI like coffee.

isaiahsaysIs that good coffee Daddy? Is that good coffee?

isaiahsaysThat was a big truck!

isaiahsaysI wanna go to the playground. I need shoes first, though.

isaiahsaysRigby look! Daddy's making compost!

30 Things You May or May Not Know about Corrie

2009-04-28T08:52:00.007-05:00

Happy Birthday Corrie!!

In honor of Corrie's 30th birthday, I would like to share with you some things you may or may not know about her. I would like there to be 30 of them, but I don't know if I can come up with that many, so I am asking the fathertide faithful to also chip in. I will get us started with the top 15, and if you would like to add something, please feel free to do so through the comments section.

Rules of engagement: Please only post humorous, quirky or memorable things. Please don't post private or embarrassing things. Our goal is to celebrate Corrie, not humiliate her.

15. Corrie once let me cut her hair in college. She has not let me since.

14. Corrie is named after Corrie ten Boom.

13. Corrie made herself like black olives. (I don't know why.)

12. Corrie used to prank call my dorm room in college. (Though she was encouraged strongly by someone who will remain nameless. Right, Gigi?)

11. Corrie liked me from the moment she met me.

10. Corrie sent me a Chinese Happy Meal box while she was living in China.

9. Corrie has a "Harry Potter" scar over her left eye. It turns red when she gets upset or has an allergic reaction. (Or when Voldemort is close by.)

8. Corrie does not believe you should have to pay to get your Master's degree or PhD.

7. Corrie likes to cuddle for 60 seconds before going to sleep at night.

6. Corrie has never read a Jane Austen book all the way through.

5. Corrie is one of the most compassionate people I know.

4. Corrie is awesome at delivering babies.

3. Corrie is the best mom any two boys could ask for.

2. Corrie is the best wife I could ever hope for.

1. Corrie has been my best friend for over 8 years...and she still is!

More than a Feeling, Part 2

2009-04-22T06:05:00.000-05:00

We studied infant baptism in my Theology of John Wesley class this semester. We read an excellent lecture and essay on the topic, which I believe is the best treatment of infant baptism I've ever read.

One way to think about infant baptism is to see it as the circumcision of the new covenant. Now, we all know that circumcision is not required to be a Christian, Paul has made that argument very clear. What I mean is that circumcision was also a way of being initiated and identified as one of God's people. It is analogous to baptism in that way. Here is how I put it in a response I wrote for my class:

The Bible is filled with analogous relationships. The almost-sacrifice of Isaac foreshadows the sacrifice of Jesus, the Israelites deliverance from Egypt and desert wanderings foreshadow the life, baptism, and ministry of Jesus, David as King is the type that Jesus ultimately fulfills…I could go on and on. Therefore, the argument that baptism in the NT is like circumcision in the OT makes perfect sense. Circumcision was a part of the original covenant with Abraham so that God’s people might have an outward sign of the inward grace of the covenant. Once the church was established and the new covenant replaced the old covenant, baptism became the new outward sign of the inward grace, the one thing that marked God’s people as different in the world. What must be remembered when it comes to infant baptism is that it is a sign that the child is being initiated in to the community, to be raised by the community, in the common faith. Infant baptism is meant to be followed up by teaching from the community about the faith so that the child can one day receive faith on his/her own, at which time the baptism covenant will be confirmed.

I'm open to your thoughts. Feel free to leave comments if you like.

More than a Feeling, Part 1

2009-04-21T05:42:00.003-05:00

(Pastor Pat and Ezra, and Kevin)

On Easter Sunday, we had Ezra baptized. We picked Easter because it is the traditional day of the Church (early church) receiving new members in to the community. The phenomena of membership as we know it today (walking down the aisle or coming forward to be received on any given Sunday) is actually quite new and quite American. Anyone who wanted to join the early church had to first go through instruction (catechism) about what it means to be a follower of Christ, and then if they still believed, they were baptized and confirmed as members.

As far as anyone can tell, infant baptism has always been practiced by the church. Many believe the New Testament only shows believers' baptism by immersion, but these are just baptism's most explicit references.

For instance, when Peter goes to Cornelius' house after his vision of food in Acts 10, we are told that Cornelius' entire household was baptized. I think it is reasonable to assume that there might have been small children or infants in the house who were also baptized. There are other implicit examples as well, just pay attention as you read.

In the early church, baptism was not just about making a profession of faith, but it was about being initiated in to the community of faith. It was about being identified as belonging to those who believe. As my sons, Isaiah and Ezra are part of the community of faith because I am part of the community of faith. Eventually, they will have to make that decision on their own, and I hope that when that day comes they will confirm their place in the community. But until then, they have been baptized as a way to signify the grace that God is already extended to them...even though they don't understand it yet.

BFFB

2009-04-18T22:25:00.003-05:00

Our friends Pat and Sarah had a baby 6 days after Ezra was born, so naturally they are going to be BFFB (best friends from birth). In the interest of fun, here they are on Easter Sunday.

Eastertide

2009-04-13T09:44:00.003-05:00

After a stormy Easter Sunday afternoon, today could not be any more spring like. The sun is shining, the grass is green, the skies are blue, birds are singing, and the smell of spring is in the air. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure this is what it was like the day after the Resurrection. God knows how to set a scene, c'mon.

We are now in the season of Eastertide. We would do well to remember that Easter is not just one day on the Christian calendar, but a 40 day period of appearances followed by a 10 day wait for Pentecost. I hope to write periodic Eastertide posts over the next 50 days, this being the first.

We've been listening to Andrew Peterson's new CD Resurrection Letters Vol. II pretty consistently for about 6 months now. He's one of our favorites and I encourage you to check him out. Here's a line from one of my favorites on the album:

You have crushed beneath your heel the vile serpent.
You have carried to the grave the black stain.
You have torn apart the temple’s holy curtain.
You have beaten Death at Death’s own game.
Hosanna!

May we live in the reality of a crushed serpent this Easter season!

Note: AP is going to be in Birmingham Thursday night at Shades Mountain Baptist Church. If you live close by, you should go. Cancel all other plans and go. Just go. Do it for me. Go. And tell him Corrie, D. and Matthew say hello!

Unashamed

2009-03-31T22:16:00.003-05:00

Isaiah is now in a big boy bed. I could write a year's worth of posts of all the misadventures this has created. Isaiah is strong willed and very active, which makes asking him to stay in bed at bedtime an unreasonable request...at times.

Also new in Isaiah's world is his progression towards potty training. We talk about it quite a bit hoping that rhetoric will turn in to reality...this summer. In the meantime, Isaiah displays unique signs that he is beginning to understand what it is all about.

All this leads to what happened this morning. Ezra needed to be put back to sleep around 5am, so I was up pretty early. After getting Ezra to sleep and putting him down, I decided I would shower and shave before the rest of the house woke up. I also hoped that I might have some time to myself before having to start the morning routine.

Right after I finished shaving I heard Isaiah's door creak open. I opened the bathroom door to see Isaiah peeking through the crack. I told him to come on out, and once he stepped in to the light I saw that he was completely and unashamedly naked. I was kind of surprised.

I said, "Isaiah, why are you naked?"

He replied, "My diaper was wet."

"Oh...go see Momma!"

"No."

"Do you want a new diaper?"

"Yeeaah."

Eveidently his diaper had leaked so he decided that he would just take it all off, which means he is understanding that it's not good to be in wet clothes...one step closer to potty training.

While I didn't really get the time to myself that I was hoping for, my morning was anything but routine.

Grocery Shopping

2009-03-31T11:20:00.000-05:00

I should also mention that I have my reusable shopping bags with me.
This what it means to be a dad in 2009.

Spring Cleaning

2009-03-24T10:42:00.004-05:00

There are lots of changes at our house these days. I hope to blog more about them in the coming days, but I thought I would share a video with you of some changes outside. We finally got the jungle next to our house cleaned out! We no longer feel overtaken by vines and underbrush, and in the newly cleared area we're actually going to try our hand at growing tomatoes.

This is a time-lapsed video using a program called Gawker. It takes a photo every 30 seconds and then makes a movie out of all the frames.

Spring Cleaning from D. Merricks on Vimeo.

Where in the world...

2009-03-16T05:51:00.005-05:00

fathertide is on location this week in Blaine, KY. I brought some students here for a Spring Break Mission Trip. What's that? You've never heard of Blaine? Well, most haven't. It's a tiny little community nestled in the mountains of Eastern KY. Get a feel of what it's like by looking at the map below.

View Larger Map

This place is about as remote as you can get. If you're looking to come visit, go to the end of the world and take a right. I have no cell signal, we're 30 minutes from the nearest Wal-Mart, but the community does have a general store (hopefully some pics of that will come later), and a bank. Something they do have, evidently, is high-speed internet because I'm currently "borrowing" a neighbor's signal! Wow.

Get thee behind me, French Fry!

2009-03-02T15:21:00.004-06:00

Recently, we went out to eat at Chili's. All four of us. It was the first time we've all been out to eat together since Ezra came to stay. It was fun and Isaiah was surprisingly good.

But the real story is that I ordered a burger (no real surprise there), but then I asked if I could sub the mashed potatoes for my fries. I know, right? Well, I decided to give up french fries for the year so that I might learn to expand my side dish horizons. It's been going well so far, but at Chili's...

The dude brought be fries anyway.

Oh the temptation. I eventually got my mashed potatoes and I ate those, and believe it or not, I did not eat a single fry. And to prove it, here is a picture of my uneaten serving of french fries.

Seasonal Resources

2009-02-28T15:41:00.005-06:00

I take the seasons of the church year pretty seriously. I usually read some kind of devotional books during times like Lent and Advent as a way to bring more focus to my life. I think Lent has become one of my favorite ones over the past few years because it's the only one we get to fully experience together at Wesley. So I thought I would give you a glimpse of what I'm reading.

This is a blog of Asbury Seminary, which gives a Lenten reading everyday. It will also give readings during Eastertide (because Easter is more than just one day long). Additionally, there is a devotional thought or quote from one of the great saints of the faith.

I've owned this little book for almost ten years. I pull it out about once a year as a guide for just reading the Bible, but also for reading the Lectionary passages every Sunday.

As a reminder, I continually update my bookshelf on the lower right side of my blog. It gives you a look at what I'm reading for school but also for fun.

Farewell Flesh

2009-02-24T21:33:00.006-06:00

You ever wonder what the big deal with Mardi Gras is?

My friend and former roommate Swaim had a great blog post about the origin of the word carnival. It means, "farewell meat/flesh". Mardi Gras is also known as Fat Tuesday, and the reason it is such a carnival is because it precedes the season of Lent in the church calendar.

Most of us are familiar with Lent because it is the annual giving up of chocolate, soda, or various other legally addictive products. We say farewell to those things on Mardi Gras - the last day to indulge before abstaining for 40+ days until Easter.

So what are you giving up?

This year I am really trying to figure out how to say farewell to the flesh during Lent. What is it in my life that I feel like I cannot live without? What is something that I have allowed to take control over me, instead of me over it? That's what it means to deprive the flesh. I have come up with a few things I am going to say farewell to over Lent, but one in particular will be harder than the others. twitter.Many of you may not understand twitter and always wonder why really random comments keep showing up on the right side of my blog. But twitter is a way to connect with people, as well as a way to chronicle what's going on in your life. It's a micro-blog. Micro because you're limited to 140 characters per entry. But you can share pictures, music, links, news...whatever! For instance, here is a list of some of the updates I receive on twitter:

AsburySeminary
BravesMLB
dukebasketball
compassion
emergentvillage
Sojourners
tapdraw
statedog
lorimerricks
Twiturgy

These are just 10 of 92 things/people I follow on twitter. So why am I giving this up?

Reason #1: It is an addiction. I check twitter more times per day than I check email and facebook combined. Whenever I pull my iPhone out of my pocket, it's the first thing I click. I am not in control of twitter anymore, it controls me.

Reason #2: I want more time. This semester I have a full-time job, a wife, 2 kids, and 3 seminary classes. I need all the time I can get. And I also need personal time. Time to be a husband. Time to be a dad. Time to think. Time to write. Time to read. Time to be with God. Time to just be.

Reason #3: I need order in my life. My life feels a little out of control right now. I have to work extra hard to keep everything going, and it's not easy. Twitter is like the chaos of my life...all the updates just keep coming and there's nothing you can do to stop them. If you go too long without reading it, you find yourself way behind and spending way too much time trying to catch up. If I can give up twitter, one form of chaos, then I feel I can find order throughout.

Reason #4: Jesus demands it. He demands that we give up what we think we can't live without. Just look at Luke 9:23-27 and also Luke 9:57-62. In each case, Jesus calls for a radical denial of what we think is important so that we can follow him. For me right now, it's twitter.

And so, I say farewell twitter. See you April 13. Happy Mardi Gras!

Friday Fun

2009-02-20T14:15:00.003-06:00

I'm working from home today. Corrie got less sleep than she deserved last night and so I decided to stay here so she would not have to face the natives all by herself. After getting some things done, Isaiah wanted to play on my computer. Here are the results...

The Story Behind the Bananas

2009-02-15T15:57:00.005-06:00

If you haven't seen Corrie's post from Friday, I encourage you to read that before reading this.

So, Corrie and I officially began our relationship on February 13, 2001. Since then we have taken the occasion to always beat the Valentine's Day rush and celebrate our dating anniversary every year. I won't go in to the full details of how this all went down, but I will say it took place right after supper time that evening.

When I got back to my room that night, I hit me that the next day was Valentine's Day. But what do you get someone you've been dating less than a day?

Well, I thought at least a card would be a good idea so I drove up Harrodsburg Road to the Hallmark store. I looked for the "Happy Valentine's Day to someone I've been dating less than 24 hours" section, and found the perfect card (not too mushy, no mention of "love", and blank on the inside). I then had a thought about what I could give her as a present.

So I went to the Kroger next door to Hallmark, and bought a bunch of bananas.

You see, by this time in the semester, we had been hanging out quite a bit on campus. In fact, we ate lunch together (with other friends) almost every day. And almost every day, I would get a banana as I went through the line in the cafeteria. Now, I like my bananas a certain way - no green on them whatsoever, and just the faintest spots of brown beginning to appear. A banana like this is sweet, soft, and has minimal bad spots.

I got Corrie bananas because I thought of her as being sweet with minimal bad spots...

Just kidding.

Actually, I got her bananas because she would steal my banana off my plate and eat it almost every day. Really. Just ask her. And I don't like to share my food, so I got her bananas for Valentine's Day hoping she would stop stealing mine.

And that's the rest of the story.

Storytime

2009-02-11T19:07:00.000-06:00

Kids are funny

2009-02-06T10:41:00.005-06:00

Right now at our house, there's a lot to be happy about. We have a 2 year old boy who is changing so much every day, and we have his new little brother who can sleep through the chaos created by his aforementioned ever-changing brother.

But there are also things about having a new baby and a toddler that bring frustration. Little sleep. Cold weather (which limits outside playtime). LOTS of diapers. (Last night looked like an assembly line, we changed one poopy diaper and then literally turned around and changed another poopy diaper). Little sleep. You get the picture.

I saw this video and it made me laugh. Kids really are a joy!

Stoned Little Kid After Dentist Visit - Watch more Funny Videos

(HT to the Burnside Blog)

Ezra's 1st Week

2009-02-03T07:33:00.003-06:00

Here's a peek of Ezra's first week in the world.

Ezra's 1st Week from D. Merricks on Vimeo.

The First 100 Days - Day 4

2009-01-30T12:04:00.004-06:00

While the world is watching President Obama, we'll be watching Ezra.

We're home now and trying to figure out what life is like with two kids instead of just one. Last night was a good indication...

Ezra's days and nights are still a little mixed up so he sleeps a lot during the day, and not so much at night. Corrie and I take turns trying to sleep, but really neither one of us does. I finally drifted off between 12:30am and 1am last night only to be awoken at 4am by a gassy Ezra who's crying his lungs out. And then the inevitable happened...

The commotion wakes Isaiah up (he's always been a light sleeper), and so I go in to rock him. Usually, this takes 5 minutes. But last night I had to make 2 return trips before he settled down, and then he talked and played until about 6am.

If I'm learning anything these days, it's this. Patience. A two year old and newborn are going to try my patience almost everyday. I'm learning how to take it in stride, and treasure this time in our life...it will never be like this again.

Thank you, LORD!

A Birth Narrative

2009-01-27T18:46:00.007-06:00

Monday started like any other day. Isaiah woke up early, we stumbled out of bed, and after breakfast, showers, and shoes, we dropped him off at the sitter's house so we could go to the OB in Tupelo. This being the week that the baby is due, we certainly hoped that it would be our last time at the OB. Since we live in Oxford and were planning on delivering in Tupelo, we were anxious about making it to the hospital in time because Corrie has rapid labors. So, as we head to the OB appointment, the faintest hope lingers with us that maybe she will go in to labor while we're there....but that's a hope you don't talk about or else you'll jinx it.

We go to the OB. The visit is quicker than usual, and our doctor states with confidence that he expects to see us later in the week. With some time on our hands, and no need to hurry back to Oxford, we decide to stroll around the mall before we leave, just to see what happens. After a couple of laps, we're hungry. Dates are few and far between for parents of little babies, so we decide go on a lunch date, knowing it might be our last for quite some time. Corrie loves Olive Garden, and since she's the one carrying a baby, we go there.

While we're eating, Corrie begins having some contractions. This is nothing new, she's been having some contractions for a week or more, but she says these are noticeably different. They continue throughout the lunch, so we figure we better stick around Tupelo a little longer. As we walk around Best Buy, they continue. As we walk through Tuesday Morning, they continue. As we walk back to the car, they continue.

At this point, we begin putting in to effect all the contingency plans for when this happens. I call my sister (Aunt Riri) in Birmingham, who is assigned the most important responsibility of retrieving and caring for Isaiah. We also notify family members, so they can begin to make their descent from VA and NC.

The contractions aren't too consistent or too strong yet. We need a place to relax before going to the hospital. Several friends work at a nearby church, we make our way there. They give us a room with a couch and wireless internet, where we spend the next couple of hours watching TV shows on hulu.com.

Corrie begins to noticeably wince with every contraction, the sign that it's time. The hospital is 10 minutes away. In triage, they inform us that she has progressed and since the contractions are more consistent and stronger, this is the real thing. The time is 3:30pm.

Around 5:00pm our friend and doula, Corinne, arrives from Oxford with our hospital bag, some granola bars, and the birthing ball. Corrie is all about natural childbirth and the ball proves to be a critical instrument in dealing with labor pains. Soon after Corinne arrives, the contractions become stronger, longer, and closer together.

The staff at the Tupelo Women's Hospital are super supportive, allowing Corrie to labor standing up, sitting on the ball, and even on the toilet. They come in every 30 minutes to check the baby's heart rate, but that's all we really see of them.

At 7:00pm, the contractions are coming on pretty strong and pretty close together and by 7:45pm they're every couple of minutes and so strong that Corrie requires intense concentration and deliberate breathing to make it through each one. Her water has not broken yet, but we know it will eventually.

At about 8:15pm, Corinne suggests that Corrie go to the toilet. Corrie states emphatically that that is not an option (as standing and moving is extremely painful by this point), but with some coercing and encouragement she makes her way there. Almost immediately after sitting down, her water breaks, and she stands up screaming, "I HAVE TO PUSH!" For those who know Corrie well, she never screams. Even the capitalized letters I use to quote this don't capture the intensity of this exclamation.

Corinne yells for a nurse out the door.

I help Corrie back to the bed.

All the while she is screaming that she has to push.

When she lays down, we see that she's not kidding. The baby is crowning.

Corinne helps Corrie not to push as the nurses hurry to prepare the room for delivery. The doctor is on his way from a waiting room down the hall.

The bed is not broken down, the nurses are not prepared, the doctor is not in the room.

With the next contraction, Corrie can't help but push and the head emerges. At this point, I declare, "HE IS HERE!" All the nurses turn around and Dr. Young comes out of nowhere placing a hand on the head and clearing the airway.

The next contraction is upon us before anything else can be done, and with a 2nd push, Ezra makes his appearance in to the world.

Meet...Ezra Miles Merricks

2009-01-27T07:58:00.003-06:00

Official stats

2009-01-26T22:03:00.000-06:00

Born at 8:24pm
10 lbs 7 oz
21 inches long

Name still to come.....

www.olemisswesley.org
fathertide.blogspot.com

He's HERE!!!!

2009-01-26T20:38:00.000-06:00

The Name Game

2009-01-16T17:06:00.004-06:00

One of our quirks when having a baby is keeping the name of the new baby a secret. It's not that we don't want your opinion, it's just that we don't want to hurt your feelings when we don't use your suggestion. ahem...

Corrie and I are quite zealous when it comes to naming our children. We read books, look at websites, and even check the Social Security index to see the popularity of the names we like. (This one is really cool because you can narrow down your searches by state and by year. For instance, my dad's name is #13 for the year he was born.)

Anyway, this afternoon we asked Isaiah what he wanted to name his baby brother.

He replied, "Zebra. Eeyore."

Now you know why we don't tell anyone.

Thoughts upon the Inauguration of our 44th President

2009-01-14T10:39:00.004-06:00

As I look ahead to next week's inauguration, I am reminded how truly historic it is. Being at Ole Miss during this last election cycle was very exciting because this small college town hosted one of the presidential debates, which made many remember the struggles of the past. This piece by CNN helps us look ahead to the future.

Happy Birthday Poppa!

2009-01-13T00:01:00.000-06:00

Here's your present. We hope you like it.

Untitled from D. Merricks on Vimeo.

Checklist

2009-01-09T15:17:00.004-06:00

Here's our list of things to do or remember for when it's baby-time:

Are we forgetting anything?