Random Thoughts

I've been wanting to post something up here for a few days now, just couldn't get all my thoughts in order. When you have such a gynormous brain, it tends to happen. :) Here are the things that have been going on/I've been thinking about.

1. Daughtry's song "Home" - Heard this on K-Love the other day. FOR THE RECORD: I have been talking about the incredible Christian lyrics in this song for weeks now. It's not technically a Christian song, but is it ever a cry out to heaven. I'll post the lyrics up one of these days.
2. The Bible tells us that we will lose friends and family members when we choose Jesus over the world. I read that and comprehend it, but it really hit home recently. The one person other than my wife, whom I love and trust more than anyone else, has pretty much up and forgotten our friendship. Having moved 2,000 miles away doesn't help in keeping friendships as they always were, but you'd think the 2 of us being 30 would make it a little easier. I consider my friend as close as family, if not more so. The contact between us gotten more and more sparse and I don't know how to make it come back. It stinks to see him related to his MySpace "friends" more than his so called "brother".
3. So one thing that has been on my heart for a few weeks now, is the topic of Spiritual Leadership in the home. God has been laying on me the idea of how the Man is the one responsible for the growth of the home. Men are, by Biblical standards, the Spritual Leader of the house and the wife is to honor and respect the husband. I gotta tell yea, that is some awkward stuff right there to write. How easy it can be for a man to take advantage of this "power" and honor God has given us. How many men claim to spend time in the word and prayer and are truly seeking out God's will? If a man does this, God will make His will known to the husband and wife. If a man isn't seeking God's will, then arguments and strife will overrun the house. Someday I'll expand on this, but in short it's my belief that God has given men an enormous responsibility to set order in the home and the only true way to do this is through time in God's word and prayer.
   
4. I've started reading 4-6 chapters a morning of the bible. My good friend Chuck gave me the book "Cultivating a Life for God" by Neil Cole, which talked about reading the Bible daily in large doses. Pretty much the theory is: If God can't change you through his Word and prayer, no man can. I agree with that to an extend. I think God can use others to change a person's heart or at least get into a persons heart. But all in all I agree with the books thoughts and I have been reading 20-30 chapters a week. It's been interesting and I think a part of what I wrote about the Spiritual Leaders of the home is a result of my quiet times.
5. Adoption Update: Siete has been released from the hospital and is now staying with Pastor Wesley at his home. We feel so blessed that Siete is doing ok. Last week another baby in the orphanage went to the hospital and the illness overtook her and she went home to heaven. Please pray for these children living in an area where dehydration can kill them. We are still waiting for the official "OK" to travel. Feels like we have been waiting forever for this process to come to an end. In HIS time I know, but I'm human and can't understand His time sometimes.
6. July 31st: Baseball's official trading deadline. Looks like some deals will be made, but nothing will ever be like 2004 when the Red Sox traded fan favorite Nomahhhh for a couple of players who 3 months later propelled them to their first championship in 86 years.
   
7. Lastly...I'm praying my way to 185. I've put the pounds on again. God tells us our bodies are a temple. I realized the other day, this temple now has a garage and barn!! Time to get myself down to where I should be. I'm aiming for a weight I haven't been in my adult life. Through prayer, God has worked in me to remove other junk from my life, and I'm praying He will push me and give me the strength to lay off the extra cookies or large lunches.
   

Until Next Time....He is Our Solid Rock!

Holy 409

Aaaahhhh...to be so new to it all. It's happened a few times now, I read something or learn something new at church and it hits me like a ton of bricks. My eyes are opened and I feel like a new creature in God again. This happened a few weeks ago as our pastor taught through Psalm 51. I hear it, I feel it and I start praying it and God just fires me up with his amazing lovingkindness. I then run to people and tell them all about it and how amazing it is and how it can too change your life. Most people down here are life long Christians and they give me a look like "Boy...you ain't from 'round these parts are ya?"

Have you ever taken time to read through Psalm 51 ? If not I recommend you sit down for an hour or so, read through it, pray it out loud to God. He teaches us to pray back to Him His word and Psalm 51 is a perfect piece of wisdom to pray right back to Him. I've asked God to take out the Holy 409 and clean me even more on the inside.

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A whirlwind of family times came to a close on Monday. During the last week in June we had my father in law and his wife in town for 5 days. It was great to sit and talk with them at night and just share our new family with them. It's always a treat for me to get some time with my father in law. He and Wife's mom were always amazing to me, in every way possible. (I still say to this day I never technically lived with them after Uno was born, but I can only say that because I didn't have mail delivered there...I did have my own room though.) It was great to talk about God with them and get a glimpse into their lives and relationships with Jesus. It's such an inspiration to me to see others living out the life God has put before them.

Then last week we had Wife's brother Andy come stay with us for a week or so with his wife Maureen and daughter Ashley. It was the first time I got to sit with them as a Christian and listen with an open heart, their views and thoughts and share my thoughts and views of Jesus and our lives here on earth. We got to share how God is working in our lives, prayed together and just hung out for the week. There was a lot of sore arms and necks from playing games on the Wii :)

I realized a few things from these visits. First, God is amazing and so in control of everything everywhere. Hearing stories about my father in law being talked to by God in the middle of the night and working on new ministry ideas. While doing that, God is pushing Andy to start his new life at a new church and giving him the peace he needs to make that transition. At the same time He is working on Wife and I with the adoption and patience. From Tennessee to Massachusetts to Texas, God is right there in control of it all. And that isn't even beginning to think about all the people all over the world God is with. Psalm 121 teaches us that God does not slumber nor sleep...think about the enormity of that.

Second I learned that God has really worked in me the last year or so. Biblical knowledge I didn't think I was retaining is actually in there. God has really opened my eyes to how He expects me to live and raise my family. I was so afraid I was going to be "different" when the family was in town, but I feel like I am really building a foundation on solid rock and not sinking sand. I don't know if we will ever be called to move back home or anywhere outside of where we are now. What I do know is, if it ever happens, God plan for us being here is working and we are so much stronger in Him. I believe He moved us down here, to remove us from all that kept us from Him. I can't wait to see how He uses us as we continue to grow.

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Adoption Update: If you haven't been reading Wife's blog, you should be :). Seite is in the hospital and that is absolutely nerve wracking. He has been throwing up for a while now and they brought him to give him fluids and medication to try and stop it. It all sounds so basic and trivial, but in Africa it isn't. Too many babies, children and adults die of dehydration.

Cinco and Tres, from what we have been told are doing good. We got a new group picture and we can see Tres (fingers in mouth and all) and Tres in it and they look pretty good. Seite couldn't be found in the picture, we think we can see half of his head behind someone.

We are getting closer to traveling. Our paper work is moving along and passports are in. We are now just waiting for the "OK" to travel. I'm taking one my friends from the Liberia mission trip with me. He's going to help out with the 3 little ones. He's an amazing young man and I feel honored to be going with him.

I think that's all I have for now. Stupidly long post today, sorry. :) Hopefully I'll have more in the next few days.

All to His Glory