"Spiderman Underwear"

I often blog about our 3-year-old, Luke (Lukestein). Usually it's how he frustrates me, or challenges me, or how he is helping me learn about patience. Well, since I usually rag on the poor kid, today I thought I would celebrate the kid.

Today marks one week of "pooping and peeing on the potty." That may not be a big deal to you, but to me, that's an incredible accomplishment.

CONGRATS, son. And thank you. Keep up the good work. And keep those undies clean.

"Horton Hears a... WHAT?"

I don't want anyone think that I actually encourage my children to stick their heads in a bag; even though the thought of putting them in one from time to time does have a strange appeal.

Yesterday was speak-fest 2009.

"What do you ever mean?"

Well, it was non stop from the time the 2nd grader and K grader got home from school, right up until the time my lovely and endearing wife went to bed. Non-stop chatter. Non-stop questions. Non-stop ramblings about a refrigerator ( a large cold one), the reindeer on my shirt (don't they know the difference between whitetails and reindeer by now), and on and on and on.

I'm exhausted just recanting the events in my mind.

Really, I just wanted to put on a brown paper bag like the one's they wear when their team is really bad. Go to a Pirates game some time and find out.

Now, don't get me wrong. I promise you that one day I will ask at least one of my children why they don't call me enough. It will happen. And when it does, I won't be the biggest hypocrite in the world, I'll just be the loneliest dad in the world.

SO, I'll suck it up again today. Listen as best I can. Ask questions the best I can.
That's what dad's do... and husbands do if they enjoy sleeping on his eighth of the bed each night.

"May The Force..."

Yeah, I know, it's only October 5th, but for some reason I wanted to re-post something I wrote Halloween 2008. I don't know, maybe give you all a few weeks to prepare for 10.31.09 !

Today is October 31st, 2008... Halloween.
Setting aside the discussion of whether or not it behoove God's people to participate, isn't this a real opportunity to evangelize? I'm not sure how many people are going to come to your door, willingly, everyday. But this one night, the most impressionable will come. 10, 20, 100 kids knocking on your door looking for candy.
Can't we use this time to give them so much more?
They are coming seeking. Feed them.

When they had finished eating,
Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon son of John, do you truly
love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." (John 21:15 NIV)

I guess it's time to start swallowing my own thoughts for a change.

"From 1 to Infinite"

I know I have written regarding the Lukenstein in the past. He's seated on the right.

I'm not quite sure what goes on in the brain of a 2.5 year old thru 3.5 year old, but I'm guessing it's God's way of ensuring parents they learn patience.

That being said, I should be an expert in patience when Levi (seated on the left) gets through his tantrum-terrible 2.5 thru 3.5s.

I certainly do believe our Wonderful Creator has a humorous side.


By the way, HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY, Levi. Goodbye to your months, son. Hello to your year-olds.

"Brain"

I've done a lot of thinking in the past few days. It's not that I normally avoid it, but sometimes I find myself too busy for it.

I understand that my brain is always working...

Maybe I shouldn't say I did a lot of thinking; maybe I should say I did a lot of reflecting in the last few days.

All over the map reflection.
Unfortunately, it's tragedy that brings those types of reflective sessions to mind.

"Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this."
2 Timothy 2:7 NIV

"I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done." Psalm 143:5 NIV

"____________"

My father-in-law died today. Only recently, as recently as this past Monday, he was diagnosed with leukemia. He leaves behind his wife, 3 married daughters, 6 grandchildren and one grandchild on the way. Please pray if you would for comfort to all through this difficult time.

"The Best Part of Waking Up."

I was reading the paper on the porch this morning, enjoy a cup of instant caffeine free (i guess it's called DECAF) coffee. I was reading about last night's Steeler/Titan game.

Here's How I like my coffee: not too hot, no sugar, equal parts coffee... equal parts cream. Delicious.

After I read a few articles, I grabbed my cup of java and looked forward to savoring a big gulp.

YIKES!

I didn't find drinking pleasure. All I got was mouthful of lukewarm.

YUCK!

And then, I was reminded of this:
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:14-16 NIV

The following is a commentary on the above taken from biblegateway.com:

By the time Revelation was written, the Christian community in Laodicea and vicinity seems to have prospered. The angel at Laodicea is described as boasting, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing (v. 17; compare "Babylon the Great" according to 18:7). But in contrast to the angel at Smyrna, who was materially poor but rich in God's sight (2:9), this angel is wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked (v. 17; compare 18:8). His works are compared to tepid water, neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth (vv. 15-16).

The site where Laodicea once stood includes an elaborate fountain and a water tower supplied by an aqueduct from hot springs at the site of modern Denizli, four miles south. Not surprisingly, many have suggested a possible local reference here, "a play on words, contrasting what may have been the tepid water of the aqueduct at Laodicea with the possibly fresher and colder water at Colossae and with the very hot water of the cascades at Hierapolis" (Finegan 1981:182). Yet readers in any of the Asian cities, no matter how close or how far away their water supply, would have understood the metaphor. Either cold or hot water is good for something, but lukewarm water is not. The point of the rebuke is not lack of zeal or enthusiasm. If it were, "lukewarm" would at least have been better than "cold"! The point is rather the utter worthlessness of what the congregation has done and is doing. The metaphor is a more blunt and colorful way of saying what was said to the angel at Sardis: "I have not found your deeds complete [that is, acceptable] in the sight of my God" (3:2).

Lukewarm coffee is gross to me. Lukewarm Christians are unacceptable to God.