mark 1.40

I've been captivated for four days by a singular verse:

A man with leprosy came to [Jesus] and begged him on his knees,
"If you are willing, you can make me clean."
Mark 1.40

Over and over, I've been chewing on two thoughts:

1. This desperate man didn't spend even one word introducing himself or explaining the history of his condition. He didn't begin with a focus on himself. He focused his words on Jesus: "If YOU are WILLING..."
2. And of all the things he could have asked for, he longed to be "clean."
   

Clean.

Whole.

Imagine.

This is what the voice of Jesus offers us.

unexpected

"On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground--"

Fhhlop

It was an unexpected sound. Normally I try to stay focused during devotionals in the hope that focus will somehow become contagious. But I had to turn around this time.

There was Barry.
Hymnal in hand.
With a plunger on his head.

Jonathan found a "cute" (and thankfully new, well new-ish) plunger. In his brilliant brain, it seemed to be the exact size of dad's head.

Struggling with impulsivity from time to time, Jona just couldn't help himself. "I wonder if it would fit dad," he thought.

Fhhlop

It did.

(and we're still laughing)

church at home today

When it rains for several days, our normally dry creek bed floods and blocks the drive out of our home. Breaking the news to the kids (who LOVE going to church) wasn't fun but we quickly made plans to have a service at home.

"Who would like to lead worship? Pray? Teach?" we asked. "I want to lead worship! And I want to teach!" Keona shouted. "Guess I'll pray," Jonathan sighed, "but I'd rather go to church."

Keona selected a worship CD and we had a blast. Near our piano we have a short bookshelf loaded with all sorts of instruments. Jonathan started with the accordion (the child can find the exact melody on any instrument) and later transitioned to the kazoo. Bear picked up drums. Keona danced. I had a tamborine. And dear Louie happily twirled around.

After around 5 worship songs, Keona opened her "young reader" Bible and read about God creating the world. Daddy then stood to illustrate the theme "God-made-everything." And then Jona stood to say, "Without God, nothing would be alive!"

We gathered together to pray and say a final "amen" when Keona ran back into the kitchen and emerged with two small tuperwares. "Time to take an offering!" she said. We each pulled out coins and passed the tuperware. We put coins in...and Louie took them out.

Then Keona prayed, "Jesus, please take this money tonight while we're sleeping. Please use it to help the poor. They need milk. Amen."

Amen.

Keona's latest book

5 year old Keona just handed me her latest book. It's a picture book and I'll summarize it's contents below:

Cover: "Thigs and popepole" (things and people)
Page 1: drawing of Keona (with shorts and a shirt and a smile)
Page 2: drawing of Keona at school (complete with building)
Page 3: drawing of Keona at church (complete with building)
Page 4: drawing of Keona at "Ulshu Chole" home (alicia chole--our house)
Page 5 and 6: drawing of Keona at Wal-mart (spelled correctly)
Page 7: drawing of a very surprised (mouth open) Keona at "Jef sin side" (Jefferson City)
Page 8: drawing of relieved Keona back at "Ulshu Chole" home (see above)
Page 9: drawing of happy Keona tucked in Mommy's bed
Back Cover: "The enod" (the end)

like Daddy

Louie wanted to watch a Diego with Daddy so they went upstairs to have some cuddle time together.

Barry took off his shoes and put them by the rocking chair.
Louie jumped off the chair, took off his shoes, and carefully positioned them next to Dad's.

Barry adjusted his baseball cap.
Louie realized he didn't have one...so he and Dad took a break to pick just the right cap from Dad's shelf.

Louie looked at Dad and sighed. Sufficiently satisfied of their similarity, he snuggled near Dad's chest.

"Go Diego, go Deigo, go Diego, go......" the show continued as a toddler smiled broadly and a daddy had tears in his eyes.

blog block

Sorry for the silence as of late. I've had blog block.

Several times a day I think of something I'd like to write but I'm in a rather contemplative mood--okay, more than usual--and everything I tried to write seemed too thick.

So here are some snapshots into my last few days:

• Dear baby Louie picked and gave me a wildflower.
• Dear baby Louie was frustrated and gave me a lovely scratch beneath my eye.
• Friday night I spoke on repositioning emotions behind truth at the James River Women's Rally and Monday night I shared on "reflections of a former Atheist: 5 things I like about God" at MSU's campus life meeting.
  
• Jonathan really wanted to go to church after a highly impulsive day last week and I explained that I thought we needed to pass based on his behavior. "But mom," he cried, "I promise I'll behave at church!" I thought for a second and said, "Jonathan, did you know that's hypocrisy? To disobey at home and act like an angel at church is hypocrisy buddy." "I didn't know that was hypocrisy, mom. I don't ever want to be a hypocrite."
  
• My office is filled with boxes of my next book: Finding an Unseen God. It won't be available in stores for several weeks but it's been a joy to hold a dream in my hands.
• Bear just pulled into the garage with precious Keona from their monthly date. He called on their way home and shared that they rode go-carts at Incredible Pizza together and went to the store to pick out Easter cards. All three kids get a date with Daddy once a month and they look forward to it for the next 30 days! What a precious gift they have received from God in Barry as a daddy.