Am I really that old?

Well, another year and another birthday. At times it is hard for me to imagine that I've ventured into the 30's since at times working in student ministry makes me think I'm still one of them! I guess that is good since it does keep me young and current with trends and fads, but then my body reminds me that I'm not one of them... and at times, they remind me that I'm not one of them!

We are remodling our master bathroom and my brother-in-law and I laid tile until 2 in the morning on Friday night and then grouted until 1:30 in the morning on Saturday night. So I guess I started my birthday celebration by sponging tile. Exciting. Then by Sunday night, my body reminded me that I'm not young anymore and can't pull all-nighters like I used to.

The busyness of the weekend kept me from really enjoying my birthday, but I'm a low-key kind of birthday guy anyway. My parents did come over for a visit which was great to see them and hopefully a good time for them to spend with their grandsons. I think we are doing the 'family' celebration tonight.

What a blessing to be alive, have a great family and serve an awesome God doing what I love to do! So even though I guess I really am that old... I'm grateful. God is so good and has blessed me beyond what I could imagine!

Loving Like God Loves

I find that the more I am supposed to be growing to be like God, I realize how far I really am! Brooke was on call the other night and got called into work which left me and the boys together on a school night (needing to prepare for bed and such) but also having to get up to church to rehearse with the worship team. Somewhat stressful. We had to leave rehearsal early to get home and after getting Brock in bed, meant it was time to bathe Jake and get him ready for bed. The good news is Jake loves to take a bath, the bad news is he hates to get out of the bath. Even though the thought of, "I wonder if he could just sleep in his bathtub" does cross my mind - I figured it wasn't the good 'parenting' thing to do.

God must have so much patience with me and my shortcomings (I guess that is a nice word for sin) and I realize with Jake how much I'm not like my patient and loving Heavenly Father. I know all parents experience it - but it is frustrating to try to give your child what they need when they can't tell you what they need in a way you can understand it. Somehow screaming your lungs out doesn't really help me know what you need! But I try and I try to love and be patient while loving and realize how hard that is. It makes me wonder if it is really hard for God. I mean, I know the right answer is that nothing is hard for God, but it must break his heart when his children wander and scream for the things that the world has to offer. And He patiently loves nonetheless. All that to say... I'm not really good and loving like God loves... but I'm glad He is!

Off I Go...

Well... this has been a long time coming, I guess. I don't think it has been the fear of connection or sharing that has kept me away from MySpace, Facebook and being a Blogger, but the time commitment. It seems that so much already occupies my time that it is hard for me to give something else my attention! But ministering to this generation of technology savvy students has increased my desire to understand the world of internet connection/relationships verses face-to-face relationships and interpersonal communication. So off I go...