Kid President - How To Change The World (a work in progress)

When I grow up I want to be like this kid.
Relax
Breathe
Love

Merry Christmas

I Wonder If This Is How God Feels...?

(This was written when my oldest daughter, Kate, was a 6th grader.  She has recently completed her sophomore year as a letter winner on the cross country team.  And she still says she can go faster)

I wonder if this is how God feels…

It has been a remarkable season watching Kate (my oldest) run cross-country for her junior high team. 

Remarkable in the sense that she has received no genetic gifting whatsoever for this endeavor from her father.

Remarkable in the fact that 2 months ago Kate had never run a single mile.

Remarkable in the way that God has worked on me through all of this.

It’s hard being an overprotective father at a cross-country meet.

The gun goes off…

Off they go…

Out of sight…

Out of your care…

What if she falls?  What if she gets lost?  What if she gets sick?

What am I suppose to do?

Wait

Watch

Cheer

Since her first meet (running at around 17:00), Kate’s single goal was to qualify for the state meet.  She watched as her best friend qualified.  She watched as new friends qualified.  She got excited as her times steadily dropped with each meet.

She fretted for two straight meets as her times went the wrong direction.

She celebrated as the whole team qualified for the state meet, but she wasn’t content.

“I will qualify as an individual.”

She became Donna Quixote and 14:30 was her windmill

Last night, with fall definitely in the air, the starter’s pistol once again signaled the start of another pursuit and the last chance to qualify as an individual for state.

Kate looked so strong (even though she is one of the smallest out there)

Kate looked so beautiful (just like her mom – I need all the points I can get)

Kate looked so determined

Kate looked so at peace…

            and then she was gone           

                        swallowed up by the pack

                                    overtaken by the trees

And all I could do was…

Wait

Watch

Cheer

This was Kate’s race.  Her competition was herself.  I couldn’t fix things. 

Make things better.  Guarantee her a happy ending.

On the other side of the finish line was a life lesson written out just for her.

Regardless of the outcome, Kate was going to learn something about herself.

And all I could do was…

Wait

Watch

Cheer

As she crossed the finish line I came to a realization and placed my stopwatch/iPhone into my pocket

Her victory this day would not be defined by place

Her worth could never be factored out in increments of time

Kate left nothing out on that course 

And although she was not the fastest, there was no one out there more determined.

As we walked towards each other, tears filled both our eyes. 

No words 

She just needed her Dad to hold her for a minute

I wondered if this is how God feels…

When we fall into His arms

            Exhausted

                        Weary

                                    With nothing left to give

I wondered if this is what God waits for…

            Us to fall into His arms

                        Win, lose or draw

Seeking Him as our refuge and strength, above any accolades, awards, or ribbons

I wondered if this is what God longs for…

That moment when we realize that we have a Father in Heaven who will throw open His arms to hold us when we seek Him out…

regardless of where

or how

or even if we cross the finish line

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

Kate’s time was 14:26

Kate qualified as an individual for the state meet

Her response…

“I know I can go faster…”

I know you can too, Kate Rabbit

I know you can too

But even if you don’t…

There is nothing you can do, or not do

That will make me love you even more or even less

I wonder if that is how God feels…

The Year In Review

You don't know me.

I hold no real position of authority.

I have no leverage, influence, or any great wisdom that warrants you paying me any mind.

I am nobody.

With that said...

Here's what I've learned from this past year…

We really know how to hate the other guy.

We are willing to accept behavior that we would punish our children for displaying 
(well, some parents would - that's a whole other post).

We have no problem… 

…defaming

…accusing

…lying

…or refusing to listen first to anybody.

And the really cool thing is now we can do all of that on social media!!!

We get to act like a bunch of 7th graders who've been mainlining RedBull for days!

(And I realize I’ve just offended half of the “church’ folk for my flippant drug reference)

We can urge people to vote their body parts...

We can describe people as body parts…

We can describe which body parts we find the most useful for deriving pleasure from

(That should take care of offending the other half of the ‘church’ crowd)

And everybody now has cornered the market on...

what rights we have

what we’re entitled to

the nature and character of God

the frailty and dysfunction of religion

and what is truth, justice, and the American way

Ready…?

God does not hate gay people…

or Republicans

or Democrats

or hillbillies

or hipsters

or Rachel Maddow

or Rush Limbaugh

or even the Miami Heat 

God. hates. sin.

Buckle up, Buttercup

Therein lies the dilemma…

We are all sinners.

All of us.  ALL OF US.

The mistake we make is that we've convinced ourselves that those 'sins' are all owned by 'the other guy'

We never address our sin - we just blame the other guy.

And nothing gets done.  And nothing gets better.  AND NOTHING CHANGES.

The once shining city on a hill is reduced to a smoldering ruin of what we thought once was, what we had hoped it is, and what we prayed (if  we even do that) it might become

Peace on earth and mercy mild.  God and sinners reconciled

See…

Jesus is not the ‘reason for the season’

Our sin is…

That babe in a manger was the Creator of the Universe extending us a lifeline to save us from ourselves…

We’re all sinners.  We all need Jesus.

I don't think government is the answer

I believe all life is sacred

I believe that God is who He says He is or He is nothing at all

And I believe there is a God like that and its not me (or you)

I believe that those who call upon that God's name are to love others because He loved us first

I'm not sure where that fits into politics or pop culture

I'm pretty sure you'll go ahead and label me

I'm pretty sure most have already done that

I know I run the risk of being 'de-friended'...

Even possibly 'de-familied'...

But I don't care

Because the clearest thing this past year has taught me is this...

If we don't start loving one another like God calls us…

If we don’t start giving the same grace that Christ has given us…

We don’t have a hope in hell

And it has to start with me

You don't know me

I am nobody

I am a sinner

I have been saved by grace

Because of that, I need to show that same grace and love

I am nobody…but I love you anyway 

Merry Christmas

Run Towards The Roar...Again

Benaiah son of Jehoiada, 
a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, 
performed great exploits.  
He struck down Moab's two mightiest warriors.  He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 
- 1 Chron. 11:22

Benaiah has to be one of my favorite Biblical characters, even though he doesn't get much publicity.

Here's why...
Benaiah did work.
Day in, day out...
He was grinding.
Sharpening.
Sweating.

...and listening.

One day he hears a roar in the neighborhood.   
The kinda roar that comes from the kinda things that have a tendency to ruin one's day.

The kinda roar that kills dreams...
Paralyzes with fear...
Makes you a loser long before the game begins...

The kinda roar that makes you walk away from the fight...
and then echoes in your soul for the rest of your life.

The kinda roar that announces "this is your moment"

Benaiah seized that moment
Benaiah ran towards the roar

Every day we will hear the echoes of the roars around us
Every day we will have a moment - to run towards, or run from

Know the funny thing?  
The 'roar' wants none of you
It's banking on you getting scared, giving up, backing down

It's trying to get you to think you've messed up too badly
That you just aren't good enough...
Strong enough...
Talented enough...

School's too small...
Game's too weak...
Dream's too big...

That's just the roar and that roar wants none of you
Run towards the roar

Benaiah's name means 'God has built'
How cool is that...?

Benny did all the grinding and prepping - but God has built
Makes me think that even the roars we hear - God has built

Because He knows we're ready
Because He knows we've prepped
Because He knows we might be a little scared...
...but He knows He has built this moment

Hear that roar?

That's the sound of your moment

Go do work

Write your story

Run Towards The Roar

Now He Knows...

Though only in my life for the past couple of years, Joe MacCrae quickly became my hero

I would sit enthralled by stories of his youth
When we were a nation of backbone, conviction, character, and courage

Honor meant something to Joe

He loved his wife
his friends
my girls
and even me

I would talk to Joe about Christ...
about forgiveness
about grace

I asked Joe if he had accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior

Joe always said 'yes'

But then...

"Just don't know if even Jesus could love a guy like me.  I've done bad things.
Just don't know..."

I could never get Joe to release those past sins that had long been since past

He was haunted by them
He was grieved by them

But unlike so many 'christians' I know...
He owned them

I never knew the man that Joe was disappointed in.
I only knew the Joe who loved like a man who was getting used to the idea that he was lovable

on a snowy December morning, my friend Joe let go of 93 yrs on this planet...

And was welcomed into the open arms of the Savior who forgave and loves him.

I told you, Joe.  I told you.

Now he knows...

The Waiting Is The Hardest Part...

Been here before.  Same industrial furniture.  Same harsh flourescent lighting.  Same feel...
Worry.  Hope.  Impatience.  Comfort.  Did I mention 'worry'?

They call this place 'the waiting room'.  Very appropriate.
Because in the words of the great Tom Petty, "the waiting is the hardest part."

Hospital waiting rooms are the worst
Literally...you wait.
For answers
Solutions
Cures
Assurance
Heartbreak

And it takes so much energy to wait.

I think that because fear hangs onto your shoulders...
Whispers into your imagination all the worst case scenarios

So we sit
Waiting...
and too often waiting on the worst

"Will he get better?"
"Will I find a job?"
"Do they still love me?"

These are the questions we ask in the 'waiting room'
They point to our sense of security, normalcy, and identity
Of what we're anchored to.  Of what we cling to...

Ask yourself this...
Before that September morning in 2001, did you spend much time wondering when the next terror attack would come?

Do you ever find yourself 'waiting for the other shoe to drop'?
Did you catch that?  Waiting.

Waiting is so hard because we pin our hopes on circumstances and others
On stuff of this world and of this moment.

What if we shifted the focus of our waiting?  Maybe to something like this...

"but those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength"

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

Not a promise for a fairy tale ending
But it is a guarantee that God will provide the strength to carry on...
Regardless of the outcome of the wait

Because eventually we all leave the waiting room
Eventually we all walk out into the life after the wait

The strength (or lack thereof) for that life comes from what we've been waiting on

Christmas has that way of making us remember the magic and the promise of 'the wait'
Whether its a gift wrapped in colored paper...
or swaddling clothes

We sing about God's great faithfulness
"strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow"
But its only when we choose to wait on the Lord for...
Comfort
Strength
Forgiveness
Hope
Peace

Its only then that we get the strength to stand...
Whatever the outcome of the wait is

But don't kid yourself...
The waiting is the hardest part