Baptizing Charlie

I had the privilege of baptizing Charlie last Sunday during our 10:00am adult service. It was an awesome experience all around!

Charlie and his family are very special to me. His father, Mike, is a member of my Wednesday morning Men's study and one of my whitewater rafting partners. His mother, Suzy, is our Women's Ministry team leader at FVCC. She is so optimistic and keeps me laughing all the time.

Just a couple of months ago, I had the privilege of presenting Charlie with his God & Me award during a Cub Scout ceremony. This was an award for walking through an extensive study of the Christian faith and beliefs. As an Eagle Scout and a Pastor, this was a great experience.

While I would love to take credit for Charlie's faith and spiritual growth, I believe the credit falls to Mike & Suzy for doing an awesome job raising Charlie and his brother in a strong, Christian home. Great parenting, guys!

Family Emergency Plan

I saw a commercial this evening that reminded me of something I would see in the background of movies like V for Vendetta (2005) or Children of Men (2006). Both of these movies are set in the not-so-distant future when the world is falling apart and there seems to be no recovery. (This is not an endorsement of these movies; they are simply provided for illustrative purposes.)

The commercial I witnessed tonight began with innocent-faced children asking their parents how long they should wait after school... after soccer practice... after piano lessons... before going to a friend or relative's house. The sincere but stern voice-over then stated, "Will your family be ready in case of a terrorist attack? Make sure your family has an emergency plan in place."

What?!? I didn't see that one coming...

I understand that we live in a world where terrorist attacks are possible. I understand that we live in a world that is much different than it was just seven years ago. But have we already moved into the not-so-distant future as portrayed in Hollywood science fiction?

Along the same lines are all of the recent advertisements from the CIA seeking out new recruits. Have you seen these? Isn't the Central Intelligence Agency supposed to take a more subtle approach to recruiting?

Please understand that I am not making a political or social or even spiritual observation here. I am simply lamenting the recent historical turn-of-events and wondering aloud what the future holds for my children and grandchildren.

Honestly...this is why I don't watch the news. Call it avoidance if you will, but it seems like everything on the news deals with death, destruction, greed, etc. I would much rather watch Man vs Wild or Survivorman. After all...if a major terrorist attack happens and the world falls apart around me, I am taking my family into the wilderness! Remember Red Dawn (1984) with Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, and Lea Thompson?

Sorry for the most depressing post I've ever done, but that commercial really got me thinking...

Weekend at the Lake

A couple of weekends ago, Ethan and I went camping with some friends at Devil's Lake in Baraboo, Wisconsin. We had a great weekend hiking, climbing, swimming, fishing, and connecting with God through His creation.

The forecast for the weekend was rain...all weekend. We were very fortunate that we only experienced a few sprinkles and one major shower (which we had advance warning of thanks to some friendly neighbors in the campground).

The first day at the Lake, we decided that the guys would go hiking and rock climbing on some of the bluffs surrounding the lake. We parked at the trailhead and hiked to the top of the bluffs. Alex and Jay started setting up the top rope when I quickly realized that Ethan & I needed to be at the base of the cliff...not the top. One of the guys asked if Ethan could rappel down the 100 foot cliff. I don't think so!

Alex said he thought there was a shortcut up the trail some that would lead to the base of the cliff we were climbing. Russ, Ethan & I started off in search of the shortcut. We never found it, but there were some possible routes if we were simply willing to go bushwhacking. Ethan was game, so down we went.

We got down about 100 feet - slipping and sliding on the mud, holding on to roots of trees - only to find ourselves at the top of another sheer cliff. I left Russ & Ethan there for a minute while I scouted out a new route. About fifty yards to the north, I found a 150-200 foot boulder (talus) field that presented the best option for descending the rest of the bluff face.

Ethan was a little skeptical at first, but he soon got the hang of downclimbing the boulders. There were a few times where Russ & I had to pass Ethan down a drop that was too big for him to climb down. By the end of the climb, Ethan was doing it all on his own and picking out his own routes. It was awesome to see him overcome his fears and enjoy a new challenge. The rest of the weekend, he was looking for any opportunity to climb on some boulders!

TV Guide

Just thought I'd give you some insight into what was on the TV in my house tonight as we got the kids settled down before bed, did some laundry, and posted on the blog...

America's Funniest Videos - the old ones with Bob Sagget (my kids are big Full House fans, so they love to see Danny Tanner in a different light)

NBA Finals - Congrats, Spurs!

Throwdown with Bobby Flay - wings this time...and Bobby lost!

Ace of Cakes - that guy is awesome! Who else uses power tools to make cakes?

American Chopper - Australia bike...not my favorite bike they've ever done...

Donald Miller & David Crowder

I went to Willow Creek Community Church last night with some friends and fellow staff members from FVCC. We went because the David Crowder Band was leading worship and best-selling author, Donald Miller, was speaking (Blue Like Jazz; Searching for God Knows What; Through Painted Deserts; To Own a Dragon).

I've got to tell you... it is so refreshing as a pastor of a church to simply be another face in the crowd during a worship service. I didn't have to worry about people missing their cues. I didn't get anxious when the microphone didn't work (which happened last night; it was really encouraging to all of us pastors to know that happens to them too!). I didn't keep watching the clock wondering if we were going to end on time so we could get people out of this service and in for the next service.

I really appreciated Donald Miller's words last night. Using the story of Joseph, he walked through the elements of a great story - a great protagonist; negative turns in the form of pain, suffering, struggle, and rejection; positive turns in the form of healing, redemption, and acceptance; and a great ending (and it doesn't have to be a positive ending - think Friday Night Lights).

He challenged us to embrace the negative turns in our story...to understand that the challenges and struggles we go through only add to the greatness of our story. As a follower of Christ, we already know the ending of our story. As a result, we have the freedom to embrace the positive and negative turns life throws our way.

One of my favorite illustrations he used last night was from his experience hiking to the great Incan city, Machu Picchu, in Peru. The hike to this UNESCO World Heritage Site takes 3-4 days, covers 26 miles, and crosses three mountain passes. About three miles into the hike, the guide stopped at a fork in the trail.

He stated that if they were to take the trail to the right, they would arrive in Machu Picchu in about six hours. If they took the trail to the left, they would arrive in the city in three days after hiking another 23+ miles. He told them that the Incas only allowed individuals bringing goods into Machu Picchu to take the trail to the right. Everyone else had to take the longer and more challenging trail to the left. The goal was that by experiencing the more arduous journey of the longer trail, the citizens would appreciate the city - the destination - even more.

After hiking the trail to the left and arriving in the city three days later, Miller shared that his appreciation for the city was exponentially deeper than the tourists who took the bus to the famed city. In the same way, we will one day look back on our lives and appreciate the struggles and challenges we experienced because they helped us grow in our faith.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)

Sports Parents

Karen and I entered a new realm of parenthood last night. We are now official, card-carrying members of the Sports Parents Society.

This week marks the beginning of Ethan's athletic career. (One which I am sure will end with a Hall of Fame nod as a south-paw pitcher in the Major Leagues.) We ventured out as a family last night to his first t-ball practice through the Sycamore Park District.

Before practice began, one of the coaches called the parents over to check-in their children. As Ethan & I walked over, I noticed a single-file line quickly forming. I was impressed with my fellow Sports Parents as we behaved in a calm, orderly fashion. We were not going to be the kind of Sports Parents you read about in the newspapers and see in the amateur cinematography on the local news stations.

But just as quickly as I made this mental note, it began...

Other parents, who weren't willing to follow the precedence set by myself and the other Sports Parents, shunned the line and huddled around the coach waiting for any opportunity to seize her attention away from us rule-following, line-forming parents. We were gracious, though, since this was the first day of practice.

But in the midst of this whole experience, my mind had already gone back to my days in school where there were two classes of students - the jocks and the rest of us. I remembered how the jocks - so it seemed - didn't have to follow the rules. They had a personal relationship with the coaches that seemed to transcend the need to do what seemed right and appropriate by the rest of us.

I was honestly taken aback by the thoughts entering my mind about these parents. I began to jump to conclusions and form opinions about them that were completely biased and uninformed. My tension was rising, but I wasn't about to let it show...

A few minutes after check-in, with Ethan out on the field meeting the rest of his coaches, Karen and I settled onto our blanket with our two-year old daughter, Morgan, to watch practice. Almost immediately, a pair of the rule-breaking, line-shunning parents stood directly in front of us effectively blocking our view of the field and the amazing athleticism of five and six year old kids.

Even though I knew they were not going to be there permanently - they were, after all, just coming closer to hear the coach go over the rules - I was immediately frustrated with them. There was plenty of room to stand around the coach without blocking our view. How in the world could somebody be so inconsiderate? Don't they realize that this is our little boy's first-ever team practice? What would they think if I stood in front of them and blocked their view?!?

So here I am...a pastor in a church...an easy-going, roll-with-the-punches kind of guy...going internally ballistic about people I had never met. What in the world just happened to me? Why I am thinking these things?

Now I understand why Sports Parents do crazy things. I don't condone it, but I understand it.

Forty years from now, as Ethan is being inducted into the Hall of Fame, I hope the only amateur video anyone can find is of me cheering from the sidelines and congratulating my fellow Sports Parents. And there will be...as long as everybody forms a straight line and nobody blocks my view of the field.

Caribou Question of the Day

What ship bears the identification number - NCC 1701?

The Crazy Ones

Here's to the Crazy Ones!

The misfits...the rebels...the troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.

They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.

Because they change things. They push the human race forward.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

[Author: Apple Computers, Inc - adapted from a commercial]