I read an interesting article in Relevant Magazine on the flight to LA on Sunday. While it was directed at Christians, I think it applies equally to all. Here are portions of the article:

Many Christians traditionally have voted Republican because of their justifiable conviction to protect the lives of the unborn. Now, many younger Christians are voting Democrat because of their justifiable desire to see our nation, the most prosperous in the world, address issues of poverty, global aid and the environment.

The problem is, many Christians vote these convictions, but that’s largely where their personal involvement in the issues stops… If God has given you a heart for the poor, or to see a reduction in the number of abortions, or to promote peace, or to help the sick…then your personal focus needs to be on that — whether or not the president shares your same values.

Later in the article, author Cameron Strang added:

If you have a passion for an issue, rather than judging someone who doesn’t share that passion or viewpoint, just go do something about it. Give your life to it. Be the change you want to see.

We need to pray for our leaders and our country, but always remember that our leaders and country do not define us. We are the generation that will shape the direction culture, government and social action will take in the next 50 years… I say it’s time we step up and lead the charge.

But that means with our lives, our finances and our actions every day. Not just on Nov. 4.

Again, this article was directed at Christians but I think it probably applies to most Americans. It certainly applies to me and got my attention! Without getting too political here, what do you think?

Article content reprinted with permission from Relevant Magazine, Issue # 35, Page 6, written by Cameron Strang.

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The truth is, I’ve been terribly busy over the past month. Work has demanded far more of my time than there are minutes in the day. This week I have to go to California to help kick-start several projects. I am scheduled to fly out tomorrow so I’ll be there Monday morning. And that triggered a conversation between my boss and me yesterday morning. It went something like this.

Boss (who is also supposed to be going to California): I can’t get a direct flight to San Diego on Sunday so you are going to have to go alone. I’ll fly out Monday night and meet you there Tuesday morning.
Me: That’s fine.
Boss (about five minutes later): I can’t get a direct flight into San Diego at all this week.
Me: Why don’t you have <assistant name> switch my flight (I already had a flight booked) and you take mine. I’ll fly into Los Angeles and drive down to San Diego.
Boss: Oh, well if you are going to fly into LA, I’ll fly with you. I just didn’t want to drive down by myself.
Me: That’s fine but you are going to have to go to church with me on Sunday night.
Boss: What kind of church is it?
Me: Don’t worry. You’ll like it.
Boss: OK. Is it a Bible church?
Me: It’s unlike any church you’ve probably ever been to. Don’t worry. You’ll like it.

                                                                              …

About this same time tomorrow night, I should be leaving the Mayan Theatre in downtown LA. This is where Mosaic, a church “Community of Faith, Hope and Love”, meets every Sunday evening. When I have to travel to California, which thankfully isn’t very often, this is where I go to church.

I do not like travelling without Lana and the girls. But I have to be honest, I am a little bit excited about this trip. My boss thinks I am trying to convert her. I think God is simply trying to get her attention.

Please keep the girls in your prayers this week.

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In the next few weeks, we are going to introduce two new series of posts to help you get to know us a little better and help us get to know you a little better. This is the introduction to the first series, what we’re calling “You Ask, We Answer”. In short, you can ask us any questions you want. We will review your questions and periodically pick one to answer.

You may have seen this type of series if you follow blogs like Whittaker Woman (click here for an example). Our spin on this is that Lana and I will both address the same questions. You’ll get two different responses and occasionally two very different perspectives of the same topic.

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, the second upcoming series will be, “We Ask, You Answer”. More to come in a few weeks or so.

So…what do you want to ask us?

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About two years ago, I was making coffee and Lauren asked if she could have some of it. “Sure,” I said, thinking that one tiny sip would cure her for at least the next ten years. Well, it didn’t quite work out the way I planned.

“Mmmmm! Daddy’s coffee is GOOOD!”

Since then, it’s become a bit of a ritual, mostly on weekends. I start making coffee. Lauren asks if she can help. Of course she can. She loves to stir the creamer swirls until they are gone. When we are finished, she takes a sip or two.

Here are a couple of recent pictures. I tried something a little bit different with the first one, bumping up the contrast quite a bit. Not sure if it works but Lauren approved (in fact, she helped me prepare them to post).

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While looking for an old picture of Lana to respond to her “Best Meal Ever” post, I found the following in our files. As I understand it, Lana’s dad made it as part of her high school graduation invitation.

Here it is in text in case you cannot read the picture:

The Weaver
My life is but a weaving, between my Lord and me.
I cannot choose the colors. He worketh steadily.
Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride…
Forget He sees the upper and I the underside.
Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

Anonymous

I really do believe that God uses pain and sorrow as well as joy and good times to shape us and form our character. In a million years, we would have never asked for a child who is terminally ill. Yet, we really do love Carmen and she has opened our eyes to see the beauty of the imperfect (although it’s not like the rest of us are perfect).

Your turn. How has God used sorrow to mold you and shape you?

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We receive a lot of packages in the mail, anything from cases of Nutren Jr. (Carmen’s food), boxes of 1 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml syringes, medicine refills from Hospice and all kinds of other medical supplies.

An interesting package “arrived” the other day. Take a look!

Have you received anything interesting lately?

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I’ve known how great Lana is for quite awhile now. But to see her on the same list as CS Lewis and Esther surprises even me!

Here are writers 3-5 on Nicole’s current reading list:

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Every now and again, I feel restless, like something really big is just about to happen. OK, I guess I’m always a bit restless…but I don’t always feel like something really big is about to happen. 

To borrow the words of Erwin McManus, who most likely borrowed them from someone before him, I am a futurist. I love thinking about the future and wondering about it. Dreaming.

                                                                              …

Early last summer (2007) I went out to lunch with my good friend, Ted. We work near each other and met at Potbelly’s for a sandwich. As it often does, our conversation turned to what God was doing in our lives. I remember this conversation like it was yesterday. I told him that I was fairly certain that Lana and I were on the verge of something really big and that God was preparing us for it. “What do you think it is?” Ted asked. I had no idea and told him so.

Literally a few days later, we were told that Carmen probably had Tay Sachs, a rare and fatal disease.

                                                                              …

Sometimes I get so caught up in the future that I forget about today. That can be a problem. As McManus says, that’s just dreaming and dreaming alone accomplishes nothing (my own distorted interpretation).

                                                                              …

I am there again. Restless and perhaps on the verge of something big. Only this time, it seems as though it’s still a little bit off in the distance. Lana really doesn’t like it when I am there because it can seem as though I am bordering on depression. Perhaps I am. Depressed because whatever it is, it’s there and not here. I think most people call this discontentment. Perhaps it is.

To be sure, I recognize fully that we are already in the midst of something huge. But I can’t help but believe that we are again on the verge of something big. Something big…and something different. Once again, I do not know what it is. But I am preparing. Today. Here is what I am doing:

1. Praying like crazy
2. Narrowing the focus of what I do each day/week
3. Eliminating distractions
4. Seeking input from Lana and a few others

What do you do when you feel like God might be whispering in your ear?

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This made us laugh out loud!

Thanks Christina.

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Consider yourself warned! Some of you are not going to like this post.

The doctors and nurses surrounding us don’t seem to think that Carmen has much life left ahead of her. As Lana has written previously, Carmen’s body is simply wearing out. To be sure, Lana and I are absolutely confident that God can heal Carmen. Yet we are also confident that He is God whether He chooses to heal her or not. So while we continue to ask God for a miracle, we are also doing everything we can to prepare for Carmen’s funeral so that if the time comes we will have a few less things to worry about.

About two months ago, we visited a funeral home and talked through several options. A couple of weeks ago, we visited a cemetery and did likewise. This past weekend, Lana prepared the funeral program while I wrote the first draft of Carmen’s eulogy. In many ways, it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. Yet it was also one of the easiest things because the imprint of her life on ours has been so incredibly vivid. I am not going to share it with you now. Lord willing, I’ll never share it with you if God chooses to heal Carmen.

But it really got me thinking about my own eulogy. What will people say about me when I’m gone? What impact, if any, will I have made? What legacy will I leave behind? These questions might seem morbid but I think they are important questions.

So here’s your chance…if there are any brave souls among you. If you could write your own eulogy, what would it say?

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