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Dave's Random (Sometimes Theological) Musings
Thursday, August 07, 20008
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August 6, 2008. CNN
Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman will be on Larry King Live tomorrow night (Thursday) at 9 pm EST. For those of you who might not know, the Chapmans adopted three girls. Maria, the youngest of the three, was tragically killed in a car accident in May. You can read more about it here.
From what I've read, the Chapmans will be Larry King's guests for the entire one hour show. Don't miss it!!
August 5, 2008. Change
July 15, 2008. Funny
Last week, Lauren and I started reading through the Bible together. We usually read a chapter a night. Tonight, we read Matthew Chapter 6.
As I finished reading the chapter, Lauren asked me who wrote Matthew. I said, "Matthew. Matthew wrote Matthew. Mark wrote Mark. Luke wrote Luke. John wrote John."
"They named them after themselves?" Lauren asked with a somewhat perplexed look on her face.
"No. Other people actually named them that," I replied.
"Did Matthew write my Word and Song Bible too?" she followed.
"No. Somebody else wrote it based on what Matthew and others wrote," I said.
"Then who wrote it?" Lauren asked.
"Ken Taylor," I answered (although Lana informed me later that he wrote her Bible in Pictures, not her Word and Song).
"Ken Taylor???", Lauren asked, almost incredulously. "He's not in the Bible!!!"
"You are right," I chuckled.
"Did Pastor Dale write the Bible?" she asked.
I chuckled some more. "No."
...
Thank you to everyone who participated in the caption contest. There are a few clear favorites but I need to review them all and pick a winner! I'll try to do that within the next few days. Stay tuned!
July 5, 2008. Hope
When I was younger, life was fun, exciting and filled with non-stop action. It seemed like everyday brought a new adventure. When Lana and I started hanging out and then dating in college, I often told her that life with me might not be a lot of things but it would always be an adventure.
But then something happened. I'm not really sure what it was. Perhaps I was looking for excitement, adventure and significance in the wrong places. But, almost overnight, life seemed to be gone. Sure, I was still alive physically but there was something inside me that was on life support. Lana said I was like a rock, which would have been just fine had she been talking about my abs instead of my heart.
Three years into what seemed like a good marriage and life was suddenly...well, boring. Each "today" looked a lot like the day before it. Each "tomorrow" appeared as though it would be exactly like "today". I wanted to run. I did run. Perhaps I'll share the details with you someday but they really aren't that important. The important thing is that I ran and our marriage almost ended.
I am so thankful that Lana hung on and refused to give up on me. Had she let go, I would have missed out on this amazing — albeit extremely painful — adventure that she got us into.
A few of you know this but many of you probably do not. Lana has dreamed about adopting children since she was a young girl. I, on the other hand, really had no desire to adopt. Lana prayed that God would change my heart. I think He changed it just enough for me to say "yes." I guess that's the only opening Lana and God were looking for.
I am so glad that we allowed Lana's heart to lead us to adopt Carmen. No doubt, it is extremely painful to think about losing her. Yet despite all the hurt and pain, I am more alive today than I have ever been!
So today, on the one-year anniversary of when we found out about Carmen's disease, I want to ask you a few questions. Have you ever felt like running away? Have you ever grown tired of the daily grind? Are you there right now?
If you've been there, are there or ever get there, there is something you need to know. There is a great big God out there who absolutely loves you, wants to hold you closely and never let go. Ask Him to meet you right where you are and He will. He waited patiently for me even though I ignored Him for years. He's met countless others the moment they looked in His direction.
He is waiting for you to call out to Him and He will answer you when you do.
July 2, 2008. Caption Needed
I need a caption for the following picture that Lana took of Lauren and me the other afternoon. The person who posts the best caption (as chosen solely by me) in our guestbook by July 15th will win a prize. I will tell you that it's a great prize!
Multiple entries are allowed. If duplicate entries are submitted only the first one will count. Let the contest begin!
June 19, 2008. Ha!
Just in case anyone is still breathless with anticipation, the title of Erwin's message on June 1st was "Wood - Structure Must Always Submit to Spirit". If you don't believe me, click here. On the right side of the web page, there is a section titled, "AUDIO". You'll find the 6/1 message there (see below for a screenshot).
In fact, click here anyway. Listen to the message. Particularly if you claim to be a follower of Jesus.
June 1, 2008. Coincidence
I was in the bathroom earlier this week. I knew it would be an extended visit so I grabbed a book off the dresser nearby. The book is called Sex God and it was written by Rob Bell, one of the four pastors who influence me the most. Although I've had the book quite awhile now, I have yet to actually read it. It's not that I'm not interested in reading it, just that I've prioritized other things for the moment. But anyway...
I decided to play a little, "pick a spot and start reading." I flipped through the pages and landed on Chapter 6: Worth Dying For. I began to read. I won't go into details about the chapter but it was essentially about submitting to others. Submission as it is used in the Bible means "to place yourself under, to give allegiance to, to tend to the needs of, to be responsive to."
...
Lana and I are privileged to host and facilitate a small church group in our home each Saturday night. Yesterday morning, I was preparing for our then-upcoming small group meeting. Our group has been working through the Life Rules DVD series and study by Andy Stanley, another one of the four pastors who influence me the most. We were on Part 6: Submit.
...
We went to church this morning. Dale O'Shields, pastor of the local church we attend and yet another one of the four pastors who influence me the most, spoke about submission and humilty, specifically how the two of them lead to joy.
...
I know what you are probably thinking. God is telling you something, Dave. But I have to be honest. I'm still not quite convinced that the message is intended for me. Now if the fourth of the four pastors who influence me the most, Erwin McManus, happened to have spoken about submission today (I'll have to wait till the podcast is published later this week) then I'll consider it a message from God. Until then...I'm just gonna consider it a big coincidence.*
...
* I'm kidding! I got it. Loud and clear. I hear ya, God. Thank you for being so patient with me.
May 30, 2008. Relief
With everything going on with Carmen, Lana and I often think about how it will impact Lauren when she is older, which is something we no longer take for granted. How much of this will she remember? Will she be lonely without a sister her age? Will she think we were stupid for adopting when, to the best of our knowledge, we were perfectly able to have "our own" children? Will she turn away from God because He was so unfair to her?
...
This past Monday afternoon, Lana was out running errands and Carmen was sleeping in her chair in the living room. Lauren and I were playing Polly Pockets on the living room floor. Not that it's important but I was "The Dad", "The Mom", "The Grandmother" and "The Female Doctor". Lauren was "The Three Sisters".
Remedy, the David Crowder Band CD, had been playing quietly in the background for about fifteen minutes. Suddenly, Lauren stood up, walked across the room, turned up the stereo, walked back across the room toward me, sat down, picked up one of "The Three Sisters" and continued playing.
"What was that?" I asked Lauren.
"I couldn't hear," she said.
The chorus of the current song was just beginning and Lauren chimed right in. "You never let go. You never let go. You never let go-ohhh. You never let go. You never let go. You never let go-ohhh."
Silence.
"You know that's true, don't you?" I asked. "Even if you have a sister who can't walk or talk or if she goes to Heaven before the rest of us or..."
"I know, Dad," Lauren interrupted. "I know that God never lets go. No matter what."
More silence.
If only for a moment, all of my worries and fears were gone. She's gonna be OK, probably even better than that!
May 12, 2008. God Never Lets Go
Click here to view our first video, which is finally done. Isaiah 41:10
May 3, 2008. 05 + 03 – 08 = 00
Today is a great day!! 05/03/08 will forever be known in our family as the day we became completely debt-free. No credit cards, no car payments, no student loans and no stress (well, at least not related to our finances).
Thank you, Lana, for agreeing to do this. I love you so much!!!
April 5, 2008. Progress
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of sitting down with a friend and her boyfriend over lunch. My friend's boyfriend is an independent contractor for a large software development company. For the past few months, he's been wrestling with some professional and personal questions. Since I was an independent contractor for four years before choosing a different path, he wanted to get my thoughts on a few things.
It was a great conversation but, to be honest, I am pretty sure that I got more out of it than he did. About 45 minutes into the discussion, he said to me, "It seems as though you’ve changed a lot in the last few years."
...
As many of you know, Lana, Lauren, Carmen and I went to Florida last weekend to attend the annual Tay Sachs Association conference. It was great to connect with the other parents. It was also nice to wear shorts and t-shirts in March! At the same time, it was really tough to see the progression of this disease in the other children. It was also hard to see so many other parents struggling with all that this disease entails and what it means for their children and families.
...
I was reading Psalm 15 this morning while eating breakfast in Carmen's hospital room. I love this chapter and read it often. I cannot adequately explain this passage but here is my summary, what I get from it. Do I want to be close to God? If so, I must pursue true character, which can only be found in God. If I really pursue the character of God, I will not be shaken by the painful events in life.
...
Like many of the other parents whose children have degenerative diseases, I wrestle with the realities of it and wonder, "Why Carmen? What did she do to deserve this?"
There was a time in my life, not too long ago, when our current situation would have crushed me to the ground. There would have been little left in me except bitterness and anger, little left of me except of pile of rubble.
While I am far from a person of great character, I do recognize some of the changes God is making in me as I pursue Him. It seems as though you’ve changed a lot in the last few years. Yes, that is true. I have changed in the last few years. More accurately, God has changed me a lot in the last few years. And I am extremely grateful!
That is a truth that I overlook all-too-often. I am not yet the man I want to be but praise God that I am no longer the man I once was (my paraphrase of Martin Luther King Jr.). Thank you, Lord.
Thank you, Chris, Eric F., Mario, Andy, CF, Eric K. and many others who have reminded me recently that God is up to something…and we are all invited to participate. God is up to something in me and through me.
I can’t wait to see it unfold!
January 27, 2008. When the Tears Fall
I've had questions, without answers. I've known sorrow. I have known
pain.
But there's one thing that I'll cling to. You are faithful. Jesus You're
true.
When hope is lost, I'll call You Savior.
When pain surrounds, I'll call You healer.
When silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart.
In the lone hour of my sorrow, through the darkest night of my soul,
You surround me and sustain me, my defender, forevermore.
When hope is lost, I'll call You Savior.
When pain surrounds, I'll call You healer.
When silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart.
And I will praise You. I will praise You. When the tears fall, still
I will sing to You.
And I will praise You, Jesus praise You. Through the suffering still I
will sing.
Oh yes, You are good to me. You've always been good to me, so trustworthy.
When hope is lost, I'll call You Savior.
When pain surrounds, I'll call You healer.
When silence falls, You'll be the song within my heart.
How faithful and true, sustain me through and through, You are hope
and truth.
You're my spring of living water. You're my spring of living water in
the lone hour of my sorrow.
The song lyrics above are from Newsboys, “When the Tears Fall”, written by Tim Hughes. All song lyrics are the property and copyright of their original owners. Any song lyric on this website is and may only be used for private use.
January 10, 2008. Relational Surgery
If you told me five years ago that I would write what I’m about to write, I would not have believed you. I would have laughed at you. I might have even punched you.
...
As I review 2007 in my mind and consider all the things for which I am thankful, it is a particular person who tops my list. But before I tell you who it is, I need to provide just a little bit of the back-story.
I grew up in a Christian home. While I’m oversimplifying a bit, that meant that we prayed before every meal, went to church every Sunday, occasionally read the Bible as a family and did not watch bad movies (at least not really bad movies). I went to our church’s youth group most weeks because it was fun and there were cute girls there every once in awhile. I was the rebel in my family, although I didn’t really get into that much trouble. Believe me, it’s not that I didn’t try to get into trouble; it’s just that my dad was a police officer and my mom filled various positions within the educational system over the years. Between the two of them, they knew everyone. And I do mean everyone! If I did something, they knew about it before I got home. But, alas, I am digressing just a bit…
About the time I entered junior high school, my dad decided to go to seminary to become a pastor. And that is when things started to go south, at least between him and me. As my dad progressed through seminary, he accepted additional responsibilities in our church and in our community. From the outside, my dad looked like a saint. But I saw him at home and he certainly was not a saint.
Please do not get me wrong. My dad was not awful. He just wasn’t the same person at home that he was in the eye of the public. I thought my dad was a hypocrite because he didn’t always practice what he preached. His “old self” was still very much a part of him. And that was hard for me to accept. While this was largely an excuse, I decided that if my dad was a real Christian, I didn’t want to be a real Christian. Sure, I was grateful for the assurance I had of going to Heaven when I die (I asked Jesus to be my savior when I was about eight years old). However, I had little intention of living my life for Christ.
...
They say that time has a way of changing things. But I don’t think time actually changes a thing. It certainly doesn’t heal hurt and pain. At best, time just dulls them. In some cases time actually amplifies them. But God…God can change things. He can restore broken relationships. He can heal years of hurt, pain, anger and bitterness. He can make it enjoyable to be around someone who, at one point, you wished was not even a part of your life. God can change things. God does change things. And that’s exactly what He did between my dad and me.
...
I am sure that you’ve guessed by now but just in case you haven’t, here it is. As I reflect on all the circumstances and events that surrounded my life over the past year, I am most thankful for my dad. So Dad, when you read this (and I know you will), thank you for forgiving me for all the awful things I said to you and about you while growing up. Thank you for being available and interested in spending time with my family and me now.
Thank you, God, for moving my dad and me past our past, for healing our relationship, for doing what only You can do.
November 30, 2007. A Truly Beautiful Canvas
We had high expectations since we had seen Rashmi's previous photography. But even with such high expecations, we knew that it was truly special the instant we saw it. Yet like most great things, it gets better with time. Much, much better.
I'm referring to the picture that serves figuratively as our family's current theme and literally as the background image for this website.
We have the same picture on 20"x30" canvas hanging above the fire place in our living room. Every now and then, I sit on the sofa to look at that picture. I love staring at that picture! God has a tendency to reassure, move and speak to me through it. I'm sure that God spoke to me while I was looking at it a few days ago; "Neither you nor Lana could actually see that picture when Rashmi took it. But I saw it. Isn't it amazing?"
...
How many times do I stroll through life and think I see what's going on around me yet come to realize that I am way off? How often am I so sure that something is the way I think it is, the way I see it or the way I imagine it? How many times am I dead wrong?
Something bigger and better is going on in us, through us and all around us. Yet I am too blind to see most of it. Lord, give me eyes to see not just a beautiful picture but also the wonder and beauty of your whole creation surrounding me.
Heavenly Father, please help me to see as You see! (Psalm 146:8, Isaiah 42:16)
July 5, 2007. Coffee and Life
Erwin McManus said recently that a great cup of coffee can only be truly enjoyed by using our senses of taste and smell. "You may not know this," he said, "but the dominant experience of tasting something is actually through smelling it." *
The problem, he says, is that most of us drink our cups of coffee with little plastic lids on them. "We have learned to put lids on our coffee so they keep us safe and don't burn us." * But by doing so, we don't allow ourselves to get the most out of our coffee drinking experiences. We never fully enjoy what could be a great cup of coffee because we're so afraid of getting burned. And so, we settle for second-best.
...
As I sit here trying to digest what Lana and I were told at the doctor's office earlier today (that Carmen most likely has a rare -- fatal -- genetic disease called Tay Sachs), I can't help but wonder, "How will this turn out to be a really great cup of coffee?"
Is it possible to get burned but still fully taste and enjoy the rest of the coffee? Is it possible to get scalded by grief and loss but still fully taste and enjoy life?
I think so.
But I think it's only possible if there is a huge God out there, One who loves us, knows what is best for us and allows -- dare I say, even directs -- certain things to happen because of what only He can see.
That's where I am right now. I am not questioning God. Really. I am not. I'm not saying that I haven't ever questioned God or that I won't ever question Him again. But right now, at least for the moment, I trust fully that He knows what He's doing even though I don't understand it at all. And I pray that I stay right here, leaning wholly on Him to do what only He can do.
*Paraphrase and quotes by Erwin Raphael McManus from his message entitled, "Romance Unwrapped # 1"
June 21, 2007. Direction Determines Destination
If you know me at all, you know that I'm a big fan of Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA. To celebrate Father's Day this past weekend, Lauren and Carmen gave me two Andy Stanley DVD series: Playing God and Simply Irresistible. What made these two gifts even more special was that I hand-picked them from :Connections, the bookstore at North Point Community Church. We drove down to Atlanta for a long-weekend to meet Charlotte, Kevin and Micah and, of course, to visit North Point and see Andy preach.
Although I've read just about every book he's written (or co-written) and have listened to just about every one of his sermons in the past couple of years, I had never seen Andy Stanley speak in person. I assure you, the experience was truly amazing and unforgettable. But before I get to Andy's sermon, let me first explain our experience heading up to it because it was also special.
10:25 AM. We arrived at North Point (Perhaps a little early but I didn't want to be late for the 11 AM service). Before we entered the building, we were greeted by a woman. I asked her where we need to go to take Lauren and Carmen to Waumba Land. She responded, "Follow me. I'll take you there." Within a minute, we arrived at the entrance to Waumba Land. Our hostess handed us off to the Waumba Land greeters, and then (presumably) headed back to the front door to greet others.
10:35 AM. After the girls were safely in their respective rooms, we headed to the east auditorium to find a seat. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who didn't want to be late. While there were still plenty of seats available, the auditorium was quickly filling up. We found seats just to the right of the primary video cameras on the main floor, about half-way to the stage.
10:52-ish AM. The "10B4" video started. I have to be honest; I don't remember much of the video except for "Cooking with Hal." I was too enamored with the technology and the video itself (camera work, lighting, editing, multi-screens, etc). It was exceptionally well-done (and Hal's cooking looked great too!).
11:00 AM. The service started. The worship band led us through two songs and we quickly moved into the baptismal portion of worship. Really powerful testimonies from two people.
Sometime after that Andy started speaking.
The sermon, which was based on Proverbs 27:12 (The prudent see danger and take refuge but the simple keep going and suffer for it. NIV), could essentially be summarized as, "Direction determines destination", or where you are heading will determine where you end up. I've also heard it said, "If you want to go to Texas, don't go north." A few points that I remember include:
- If you get lost driving and have to backtrack, you waste a few minutes or hours. If you get lost in life and have to backtrack, you could easily waste seasons, years or decades!
- Relationships are always moving. Never evaluate a relationship based on where it is. Always evaluate it based on where it is going. The prudent see danger and take refuge but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
- Regarding finances, the borrower is slave to the lender (Proverbs 22:7). If you are a slave today because of consumer debt, you will be a bigger slave tomorrow if you just keep going. You want to be more generous but you can’t because you are a slave.
- Do something. Take action. I can't just keep going. I must change course when I see danger. I must take refuge.
- Sacrifice. I need to give up something now so I don't have to live with regret later.
- Expect embarrassment. Most people will not understand and may think I am foolish.
- Prepare to sigh in relief. The day will come when we'll be able to look back and see the danger that was avoided. When that day arrives, we'll breathe a sigh of relief.
As he does in many sermons, Andy inserted the Best Question Ever to use as a tool. "In light of my past experiences, current situation and future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing for me to do?" (Based on Ephesians 5:15-17)
He closed by giving us a great prayer: "Lord, please help me to see danger long before it arrives, give me the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it." Lana and I have been praying it together everyday since.
12 Noon-ish. The service ended. We picked up the girls from Waumba Land. I must be honest. We have never seen Lauren as excited about Sunday school as she was this past Sunday.
Thanks Andy and thanks North Point! We had a great experience this Father's Day and I assure you that Lana and I will keep praying, "Heavenly Father, please help us to see as You see. Please help us to see danger long before it arrives and give us the wisdom and courage to do something about it."
Thanks Charlotte, Kevin and Micah. We had a great time with you this week!