thick.

...in the difficulty and pain,
when we take risks,
when our faith comes to head with...

x, y, z [everything else]

...when there is much to much emotion,
and history,
and hurt,
and lives you love...

and you stand up for your faith

HE is there.
closer, it seems, than before

Jesus journeys with us in the pain
the nearness is thick
and i rejoice in the pain

imposter.

Sometimes I look around and feel like an imposter. 

I'm a dad? 

I'm a husband?

I'm a pastor?

I bought this home? 

I'm 26 (at least for four more days)?

I feel like I'm still a kid. 

I feel like I'm playing house. 

I feel like I should still be dreaming and planning about the realities I live in. 

I guess this is part of God's wild surprises in life. 

The adventure moves quickly. 

together

yesterday, we spent together.

church/community/friend-family

all day:

(8-8)

worship.

eating.

walking.

talking.

giving.

praying.

and that's the way it's supposed to be.

(ekklesia)

garden

God uses my garden to teach me

About life

And process

And spirituality 

And I find my life to be much like my garden

Where things grow and die

Weeds and bugs creep in

Some spots get too dry 

Yet others are too soaked, they're drowning

But my Gardener cares daily

And knows what I need 

He waters, tills, prunes, and plants

And so if I can be a little more like my Gardener

In my own home garden

I think the kale and lettuce,

Strawberries, basil, and plumeria tree

Will be just fine. 

God help me. 

on my mind [and i can't stop thinking about]...

• i'm going to be a dad... to a BOY! this is my dream come true
• gardening slows me down, allows me to breathe, and process the processes of life
• i am enjoying being back into a normal rhythm of life and work now that school is back in
• where will we go on a mini-vacation before the baby comes?

some favorite things

(1) iced coffee in the mornings

(2) listening to npr while driving

(3) pumping up my sleep number bed a little firmer or softer just for fun

(4) lowes

(5) dreaming about our new home

(6) praying for our baby 

renovation.

today, we became homeowners. and renovators. 

renovation,
restoration,
new life

always begins with tearing out the old
before you can replace with the new.

"if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
the old is gone, the new has come."
2 corinthians 5:17

community.

its a shame
that some
would walk through life
without others.

i'm blessed.

inspiration

recently, i have been reflecting
on the joy-filled expression of love
called inspiration

my wife possesses a fun, creative spirit
that is at its best, i notice, when i am attentive enough
to inspire

some simply label it
'bringing out each others best'
but
inspiration is more like it

i desire for everything that she is to overflow
into her day to day reality:
connecting with God
celebrating life
dreaming grand possibilities

so i must be ever mindful of ways
i can draw her out of herself
daily


who will you inspire today?

Scripture Sunday: The Lord is Good

Sometimes I forget.

This simple, yet grand truth: The Lord is good.

Pause. Let that sink in.

He is good.

The perfection of goodness.

The Author,

Originator,

Good to all: great and small; those near and far from Him.

He is good.