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Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

Thanksgiving Can Be Difficult

Posted in Family, Hope on November 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in America.  A day when family comes together to eat too much and spend a wonderful time reliving memories and making new ones.

My prayer for each of you this Thanksgiving season is that God grants you clarity in seeing all the ways you are blessed.  Give thanks this week.

I have one favor to ask of you.  Holidays are a wonderful time but they can also be very difficult, particularly for those who have recently lost someone close to them.  For some, tomorrow will be a big reminder of who is no longer at the gathering.  If you know someone who has experienced a loss this past year, reach out to them and let them know you care.  That will go a long way to making their holiday a bit brighter and I have a sneaking suspicion it will brighten yours as well.

Count your blessings!

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Loving and Faithful to the End

Posted in Family on November 3, 2010| 4 Comments »

Today is a day of mourning for my family.  My dad was born number six of seven children.  Last year we lost the first of his siblings, an older brother.  Today we bury the youngest – the only girl.  I have the humble privilege of officiating the ceremony and I must say it is an unspeakable honor to stand before my family and lead them to remember the unforgettable life of my aunt.  She fought valiantly for over 10 years.  She fought MS and cancer and never gave up.  She will be missed and the memory of her life and the impact she had will be cherished by all who knew her.

But behind the scenes to the last was my cousin, my aunt’s daughter.  Kim, you are the example of a loving and faithful child.  The way you cared for your mom to the very end put a smile on God’s face.

I can only hope to be a fraction of the person you have been if I am ever faced with that situation.  You are an inspiration!

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Three Steps to a Great Weekend

Posted in Community, Family on September 24, 2010| 2 Comments »

Today is Friday and on Friday, everyone starts thinking about some time off – the weekend.

Here are three musts to ensure you have a great weekend.

  1. Spend it with family. Time away from work or school is best spent with those you love.  Take advantage of this time this weekend to do something with your kids, your spouse or your parents.  You won’t always have this time.
  2. Take a Sabbath. The book of Genesis tells us that when God created the earth, the seventh day was set aside for rest.  God knows we need our rest – so make sure and make it a priority.
  3. Spend time with your faith community.  Most churches meet on Saturday or Sunday.  Make spending some time at church a priority this weekend.  If you don’t have a faith community and you are in the area, I would love to see you at our place this Sunday – I’ll be preaching on “Something More.”

I pray that your weekend is amazing!

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Getting His Name in the Book

Posted in Family, Parenting on September 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Last Friday and Saturday, my youngest son and I made the trek over to the Guadalupe Mountains and then made the hike up to the top of Guadalupe Peak, the tallest peak in Texas.  We made it up in time to set up camp and then make it on to the summit for the sun set.  It was breath taking!

At the top of the mountain, a monument has been erected to commemorate the transportation and mail industries because the mountain sits along a prominent stage and pony express route from the 1800’s.

At any rate, at the base of the monument is a metal ammunition box and inside the box is a register.  All who make their way to the top get to sign the book – pretty cool.

We both signed the book, took pictures and then prayed together before heading back down to camp – one of those father – son moments I will always cherish.

The next morning we packed up our tent and sleeping bags and all our stuff and headed back down to the base to drive home.  As we were hiking down, the thought entered my head of how proud I am that my son’s name is in the book.  He has joined a handful of people who can say they made it to the top of Texas.

As I reflected on that fact, I became even more moved to think that not only is my son’s name in the Guadalupe Peak register, it is actually inscribed on a much more important book.  In the Bible, Revelation 3 talks about a book of life where the names of all the followers of Jesus will be recorded.  Bryson’s name is there along with my other two sons’ names as well!  What an incredible thought for a dad!

God is good!

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Hike the Peak

Posted in Family on September 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Last Year’s Trip

Tomorrow I am doing something I don’t do nearly enough.  I am taking my boys on a backpacking trip.  We do it occasionally but not frequently enough.

About 12 years ago, I took my oldest two to the Guadalupe Mountains to hike Guadalupe Peak (the tallest mountain in Texas).  It was a great experience, but my youngest was only 2 so not quite old enough to make that hike.

Ever since, we have wanted to go and hike the mountain again.  We tried last year but got there too late and all the camp sites on the summit trail were taken so we had to hike another mountain.  So tomorrow we are going to try it again.

I can’t wait to hit the trail with my boys!

I’ll tell you all about it next week.

What will you do with your family this weekend?

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First Day of College Classes

Posted in Family, Formation on August 30, 2010| 1 Comment »

Today is the first day of class for my oldest son.  He is headed to college and today is his first day.

I remember when Kristi and I walked him into his kindergarten class for his first day of school.  I remember all the school programs, awards assemblies and other school functions.  I remember soccer games and basketball games and all the other games in which we watched him play.  I remember the surgeries and the doctors’ visits.  I remember the hiking trips.  I remember the mission trips and the church activities.  I remember the awesome privilege of baptizing him.

Today is full of memories as I think about the man my son is becoming.  My prayer is that God will direct him in all his ways as he acknowledges God in all things.

Jared, I am extremely proud of you.  Please know that I am always here for you!

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Fresh Starts

Posted in Community, Family, Parenting on August 23, 2010| 1 Comment »

Today is the first day of public school here in our town.  As I dropped my 8th grade son off at the middle school, it dawned on me that he is now in the top grade of the school.  This is a new experience for him.  It is the same school as last year but now, because of his age he is in a new place.  In some ways, it is a new beginning.  Really, all the students have a fresh start today – an opportunity to do things differently this year – to try harder – to make an impact.

The beginning  of the school year, in some ways, brings a fresh start for parents as well.  Our schedule has changed –  again!  But it is our opportunity to approach our kids and parenting with a fresh perspective.  What can you do this year to make your child more successful.  What can you do differently to impact your child’s relationship with Jesus.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to spend the next 9 months focused on your own relationship with Jesus.  Then allow that vibrant relationship to impact your relationship with your children with the intent of seeing their relationship with Jesus flourish.

We can do this!

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Crossing The Stage

Posted in Family on May 28, 2010| 1 Comment »

This has been a big week.  Kristi and I celebrated 20 years of marriage on Wednesday (read about that here) and now our oldest son, Jared, graduates from High School today.  It’s hard to believe that “Jared-Boy” is no longer a boy.  He is quite a young man.

He has grown in so many ways.  When he sets his mind to something, he is going to do well.  He is graduating as distinguished with honors.  We are so proud of him!

Jared, as you cross that stage tonight, you are walking through a doorway that divides the very beginning of life from the rest of it.  Cross through that door with expectation, excitement and hope.  You can do anything you set your mind to do.  Your Mom and I believe in you!

Through out life, we all have milestones, doorways and other markers that serve to show we are growing and progressing.  Never neglect your spiritual growth.  In the end, the only thing of value and meaning is your relationship with Jesus.

We love you!

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A Blind Date That Worked Out

Posted in Family, Marriage on May 26, 2010| 6 Comments »

Today is the day!  20 years of living under the same roof.  It was 20 years ago today that Kristi and I said, “I Do!”

I am not sure that either of us really understood what the next 20 years would be like, but we knew we wanted to experience them together.  A little known fact is that Kristi and I are a blind date that worked out.  I was in graduate school in Abilene and she was a recent Tech grad working in Midland.

On January 6, 1989, I drove to Midland to meet up with my life long friend and his girlfriend.  They had set the whole thing up.  We went to Kristi’s apartment where she had cooked dinner for all of us – enchilada’s (I still love her enchilada’s).  After we ate we went bowling!  Who would thought that a blind date the ended up in a bowling alley would lead to 20 years of marriage!

The date went well so I asked to see her again the next night.  The Sandhills Rodeo happens each January and so we made the drive over to Odessa the next night to the rodeo.  Thus, began the long distance courting.

We began seeing each other frequently.  We even got to the point we were meeting in the middle – there used to be a neat little country diner in Colorado City (which is between Abilene and Midland).  Before class each day, I worked at UPS as a loader so I had to be at work at 3:30 or 4 am each morning.  There were many times we sat and talked to the point that I drove home in time to change clothes and go to work.

By May of 1989 I was wrapping up most of my graduate classes and began looking at the seminary in Fort Worth.  So in June I moved to Fort Worth.  Now our 3 hour long distance relationship turned to 5 1/2 hours.  Obviously, that continued (with many Southwest flights between Love Field – appropriately named – and Midland Air Terminal.

All of that history to say, our blind date turned into a long distance relationship that resulted in 20 years of happy marriage.  We had never lived in the same town before we married.  Now we have lived under the same roof for 20 years!

Kristi, it has been an amazing ride and I can’t wait to see what the next 20, 30, 40 or 50 years brings our way!

I love you more today than I ever thought possible!

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What’s In a Name?

Posted in Family, Humor, Motivational on March 8, 2010| 1 Comment »

Have you ever known someone whose given name reflected their occupation or career?  Such as Mr. Farmer who farms for a living or Mrs. Cook who works in the school cafeteria?

Last night we spent some time in the emergency room at the hospital with family friends whose son was in a car accident yesterday afternoon.  No one was seriously injured but our friends’ son cut his hand badly and needed surgery last night.  I was in the room when the surgeon came in and introduced himself.  When he told us his name, I knew what my post would most likely be today.  His name . . . Dr. Mulligan.  My questionable sense of humor nearly got the better of me but I was able to restrain my wit until we reached the waiting room.

For those of you not familiar with golf, and the way people like me play the game, a “mulligan” is what you call for when you hit a bad shot and you request to hit another.  In formal play, a mulligan is not allowed but the way I play, we try to keep it to one or two per 9 holes.  At any rate, a mulligan is a “do over.”

Maybe its just me, but I found it quite comical that the surgeon performing the procedure was named, Dr. “Do Over.”

However, he was excellent.  He had an immediate connection with the patient and did a great job informing and calming everyone in the room.  The surgery was a great success and his ability carried into the waiting room after the procedure as well.  He was outstanding.

Here is my thought for today: we don’t choose our name – we are born with it.  We don’t chose where we are born or to whom.  But we do have the ability to choose how we will live and what kind of difference we will make in this world.

I challenge you today, regardless of what life seems to have dealt you, to make a positive and real difference in someone else’s life before you go to bed tonight.

Let me know how that goes.

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