“If you could sum up your dad in one word, what would it be?”

I didn’t have to think long about this one.  In my eyes, my dad has always represented one simple characteristic that has defined and continues to define who he is and what he is about.  That word is — obedient.

The word defined is this —

o·be·di·ent/ōˈbēdēənt/

Adjective: Complying with orders or requests; submissive to another’s will.

That may seem somewhat odd to some of you, but the kind of obedience I am talking about is an obedience to God.  He has lived his life as one who is submissive to Another’s will — obedient to God.  Often foregoing the things he prefers to do, in order to do the things he was and is called to do.

My dad’s obedience to God:

• led him to be an example of meekness to our family.
• led him to humility in his service to his family, his church and his community.
• led him to do things that were beyond his own wisdom.

He has been patient with my brother and me – calm and slow to anger …not always easy with boys like us   He has let us make our own way, allowing us to make our own mistakes and in-turn learn from them.  My dad has never been a person that needed to have his pride or his ego stroked.  His humility has shown me that I want to be a person of great humility, not one of great self-esteem, pride or ego.

Philippians 2:5-8a (MSG):

“5 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.6 He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life…”

Dad’s focus has been and continues to be on obedience to God.  Because of that focus, my dad has been “God with a face on” for me in my life.

Time and time again, he has made hard decisions — decisions that would move him from parents, children, lifelong friends and communities in which they had roots; decisions that would commit him to career changes and education/re-education.  These decisions did not always make sense.  Sometimes it was hard to see the wisdom in the decision – not only for him but sometimes to his family and friends.  Obedience does not always make sense.  In fact, sometimes it can be confusing.  Despite these things, he was obedient.

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote,

“The essential thing ‘in heaven and earth’ is… that there should be a long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living.”

He has persevered with a long obedience in the same direction.  He is leaving a legacy… a legacy that has made life worth living.  It is a legacy I hope to pass on one day to my kids.

If you could sum up your dad in one word, what would it be?

-Nathan

P.S.  Understand that while this is a tribute, my dad is very much still alive and kicking  …and my dad could be beat up your dad.  I love you, Pop!

————————————————–

I stumbled across this bit on the interwebs. This was a note that Mike Donehey from Tenth Avenue North sent to an aspiring musician. I thought it was a good slap to my ego and a good gut check, and wanted to share.

Bloom where you’re planted. That’s what I’d say. Don’t be looking for the “big time”. Look for the small time. That’s Jesus. Slave of all. Ministering to those who interrupted Him. Great things start small and then get smaller.

And don’t play for God. Learn to play “because of God”. Remember Acts 17:25,26. God doesn’t need you. Don’t sing because you think He needs it. Don’t play to be validated or accepted, play because you already are.

Let Him be your treasure.

Strive to be content playing in front of 5 people and take them to Christ, not yourself. But to do that, you have to be validated by Christ’s work alone. Not your songs, or CD sales, or #’s at a show.

And then, you’ll actually be able to take people somewhere beyond yourself, because that’s where you’re aiming for. [To Him]. Let God be your end, not the means to something else.

I think that’s good advice no matter what you do—

What about you? Will you bloom where you’re planted? How do you let God be your end and not your means to something else?

-Nathan

P.S. if you haven’t bought their latest album “The Light Meets The Dark“, don’t eat that “fancy” lunch today and go buy it.

———————————-

Transparency to me means being REAL. It means just being myself. It
means being just as God sees me.

Because He can see me and accept me for just who I am, through every
experience of my past, every thought in my mind and feeling in my
heart, EVERYTHING!

I can hide whatever from whoever, if I choose to do so… but whoever
does not include Him.

And oh how He accepts me… for just who I am and how I am: Oh so
imperfect. That’s me.

Whenever I think about that which is eternally important I start to
realize that being real is really important. When I start to be real I
realize, through all of my faults, that I am accepted, loved and
forgiven not just by God and through the sacrifice that Jesus made,
but also by my fellow brothers in Christ… through the other REAL
people in my life.

I realized just how easy this is… once I swallow my pride and be
honest about who I am. That takes lots of guts sometimes!

I also realized how grateful I am to have such an awesome group of
friends, and family.

When I’m transparent:
I’m humble… but not weak,
I’m strong… but not arrogant,
I’m vulnerable… but not afraid.

When I’m really transparent the lights come on…

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is
light, in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have
fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live
by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we
have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son,
purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7

Transparency to me means just being REAL.

What does Transparency mean to you?

Forgiving is love’s revolution against love’s unfairness. When we forgive, we ignore the normal laws that strap us to the natural law of getting even and, by the alchemy of love, we release ourselves from our own painful past’s.

We fly over a dues-paying morality in order to create a new future out of the past’s unfairness. We free ourselves from the wrong that is locked into our private histories; we unshackle our spirits from malice; and, maybe, if we are lucky, we also restore a relationship that would otherwise be lost forever.

-Lewis B. Smedes

If we let love rule in our hearts, a morality of fairness or unfairness takes a backseat.

Our desire to get even is squashed.

…and maybe, just maybe — love overgrows an ocean of entitlement to restore what otherwise would be lost forever.

I know I have a lot of work to do on my heart to revolt against seeming unfairness and my desire to get even.  How about you?

-Nathan

While sharing our stories with our new community group this past week, I got to thinking about how amazing our story is; how “fortunate” I am that you have chosen to share your story — our story — with me.  We have known each other for almost 18 years, just celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary, shared countless experiences (highs and lows), a seemingly infinite list of inside jokes, and we are raising couple of people who remind me daily my life is not my own.

You are more beautiful than you know.  I could get lost in your baby blues — if only I take the time to gaze.  Sometimes, I secretly hope you don’t know it, because I know you could have done better than me…  But please don’t try

You are a creatively talented diva.  In the kitchen, you can make just about anything work together.  You can take the most unappetizing ingredients separately and combine them into something that quickly becomes a family favorite.  In your work, you conjure up the most engaging ways to teach kids – something that still to this day is something I know I could never do.  In raising our children, you can turn even the dullest of chores or tasks into a new game or something fun for the whole family.  They adore you.  You know what makes me tick.  Creatively, you offer me freedoms and opportunities that you know I wouldn’t take for myself.  All because you love me, and many times greater than I could love myself.

So, what has happened to us?  We used to be so madly in love.  I may not say it enough and sometimes my actions may not directly reveal it, but I still am.  In fact, I would dare say the cliché, “I love you more today than I did the day before”.  And just when I think I have you all figured out, I realize I am far from figuring you out.  For example – you’re not a big fan of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  After all these years, who knew?!?!  Yet, with a boldness only possessed by you, you wear your heart on your sleeve.  I never have to guess what’s on your mind, sometimes even if I wanted to.  That is one of the things that attracted me to you in the first place, even if I sometimes claim I want you to keep some of them to yourself.

You have 2 favorite quotes — 1 from “Spiderman” no less — “With great power comes great responsibility”.  You wield a great power, and you are greatly responsible with it.  The second of your favorite quotes is from a baseball movie, “Fever Pitch” — “I like being part of something that’s bigger than me, than I.   It’s good for your soul to invest in something you can’t control.”  How true…  We can’t necessarily control every aspect of how our lives will turn out, circumstances that we may find ourselves in, fortunes gained or lost — but this relationship — this journey — is bigger than us.  I like being part of something that’s bigger than me.  You are me and I am you.

I Love You,

-Nathan

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.

11 Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.

12 Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.

13 She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.

14 She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.

15 She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.

16 She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.

17 First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

18 She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.

19 She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.

20 She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.

21 She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.

22 She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

23 Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.

24 She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.

25 Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.

26 When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.

27 She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.

28 Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:

29 “Many women have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”

30 Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

31 Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!

You are a great woman!

It was in that moment of writhing and wriggling at the sheer horror of what was potentially on that channel that I realized something.  This channel, while causing me to dry-heave, was something that was sure to bring a beaming smile to my 6 year old daughter.  I’m sure the things that I would love to have an entire TV channel devoted to might cause some of you to dry-heave.

Fortunately for me, there already are channels for the things I would love, The Discovery Channel and The History Channel.  I might even like something about guitars… maybe a Discovery Channel / History Channel devoted to guitars — yeah, that’s the ticket.

So here we are — Randomness.4 — what is it for you?  If you could build a TV channel out of just one thing and one thing only, what would it be?

Oh, and if someone posts something that makes you cringe — no Jesus Jukes…

-Nathan

* Step 1 – We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable
* Step 2 – Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
* Step 3 – Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God
* Step 4 – Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
* Step 5 – Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
* Step 6 – Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
* Step 7 – Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings
* Step 8 – Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all
* Step 9 – Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
* Step 10 – Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it
* Step 11 – Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out
* Step 12 – Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs

My chemical dependency is on coffee — or rather caffeine.  In the morning, it is one of the first things that comes to mind as I am going about my daily routine.  I make time for it.  When I don’t, I suffer.  My “game”, or lack thereof, is thrown off if I don’t get my two-ish cups before getting to work.  If I don’t have it, not only does it affect me, but it has the potential to affect those around me.  Not gonna lie, it’s not pretty.

As I thought through my dependency on coffee / caffeine and the lengths I would go to in order to make sure I had coffee, I realized something.  I am Spiritually Dependent, too.  I have a sin addiction in my life.  There are times when I will stop at nothing to satisfy those desires.  I would rather have an addiction to Jesus – that’s a little “Carman” nugget for some of you hardcore Christian music fans of the 80′s. Go ahead and click on the link — I’ll wait.  It’s worth a look and a laugh, but come back (please).

In the morning, I want God to be one of the first things that comes to mind as I am going about my daily routine.  I need to make time for Him.  When I don’t, I know I suffer.  My “game”, or lack thereof, is thrown off if I don’t take time to remember whose I am and what I am about.  If I don’t make the time, not only does it affect me, but it has the potential to affect those around me.

So what are you addicted to?  Are you Spiritually Dependent?  Do you want to be?

-Nathan

——————-

Rain falling in the night

Wakes me up

Gently

Reminding me of grace

Reminding me of mercy

Filling puddles

Intensifies

Deluge–

Puddles are overflowing, becoming little lakes and ponds

Yet interconnected

Cleansing… washing over…

Mercy and grace are raining down

Awakens my soul

Abruptly

Filling up my imperfections

Making me whole

Overflowing.

Gratitude.

Peace.

We all have transitions in our lives, challenges, priority shifts, etc.  How do you balance that against your values?  What is your litmus test or will you be thrown to the sharks?

-Nathan

We must not have screwed up too bad, because they asked us to come back.  So we got a chance to lead and speak at CRM again last week.  In between songs, I mentioned an obscure verse that I came across one morning.  It was from Habakkuk 3:2a (good luck with the pronunciation).  Anyway, here it is…

Lord, I have heard of your fame;

I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.

Repeat them in our day,

in our time make them known;

The people we got to speak with before and after were well aware of their need for a Saviour.  They were well aware of the miracles that had happened in their own lives.  I think we get to the point where we have heard about or read about great miracles in the Bible, but we don’t believe that God is still working miracles in our lives every day.

So for those of you reading this post that sent our family a Christmas card, know that our family has decided to pick a card every day and pray for the people who sent it.  Our prayer is that He will make known His deeds in your lives throughout this year.  When we run out, we may just start going through “Facebook”

I “stand in awe” and my prayer is that He will repeat them in OUR day.  What are some ways you have seen miracles today in your every day life?

-Nathan

God is my Shepherd

And I am His little lamb.

He feeds me

He guides me

He looks after me.

I have everything I need.

Inside, my heart is very quiet.

As quiet as lying still in soft green grass

In a meadow

By a little stream.

Even when I walk through the dark, scary, lonely places

I won’t be afraid

Because my Shepherd knows where I am.

He is here with me

He keeps me safe

He rescues me

He makes me strong

And brave.

He is getting wonderful things ready for me

Especially for me

Everything I ever dreamed of!

He fills my heart so full of happiness

I can’t hold it all inside.

Wherever I go I know

God’s Never Stopping

Never Giving Up

Unbreaking

Always and Forever

Love

Will go, too!

This is a paraphrase of the 23rd Psalm from the Bible we read to our kids (The Jesus Storybook Bible).  I get something new from it every time.  We read these old stories in a different way.  Maybe we over-complicate things way too much…  I know we do…

-Nathan

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” – Albert Einstein

How do I do this?  I think the first thing is to realize that my life — my story — is not just my story anymore.  Government and other organizations can help and should help to fight poverty and to stand up against injustices, but it cannot stop there.  Institutions can provide the environment and the means to produce change.  But for change to stick, it has to happen in each of our hearts.

So then, is it also your and my responsibility to fight against poverty; to stand up against injustice? Absolutely!

And so, I offer you some opportunities to be a part of change — a chance to help live a life for others.  After all, it is not just my story or your story anymore.  This is our story.

A few organizations I have chosen to support are the City Rescue Mission of Jacksonville and the Got Your Back Movement.

City Rescue Mission’s goal is “to serve the homeless and needy by rebuilding their lives through the love and compassion of Jesus Christ”.  They provide an environment — not just shelter — but also an opportunity for people to rebuild their lives.  There are a couple opportunities available right now to help CRM.  One is by clicking the “like” link on this site.  Another way to help is by donating a coat at any Burlington Coat Factory store in JAX and receiving 10% off your entire purchase.  Click here to find out more.

Got Your Back Movement is an interesting organization that I stumbled upon last Christmas.  GYB’s mission is to Restore Purpose.  Give Hope.  Show Love.  GYB provides school uniforms to children in need worldwide.  This helps to create sustainable change globally through the impact that education creates in every aspect of life.  “Shirt for Shirt” is one of the ways they accomplish this.  You buy a shirt and a child gets a school uniform.  You buy 2 and 2 kids get uniforms.  Easy math.  To make it even more awesome, there is a challenge out right now from Will Hill – GYB’s Executive Director.  Tomorrow is his 30th birthday.  The challenge is to provide 30 kids with uniforms for his birthday.  So far, there are 5 more to go.  Click here to be a part of the birthday challenge.

It’s not my story anymore… How about you?

-Nathan

P.S. You can check out City Rescue Mission on Twitter and GYB on Twitter.

——

One of my favorite clips from “Elf”

Psalm 139:1 – O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.

Sometimes we, the creation, try to decide who God, the creator, is.  How obnoxious and arrogant is that?  We do not get to decide who God is.  It can be frustrating to not fully understand God, but it is absurd for us to think we have any right to try and contain God in some “box” that we are capable of comprehending.  How limited of a god that would be?

Here is an excerpt from a devotion by W. Phillip Keller that I read this morning based on Psalm 139:1

As He [God] begins to share life with us, we really are astonished to discover how well He already knows all about us.  He, and only He, is totally familiar with all the intimate intricacies of my genetic makeup.  He understands all the unique characteristics which have been inherited from my parents and grandparents.  He knows my distinctive and special personality.  Because of such incredible insight, He understands my behavior far better than any human being.  So He deals with me fairly.

Precisely the same principle applies to His comprehension of all the social and unique environmental influences which have shaped my character and molded my mind from birth.  I am not an enigma to Him.  I am one whom He has known since conception.  Consequently, He does not reject or despise me.  Rather, He begins now to re-create me in His own lovely likeness.

Likewise with my mind, my emotions, my will (heart).  He perceives clearly why I think as I do; why I feel as I do in interaction with others; why I make the choices I do from day to day.  In all these complex activities, He does not come to condemn me.  He comes instead to change and re-direct my energies, my decisions, into noble purposes and lofty service.

It is good to be known and be known by Him.

——

Merry Christmas!

-Nathan

Defined it is this:

—Antonyms

1.  stinginess. 2.  pettiness.

I think true generosity requires “off the top” giving of yourself, time, efforts, finances, etc.  Giving my leftovers is tantamount to offering scraps from my table only after I have had my fill.  Read the antonyms.  That sounds petty to me.

I recently read the book “Fields Of Gold“.  Short book.  Easy read.  One of the biggest points in this book is that we should not being worried about giving too much — but being more concerned about giving too little.  I’ll use this in the context of what I give and haven’t given to my church.

This stings a bit, but I’ll admit, my heart has not always been where it needs to be concerning this area of my life.  I can rationalize and reason with the best on how giving of some of my time = giving of my financial resources.  I am here to tell you — not true.  My family and I recently made a commitment to give off the top — something that I might add my wife has been pushing for quite some time.  There is a freedom in giving right off of the top to something we believe in.  To give what is leftover, what is essentially our table scraps, just feels stingy.

I mention this not because I am some “uber-holier-than-thou” person who thinks they have it all figured out.  Part of my reasoning is, I need accountability.  I know my heart…  If I feel I have an inch of margin somewhere else, I will try to use it for some other reason.  It may even be a good reason, but I will essentially be rationalizing and reasoning my way out of giving off the top, and I will eventually be giving my leftovers.  I think we give more because we are giving off the top and not just what is leftover.

One of the ways we have done this is by using a service like eGive.  This isn’t an advertisement for eGive, but I can have it set to take a specified amount and deliver to a host of charitable organizations.  It is a great tool.

So, we are 2 months in to our commitment, and I am amazed at what God is continuing to do in our hearts as a result.  Has it meant some sacrifice?  You bet!  Has it been worth it?  YOU BET!!  I only wish we had realized this sooner.  But, I am stubborn.  God bless Joy for putting up with me while I figured this out for myself

Whatever you believe in, whatever you give to, whatever method you choose to give — what is your ultimate choice?  Are you giving “off the top”, liberally, freely or are you giving leftover, table-scraps?  Are you more worried about giving too much or that you have given too little?

Gut-check time…

-Nathan

I figured 10/10/10 was an epic enough day to make a “comeback”.  Comeback or not – God’s been working on me and my family.  Making some changes.  Some are long overdue.  Some are scary.  Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a little bit about what’s going on and what we are up to.  Praying for faith greater than any fear we might have.

What about you?

-Nathan

Bloom where you’re planted.  That’s what I’d say.  Don’t be looking for the “big time”.  Look for the small time.  That’s Jesus.  Slave of all.  Ministering to those who interrupted Him.  Great things start small and then get smaller.

And don’t play for God.  Learn to play “because of God”.  Remember Acts 17:25,26.  God doesn’t need you.  Don’t sing because you think He needs it.  Don’t play to be validated or accepted, play because you already are.

Let Him be your treasure.

Strive to be content playing in front of 5 people and take them to Christ, not yourself.  But to do that, you have to be validated by Christ’s work alone.  Not your songs, or CD sales, or #’s at a show.

And then, you’ll actually be able to take people somewhere beyond yourself, because that’s where you’re aiming for.  [To Him].  Let God be your end, not the means to something else.

I think that’s good advice no matter what you do—

What about you?  Will you bloom where you’re planted?  How do you let God be your end and not your means to something else?

-Nathan

P.S. if you haven’t bought their latest album “The Light Meets The Dark“, don’t eat that “fancy” lunch today and go buy it.

Psalm 139:1 – O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.

Sometimes we, the creation, try to decide who God, the creator, is.  How obnoxious and arrogant is that?  We do not get to decide who God is.  It can be frustrating to not fully understand God, but it is absurd for us to think we have any right to try and contain God in some “box” that we are capable of comprehending.  How limited of a god that would be?

Here is an excerpt from a devotion by W. Phillip Keller that I read this morning based on Psalm 139:1

As He [God] begins to share life with us, we really are astonished to discover how well He already knows all about us.  He, and only He, is totally familiar with all the intimate intricacies of my genetic makeup.  He understands all the unique characteristics which have been inherited from my parents and grandparents.  He knows my distinctive and special personality.  Because of such incredible insight, He understands my behavior far better than any human being.  So He deals with me fairly.

Precisely the same principle applies to His comprehension of all the social and unique environmental influences which have shaped my character and molded my mind from birth.  I am not an enigma to Him.  I am one whom He has known since conception.  Consequently, He does not reject or despise me.  Rather, He begins now to re-create me in His own lovely likeness.

Likewise with my mind, my emotions, my will (heart).  He perceives clearly why I think as I do; why I feel as I do in interaction with others; why I make the choices I do from day to day.  In all these complex activities, He does not come to condemn me.  He comes instead to change and re-direct my energies, my decisions, into noble purposes and lofty service.

It is good to know Him and be known by Him.

-Nathan

What’s the one thing…

…that would be hard to give up.

…that you need to give up.

…that keeps you from reaching your full potential.

…that you feel ashamed about and no one else knows about you.

We all have that “one thing”.  Some of us have a lot of “one things”.

“One thing” you need to know and believe, is there is a God who loves you no matter what.

“One thing” you need to know is you are not alone with your “one thing”.

Stand that “one thing” up next to God and see who is bigger, greater and stronger.

What’s your “one thing”?

-Nathan

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Got any other funny Father’s Day videos?

-Nathan

The result was this.

Awesome.  Proud.  Humbled.

I like to think that every once in a while, my heavenly Father glances down — sees my sometimes feeble attempts at creativity — and feels proud of me.  I hope I can live up to that.  I feel His pleasure the most when I am creative.

How about you?

-Nathan