onwin

My First Double Date

onwins — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:23:06 +0000

Reading Pete Wilson’s post entitled Double the Fun inspired me to write this. Check out his blog and comment about your first double date.

My first double date also happened to be my first driving date (I had just turned 16 and gotten my license that week!). Well, my friend Jason and I were going to double with two girls named Jennifer and Wendy, respectively; but, Jennifer ended up not being able to go. So, instead of saying to Jason, “Maybe next time, pal.” I said, “Go ahead and join us! We’ll have fun!” So the three of us piled into my mom’s sports car where I was going to impress Wendy with my smooth driving skills. Well, I don’t remember what we did that night, but I do remember that my date Wendy and my friend Jason really hit it off. They discovered that they had a lot in common! They were both in karate. They were both artists. So, the bulk of the conversation that night was between Wendy and Jason! At the end of the night, we get back to Wendy’s house and she says to Jason, “Can I show you my paintings?” And, while they’re in her bedroom finishing “their” date, I’m sitting on the couch with her junior high sister (who’s on the phone), watching TV and petting her dog. Jason and Wendy never went out again after that; but, it was clear that neither would Wendy and I.

Fortunately, eight years later, I went out on my first date with the love of my life, Audra. I made sure not to double date that time around.

I get a little angry…

onwins — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:41:36 +0000

I don’t know why, but I woke up Monday morning thinking about the news stories I’ve heard recently about parents beating their children—particularly one about a mother beating her 4 year old daughter to death! Then, this morning, I read about a Florida man slamming his 7 week old son to the ground for not drinking his formula! The boy died and the man was sentenced to 50 years in prison. I thought, “Just 50 years?” If ever there was an argument for the death penalty, this is it!

There are very few things that light my fire. Seriously, I’m just not the kind of person to go on rampages about topics. But this…this starts a raging inferno in my heart. Having a son of my own and a wife who has lived in an abusive home, I get a little angry when I hear parents beating and killing their own children. I don’t think I am sinning in my anger (Ephesians 4:26)–in fact, I know I’m not. I just want God’s justice to be done…and for the children who do survive–I pray that they can find refuge and healing. However, I will admit that it’s hard for me to feel mercy and extend grace to the abusive parents.

What is it that lights your fire and makes you cry out for God’s justice? And what do you do in those moments?

Another Good Worship Song

onwins — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:16:01 +0000

I just added Hosanna (the mp3 and the chord charts) by Hillsong (sung by Brooke Fraser) to the Box.net widget on the right side of this page. Just an FYI, the Passion version in God of this City is NOT the original version. I think it came out originally in the Hillsong United album titled All of the Above.

I won’t try to review this song. I’m not a music reviewer–never have been. But I will say that the song has an almost angelic and heavenly feel to it. Yet, it has that strong, driving, rock beat behind it. Listen to it for yourself (if you’ve never heard it) and tell me what you think.