Watering the Lawn?

Today, I watered the lawn after work. Not the whole lawn...just the part right next to the house. I guess I'm kinda paranoid about the fire danger in Oklahoma! But part of me thinks I did it for other reasons...
Maybe watering the lawn is an outward expression of my desire to protect my family. As a new dad, I find that when I am extremely hurt and vulnerable, I feel ten times as protective of my family!

Why do we get protective of other people?

I know that part of it is because we love them. We would do anything to keep them from experiencing any kind of pain.
But I wonder if the other part is because WE want to be protected!
When we get down and out; when we feel hurt and vulnerable; when we feel like nobody cares; when we feel unprotected and unwanted...

Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Psalms 28:6-9

24-Hour Fast

I know...usually our youth group does a 30-Hour Fast. It changed this year because we were expecting company and because it's been a long week, and I didn't plan as much as I wanted to.
I always learn something new about God during a fast. We go without food, but get full on God! This year, we made a care box for a young couple who lost a child recently. We also did a Jesus Walk (we walked with Jesus from the garden of Gethsemane to the crucifixion.) I had the kids feel helpless, get betrayed, feel deserted, get falsely accused, be hated by strangers, carry a cross, and feel nails of crucifixion.
Here are some things I learned...

1. Not everyone carries the cross the same way. One of the teens told another, "You're doing it wrong!" We discussed how it might look different, but it's not necessarily wrong. Isn't that true of God's people? We all have different gifts and different lives, but we all can carry our cross for God's glory!
2. Sometimes we rush through our time spent with Jesus. Some of the teens wanted to rush from station to station without really contemplating each stage of the Jesus walk. I guess I'm guilty of the same thing sometimes. Hurry up and get your Bible reading done. Help this person out...it will only take ten minutes. I need to spend more time with Jesus instead of just putting Him on my "To Do" list.
3. I am extremely blessed! I don't have to worry where my next meal is coming from! I know that I will get at least three meals a day, and probably snacks, too! When you have no food, you have no energy...but people go on with life anyway! I am so spoiled because if I miss ONE meal I get cranky!

Fasting is a lost discipline among Christians today...especially among churches of Christ. Maybe if we all did it more, we would learn more to depend on God.

Standing Right In Front of You

We had an awesome time with some friends of ours last night. They are great about listening to our rants and raves, encouraging us, and especially making us laugh when we need it most!
The funny thing is, I've been here for over five years and always complained about not having close friends! I guess sometimes the biggest blessings in life are standing right in front of you.

God, help me to notice the blessings in my life! When I have a negative attitude, open my eyes to see the positive stuff all around me. And thank you for great friends.

What are some blessings that stand right in front of you? Or...

Why do you love your friends so much?

God bless you all!

Fischer Takes Over!!

Hi, my name is Fischer and my daddy is letting me take over his blog for today. I am about to take a bath, so this will have to be quick!
My daddy got to stay home today, but he was sick. I hope he gets better soon.
For some reason, mommy and daddy have been hugging a lot today. Then we got in the car and took some flowers and cards to people who don't have family any more. Mommy cried later on when daddy gave her a card. Adults are weird!
I got to laugh a lot today and tomorrow I get to go to Bible class! I will see my teachers and then probably some of the teenagers will hold me after class. Church is neat because so many people there love me. Mommy and daddy tell me that God loves me too!
I also love to see my grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, cousins, and the rest of my HUGE family! Sometimes they have to come to "Podunk City" to visit us (that's what my daddy says) and that's a lot of fun.
Well, it's time for my bath so I'd better run. Hope you all sleep good tonight and eat well tomorrow!
- Fischer

I Died Yesterday

My name is Franklin Wood. I died yesterday.

I died when I wanted to sleep in, but went to praise God anyway. I died when I gave up my whole day to mentor teenagers and set up for a youth rally. I died when I wanted to give up (when my singing voice died), but I persevered. I died when I wanted to yell at some people for not supporting me, but I loved on them instead.

See, I didn't die physically, I just put my old self to death.

Did you know that we are supposed to die every day?

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." Romans 6:6-7

I'm not perfect...never will be as long as I live. I've got a lot of dying to do...a lot of old habits and temptations to bury. The best I can do is try to share in Christ's story (DIE to my old self, BURY my sinful self, and RISE AGAIN as a new person in Christ!)

How about you? What part of your "old self" needs to die? What old habits do you need to crucify? Have you died lately?

Stupid Human Tricks

Here is a recent photo of our son. A few days after this pic was taken, we discovered that he has a unique talent...he can roll his tongue to a vertical position!
We both laughed hysterically at this newfound skill. His mom could not imitate it, and wondered aloud where he could have picked up this talent. So, I turned to her and showed off my own glossal gymnastics (tongue tricks!)

I've seen a few cool human tricks in person:

• Clasping hands at waist level (behind the back) and bringing them over the head.
• Chugging Tabasco sauce (yes, it IS a talent!)
• A girl climbing a 25-foot wall in under 6 seconds.
• Weird Al Yankovich grabbing his foot and putting it behind his head (while standing!)

What is the coolest stupid human trick that you can perform or that you have witnessed?