Conversations With Andrew

Andrew to me this morning - "Hey, boy. You're not in charge."

I think the weekend has gotten off to a good start.

Comforted in Christ

Weary and broken
Yet comforted and content
Jesus is enough

Lifted From Thomas McKenzie

I'm lifting this from my friend Thomas McKenzie, but I think it was worth stealing.

"Halloween is this Saturday. There are Christians who feel that Halloween is an evil day and that it should not be celebrated. As there are some pagan roots to Halloween (as there are pagan roots to most Christian holidays), and as Halloween is sometimes celebrated in an ungodly way, that position is understandable. If you prefer not to celebrate Halloween in any way, that is a fine choice.

However, Halloween is also one of the very few days of the year, perhaps the only day of the year, in which getting to know your neighbors is encouraged by our culture. Even if you don't choose to decorate your house or wear a costume, let me encourage you to consider keeping your lights on and handing out treats to children who come by. Or consider going with children as they walk in the neighborhood, keeping them company and greeting neighbors. Consider seeing Halloween as an open door to love others, to bless them, and to get to know them. "

Rebecca and I are taking to boys to visit the less fortunate. We're going the the Vanderbilt football game.

Grace

"Grace excels all metaphors. The varnish laid upon it but doth darken, and not decorate it. its own colours are too glorious to be made more glorious." - Edward Taylor

A Rebecca Contribution to Conversations with Andrew

Andrew sitting in time out:

Mommy - “Why are you in time out.”

Andrew low and looking down - “What you talkin’ about?”

It's Good to Be Broken

“The Law is for the proud and the Gospel for the brokenhearted.”

- Martin Luther

Conversations WIth Other Peoples' Kids

I'm having a group of fourth graders make a list of things they're thankful for. One of them just walked up to my desk and asked, "Can I write, 'no mental issues?'

Prayer

Jesus, help me to live today by your grace, not by my grit; in your mercies, not by my fantasies; to meet other's needs, not to fulfill my selfish greed. Amen - Scotty Smith

This prayer was on one of my pastor's Facebook page today. The idea of living by grace instead of grit convicted me deeply. One of my favorite sermons is from Tim Keller. It is titled Blessed are the Poor. Scotty's prayer reminded me of this quote that I've posted a few times before.

“When the gospel comes to you, it will come to you only if you only if you get rid of your middle class spirit and become poor in spirit. You cannot be a Christian unless you are poor in spirit. You cannot be a Christian if you are middle class in spirit. What do I mean by that? I will tell you. Religion appeals to the able. Religion appeals to people who say, “I can do it if I work hard enough.” But the gospel only comes into the lives of people who are poor in spirit who say I have absolutely nothing of value, and I have no power, and no choices, and I need to rely completely on the salvation and sheer grace of Jesus Christ. If you are middle class in spirit you cannot be saved. You’ll enjoy religion. You’ll love religion. But the gospel is not religion.” Tim Keller

I don't want to live by grit. I don't want to buckle down and lower my shoulder. My Savior has promised his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He has told me those who wait on him will soar like eagles. His promises are true. He isn't looking for our toughness. He has come to make the broken sing.

Conversations with Other People's KIds

This episode doesn't feature Joshua or Andrew, but I believe you'll be entertained.

I was watching the Notre Dame/USC game yesterday with a friend who has a three-year-old boy. USC threw an interception toward the end of the game that Notre Dame had a shot at returning for a touchdown. My friend, who is a huge Notre Dame fan, stood up and started yelling, "Pick six! Pick six!"

His son, excited by his daddy's enthusiasm began jumping up and down yelling, "Pixies! Pixies!"

Most Inspiring Lines I've Heard in Awhile

From this one place I can't see very far
In this one moment I'm square in the dark
These are the things I will trust in my heart
You can see something else

Sara Groves from her new song From This One Place.

You can buy her new album (and you should buy her new album) here.

Fall Break

Do you want good news?
Here is change I can support
Fall Break lasts four days

A Little Perspective

Matthew 6:20 - But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

The Fullness of All Good Things...

"If God contains the fullness of all good things in himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond him is to be sought by those who strive for the highest good and all the elements of happiness." - John Calvin

Random Musings from Fall TV

Community - My favorite comedy of the new season with the biggest mistake of the new season. Chevy Chase. I get the feeling they were trying to create another Alec Baldwin situation, which will never happen again. The character is necessary. The actor is wrong. I spent one semester at a Community College, and the show brings back a lot of memories.

Flash Forward - Someone I love dearly called this the new LOST. Eeeeasy! It's good. Maybe really good, but there's only one LOST. The characters on LOST were strong from day one. The back-story development is the best thing I've ever seen on TV. This show has good characters with incredible potential, but there's no Ben Linus. The other place where I just can't see another show catching LOST is unpredictablity. The twists on Flash Forward aren't as surprising as LOST. The black figure was creepy, but you knew it had to happen. That being said, I'm more excited about it than Jim and Pam's wedding.

The Office - This show has become too real. It's still funny, but every episode becomes more tragic. I heard a wise person say, "Either you know Michael Scott or you are Michael Scott." Thankfully, and only because of the alternative, I know Michael Scott. I do wish Jim and Pam all the best.


Glee - Any show that has football teams incorporating dance into their playbook loses me immediately. I can't even stomach Remember the Titans because of the pregame warm-ups. The Single Ladies dance routine warranted delay of game and illegal formation penalties. I hate unrealistic sports scenes.

I have other issues (more serious issues) with Glee, but my boredom with the show has just met up with my boredom of writing about this show.

David Letterman - When the yearbook staff wrote a little blurb about me my senior year, they mentioned my love for Dave. I've had an inexplicable loyalty to Dave since I was in middle-school.

I don't remember the exact channel. I think it may have been A&E. Whatever it was, it ran Late Night with David Letterman shows at four or five in the afternoon. This was my first exposure to Letterman. My dad and I would watch Late Night when I got home from school. I was never up late enough to watch Late Night, so my exposure to Dave was limited to those repeats.

Then, in 1993, Dave moved to CBS and I started watching every night. I still remember the first week. Billy Joel, Bill Murray, Robin Williams. All my favorite Dave guests. I remember watching Dave's Oscars with my friends at my house. All this to say, I'm no small fan of Letterman.

I haven't just been a fan of Dave. I've been on his team. I have refused to watch Leno and am all too eager to spar with those whose preference isn't Dave. I have been known to make excuses for Dave being number two in the ratings by making arguments like Leno is popular with people who like Glee. I point to Jay Walking and comment those people are his audience. They wouldn't get Dave's humor. Dave is old school and this nation doesn't get it.

Last week's news did not surprise me, but it made me very sad. In a strange way, I love Dave. I've pulled for him in the late night race and I pull for him in life. I was happy (not in a Montana stalker way) for him when he got married and had a kid.

The quote that has stuck with me the most since the news broke was, "I am just a towering mass of Midwestern, Lutheran guilt, ..." I think the reason I've enjoyed Letterman so much is he seems aware of his depravity. His towering mass of guilt comes out in his humor. I'm neither Midwestern or Lutheran, but I've had my bouts with towering masses of guilt. What I've learned, by God's grace, is the towering masses only lead to more towers. Outside of the gospel, there is no relief for the pain of a guilty conscience, and medicating that conscience with whatever medication is available is one of the worst trappings of sinful man.

Dave is in a trap. He knows he's sinful. He knows he's guilty. Sex, alcohol, and humor have been some of his escapes. I pray that the tearing down of all three leads to his recognition of his need for the Savior.

My heart breaks for Letterman, the women involved, his wife, and his son. There is healing for this and every situation in Jesus. I pray God's kindness is leading him to repentance.

Conversations Between Joshua and Andrew

The Halloween costumes have arrived. Joshua will be Peter Pan and Andrew seems to have accepted his role as Captain Hook. I think it's because he gets to wear a smoking jacket.

Yesterday, as they were sitting at the table, this conversation ensued.

Joshua - "We're not friends Captain Hook. You're a bad pirate."

Andrew - "But I love you, Peter. I'll be nice."

The Word of God

"If we hear the Word of God, and it doesn't offend us, then we have not heard it." Martin Luther

Adoption Convention

Christ Community is hosting an adoption convention this weekend. I get to teach some of the kids whose parents have brought them along for the convention. Between sessions I got to listen to my pastor talk a little about adoption. He spoke of the New Creation, the coming Kingdom, where there will be no more orphans because God will be our Father. There will be no widows because Jesus will be our husband. God's beautiful plan (to save us from our broken, sinful hearts and restore us to our intended place of being able to know him and love him as he should be known forever) is sweeter every time it's told. I love to hear the story about the God who saves.

Trend

Haiku was invented for people like me. The daily grind is leaving me less than enough energy to write much at all. A three line post is perfect to share what God is doing in the lives of my family and me.

For every day
His grace is most sufficient
And new every morn

You have to say 'every' like a Southerner in the third line and like a Northerner in the first to keep this one within the rules!