Special Thanks

Who do you surround yourself with? What kind of people do you call friends? Do you have those especially close to you whom you can count on to encourage you, lend you an ear, stand in the gap and help raise you up?

One of my best friends, as well one of my small group shepherds, Mike Yates, once told me how he likes to surround himself with people who will build him up and encourage him. You know, that's such a simple yet very profound thing to do...yet how many of us do this? Think of how much better our outlook on life would be if we all surrounded ourselves with positive people who have a special knack for building others up rather than tearing others down.

Mike is one of those guys who does just that for me. We try and get together at least a couple times a month for lunch or a Sunday dinner out with our spouses (he's even so gracious to let us bring our kids with us, engaging Kaitlyn in several fierce battles of thumb wrestling and hoisting Jake up in the air with a few well placed tickles for good measure). He's also had a great deal to do with my recent conversion from an almost life-long obsession with the Chicago Cubs to seeing the light and rooting for the team from the town where I was born, St. Louis. We even took a 3 day weekend up there in September to see the Cubs & Cards for the very last series at the old Busch Stadium. Talk about an empty feeling as we left that night, realizing there'd never be another great rivalry series like that played at the ol' girl. Sad...yet exciting when you think about the new Busch Stadium slated to open in a few short weeks.

Anyway, back to Mike. He's got this innate ability to make everyone around him feel at ease and after you meet him for the first few minutes, you feel like you've known him for that last few years. He & his wife Sandy are so warm, so giving, so caring and so open. To know that they've been there for me & my family anytime we've needed them, whether it was when I thought I was having a heart attack and checked myself into the hospital (Mike rallied to class together to make sure people would be there to care for Jennifer and the kids) to running the ONLY working key to our SUV up to us at the airport when we got back from Disney this past November...these are people we want in our lives. We've seen how God has blessed them and how God has ministered to us through them.

The other shepherd from my small group is Julio Echegoyen. This dear brother in Christ is so in tune with what God is saying to him. I have no hesitation in ever saying that this man is truly annointed by the Holy Spirit. In fact, I give out an open invite to whomever reads this blog to see for yourself and join us this Sunday at the FBC Springdale as Julio leads our small group, Young Professionals. I would almost bet your life will touched in a positive way by the Holy Spirit after engaging in one of Julio's lessons.

He and I get together for lunch as often as we can and will spend much of that lunch hour digging deeper into several topics from the Bible. As I'm still probably a "toddler" in terms of Christian maturity, Julio is widely responsible for guiding me and teaching me so many truths I may not have noticed by just reading the Word, much of it for the first time. We often have to jump quickly from topic to topic, verse to verse but I always feel so rejuvenated after meeting with him. His insight into things is astonishing.

He and his wife Vivian, their daughters Kayleen & Brightly, as well as Julio's brother David and his wife Ana have become so precious to us and we love them with a deep, Christ-centered love. When I think of how 15-20 years ago, we were all scattered across the world and maybe had no intentions of ever ending up in Northwest Arkansas, it was by God's divine purposes that He brought us all together as a group at FBC Springdale. I can attest that my life is so much better because of it.

I honestly believe God continues to bless men like Mike & Julio because they have put God first in every area in their life. By allowing Him to have first place, He continues to use both of them for His intended purposes. Thanks Mike & Julio for being obedient to His Word, for having an impact on my life and for being my friend.

How about you who are reading this today? Who's had an impact on your life? Who's made a difference to you? Maybe a better question to consider is what kind of impact are you having on those around you? Will you be known as someone who tore down constantly, was negative and a pain to be around...or will they remember you as someone who raised people up, stood behind others and supported them through discouraging times?

I'm hoping they'll remember me as someone who had a positive impact on others, who let the light of Christ shine through his life and whose lasting legacy points ultimately back toward the Father.

Random Ramblings

One of the guys who's always made me laugh is Bill Cosby. I remember in 7th or 8th grade, I had one of his tapes and I could recite word for word the majority of the bits he'd done. Just ask my grandparents. It used to be "Showtime at Jim's House" whenever they'd come visit because I always had a new Bill Cosby routine ready to perform. One of my favorites was when he would talk about "brain damage".

This "brain damage" bit deals with how kids have a mind of their own but refuse to own up to anything. If you tell them one thing, they'll go out and do the exact opposite. You say "get up for school" they go back to sleep. You say "quit touching your brother" they keep poking him in the ribs. You say "don't eat that cake for breakfast", which happens to be another great Cosby story (Dad is great...give us chocolate cake!), the child grabs the cake anyway.

But then, when you confront the child as to WHY they did what you asked them not to, what's the patent response we've ALL heard?

"I don't know."

"You don't know or you just don't want to admit you got caught"

"I don't know."

Cosby does such a brilliant job acting out his frustration as the kids continue to play dumb and not admit to why they did what he's asked them not to. Of course, he attributes it to brain damage. Believe me, I can surely relate.

Just this weekend alone, I spent several minutes at a time trying to "communicate" with Kaitlyn on a vast array of things. Things like 'put your Gameboy down' or 'brush your teeth for bed' or 'come here and help your brother'. You know...simple things.

Yet, it took me no fewer than 5 requests PER incident to get her attention!! I've often maintained to my wife that if these kind of things are going on after 7pm at night, it must be because she & I are suddenly speaking Portuguese because there's no other way our child would be blatantly ignoring us like she is. I mean...really...

I stood in the doorway of her room at bedtime, trying to get her attention, saying "Kaitlyn", "Kaitlyn", "Kaitlyn", "Kaitlyn", "KAITLYN!

Here's where it gets good. The child had the audacity to actually look startled, as if she only realizes at that moment that I'm standing there, pretending like she didn't see me the past 2 minutes.

She even added in a quick "startled jerk" to her head for further effect. Oh yes...she's good. Very good.

Instead of the expected "I don't know" reply as I interrogated her, I got another oldie but goodie.

"I didn't hear you."

Ahhh yes. The old audible nocturnal deficiency syndrome. I remember it well. In fact, I've been known (or accused depending on who you ask) to still use this in spousal discussions which, oddly enough, occur after 9pm. Hmmmm...maybe there is something to this after all.

Switching gears for a bit, is anyone else as happy as I am that Dancing With The Stars is now over? Not saying I didn't enjoy it (I still say Stacy was robbed...no way she should've been voted off!! Uh oh...I hear a robotic voice going off questioning my masculinity) but I'm glad it's done. One of the funniest bits I saw regarding DWTS was on ESPN last night.

One of ESPN's anchors, Kenny Mayne, was on the show and happened to be the first one voted off. On the FIRST night!! Distinction or disgrace...you be the judge. Anyway, it's obvious he wasn't real torn up about it but his commentaries afterwards were priceless. The post DWTS video ESPN shot continued to dog out Kenny and his "efforts". I watched those late last night, holding my sides and almost crying at the idiocy.

They showed him getting a "4" from the judge on the show, out of a possible "10". Then, in further post-DWTS life adventures, it was revealed that anything having to do with "dance" was impossible for Mayne to discuss. After scoring a touchdown during a pickup game in the yard, he couldn't do a showboat dance in the endzone. During a sportscast, he couldn't mention the word "dance" when referring to the upcoming March Madness basketball tourney. He couldn't even bring himself to watch "Dances With Wolves" and threw the DVD in the garbage.

Then, the camera panned to the right and there, in the privacy of his own home, stood a little old lady holding a giant sandwich board sign with the number "4" boldly painted on it.

I was laughing so hard, I had to hold my sides to stop all the jiggling and bouncing, thus preventing another collapse of the couch which stands on non-sturdy legs.

Yet, the response from my wife poured the water of cynicism, disgust and pity on my fire of exuberance, elation and frivolity.

"You finished yet? It wasn't that funny."

It'd be here that I'd insert the sound of a balloon being deflated and the slobbery noise it makes if I could...cause that's exactly how I felt from then on.

Yes, this clown may be smiling on the outside, but there are times it's raining on the inside.

~fin

The Weekend Is Here

Saturday morning, about 10:15 here in NW Arkansas and the kids are getting restless. It's not quite warm enough to stick them outside on the trampoline for an hour...but then isn't that why they've got heavier sweatshirts?

Just a few random thoughts and observations to get me through until Monday.

XM Radio. I finally decided to invest in this yesterday after a bunch of hoopla and even more ater listening to the tired. old, worn out local radio. It's one of those things where I see how radio was evolving when I left it and where it's progressed (if you can call it that) since then. Does anyone out there reading this have XM or Sirius? What are your thoughts on it? As of now, I'm not all that impressed due to the sound. It's much more staticky (is that a word?) than my normal radio is and I'm not that excited to what I'm hearing...sound quality wise. We'll see. Maybe I need a better quality installation than I got. But at least XM's got Major League Baseball in just a few weeks!! Yes!

Speaking of which, anyone checked out the new pics of the all-new Busch Stadium? It's going to be sharp, albeit much smaller from what I hear. I'm still not too sure how I feel about the Cards tearing down the old lady for the newer model but we should all have a good idea around June 1. From the pics I've seen though, it's going to be a race to the finish to be done in time for the regular season. I saw on the Cards website that the Springfield Cards will meet Memphis at the new Busch on April 4th for the first game ever. The STL Cards christen the place the followiing week on April 10th against the Brewers. Here's hoping to a good inaugural season and a World Series appearance. A win this time would be nice too.

The Razorback baseball team is off to a roaring start this year at 8-0. We wrap up the series with LA Tech today. I think Coach Van Horn has got the guys focused and they seem to be playing very well. Which is a good thing so early in the season but I hope there isn't a monumental collapse when it comes time for a playoff push.

Man, I love baseball. It's one of those things where if I knew now what I didn't know back in my high school days, I'd have forgone ANY kind of football or basketball ambitions and focused solely on baseball. I've often said that if I'd have ever made it to the big leagues, I'd gladly play for the league minimum and shut up about it. I've got no problem with guys getting paid a fair sum but these multi-kajillion dollar contracts are outrageous. Give me 6 figures to stand out and play ball on a Tuesday afternoon in Wrigley Field or Fenway or Kaufman Stadium...any of the big parks...and I'd be happy as a pig in slop.

If you've ordered Girl Scout cookies from us, we'll be getting in touch with you soon. They're here and it's all I can do to keep Jake from "inspecting" each box. Plus, since I'm on the lo-carb diet (I've lost over 20 lbs since November), I need to get these horrible tempations outta the house. I can already hear the thin mints and the caramel delights calling out to me.

Have a great weekend. I'll be back on Monday.

A Special Night

I remember the night our daughter Kaitlyn was born. It was July 14th, 1998 and we were living in Columbia Missouri at the time. My wife Jennifer was finishing up her 3rd year of residency and I was program director of a classic rock station. Life was good and the expectancy of a new child was met with great anticipation and a bit of glamorized ideals of what it'd be like to raise a baby However, the moment I walked into the hospital and saw my wife begin to be induced, the stuff of my personal life began to ebb away and I knew there was never going to be a "me first" attitude. I'd had an inkling that my priorities were about to change but I had no idea how much.

I sat behind my wife's head as they began to "prep" her for a C-section. Now one thing about me you may not know, I've very squeamish about all the "inner workings" of the human body. It's good info to have but I don't necessarily want to see it first hand. So, I made sure I kept my head at her head level, behind a protective curtain, guaranteeing I couldn't see what was behind.

But when the words "here she is" came from the doctor's lips, I stood up to see this miracle God had blessed us with. I can still see what happened like it happened an hour ago.

As I raised my head above the curtain, I saw 2 gloved hands gently raising up this tiny, wet pink baby toward me. I was about to smile when the doctor turned Kaitlyn to face me directly.

Time stood still.

Those precious, innocent and newly opened big, brown eyes locked DIRECTLY on me and it was as if someone had hit me in the stomach with a sledgehammer. It was at that moment I fell instantly in love with this miracle. No amount of "mach-eees-mo" or brick & mortar could stop the tears and emotions I felt. I wept uncontrollably while laughing with joy as I sat back down next to Jennifer. She instantly said "is she OK?"

Before I could say anything, a tiny head appeared over the curtain and those beautiful little eyes peered down at us. I kissed my wife and we began to weep again as they took Kaitlyn to the next room to clean her up and get her dressed.

I didn't realize it until 2 days later but once I brought Kaitlyn out to show her off to all our families, I never let anyone hold her. No one. Not Jennifer's dad & step-mom, not GG or Bapa, not my mom...no one. I wasn't even trying to be selfish either. I guess I just never realized what it felt like to be a parent and I never wanted that moment to end.

Such love. Such devotion. Such joy. Such a feeling like I'd die for her in a minute if it'd save her a lifetime of pain.

Then, the first wake-up cries at 3am came as well as MY first diaper change (let me rephrase that...my first time to change Kaitlyn...not my diaper, although I was scared so badly as the nurse kicked open the door I might ought to have been wearing one)

That was nearly 8 years ago and since then, we've also welcomed our son Jacob into the world. I'll tell you more about him soon but becoming a parent was one of the greatest joys we've ever experienced together. It's a privilege and a responsibility we hold dearly because we realize that these kids are actually special treasures that God has allowed us to bring home and raise.

There's a song by Bill Gaither called "We'll Be There" and in it, he sings to his child a promise that no matter where the child is, no matter what the child does, he and Mommy will always be there. It's definitely a real tear-jerker for sure. But the line that always does me in is this one...

"Thanking God every day, that He sent you our way...and entrusted you ONCE...to our care, and wherever you roam, you can always come home...we'll be there."

I thank God for my kids. He has blessed us in so many ways and our children are a constant reminder of His faithfulness and love for US, as our Heavenly Father. A freind of mine, Darin Gray, once said one of the most powerful illustrations I've ever heard about God as our Father. He said during a quiet time at choir practice one night to just take some time out and be still before God. He said he often does this and he begins to imagine that he himself is a child, looking up into the loving, smiling face of Jesus and he crawls up into His lap, resting his head against His chest and allows Jesus to love him, comfort him and slowly rock him carefully as we would our own infants.

Imagine for a minute that image.

You. Me. An innocent child cradled in the lap of our Heavenly Father and He lovingly reassures us that no matter where we are or what we do...

He'll be there.

Through The Eyes Of A Child

As a former radio manager used to tell me all the time, "perception is everything". Now whether that's an accurate statement or not remains to be seen. However, it is a fact that how we look and perceive things to be determines how we continue to respond to them. Consider the way a child looks at things vs. how we as adults view them. Remember that show with Bill Cosby a few years ago called "Kids Say The Darndest Things"? It was so funny to hear how a child could come up with all kinds of outlandish conclusions about the simplest of things.

My son, Jacob, who's 3 1/2 going on 16, has a very funny wit about him already (how many times have I heard from friends and family that "yep...he's your son alright"). My grandparents have encouraged me for years to write down all the things my kids have said and couple them with my "editorial comments". We've all had a few good laughs about these over the years. In fact, just this past Sunday, Jake and I got into a discussion about Jesus.

He looked at me seriously and said "Daddy, my teacher told me that Jesus died".

Now this was after he'd come home from Sunday School and I'm assuming the lesson dealt with what Jesus did for all of us. This is one of the aspects Jake had remembered.

"Yes" I said. "Jesus did die a long time ago. But you know what's exciting? He came back to life and went to Heaven to be with God."

"He did?" Jake's eyes began to get bigger at this point.

"Yes He did," I replied. "In fact, Jesus is there in Heaven right now making a place for you, Kaitlyn, Mommy & Daddy to go live one day. He's excited about us all going to live with Him and He's waiting for us right now!"

By this point, the excitement was building inside Jake. His fists began to shake, his eyes grew to half-dollar size and even the veins on the side of his neck started protruding in anticipation.

"AAAWWWWWW" he yelled gleefully. "Cool!"

Then he added, in typical 3 year old fashion "...and when I see Jesus, He's going to have snacks for me...and maybe (his voice lowered for a bit)...maybe He'll get me some toys from Target!!"

I started laughing out loud as Jake began running and jumping throughout the room. He was so thrilled to consider the fact that one day, he would be rewarded with the things he loved and considered precious to him.

But then I thought about how each of us go about each day and live our lives. What do I think about actually going to Heaven? Am I that excited about it (like Jake was) so much that I'd clap my hands, laugh hilariously & skip around the room like an innocent child or do I live my life according to my own plan, thinking I'll go to Heaven when I'm ready but right now I've got too much living to do?

So many of the things we have today, whether it be material things or job title or our place in society...none of it really belongs to us. I've gotten bogged down thinking that all the "stuff" we have we own, we've "earned" or even worse, we "deserve".

No. Not at all. It all comes from Him and because of this, it all belongs to Him.

God has blessed me and my family abundantly. I am so thankful for His saving grace and the new mercies He provides each and every day. I'm so thankful for the gift He gave all of us over 2000 years ago...His Son...who came and took all of our sin with Him to the cross. Christ willingly poured Himself out for you and me and because of that, it's by His precious shed blood that we are FREE!

One of the things I'm learning as I spend intimate time with Him is that the things of this world shall one day all pass away but the things of God will never fade away. What we have, where we live, all our "stuff" has come from Him. He has a plan for our lives and He is to be praised for all He's done and is going to do.

I'm reminded of the verse in Jeremiah 29:11 where God says "For I know the plans I have for you...plans for your welfare, not for diaster, to give you a future and a hope."

When I keep this thought in mind, I can become that child who's thrilled beyond his wildest dreams & running around the room at break-neck speed, knowing that one day, I will go to Heaven, one day, I will receive the treasures He has for me and one day...

I will see Jesus.

Blog Time!

A daily blog? Hmmm…I know that a few of my friends and even my pastor writes a daily blog so why not me? I mean, I kind of like the idea of being able to speak out to an unknown audience. It reminds me of when I worked in radio, I never knew how many people were listening, paying attention or even cared.

Judging by my past ratings, it wasn’t a lot.

Oh the pain.

Now, I guess the purpose of these blogs is for people to sound off on anything they want, giving their own "unique" perspective on things. To call the carnival inside my head "unique" is an understatement.

My good friend Jordan Cox at FBC Springdale thinks I need therapy due to the things he’s heard. The poor guy is now scarred forever. I've shared with him some anecdotes that might make some laugh in humor and others just feel downright sorry for me. It's OK. I like my mind and as I tell my wife so very often "my mind is a great, FUN place to be...you should come visit sometime!"

Well, I'll be back tomorrow, ready to play. Right now though, I have a 3 year old who still needs to learn how to tell Daddy when he needs "to go". I'm about to buy stock in Tide considering the amount of the detergent I use each month.

Phew!!