Head-dibs

Here they are, in no particular order. My favorite told-you-so, Arwen My favorite scawy monstow, Astrid My favorite newby getting his hair did, Carter. He's got this philosophical look about him. My favorite engineer and rocket scientist, "Jack" and Jacob. My favorite kid-in-the-middle Jude holding my favorite kissy-face, Cassie

Today was the Boston Marathon. Congratulations to the winner. But do you remember Martin? He was 8 years old when he died at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013 when two bombs exploded. Martin was one of three who died that day. 264 others were injured. A marathon is a long race and it is said that the first "marathon" was run by a Greek soldier who ran to Athens with the news that Greeks had defeated the Persians at The Battle Of Marathon. It was a race to bring good news. An "evangelion," that is, "good news," of sorts. In the video below you'll note that Martin had a message. There's a picture of Martin holding a blue sign that says, "No more hurting people. Peace." Martin believed in peace and he seemed to be vocal about it. That's about all I know about Martin, that he stood for peace. There's a personal thought here though: I'm a father and a grandfather with thoughts and feelings that only a father can have fo...

Many who follow us on social media notice from time to time a photograph of this fellow in some very strange places. I suppose now is a good time (as any) to explain: After moving into our new our new home, this gnome was adopted into the family. Someone came up with the idea to "hide the gnome" so he tends to disappear from time to time. When he is discovered, that person posts a photograph on social media, tagging all players of the game. On rare occasions, visiting friends may discover him. There is a trick, however. When he is discovered and photographed and posted online, the finder must immediately hide him again. This is a challenge when there are so many family members in the house at any given time--and the more people there are, the more cautious one must be. If he is not found after one week, he is placed in an agreed-upon "home base," which signals everyone that he has successfully remained undiscovered for that period of time. It's fun for...

Not quite certain how it all got away from me, but it did. I’ve not written much lately for blogging or for personal journaling (besides recording daily events--boring), but that does not mean I’m not busy. I am a husband, father and as of October--a grandfather, again and again. The last four years have been filled with the curly-headed laughter of one grandchild, now we have two more. Both born within two weeks of each other. Just the other day, I held our month-old grandson and asked him when he was going to start making fairies (it’s a Peter Pan thing, a family thing) and I kid you not when I say he actually gave a tiny giggle. Honestly, I am still trying to get used to the idea of more grandchildren (there are people everywhere around my house!) but am thankful for each and every one of my family members--especially the love of my life, my wife. I am one person managing two Seminary offices is not easy; but I am thankful--ever so thankful--I have this ministry. I am th...

Here upon this graduation as I write congratulations upon my laptop like a homework chore; I think back to those books and reading, finding lessons in flour kneading doing math till eyes were bleeding-- You can say to High School, “nevermore.” We’ve reached the end, though weak and weary (the world’s your oyster now, my dearie) and your brother’s not quite Soph-o-more; It’s time to put to use that learning, go on to college if you’re yearning, or perhaps a living, earning-- But you can say to High School, “nevermore.”

The third Monday of February is "Family Day" in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, a day set aside to celebrate family and family life. We Americans celebrate birthdays, Mother's Day, Fathers's Day and even Grandparent's Day, but why not the context of the relationship? I love this idea! What a marvelous idea for communities to focus on the family, especially in the context of the many threats imposed against children by other human beings. Each person has a responsibility to make a family unit: parents (fathers and mothers with their responsibilities) and children (who must learn theirs). What happens as a family is vital. A wise eye once observed that 1% of a modern child's influence comes through the local church; 7% of his influence from public school; 92% from the family.

Some of Christianity’s top missiologists, mission administrators and teachers will gather at Columbia International University (CIU) for the annual Southeast regional meeting of the Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS) March 8-9, 2013. The EMS exists to advance the cause of world evangelization through study and evaluation of mission concepts and strategies from a biblical perspective with a view to commending sound mission theory and practice to churches, mission agencies, and schools of missionary training around the world. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Missionary Family: Witness, Concerns, and Care.”  The keynote speaker will be  Dr. Jerry Rankin , the director of the  Zwemer Center for Muslim studies at CIU . His topic will be “The Family – An Asset to Fulfilling God’s Mission.”  Other CIU professors who will be making presentations at the conference include the dean of the CIU College of Counseling  Harvey Payne , counseling profes...

Yes, it’s Grandparent’s Day! Actually, in the United States we’ve been celebrating Grandparent’s Day since 1978-- in September --but it’s not September, is it? It’s January. Well, just as we have “Mother’s Day” in May and “Father’s Day” in June here in America, Poland reserves Monday January 21 for “Grandma’s Day” ( Dzień Babci) and Tuesday January 22 is “Grandpa’s Day” ( Dzień Dziadka)! I like this idea of having these days to ourselves because my wife is both “Mom” and “Nana.” I am both “Dad” and a “Papa!” We are sort of a “Version 1.0” to our 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5. Then there is our little 3.0 that makes us Grandparents. One feature that stands out about this observance is how many countries intentionally set aside a day to honor Grandparents. This is a day to appreciate culture and heritage: where we come from, who we come from, what they did. I recall many years ago when in Junior High School I interviewed my grandfather by phone, recording our conversation and writing...

There’s a scene in Homer’s Iliad (Book 11) in the front of my mind. The scene describes a significant turn in battle. Here’s the short version: Agamemnon has spent nearly ten years in siege against the city of Troy (the purpose and outcome are not the point of discussion here). The scene-in-mind describes the Trojan Hector in battle and what captures my attention is that which holds his attention. While the battle is raging, Hector watches Agamemnon. When the King Agamemnon is fighting with his men on the front, Hector keeps back but encourages his men in the melee; but, when Agamemnon mounts his chariot, Hector steps into battle and fights until at last the Trojans drive Agamemnon and his armies back to their ships. Hector is not distracted by the particulars of the battle. Instead his eye is fixed on the leader of his enemy. When Agamemnon is no longer the strength of his troops, Hector steps in and drives the invaders away from the city. This ancient scene comes to mind as I p...

"If you treat it [a child] as a little wild beast to be tamed, or as a pet to be played with, or even as a means to save you trouble and to make money for you (and these are our commonest ways), it may fight its way through in spite of you and save its soul alive; for all its instincts will resist you, and possibly be strengthened in the resistance; but if you begin with its own holiest aspirations, and suborn them for your own purposes, then there is hardly any limit to the mischief you may do. Swear at a child, throw your boots at it, send it flying from the room with a cuff or a kick; and the experience will be as instructive to the child as a difficulty with a short-tempered dog or a bull . . . . There is a point at which every person with human nerves has to say to a child 'Stop that noise.' But suppose the child asks why! There are various answers in use. The simplest: 'Because it irritates me,' may fail; for it may strike the child as being rather amu...

This holiday season, ask the people around you about their lives — it could be your grandmother, a teacher, or someone from the neighborhood. By listening to their stories, you will be telling them that they matter and they won’t ever be forgotten. It may be the most meaningful time you spend this year. National Day of Listening .

I’m excited because as I rub shoulders with students who will be staying around for the summer, I soon discover they have ministry plans. At least they are not sitting back on their haunches, licking their wounds from a semester of study (just kidding—but at least they are busy in ministry). Conversing with one student, I referred to a calendar of evangelism opportunities I have posted outside my office. “Yeah,” he tells me, “our church has blocked out a number of dates to be doing evangelism outreach through the summer. We’ll see you there!” That’s sweet. The other day I was driving through Columbia when something caught my eye. Standing in the parking lot of a local restaurant, three older gentlemen had their arms around each other’s shoulders, heads bowed, obviously praying. Right there in public! How encouraging! That was sweet. About 10 minutes down the freeway, I was lost in thought and found myself staring at a pick-up truck as it passed me on the left (I try was in the...

I think I am finally getting back into the swing of things. Getting caught up nicely. Rest is still much needed as allergies are keeping me just above the dragging stage, but at least I'm not flat on my back. Classes are going again. Southern Baptist Heritage was really good last night as we discussed Biblical Authority. Confessions and Creeds are next week. Yay! Al Mohler's blog on the subject of Biblical Authority today was a day late for class, but timely nevertheless (I feel like he's reading over my shoulder sometimes--his publications when I taught Ethics were right in step in a weird kind of way). Sunday School class had a great turnout last week. I need to get back into an exegetical study, but we are covering some good topics and I will let those peter out first. We are looking at Anger right now (thanks, Wayne Mack!). Work is down to a dull roar now that I have all my websites done (through 2009!) and correspondences are caught up. Registrations are coming in for ...

I think it was four, maybe five years ago we were visiting family in Tennessee. We out-of-towners were staying at a nice hotel in town. Our oldest son was in his grand-parents room so there were only six of us in our room. I remember suddenly waking up one night and realizing the bed of youngest daughter was empty. She would have been only five or six then. We found her down the hall, asleep behind a tree near the elevator. She had somehow in her sleep-walk managed to walk right by our bed, undo three locks and wander down the hall. I never heard a blamed thing. And every time we travel with the kids, my wife moves furniture in front of the hotel door. The latest turn is that my prodigal daughter has alienated her friends and has now ditched them as well. For some reason she has decided to leave her friends and, well, rest assured that we know where she is: physically, safe; spiritually, prayed for. What does a parent do but review everything, looking and asking, "where did I go w...

The morning started off worse than an old Beatles album. Yesterday, before I could wake up, fall out of bed and drag a comb across my head, I discovered that she'd already left home. There I was, minding my own business, sleeping, when I was instantly awake--just sat straight up . . . Awake. I thought that only happened in the movies. I looked at the clock, 5:20 a.m., went out to see if my daughter ever locked the back door (she was outside at midnight on her cell phone . . . "be right in, daddy!" she said). I was asleep even before I got in bed at quarter after midnight . . . Now, I was standing there looking at the unlocked back door. Oh well. She probably forgot. My three girls share a room right across from the bathroom . . . I looked on them on my way to "check the plumbing" and noticed my oldest daughter's comforter and pillows were gone, clothes strewn everywhere. Top bunk empty . . . No 'Lisa. I look in the lower bunk where two sisters lay sleepi...

"Fathers! Your children are immortal beings! The stamp of eternity is upon them! Everlasting ages are before them! They are like the rest of the human race--depraved, guilty, and condemned creatures; and consequently in danger of eternal misery! Yet they are, through the mercy of God, creatures capable of attaining to glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life. Looking upon them in this light, what should be your chief concern for them--and what should be your conduct towards them? Fathers! Your children are hastening to either eternal happiness--or eternal torment!The man who does not make the eternal welfare of his children, the supreme end of all his conduct towards them, may profess to believe as a Christian--but he certainly acts as an Atheist! Once more let it be stated, and stated with all possible emphasis--that the chief design of this work is to form the pious character of its readers, and to implant those virtues which shall live, and flourish, and dignify, and delight...