Firstborn Reflections

Our oldest and firstborn son Mike just left this morning to return to California, where he is starting his final semester at The Master's College. Lord willing, he will graduate in May with a BA in Biblical Studies, with an emphasis in Bible Exposition. God has taken Mike through a long and winding path over the last six years since he graduated high school to bring him to the place he is now, and it's a testament to His grace and sovereignty how He has worked things out and continues to strengthen His call on Mike to ministry of His Word.

It's been great having Mike home the past three weeks since he returned from his fall semester in Israel, but it's also a little different having a 23-year old in the house. Still our kid, yet really an adult. And I have to say that Mike and I are great friends, with common interests in things like ministry and cycling. So as he leaves this morning, it really seems more like a visitor departing, than like sending off a child to college. I guess that's part of the parenting process as our children get older and take their own paths that God leads them down.

For those few of you who read this, I'd appreciate your prayers for Mike. Both as he travels the next few days, over the snowy mountains and across the desert. As well as for his longer term ministry and life as he finishes his undergraduate work at TMC and looks forward to starting on his MDiv next summer/fall at Trinity in Chicago.

First Post of the Year - Thankfully

I'm sitting here on this New Years Day 2009 in a pretty quiet house. Mike is spending a few days in Lincoln with friends. Hannah spent the night at a friends house in another town. And Matt is still sleeping after getting off the bus from San Antonio with the CHS band at about 4:30 this morning. And I'm here in front of the TV waiting for the Gator Bowl to start, and doing a little thinking about what this year might hold. And how I should respond.

More than anything else, I am realizing that I need to respond with thankfulness to my great God and Savior. I'm not a naturally thankful person, never have been. It's far easier for me to be cynical and critical than to be thankful. But I have so much to be thankful for, both immediately and overall. I'm thankful that son Mike returned from Israel a few weeks ago, just ahead of the Gaza situation going on now. I'm thankful that son Matt made it to the Alamo Bowl and back again safely and enjoyably. I'm thankful for the way daughter Hannah is growing into a young lady. I'm thankful for the way that all my kids have bonded this holiday season with all of them being together for a few weeks. I'm thankful for my wife Tammie and her faithful love for me and our family for nearly 30 years now. I'm thankful for a job that the Lord has provided that meets all our financial needs and more, and that gives me opportunities to do different things. I'm thankful for a church that highly values and proclaims the Word of God and that is Christ-centered and Gospel-focused. I'm thankful for the privilege of being part of the teaching ministry of that church. I'm thankful for another year that will bring opportunities, changes, challenges, all to the glory of Christ.

I'm not into New Years resolutions, never have been. But if I was to resolve to commit myself to do something different in 2009, it would be to be a more thankful person. And to express that thankful attitude more frequently, first to Jesus Christ, and then to those around me.

Thank you for reading this...