Just a few things going on...

I really do like the idea of writing in my blog, but this season of life is busy, busy busy. How about a quick round up in case I don't write again for another 6 weeks.

Jacob had a wellness check up this week. Measures 3'11" and 50 lbs. Very healthy and "normal" for his age. Playing soccer which he enjoys. He shows good instincts out there. He is in 4-6 age group with most kids on his team 5 and 6. Makes a HUGE difference from the last 2 seasons with 3s and 4s. It actually resembles soccer.

A funny, maybe not ha-ha, laugh out-loud funny but amusing, cute funny, is that Jacob's has discovered the old He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoons I use to watch as kid through Hulu. So he will ask me, "Daddy, can we watch He-man" and I am happy to oblige. I do have to admit that looking back at these cartoons 25 years later puts them in a different light. They are really not that good. The super-hero cartoons of today are just better in terms of plot and dialogue, but I will always have a soft spot in my heart for He-Man.

Ava is now on allergry medicine after her 2nd ear infection. It was due to having so much mucus drainage that we thought allergy medicine would help, especially since Jacob and I take it regularly. She has been on it for 1/2 week. Hope it helps.

Good news on the potty front. Ava has peed in the potty 3 days this past week. Either after her nap or after waking up from the night, she was dry, and I then put her on the toilet and she did the rest. Definitely not ready for underwear, but good steps.

This week we are heading to Panama City for a vacation. Our family loves the beach, and I looking forward to getting away.

Both my work and Shannon's at the church is very busy. Busy is good, but busy is busy. Thus, limited time and energy to write on the blog. Maybe the vacation will help give me a boost.

Ava's Happy Birthday Song

Sweet little Ava Lauren turned 2 this Saturday. She is my little princess. I get so much joy just looking at her. She is so fun too. She loves to sing songs and is quite advanced in verbal skills for a 2 year old. Here she is singing happy birthday while eating her chocolate birthday cake.

Prayer of Jesus: "Dad"

We are nearly half way through with the Prayer of Jesus study. Dr. Hemphill outlines the Model Prayer into 4 parts: The Address, The Committment, The Petition, The Benediction. Last week we focused on the Address. He emphasized that the "Father" part of the prayer and made the statement it is similar to our modern expression of  "Dad" to our earthly father. In fact, Hemphill often referred to God as "Dad" through out the video.

Needless to say, a majority of the group participants struggled with this phrasing. For most in the group, I would categorize it as at best uncomfortable and at worst disrespectful and wrong. I definitely understood their point, and I don't think I would be comfortable using that term in prayer. "Father" is much more natural for me. Once a word or phrase establishes a contextual meaning in our minds, it is hard to change that meaning. In this sense, tradition matters.

I definitely don't think Dr. Hemphill was trying to be disrespectful or "cute" in using this term. He was just trying to convey the intimacy we are to have in our prayer life. The fact is that Jesus use of "Father" was a radical concept in His day. The Jews considered this phase disrespectful as well. We certainly must not be caught throwing stones here.

But as I said, I do understood the concern. The best advice here it to follow Jesus' response to John who questioned what they should do about the man who was driving out demons in the name of Jesus but was not part of Jesus' disciples. "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

Enjoying It While It Lasts

Today, two great reminders of this special season of life. First, Ava, who has recently developed into an excellent kisser, wanted to kiss all of the parts of my head. My eyes, my ears, my nose, my chin. I gladly let her. Her wet lips on my cheek and the pop of her smooch are still fresh in my mind.

I then drop Jacob off at preschool. I stand by the window watching him put up his lunch box and jacket. He turns and looks at me. Gives me a big thumbs up and blows me a kiss.

It won't last. The days will change and so will my children. Those new days will be special in their own right. But this morning will be tough to beat.

Feels like Spring

This afternoon has been sunny with temperatures in the low 50s. It feels like Spring. Heck, after these snowy days, it feels like Summer.

Prayer of Jesus Study: Pt.1

We had our first small group session on Dr. Hemphill Prayer of Jesus study. I enjoyed the video and the discussion. We had 10 in attendance (4 others could not make it), and they were quick to share their thoughts.

The key point that Dr. Hemphill made, and probably the key point of the entire study, is that prayer with our Father is in itself our reward and motivation for prayer rather than "getting" thinks through prayer.

His other key point is that the Model Prayer is not just a prayer to say but a model or framework for our prayer life and relationship with God. We can pray without ceasing if have the mindset of an unceasing relationship with God through out the day.

He made an interesting observation that after Jesus gives the Model Prayer in the Sermon on the Mount, He gives 6 "Do Not Worry" commands. Dr. Hemphill concludes that this worry free life is only possible or even partially attained  once we implement the prayer lifestyle. Thus, we will likely worry about the very things Jesus told us not to if we don't first establish the relationship with God through prayer.

I am working through the workbook which I have surprisingly enjoyed. I typically don't like workbooks like this, but so far it has been a blessing.

Where Have I Been

This is the first thing I have written on my blog in 2010. The reasons for this absence are 1.) my work at DGI has been extremely busy. It is our great fortune to be part of not 1 but 2 government contracts for enhancing our nation's electric grid. Being government projects, they require hourly accounting for billing. Thus, I am trying to put as many hours as possible toward these projects.

2.) my family/home life has stepped up. With Shannon working and the kids at daycare/preschool, my mornings are busy getting kids dressed and ready and sometimes driving them to school. Once Shannon and the kids get home, we do dinner, baths and bed and then our my bedtime. Free time gets gobbled up quickly. This has been especially true in our first few months of this new lifestyle.

But probably the biggest reason I have not written is 3.) I have not had much I wanted to write about. Lots of cool things have happened, and I am loving our new life in Nashville. But I did not feel like writing about the "ordinary" aspects of life. Nothing wrong with ordinary, but it felt a bit trite and commonplace describing the inns and outs of my life. I needed something else to motivate me.

I think I have found my tonic for post-lessness. On Sunday nights at our church, I am facilitating a small group study on the prayer of Jesus. It is based on the book The Prayer of Jesus by Dr. Ken Hemphill. Prayer has been a major driver of my spiritual growth these last 12 years or so since my rededication so I am excited to be in this study. We have 14 of us in the class. We met last Sunday and will meet another 5 Sunday nights.

I will be writing some about prayer, the book and the group study here on my blog. Maybe be short posts or long, but thoughts on prayer. I expect it will help me in the discussion aspect of the study to think through some thoughts here. I am sure I will then mix in more the ordinary topics of life which I have eschewed, but now that I have something else to motivate me. Not that I can post every day, but more often than every 6 weeks which is the current pace.

Now I have said. Now I have to do it. Pray for me.