Great Quote Thursday

God wants your worship before He wants your work- Neal Thornton

Parker is 9 Today!!

Nine years ago today, our world changed when Parker was born. We are blessed by him everyday.

Happy Birthday Parker! Daddy loves you.

Great Quote Thursday

The secret is to work less as individuals and more as a team. As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven- Knute Rockne

Thoughtfulness Makes an Impression

My son Parker turns 9 later this week. Today, when he went through the lunch line at his school's cafeteria, he punched in his numeric code when he purchased his milk. Any purchase made in the cafeteria requires the student to input their code.

But today, Parker experienced a pleasant surprise. When he entered his code, the computer wished him "Happy Birthday".

Here's The Point: I don't know if this little bit of thoughtfulness is something system-wide or if it only happens at my son's school. But someone, somewhere along the way, recognized the opportunity to take the information in the school's database and use it brighten a student's day.

Just a small moment of thoughtfulness that made an impression.

Fun on Friday- More Parkerisms and Turnerisms

Raising two sons, 8 and 5, means we have lots of fun conversations in our home. Here are some more:

While praying in the car on our way to school on Valentine's Day:
Turner: And thank You that we get to go to school on Valentine's Day and celebrate a holiday of love.

Also, during the drive to school on Valentine's Day:
Parker (jokingly): What if I only get one valentine today?
Me: You know you'll get way more than that.
Parker: Yeah, but what if I just got one?
Me: Well, Charlie Brown just got one and he's done okay.

While playing Mario Kart:
Me: Is it my turn?
Turner: You may perceive (meaning proceed).

Great Quote Thursday

We are all starved for the glory of God, not self. No one goes to the Grand Canyon to increase self-esteem- John Piper

The Message: Solo Devotional

This semester, our Small Group is going through the Message: Solo Devotional written and edited by Eugene Peterson. The Solo contains paraphrased portions of Scripture (while noting expanded passages in the Bible) followed by a page of application tools that encourage the reader to read, think, pray and live.

Somewhat surprisingly, I've found the application section has helped me interact with Scripture in ways I haven't previously. When I read the Bible I tend to read it as "these things happened", as if I'm looking in on a scene. Being a student of history, I often read for facts and information. The Solo has helped me "experience" Scripture.

The application section for each day encourages the reader to place himself in the text for the day:
From Day 10 and a text from Matthew 21 when Jesus throws the money changers out of the Temple:
"Imagine you are there when Jesus comes in the temple and cleanses it.  Now let the blind and crippled come into your view. Watch Jesus healing them. Listen to the voices of the children as they play and shout "Hosanna"." What's your reaction to them? To Jesus' interaction with the disabled? To the indignation of the religious leaders? (Include not only your mental reaction but your physical reaction too, if any)."

To place myself in the scene as one of the disciples; to imagine I am a bystander watching Jesus heal a leper; to be "in" the Scripture, has been a good experience for me and all the guys in our group.