Category Archives: Common things

Mom and Dad. Parents. Wow.

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I went to a baby shower today. It was a couple’s baby shower. And since my wife and mother-in-law were the planners of this party, there was no escape.

It was actually kind of fun. Not that I want to make this a habit but I did enjoy the little get together, especially the mini key lime cheesecakes!

My brother-in-law is getting married in July. They are expecting their baby in June…I hope the baby isn’t too late!

Being there, eating finger foods and watching the happy couple open gifts of diapers, various bottle apparatus, and a plethora of soft animal things, I got to thinking.

This is her first child, his second. They are about to have their world rocked. Sure, having a 10 year old boy has certainly given my brother-in-law some experience to work off of here. But my soon-to-be sister-in-law is on the edge of the diving ready to plunge into the deep end. I mean really, you go to the hospital, just the two of you. In 2 or 3 days, there are three of you leaving together. They don’t even give you an instruction manual!

Kids. I have 2 of them. 18 and 15 years old. There are days when I am not really sure I am doing the right thing. Other days, my calm and strength come from a solid foundation in the truth of God. Those are two extreme places to be but when parenting, there are no restrictions. I just try to be consistent.

And that brings me to my blog. I want to write about parenting.

There will be some personal experience sprinkled in but mainly I will focus on Joseph and Mary.

God has given us His word. In this word, specifically Matthew 1, we can find out how Joseph and Mary became parents and what that first Christmas looked like for them.

If I may make a disclaimer here. I am not a licensed parenting psychologist or anything professional like that. I do however, have children and I was once a child. I do know something about life and raising kids.

And over the next two weeks or so, I am going to share these things with you.

With that in mind, enjoy your week. And don’t forget, Mother’s day is 7 days away. Do something about that!

New York Ave.

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Question for you: What color is New York Ave. on a standard Monopoly board?

You probably already saw this picture so you know that the color is orange.

Monopoly Game Board Mixed Media - The Monopoly New York Ave. Card by Jas Stem

Another, slightly more difficult, question: Where is it located on the board? And don’t peek at the picture!

Homeowners find huge handprinted Monopoly board underneath carpet | The Independent

On our road trip, we took one day to hit Manhattan (that’s the connection to New York Ave.) and see the sites. My wife booked a bus/walk tour which turned out to be awesome. Now we can now check off some of the highlights of the Big Apple.

This picture shows the 5 Burroughs of New York City. Manhattan is an island! The Hudson and East Rivers flow on either side of it.

But the fascinating part is what I learned on the tour. Because there is bedrock underneath the island, tall buildings can be built.

The island has a foundation that can stand strong beneath the weight of all those skyscrapers!

The deeper the bedrock, the taller the building!

If you have read any of my blogs, you probably know that there is a spiritual/biblical connection about to be made. This particular connection is found in Matthew 7.

24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

My friends, we are like Manhattan. How tall our buildings can go depends on how deep our bedrock goes. The buildings in our life are the things that we do. This includes jobs we work, people we relate to, and even the words we speak.

These are all public things. Just like the buildings of Manhattan, people can see the works of our lives.

Do we live to show off our good deeds?

Even as I write this, I feel convicted.

My private life with God determines the course of my public life.

The deeper that I get with God, the more people will see that fruit in my life.

The more intimacy with God, the more influence with people.

God needs to do something on the inside before we can do something on the outside.

Without Him, we are unable to do anything.

Now, how do I transition to a suitable conclusion?

I’d say this: visit Manhattan, play Monopoly, and seek God earnestly.

Advance Token to Boardwalk!

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Recently, I had the privilege of spending 9 days with my family on a road trip!

We made our way to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Including two day trips to New York and Philadelphia, the trip totaled out over 2600 miles!

I had a lot of time to think about many things, specifically, this blog.

And in the coming weeks, you are going to read about various aspects of the trip.

But before I sign off, I want to try and show you how my brain works.

During this road trip, we encountered so many places, objects, and monuments.

Whenever I see these types of things, I look for connection.

A connection between what is seen and what is unseen.

I see the Liberty Bell and think about true Freedom.

The relentless waves from the Atlantic ocean illustrate God’s love.

Do you see the connections?

It is my opinion that there are connections all around us.

God wants to show us himself.

He also wants us to see Him.

He wants connections to be made.

What connections have you made today?

Holy Zamboni!

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This week was a first for me. I taught my son how to use the riding lawn mower.

It was cool to see him drive the tractor. He is 16 so maybe this will inspire a driver’s license push?!?!

Riding Mowers & Lawn Tractors | Troy-Bilt US

He didn’t want to learn last year when I asked him about it. But the other day, he said he was ready.

It was fulfilling to pass along this little part of living to my son.

After all, I won’t be here forever.

I am not trying to be morbid here. Just realistic.

As parents, don’t we have the responsibility (and ability) to pass along what we have learned?

What have I learned? Time will tell.

Heaven does not have grass which needs to be mowed. The knowledge my son now has about the mowing will not have any bearing on his soul.

But the idea that I can pass along lawn mowing experience means that I can also pass on life and spiritual knowledge as well.

I just pray that any eternal truths will take root in his heart.

As an encouragement, pass along the right, true, and beautiful things that you know.

P.S. I wonder if…instead of riding lawn mowers there are riding gold polishing machines?!?! Holy Zamboni!

Holy Haircut!

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Hello friends!

The following paragraph is from my friend. He sent me a text this morning. Other than my daughter’s name, which is not Jane, I have not changed anything else. Didn’t need to. Thanks for reading!

I saw the picture of *Jane* getting her new hair style. As I looked the Lord brought this to mind. No longer will she be known as, “you know, the girl with the long braid.” She has changed her identity. People will see a new *Jane*. She is no longer defined by her hair. I think, as Christians, sometimes we need to change how others see us. Do we like how those we may be trying to influence /witness to define us? Do they see someone with validity or not? Can they see past “the long braid” and see God?