U2 and Black Eyed Peas Pics

My son and I had a great time last night at our first Stadium type concert.  Thanks to JM for the tickets.  We enjoyed ourselves and experienced an incredible show.

Enjoy some of our pics. 

                                 

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My Fitness has been Challenged

I got an email this past week to all area pastors notifying us of a Pastor's Fitness Challenge sponsored by SWEAT - a local fitness gym in Anthem.  Along with getting in shape, developing better eating habits, the local pastors will be collaborating to help support a local charity in our area.  

The first workout was none like i've experienced.  It was on solid hour of high intensity, high paced, muscle confusing workout.  It is named SWEAT for a reason.  I should have known that it wasn't like other workout programs when my "warm-up" was on a bike with no seat!  UGH.

I am looking forward to getting in the best shape of my life and adjusting my eating.  I've never been on a diet before.  Not looking forward to that.

Lastly, included in the three workout sessions per week is a boot camp workout on the weekend.  This past Saturday was the first.  I think I strained my right tricep ... among other things.
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Would you want to be your parent?

Love me some Runkel.  This thought has helped me adjust my parenting style ... especially as my kids have shifted to a new time of life.  I miss my mark, a lot.  But I am working on extending grace to them every chance I get.  I want to be a better parent and give to my kids the respect they need and deserve.  We can never go wrong with Jesus guideline of the Golden Rule!
___________
Quote of the Day: " Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried out on him personally. "— Abraham Lincoln

Ok, so maybe this one is a stretch. Don‚t get me wrong. I am not intending to liken certain authoritarian parenting styles as slavery, but old honest Abe does make a good point here. We tend to forget that our children are learning and growing every day. Why not extend them the same grace and dignity that we expect other people to liberally shower our way? 

Think of it this way, would you want to be your parent? Would you like to grow up with someone who encourages or someone who berates? Would you feel comfortable coming to someone like you with sensitive and embarrassing matters? You never really know how influential you are as a parent. Take that role seriously, and ask yourself the tough questions. That way, you can‚t go wrong.  - Hal Runkle

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This is deep ...

"You cannot put straight in others what is warped in yourself."
—Athanasius of Alexandria, Patriarch of Alexandria and Church Father (c. 293-373)
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Relationship Tip of the Day

I read this email today from Hal Runkle.  I appreciate his thoughts on parenting.  In reading this I thought it related to all of our relationships.


Quote of the Day: " Enjoy when you can and endure when you must." — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


I think we would be doing ourselves a huge favor if we could learn to identify those moments we can enjoy with our kids versus the moments we must endure. We get ourselves into trouble when we confuse the two. The moments to endure occur in the heat of the moment when you want to scream out at your child, "Why are you making this so difficult!?!?! How hard is it to go poop in the potty?"

In times like these, we long for the joy and delight of parenting and we wonder what we're doing wrong. Parenting is supposed to be really hard work and if we're not willing to admit that, we are setting ourselves up for resentment and failure. Instead, just hang on and endure those moments, reminding yourself how very fleeting they really are.

The moments to enjoy with our kids, on the other hand, are right under our noses, but they are sometimes harder to find. They take place while making dinner or getting ready for bed. They are impromptu, unannounced, and easily overlooked. If we actively sought out more of those instead of trying to create good moments out of tough circumstances, we might find ourselves needing less and less endurance on this path.

Enjoy ... Endure ... Live!
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Twitter, Facebook, and such ... are these dumbing us down?

I will be the first, OK - maybe the second person, to tell you that technology is a blessing in our lives.  I would not like the Pony Express to be our only way of communicating these days.  It is also a curse - or at least it can be.  Recently, I have eased back on the information intake these days by keeping my computer closed a little more at home, no feeling like I have to blog every day, and feel no remorse if my FB or Twitter status has not been updated daily.  

This article is a great wake up call to those who may have not drawn a line in their technology world.  Yeah, I know ... the title is a little cheesy!

Twitterdom or Wisdom?
By Dan Miller

While attending a funeral recently I glanced up and down just my row to see several people Twittering and checking emails in the last few minutes prior to the beginning of the service.  It’s now common during sermons and seminars to see people with their heads down, busy passing on tidbits of information instantly.  This morning I read that one million people are following Ashton Kutcher on Twitter.  

I suggest that this massive addiction to information leads us away from wisdom, not toward it, creating what author Shane Hill calls “a permanent puberty of the mind.”  Recognize that information, knowledge and even intelligence do not necessarily lead to wisdom.  The overload of information in fact encourages the opposite of what creates wisdom – stillness, time, reflection and solitude.  With the internet, TV, email, FaceBook, Twitter and cell phones, there is no waiting.  There is no such thing as stillness or quiet personal reflection.  Meaningful experiences and the path toward wisdom can be diverted by constant information. 

I am not anti-technology.  I love having instant access to useful information.  But this is much like having a bowl of peanut M&Ms in front of me.  I tend to eat them just because they are there.  At some point ... read the rest here!

For some fun reading about more dumbing down ... check this one out.  

How can (or have you) create(d) boundries to feeding your technology tapeworm that sucks life out from us?

This email was Anti Virus checked by Astaro Security Gateway. http://www.astaro.com

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Ever felt like leaving the Church? Maybe you've left ...

I know many who have felt this way. I know I've felt a little disillusioned at times. Good lunch time discussion stuff here. Share ...

ht: @scotthodge

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The man who made me - a few words about my dad

Dad, you are one of a kind.  You are a leader of leaders, a pastor of pastors, but most of all ... you're our dad.  For those who've never had the privilege of meeting you or hanging out with you, here are a few words that can describe you ... !

Generous:  You consistently model for us that what we have is not ours.  Many have been on the receiving end of your generous heart, whether it's paying for a meal or filling someone's tank with gas you are always looking for ways to bless others.  I appreciate that about you.

Leader/Coach:  I appreciate how you want others to succeed.  You've impacted countless to follow you as you follow Christ. The tools and resources you provide/recommend are ways you impart things that you've experienced and impacted you.  In your 60+ years of life experience, there is a wealth of wisdom build success and failure, on triumph and tragedy.  You have lived out what you believed.  

Love:  Jesus described great love ... "laying down one's life for their friends."  That is what you do and who you are.  Thanks for being a person of integrity and a man of your word.  You are a great example with this in not only word but deed too!  The love you have for your grandkids is outstanding.  I like that you have your own nicknames for each.  Pretty cool!

Funny:  As a kid there were two things that standout to me in this category - Catalina Madalina and Hi-ya Joe!  Love when you bust these out ... to this day! Every time I bust out and LOL - I hear your laugh in mine.  The thought of you singing "Married Supper of the Lamb" ... makes me smile - good times! - Now, that's a great song ...  I love you dad.  Happy Father's Day - 2009!

For some extra fun today - Check out your grandson in action here.

                             

 

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The skills of being a dad

Melissa and I have two sets of family friends who recently notified us that their families were expecting a child.  In one family it will be a first child. The other family friends are expecting their fifth.  With the expectation of a child, whether it's your first or fifth, there is excitement and for me, as a dad of three of my own, that expectation was something a little unnerving.  I battle my own self-doubt as a father a lot.  Along with packing a car and an uncanny sense of direction, us men are supposed to possess the ninja dad skills having the answers for our families, a plan laid out, and a direction of where our family is going and then courageously lead them there.


I didn't take Being a Dad 101 in college and some days it seems the skills needs to be a great dad ... just aren't there.  Every morning, fatherhood seems to present a new challenge. Currently, my challenge is that my oldest son is crossing a threshold this summer ... never to return.  He is turning 13.  I've been thinking through what I've done to this point, as a dad, to prepare him for the unique time period we've all experienced called adolescence.  Have I passed down necessary values?  Or better yet, have I lived out the necessary values and modeled for him the responsibilities as a young man?  I've felt like my window of influence is closing.

Earlier this week, I was reminded of Deuteronomy 11 where Moses instructed Israel in ways to love and follow God.  

"18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."

This passage got me to think about what and how I was teaching my kids.  You see, we teach our kids stuff everyday - whether we have conversations with them or not.  Conversations which rarely just happen with our kids, especially in our society.  I believe we model what is important by what we give our attention to.  One way I have tried to do that is sharing with them values and life lessons through stories.  Bed time is my time with our kids and through the years I've read stories to them that communicate Godly values as well as life principles.  Beyond reading books, I've also shared personal stories of what I experienced and life lessons I learned as a kid - those seemed to go over better.  With my boys especially getting older, I've most recently began to schedule short 30 meetings with them on a regular basis to get a better understanding of them as individuals.  The meetings are not about me sharing deep truths or nuggets of wisdom.  I want that to happen naturally.   The meetings usually consist of a treat of some sort and lots of questions ... from me!  I ask open ended questions about their thoughts, opinions, and feelings on things.  I've even asked the question no dad wants to ask:  "How can I as a dad, do better?"  I've gotten some good feedback and hopefully made adjustments.  I want to continually grow and adjust to help their development as people not just as my child.

Don't get me wrong.  This is not the tail wagging the dog - as some may think.  It's me listening to my kids as the individuals God made them.  It's me building trust and deepening my relationship with them as their dad, that when the time comes for me provide instruction, they will be more open to listen to me.   As I listen to them, as their dad, I can help provide the guidance, the grace and hope in this world they need.  Let's heed Deuteronomy eleven's instruction.  Take time to impart your values and make time to listen to your kids - two fundamental skills of a dad.  Deep down I feel that if we do that, the window of influence may narrow but may never close.  

To all you dad's ... keep making a difference in the lives of your kids.  It's never too late.  Happy Father's Day.  

For a funny look at the unique skills it takes to be a dad,  check out Tyler Stanton's blog post.

 

 

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Wanna be startin' somethin'?

[this kicks into gear about a minute into it] ... it just takes one.

This reminds me of my kids & niece on the dance floor of my brother in law's recent wedding. With caution to the wind they did what most of us wished we could do ... not care about what others would think about us or if they were even doing it right - and had fun, enjoying the moment.

What are you afraid to try or start for fear of what other will think? You may be the spark to start something big and memorable. Go for it!

ht: Scott Hodge for the tweet.

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About

I follow Christ. I am married to a beautiful person. I love being a dad.

I also enjoy helping others connect to Christ, laying down a groove, dabbling in design, and am a poser of a photographer.

This is a little window into my world. For What It's Worth 2.0 ...