4 years ago today.

today marks four years since my dad went home to be with Jesus. In some ways it seems longer, and in others it seems like yesterday. I am so grateful for the life we shared together and I will always remember him as a man who loved God, his family and life. He was such an encourager to me and literally wrote hundreds of cards by hand telling me how proud he was to be my dad and what amazing ways God would use me. I think in some way every son dreams of making their dad proud and I hope he smiles when he looks from heaven. He is probably talking Peter's ear off about all of his kids. I thank God for blessing me with my own children and hope to love them the same unconditional way my dad loved me.
I miss you dad, but I am grateful that "we do not grieve as those who have no hope, for since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him those who have died" (1thess.4:16)
the best part of being a christian, is never having to really say good-bye to those you love in christ, but I can tell my dad, "I'll see you soon, and I'm sure you'll have a card waiting:)

Love your son,

Jon

This song was played at my dad's memorial. It still makes me cry, but I love thinking of my dad with Jesus when I hear it.

Aimless Suppositions on a thursday

A short list of things that grabbed my Attention this week and brief commentary to go with them


1. these people pictured hanging off of a 318 meter waterfall are insane. Apparently this is in Zimbabwe and it is all the new rage to brave the "devils pool" and experience the rush of swimming as close to the edge as possible without falling off. umm........... no thanks-go to youtube and search "devils pool"


2. I found this picture of a college girl playing softball browsing thru a sports page. Remind me never to make fun of girl softball players and also to scratch my name off of the coed church league list. If I had to bat with this young lady pitching, I would fake a leg injury and hobble back to the bench crying.

3. I found this disturbing article about a high school (even though they call it college, they are 11th graders) in Australia where they have a "girls club" that ranks them in "hotness" from 1-21 based on looks, body and popularity with boys. The "club 21" motto is "ugly girls need not apply" Apparently they are encouraged on weekends to see how much they can drink and how many guys they can hook up. This is how you climb up in the rankings. I was just at a youth pastors meeting and found out that a high school in the area right now has 50 pregnant students and 20 have already given birth this year. We need a Jesus encounter in our generation!

an expectant heart

last week as soon as we had one "nice" day, the girls wanted their bikinis on and were ready to hit the beach with shovel and frisbee in hand. I had to explain to them that even though they were super excited, we needed to wait.

God really spoke to me as I reflected on how cute the girls were about what I am expecting from God in my life. I think our tendencies are to get caught up in the day to day moment and not put a "demand" on growth in our lives. In Matthew 17 peter james and john were with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. Because it was so incredible, peter wanted to build 3 tents for them so they could stay there forever.

God has done some amazing things in my life and ministry, but I don't want to camp out in what God did. I want more of God right now!! I need my heart to continually be enlarged to believe God for more!! More in my marriage, more in my ministry and more in my understanding of Him.

"ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock, and doors will be opened for you--matt.7:7

FUTURE MOMMIES!!

yesterday we went over to some friends of ours house and got all the littlins together!! They have 3 boys all 3 and under, and of course Kendra and I have yet to accomplish the feat of brining a little boy baby into the world.

My children would not touch the lasagna, but Mandy wasn't offended that they only ate bread and dessert.
Michael is a youth pastor of the church right up the street from us so it was fun to talk shop and learn a little more about each other and our families.

The last time we got together at their house, Ava walked for the very first time so Kendra and I were wondering if anything monumental might take place with our children this time.

For me there were three highlights,

1. Addy's obsession with their three month old baby Isaac. He was a beautiful baby and sooo content. She constantly asked where he was and was really only happy when she got to hold and "pet" him. She was sooooooo sweet, she even had her little arm supporting his neck.

2. Their two year old Noah filled his diaper up to the brim and of course both of my children were gathering around him in order to see the carnage as he got his diaper changed. I don't know why but Ava is obsessed with seeing Addy's poop when she does the deed and this time both of them were crowded around watching like it was a magic trick.

3. Just before we were ready to leave, the two older boys were wrestling and jumping on each other. Suddenly Noah (the two year old) walks up behind Ava ( a rather large almost 4 year old) and drags her to the ground and lands on her!!! Ava's look of complete shock and awe was priceless!! This sort of "playing" is obviously a far cry from her and Addy's doll and pony obsession!! I had to assure her in the car that Noah just wanted wrestle her because that is what boys do when they like someone and that there was no reason to be concerned:) Maybe I need to be a little rougher, she pretty much got the beat down=)

Thanks Michael and Mandy for a great time and for letting Addy play Mom:)

the evolution of an afro!

For the second time in her 3.75 years on this planet, Ava went under the scissors!! We have been telling her for a while that she needed a haircut (you know its bad when your 3 year old refers to her own hair as a rats nest!) and today Kendra took her to our friend Jessica's house and did the deed! I stayed home with Addy and Ava came home smiling from ear to ear and couldn't wait to show daddy how beautiful she was.
Her hair is so insanely curly that it took about 45 minutes to comb out and Ava never moved a muscle!! Kendra said her eyes were even watering at a few points and still she took it like a man! (maybe they should change the phrase to took it like a 3 year old girl:)

Addy's little golden locks are equally curly and next on the chopping block so stay tuned:)

I thought I would include one more Ava-ism moment I had while kendra was working yesterday. Ava was playing with one of her dolls while i watched golf and she says to me...this doll is not being very nice. I said why not? Because she thinks she is a cooler chick then everybody! No idea where she heard that one! I asked her what a cool chick was, and she responded by saying that her (the dolls) mom and dad weren't going to buy her no toys and she doesn't even care because she's mean!
I tried not to laugh and told her that dolls need to be nice. what else could I say?

television on my mind?

i must say i am pretty stoked about a new episode of the office tonight!! It might be a bit obsessive since one of my thoughts was the possibility of a thunderstorm tonite messing up our stupid dish and ruining everything. i swear I don't usually allow television to consume that much of my thoughts/concerns, it just sort of popped in my head. If it does happen however (and i've already had dish network come to my house because I used to lose signal if there was even dew on the ground) I will call my dish provider and demand that retribution be made!!
To all you office fans, hopefully there will be some funny stuff to share at the water cooler tomorrow:)

I also wanted to include this video someone sent me. I just had a conversation with my boy Ben about how I was going to "fast" news because everything is so depressing. I am a bit of a news junkie, but I found my soul being vexed by story after story of parents killing their kids, third graders wanting to murder teachers and 5th graders having sex!!!!!! (when I was in fifth grade i think I still thought if you kissed a girl they could get pregnant!)
Anyway, this is an uplifting story of a sweet old southern christian lady who God used to turn a terrible situation into a holy moment!!

">Hooray for happy news! (it may take a minute to load, but it is worth it.)

Ava's accident:) and God's love

Ava has been potty trained for a while now, but for the last few weeks she hasn't worn a pull- up at night. Well this morning she came in our room and let us know that she had peed the bed. Amidst the changing of sheets and necessary baths, I thought about how my life has changed since having children. There are times when you are so sick of the whining, bickering between sisters, and constantly having to endure kids programming (i find myself sometimes singing dora in the shower) that you are tempted to think.......I deserve a break, I want more time for me! There is nothing I love more than being a dad, but I think we've all had those moments. Then I was immediately reminded of my Father's unreasonable love for me. What if God decided He needed a "break" from being my Daddy. Even though He deserves it all, He gave up EVERYTHING! I feel God calling me to die to myself more everyday.

I find myself learning more and more of God's character since becoming a dad. Loving my girls sooooo much and wanting the best for them is always a reminder of God's love for me.
Matt. 7:11--If you as sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those He loves"--
Thank you Father for always thinking of me first, Jesus make me more like you.

ps. In case I sound like I am complaining, let me just say that my wife Kendra does infinitely more on a day to day basis then I do. Not only is she the most incredible mother all week, but because I am at church early on Sunday, she gets the girls ready herself and comes back at night to sing for our youth service!!!

You can learn more about Kendra at www.mywifeisthebomb.com (kidding, not responsible for what that website contains, didn't check)

boldness and nascar

I am starting a new series in our youth ministry on spiritual boldness and sharing your faith. I remember seeing on a website at a church some classes offered for "evangelism" I began to wonder what that looked like.......
I was reminded of a recent trip to the new super-walmart here in kzoo. The lines were insanely long and 2 guys in front of me started to talk about nascar (i guess there was a race that took place that day?) Thankfully I don't know much about the "sport" (and I use that term loosely) of nascar but I was amazed at how these two began discussing tire changes, pit stops, hazard laps, who cut who off etc, etc.
Sitting in my office it dawned on me that they didn't need to take a class about how to share their love of nascar. These guys were talking about ford vs chevy and putting stickers of dead guys numbers on their cars just because they were passionate!!
There is no "how to talk nascar" seminar or classes these guys took, they talk about what matters to them! Seminars aren't a bad thing, but I don't think boldness in sharing your faith is an educational problem that a class will solve, it is a passion problem that falling more in love with Jesus will solve!!

I am asking God for a renewed heart for the lost. I am asking God for opportunities to share my faith, tell people where I go to church, and invite them to our awesome church!! Whether that is when i'm out to eat, getting my haircut, or in line at the supermarket, I like Paul, want to "never be ashamed of the gospel, for it is the very power of God unto salvation!!" romans 1:16

I pray that all my students at Pulse and Surge will come with me on the journey!!!

more about another crazy thing that happened to me at walmart in a later post.