five years ago today

Time is one of those crazy things, it seems to go so fast and yet some things feel like they happened forever ago.

Today marks five years since my dad died of cancer. Every time I visit someone who is sick in the hospital, the sights, sound and smell immediately remind me of the last few moments I had with my dad that night. I remember him asking me if the pistons had won and whether they were going to go all the way. My dad didn't care about basketball, but he knew I did. I remember holding his hand as a machine helped him breathe and telling him he would need to fight. I remember my mom standing beside him after he passed and putting his hand in hers for the last time. It seems like yesterday, and also a lifetime ago.

My dad was an amazing man and i will never forget his love for life and for people. Oh how I wish my girls had a chance to meet their Grandpa. It's impossible to imagine how he would have loved on them. I tell Ava and Addy about him all the time, and I believe dad looks down from heaven and smiles.

I love you Dad and I'm so sorry your life was cut short. I look forward to the day I'll see you again.


and I heard a loud voice form heaven saying, "Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they shall be his people, and God Himself will be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and their shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be nor more pain, for the former things have passed away. Behold I make all things new" Rev. 21:3-4

butterflies and a sea of people

last week i experienced Fredrick Meijer Gardens for the first time. I almost took Kendra there to propose to her, but chose the parking lot of Friday's instead. Don't ask, I was nervous and pretty much jacked up the whole moment. Anyways, we loaded up the fam and promised the girls we were only an hour away from butterflies!!

I have to say that although the grounds and the butterflies were beautiful, I honestly was a bit underwhelmed by the whole experience. First of all the butterfly exhibit was beyond packed, and besides the horse, there was really not much more of interest in the park. Also it was thirty two bucks for my family!!! I see why they called it meijer gardens instead of thrifty acres!!!

None of my afore mentioned issues stopped the saturday morning masses from coming out, so maybe I'm just not cultured enough to appreciate all that is offered. For anyone who frequents the place, did I miss something extra cool that would have made me feel better about all the loot I spent? Or am I just a cheap dutchman that can't even let his kids attempt to kill a few butterflies for a mere 35 bucks? (don't answer that) Either way, the line to get in when we left around one thirty was at least fifty people deep so it must appeal to somebody!!!! Recession who?

Famous last words

Today is good friday. The day we "celebrate" the fact that Jesus Christ willingly laid his life down for all mankind. Thousands of years later we are still celebrating the "good news" that on the cross Jesus eliminated a debt we could never pay.

When Jesus was mercifully near death, he uttered the words "it is finished". My prayer recently and especially leading into Easter Sunday is that these words would become more of a reality in the hearts of people. Too many people (including christians) are carrying around guilt, shame and condemnation in their hearts because of their past, or current struggles with sin. They keep trying to prove to God that they are "good enough" by their actions. "I've got to be a "good" christian so I'm going to keep the christian rules".

This type of law centered christianity is exactly what turns people off from the church and keeps them from the true freedom that is offered in Jesus. The law is incapable of making you right with God and will only keep you focused on YOU! That is why Paul called it the ministry of death. The grace offered freely thru Jesus assures us there is nothing you have done or can do that will separate you from the love of God that is in Christ. Quit trying to "do" something for God, it's already been done on the cross when Jesus cried it is finished!!! In Christ, your sins are gone and your lawless deeds are remembered NO MORE!!!! That is the good news that leads people to repentance, not "hey you wanna be a christian?, heres the rules." If you want to be free from sin, guilt and shame, focus on Jesus, not trying harder.

turn you eyes upon Jesus,
Look full, in His wonderful face,
and the things on earth,
will grow strangely dim,
in the light, of His glory and grace


Here is a four minute video worth watching by a great man of God that portrays what I'm talking about and how the church often misses it. Remember, Jesus was a FRIEND of sinners!!!!

Easter Sunday

This Sunday marks the culmination of everything we believe as followers of Jesus Christ.
If your are a christian, your salvation was purchased with a price and it did not come cheap. God couldn't just wink at sin and forget about it, divine and eternal justice had to be met. It was obtained at a dear cost and the price was paid in blood. This blood was not shed apart from much suffering. Two things I find important for my own faith to remember during Easter.

1. God the father is who ultimately killed Jesus.

Sounds shocking, its much easier to blame it on the Jews or the Romans, but they were merely pawns in the hand of the father.--Is. 53:10 tells us that it was the Lord's will to crush Jesus and offer Him as the ultimate atonement for sin. 2cor. 5:21 tells us that not only did Jesus save us from sin, but on the cross He actually BECAME sin, causing God the father to turn away as His own son cries out "why have you forsaken me?" John 10:17---"for this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own accord"

We can never forget that what Jesus did, He did for love. Love for you and me. As Peter cut off the ear of a soldier to "protect" Jesus, He informed him that he could call down a whole army of angels with one word to deliver Him. You know those angels were ready and probably begging Jesus to just say the word. If Jesus was asking why He was being forsaken, Michael, Gabriel and the others would have no idea why Heaven's prince was suffering at the hands of mere men. Yet as a lamb led to slaughter, he opened not His mouth. Where does that kind of love come from?



2. Jesus overpaid our debt.

Is. 53:4-5--"surely He took our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him and afflicted. He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by his stripes we are healed"

In Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, he bore more than our sins. The penalty for sin is death, but Jesus did not need to suffer as he did to provide atonement. He suffered to bear our griefs and sorrows. He was tortured for our peace and healing.
Surely atonement for sin was our greatest need, yet God provided more than just escape from judgement, He offers life and life more abundantly. Salvation is so much more than just going to heaven, it is the beginning of living in right relationship with the God because of Jesus Christ!!

"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow"---Elvina Hall 1865

Pray that this Easter that those who may just come to church out of "american obligation", would have their hearts opened to the reality of God and life in His son Jesus Christ.