Thirteen...

Thirteen. You are thirteen. Thirteen is one of those milestones that I think can be overrated. It represents so many things.  For many parents, the transition into the teenage years means, inherent rebellion, one year closer to higher insurance rates, busy schedules and smelly rooms.  For you, thirteen may mean more freedom and more privileges.  Thirteen, however, is simply another year of transitions.  

For you, you body is changing.  You are much taller, and you are losing the little boy face you once had.  You want more freedom that comes with getting closer to manhood, but you also still want to play with toys. Becoming a teenager in Biblical times typically was accompanied with getting married and starting a career alongside your dad.  Regardless of whatever cultural baggage comes with becoming a teenager, it really comes down to this.  You are in a time of transition that will last several years.  

You will change SO much over the next 5 to 10 years.  That is both exciting and terrifying, but just take a breath.  God's not done with you yet... even when you leave those teen years behind.  Your story is still in the first chapter.  One of my favorite quotes gives me great peace, I pray it will come to do the same for you.  John Newton once said, “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am” 

Your teenage years is really all about discovering the man God is creating you to be... answering the most important question, "WHO AM I?"  You will try things and fail.  You will be challenged and be victorious.  That doesn't define who you are.  You are not who I say you are.  You are not who your friends say you are.  You are not even who you think you are.  You are who GOD says you are.  The next several years it is your task to figure that out and learn to walk in that identity.  Jesus had the benefit of knowing who He was from the beginning, and yet He still had to grow and mature.

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." - Luke 2:52

Once you realize who God says you are, then you can begin to answer the next big life question, "WHY AM I HERE?" But that is for another time and another blog entry.  Until then, grow in wisdom and stature, my son.  You can do this.  I love you, I'm proud of you.

Metamorphosis

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52)

Last year I saw your rebirth.  You went from being my son, to also being my brother in Christ.  It has been so amazing watching you grow into your new identity in Christ.  Like you dad, who is a sinner, it hasn't always been easy nor perfect-- nor will it.  Thankfully, God's process of growing us into the image of His son Jesus (sanctification) is ongoing.  As it has been with me, so it will go with you.  I am just thankful to have a front row seat of God's work in you and through you.

Next year, you will join the ranks of teenagers.  But for now, you hold on to one more year as a pre-teen.  Nevertheless, this is a year of metamorphosis.  We see metamorphosis all around us-- the transformation from one thing into another. If you look back at all the images attached to this blog, you can glimpse at the metamorphosis you have undergone.  

God gives us opportunities to prepare as much as we can for these changes.  This weekend, you and I will have a special getaway to explore God's design for manhood. I want to be the example of what a real man is supposed to be, but I fear that often you saw more my failures. There is so much I wish I could teach you, but I was never taught.  But I hope you saw in me my own journey pursue the most manly man there is... Christ.  The world shouts lies about what it means to be a man.  The world and sin distorts God's image. I pray that this weekend gives you some tools to navigate the lies to avoid that I never had.

Tim, you live in a world that is constantly changing and trying to squeeze you into its mold.  However, because you have experienced God's mercy, like Paul, I plead with you to "...not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..."  As a dad, I have tried to teach you God's Word because I know the best example of what it means to be a man is Jesus.  Like your dad, you haven't always walked in step with the Spirit, but you are learning to hear and march to the Lord's cadence.  Your march will look different than mine, but my prayer is that, like Christ, you will increase in wisdom and stature and in the favor with God and man.  Always look to Christ.  Learn to listen for His cadence, so that you will keep in step with Him.  You were created in His image.  I am proud of who are becoming.  Stay the course.  

Happy 12th Birthday!

I don't like you very much...

Today you turn 11.  This year began a new chapter in our lives as I left teaching public school and I returned to ministry.  This past year has been difficult for you and I.   While we finally left a season of life that I haven't been there for you like I wanted.  Painful ministry experiences, school, COVID, teaching, etc. took me away.  Some of it could have been done differently, much of it was beyond our control.  As a result, we've butted heads a lot in recent months.  Things came to a head, and it was time to talk.  As we talked at length a couple weeks ago on the trampoline, I had to share with you that I don't like you very much right now.

You have experienced much disappointment and developed some unreasonable expectations of me.  Without the regular guiding presence, you have established some poor habits and attitudes.  As a result, I have been more critical and frustrated with you, and I am sure, you haven't liked me much either.  There's been a lot of discipline lately.  But as I told you that evening, that doesn't change the fact that I will never stop loving you.  But "love" is different from "like."  Enjoying the presence (liking) of someone we love will be affected by circumstances and we withdraw from them, but when you love someone, you are committed to stick it out through the hard times.  

BUT... It hasn't been all bad!  There have been fishing trips, water park getaways with just you and I, soccer games, playing catch in the backyard, tickles, wrestles and snuggles on the couch watching movies.  Even better, after years of teaching and guiding toward Christ, you trusted Christ to be your Savior and I got to baptize you this year.  Now the discipleship begins!  With it will come more training aka discipline.  Discipline is hard sometimes and it is often unpleasant.  Those times you may not like me, and I may not like you.  Discipline chips away at the parts of our character to shape us into the image of Christ.

"9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." - Heb. 12:9–11.

I love you and I am SO PROUD OF YOU!  Happy Birthday!

Dealing with Disappointment

Ten… You are ten… one decade… so much has changed in ten years.  What happened to nine! One thing you might have noticed is that I did not write a post for #9.  Year number nine was a hard year for everyone, but definitely for our family.  Year nine was a year of major transition.  We moved to Abilene, we bought our first house, I started teaching, then suddenly had to change school campuses.  I was thrust into working with kids at a disciplinary school, all the while learning how to be a teacher during a world-wide pandemic.  It was not what we had expected or planned.  But we survived.  

 

Here we are in year 10 and you are growing up fast.  You are no longer a little boy.  You are a big boy soon to be a young man.  By this time in your life, you have known quite a few disappointments.  Disappointments come when we have plans in our minds that don’t come through.  Sometimes we have good intentions, sometimes our intentions are simply self-serving.  Regardless, what we have planned doesn’t always work out as we want.  I think therein lies the problem.  God may have other plans that take us in a different direction.  Because you are my son, I know that when things don’t work out, you get upset.  Some things don’t work out because you planned foolishly.  Some times, things don’t work out because others failed to follow through with what they committed to.  But most times, things do go as we plan because God has other plans.  God’s way are always better and higher than our ways. (cf. Is. 55:8).

 

Remember this, people will disappoint you… even the ones you love the most will disappoint you.  But, you too will disappoint others.  Lean into Christ.  He is the One that will never disappoint you.  

 

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” - Proverbs 16:9

 

Tim, use your time wisely.  Make good decisions with your time and money.  Live within your means so you can give the most important ones in your life the best of your time.  Make good Bible guided plans.  But more importantly, stay tuned to what God desires for you.  They may not always line up with your plan, but they’ll always take you down the path that will build you up and glorify God.  I have cried so many tears wishing I was a better daddy, wishing I could have been there more for you.  My plans seldom worked out perfectly, but I know that God's plans will work out perfectly.  If you let Him guide you, you will NEVER be disappointed. 

 

I don’t say it enough.  I am proud of what I see you growing in to and I love you so much.  Happy 10th Birthday.

Proud Moments vs. Pride Moments

We got the call that we needed to go to the pep-rally this week.  You would be honored in front of the whole school as the "Buffalo of the Month." Out of all the Cross Plains Elementary school, you stood out as a student because of your hard work and courteous behavior toward teachers and other students.  As a new student, you stuck out.  

As you grow and develop, you will begin to excel in specific ways.  Maybe your "thing" will be academics.  Maybe you will shine as an athlete or maybe as a musician.  Only time will tell. Regardless, I believe God will gift you, but not so that you may receive glory for your accomplishments; rather, so you may deflect glory to Him.  Make no mistake, as followers of Christ, we are called to stick out but for different reasons.  I was so proud of you because you are putting into practice the areas of character that we have imparted to you.  But I also must be careful to think that while we've work long and hard to raise you well,  it is the grace of God that allows it to take hold.  We cannot really take credit for what God does in and through you.  

As you advance and work hard, be careful not to love the lime light when you achieve great things.  It can be a dangerous thing.  Fame and glory for self-gratification comes at a high cost, just watch those who attain it.  Do what you do and do it with excellence.  But do not do it to receive a pat on the back from others, rather excel so that GOD looks good.  In a world that fight and claws its way to the top, you will be tempted to love the praise of men.  When you are, remember this little proverb, "the higher a baboon climbs, the more he shows his rump!"  Work hard, excel, achieve.  But do so to please only one... His opinion is the one that matters. I love you and am proud of you!

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." - Gal. 1:10

Me and My Shadow

Well, you've hit mile marker 7 today.  We've tried bricks and other heavy objects and even tying you to the ground with rope and a few stakes, but you have refused... you kept on growing!  You've learned so much this year: how to ride a bike without training wheels; how to grow a garden together; to love reading and many other things.  It's been an amazing year, and I am so proud of you!

There's one thing I have noticed about you this year; you've really become my shadow.  There's a really old song called "Me and My Shadow," that describes a guy's strange relationship with his shadow.  He's all alone in life except for his shadow.  He describes how his shadow goes everywhere with him and does everything with him.  Everywhere I go, you want to go.  Everything I do, you want to do.  Like this photo, you are acting silly like your daddy.  If I mess with your sisters, you want to do it too.  At the end of the worship service, when I go to the back of the auditorium to say goodbye to folks, you're right there with me.  Perhaps if God lets you be a daddy, you'll get to know how much all that means to me.

I haven't always done things right, in fact, I've made quite a few big mistakes.  As you have shadowed me so much this year, I realized one of all parents greatest fears is that you would make some of the same tragic choices I've made.  But my prayer is that you would shadow me as I shadow my heavenly Father.  To go where He wants you to go, to do what He wants you to do.  To love being with the heavenly Father much more than being with me, your earthly Father.

One day, I know you will become you're own man.  Hopefully, you will have a little shadow of your own, and hopefully you will carry on the good stuff I modeled for you and not the bad stuff: a love for the Word of God, a love for your wife, and a love for serving others.  You may not become a pastor, and that's ok.  God has made you for His purposes.  Search it out and discover what that is and shadow the heavenly Father and you will do fine.  I love you Buddy.  Happy 7th Birthday!

"So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." - John 5:19

Assets

My the the years have flown by.  Today, you've turned 6 years old, and I am just as proud and filled with joy for you today as I ever have been.  My son, you have been such a blessing to me.

As you know, as a vocation, for the bulk of my life, I have chosen to work as a servant to a local church, and thus far, it has been in small churches.  As a result, I have earned a modest wage to support my family.  We are not poor, but we have done without many things.  You've had toys to play with, clothes to wear, comfortable beds to sleep in, and like this photo shows, we've gotten to do a few neat things like play soccer, take trips to visit friends and make memories as a family.

I guess, by the world's standards, I am a failure because I know when my life ends, I will not have many tangible assets to leave with you and your sisters.  Our wills and portfolios will not be filled with things that you and your siblings will fight over.

However, I want to point out a couple assets that your mother and I have worked very hard to provide you that can never be locked in a bank vault or measured by the Dow-Jones Industrial average.  Things like your name; a work ethic that is others-focused; a foundation in God's word and the Gospel on which to build a relationship with God; memories of times together as a family.  These are the assets that I pray one day will yield dividends that will be reinvested in your own children and grandchildren, should God bless you in that way.  I cannot make you follow Jesus, but I pray that in our examples, both the good and bad ones, you will know the richness that comes from walking with your heavenly Father.  That when God calls you to Himself, you will respond appropriately and follow Jesus with all your heart, soul mind and strength in ways that far surpass your earthly father.

One of the many assets, however, that God has endowed you with is shown here in this photo... your two older sisters.  You annoy one another often.  Occasionally, you say hurtful and cruel things to one another; and yet, you need to know that your sisters love you deeply.  They play such an integral part of your life.  I have been so proud to watch them give of themselves because of that deep love.  God-willing, they will be there for you long after your mother and I are gone.  Don't forget to thank God regularly for your sisters.  They are one of your best assets.  Love them and take care of one another.

"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." - 1 Timothy 5:8

Happy Birthday little Buddy!