​Brynn Leigh,
This is such an exciting year as you join the school adventure in Kindergarten.  This is a great year of learning and discovering. Mom and Dad have already been in prayer and we are convinced that God goes before you.  We want you to know that wherever you go and whatever you do, God is with you!  We pray this blessing over you and your exciting year.  May God use your gift of joy to bring smiles and warmth to all of those around you.  There may be days where people around you feel sad or lonely.  We know that through your joy others will be lifted up and encouraged.  May God show His Spirit through your spirit.  You have such a fascination with life and you make all of our lives so fun and lively.  God will use your spirit to spread His love, light, and life.  Finally, may God pour into you His servant heart.  We love the way you help around the house and are so giving.  We pray that you will be a servant to many when given the opportunity at school.  We know that even though this is a big step, you are ready and up for the challenge.  You are going to do great in Kindergarten!  This year we pray this prayer together as a family, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen!”

​Brody,
This is going to be a great year!  Mom and Dad cannot believe that you are already in Middle School.  Time is flying way too fast.  We see how deeply you feel for others, your love of movies, your enjoyment of being around other people, and how you serve God and we are extremely proud.  As you get older, our desire is that you will continue to love God, follow Jesus, and be guided by the Spirit.  We believe deeply in these school blessings and know that they shape your year.  God is always doing a mighty work in you and we pray that you continue to listen to His calling.  Our blessing for your year in 5thgrad is this:  May God us your gift of humor to continue to bring laughter to the world. There will be times this year when our family and your friends will need a good laugh.  Your humor will quiet storms and bring light to others. May God expand your heart for the weak, the tired, the lonely, the hurting, and the new. We pray that classmates and teachers will find you as one who cares, and your heart will be guarded as you express empathy and love.  Finally, May God give you unwavering courage.  This year is a big step and challenges will arise.  However, The Holy Spirit will not let you down and your courage will be an amazing tribute to God and His power.  This year we pray this prayer together as a family.  “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen!”

​Dylan,
This is going to be a great year!  Mom and Dad cannot believe that you are already in Middle School.  Time is flying way too fast.  We see how much you love to sing, read, be with your friends, and serve God and we are extremely proud.  As you get older, our desire is that you will continue to love God, follow Jesus, and be guided by the Spirit.  We believe deeply in these school blessings and know that they shape your year.  God is always doing a mighty work in you and we pray that you continue to listen to His calling.  Our blessing for your year in 5thgrade is this:  May God continue to work through your gift of leadership to draw others to good causes and to His name.  May your friends and classmates see in you the Jesus you serve.  May God give you an extra measure of His wisdom as you navigate a new system of school and the challenges of maturing.  The Spirit will guide your choices if you will listen and submit.  Finally, May God pour out on you His compassion so much that you cannot help but pour compassion out on all those around you.  May you be soaked in His love and others find comfort through you. This year we pray this prayer together as a family, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen!”

Ever since I was a child I have been taught by the church to control my sin.  I was taught to do the things of God and not sin.  Sin was always described more by actions that were against God's will.  You have heard these to.  Don't: murder, steal, gossip, slander, sexual immorality, greed, violence, hatred, malice, drugs, alcohol, and so on.  I don't remember if these were tied to God's heart or denying what God's heart was moving towards or if they were just the list that of things not to do.  So as a child, off to college, young adult and I still fight the urge to control my temptations and my actions so that I won't break God's list of do nots and sin.

Grace was loosely taught when I was a child.  We spoke of forgiveness, prayer, confession, baptism, salvation, and so on.  We didn't talk about God's heart.  We didn't talk about the why of God, just the what!  As I got into college and I understood better the idea of grace and mercy.  Probably nothing has taught me better about that idea than my marriage.  No one said that marriage would be somewhat of an experiment.  How to live with someone and through all kinds of differences and similarities put them above yourself and stay true to yourself and God.  That's not normal.  However, in this crazy adventure and I think that I have it best, my wife and our relationship has been a foundation of grace and love.

Control is an illusion.  That's probably not a new idea to us.  We never have full control of our circumstances, surroundings, and our very lives.  However, more than anything else, trying to control our spiritual lives is actually an act against the Spirit.  Self-control has been taught to us because of its place in Paul's list of fruit from the Spirit.  However, Paul wasn't trying to get us to be in control of our very selves.  Paul was saying that we cannot live a life where we do what we want to do when we want to do it and thus defy the working of the Spirit in our lives. So trying to have control over our spiritual lives is actually a direct offense of what Paul was trying to get us to do in the first place.

Grace is a reality.  We would actually prefer to try and control our sin and spiritual lives than allow for God to simply enact his grace.  Grace is a gift that you cannot turn away.  You can turn away God, Jesus, and Spirit.  But you cannot give away grace, because it is tied to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and Christ's defeat of the Powers of this dark world.  Therefore you (we) don't have the power to overturn grace and deny it or turn it away.  Our separation from God comes when we choose to turn the Trinity away.  Grace is still there. It is difficult to understand, but you cannot turn away grace, but it can become impotent in your life when you reject the Trinity and power of God.

All of this is rambling and musing.  Give up control and accept grace as a reality.  You cannot change the facts and realities of control or grace.  You can only humble yourself before God and come to new and faithful understandings that will give you freedom through the Spirit.  Jesus died for you to have freedom, not control.  God offers grace, not damnation.  The Spirit leads you to Christ and Christ leads you to God.  Take His prompting.  Live His blessing.
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While working on a future sermon, I came across this incredible interview between Bono from U2 and Eugene Peterson (author of many books including ,The Message, Bible paraphrase).  If you have any amount of time, watch some or all of this interview. I found it truly inspiring.

My Son Dylan and I preached a sermon recently on the wisdom of praise.  He preached Psalm 145 and I preached Proverbs 8:22-31 (click here for sermon).  Together we made a case for praise even when it hurts.  During that sermon we played a song, Even When It Hurts, by Hillsong.  The song is wonderful and below: