Words from Pastor ANdrew
Social Experience
Last week I had the opportunity to help with an event at the school my kids go to. It was an activity where they practiced social skills and were learning how to be confident, well spoken, thoughtful, kind, courteous, and you know…be good functioning people in society…it turns out that is necessary in life.
It was amazing. These middle schoolers were unbelievably articulate, well thought out, and courteous.
I loved being there and helping out
Before the day we were told to grade these kids hard but fair. Don’t just give them a free pass. Help them learn what they need to work on. Very quickly I learned, golly these kids are good. I guess I need to adjust the curve and grade even harder than I thought so I don’t just give everyone nearly perfect scores.
So I did…because you know…I’m a rule follower.
Fashion Advice
Over the past year, my kids have essentially two sets of clothes. The uniforms they wear for school. And the clothes they wear every other day. Their standard clothes on the weekend are Chubbies shorts and a Volcom shirt for Foster and a Chiefs jersey for Keating.
I love chubbies shorts, I love Volcom shirts, I love the Chiefs…but if I had to choose the only thing for my kids to wear…it wouldn’t be that…or at least not everyday.
We all have gone through some sort of journey where our parents or grandparents or someone else guided us and taught us…then at some point, we took on those responsibilities for ourselves. We started to make our own decisions and choices.
When I used to dress my kids and didn’t let them decide, they wore the coolest clothes…alas, they now decide. I have given them their own ability to choose clothes.
All of us go through a journey to launch, and it is leading up to our independence, we are being coached or led until we get there. As followers of Jesus, we believe that our coaching or leading that is done in the faith never actually ends. We should always turn to our God and King to help us make wise decisions.
The struggle is many of us think we know best…and we don’t want to consult from anyone else, especially an ancient book or divine creator.
Unanticipated Adjustments
The weeks leading up to Christmas I had lists of things to get accomplished, presents to buy and wrap, and details to finalize. As with most things, I found most of the presents I needed to get, I got some that I didn’t anticipate buying, and wrapping and details adjusted because of the slight change. Funny enough, one of those things was a garlic peeler…have you seen these? I know, they may be really popular and we just stumbled across them, but they are amazing. Sarah had seen one on a cooking show and I randomly found one at a kitchen store. It wasn’t on her list…or really even mine to find, but I ran across this unanticipated kitchen tool, got it for Sarah and she was surprised about this great gift! Sometimes unanticipated things that require slight changes or adjustments end up being a surprising blessing.
All of us have experienced some change in plans and then needed to make adjustments.
Christmas Reminders
I know you have wish lists to fulfill, errands to run, details to finalize, and all the wrapping! So I have no interest in adding to your busyness, but I do want to make sure you have everything you need for Christmas Eve worship and the next few weeks at The Chapel. Read below to get the details and of course let us know if you have any questions.
Becoming Joy
Five years ago this week, I ran my first marathon. I’ve shared before how I’m built with short, stocky legs and a stout body—not exactly a runner’s physique, less like a gazelle galloping through the woods and more like a pig on a treadmill.
Nonetheless, I completed my first marathon, which, to this day, remains the only marathon I’ve run.
The Dallas Marathon is generally a great experience. It usually enjoys favorable weather, has very few hills, and runs through beautiful neighborhoods, starting and ending downtown. The halfway mark wraps around White Rock Lake, which evokes a love/hate response among runners. The crowds have cleared out, it’s lonely, and you’re the at the furthest point out in the race.
Right after you curve around the lake, there’s a slight elevation that provides a clear view of downtown Dallas—13.1 miles away…and you have to run to get there.
For me, in that moment, in the middle of the race, I thought to myself,
“Maybe I could just collapse, and they’d carry me across the finish line. But would I still get the medal?”
Becoming Peace
This time of year we are staying up late regularly. Whether it is watching Christmas movies or football games…
Becoming Hope
We spent Thanksgiving in Missouri. We got to see family and long time friends. Our trip began with sunny warm weather where we were throwing the football around outside in shorts and t-shirts…let’s be honest, my kids only wear shorts…so this doesn’t seem to properly express the beauty and warmth of a Kansas City fall day…and then not many days later, our trip ended with 3 inches of snow in St. Louis. It was a beautiful time with people we love.
Between that first and last day, there were a lot of dark overcast days. It is inevitable this time of year, especially in the midwest.
The End of Something
Last night I was laying down with my son Keating and we were both reading.
Keating said, “can you believe I am on page 400 in my book?”
First off, I don’t know if I have ever read a 400 page book…but heres to future goals.
So I asked back, “how much do you have left?”
He replied with a sound of sadness in his voice, “30 pages…but I don’t want it to end.”
I get it. There is something about reading an incredible book, or watching a great film, or TV series, or experiencing an unbelievable meal, or indescribable vacation…you don’t want it to end.
Tension During The Holidays
In our house, we experience “tension” this time of year. This tension arises because it’s early November. We’ve just had Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and Veterans Day. We still have pumpkins everywhere, cinnamon muffins, and lovely fall décor…and yet four-fifths of my family (including Brittany, our dog) are ready to barrel toward Christmas.
I am not in the majority here.
As a kid, we often went to Colorado for Thanksgiving, packing all our Christmas albums. On the way out, we’d listen to all sorts of different music. But on the way back? It was Christmas music all the way. It was so ingrained in me to wait—Santa passing by Macy’s on Thanksgiving morning was the official green light for Christmas. To skip over Thanksgiving feels like bypassing a rich tradition that deserves its moment.
Half The Conversation
Several years ago, Sarah and I shared one account for our phones. That way we could share music and pictures and everything else stored on our phones…to be honest, we didn’t realize almost two decades ago that all of our life would be on our phones…that didn’t even occur to us.
The problem with sharing one account is, occasionally, for no reason we completely understood, some of our texts, calendars, emails and other things would show up on the other persons phone without going through a series of menu options to change that or stop it from happening.
We maybe didn’t send the initial text or send the initial email or initial calendar invite and yet, we had this bit of information that was intended for someone else and we were seriously confused.
Have you ever tried to understand a conversation with only reading one side of it?
Whether it is sitting there listening to someone talk on their phone, but have no idea what the person on the other end is saying.
It is very confusing.
Social Experience
Last week I had the opportunity to help with an event at the school my kids go to. It was an activity where they practiced social skills and were learning how to be confident, well spoken, thoughtful, kind, courteous, and you know…be good functioning people in society…it turns out that is necessary in life.
It was amazing. These middle schoolers were unbelievably articulate, well thought out, and courteous.
I loved being there and helping out
Before the day we were told to grade these kids hard but fair. Don’t just give them a free pass. Help them learn what they need to work on. Very quickly I learned, golly these kids are good. I guess I need to adjust the curve and grade even harder than I thought so I don’t just give everyone nearly perfect scores.
So I did…because you know…I’m a rule follower.
Fashion Advice
Over the past year, my kids have essentially two sets of clothes. The uniforms they wear for school. And the clothes they wear every other day. Their standard clothes on the weekend are Chubbies shorts and a Volcom shirt for Foster and a Chiefs jersey for Keating.
I love chubbies shorts, I love Volcom shirts, I love the Chiefs…but if I had to choose the only thing for my kids to wear…it wouldn’t be that…or at least not everyday.
We all have gone through some sort of journey where our parents or grandparents or someone else guided us and taught us…then at some point, we took on those responsibilities for ourselves. We started to make our own decisions and choices.
When I used to dress my kids and didn’t let them decide, they wore the coolest clothes…alas, they now decide. I have given them their own ability to choose clothes.
All of us go through a journey to launch, and it is leading up to our independence, we are being coached or led until we get there. As followers of Jesus, we believe that our coaching or leading that is done in the faith never actually ends. We should always turn to our God and King to help us make wise decisions.
The struggle is many of us think we know best…and we don’t want to consult from anyone else, especially an ancient book or divine creator.
Unanticipated Adjustments
The weeks leading up to Christmas I had lists of things to get accomplished, presents to buy and wrap, and details to finalize. As with most things, I found most of the presents I needed to get, I got some that I didn’t anticipate buying, and wrapping and details adjusted because of the slight change. Funny enough, one of those things was a garlic peeler…have you seen these? I know, they may be really popular and we just stumbled across them, but they are amazing. Sarah had seen one on a cooking show and I randomly found one at a kitchen store. It wasn’t on her list…or really even mine to find, but I ran across this unanticipated kitchen tool, got it for Sarah and she was surprised about this great gift! Sometimes unanticipated things that require slight changes or adjustments end up being a surprising blessing.
All of us have experienced some change in plans and then needed to make adjustments.
Christmas Reminders
I know you have wish lists to fulfill, errands to run, details to finalize, and all the wrapping! So I have no interest in adding to your busyness, but I do want to make sure you have everything you need for Christmas Eve worship and the next few weeks at The Chapel. Read below to get the details and of course let us know if you have any questions.
Becoming Joy
Five years ago this week, I ran my first marathon. I’ve shared before how I’m built with short, stocky legs and a stout body—not exactly a runner’s physique, less like a gazelle galloping through the woods and more like a pig on a treadmill.
Nonetheless, I completed my first marathon, which, to this day, remains the only marathon I’ve run.
The Dallas Marathon is generally a great experience. It usually enjoys favorable weather, has very few hills, and runs through beautiful neighborhoods, starting and ending downtown. The halfway mark wraps around White Rock Lake, which evokes a love/hate response among runners. The crowds have cleared out, it’s lonely, and you’re the at the furthest point out in the race.
Right after you curve around the lake, there’s a slight elevation that provides a clear view of downtown Dallas—13.1 miles away…and you have to run to get there.
For me, in that moment, in the middle of the race, I thought to myself,
“Maybe I could just collapse, and they’d carry me across the finish line. But would I still get the medal?”
Becoming Peace
This time of year we are staying up late regularly. Whether it is watching Christmas movies or football games…
Becoming Hope
We spent Thanksgiving in Missouri. We got to see family and long time friends. Our trip began with sunny warm weather where we were throwing the football around outside in shorts and t-shirts…let’s be honest, my kids only wear shorts…so this doesn’t seem to properly express the beauty and warmth of a Kansas City fall day…and then not many days later, our trip ended with 3 inches of snow in St. Louis. It was a beautiful time with people we love.
Between that first and last day, there were a lot of dark overcast days. It is inevitable this time of year, especially in the midwest.
The End of Something
Last night I was laying down with my son Keating and we were both reading.
Keating said, “can you believe I am on page 400 in my book?”
First off, I don’t know if I have ever read a 400 page book…but heres to future goals.
So I asked back, “how much do you have left?”
He replied with a sound of sadness in his voice, “30 pages…but I don’t want it to end.”
I get it. There is something about reading an incredible book, or watching a great film, or TV series, or experiencing an unbelievable meal, or indescribable vacation…you don’t want it to end.
Tension During The Holidays
In our house, we experience “tension” this time of year. This tension arises because it’s early November. We’ve just had Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and Veterans Day. We still have pumpkins everywhere, cinnamon muffins, and lovely fall décor…and yet four-fifths of my family (including Brittany, our dog) are ready to barrel toward Christmas.
I am not in the majority here.
As a kid, we often went to Colorado for Thanksgiving, packing all our Christmas albums. On the way out, we’d listen to all sorts of different music. But on the way back? It was Christmas music all the way. It was so ingrained in me to wait—Santa passing by Macy’s on Thanksgiving morning was the official green light for Christmas. To skip over Thanksgiving feels like bypassing a rich tradition that deserves its moment.
Half The Conversation
Several years ago, Sarah and I shared one account for our phones. That way we could share music and pictures and everything else stored on our phones…to be honest, we didn’t realize almost two decades ago that all of our life would be on our phones…that didn’t even occur to us.
The problem with sharing one account is, occasionally, for no reason we completely understood, some of our texts, calendars, emails and other things would show up on the other persons phone without going through a series of menu options to change that or stop it from happening.
We maybe didn’t send the initial text or send the initial email or initial calendar invite and yet, we had this bit of information that was intended for someone else and we were seriously confused.
Have you ever tried to understand a conversation with only reading one side of it?
Whether it is sitting there listening to someone talk on their phone, but have no idea what the person on the other end is saying.
It is very confusing.