towards leadership and culture

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

This past year has gone by so quickly, it is hard to believe that we are closing the chapter of 2011 and welcoming a new year! These past twelve months have been filled with many new things; including the start of Brent’s second year in his graduate program, Adelé’s first birthday, moving to Olympia, Brent’s new job at Evergreen   Christian Community as the Children’s pastor and the news that we are expecting our  second!

Brent’s days are filled with endless hours on his papers, reading countless books (for work, school and fun), training for triathlons and other races as well as being involved with as many Children Ministry Network events as possible. Brent is incredibly ambitious and his energy never ceases to amaze me. Of course he finds time to play, read and entertain Adelé whenever he is home. She has become quite a daddy’s girl in the past few months. They are nearly inseparable.

Bria has continued her nursing, with an on-call position at Tacoma General Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She works a few days a month while she and Adelé keep up on the house, spend time at the church and go on as many outings as we have time for.  Bria ran my first ½ marathon in Seattle at the end of June. This was a huge accomplishment for her! In August we found out we were pregnant with baby #2! We are expecting his or her arrival around April 27, 2012. Being pregnant while chasing a toddler around has proven to be exhausting. So, Bria has begun a routine of napping whenever Adelé naps.  The two girls do most things together. She is such a great little friend.

Adelé is 20 months now and is talking about anything and everything on her mind. Today she was playing with a toy and exclaimed, “Oh, boy!” She is an extremely friendly, emotional, spirited, and affectionate little girl. She imitates us in chores, singing, even inflections in our voices. She has brought us so much joy. She kisses my tummy each day and talks about the “baby”. We are sure she will be a great big sister to our new little one.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

All Our Love- Brent, Bria, Adelé and Baby

I came acros a great post by Mark Anderson on the Resurgence site. Mark writes about resisting temptation and uses a great clip. Young kids are put in a room with a marshmallow and told that if they dont eat it for 20min then they can get a second mallow. Easy enough? No. These little boys and girls are forced to sit and stare at this sweet treat and resist the urge to take a bite. Some succede while others fail. You have to check it out.

I think of my ability to resist temptation. Sometimes I succede and sometimes I fail. I noticed how some kids would stare at the marshmallow, some would touch it, smell it even nibble it! How are they going to resist eating the thing when they get so dangerously close! There it is. I do the same thing. How can I resist temptation? Stay far, far away. I am sure you are familiar with the words that Paul wrote to the early Christians in Corinth.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. -1 Corinthians 10:13

We can resist because God is faithful. If marshmallows are your kryptonite then keep far away. In fact, I would recommend running in the opposite direction! Many of us need to pull a Joseph and run away from the sin that so easily entangles. How do you avoid temptation?

Come, thou long-expected Jesus,

Born to set thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us;

Let us find our rest in thee.

-Charles Wesley, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Charles Wesley

I had the privilege of reading the Christmas story to a small group of kids last weekend. Three of the seven had never head it before and had lots of questions. Who was Cesar? Why would they want to count everyone? Why didn’t they go to the hospital? It was awesome to talk through Luke 2 with fresh eyes and a curious heart.

Something jumped out to me. When the angels announced the birth of Jesus they referred to him using several names: Savior, Messiah, the Lord. Catch that? From day one Jesus was already the savior. How could a baby save anyone? We see how Jesus came for the purpose of bringing God’s rescue plan into fulness. Jesus came to save us.

And so we pray for Jesus to come, to save us, to set us free so that we may rest in him.