I was reminded of a preachers story tonight when I tucked Kade in.  It goes like this:

A father lovingly tucked in his five year old daughter after what had been a long and tiring day.  She wanted a little more time and energy than he had left and so the bed time ritual was cut a little short.

As he walked out the door and began to ready himself for bed his little girl called out, “Daddy, I’m scared – can you come back in”.  

He turned, reminding himself to be patient as he re-entered her room.  “I’m here honey, there’s no need to be afraid.  God is here with you, he will keep you safe.” 

“I know Daddy”, said the little girl, “but sometimes you just need someone with skin on”

If you’re a Christ following parent you get it.  God gave mom’s and dad’s to little boys and girls to be his skin.  To train them up in the way they should go – to show them who He is and how He loves them.

What I sometimes forget is that it’s not just enough to be God’s skin to my kids.  You see I’m also a part of another family – the family of God.  More specifically, the church, and God’s plan for my life is much more than just being a Godly father, although that is a great calling.

The Christian life is about being God’s skin for a lost and dieing world.  A world that runs itself ragged chasing the enemies lie and winds up scared and doubting God because the church is like most Daddy’s – too tired or too busy to be bothered with God’s call.

I’m afraid that all too often I’m too tired or too busy to be bothered with being skin for God.

My boy needed me to be God’s skin tonight.

This world needs us to be God’s skin tonight.

For both of them – there’s no plan b.

God is good – Josh

As you may know, our family has been in the process of making some new friends in our new hometown of Atlanta.  We have prayed as a family that God would help us to meet those who are in need of our friendship.  We often discuss this is on Sunday afternoon’s upon returning home from church.

One particular afternoon several months ago our three year old, Kade proudly announced that he had a new friend whose name was George.  We asked him all about George but you know three year old boys, all we could get was that he was an African American and that they played together in class.  We were all very excited about Kade’s new buddy and would ask him each Sunday before and after church if they played together.  His response, no.

I must admit that we were becoming a little suspicious whether George actually existed or if he was just Kade’s little attempt at helping God find him a friend in class.  You can imagine that it came as no surprise to us when after several months of fielding questions about George on our way to and from class that Kade loudly proclaimed (and I quote)  ”GEORGE IS A FAKE MAN!”.  We didn’t act surprised or disappointed – we just said – “Oh really?”.  He then continued with “HE HAS GREEN SKIN, ORANGE HAIR, AND EATS POOP!!!!”.  The whole family was roaring in laughter at our little guys sense of humor and imagination. 

That was several Sunday’s ago and we had all written George off as the little imaginary buddy that got Kade through his first couple of weeks in our new church.  You can imagine our surprise this last week as we picked up Kade after church and noticed him playing with a little African American boy – we checked his name tag – “GEORGE”.  

Seems he does exist. 

So here’s to friends – real and imagined!

God is good - Josh

I once heard an old farmer talk about his seeds.  As he described them I was entranced with the romantic tone with which he breathed.  When he spoke, he did not describe their features, nor their cost, but rather their potential.  He warned of sacriicing their bounty through temporal consumption for the satisfaction of ones own selfish needs and desires, when the real treasure was found by planting it.

My fancy way of saying – you can eat a seed of corn or you can plant it.  If you eat it you get to enjoy it for a moment, but if you plant it, water it, weed it, and wait – you get an eight foot tall stalk bearing fruit a thousand fold.

Farmers are a dying breed, as are human beings who are content enough with their God and his control over all to plant the authentic seed of themselves with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength into this great mission of Loving God and Loving Others.

O that my seed would not be spent on the temporal but on the eternal.  O that I would meet that old farmer one day to hear – Well done.

God is Good – Josh