This past Monday- Wednesday Kelsey & I did a short "Dad & Daughter" trip up to Chattanooga, TN. We had a great time together- climbed all through Rock City, descended to Ruby Falls, visited the Tenn. Aquarium, toured Covenant College, strolled down the new Tennessee Riverwalk, and just had a great 3 days together. We needed the time together- it seems the older my girls get the busier we all are, and we often just see each other in passing. It was time well-spent.

As we left on Wed., I had made arrangements to visit Precept Ministries, right outside Chatt. This is the ministry headquarters of Kay Arthur, renown Bible teacher and writer. She has had a vast, influential ministry for decades, dating back to the late 60's. In fact, in 1974 she led my mother to Christ at a women's conference, who then pointed my dad to Christ in 1975, and I trusted Christ with Kay's help in 1979, as a 15 year old. Later, after high school, I spent a year living there, working in the ministry and sitting under Kay's teaching. She is truly my "mother in the Lord", as well as for my own mom!

I didn't think she would remember me after all the years, but when she came in, she lit up, bear-hugged me, and exclaimed, "Rob Brooks! It is so good to see you again! How many years has it been?!" We talked for about 45 minutes, just catching her up on my life, all God has done over the years and miles. Kay was very enthused to meet Kelsey, who really took to Kay immediately. She kept calling for staff members to come meet me, and some who knew me back then, still serving in the ministry there! It was an amazing time- a reunion of sorts. She wanted some pictures with us, saying she was so blessed to see me and know I was still walking with Christ, and passing on the faith to my girls and those in my ministry. She said, "Seeing you reminds of the verse, 'I have no greater joy than knowing my children are walking in the truth.' You are like one of my boys!"

I was blessed immeasureably by this lady- to see and talk with her again, introduce my daughter to her, but mostly for the faith she brought to my family so many years ago. I know the Lord and am in the ministry, in no small part due to her faithfulness to share Christ over the years. And I hope one day to enjoy seeing those I have influenced come back into my life, and see them still walking in the faith as well.

Rob

I'm flying solo as a parent this week- Lisa left Saturday for an 8-day mission trip to Iquitos, Peru. She won't be back until next Saturday. Already, I feel her absence. Ansley went to work on Sat., Kelsey had plans with some friends, so I was left alone with my thoughts. I took a ride on my motorcycle, and felt a loneliness already setting in. Today, me and the girls just hung out after church, ate, watched a movie, and now that they are in bed, I feel the loneliness again. Funny, when you are around someone a lot, or even every night after work, you don't realize how much you rely on them until they are not around. When I'm away at work, or at a conference, camp, etc., I don't feel so separated from her; I know I can call her anytime. Yet now that she is so far away and so completely inaccessable in the jungles of Peru, I feel alone, fractured, incomplete without her close by. I understand a little more of what God talks about when He says of marriage, "The two shall become one flesh"...I don't feel whole when Lisa is so far removed from me.

So I pray for her safety down there while she serves people in His name, and I pray for her safe return...

Rob

I've been reading a book called, "Plastic Jesus" by Eric Sandras, which is about how we have reduced Christianity to a comfortable, packaged, "suburbia" faith, instead of the radical, life-changing, intimate purpose and relationship with Christ it was meant to be.

One section called, "Wearing Someone Else's Shirt", got me thinking last night. The author talked about how we often wear what we think or want to define us, but all too often we are living a lie. I thought of an example from this past week. Ansley had a knee surgery Thursday, and while I was at the surgical center, one of the nurses noticed my t-shirt, a Harley-Davidson shirt from Virginia a friend once gave me. She asked me, "Like your t-shirt! Do you ride?" To which I replied, "Yes, I do." She then said, "My husband and I ride a Road King. What do you ride?" Suddenly, I was faced with a choice- Do I lie and say, "I ride a Heritage Classic" or something like that, or do I tell her the truth? She'll never know, I'll likely never see her again, and its just a small conversation. I chose to be who I was, and told her, "I ride a Yamaha Royal Star- a poor man's Harley!" She exclaimed, "What a cool bike! I have a friend who rides one of those!" I chose honesty, and I'm glad I did.

Sandras says in his book, "Christians who are living in spiritual suburbia are 'just wearing the shirt.' We often profess to be followers of Christ, but are we really following Him into what He has called us to do? Are we fulfilling our unique, God-given purpose? Its possible to say all the right words, yet never surrender our hearts and wills to God's leading. God wants us to live out our calling; He doesn't just want us to wear His shirt." (p. 52)

I want to live the life, not just wear the shirt.

Rob