I just finished reading a great book, titled "In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson. Based on the account in 2 Samuel 23:20-21 of a man named Benaiah who was counted among King David's "mighty men", the book recounts, among his other feats, chasing a lion into a pit on a snowy day, and killing it. The book uses that account to outline how to reinterpret the obstacles and struggles in our lives as God-ordained opportunities. There were chapters on conquering fears, embracing uncertainty, taking risks, and being willing to fail and/or look foolish, to realize our God-given potential. Fantastic book!
One chapter really spoke to me- the one that addressed the willingness to look foolish and childish to experience great breakthroughs and victories. Batterson cited a couple of fascinating studies of children. It stated that 98% of children ages 3-5 scored in the genius category for creative, out-of-the-box thinking, yet that drops to 32% by ages 8-10, then down to 10% in teenagers. By the age of 25, only 2% still score in the genius category for what he terms, "divergent thinking."
The other study was less scientific, but still fascinating. When 1st graders were asked, "How many of artists are in the room?" all would raise their hands. By 2nd grade, half the class would raise their hands. By 3rd grade, 10 out of 30 would. By middle school, only 1 or 2 would tentatively raise their hands.
Yet God didn't create us, nor did Jesus come for us, to merely forgive our sin, assure us a place in Heaven, and as Batterson puts it, "sanitize and civilize us." God created us, and Jesus came for us, to set us free to be all we were meant to be.
So much of the Bible is filled with zany stories, with zany people, who recklessly trusted God and followed His leading into zany situations. Yet we so often read the stories and get used to them, losing the child-like wonder at all God wants to reveal to us.
I think back over my life- as a child & teen, I was artistic, with folders full of sketches and drawings, and even had a HS teacher, Mrs. Brem, who brought out in me an ability to write poetry! Over the years, I gradually created less & less art, and wrote less poetry. Now, I can barely draw a stick figure, and my writing is reserved for sermons and reports. When did I begin to lose it all? And how can I begin to tap that again?
God wants us to never lose the child-like wonder of Him, His Word, His works, and His creation. And He wants us to recover our creativity, imagination, curiousity, and daring. In short, be willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world, for "God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise." (1 Corinthians 1:27)
If there is anything I want to be true of me, it is this. May I always walk and live my life in Christ with a child-like faith in Him, and a child-like wonder at the works of His hands.

I'm reflecting on a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Saturday, while Lisa and the girls left to meet my mom-in-law, sister-in-law, and nieces for lunch, I took off on my bike for my parents lake house, with two good friends of mine from high school, Pat & Karen Davis. We had an enjoyable ride to Oconee, with cool temps under cloudy skies. My parents had a prepared a good old-fashioned Georgia fish fry for us, and we stuffed ourselves on fried catfish, crappy, and bass. We then all hopped on our bikes and rode, my parents leading the way down scenic country roads through horse and cattle country. We visited the MicroCar Museum in Madison, which was amazing! Over 300 mini-cars, all road-worthy, from all over the world.
Riding with my mom & dad, both nearly 70, I was humbled and grateful. Watching my mom holding onto my dad, helmet & Harley jacket, scarf waving in the breeze behind her, I found myself praying, "May my parents love life and love each other like this, for the rest of their days. And may Lisa and I share the same." I prayed that for Pat and Karen as well, riding with us all day.
Sunday was a blast as well! We celebrated what we called "SuperMom Sunday," inviting moms to participate in our morning children's worship hours with their children. They played the games, sang the songs, won door prizes, and shared in the Bible study times with their kids. I hope the moms all had fun, because we certainly enjoyed putting on the event for them!
That afternoon, my girls and I settled down for a time with Lisa, giving her our Mothers Day gifts and taking her out to dinner. Just an intimate afternoon and evening of showing her how much we deeply love and appreciate her.
As I read Proverbs 31:10-31, I think of Lisa, and both of our moms. All three of these precious women enrich my life in so many ways. I couldn't have asked for a better mother to raise me to know, love and follow Christ. I couldn't have hoped for a better mom-in-law, who has poured herself into Lisa and loved me like her own son. And I couldn't have prayed for a better wife than Lisa, who fills up my senses and my heart with a love I feel so unworthy of but so grateful for, and who selflessly pours her life into our girls. She is truly an "excellent wife" of Proverbs 31, as are both our moms. And I pray my girls will grow up to follow in their footsteps.

Since I joined Facebook last September, I've reconnected with many old high school and college friends. Its been like an internet reunion! Most recently, I found another high school friend named Tony, who I haven't heard from since we graduated. Come to find out, he and his family have been missionaries in a large city in Mexico for a number of years.
I was on Facebook late one night this past weekend, when he popped up on the IM feature, to say hi. Wow, I thought, its Tony, down in Mexico right now! Ah, the wonders of modern technology...
We "conversed" for the better part of an hour, catching up with each other's family and ministry. As we dialogued, I found he works among the poorest of poor in the city, meeting people where they are and meeting their needs with the love of Christ. He said we are in similar situations, serving those the world and the church often neglect or at least don't prioritize. I told him I thought the work he does is much more heart-breaking and emotionally draining than what I do. He sees so much pain, illness, poverty and wickedness down there, I can't even conceive of.
I told him I would pray for him, his family and his work. And I plan to keep my word.
I found his blog online, and his last two entries were about faith & doubt. He struggles, as we all do at times, with questions- what am I doing down here? Am I really making a difference? Did God really call me to this? Is He with me? Am I really doing His will? Then he understands, as I so often come back to, that "we walk by faith, and not by sight." As we keep walking, keep working, God keeps leading, He keeps using us, to further His Kingdom. And He confirms it in our hearts, in the little things day to day, in His Word, and in our hearts.
The solution to doubts? Keep walking.
Now, when I get down on myself, or get selfish or self-centered, I think of Tony, serving Christ down on the streets of a city in Mexico, devoting his life to serving Christ by serving "the least of these." May I so honor Christ in my own life and ministry.