not easy...

I just read a very distrubing article in the LA Times. It's an article about Dr. Harrison, an abortionist in Arkansas. I was troubled by it on several levels, but thought it was a pretty well-done column.

You can link to it at:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-abortion29nov29,0,6674686.story

(you may need to cut and paste this into your browser, not sure if it will serve as a good link from the blog directly).

I think what disturbed me the most is the casual treatment that some of these people had toward life. One young woman was aborting her baby because she was about to get married and knew that the wedding dress she picked wouldn't accomodate a pregnant belly. I think that's the one that struck me the most.

Post a comment about your reaction to what you read.

M@

writing blind...

Not sure really what to write here, but will give it a stab. I tend to take out most of my writing in preparation for each weekend that I speak at Northwest.

I've always enjoyed the preparation and presentation of a message. The preparation forces me to wrestle with the ideas and principles of God -- sometimes I think God wanted me to choose this line of work because he knew that hearing a message once a week wouldn't be enough; to get my attention, I would need to soak in it all week.

The presentation is the part where I put out there what I think God was stirring in me during the week...you never know who needed that message. Part of the fun is not knowing how people will respond. There have been times that I was very stirred up...and it appeared that I was the only one. Other times, I present the message because that's the one I've been working on and it's too late to whip out another one...and someone comes up and shares with me how they have been wrestling with that exact issue and the words I tossed out there were the ones they were looking for.

That's part of the payoff of serving Jesus. It's really His work, not mine. Doesn't mean that I don't work hard. But I work hard because it's his reputation at stake, not mine. There's a difference...there is a peace that I can have knowing that I'm being obedient and He's the one stirring in the hearts of people.

Back to work I go...

Peace,

M@

I give God thanks for...

my wife
my kids (even though the oldest is in process of blowing his nap right about now!)
new friends
old friends
old friends who are old
a warm house on a cold day
a home that can hold family and friends who visit
a job which allows me to live out my mission in life
friends with whom I get to work and serve

There are so many things that God has provided in my life. But even if he had done none of the above, my debt to him would still be so deep because of his love and life in Jesus. Far beyond a religion, he has given me life and meaning and hope and strength and peace and love.

Happy Thanksgiving.

M@

11 years ago...

I became a "we"...
I signed up for the greatest adventure in life, next to following Jesus...
I put "self" aside (mostly)...
I promised to love forever...no matter what...
I married my friend.

11 years doesn't sound like much, does it? It takes longer to get through elementary, middle, and high school. We've had only 2 presidents in the US. Most dogs live longer. So no, 11 years doesn't seem that long when you put it that way...

But eleven years means that 4,017 times...

I said, "Good night. I love you."
I got to look into the eyes of my beautiful wife,
I got to hold the hand of the one I love most,
I got to hear my beloved sleeping next to me,
I got to snicker at the unbridaled exhuberance of my Heidi!

Thank you, my beloved, Heidi...

Thank you for saying yes 13 years ago when we walked the cold, dark streets of Marion, IN and I asked if a girl like you would ever date a guy like me.

Thank you for promising to go where I go and to share this life with me.

Thank you for fulfilling that promise.

Thank you for loving me even when you see the ugly side of Matt.

Thank you for laughing with me and crying with me.

Thank you for believing in me

Thank you for sharing yourself with me.

Thank you for your obedience to God above all.

Thank you for three children who fill my heart.

Thank you...

11 years ago today...it began...

867

processing much...

Life has been so full lately. I've been expending so many of my words in processing it all that I haven't had much to post. So I thought I'd gaze at a blank screen until I write something.

I was talking through some things with my dad this evening. He said, "Sounds a little like the guy who said, 'Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?'" Yeah...that's a lot how I feel these days.

It seems like every arena of my life is requiring significant decisions that have lasting implications. Home, work, friendships. I go from one issue to the next with substantive outcomes waiting for my decision.

I tend to be comfortable making decisions and with risk. But I'm not sure that I've navigated through a time like this which required as many high-stakes choices.

I feel the weight of it. I don't think I blow it out of proportion, but neither do I blow it off.

I also feel alive. It's sort of strange. There is a vibrancy in these things. It's risky. It's life. It's real. It requires my utter dependence on God.

I can't fabricate a good outcome in these things. I can't wing it or fudge it...both of which I'm pretty good at. These things require complete dependence on Jesus.

If I don't, the outcome will depend on my emotions and whim. And frankly, if that's what the outcome depends on, I don't want to stick around to see it.

So I must set aside personal pride. I must set aside comfort. I must set aside anger. As I do, Jesus rises up within.

Peace. Laughter. Confidence. Strength.

Not mine. His...

let it begin...

...the melting of daddy's heart...