random happening: mall madness December 30, 2006

The last Christmas post for the season . . . this actually happened last year, but I thought I would rehash it for the blog. Enjoy . . .

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Mission: Mall Madness

Location: Toys‘R‘Us

Date and Time: The Eve of Christmas Eve, 6:30pm

(Motivation: My Mother)

After securing a parking space (which was another mission in and of itself), I entered the war zone. The same time I entered the automatic doors, my cell phone rang. It was my mother.

“Do you see it?”

“Mom, I just walked in.”

“Okay fine. <<two seconds>> Do you see it?”

About this time, I have said “excuse me” 407 times to make it to the section of boxes with the huge GAMES sign above it. Like ants, parents of all ages were dodging in and out of the aisles at speeds I was highly uncomfortable with. I think I saw a nanny twitching in the corner.

“Do you see it?”

A sign revealed that the games were supposed to be in alphabetical order. (The alphabetizer, apparently, is still working his/her way through pre-school.)

Monopoly . . .

Mission Impossible . . .

And there it was. Bruised. Beaten. Barely boxed.

Mall Madness.

“Do you see it?!”

“Yes, yes. It’s in poor condition.”

“Is there another one?”

Standing on my tiptoes was no avail. I found myself balancing on the bottom shelf.

There is was. Pristine. A brand new one–in the black hole at the back of the shelf.

“Yes. <<grunt>> There’s another one.”

“Well get it.”

“I’m tryyy<<another grunt>>ing.”

By this time, I have placed the cell phone down on the shelf. Using one hand to keep my balance, the other one stretched to lengths it has never been stretched before to grasp the game.

“Did you get it?” Not surprisingly, I could hear my mother. From the shelf below. Not on speaker phone.

“<<Final grunt>> Yes. I got it.”

“Good. Don’t forget the coupon.”

“I won’t.”

I was wiping dust from my expedition when a woman came up behind me.

“Is that the last one?” She was motioning to the abused one on the shelf.

“Yes.”

“Well, she’ll just have to get over the box,” the disgruntled mother muttered as she snatched it.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I gripped the prized game and proceeded to the checkout. Mission almost complete . . . I could see the light at the end of the tunnel . . .

Until a woman blocked the view. And the path to the cash register.

“That is Mall Madness,” she said. I wasn’t comfortable with the possessed gleam in her eye and she stared at the shiny clear wrapping protecting my game.

“Yes it is.”

I think I saw her drool.

“I want that game.”

I tightened my grip ever so slightly as I said, “I’m sorry.”

“No, I really want that game.”

I clutched the box with my newly-clipped nails. “I’m really sorry.”

“Where is your Christmas spirit?”

I pondered that question for a moment before replying. Finally, I decided to lay all my cards out. She was playing dirty. She hurled out the holiday card. But I had the ace.

I would appeal to her motherhood.

“Christmas spirit has nothing to do with it ma’am,” I began. “And I can’t say I understand your position. I’m not a mother. I am an eldest daughter, sent on a mission for Mall Madness. Let’s say that you had a daughter my age, and you sent her to get this game. Let’s say she returned empty-handed because she gave the game– to a stranger–instead of bringing it home for your other daughter. Now really, how would you feel about that? As a mother?”

The woman’s gaze broke from the magic aura that this game apparently possessed. For the first time, she looked up at me.

For a long time.

Finally, she sighed.

“Fine . . . <<guilt-ridden pause>> take the game.”

Then, she walked off.

I proceeded to the checkout and waited an appropriate time in line purgatory before making the purchase permanent.

I walked to my car, heaving a deep sigh before accepting the next assignment from my mother.

Mission: Gift certificate

Location: the Mall

Let the real madness begin.

random thought: guys have it sooo much easier December 29, 2006

ben, rachel’s husband, posted this on his blog. thought it was funny . . .

guys: a very easy guide for surving childbirth

girls: another reminder that we, most definitely, have the hard part . . . thank you, eve . . .

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There are only a relatively few number of things that I have to do during the birth of our child.

1) Get wife to hospital (on time – a very important point)
2) Bring all ’stuff’ with wife.
3) Don’t faint at any point of this process – ruins manly persona.

As we jumped in the car and I threw the gear shift into reverse I noticed Ella’s car seat illuminated by the headlights–in front of the car. Noticing things doesn’t effect my Nascar-like reflexes and only Rachel’s comment had me go get it.

random thought: a song stuck in my head December 28, 2006

but there are worse things.

there is one particular phrase that simply won’t get out:

“in my Father’s hands I can rest, for He knows what is best for me . . . “

but that’s okay. i want it to stay.

(i need it to stay.)

the growth of the klan continues . . . December 28, 2006

my cousin rachel had her baby yesterday; the fourth and the finale of their series of kids. (the fourth is the “fact” of that statement. the “finale” part is what rachel insists . . .)

her name is ella caroline. (pronounced care-uh-line, not care-uh-lynn, for you edited-brian-regan listeners.) i haven’t seen her yet. plan on going to the hospital tomorrow.

here’s a new family shot, though . . .

interesting quotation December 28, 2006

not good enough to be a quotation of the day, because i’m still not sure how i feel about it. but it does provoke some thoughts . . .

“never let someone be your priority when you’re only their option.”

anon

Christmas 2006 December 25, 2006

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
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The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shined.
You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

For the yoke of his burden,

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

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The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,

and he shall reign forever.

and ever.

12.25.06: quotation of the day December 25, 2006

i want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. the lack of it has brought us to our present low estate. the stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted. too bad that with many of us He waits so long, so very long, in vain.
c.s. lewis

Random Thought: above and beyond the daily grind December 24, 2006

you know the routine.

(way to early) the alarm goes off.

you hit the snooze.

(9 minutes later) the alarm goes off.

you hit the snooze again. you role over, thinking to yourself that the extra set of 9 minutes will come at a price. either the makeup goes, a decent hair day goes, or the wrinkles in the clothes stay.

somewhere between the electronic smacking, the shower, and a too-quick glance in the mirror, you begin another day.

another day of fighting traffic.

another day of ceaseless redlights.

another day of phonecalls. or papers. or projects.

the day is punctuated by lunch, and later by dinner.

you pull an all-nighter for a grad school . . . again.

i don’t know about you, but i catch myself thinking, “it doesn’t have to be this way.” or “this isn’t what my life is supposed to be.” or occasionally, i even ask the question,”is there any rest for the weary?” (with the follow-up question, “if so, where can i find it?”)

but we forget . . . or maybe just i forget . . . –to my shame– that life doesn’t have to be this way. and somehow, indirectly, i am right.

this isn’t the way my life is supposed to be.

tired.

frustrated.

joyless.

i choose for it to be. somewhere, somehow along the way, i have ignored the grace that my God provides to me through Christ.

i am promised LIFE, but not just any life.

ABUNDANT life.

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.” (jn 10:10b)

life here is more than a nine to five existence. or the extra 9 minutes of snooze that i steal instead of getting ready.

this life is described as “life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous”– life in its “absolute fulness.”

but Christ doesn’t stop here. He doesn’t just want us to have just to have a full, real, genuine, active, and vigorous life– which, let’s be honest, few of us have anyway. and all of us would say that we want.

but He wants us to have MORE. He wants us to go beyond full to “over and above”; “exceedingly abundantly”; something “superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon.”

He died to give us this life: “the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.”

now, don’t think i am advocating a prosperity gospel. far, far from it. a life of hedonistic materialism is as far from abundant life as the “joyless” daily grind is. why? because both stray from where true joy is kept. the one assumes that earthly pleasure can take the place of true joy, whereas the other leads one to believe that joy simply isn’t possible.

how is it possible to find joy in a stack of ungraded papers? how is it possible to find joy at a redlight when you are late? or when you miss your flight?
let’s raise the stakes a little: how is it possible to find joy when you are undergoing chemo? how is it possible to find joy when you stand at the graveside of a stillborn child? how is it possible to find joy when the bruise on the face cannot be covered by makeup?

at anyone of those times, people beg for the way things “used to be.” they beg for the daily grind to come back.

the whole point that i am trying to make is this: our lives are joyless because we are watching and wanting it to provide our joy for us.

it won’t.

because it can’t.

joy can never be found in the life of the sheep.

it only exists in the life of the Shepherd.

He gave up his “superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon” life for us, so we could have a “superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon” life in Him.

i expect my daily grind to continue as is. oh sure, the stack of papers will eventually be conquered. the red lights will–eventually–turn green. the projects will somehow get turned in. and, i hate to break it to you, but your daily grind will probably continue on as well. our abundant lives do not start when the daily grind stops.

it starts as soon as we get our focus off ourselves.

it begins when we recognize what we actually have: that no matter what, no matter where, no matter when, i have salvation in Christ Jesus and the awesome priviledge of “serv[ing] Him in truth with all of my heart” and eternally “consider[ing] what great things He hath done” for me.

when my gaze rests on Christ alone, that is enough.

my joy is full.

christmas pic of em and me December 24, 2006

one of our oh-so-many bonding experiences . . .

“the innkeeper” by john piper December 23, 2006

(reformated in paragraph form)

Jake’s wife would have been fifty-eight the day that Jesus passed the gate of Bethlehem, and slowly walked toward Jacob’s Inn. The people talked with friends, and children played along the paths, and Jesus hummed a song, and smiled at every child he saw.

He paused with one small lass to draw a camel in the dirt, then said,
“What’s this?”

The girl bent down her head to study what the Lord had made, then smiled,

“A camel, sir!” and laid her finger on the bulging back, “It’s got a hump.”

“Indeed it does, and who do you believe it was who made this camel with his hump?”

Without a thought that this would stump the rabbi guild and be reviled, she said,

“God did.”

And Jesus smiled, “Good eyes, my child. And would that all Jerusalem within that wall of yonder stone could see the signs of peace!”

He left the lass with lines of simple wonder in her face, and slowly went to find the place where he was born.

Folks said the inn had never been a place for sin, for Jacob was a holy man. And he and Rachel had a plan to marry, have a child or two, and serve the folk who travelled through, especially the poor who brought their meal and turtle-doves, and sought a place to stay near Zion’s gate. They’d rise up early, stay up late, to help the pilgrims go and come, and when the place was full, to some especially the poorest, they would say,

“We’re sorry there’s no room, but stay now if you like out back. There’s lots of hay and we have extra cots that you can use. There’ll be no charge. The stable isn’t very large but Noah keeps it safe.”

He was a wedding gift to Jake because the shepherds knew he loved the dog.

“There’s nothing in the decalogue,” he used to joke, “that says a man can’t love a dog!”

The children ran ahead of Jesus as he strode toward Jacob’s Inn. The stony road that led up to the inn was deep with centuries of wear, and steep at one point just before the door. The Lord knocked once then twice before He heard an old man’s voice,

“‘Round back!” It called.

So Jesus took the track that led around the inn. The old man leaned back in his chair and told the dog to never mind. “Ain’t had no one to tend the door, my lad, for thirty years. I’m sorry for the inconvenience to your sore feet. The road to Jerusalem is hard ain’t it? Don’t mind old Shem. He’s harmless like his dad. Won’t bite a Roman soldier in the night. Sit down.”

And Jacob waved the stump of his right arm. “We’re in a slump right now. Got lots of time to think and talk. Come, sit and have a drink. From Jacob’s well!” he laughed.

“You own the inn?” The Lord inquired.

“On loan, you’d better say. God owns the inn.”

At that the Lord knew they were kin, and ventured on: “Do you recall the tax when Caesar said to all the world that each must be enrolled?”

Old Jacob winced, “Are north winds cold? Are deserts dry? Do fishes swim And ravens fly? I do. A grim and awful year it was for me. Why do you ask?”

“I have a debt to pay, and I must see how much. Why do you say that it was such a grim and awful year?”

He raised the stump of his right arm, “So dazed, Young man, I didn’t know I’d lost my arm. Do you know what it cost for me to house the Son of God?”

The old man took his cedar rod and swept it ‘round the place: “Empty. For thirty years alone, you see? Old Jacob, poor old Jacob runs it with one arm, a dog and no sons. But I had sons . . . once. Joseph was my firstborn. He was small because his mother was so sick. When he turned three the Lord was good to me and Rachel, and our baby Ben was born, the very fortnight when the blessed family arrived. And Rachel’s gracious heart contrived a way for them to stay—there in that very stall. The man was thin and tired. You look a lot like him.”

But Jesus said, “Why was it grim?”

“We got a reputation here that night. Nothing at all to fear in that we thought. It was of God. But in one year the slaughter squad from Herod came. And where do you suppose they started? Not a clue! We didn’t have a clue what they had come to do. No time to pray, no time to run, no time to get poor Joseph off the street and let him say good-bye to Ben or me or Rachel. Only time to see a lifted spear smash through his spine and chest. He stumbled to the sign that welcomed strangers to the place, and looked with panic at my face, as if to ask what he had done. Young man, you ever lost a son?”

The tears streamed down the Savior’s cheek; He shook his head, but couldn’t speak.

“Before I found the breath to scream I heard the words, a horrid dream: ‘Kill every child who’s two or less. Spare not for aught, nor make excess. Let this one be the oldest here And if you count your own life dear, let none escape.’ I had no sword no weapon in my house, but Lord, I had my hands, and I would save the son of my right hand . . . So brave, O Rachel was so brave! Her hands were like a thousand iron bands around the boy. She wouldn’t let Him go and so her own back met with every thrust and blow. I lost My arm, my wife, my sons—the cost for housing the Messiah here. Why would he simply disappear and never come to help?”

They sat in silence.

Jacob wondered at the stranger’s tears.

“I am the boy that Herod wanted to destroy. You gave my parents room to give Me life, and then God let me live,
And took your wife. Ask me not why the one should live, another die. God’s ways are high, and you will know in time. But I have come to show you what the Lord prepared the night you made a place for heaven’s light. In two weeks they will crucify my flesh. But mark this, Jacob, I will rise in three days from the dead, and place my foot upon the head of him who has the power of death, and I will raise with life and breath your wife and Ben and Joseph too and give them, Jacob, back to you with everything the world can store, and you will reign for evermore.”

This is the gift of candle three: a Christ with tears in tragedy and life for all eternity.