I'd Like to Be Saved

Last night after E and I finished a couple of key chapters in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," we said bedtime prayers and lay down to sleep. Then in a small, trembling voice, E says, "Hey, Dad, I'd like to be saved."

I'D LIKE TO BE SAVED!!!!!!!

So I held down my euphoria and asked, "What do you think that means?"

"I'm not really for sure."

So at this point I wanted him to be clear so I shared the meaning of an intimate/personal relationship with God. Our reading of Edmund's treachery, Aslan's trading places and dying (then coming back to life) had been used to soften his heart and were great connecting points to talk of our sinful selves (doing wrong things), Jesus trading places with us and our need to trust Jesus to be our savior and king.

Having talked through these issues, I asked, "Would you still like to be saved?"

"Yes. Will you do it for me?"

"I can't do it for you. You have to choose for yourself. You have to trust Jesus for yourself. I will help you if you want to."

"Okay, Daddy. Let's pray now"

And we did. As we finished our prayer, I told E he was part of God's people and should always remember that. Then I rushed out of the room to tell Momma.

When I came back with Momma, he told her the story of what happened. I walked Mom out and then returned to the room.

He was grinning from ear to ear. "You seem happy," I said, "what is making you happy?"

"I get to go to heaven now, Daddy!"

"Yes, boy, you do and you get to live with Jesus all the days of your life here, too!"

"Daddy, can we get to heaven another way?"

"No, Jesus says He is the only way."

"Okay, Dad. Goodnight."

This is the greatest joy of my life! This was my greatest privilege: to lead my own son the last few steps into trusting Jesus for himself. It was awesome!

Daddy Daycare

This summer I am watching our kids.

First, it's because I don't have school obligations. I finally got my certification classes! Yeh!

Second, along with starting an Obama garden, we are trying to deal with the financial situation by reducing all our debts and obligations. We will save a lot by not sending them to daycare for June, July and most of August, A LOT!

Third, I love my kids and spending time with them.

So last week we began our adventures in babysitting. Let me say at the onset that I do not multi-task. Like most men, I pigeon hole life. One thing at a time is my modus operandi.

We will work out our rhythm and things will be great. Just whisper a prayer for my patience and theirs, too.

Whoa Momma! It's Father's Day

What an unbelievable day!

First, I got a super T-shirt, two books, 2 packs of IBC Root Beer, 3 pair of Scooby Doo boxers from my amazing E and G (with the help of Momma.) E couldn't stop telling me the secret Momma had in the van so I actually got these gifts a few days early.

Then, Momma made sure I got to sleep in til 7:30 Saturday morning!

Then Sunday afternoon Momma made the best meal I have ever eaten--in my life! She grilled a summer medley of veggies and a special salmon. She grilled it on a cedar plant, with lemon and dill. It was tender, moist and smoked! Then to top it off, she grilled some thick slices of sesame-seeded bread! The meal could not have been better at the Tide-Water!

I am definitely blessed beyond measure! I thank E and G for making me a Dad and Lisa for making me a whole man!

The ADDISON Event

We do not have a very full social calendar. But we do love to get with our family and friends. So we are really looking forward to today. We are packing up our little van-full-of-family and heading to Elkview. Today is baby Addison's birthday party!

We will enjoy visiting, eating, playing with Addison and watching her open presents. We have already spent a week discussing whose party it is and who will be opening presents -- unaided by E & J!

Happy b-day and thanks for this an all the joy you bring to your family!

In the Palm of Your Hand

I am really drained today. Teaching, parenting, pastoring and homeowning duties have totally sapped my strength, my emotions and my will. Yet like the hamster on the wheel I keep running so I don't fall over onto myself.

On the way to school today I listened to "In The Palm of Your Hand" by Alison Krauss. The chorus declares, "I'd rather be in the palm of Your hand, though rich or poor I may be. Faith can see right through the circumstance, sees the forest in spite of the trees. Your grace provides for me."

May it be...today especially.

The Picture

Easter Sunday morning, after we were dressed up for church, I took a few pictures of the kiddos. Lisa uploaded them to facebook last night. She claims one of Little Sister is the best she has ever taken. The truth is that Jillie Bean usually is tearful or fitful when professional pictures are made. So perhaps it is her best ever picture.

I got to thinking about how it was that her Papa, in very poor lighting, was the one to capture her best-ever picture. I took a lotof snapshoots that morning and some were horrible. I am not a professional photographer. I had no props or special filters. But there is the pictoral evidence. She is delightfully playful with a hint of mischief in her eyes -- in other words, the real Gracie-Girl!

A lot of life is like that. It's not about being good. It's about being persistent. A persistant prayer life is one into which transcendent moments come. A faithful commitment to marriage allows a couple to experience the rapturous passion that sweeps them off their feet to fall in love all over again. Consistently being there for others means you'll be there when they really need you. Daily debriefs around the dinner table opens the channel for the kids to share when things aren't going well.

So last night, as I slipped into bed too late to pray with Lisa, I gently layed my hand on her shoulder and spent awhile lifting her to Our Father. I prayed for my children. I prayed that I might be faithful and persistance in the things that matter so I can be there for the next Picture-Perfect moment.

Get the picture?

He IS Risen, Indeed!

Resurrection Sunday was a good day for me.

Faith Community celebrated with sincere and ardent joy. We greeted antiphonally with "He is risen! He is risen, indeed!" The congregation sange with ferver and enthusiasm. The sermon, "Easter Changes Everything!" was uplifting. 55 gathered including several first-time guests.
Tim and Terry were both there so the music was excellent. And a good day was had by all.

Later, after kiddo knaps, we went to Grandma Andy's for lunch. The kids hunted more eggs and we went for a little hike down Three Mile Road.

We returned to our home happy and ready for sleep.

The Cave

Silent Saturday was spent at Lisa's folks in OH. We got up early, drove to Luke and Regina's and then took part in a community Easter egg hunt. Then we went to the farm to share the day with family. The kids helped Momaw make a Bunny cake, colored eggs with Regina and otherwise enjoyed cousiness.

In the afternoon the menfolk took the older kids on a nature hike to "the Cave." It was straight uphill and quite a walk. Along the trail we found a set of discarded deer antlers. It was a nice set of 8 points. He should be a bigger buck next season! The kids were facinated.

We left the antlers where we found them. The thinking was to avoid accidental impalement as we hiked the challenging turrain. We would pick them up on the return trip.

At this point I picked up something -- Eli. He had made the first of the hike holding to Pop-Pops hand. Now he was too tired to continue. I hoisted him onto my back and we finished the first half of the trip that-a-way.

When we arrived at "the Cave" I found it was a head of a hollow (pronounced "holler") that had been eroded by the flow of water. It was a very deep undercut. The side walls extended down at at least a 120 degree slope. The hike team stayed at the top en masse. I found a trail leading into the actual cave. Being only 12 to 18 inches wide I slowly made my way around the wall and into the cave.

It was very long, maybe 100 feet. It extended into the mountain 20 or 25 feet. The center was completely dry while the majority was moistened from the falls.

I paused. Silent Saturday is all about such a cool cavernous place. The Garden Tomb was also cut out of rock. I spent 5 minutes or so reflecting on that Sepulcher.

I returned to the group and we trailed back to the antlers. Then we followed an old county dirt road back to the farm. Along the way, as I carried Eli on my back, I tried to pass on some outdoorsmanship. "Don't step over big rocks or fallen logs unless you can see the other side. Snakes." "Sit and slide downhill. Keep your feet ahead of your head." "Don't eat yellow snow..."

I thought of my Grandfathers and my parents sharing the secrets of safely enjoying nature with me. All those boyhood days spent roaming the hills overshadowing Blue Creek. Those fall days hunting squire with my dad. Hiking with mom along old right-o-way roads. Exploring similar outcroppings and caves with Mike, Tim and Terry. It was re-energizing and centering to be on that hill with my people--past and present.

E and I both thoroughly enjoyed the hike to the Cave.

The Blessings Continue

I found out this morning that my Bachelor +15 classification should result in a pay raise! AND, it should also mean a back-pay check to the effective date of my new WVDE credential! Wow! that is good news.

I still have a ways to go on my Multi-Categorical Certification and Masters Degree, but the long journey is progressing!

God is good to me in ways I could not begin to deserve. Chief among them is my wonderful wife who poured so much of herself into making my 40th birthday unforgettable. She is the joy in and love of my life!!! She has been so patient while I have been away in night courses or summer school and I want this new chapter of my life to bring her joy and return on her investment and sacrifice.

Lisa is the best and deserves the best in return!

Fishing and Partying

Day two of the Boy's-Day-Out.

We tried to fish in the cold and wind, but were not successful at catching any. It was good to stand on the bank with my three brothers and share the morning together.

As boys, we always went fishing in the rain and cold during Easter Break along the banks of Blue Creek.

Kudos to Terry for loaning me a reel that actually worked and for going out of his way to drive me back to Poca!

Once back in Poca, I was suprised by a party in my honor. Many family, church-family and friends were there. It was great.

Lisa has outdone herself in planning and social networking with this weekend for me.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today's my 40th birthday.

For a suprise, Lisa rented a cabin at North Bend State Park for me to get away. She also invited my three brothers, my father-in-law and my sister-in-law's husband. This is my circle of male identity. They each drove a considerable distance and took valuable time from their schedules to spend it with me.

First, I enjoyed a tremendous visit with Mike as we drove from my house to North Bend. It was 2 hours of iron sharpening iron spiritual feasting.

Then, we joined Roger at the cabin and the spiritual recharge continued. We shared shop talk about the pastorate (both Mike and Roger serve as shepherds in their congregations.)

Along comes Luke, my brother-in-law. The male bonding and energizing continued.

Finally, Tim and Terry arrived and the political reparte that began in Mike's truck assumed a full-bore conservatism-fest. Tim lead the charge with much about stimulous and socialism.

We feasted on steak, potatoes, salad and toast from Roger's hand. We enjoyed laughs and conversation until about 2am.

It was a wonderful day.

Thanks to all who made it so!!!

April Blog Challenge

Today is the first day of April -- April Fool's Day.

In times past, Lis and I have used this day to announce the secret name of our children and other nifty pranks.

But my announcement today is no joke, no prank.

I am challenging myself to post every day of this 30-day month. I have never been consistent with the postings here, let alone made it for a solid period of time longer than a week. But I want to make better use of my time and spend more reflecting.

It is the time for reflections. Friday I cross a threshold into mid-life. I will mark my FORTIETH birthday -- the big 4-0! I have not accomplished all I had dreamed in boyhood but I have experienced more than boys can dream. I have spent much too long on life's treadmill of mediocracy and I have made marked progress as well. I have rested too long on potential and gifts.

I want the next phase of life to be full and productive. So I am challenging myself to live up to potential, to exercise the gifts God has granted and see what might come of it. I feel a pull toward intentionality.

So tune in dear reader and see if I can, with God's grace, the love of my good woman and kids, meet this first challenge and follow through.

Come, SLIDE with me...

My DW is so creative. She amazes me with the things she imagines into reality. My life is definitely more interesting and wonderful because of her.

She had this idea. Let's put a slide off our back deck onto the patio for the kids. You just need to move a few runners and nail it down and it will work safely.

So we went to Lowe's and bought an 8-foot sliding board. I removed three runners and lag-bolted the slide into place. Then I moved our grill to the other end of the patio so they would not fall into searing hot metal at the end of their rides.

The kids almost exploded with excitement and anticipation as I went through the assembly.

Finally, E. was commissioned as the test pilot. He barely moved. The excitement meter went from explosive to fizzled in an instant.

So what's a Papa to do but go to the garage and retrieve the car wax to help things along. Yes, I waxed the board and buffed it to a high-gloss finish.

E.'s next test flight was literally a flight. One nanosecond he was sitting at the top of the slide, the next he was at the bottom. It was as if the car wax had transformed the slide into a Star Trek-like transporter, capable of moving matter through space instantly.

The excitement meter rebounded to near-explosive as E & J streaked down the lighting slide of speed.

Oh Daddy, Jesus Has Boo-Boo's!!!!

Shortly after Lent began God brought the reality of it all home to me through the voice of my son, E.


We read often to and with our kids. Sometimes at bedtime. Sometimes in the evening. Sometimes just to fill in time. One evening, right after supper we were reading a few books. Mommy brought in a little book about the Easter story. As she read through them, E. looked at the pictures and made comments or asked questions. At the turn of a page, Lisa began reading about the crucifixion. E yelled out, "Oh Daddy! Jesus has BOO-BOO's!!!" He was very upset.


The tears just streaked down my face and I struggled to say clearly, "Yes, E. Jesus got those boo-boos because He loves us."

There's Lent and Holy Week in a nutshell: Jesus has BOO-BOOs!

My Mountain Momma!

I have tried to relay some of the mixed blessing it is to be Appalachian in geography and culture. Today's entry is in that vein of posts.

Saturday was spent sawing, splitting, shuttling and stacking wood for my in-laws wood-burning furnace. It is their only source of heat and it has been VERY cold of late. So cold, in fact, that they ran dangerously low on fuel.

Lisa and I took the family to OH and while the kiddos enjoyed Momaw, Aunts and cousins, I went to work on the task at hand. Everything was layered in ice and snow. Hands soon became wet, cold and burning.

After a short start, I looked up to see my Mountain Momma walking through the garden. She was dressed to work. Soon she was operating the splitter while I shuffled the wood to it and then into the trailer. Before I knew it, she was hurling split wood into the trailer, too.

My wife is a good woman. Even in our younger years, when I foolishly teased her at summer camps, I took note that she was always working and helping her Dad. She could always be counted on to lend a hand. It is one of the things I love most about her. She is a doer of good deeds.

My wife is a great wife. Not only can she run a woodsplitter, carry and THROW wood, she supported my efforts with warm thanks and at-a-boys to keep me going. She thanked me for helping her Daddy. She is gracious.

Finally, my wife is HOT! After all that work, she went inside, showered and changed into a party outfit. On her way to the van to go to her BFF's Tastefully Simple party, she looked AMAZINGLY YUMMY! It stirred a flashback to the first time I saw her as an adult at the St. John the 23rd Retreat Center on Hodges Road, Charleston. She took my breath away as she walked past that series of windows. Wow! She did the same thing 15 years later this Saturday when she walked from the house to the van! She still turns my head.

So I did what any Appalachian boy would do. I hollered, whooped and whistled at my wonderful wife. She's my Mountain Momma. Eat your hearts out guys. Looks like she's sticking with me!

Give Me a Brake

I have mentioned previously (Appalachian Boy) that I am proud to belong to a resourceful people. I want to pass on my heritage to my son. So...

...last night E and I went to the local Advanced Auto to get a new headlight and some brake pads for the Cavalier. We came home bearing Captain D's supper and TimBits. After a hearty family supper, blessed by E's rendition of "God is Great...", he and I retired to the garage to replace the light bulb.

Now Chevy seems to be having financial problems due to a slacking in sales. Perhaps it has something to do with the HORRID engineering utilized in the construction of the Cavalier! The oil filter is approachable only by great patience and dexterity. Now I learn that changing a headlight bulb requires an advanced degree in engineering as well! You cannot access it without removing the entire headlight / turn light assembly. But something was holding it to the front quarter panel.

After an hour of thought, discussed, grunting, huffing and dismantling of rubberized covering pieces, I discovered the secret. A latch had to be deactivated with a screwdriver to release the assembly fom the frame!

All the while E. was with me. He refused offers to watch movies, get a bath or anything else until he had helped me fix it. Finally we were able to remove the blown bulb and install the new one. I let him test it by turning on the lights and running around the car to see it was actually on.

After he went to bed, I removed the old brake shoes and replaced them. They were GREATLY worn out and now things are good again.

We are going back to the Advanced Auto this evening to get wires and plugs. He (and I) can hardly wait to work together again on the challenges of the enigmatic Cavalier.

Puttin' on My Preachin' Jacket

The other night E walked into the living room and saw my sport coat hanging on the stair rail. He declared, "Daddy, I'm gonna wear your preachin' jacket." "Okay..." I muttered absent-mindedly while trying to unravel one of the universe's most complex mysteries -- how to upload iTunes tracks onto a non-iPod player. [But that's another post for another day.]

"You're going to do what?" I asked, shaking myself from my self-absorbed trance.

"I'm gonna put on your preachin' jacket and preach."

"Okay. Sister and I will come to church with you."

He then put my sport coat on (with a little help from me) and instructed us to go to the nursery where the kids go for church. We sat where he indicated. He then said that he was going to the platform to preach as he ascended the couch at the opposite end of the room. First he played a mean air-guitar and sang a really upbeat tune to lead our worship. Once that was over he said we needed to pray. So he folded his hands and whispered a few words "...in Jesus Christ's name. Amen." Then there was a slow tune played on the air-guitar.

Finally he muttered a few words of exortation and the service ended.

He did it again the following night and this time I had the video camera rolling.

This was a touching first because he was imitating me and that is indeed flattering and challenging. Second, he was reinacting something that at times we are not sure he is benefiting from -- being at church. Lastly, when I was just a little guy like him, I used to conduct church at my Grandma Andy's coffee table and preach, too.

Hmmm...

3000 Americans...

September 11, 2001...


...3000 Americans lost their lives...

...not from terrorism but from abortion.



That is the average number of "procedures" carried out every day since the landmark Roe -v- Wade decision was handed down from the United States Supreme Court on January 21, 1972. The average number of Americans whose lives were ended by the actions of others.

3000 lives end every day for 36 years!

Where is the outrage?
Where are the voices pleading, "Have you seen my loved one?"
Where are the tears?

3000 a day...

The Ties that Bind...

Families are a mixed blessing. In them we form our basic identity, patterns of operation and relationships that will go with us throughout our lifetimes. Positive behaviors and self-limiting self-talk take shape among family. We share more than just genetics we share experiences--both good and not so much. In this sharing we find common strengths and weaknesses.

The basis for family is marriage. Each marriage builds a new one from the remnants of two previous ones. The relationship and relatings of Mom and Dad inform the relationships and relatings of the children in the family. The stability of the family comes from a strong marriage partnership.

Yesterday, Lisa's Grandma McCoy was laid to rest.

I've thought much over the last few days about Laco and Edna. I also thought of Lovell and Allie and Os and Louise. These relationship were not perfect but they were permanent. The bedrock of whole tribes of children, grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. These folks and their salt-n-pepper partnership could be counted on. There used to be something unchanging in the rapidly changing world.

I want so very much for my children to have memories of their Mom-maw and Pop-pops, their house, their love, their example and their always being there. My own parents cannot provide this stability. My childhood family now has dual addresses and lifestyles.

I am Appalachian. We are a people bound to our land and to our clan. I pray daily that my children's children can find such a blessed heritage as Lisa and I have known in our grandparents. Amen.

Not Willing...

The Momma and I try to instill in our children the importance and fun of trying new things. So from time to time we introduce new experiences and foods and games to them. We hope they will at least be gracious and courteous when confronted with different things while we are guests in someone else's space.

Well...last night we served lasagne for dinner.Jillian ate all we would give her. Eli was not hip to the idea. So we applied the try-just-one-bite procedure. If Eli tried just one small bite, he would share in the cookie desert. Otherwise he would not.

He did not. He kept leaving the table. We have already established the may-I-be-excused procedure. He tried escaping the choice, begging out of the consequence and outright hostility all in an effort to avoid the lasagne. He threw such a fit that we went to phase two and started a count-down clock. Still he refused. He went to bed without desert.

As I sullenly sat in the doorway, barring his intended raid on the cookies in the kitchen, he intermitantly said, "Leave me alone" and "get away from me." I cannot tell how this tore at my heart. I was already sad that he had chosen to miss the cookie. I was distressed that he was upset.

Suddenly it was not his voice I heard. It was my own. I thought of many times I said the same thing to the Heavenly Father. My head began to spin as I thought of the human condition. What we long for is right there within easy attainment. But we stubbornly insist on our way, thinking it better than the Father's way. Humanity is broken in ways that only lead to more brokeness. All the sadness and stress would disappear if he (we) just did the requested.

To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, unconverted mankind spends their lifetimes saying, "Leave me alone, God." And in eternity, God will finally let us have our way...

Last night I stopped trying to convince Eli to eat. I just lay down beside him and cried, too. I could not make him do this simple thing without becoming a cruel dad. I could not remove the consequence without becoming an indulgent dad. But I could not let him face it alone. I hope that means I might be a good dad.

Every day I'm a daddy, I am overwhelmed with the love, patience and pain the Heavenly Father must have.