Don't Marry the Pastor's Daughter

"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment..."

Deuteronomy 32:4

You guys probably wonder where I've been.  Well, I'll tell you.  I've been at www.lostcyclist.me.   (You really shouldn't give me the opportunity to insert those shameless plugs for myself)

But I'll be back around here more frequently over the next few years. There's something freeing about rambling about whatever I please and knowing that no one will see it.  And yes, I do go back and read these old posts.  Its like keeping a personal diary -- only I don't care if others read this one. 

This post will be a quick look at some new direction in our lives as a family.  I've split it into a couple of parts for ease-of-reading. 

Part 1 - The Calling

The other day we went on this canoe trip.  Canoe trips are awesome.  I'm about to go on another one.

As we're driving home, I could feel the Still Small Voice calling my name.  Over and over.  Repeatedly. I did my best to tune my heart, but was surprised to find out that my radio dial had become hard to turn -- corroded with compromise and the dust of indifference. 

But, slowly, the Lord got through to me.

I've had a dream for a long time.  Its my "Master Bucket List", if you will.  It's my action plan to serve the Lord that keeps my spirit placated through the mundane operations of this life.  Every time it starts to chafe about some mundane task I am undertaking I simply remind that "one day" we will leave the self-serving tasks behind and go give our best to the Master. 

And there, in the drive home, and the hectic-ness of work, I felt the Lord wooing me to the excitement of His mission.  His dreams. 

To lay it all down.  To "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1) 

Two days later, as we were leaving for church,  I told my wife -- the Pastor's daughter -- that we need to get ready for the mission field.  That I'm convinced that The Calling is a lot more pressing and closer than before and that we needed to start making adjustments to our lives to prepare.

A few hours later, the Pastor asked those being called to full-time ministry, to raise their hand. 

Seventy-Two hours before there wasn't a whisper in my soul.  Now, my family was committed. 

Part 2 - The Faith-Walk. 

A lot of my life right now has been centered around forming new habits.  Things like daily prayer and family devotions.  I've grown so accustomed to watching Stargate with the family instead of the bright Morning Star, if you will, and I'm ashamed to admit it. 

It also means some small steps of obedience.  Like making Wednesday night church a priority.  Yes, I have gone on canoe trips instead of to church. Regularly.  And that has got to change. But for me its an act of faith.  A struggle with that stupid red line in the banking account and an attempt to believe for things bigger than myself. 

On the other hand, this faith stuff is my wife's forte. While I was teething on crackers and milk, she was cutting her cuspids on faith.  I guess that's what happens when you're the Pastor's daughter. 

Take yesterday, for example.  We discussed how imperative it is to get her the Yellow Fever shot before she gets pregnant with our next child. So she did.  Took half of her grocery budget and got inoculated against this crazy future her husband is about to drag her into.  And then explained to me last night how its all okay because we can eat pinto beans and ramen and she can still do meatloaf and mashed potatoes on Sunday.  

I'll be honest.  My mind is still blown.  I got up early and checked the pantry.  And I believe she's right.  Sure, I'm eating oatmeal instead of cold cereal this morning. But I still have coffee.  We're still going on a float this morning.  

Deus e tao bom. God is so good. 


I still don't know where she got to be so trusting of Him. I hope I can keep up. 

Somewhere, I here His small voice, reminding me that I haven't seen anything yet. That others -- people I have known personally -- have believed Him through more testing than I've ever thought of. 

And I am humbled. 

Sometimes my life just don't make sense at all 
When the mountain looks so big 
And my faith just seems so small 

So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shakin' like a leaf 
You have been King of my Glory 
Won't you be my Prince of Peace 

I just let the dog out.  The rabbit sitting in the yard started to run, but stopped and started nibbling grass again.  

Weird. 

Then I realize our dog was standing right at the edge of the porch - unwilling to get his feet wet.