Timing

Timing.

I had no time. If I stopped for breakfast, then I would be late. So, I grabbed a banana.

Looking at the banana, its greenness made me pause. It was not ripened on the tree. It was Picked early to arrive at my grocery story at the perfect time. Consumers do not like brown banana. Grocery stores would rather wait on a green banana, than toss a brown banana. But this banana was not quite ready for me to eat.

So, I put the banana in my window sill. A little sun would turn the green to yellow and ripen it up a little bit.

Timing, they say is everything. Bananas taste different when they are green, yellow or brown. Jokes are funny when the timing is right. Music becomes music only when the notes are properly spaced. The notes we play are important. However, it is the silence in between the notes that makes the music heard.

Timing matters. Yesterday yellow caught my eye. I forgot about that breakfast banana. It has been sitting in my office window sill for more than a week. It must have quickly moved from green to yellow all the way to a lovely brown. I missed the perfect timing.

Life could be described as knowing what time it is. Is it time to move or stay put? Eat or hunger? Correct or be corrected? Save or be saved? Everything has its time (see chapter three of Ecclesiastes)

May your words,
May your movements,
May your discipline,
May your work,
And may your faith be properly balanced
between silence and speech,
greenness and brownness
So that your timing
Gives way to God's timeliness
for the glory of God.

Friends, Faith and Action

Yesterday my friend Bob Bentley from Nairobi, Kenya told me the news about the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of John Garang the Vice President of Sudan. This man was a peace maker. He was very well educated. Garang had been in office only a few months. It was a bold move by the government to have a leader form the South in office with a Northern president. The hope was peace. It is sad that bad weather and a crash may result in riots, death and more religious fighting and genocide in Sudan.

So, why not get rid of all religion? > > >
My friend Jackie King happened to mention something she saw on CNN Saturday night July 30th. The interview was with a woman who wishes to see the elimination of all religion. Because religion is the cause of war, fighting, violence. In fact, she is a leader of a group to work for the elimination of religion.

Wow! Do people focus on the negative? Never mind that the history of hospitals is tied to Christianity. Never mind the billions of dollars given away to needy by churches. Never mind the millions of good citizens who are followers of Jesus. Instead, lets look at the failings. We all have failings.

So who's to blame - Not Me! > > >
Today another friend, Mary Perry, mentioned an article to me from today's Dallas Morning News. It was a reprinted article from the Washington Post.

Read it here: Story

This was a story that for some reason I decided to write the author. Why do we write authors? I don't know. Do we expect them to respond? Rarely. It is easier to hide under a pillow. After you read the story. Read my reply.

John -

Are you serious? Your article admits and rationalizes your non-presence in a community of faith. Your article acts as a pulpit to accuse others of not doing enough for the poor, gangs and ghettos. These words flow beautifully even as you pull your pillow over your head. I really expected you to admit that you and your parenting were ironically part of the problem, but it never came.

I appreciate your call for churches to do more and pastors to show material restraint. I agree with your treatment of the hypocrisy of some ministers and churches. But your own words come as soft as the pillow that covers your eyes and ears.

Justification is something God offers all of us as failed sinners. Justification is not something we offer to cover our own backsides.

Blessings,
Brady

Last words > > >

We excuse ourselves and blame others.
This is the remedy for complacency.
When do you find yourself in excuse and blame mode . . .

Let's Talk

Place yourself in Paris, France. Imagine the sites. Hear the beauty of a foreign language spoken around you. Cross the old cobble stone roads and enter a beautiful garden park - the Luxembourg Garden. As you walk through the flowers and geenery of this garden, there before you is an elderly woman with a sign, "Let's Talk."

Miss Lilly is her name. She wants to talk to whomever will talk. Everyday she makes space next to and around her to talk and listen to others. She speaks many languages, she is not a counselor, she is not pushing politics nor religion. In fact, politics and religion are off-limits. She will not speak of them because these are the cause of war. Instead, she hears of the hopes and dreams, hurts and fears of people. If you want to listen to a brief newscast by Susan Stamberg then Listen Here.

This is perfect. I love this set-up. Now, I would not want to eliminate any subject from conversation. Let people talk about whatever they wish. Miss Lilly claims this cannot be done by a man nor a young woman. This can only be done by an old woman because they are "safe."

Well, I want you to imagine something. I have hung out my sign "Let's Talk." You are here. You have read this far. Ask me something. Ask me anything you wish. Or share something with me.

Let's Talk!

Standing Crooked

A huge crooked cross snaked upward on the stage. The natural wood cross loomed some twenty or thirty feet high. I was asked to stand under this cross. It took 12 strong men to carry only the long post into the room.

I stood under this cross and spoke in Irving, Texas last night to a small gathering of disciples at Plymouth Park. Their meeting place burned. They could have relocated out of the inner city neighborhood. Instead, they chose to belong to the neighborhood. “This is where we belong.” I admire that.

There is something powerful about growing and blooming in the place you are standing. There is something sad about always feeling the real life is in the greener pasture. Take what you have and take who you are and become aware of the present possibilities. You are of use to God right where you stand.

It turns out the cross was tree that had burned in the fire that consumed their building. I guess you could say it was “lost in the fire.” However, with God nothing is intended to be lost. The people commissioned an artist to fashioned the burned crooked tree into a crooked cross on site. Beneath the blackened bark, the artist revealed a beautiful natural wood cross.

Take whatever burns you have and allow the master artist to fashion you. Be of use right where you stand today.

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

A: To get to the other side.

Two months ago, I began an experiment -– a chicken and egg experiment. For the purpose of this story, I am the chicken. My leaders, the elders, are the one'’s who encouraged me to pursue this experiment.

The chicken crossed the road McKinney and went to the Rosemont Apartment Complex to begin a discussion about Faith. The children'’s ministry and the youth ministry had already established a weekly children'’s program at Rosemont. I went to start an adult program in the evenings to build community by talking about life, faith and God.

What did a chicken have to lose by leaving the security of a building, crossing a busy street and looking for people who wanted to find God? Nothing. Well, nothing except fear.

I made a friend named Kim, who is the community relations director. She is a new college graduate of UNT, who started her first job. She and the other staff of Zohala, Chelse and others have been so accommodating.

After tossing around a number of names, I chose to call this Life & Faith. It is a place to build relationships, to talk about life, to express faith. I had no idea who would show up. But, I wanted this gathering of people to strive for three things: #1 to track God in Faith, #2 To make Love our trademark and #3 to be a voice of Hope.

I thought I would call up a restaurant and ask if they would donate food. Jesus says, "Ask and you will receive, SEEK and you will find, KNOCK and the door will be open to you." Did I believe it? Or was I chicken. God openned doors and I found what he wanted me to receive.

Every week food has been provided for free by a local Denton Restaurant. Thanks to New York Sub Hub (on Loop 288), Chipotle (on Loop 288), Pizza Hut (on Teasley), Milian's Pizziteria (On McKinney), Little Ceasars (I-35) and even members of the group.

Every week we have had a mix of races, backgrounds, ethnicities and even religions. Black, white, Hispanic, Sudanese, Indian and more (Joel 2:27-29). It is amazing the people that God will draw together, when you go out into the world that is just across the street.

Each week the group talks about what is going on in life. I ask simple questions. I allow them to ask me any question they wish. After listening to them for most all of the time, scripture always comes to mind. Because I have listened and shared, a window is opened to hear GodÂ’s word spoken into the reality of life. And God is good! I have much to learn about God and his promises to all people (Jeremiah 31:33-34).

Why did the chicken cross a fearful road? Because God crossed that same road long before I was a chicken egg. God has shown great love in laying down his life for me. So, now it is no longer a chicken and egg question for me. Which came first? Egg or Chicken? God is before all things, in all things and bringing all things into his eternal plan (Paul in his letter to the Ephesians 1:10-11).

The chicken experiment continues . . .

Body Part

On Friday, Donna sliced her thumb and severed her tendon. This clean cut with a sharp knife caused her to loose the function of her thumb. It is just one cut, just one tendon the size of fettucinni. One body part can mean everything.

Thanks to Linda who watched our kids. Thanks to Karen who drove Donna to the E.R. Thanks to Doctor's Allen and Amy Coffey who saw Donna on a Saturday. Thanks to Donna's mom who is playing grandma. Thanks to Allen for a great surgery. Thank you Debbie for nursing us through the surgery. Thanks to Shelly and Maria who made the day smoother. Thanks to God for all people who surrounded us and wanted to help. Thanks for your prayers and words of support. We will need you. We love each of you

Being the mother of a soon to be 4 year old and a four month old, is drastically altered by one little tendon. Diapers cannot be changed. Babies cannot be carried. The focus is on the tendon, which is now surgically repaired, hidden by a dozen stitches and wired into an arm splint.

When one part of the body hurts, the whole body rises to the challenge. Would you do me a favor? Would you watch for someone else who is hurting? Watch for someone that most people would not notice. Pay attention to them in a phone call, email, letter or friendly conversation. Let them know that they are missed.

Saloon or Church

There is no subsitute for my own bed. Last night we came into town after time away from home. Rest, in whatever bed, should be appreciated. While there is no replacing the familiarity of home, the journey away from home awakens adventure and creates new insight.

Recently my family attended a small church. The adult class was on John 4, which is the story about Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman. In that time period, men did not talk publicly to women. Jews did not talk with what they called the “half-breed” race Samaritans. Jesus, however, did both. He talked to a "half-breed" woman in public. The church Bible class was a history lesson. There was no application to life, despite one-hour of lecture. The class only made sense to those Christians of many years. The study interested only those with thorough knowledge of the Bible (and who wanted more knowledge).

I almost laughed out loud at the irony of my setting. There I was in church with the pious, listening to a story about Jesus talking with an outcast woman at a well. Jesus had no business talking with her. It was beyond shocking and was more like ‘scandalous.’ Jesus was outrageous in his action and all I could do on a Wednesday night was sit and listen a history lesson. I sat there thinking how irrelevant church is to the average person. A history lesson. Old. Out-of-date. Out-of-touch. The question shuffling through my mind was “who is the Samaritan woman in this town?” I almost interrupted the history lesson to ask this question:

Who is the Samaritan woman in this town and why aren’t we talking to her tonight?

One hour earlier, my family walked into a “restaurant.” The quotes indicate I could use a better term like “small town Saloon.” To give you an idea, the non-smoking section consisted of three booths at the back of the room separated by a three-foot wall.

Our waitress, looking at our two young children, immediately said, “I guess you want the non-smoking section.” The smoke was thick. A fireplace burning tar might have served as an air-freshener. We ended up leaving and taking our food 'to-go." Our waitress was apologetic. She was sensitive and kind, unlike anyone else we encountered in the saloon. Earlier, we overheard her conversing with a regular. She had just moved to this small town two weeks ago. Maybe this was why she stood out as unusually kind - she was new.

Later that night, after we ate, after we went to church, I was thinking about the waitress. I felt sorry we left so abruptly. I wonderedwhy she moved. Divorce? An affair? A cheating husband? Death? Lost her job? Filed bankruptcy? There is no way to know. Then it hit me. She was the Samaritan woman!

My question came back and punched me in the face. Which is more comfortable for you: risking a scandalous, smokey talk with a Samaritan woman or listening to a history lesson with your friends?

Church is not a bad place, it is a good place. Church is not the problem. Learning about the Bible is not a bad thing, it is an important thing. If only church could become a place where people are encouraged to open their eyes to see the Samaritan woman and moved to speak with her. The business of followers of Jesus is scandalous speech and not secure learning.

One Click = Less Poverty

Music stirs the soul. As I write, the G8 Live concert is blaring somewhere across the globe. This is the “opening act” (surprisingly) for a group of politicians from the eight largest countries in the world. They are meeting to discuss world-wide economic issues. One of the specific agenda items is debt-forgiveness of the world’s poorest countries. The idea is captured in the catch phrase “make poverty history.” Rather than provide loans to poor countries, these wealthy countries are being asked to forgive, eliminate, tear-up the note on the debt. This really is not a significant sum for countries that spend multi-billions of dollars. In many ways, it is the equivalent of a handout to a panhandler.

Music also stirs the body to action. Two of my favorite bands, U2 and Coldplay are promoting this venture. In fact, the lead singer of U2, Bono, has been meeting with politicians for years to gather support for this issue. That is a rather strange thing for a rock star to do, is it not? Play politics? That is because he has a vision of making the world a different and better place. Take a minute and sign the petition for the One campaign at www.one.org. You signature will agree that it is good for countries to spend 1% of their budget on debt forgiveness, addressing the global AIDs crisis and providing basic necessities to fight tremendous poverty.

Ok, one more unrelated venture is the Hunger Site. You do not have to sign anything or give anything. You click on the site and food is donated by sponsors. www.thehungersite.com

Money, Cards, Fools & Action

Take control of your money (or it will take control of you). Money is one of those necessary evils. It is "Necessary" because it is the currency of exchange and the way we trade our skills for food. It is "“Evil" because it becomes an all-consuming god. Eating up our time, longings, families and emotions. People get left behind when money becomes God. Those we love (including ourselves) get run over by money.

Money has a close connection to our spirituality. Awareness of how money controls us is vital for your faith. In a capitalistic culture, cash is king and it dethrones many good things.

So, here are a few of my thoughts on money.

1. Do not carry credit card debt! Period. Pay off your credit card balances first and use them only if you can pay it off monthly. The interest rate on any credit card is horrible! It siphons off more money than you realize.
2. Exist on LESS than what you earn. Seems obvious, but you have got to do it. Consider cutting your spending by 10-30 %. That means less expensive clothes, gadgets, services, movies. It also means living expenses are less than 70%
3. Give some portion of your earnings away to a charity. Ten percent is a good figure. It seems high. But if you cannot give money away (living on less), then you will never be able to save money.
4. Save at least 10% of your income. Start where ever you can. Even if it is $50 per month building up to 10% of your income. (Remember, that if you have credit card debt. Pay if off as fast as you can BEFORE you start saving. No savings account or mutual fund can recover the fees you are paying to carry a balance on a card).
5. Pay off your debts (car, home, student loan, etc.)

I could go on and on, but I thought I might give you a few random tidbits. This year a law Congress passed goes into effect. You can view your credit report for free www.AnnualCreditReport.com. This is not a gimmick. There are three major credit agencies: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. We used to have to pay for access to our report. Now you can get one free per year per agency. I recommend that you spread your three freebies across the year. Get one first. Look it over. Check for errors in your report. You might need to dispute some facts. Then later in the year get another.

Do you get tired of credit card advertisements? There is a phone number you can call to opt-out of receiving these credit card solicitations. 1-888-5-OPTOUT. When people check your credit (called 'pre-screening') they have access to your information and can send you special offers. This phone number allows you to call and permanently or temporarily opt out of these offers. It works! I tried it more than a year ago and they have almost disappeared. Please realize they will ask you for personal information (like your telephone number, social security number and date of birth), but it is only used for the opt out process. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/optalrt.htm

Can you imagine a world without telemarketing phone calls? The National Do Not Call Registry is wonderful. The Federal government made it easier for you to stop getting telemarketing calls you donÂ’t want. You can register online at WWW.DONOTCALL.GOV or call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236). Call from the number you wish to register. This is free!

Finally, I saved a fun one for you. The name is funny Motley Fool, the style is laid-back, but the information is seriously helpful. The website is www.fool.com. These two brothers (and now a huge staff) provide sound financial advice. Tons of free research is available on their website. They even provide free email newsletters depending upon your interests.

Make the money god bow down - before it breaks you in two! The spiritual consequences are devastating.

Bread Broken & Broken People Eat

The service was simple. No accompaniment. No fanfare. Simple stories were shared of three movements separated. Stories of communion tokens tossed aside. It was a setting that anyone from my community of faith would have been comfortable. There were 40+ people from my faith community who experienced this worship.

Sunday evening at a Dallas church building, Christians from the Disciples of Christ, Churches of Christ and Christian Churches came together for the first time in 100 years. These were once united by a clarion call to be "Christians only, but not the only Christians" almost 200 years ago. However, about 100 years ago these believers were divided from one another by their differences. Lost was the focus upon Jesus as the King.

On this Sunday evening, the name of Jesus was exalted over the differences. Will the differences disappear? No. But neither will Jesus disappear. Jesus will outlast our differences into eternity.

Different ministers from churches with different names stood together to share words of about the breaking of bread and friendship. Different scholars from schools with different affiliations read from the same Bible. Different believers with difference experiences sang the same songs. We all prayed through Jesus to one God, enabled by one Spirit. It was one special night.

Kids With No Doors

Tonight I tucked my son into bed. He was focused upon a Star Wars toy he got at Burger King. Earlier he talked about how many toys he had. My wife mentioned that some kids do not have any toys. He was stunned by this. He could not quite grasp it. We suggested that maybe he had some toys he would be willing to give away. He was not interested.

So, at bed time he was talking about kids with no toys. I again explained that some kids have toys and some don't. He looked at his bed room door (of all things) and made a comparison. "Some kids have doors and some don't," he said. I replied that most kids in the world do not even have their own rooms. Again, he was stunned. He asked if we could cut out one of our rooms and give it away. I was moved by his compassion - if not challenged by physically cutting off one of our rooms.

Our conversation continued and I explained that cutting out one of our rooms might not work well, but that we could give Mommy & Daddy's money or some toys to them. He again refused to give away any toys, but offered to give all of his money in his piggy bank to the parents of the kids with no toys or doors. This was huge. He loves his Piggy Bank. He understands that he can buy things. He knows about saving. But he offered to give all his money away. May God water this seed of generosity in his heart.

Out of the mouths of children . . . flows love for kids with no doors.

Late Night DJ

Last night I was coming home late from a meeting. NPR is normally my station, but I needed music not talking. Music soothes the soul. A DJ named Delilah was on. She is one of these new DJs who is a hybrid counselor-listener. People request music, tell her about some tragedy or triumph in their life and then Delilah has a one-liner or a comment before playing a song.

This particular caller was a woman who felt alienated. She was adopted. She tried to find and to contact her birth mother. The agency assisted her in locating her mom. Initially it looked like they would have some form of communication, but now it is up to the mother. No contact has been made -- – only silence and the passing of time. Now, it seems the mother will not contact this lonely daughter. The woman wondered why her mom did not want to talk with her.

Delilah'’s answer was on the mark. There is no telling why your mother will not talk with you. Maybe she is in a relationship with a man and cannot. Maybe she knows that talking to you would hurt you more. There is no way to know.

But (and here is where I was astounded), Delilah confidently assured her that God loves her. No matter what womb God used to bring you into this life, God is the one who created you. God can borrow a womb or borrow a parent, but the truth is God is your real parent. God loves you and will never leave you. God has plans for you. Seek God. Wow. Thank you Delilah.

Star Wars filibuster

In 1977 the galaxy opened up to me. Previous to the summer of '77 I had only known the town of Omaha, Nebraska. But in a darkened theater when the white dots became a blur of parallel lines, my tiny body was transported. I saw the movie three more times that summer, which was rare in those days. Normally, when you had 'seen' a movie - you had already seen it. There was no reason to go back to see the movie again. Instead, you just waited 14 years for it come out on VHS.

A good story takes us places. It is 'moving' or 'engaging' or 'takes me back.' I enjoy seeing some movies again and again. Others cannot get over fast enough and I am pleased when the credits finally roll. What is the difference between a good story and a so-so story? Why do some stories stay with us for a lifetime and others we sleep through?

I have yet to be transported back to the brand new Episode III. I am still a hold out. I have not gone to see it. Maybe this is probably because I do not want to close the chapter of these movies. When I have been reading a page turning book, I am torn. The desire to see how it ends hangs taught with the desire for it not to end. I like the in-between, but I long to know the end.

Some people say that big stories are dead. There is no overaching story that fits all people. The reasoning goes something like this: To claim one narrative is to exclude another. Therefore, no narrative has the ability to effectively include all people.

I say that big-stories still have a place. What if you could know how the story of life ends, but still get to act out the middle? Now that would really be living. You would know how your life ends so that you could enjoy the living

What if the part you played in the story really mattered to the ending of the story. That would be real meaning. If your "middle" part of the story affected the whole.

There is a powerful story. It is a grand over-arching story. I can tell it through five ancient passages (see below). But first I will tell it in only a few words. God created you. God has plans for those who seek him. Jesus saves seekers. God's Spirit stays with seekers. By the power of God, all things are brand spanking new.

The ending of this story is assured. You have an important part to play. Enjoy living the middle of the greatest story ever told.

---
Long Ago, In a Galaxy Near You . . .

(The Story in 5 paragraphs. These Five Passagaes can be found in any Bible. Feel free to use this summary for your own reading or as you see fit. Just let people know where you found it . . . in the Lost & Found.)

The Story Begins
1~ Genesis 1:1-4 (the first book of the Bible)
2~ Jeremiah 29:11-14 (writings of an ancient prophet)
3~ Hebrews 1:1-3 (sermon by an un-named preacher)
4~ Romans 8:10-14 (letter from the apostle Paul)
5~ Revelation 21:1-7 (a vision given to the apostle John)

What do you want?

Screaming barefoot kids sprint through a mini-town of soft buildings, ambulances and police cars. Malls now must have playlands (thank you McDonald's). So, I sat at the mall watching my son play, while the girls shop. This is what Dad's do.

There were Asians, Caucasians, Hispanics, Africans, Arabic. . . American children running like wild. I did not content myself to watch the fun without thinking. I began to wondering, "What do people want?" What do they believe they want or need? In this common place, what need or value would unite the diverse people gathered here.

I gave up thinking and began reading the New York Times on my PDA. A fellow Dad, Caucasian with Asian children, asked me if I liked my Dell Axim. We talked about his Treo, which did not work. The conversation was casual and friendly. But I could not let go of my inner question. I now wish that I had flat out asked him.

So, I am asking you "What would people claim to want?" What are our core values?
Happy Children, technology that works, careers that succeed . . . what?

When I Grow Up

What do I want to be when I grow up?
Or is it Who do I want to be when I grow up?

This question gets posed. You and I have both asked it. We have been asked it. This question becomes an opening line in a speech, a question to a student or filler in conversation.

The answers to this question are diverse. A Joke. An excuse. A reason for perpetual youth. A Career.

Maybe someone’'s answer to this question is not the primary part. Maybe it is the question itself that contains some meaning. Are we becoming people or things. "Who”" or "“What”?" That is the question.

If we are becoming ‘things’ like pants, iPods, purses or Jaguars, then I do not like becoming ‘things.”

You are a person –-- a who. The person into whom you are growing develops by the things you do (consume, pursue, think) -- – the what’s. Maybe today we need some new things to pursue. New things to show off. Brand new things to talk about.

Are you ready? Here goes . . . (read slowly, pause, take your time)

May we

Track God in Faith through our doubts
Reveal Love as our trademark in a market of hate
Voice Hope of good news clearly in the static of despair

in other words
seek Faith, show Love and speak Hope

Real WHOs –are characterized by these THINGs: Faith, Hope and Love.

Follow Me

Today I am so thankful for you. Thanks for your emails. I thank you for prayers and encouraging words. Thank you for stopping by to read.

Is it possible to have a virtual following? I am wondering if maybe the internet is the perfect place to have virtual followers. This is not for aggrandizement or self-promotion. Quite the contrary. This is a location for community. Your presence makes this a community. My entire life has been expended toward relationship with God. However, I long to share time with you. If you want to spend some time with me, then I would be honored for us to travel and talk here in this place of words “lost and found.”

Consider this your invitation on a virtual journey. There is no need to leave your husband, wife, children, job – physically. However, following Jesus means you must act as if you have quit your job, left your family and sold your home. If you are willing to leave these things behind, then I would like you to come on a journey with me. Lets follow Jesus together. It will not be easy. Even though this is ‘virtual,’ this in no way is pretend or imaginary. In fact, this journey may be the hardest thing you or I have ever done. Your life will change. It simply has to change. When you follow Jesus, your life has a new focus and people and work and things look differently.

Long ago Paul took a virtual journey. Jesus had long since died. He had risen from the grave and had even returned to the right hand of God. However, Paul met Jesus and his life was never the same. It took him many years before he could do or say anything. After all, he was a Jew. Jesus (also a Jew) asked Paul to stop terrorizing him and instead follow. He spent some time in the desert to come to grips with this. This virtual journey with Jesus, changed Paul and the world.

Today I ask you to pray the three charities: Faith, Hope & Love. The foundation of communities of Jesus is Love. That is because God IS Love. God is not like love. God IS Love. God is not inclined toward love. God IS Love. Our Love begins with Hope. Hope finds its way into the reality of our life and is expressed by our Faith.

Paul wrote a letter to Colossae, Greece. Paul (the virtual vagabond) encourages Jesus-followers to be devoted to prayer (4:2).

Pray to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that his Spirit may plant in your heart – Faith in Jesus as King, Hope in life changing gospel and Love that is the trademark of God (1:3-6).

Like Paul, I invite you to follow me as I follow Jesus. Follow me not because I am anything special, but follow me as I am one who is following Jesus.

Feel free to post a thought. Thanks for being you. Thanks for coming.

Prayer Enfleshed

Joy filled our hearts as air entered her lungs.
The air penetrated by her scream let us know that love was alive.
Praise God for His faithfulness in making hope a reality.

The last day of March 2005 at 11:30 in the morning, the Bryce's welcomed Lizze into our arms. Mom and Dad are pleased now to hold in our arms this girl whom we long ago held in our hearts. Mommy, baby, big brother and Daddy are each doing well. Thanks to each of for your faithfulness in prayer, expressions of love and persistent hope.

Love from Brady, Donna and Nathan.

Elizabeth Hannah Bryce
31 March 2005
11:30 a.m.
Seven pounds Two ounces
Nineteen and one half inches

Donna and I picked this name out long before Nathan was born. We love the stories of Hannah from 1 Samuel 1 and Elizabeth from Luke 2. During the labor, I read these passages to Donna. She said it calmed her down. Of course, I have always been able to put her to sleep when I read to her. Can you imagine what happens when I speak to her?

Elizabeth is Hebrew for "dedicated to God" or "oath to God." Hannah is also Hebrew meaning "grace." Elizabeth was my great-grandmother's name (my Dad's mother's side). She went by the name "Lizzie."

If you wish to write her well-wishes and blessings feel free to post a comment to this entry. We will save them in her baby book.

Love Is Alive

Big Bro

A Little Bigger Family