In June, our family began fostering a newborn baby boy that I will call "Ford" since I cannot put his real name in print. He was born meth positive. No one in our family could turn off any part of our hearts as we fell instantly in love with this tiny bundle. Suzanne and I have wanted more children as evidenced by the last two pregnancies (we already have 3 children). Both of those pregnancies ended in two still-born little boys. We decided to foster, with hopes of adoption, knowing the possible heartache that it might ultimatley bring.
From the first day we brought "Ford" home, Suzanne and I began praying for God's will in his life as well as ours. Two full weeks had passed and I was spending my daily time with Christ in His Word and in prayer. I was praying for the lost. Christ commended me for praying for the lost. I smiled proudly and said, "I was once lost. I know the feeling. It's easy for me to pray for the lost." I then began praying for those who were inprisoned by addiction. Christ commended me for praying for those addicted. I smiled proudly and said, "I was once addicted. I know the feeling. It is easy for me to pray for those addicted." Then Christ said "Birch, you're not praying for this mother of "Ford." She may be lost and is most certainly addicted."
Here is one reason that Christians are not supposed to act on "feeling." I told Christ that I did not "feel" like praying for her. I "felt" like she had made some choices that were unforgivable. She had made some choices to which there were natural consequences. I told Christ that I would pray for her salvation and her recovery in order to be obedient but I wouldn't mean it. My family had fallen in love with this little boy and we so desperately wanted to keep him and provide a safe-haven for him.
Now, I don't want to ever be hypocritical so I changed my attitude somewhat and asked God to begin changing my heart so that I could genuinly pray for her. He did.
What if the people that Christ enlisted to pray for me had refused because I wasn't worth it? What if the people who supported me through my recovery had thrown me away? Christ loved me in my sin. He offered me forgiveness and grace and so did several people along the way (namely my wife and my parents and in-laws). How ironic that I would for a second become a Pharisee, a Jonah, thinking that there could be such a person who doesn't deserve a new lease on life.
God has worked on the heart of Suzanne as well. We are supporting this young mother in her recovery. Christ died for her, loves her and has us praying for her rescue and recovery.
Now I have more understanding of the story of Solomon and the two women claiming to be the mother of a small child. Solomon said to rip the child in two pieces and give half to each. The real mother said "No, give the child to her." Right now I am his "daddy." I ultimately want him to be safe. God will provide that in His perfect will...even if this house ends up not being his home and I end up not being his daddy.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
"Daddy, does that mean you're not in God's will right now?"
Juliana told me in February of 2009 that she felt like God was calling her into full-time foreign missions. This was both exciting and scary for me. I wanted her to be sure because to travel that road without God would be stupid but to travel that road with God with be an adventure. I set an appointment with her to teach her a thing or two about discerning the will of God.
We sat in my basement office on the old church pew going through a book that had helped me many years ago. I told her that now that I was a committed Christ-follower that the most frustrating thing in life had become knowing the will of God. I had come to the point of desiring obedience and the ability to obey (Holy Spirit) more than any time in my life (funny how far I still need to travel). Anyway, I told her since I had graduated from seminary two months back that I had been crying out to God to reveal to me what His will for life was to be. I was chasing MY passion to be the Associate Pastor of Evangelism and Prayer at the church where we were members. I told her that I was waiting and that it was frustrating.
I will never forget Juliana interrupting me, looking up at me and saying "Daddy, if you're waiting on the will of God, does that mean you're not in God's will right now?"
Wow.
I told her that she knew far more about what I was trying to teach her and sent her upstairs. I immediately crawled onto the floor and laid on my face and cried. I apologized to the Lord for not realizing where I was. I was right in the center of God's will. I had come to Bartow County to plant a church(es). We had been here for 8 months and I was antsy to get on with MY role which God had for me. I remember Christ picking my face up and telling me to look at the chair behind my desk. He said " Birch, rest in Me. Sit in that chair. Let Me guide, lead and direct you. You have been to seminary but you still have much to learn. Spend time with your family, continue to spend time with Me, let Me bring people around you that will help Me with the ministry that I will ultimately have you do in Bartow County.
It is now August of 2010, a year and a half later. I have rested. I have taught Sunday School, mentored teachers, filled the pulpit in over twenty churches and been an interim pastor. I have spent time with my family. I have dated my wife and my children. I have realized that my work at 84 Lumber is my life-blood financially and a ministry as well.
I recently read a book given to me by Ms. Sarah Jane from a church where I was interim. The author is Watchman Nee and it is entitled Sit, Walk, Stand. It is a simple commentary Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. God continues to teach me and I want to share some excerpts from this book:
If the life of a Christian is to be pleasing to God it must be properly adjusted to him in all things. Too often we place the emphasis in our own lives upon the application of this principle to some single detail of our behaviour or our work for Him.
Our Position in Christ--Sit
Our Life in the World--Walk
Our Attitude to the Enemy--Stand
God raised up Christ and made us to sit with Him. I was trying to walk before I had truly sat (rested) with Christ. That day in my basement with my daughter, God taught me that I needed to sit just as His principle from the very beginning. In creation, God worked from the first to the sixth day and rested on the seventh. Adam was created on the sixth day. God's seventh day was Adam's first. Adam had no part in the work. Adam began His life on the Sabbath; for God works before He rests, while man must first enter into God's rest,and then Man can work with God's guidance. It was because God's work of creation was truly complete that Adam's life could begin with rest. And here is the Gospel; that God has gone one stage further and has also completed the work of redemption, and that we need nothing whatever to merit it, but can enter by faith directly into the values of His finished work.
God was waiting till I ceased "doing."When I ceased "doing" then God began.
God has moved in so many ways, through the Great Commission Initiative, storying, Celebrate Recovery, The Bartow Baptist Association, David Franklin, pastors, friends and family. God has challenged me to rest in Him, to sit. For those who know me, I think I have done a pretty good job of that over the last year and a half.
God has asked me to walk in the world now. He is planting "Church of the Underground", house churches through me. Simultaneously, He is planting a Celebrate Recovery Group through me that prayerfully will spin the lost into these house churches.
God, You sat me down when I was unable to walk. Now lend me your hand and lead me to walk with You in these days. Amen
We sat in my basement office on the old church pew going through a book that had helped me many years ago. I told her that now that I was a committed Christ-follower that the most frustrating thing in life had become knowing the will of God. I had come to the point of desiring obedience and the ability to obey (Holy Spirit) more than any time in my life (funny how far I still need to travel). Anyway, I told her since I had graduated from seminary two months back that I had been crying out to God to reveal to me what His will for life was to be. I was chasing MY passion to be the Associate Pastor of Evangelism and Prayer at the church where we were members. I told her that I was waiting and that it was frustrating.
I will never forget Juliana interrupting me, looking up at me and saying "Daddy, if you're waiting on the will of God, does that mean you're not in God's will right now?"
Wow.
I told her that she knew far more about what I was trying to teach her and sent her upstairs. I immediately crawled onto the floor and laid on my face and cried. I apologized to the Lord for not realizing where I was. I was right in the center of God's will. I had come to Bartow County to plant a church(es). We had been here for 8 months and I was antsy to get on with MY role which God had for me. I remember Christ picking my face up and telling me to look at the chair behind my desk. He said " Birch, rest in Me. Sit in that chair. Let Me guide, lead and direct you. You have been to seminary but you still have much to learn. Spend time with your family, continue to spend time with Me, let Me bring people around you that will help Me with the ministry that I will ultimately have you do in Bartow County.
It is now August of 2010, a year and a half later. I have rested. I have taught Sunday School, mentored teachers, filled the pulpit in over twenty churches and been an interim pastor. I have spent time with my family. I have dated my wife and my children. I have realized that my work at 84 Lumber is my life-blood financially and a ministry as well.
I recently read a book given to me by Ms. Sarah Jane from a church where I was interim. The author is Watchman Nee and it is entitled Sit, Walk, Stand. It is a simple commentary Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. God continues to teach me and I want to share some excerpts from this book:
If the life of a Christian is to be pleasing to God it must be properly adjusted to him in all things. Too often we place the emphasis in our own lives upon the application of this principle to some single detail of our behaviour or our work for Him.
Our Position in Christ--Sit
Our Life in the World--Walk
Our Attitude to the Enemy--Stand
God raised up Christ and made us to sit with Him. I was trying to walk before I had truly sat (rested) with Christ. That day in my basement with my daughter, God taught me that I needed to sit just as His principle from the very beginning. In creation, God worked from the first to the sixth day and rested on the seventh. Adam was created on the sixth day. God's seventh day was Adam's first. Adam had no part in the work. Adam began His life on the Sabbath; for God works before He rests, while man must first enter into God's rest,and then Man can work with God's guidance. It was because God's work of creation was truly complete that Adam's life could begin with rest. And here is the Gospel; that God has gone one stage further and has also completed the work of redemption, and that we need nothing whatever to merit it, but can enter by faith directly into the values of His finished work.
God was waiting till I ceased "doing."When I ceased "doing" then God began.
God has moved in so many ways, through the Great Commission Initiative, storying, Celebrate Recovery, The Bartow Baptist Association, David Franklin, pastors, friends and family. God has challenged me to rest in Him, to sit. For those who know me, I think I have done a pretty good job of that over the last year and a half.
God has asked me to walk in the world now. He is planting "Church of the Underground", house churches through me. Simultaneously, He is planting a Celebrate Recovery Group through me that prayerfully will spin the lost into these house churches.
God, You sat me down when I was unable to walk. Now lend me your hand and lead me to walk with You in these days. Amen
Saturday, August 14, 2010
My Amazing Oldest When Facing A Storm
This family has lost children in stillbirth and could eventually lose our foster baby through the "system." Juliana wrote a powerful message concerning this in her blog:
http://junebugdramaqueen.blogspot.com/2010/08/cry-to-jesus.html
http://junebugdramaqueen.blogspot.com/2010/08/cry-to-jesus.html
My Three Kids
Yesterday I told each of my kids that on Saturday they would have an hour to spend with me just by themselves (sad that this is a rarity, I know). Since we have had Z (our foster baby boy) for the last 2 months things have been more than a little crazy.
Holt picked going to work with me for a half hour and then he wanted to round out his hour at home playing vids. We left the house about 8:45. Holt and this mutt that lives at 84 have taken a real liking to each other. You should have heard the dog when we pulled into the parking lot...whining and yelping with glee. Holt and Ely (the dog's name) played for awhile outside and then Holt and I went in to get a nutritious breakfast from the snack and drink machines...Strawberry Pop-Tarts and a Dr. Pepper...no wonder he picked 84 Lumber to spend his time with me.
The kids always get a snack and a drink when they come to work with me. I can still remember being four and five years old drinking grape and orange Nehis with my dad in the fellowship hall of FBC Laurel where he worked. Good memories.
Holt and I were sitting at my desk when my manager (Jeff) comes running toward my desk with Ely in fast pursuit. You should have seen Holt's face light up like a Christmas tree (Ely doesn't EVER get to come in to the building). Ely jumped up on Holt almost knocking him to the ground as Holt giggled like a school girl. Jeff told Holt that since it was so hot outside that he thought Holt and Ely would enjoy playing inside until we left. He is good people. Holt decided to forgo playing pinball on my laptop since the dog was inside. Holt gave him treat after treat that he had brought from home (sorry Walter) and they both finally ended up in the chair with Holt petting Ely and Ely licking Holt's hands. They love each other.
We played some vids upon returning home and some Lego game that he had invented. He is quite the architect/engineer.
Carolina decided to go to Chick-Fil-A to eat a biscuit and play on the playground. She looked so pretty and I could tell she felt like a princess. She asked me last week when we could spend some time together again, just the two of us. We sat down outside with our biscuits and a few bird flew up. We tossed them parts of our biscuits, watching them fight and chase each other. As one flew off, Carolina said "If I were a bird, I would be afraid of heights." I responded by saying, "No you wouldn't, you could fly and would never fall." She said, "What if a hunter shot my wing when I was high in the air?" How else could I respond besides, "OK, maybe you're right."
She played on the playground for awhile, jumping off things and trying to gain my approval (of course, she did) and then we left. She made me promise not to forget to tell mama that we fed the birds.
Then we went to Target to look at toys for her birthday and Christmas. She loved just being able to stroll through the aisles pushing buttons and listening to the toys talk/ make noise/ dance/cry etc. About the third aisle that we went down she looked up at me holding onto my hand and said shyly, "I wish I could live here." I remembered my childhood and understood exactly where she was coming from.
On our way home she said, "I didn't pick out any Princess and the Frog stuff to put on my list. I like the princess. She's pretty, but she comes with the frog and...you know...he's a boy." I now have this in print to remind her later on.
As we were pulling into the driveway, she was remembering a stuffed puppy from Target that she really liked and said, "It would've been fun to have had Walter (our Border Collie rescue) when he was a puppy. He and me are the only ones in the family who are 4 years-old. When I was a baby I wasn't a puppy." And then she laughed. She is funny.
Juliana opted to take me to 4-Way restaurant which is a landmark in downtown Cartersville from way back. She had eaten there with her mama, but this was my first trip. Juliana and I always cherish our dates. When my chili cheesburger was placed in front of me, J and I looked at each other with the look of "what is that?" It was a plate of chili with a chili burger plopped right down in the middle of it. Best chili cheesburger I've ever had. Yumsters! We left there and spent the last of our time at the river, remembering old times (like geese chasing mama and her in Conyers, finding her pet turtle, Slowpoke, falling and getting her first skinned knee and ruining her tights and not knowing which one she was more upset about). We laughed like we always do and also took some pictures of the geese and each other. I realized that, unlike the other two, we were not only making new memories...we were reminiscing about old memories. She is grown up. That is OK. She makes a good grown-up.
God, thank you for my three kids, grant me more if you wish, but never let me take the ones I have for granted. I love them.
Holt picked going to work with me for a half hour and then he wanted to round out his hour at home playing vids. We left the house about 8:45. Holt and this mutt that lives at 84 have taken a real liking to each other. You should have heard the dog when we pulled into the parking lot...whining and yelping with glee. Holt and Ely (the dog's name) played for awhile outside and then Holt and I went in to get a nutritious breakfast from the snack and drink machines...Strawberry Pop-Tarts and a Dr. Pepper...no wonder he picked 84 Lumber to spend his time with me.
The kids always get a snack and a drink when they come to work with me. I can still remember being four and five years old drinking grape and orange Nehis with my dad in the fellowship hall of FBC Laurel where he worked. Good memories.
Holt and I were sitting at my desk when my manager (Jeff) comes running toward my desk with Ely in fast pursuit. You should have seen Holt's face light up like a Christmas tree (Ely doesn't EVER get to come in to the building). Ely jumped up on Holt almost knocking him to the ground as Holt giggled like a school girl. Jeff told Holt that since it was so hot outside that he thought Holt and Ely would enjoy playing inside until we left. He is good people. Holt decided to forgo playing pinball on my laptop since the dog was inside. Holt gave him treat after treat that he had brought from home (sorry Walter) and they both finally ended up in the chair with Holt petting Ely and Ely licking Holt's hands. They love each other.
Carolina decided to go to Chick-Fil-A to eat a biscuit and play on the playground. She looked so pretty and I could tell she felt like a princess. She asked me last week when we could spend some time together again, just the two of us. We sat down outside with our biscuits and a few bird flew up. We tossed them parts of our biscuits, watching them fight and chase each other. As one flew off, Carolina said "If I were a bird, I would be afraid of heights." I responded by saying, "No you wouldn't, you could fly and would never fall." She said, "What if a hunter shot my wing when I was high in the air?" How else could I respond besides, "OK, maybe you're right."
She played on the playground for awhile, jumping off things and trying to gain my approval (of course, she did) and then we left. She made me promise not to forget to tell mama that we fed the birds.
Then we went to Target to look at toys for her birthday and Christmas. She loved just being able to stroll through the aisles pushing buttons and listening to the toys talk/ make noise/ dance/cry etc. About the third aisle that we went down she looked up at me holding onto my hand and said shyly, "I wish I could live here." I remembered my childhood and understood exactly where she was coming from.
On our way home she said, "I didn't pick out any Princess and the Frog stuff to put on my list. I like the princess. She's pretty, but she comes with the frog and...you know...he's a boy." I now have this in print to remind her later on.
As we were pulling into the driveway, she was remembering a stuffed puppy from Target that she really liked and said, "It would've been fun to have had Walter (our Border Collie rescue) when he was a puppy. He and me are the only ones in the family who are 4 years-old. When I was a baby I wasn't a puppy." And then she laughed. She is funny.
Juliana opted to take me to 4-Way restaurant which is a landmark in downtown Cartersville from way back. She had eaten there with her mama, but this was my first trip. Juliana and I always cherish our dates. When my chili cheesburger was placed in front of me, J and I looked at each other with the look of "what is that?" It was a plate of chili with a chili burger plopped right down in the middle of it. Best chili cheesburger I've ever had. Yumsters! We left there and spent the last of our time at the river, remembering old times (like geese chasing mama and her in Conyers, finding her pet turtle, Slowpoke, falling and getting her first skinned knee and ruining her tights and not knowing which one she was more upset about). We laughed like we always do and also took some pictures of the geese and each other. I realized that, unlike the other two, we were not only making new memories...we were reminiscing about old memories. She is grown up. That is OK. She makes a good grown-up.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Colt McCoy
A friend of a friend sent this letter to me:
Amazing Message
Brad McCoy about Colt
Dear Friends,
I had the opportunity to hear Colt McCoy’s Dad speak this Tuesday morning to the Dallas Christian Leadership Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast is an annual breakfast that was started by Tom Landry and other Dallas leaders over 40 years ago and the speakers are usually amazing. Colt McCoy and his Dad, Brad, were supposed to deliver a combined message; however, Colt became sick on Monday and could not join his Dad on Tuesday morning. In the end, it was a blessing because Brad McCoy delivered a message on raising Colt and his two other boys that was truly amazing! The cliff notes are below. I took copious notes because he prefaced his speech by stating, “I am going to talk about the four principles with which we raised our three boys.” They are incredibly applicable to us as parents (regardless of the sex of our children) and they made a significant mark on my heart.
Brad McCoy said that he and his wife raised their children according to the following four principles:
1. “Prepare your child for the path, not the path for your child.” Brad said this is not just for our kids – it is for us as parents. The road is rough, narrow and hard to find. We have a book (the Bible), a map vis-à-vis the Bible and God to help us. We must prepare ourselves and our kids for moments in life when doors open and close. He cited Proverbs 22:6: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” He also cited, almost in jest but also in reality, Proverbs 23:13, “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.” It was a funny contrast, but a real contrast. He then said, “Dads, fight for your kids, prepare them!”
2. “Prepare to be our best.” This was one of the four McCoy family mottos. He cited 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” He stated that every day he would take his kids to school and upon them exited the car, he would say to them, “Do your best and be a leader!” He said that they listened every time and even as they got older (4th, 5th and 6th grades) he would repeat these words even if they said, “Yeah, Yeah, Dad, I know, do your best and be a leader!” He said that as a coach for 27 years, he would always lead his team onto the field and leave his team at every practice with the chant, “Expect to Win, Play to Win.” And he implored us as parents to instill the same attitude in our homes and in our children. He cited Jim Collins book, Good to Great, stating that good is the enemy of Great! We don’t aim high and miss – as we would like to believe. In fact, most times, we aim low and hit the mark! As parents, he implored us not to aim low! Aim high!!!
3. “Be a Leader” He stated that we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses – great leaders that we can draw from and that our kids can draw from. He said we are all at the mercy of time and money and asked a rhetorical question: How do you spend your time and money. He then said that how we spend our time and money is a direct reflection on where our true priorities lie. Convicting! He then said as a leader that he has always loved the quote by Ghandi (even though he didn’t ascribe to all of Ghandi’s beliefs): “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with dirty feet.” He said that as he taught this principle to his three boys that Colt McCoy turned this phrase into his own words: “Thoughts become things.” Colt would tell his younger brothers as he mentored them, “ You can’t talk like that or think like that, because thoughts become things that play themselves out in your life.”
4. “Prepare for Open and Closed Doors.” As a Dad, he said it was painful beyond all of his years on this earth to watch his son get hurt in the first series of play in the National Championship at the Rose Bowl. A perfect setting. A setting his son had dreamed of ever since he threw the football with his Dad in the front yard as a kid. As a Dad, he went over to his son’s hotel room after the Championship loss and the demoralizing fate for such a NCAA football star. He went to his son’s room to cheer his son up and was praying to God for the right words. He entered his son’s hotel room to find his son finishing a devotional. A devotional that read as follows: “My positive energy must be better than my negative energy. My certainty must be me stronger than my doubt. The battle is won before I ever start the fight. I choose faith over fear. Leave a legacy of excellence, love, dedication and service. Jeremiah stated, ‘Blessed is the man who’s trust is in the Lord.’ He said as a Dad, he had to find a corner of Colt’s hotel room to sit down and cry over the maturity of his son. His son was prepared for open and closed doors! Wow!!
He then finished his speech by stating that as he consoled his son under the Rose Bowl stadium, after it was readily apparent that Colt would not be able to go back onto the field and play for the Longhorns. And as he was trying to motivate his son, his son motivated the team and his Dad. His son stepped into a new mantle of leadership. Rather than return to the field in pedestrian clothes, Colt insisted on returning to the field to help his team win. He walked back onto the field in his uniform and helped the second string quarterback read the defense and mentored the second string quarterback over the course of the 3rd and 4th quarters. He said that his son had been studying “trust” in a Bible Study all year long leading up to the National Championship game. He said his son had told his mom and dad that he didn’t know why he had been studying that “trust” concept all year, but he fully knew why in the moments leading up to the National Championship loss. He told his parents that he came to the conclusion that God had “prepared me for years leading up to that game, because He wanted me to “trust” Him!” As his son, Colt, was approached by news reporters after the Longhorns had lost the National Championship, the reporters asked Colt how he was feeling and Colt replied: “I always give God the glory. I never question what God does. God is in control of my life and if nothing else, I am standing on the Rock!”
Brad McCoy said that his cell phone began lighting up with texts after the game with friends, ministers and family members wildly acclaiming the statement that Colt had made to the reporters. He said that he received letters from non-believers, Jewish ministers, Muslim ministers and atheists in the days following the game – all pointing to the AMAZING statement that Colt had made after the game. He said that as he entered Colt’s hotel room that night, he asked his son, “What did you say after game?” [He had not been able to hear it in the mayhem of the stadium.] Brad McCoy, Colt’s Dad, asked two to three times, “Son, what did you say after the game?” Colt said, “Dad, I don’t know. I really don’t remember what I said. All I remember is that the reporter asked me a question and I prayed that God would supply me with the right answer.” Wow!!
Brad McCoy then ended his speech by telling a story about a young football player that he was coaching back in his hometown. He said the young football player approached Brad McCoy after he returned from Pasadena and said, “Coach, I heard what your son said after the game, but I have one question: What is the rock?” He said it’s funny son. We sing about it in church. He then began singing accapella: “My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand."
Amazing Message
Brad McCoy about Colt
Dear Friends,
I had the opportunity to hear Colt McCoy’s Dad speak this Tuesday morning to the Dallas Christian Leadership Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast is an annual breakfast that was started by Tom Landry and other Dallas leaders over 40 years ago and the speakers are usually amazing. Colt McCoy and his Dad, Brad, were supposed to deliver a combined message; however, Colt became sick on Monday and could not join his Dad on Tuesday morning. In the end, it was a blessing because Brad McCoy delivered a message on raising Colt and his two other boys that was truly amazing! The cliff notes are below. I took copious notes because he prefaced his speech by stating, “I am going to talk about the four principles with which we raised our three boys.” They are incredibly applicable to us as parents (regardless of the sex of our children) and they made a significant mark on my heart.
Brad McCoy said that he and his wife raised their children according to the following four principles:
1. “Prepare your child for the path, not the path for your child.” Brad said this is not just for our kids – it is for us as parents. The road is rough, narrow and hard to find. We have a book (the Bible), a map vis-à-vis the Bible and God to help us. We must prepare ourselves and our kids for moments in life when doors open and close. He cited Proverbs 22:6: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” He also cited, almost in jest but also in reality, Proverbs 23:13, “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.” It was a funny contrast, but a real contrast. He then said, “Dads, fight for your kids, prepare them!”
2. “Prepare to be our best.” This was one of the four McCoy family mottos. He cited 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” He stated that every day he would take his kids to school and upon them exited the car, he would say to them, “Do your best and be a leader!” He said that they listened every time and even as they got older (4th, 5th and 6th grades) he would repeat these words even if they said, “Yeah, Yeah, Dad, I know, do your best and be a leader!” He said that as a coach for 27 years, he would always lead his team onto the field and leave his team at every practice with the chant, “Expect to Win, Play to Win.” And he implored us as parents to instill the same attitude in our homes and in our children. He cited Jim Collins book, Good to Great, stating that good is the enemy of Great! We don’t aim high and miss – as we would like to believe. In fact, most times, we aim low and hit the mark! As parents, he implored us not to aim low! Aim high!!!
3. “Be a Leader” He stated that we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses – great leaders that we can draw from and that our kids can draw from. He said we are all at the mercy of time and money and asked a rhetorical question: How do you spend your time and money. He then said that how we spend our time and money is a direct reflection on where our true priorities lie. Convicting! He then said as a leader that he has always loved the quote by Ghandi (even though he didn’t ascribe to all of Ghandi’s beliefs): “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with dirty feet.” He said that as he taught this principle to his three boys that Colt McCoy turned this phrase into his own words: “Thoughts become things.” Colt would tell his younger brothers as he mentored them, “ You can’t talk like that or think like that, because thoughts become things that play themselves out in your life.”
4. “Prepare for Open and Closed Doors.” As a Dad, he said it was painful beyond all of his years on this earth to watch his son get hurt in the first series of play in the National Championship at the Rose Bowl. A perfect setting. A setting his son had dreamed of ever since he threw the football with his Dad in the front yard as a kid. As a Dad, he went over to his son’s hotel room after the Championship loss and the demoralizing fate for such a NCAA football star. He went to his son’s room to cheer his son up and was praying to God for the right words. He entered his son’s hotel room to find his son finishing a devotional. A devotional that read as follows: “My positive energy must be better than my negative energy. My certainty must be me stronger than my doubt. The battle is won before I ever start the fight. I choose faith over fear. Leave a legacy of excellence, love, dedication and service. Jeremiah stated, ‘Blessed is the man who’s trust is in the Lord.’ He said as a Dad, he had to find a corner of Colt’s hotel room to sit down and cry over the maturity of his son. His son was prepared for open and closed doors! Wow!!
He then finished his speech by stating that as he consoled his son under the Rose Bowl stadium, after it was readily apparent that Colt would not be able to go back onto the field and play for the Longhorns. And as he was trying to motivate his son, his son motivated the team and his Dad. His son stepped into a new mantle of leadership. Rather than return to the field in pedestrian clothes, Colt insisted on returning to the field to help his team win. He walked back onto the field in his uniform and helped the second string quarterback read the defense and mentored the second string quarterback over the course of the 3rd and 4th quarters. He said that his son had been studying “trust” in a Bible Study all year long leading up to the National Championship game. He said his son had told his mom and dad that he didn’t know why he had been studying that “trust” concept all year, but he fully knew why in the moments leading up to the National Championship loss. He told his parents that he came to the conclusion that God had “prepared me for years leading up to that game, because He wanted me to “trust” Him!” As his son, Colt, was approached by news reporters after the Longhorns had lost the National Championship, the reporters asked Colt how he was feeling and Colt replied: “I always give God the glory. I never question what God does. God is in control of my life and if nothing else, I am standing on the Rock!”
Brad McCoy said that his cell phone began lighting up with texts after the game with friends, ministers and family members wildly acclaiming the statement that Colt had made to the reporters. He said that he received letters from non-believers, Jewish ministers, Muslim ministers and atheists in the days following the game – all pointing to the AMAZING statement that Colt had made after the game. He said that as he entered Colt’s hotel room that night, he asked his son, “What did you say after game?” [He had not been able to hear it in the mayhem of the stadium.] Brad McCoy, Colt’s Dad, asked two to three times, “Son, what did you say after the game?” Colt said, “Dad, I don’t know. I really don’t remember what I said. All I remember is that the reporter asked me a question and I prayed that God would supply me with the right answer.” Wow!!
Brad McCoy then ended his speech by telling a story about a young football player that he was coaching back in his hometown. He said the young football player approached Brad McCoy after he returned from Pasadena and said, “Coach, I heard what your son said after the game, but I have one question: What is the rock?” He said it’s funny son. We sing about it in church. He then began singing accapella: “My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand."
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Gifts
My life was spent on the wide road and thank God I ended up on the narrow road. Laura explains the painting and my life this way . . .
I played with the concept of the wide and the narrow road and how they aren't necessarily different roads...but one in the same. We become more and more refined, and on the narrow road we begin to grow and have life. Thus...the tree. It's new life. It's life abundant. It's life to the full.
Though we have a beautiful life, we have roots that go down into our old life and even wrap around on the wide road. These roots are what bring us wisdom, though. At the very bottom it gets scaly...because that's the death to self part. We have had to die to self on the wide road and the further we travel down the narrow road the more we grow.
The red could be symbolic of grace and the blood of Jesus. It goes into our roots to heal us and grow us...and it manifests itself as grace in our leaves that we show to the world and share as our fruit.
Suzanne added Romans 8:28-30:
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
and then she concluded with:
As Romans 8:28-30 shows, even though Christ saved you from the wide road, you were always going to end on the narrow one. And when you were plainly in the mire of the first one, look at the blood of Jesus that had trailed all the way to where you were stuck. His grace was there, just waiting. This painting represents your personal road. It started out wide and became narrow. It's an interpretation of your walk.
Even now, a year and a half later, I still get choked up when I look at this painting hanging in my office. I am so thankful for the grace of Christ and the grace of my human picture of Christ, Suzanne, for she offered me the same grace as Christ. I love them.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Great Commission
The greatest video of my life thus far. God has blessed it. Please watch and pray! Be encouraged! Carve out 74 minutes of your life andbe changed.
http://vimeo.com/9602983
http://vimeo.com/9602983
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Shooting Deer with a Lens in the Off-Season
My eyes began to get full. I turned off the paved road into the field and counted and counted and counted until my ears heard my lips finally voice "eighty-one."Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Shattered Dreams
This is the face of a seven-year-old boy 
who worked non-stop for 6 1/2 hours to build his dream Lego Star Wars Republic Attack Ship that he received for Christmas. He asked to stay up until it was completed and I granted him the time requested. He finished it shortly after midnight. It has over 1000 pieces and he built it all by himself!
who worked non-stop for 6 1/2 hours to build his dream Lego Star Wars Republic Attack Ship that he received for Christmas. He asked to stay up until it was completed and I granted him the time requested. He finished it shortly after midnight. It has over 1000 pieces and he built it all by himself!
A few nights later, I heard a sickening crash of over 1000 Lego pieces. About 3 seconds later, Holt emerged in the door frame looking like his world had just been shattered. It had.Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Lottie Moon
So some have questioned of late . . . does Pastor Birch have a sense of humor? Click the link below for your answer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCrhpLGTkOI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCrhpLGTkOI
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