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We read a news article this week from pediatricians suggesting students with lice should not be sent home, because 1) it's not really poor hygiene and 2) it can cause pyschological stress to a student because of the stigma. Um, what? So 1) Yes, parasites crawling in your hair is poor hygiene, and 2) so we just ignore the problem and let is spread because a student might get embarrassed? Wrong answer. Well...don't Christians often treat sin the same way? We try to lessen the danger of sin by classifying it as other things, calling that which is evil good or indifferent. Secondly, because we are afraid to offend, we say nothing or pretend the problem doesn't exist. Well, it does. And if we do nothing, it only gets worse. 

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We are getting used to a family of 5 now with the addition of our third child, and of course it is chaos but in a beautiful way. One thing our oldest two are getting used to is how much a newborn cries. On the way home the other night, they each had very different reactions to her ongoing screams in the car. My daughter, in a motherly way, was trying to talk to her sweetly and calm her down. My son? Well, he was covering his ears and telling her to "shhhh". Well...their polar opposite reactions are often the same ones that are displayed by Christians to the needs of others. While Jesus calls for us to respond with action out of love when we see others in need, often we simply cover our ears and look the other way. But my friends, how can we do this, in view of what God has done to address our greatest need? May God give us hearts to respond to the needs of others, not simply ignore them or wish them away. 

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We have one final guest episode before I resume my work from paternity leave. I am excited to share this one with you. Hal Hammons is no stranger to this program, he is a good friend and the host of the Citizens of Heaven podcast. Today, he teaches us how tortillas - and how you choose to pronounce it - has a great deal to teach us about fellowship. Are we trying to be more like Jesus, or just trying to make others more like me? 

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Join us for a special guest episode with my good friend and mentor, Scott Beyer, as he shares some important lessons from an all time favorite book of his "Where the Red Fern Grows". Who knew that a racoon, a log, some nails, and a ball of tinfoil could teach us so much about ourselves in our walk of faith? 

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Join us for a guest episode, as Jacob Hudgins talks about the spiritual lessons we can take away from those pesky, frustrating Crepe Myrtles. 

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I will be on paternity leave starting with next weeks episode since our baby girl is coming by next week, but we will have guest speakers for the next several weeks! They bring a different perspective, which is exactly what I brought to lunch today. Bella, our friend Brianna's daughter, wouldn't eat her chicken. No matter what Brianna tried, Bella refused. Then I gave it a whirl, and wouldn't you know it, she at it. Same fork. Same chicken. But a different person offering it. Aren't kids funny? Well...I think there is a lesson here. We would do well to ensure that we are sitting at the feet of more than one teacher - there is great wisdom in listening to a variety of different perspectives! Even with our children, we should be sure they have several different mentors - because even though we're saying the same things, sometimes it doesn't quite sink in until we hear it from a different perspective. 

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Fantasy football is starting back up, and I couldn't be happier! I love everything football. I can debate it all day long, talk the ins and outs of the game, and even enjoy studying the technical aspects of football from time to time from experts. But here is the catch...I've never played football. Ever. There is a huge difference between knowing about football, and actually playing it. Well...the same thing could be shared about sharing the gospel. We know a lot about evangelism, don't we? We study it, debate it, read about it, and promote it. But what are we actually doing? There is a big difference between knowing the importance of sharing the gospel and actually opening our mouth and sharing Jesus with others. 

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We are about three weeks away from baby time, and we have been working hard to get things ready. Some things aren't as fun to get ready like all the laundry, cleaning, etc. But getting her room ready? That has been a joy. We've been working hard to get a place ready for her, and even though she won't understand what's waiting for her or appreciate what we've done, we do it because we love her and this will be her home. Well...isn't that the journey ahead for all of us Christians? Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. We cannot begin to imagine what heaven will be like, or appreciate all that Jesus is currently doing. But what I can know is that Jesus can't wait to bring us home, and I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get home either. 

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I've got good news and bad news. The bad news is: my wife, who is 32 weeks pregnant, contracted covid & has been really miserable. The good news? God's people have overwhelmed us with love. I don't know how people make it in this life without the church, I know I sure couldn't. And it's not just us, our church family does this for so many time and time again. Well...that's the way it should be. God has designed his people to be those that have been changed from the inside out by the love of God. They should love, not to receive anything in return, but because they cannot help to share what they've received themselves from God - compassion, mercy, and grace. Thank God for God's people! 

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A friend shared a video with me about a man and his newborn daughter, just a few minutes old. She was crying, afraid, and confused. But when her father spoke, suddenly she calmed. And when he told her he loved her, she then opened her eyes for the first time. Well...of all the voices clamoring for our attention in this world, there is only one voice that can bring us peace: the voice of the Father! While long ago he spoke to the prophets directly, now he speaks to us through his Son, Jesus. And his message? That he loves you, and wants you to be his child. 

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