We have yet to enter the most dreaded phase of parenting: the why phase. Jakob doesn't seem to care why we do things yet. He just does them, with or without gentle nudging, depending on the day and mood. But I know a day is coming that I won't even be able to go to the bathroom without explaining why to him. It's inevitable. Kids want to know why everything. I have dealt with it on a children's pastor level, but not as a parent yet. I believe that from my occasional response, I will break the vow I made when I was younger to never say, "Cause I'm your dad, and I said so," since I've said pretty much the same thing to kids at church at times. Just exchange dad for in charge, and you're there.
Though adults can find it annoying to be constantly asked why by a child, I feel like adults do it, too. Only we do it to God. We become his four year olds. I know that I do, anyway. I often wonder why God allows this or that to happen or why He wants me to do something or whatever. Sometimes it's just something simple that He asks me to do, and other times it's major moves and shifts in life.
Why do I have to move? (I'm not moving, that's just an example)
Why did you let that person in my life?
Why can't I make more money?
Why can't I just eat Dorito's and drink Cherry Coke and lose weight at the same time?
Why do you let people get sick?
Why do people have to die?
Why?
Why?
Why?
There are times in our lives when we will be at a loss. We do not always understand what God's doing or what He's allowing to happen, and all we're left with is grief, sorrow, annoyances, and wondering why. But then that's when faith is revealed, because it's the dark times in life that require faith to be strong. Believing that God's ways are best when everything is going great for you doesn't take as much faith as believing His ways are best when things are messy and painful. Strong faith believes that God's way is best, even when we do not understand it. When we are left wondering why, and there seems to be no answers, we have to remember the words of Isaiah 55:8-9:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways."
We may never understand why, because we cannot fully comprehend the way God works. We just have to rest in the promise of Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
I have trouble with lyrics
I have had trouble understanding what singers are saying for my entire life. It's not that I don't get most of what they are saying. There are just lines that I struggle to understand. It's not too bad, because I'm usually in the car by myself when I sing, or sometimes I sing without thinking about it with Sarah in the car. I refuse to sing in front of anyone else. But the problem arises when Sarah is in the car with me, because she doesn't struggle to hear the lyrics, and she also doesn't struggle to laugh at me when I'm screwing up songs.
One group that has always given me trouble has been the OC Supertones. I have always loved their music, and I inevitably end up singing along with it, but there always seems to be at least one song per album that trips me up. Their new album just came out yesterday. As usual, there was one song that I couldn't understand. I knew what I heard, but at least this time, I knew I was wrong. I even sought counsel from my wise wife, but she couldn't decipher it, either.
Here's the song. You can jump to 1:12 in the song and listen for ten seconds and see what you heard. I'll tell you what I heard after the video, though, because I don't want to sully your ability to hear for yourself. Ready?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEbqgvuCUQA&t=1m12s
What did you hear? Here's what I heard, versus what was actually said:
What I heard: We’re boppin’ like a blitzkrieg, pilin’ in the backseat. Party till my butt cheek generates steam heat. No rows no seats, everybody on your feet, and smash it up! Smash it up! Meet me at the downbeat!
What was really said: We’re boppin’ like a blitzkrieg, pilin’ in the backseat. Party till were fa-tigued. Generating steam heat. No rows no seats, everybody on your feet, and smash it up! Smash it up! Meet me at the downbeat!
Samsonite! I was way off.
One group that has always given me trouble has been the OC Supertones. I have always loved their music, and I inevitably end up singing along with it, but there always seems to be at least one song per album that trips me up. Their new album just came out yesterday. As usual, there was one song that I couldn't understand. I knew what I heard, but at least this time, I knew I was wrong. I even sought counsel from my wise wife, but she couldn't decipher it, either.
Here's the song. You can jump to 1:12 in the song and listen for ten seconds and see what you heard. I'll tell you what I heard after the video, though, because I don't want to sully your ability to hear for yourself. Ready?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEbqgvuCUQA&t=1m12s
What did you hear? Here's what I heard, versus what was actually said:
What I heard: We’re boppin’ like a blitzkrieg, pilin’ in the backseat. Party till my butt cheek generates steam heat. No rows no seats, everybody on your feet, and smash it up! Smash it up! Meet me at the downbeat!
What was really said: We’re boppin’ like a blitzkrieg, pilin’ in the backseat. Party till were fa-tigued. Generating steam heat. No rows no seats, everybody on your feet, and smash it up! Smash it up! Meet me at the downbeat!
Samsonite! I was way off.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
passing on our habits
It should come as no big surprise to you that I love Star Wars. If this is news to you, you have probably never been in my office, read my tweets. or been around me when my phone has started to ring. Oh, and you've never seen my wallet. You know who also loves Star Wars? Jakob. It is one of his most favorite things. Whenever we go to Target or Meijer, the first thing he asks is if we can go look at Star Wars toys. If I am working on my computer, he comes and asks me to play the Star Wars song for him, because I'm so cool that I have the sound track. When we go out to Oriental restaurants, he likes to pretend that chop sticks are lightsabers. And, he loves to vocalize the Star Wars theme song all the time. He has inherited my love for Star Wars, and I really didn't push him into it. He just observed me enjoying it, wanted to watch it with me, and it just happened.
He has inherited other things from me and Sarah, as well. He behaves like we do, and it's fun to see. It could also be scary, depending on the situation. He makes me more aware of myself and shortcomings, because I'm afraid he'll repeat something he shouldn't say - especially at church! - or he'll develop issues similar to mine. The other day, he and I were alone in the car, and someone turned out in front of me and never made it up to speed. I had to pass, because they stayed solidly at 35 in a 45 MPH zone. I was annoyed and shouted, "Come on! If you're not going to drive, don't turn in front of me!" I was upset. From the backseat, I heard Jakob ask me, "You okay, Daddy?" He asked so sweetly, too. He was worried that I was upset, and he wanted to make sure I was alright. I immediately felt guilty, because his concern revealed that he had heard me and witnessed an angry, unacceptable behavior from me.
Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." I have been a trainer, and I have been trained. Training isn't just telling or teaching from a manual. It also involves demonstrating behavior, so the trainee can emulate it. Often times, it also involves showing not just what, but also how and why. This is how we train our kids. We demonstrate our love and devotion to God, so they can emulate it. We teach them what it means to love God, and we show them how to do it, and we tell them why it's important.
What will your kids learn to love from you? How will they learn to behave?
He has inherited other things from me and Sarah, as well. He behaves like we do, and it's fun to see. It could also be scary, depending on the situation. He makes me more aware of myself and shortcomings, because I'm afraid he'll repeat something he shouldn't say - especially at church! - or he'll develop issues similar to mine. The other day, he and I were alone in the car, and someone turned out in front of me and never made it up to speed. I had to pass, because they stayed solidly at 35 in a 45 MPH zone. I was annoyed and shouted, "Come on! If you're not going to drive, don't turn in front of me!" I was upset. From the backseat, I heard Jakob ask me, "You okay, Daddy?" He asked so sweetly, too. He was worried that I was upset, and he wanted to make sure I was alright. I immediately felt guilty, because his concern revealed that he had heard me and witnessed an angry, unacceptable behavior from me.
Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." I have been a trainer, and I have been trained. Training isn't just telling or teaching from a manual. It also involves demonstrating behavior, so the trainee can emulate it. Often times, it also involves showing not just what, but also how and why. This is how we train our kids. We demonstrate our love and devotion to God, so they can emulate it. We teach them what it means to love God, and we show them how to do it, and we tell them why it's important.
What will your kids learn to love from you? How will they learn to behave?
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