DiscipleGeek

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear
Precious Lord linger near
When my life is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Three weeks ago today, I received a phone call from my mom. Dad’s stress test indicated he had at least one blockage and he would be going in for an arteriogram to determine the extent of the blockage.

The next day he was being wheeled back to surgery for a triple bypass.

Thankfully, the surgery went well, his heart is in great shape, and now he’s recovering nicely at home.

This all happened so suddenly that it was overwhelming to me. Between recovering from my own illness and dealing with the flood of emotions from my dad’s surgery, I let this blog fall by the wayside, and I apologize.

But that’s not why I’m writing today.

First, I’d like to welcome my dad to the zipper club. I joined it when I was 5, and two of my uncles joined it within the past few years. The zipper club consists of anyone who has a scar from open heart surgery.

I also want to emphasize just how important it is that you have a good relationship with the people in your lives. I’m so grateful that our relationship is what it is; because of it, I was able to hold on to a certain amount of peace during his surgery. I knew that no matter what happened, the only regret would be that I didn’t have more time with him.

If you have issues with someone, please do everything you can to start fixing it. I know sometimes it seems messy, but no matter what complexities are involved, you can break it down to the fact that it NEEDS to be repaired. Or at least you need to attempt to repair it.

Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Mark 11:25
25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

It is our responsibility as Christians to make it right, no matter who is at fault.

Fix it.

My baby girl turned 3 months old yesterday!

Lets see, she’s already said her first word, and it was Daddy. 🙂 I think she’s going to be a daddy’s girl. She can roll from her back to her tummy, can stand up in our laps by holding on to our fingers, and likes to play “games” with daddy like reaching out to touch my beard and then jerking her arm back over and over.

Also, on Sunday she gave me the best Fathers’ Day gift she could, her first giggle. I caught her in a good mood and found her tickle spot. The ensuing giggle was loud enough for my wife to verify it from the back of the house.

She may wear me and Christina out from lack of sleep, but moments like that make it totally worth it.

I want to apologize for missing a post yesterday. I’ve been dealing with some sinus mess for about 2 weeks that has left me very tired and very much in a non-motivated mood. If you could please pray that this passes quickly. I’ve visited the doctor again this morning and he gave me another round of antibiotics as well as a shot. Hopefully this will shake it.

Also, while I really don’t want this to happen, it may be that I’m going to avoid posting while I’m under the weather unless something just sparks my fire. To some extent it actually hurts to focus on the computer monitor for extended periods of time. This is not exactly cooperating with my job, or with writing in general.

In my post on Monday, I mentioned that our life changed for the better when we had children. It seems like every time I turn around I see another part of my life that has been blessed by God through this gift. One blessing that strikes me as one of the most important is the amazing paradigm shift in my relationship with my own earthly father.

Typically, as we grow up people point out how we look or act like our parents. I am no different. My dad and I are so alike that it was probably these similarities that were the cause of a lot of the strife we had while I was growing up. Now that I have a son of my own, these same similarities have opened my eyes to the depth of love my dad has for me.

I am utterly humbled by it.

Looking back on my life with this new viewpoint I see sacrifices he made for me and my sisters that I never realized until now. Still, I know that what I see now is still only a fraction of reality.

Thank you for making these sacrifices.

Thank you for preaching the Gospel for almost half a century and bringing so many lost souls to Christ, including my own.

Thank you for showing me how important it is to still on your honeymoon with your wife even as you approach your half-century anniversary.

Thank you for helping shape me into the man I am today.

Happy Fathers’ Day. I love you with all my heart, Papa.