Control

January 23, 20109 Comments

As many of you know Betsy and I are expecting our first child in May. I am sooooo excited about being a father! I love it when people share with me how “this is gonna change your life” or “you’ll never be the same” or “you will wonder how you could ever love someone so much.” I know they’re right and I can’t wait.

One of the first question people ask us after they find out we’re pregnant is “do you know if it’s a boy or a girl yet?” When we tell them we’ve decided not find out we always get mixed reactions. Some are so grateful we don’t want to know but others are disappointed or confused at why we wouldn’t. Others are down right angry; it’s kind of alarming.

With that in mind I thought I would try and explain our decision because I think it has much bigger implications for our lives as a whole. Let me say first I don’t think there is anything wrong with finding out the sex of your child before it’ s born. That is for each couple to decide. For us we felt it was important not to find out the gender because we don’t want to buy into the illusion of control.

Let me explain, one of the primary reasons people want to know the sex of their child is so they can buy gender specific clothes, toys, etc. They want to know if the nursery bedding should be pink or blue, should it be bunny rabbits or trains. All of this is done in the name of being “properly prepared.” If there is anything I know it’s that you can never be properly prepared for children. There will always be something else: more diapers, formula, snacks, patience, mercy and kindness, etc.

While we are called to do our best to prepare as stewards of this new life it is sin for us to use the busyness of preparation to medicate our fears of inadequacy. Finding out the sex of the child only allows us to feed our fears by removing some of the variables thereby giving us the illusion of control, removing the need for faith. We will never be in control. It’s important that we swallow that pill early on in our relationship with this child. The responsibility of control is reserved for Christ alone. Only He can truly prepare our hearts and homes for this new child and only He can calm our deepest fears. For Betsy and I it’s more important to forego knowing if it’s a boy or a girl in exchange for an increased dependency in Christ.

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Finally

January 20, 2010Leave a Comment

Just a quick post today to let you all know that God In Search of Man has finally found it’s way to Itunes. Thanks for your patience. Spread the word!

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Haiti

January 13, 20101 Comments

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First, let me say thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I’m honored that you would think anything I have to say is worth reading.

Secondly, in the wake of last nights Haitian earthquake I would be equally honored if, instead of reading my post, you would devote the time you might have spent here to lift up Haiti in prayer.

I will be back tomorrow; same time, same channel.

Greatest Blessings~ Erik

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Wait! Not Until I Have My…

January 12, 20102 Comments

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Coffee. “Wait!…not until I have my coffee”, at least that’s how the new commercial from McDonald’s starts out. A tall 30 something, making his way through the busy New York streets presumably on his way to work, stopping everyone who wishes him a good morning with that line, “Wait, not until I have my coffee!”

In some ways I can empathize. Although I’m not a heavy coffee drinker mornings are not my favorite part of the day (unless of course I’m playing golf). I remember in high school waking up on the weekends around noon, all of my hair standing up on end, dragging my self to the breakfast table…or lunch table depending on how you see it! Perhaps I was genetically predisposed to sleep in. My mother was always carrying a coffee cup with a picture of an old woman on it who looked like she’d been in a train wreck, emphatically touting the slogan “I Don’t Do Mornings”. I’m sure most of us can identify on some level. If not the commercial wouldn’t be nearly as funny or successful.

Perhaps it’s my getting older, more than likely it’s the ever-approaching birth of our first child, but it seems like recently the first thing I’ve been craving in the mornings isn’t coffee, it’s the Word of God. Not like a “sure, I guess I’ll have some” craving, but more like an “I’m gonna spontaneously combust if I don’t get some of that right now!” kinda craving. Sometimes I wake up and it’s like I can’t breathe if I don’t hear from the Lord. I imagine this is what King David meant in Psalm 63 when he wrote:

“Oh God, You are my God; I will seek Thee earnestly. My soul it thirsts for You, my flesh it yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

I would love to tell you it’s this way every day for me but it’s not. Most days it’s lunch before I get to my quiet time…..and my attitude shows it. Just like the guy in the commercial I can be short and edgy with people, even down right mean. I know, I know it’s hard to believe ;) but it’s true, things don’t go well for me or those who cross my path when I haven’t had my coffee, I mean quiet time.

So my question is this: What do you crave first thing in the morning? What would happen if instead of our coffee or drug of choice we began to seek the Lord first thing in the morning? How would our priorities, relationships and passions change as we “seek first the kingdom of God”? Food for thought….or coffee if it makes you feel better.

Ba da bop ba ba I’m lovin’ it.

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Glimpses Of Spring

January 11, 2010Leave a Comment

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Life is full of seasons and like the calendar there are seasons of joy and growth just as there are seasons of sorrow and tears. King Solomon talks about this in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, the passage made famous to pop culture by The Byrds in their song “Turn, Turn, Turn” (1965). This past year has been a challenging one for all of us no doubt. For my immediate family this has been the most personally difficult year any of us remember as a family. It seems like every time we turn around there is something else that has befallen us. For these continued circumstances we are grateful for your prayers.

Although Winter’s wind often robs our memory of the warmth we knew in summer we trust the process and more importantly our Father, the One to whom the winter winds obey. We also take hope in knowing that after winter comes spring! After a long hard winter it would appear the Lord has a season of joy ahead for our family. My brother Evan is getting married in April, Betsy and I are expecting in May, my youngest sister Josie is engaged for July and my sister Dori is engaged for August! That’s three weddings and a grandchild for my parents in 2010. We know things can change and don’t take anything for granted nor do we assume anything of the Lord, but for these first few glimpses of spring we are so grateful!
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