Mini-Sandy

Whenever we get together with old friends, especially those who have known Sandy before she had the boys and girl, most everyone seems to have the same reaction once they see Emery. "She's a mini-Sandy!"

Emery has been begging to get bangs cut so she can look just like mom. Well, $10 Tuesday haircuts came around, and guess who got bangs? Emery is super happy about it.

Here's a recent before picture for comparison.

District Spelling Bee

Yesterday, Matt and Emery went to the district spelling bee.

Since they both finished first in their grade, they made it to the next round.

They were a tad nervous before it started. Here's Matt with his classmate Alexia.

And here's Emery with her classmate Emily.

Mom watched Emery compete against about 13 other 1st graders. It looks like a pretty intimidating setting! I watched Matt compete against 17 other 2nd graders. Mom had the camera so this is where the pictures of Matt end!

They both did absolutely great. Matt finished in 5th place. He had some TOUGH competition. He went through 13 rounds before he got out on "gingerly." But the 1st place winner had to go through 32 rounds!  My little diva Emery got 3rd and earned a nice ribbon. She got out on "conduct."

Let 'er rip!

Matt got some Beyblades for his birthday. If you don't know what Beyblades are, you are obviously older than 8. Matt has always been the only one of our kids who has really been into different toys that are marketed for him. Andrew had some interest but it usually didn't last long for him. Emery is interested in a few things, but not too many. Marketing really works on him.

He and Emery had a Beyblade battle.

Emery couldn't get the hang of it though.

But the 3rd time was the charm. It is so cute to watch those 2 play.

#2 - Outliers

Book #2 for the year was Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. It was a fascinating sociological read about "men and women who, for one reason or another, are so accomplished and so extraordinary and so outside of ordinary experience that they are as puzzling to the rest of us as a cold day in August."

Gladwell proceeded to show how sociological phenomena play a huge part in determining the success of people. For example, the success of hockey players in Canada are not simply a result of how athletic or how hard a person works. But their birth month plays a pivotal role in their development also. Because the older boys, even by just 6-9 months, who compete against each other are at a distinct advantage in their younger years which then domino into distinct advantages in their older years.

In study after study, national culture, the era in which a person lived, a person's parents generation, and many other examples all play pivotal roles in determining the success of an individual beyond simply their individual hard work and dedication.

What I found fascinating was that as a non-Christian, Gladwell though highly interesting, misses the eternal point - the sovereign and all good God of the universe actively interacts in every person's situation by His providence. Acts 17:28 says, "In Him we live and move and have our being." He planned our days before we were born - Psalm 139:16. "A man's steps are ordered by the Lord" Proverbs 20:24. And ultimately God is the one who determines our success or failure - "For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up; but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another" Psalm 75:6-7. Everything we have comes from God as a gift - "What have you that you did not receive? If then you receive it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?" 1 Corinthians 4:7.

So while Gladwell is correct in that all of those extraneous factors play a part in every person's life. Ultimately it is God's providence which utilizes every single detail of life that we can analyze and far more that we are ignorant of, to accomplish His perfect plans for each of us. What an amazing God we worship!

Gymnastics

Emery has been going to gymnastics for a couple of months now and still loves it. She just had her gymnastics showcase where she did routines on the floor, beam and bars.

Emery likes the gallop, gallop cartwheel!

Here she is on the beam.

And here is her favorite - the bars.

#1 - American Sniper

My first book of 2013 was American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle. It's the story of a Navy seal who fought in Baghdad, Ramadi and Fallujah. If you like military history, you'll like this book.

Now I am very thankful for our military. They protect our country and our freedom from evil men and women.

• Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

And I fully support this man's service for our country and his work as a sniper. But the interesting thing about this book is that he claimed to be a Christian. He even called on Jesus as his Savior and knew the gospel in its essence. But the book, as most military autobiographies are, was filled with obvious, unrepentant sin - swearing, drinking, lying, fornication, etc. How can this man continually sin and sin and sin with no remorse even but instead almost a hubris and pride of his sin and still call himself a Christian?

Could he be a Christian who has simply not learned any of the Word of God and thus doesn't realize he is no longer a slave of sin and that the Holy Spirit of God lives in him? Or is he one who calls himself a Christian as those did in Matthew 7:22 but will tragically find out on the judgment day that he is not saved?

It's hard to tell because I just read a book and don't know the man personally. I have not talked to him at church or visited him in his home. I have not gone out to lunch with him to talk about his testimony. I have not had him and his family over to my house and talked about spiritual things. I have not taught him the Word, encouraged him in Christ, exhorted him to be holy or rebuked him for his sin.

This is one reason why the local church is so important. God gave us shepherds in the local church to care for our souls. I cannot care for this man's soul, but I am actively caring for the souls of the people at my church. I hope Chris Kyle is part of a church where shepherds do the same for him.

Quality time

A pastor's schedule is often a tricky thing. I have great flexibility during the day, Monday through Friday. It's very convenient that I can manage my own schedule and take care of things. This is great except for the fact that the boys and girl are in school during the day. The evenings are also tricky because they have schoolwork or extra curricular activities now, and I often have meetings.

Another challenge is my weekends are often very inflexible. Sunday used to be a relaxing and refreshing day often doing things with extended family when I was a part of the secular workforce. But now, Sundays are very busy and often very exhausting work days. Saturdays used to be family day trips or work days, now they are a mixed bag. I usually do my last preparation on Saturday evenings for my sermon the next day and the kids need a rest day after a busy week at school. We're still figuring out how to make it all work.

But I have made a concerted effort to maximize quality time with the boys and girl. Quality time requires quantity time. So this past weekend, we were silly together.

Matt and Emz love getting shaved. They usually don't need the full shave, but they were grizzly that morning. :)

We also pulled out a 1,000 piece puzzle. I like to relax and work on these every once in a while. They wanted to "help" me. It didn't turn out as relaxing with all that "help"! But it was fun to work on it together. If you're wondering where Andrew was, he was reading most of the day. I do get to spend quality time with him every week, taking him to basketball practices and games. He wasn't neglected!