Tatsu-icide

This year our denominational convention was in Anaheim, but being that our kids are now 18 and 16,they weren't interested in going to Disneyland -- no -- it had to be Magic Mountain. The place is known for being not as clean as Disney, and not as family friendly -- but the hey, they put all their money into their rides (at least that is what I hoped). At least one dozen insane roller coasters. So on Memorial Day, the day before our church convention we went for it. We arrived early and stood in line to be one of the first ones in the park...or so we thought. For 30 minutes we waited for the gates to open and then the stampede began. Our strategy -- go to the first "BIG" ride and then work our way through them -- Starting with X2, then Tatsu, then Terminator.. At exactly 12:30 (two hours after the park opened) we were strapped into our first ride. I'll tell you what it was like. Imagine strapping yourself to piece of plywood. Invert it and find a way to shake it violently for 90 seconds. If that sounds fun, you would love Magic Mountain. It was on that first ride that my brain dislocated from the lining of my skull.

As we walked to the second ride I noticed that I was one of the oldest people there. I observed that I was probably older then 95% of the people there. The park was full of teens and people in their lower 20s. Then I thought to myself, this just might be my last time at Magic Mountain with Heidi and the kids. Alicia is going off to college and Levi isn't really far behind. I was confronted with the dawning of a new season in my life. And rather than feeling sad about it, I smiled, and I thought, I can do this next ride, one last time. I smiled and found the next ride to me far less painful.

There was a time when those rides looked really fun. In a similar way, people beginning jobs often look at their new job with the enthusiasm of a teen getting on a mind bending roller coaster. Couples starting a new family often dive in without fear of the sleepless nights, the "loss of freedom" and the tremendous demands of parenting. After a while, though, seasons lose their lustre, fatigue can creep in and life isn't as fun as it used to be. But there is always something new, something different and something possibly even more rewarding, right around the corner. Just don't get stuck in the former season. There is a time and a season for everything.

On June 6-7 I will be speaking out of Ecclesiastes 3. You may want to go ahead it read it now. I hope you don't mind if I tell this story again then.

A Prayer for the Children

By Ina J. Hughes

We pray for the children
who put chocolate fingers everywhere,
who like to be tickled,
who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants,
who sneak Popsicles before supper,
who erase holes in math workbooks,
who can never find their shoes.

And we pray for those
who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
who’ve never squeaked across the floor in new sneakers,
who never had crayons to count,
who are born in places we wouldn’t be caught dead,
who never go to the circus,
who live in an X-rated world.

We pray for children
who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
who sleep with the dog and bury goldfish,
who give hugs in a hurry and forget their lunch money,
who cover themselves with Band-Aids and sing off-key,
who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,
who slurp their soup.

And we pray for those
who never get dessert,
who watch their parents watch them die,
who have no safe blanket to drag behind,
who can’t find any bread to steal,
who don’t have any rooms to clean up,
whose pictures aren’t on anybody’s dresser,
whose monsters are real.

We pray for children
who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who like ghost stories, who shove dirty clothes under the bed,
who never rinse out the tub,
who get visits from the tooth fairy,
who don't like to be kissed in front of the school,
who squirm in church or temple or mosqueand scream in the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.

And we pray for those
whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move, but have no being.
We pray for children who want to be carried, and for those who must.
For those we never give up on,
and for those who never get a chance.
For those we smother with our love,
and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. I'm not sure about the value of this as an event, but I am convinced of the value of prayer. So if it is a catalyst to get people praying, GREAT. Prayer works. 2 Chronicles 4:17 is the theme verse for this day for me.

Lots going on...Mother's Day is this weekend. Gearing up for a big weekend at Eastside. I guess more people goto church on Mother's Day then any other weekend (excluding Easter and Christmas). This shows the innate spirituality that women seem to have (compared to men). Father's Day tends to be the biggest weekend at the bowling alley & the ball park. Heidi is out of town on Mother's Day (going to Colorado to hang out with one of her best friends of all time, Karma Duggin).

Tomorrow night is a great concert here at our church: "Break the Chains" is a benefit concert being put on by the Bothell High ASB. Modern Mosaic (Levi's band) is playing so that means I will be there. I'm probably even more excited about their concert next Saturday night at the Kirkland Teen Center, but both shows will be really good.

Alicia is getting Senior Pictures this week and graduation is quickly approaching. I wouldn't mind if time slowed down.

I'm trying to get back into racing shape. My long-term goal is Fall cross country season. There are 3 clubs in town who all could have really good cross-country teams. I'm not yet sure who I will run for. We'll see.

I have been studying the life of Joseph lately and have found it to be very helpful in keeping my focus on the Lord.

The women's retreat our church had last weekend was a great success. Heidi spoke at the Saturday night session and I heard she did an excellent job.

At the end of the month our entire family is going to Anaheim for the annual Foursquare Church Convention. It should double as a nice vacation. Alicia and Levi are voting for Magic Mountain over Disneyland.

Enough said for now. If you don't follow me on Twitter or Facebook, I invite you to look me up. God-bless.