Coming home

I came home last night. I returned to that which is most important to me. I had been fighting to reconnect. I had be striving to become close once again. I tried everything. But last night it juse happened -- and I think I understand why. For the first time in months, not only I reconnected, but WE reconnected. We came together as a group with the purpose of reconnecting. Even the preparation felt different. As I set up stations, the auditorium transformed itself into a sacntuary. I carefully places each station in its place. I carefully considered the arrangement and posture each station would require. As I did, my planning turned into prayer. My preparation became worship. And finally, when the few of us met our attention was not turned on our own lives. We weren't even focused on one another. Instead, our concerted effort was directed toward God and what he has done. As we turned our minds to thoughts of God, we experienced community, we experienced love, and I think even some healing in places in our hearts that we didn't even realize were broken. In all, I think I spent about 5 hours considering Him who endured such opposition. Together last night for 90 minutes we all considered the Christ. We came home.

Big day in the Nall family today. We are ALL now a forward facing family in the suburban. Jenna got a new car seat today and now gets to look where we're going rather than where we've been. It was fun to watch and listen to her new perspective on life. All the way from the house to our church building she kept saying, "Weeeee...."

I have to admit it was a melancholic moment removing the base and old car seat. Our baby girl is now a toddler!

I recently took on an added responsibility at the Christian school where I teach part time. In addition to teaching chemistry, physics, AP biology and health, I chose to teach a junior high science class from 11:50-12:25 just for this semester. The reason for this is to spend more time with a teenager whose family worships with us. This teen is invisible to most in our church family. She's not part of our student ministries, her mother struggles with MS, and her father is a shift worker (I think). This extra time has given me a chance to just really connect with a shy, young lady. It's been great. Sometimes, I even stick around an eat lunch with her and her friends. She has blessed my life. I had been praying for the Lord to send workers into her life during the fall. I guess I know his answer. It came in the form of a phone call from our director 3 days before Christmas.

The more I consider the events of the other night with a small group of people, the more I'm convinced of the need to be more than a collection of individuals who gather. The following are some random thoughts/reflections of what it means to be community.

1) It means being a part of a common purpose that is greater, more important than my individual concerns or wants. This provides the rallying point in spite of all the differences between individuals in the group.

2) It means adopting a set of common beliefs and creeds to which we agree upon. This is shaped by our common purpose. As the purpose is laid out, beliefs, creeds, faith statements are identified that can be shared among all group members. These are held up often together as a way of helping to remind and encourage one another in our common mission.

3) While respect for each member's individuality is important, we must be willing to enter into the lives of one another and hold one another accountable when choices, lifestyles, decisions, actions are contrary to the purpose of shared common beliefs.

4) It means finding ways to encourage others as we strive to carry out our common mission. Group members should feel safe to be authentic expressing both joys and struggles.

These are not the only observations I have but will do for now. They are based on Frazee's book as well as some reflections based on experiences I have recently had.


Check out Steve Holt's post on "Friendship Houses." Good stuff. I was personally challenged by it today.

What is church?

I experienced church last night. I experienced the power of the Holy Spirit when the community of faith comes together. I experienced the real, authentic spirituality the comes when we put down the masks and let others see who we genuinely are. I experienced the beginning of the healing that Jesus offers.

Church is when a group of broken people gather and encourage one another. It is when we extend the love of Christ to those who are hurting. It is doing whatever it takes to express the love of Christ. Church is about doing the mission of God. Last night was church. Last night was worship.

The box reads "Dinosaur epoch: the world of dinosaur." It boasts "realistic dinosaur walk and the tail can sway." It even claims an "authentic style." I didn't understand what that meant until Julia removed the "dinosaur" from the box, we installed the batteries, and turned it on in my bedroom.

One might have expected a vicious roar or some other goose-bump inducing, toe curling, hair-standing-up-on-the-back-of-your-neck noise. After all this toy is "not for children under the age of 3" (though there are no parts that pose a choking hazard). But instead of a terrifying roar, hiss, growl, or even a purr, the dinosaur burst into a carnival song in some language other than English that would have made Barnum and Bailey proud. Julia, Deana and I fell over laughing. I guess the wings on the dinosaur and the cowboy riding its back should have given it away for us. As for the realistic dinosaur walk, you can only imagine from just looking at the picture. My daughter has an interesting taste in toys.

Happy Birthday, Julia!

Seven years ago today, at 1:22 p.m. my world was rocked. In a matter of an instant I fell in love. The moment the doctors lifted Julia from Deana I was hooked. I was forever changed. These past seven years have been a whirlwind.

Here are seven memories celebrating seven years.

1. Making the 8-hour commute with Julia in the back seat of our 1991 Geo Prizm while Deana sang "The Bear Went Over the Mountain", and "Little Cabin in the Woods" at the top of her lungs making her laugh when Julia was less than a year old.

2. Trying to discipline Julia in a Mexican food restaraunt at the outlet mall in LaMarque. Julia wouldn't let up. She kept pushing and pushing us. After several warnings that she would get a spanking in front of Granny and Papa, I stood up to spank her. With a look of terror in her eyes, she got in her chair and began spanking herself as hard as she could crying, "Daddy, I'll spank myself!"

3. A daddy/daughter date to I-HOP for breakfast in the middle of a tropical storm.

4. Walking around Sea World in the midst of a rain storm. Deana was pregnant with Jenna at the time. We had a great time even though we were soaked.

5. During the first few months of Julia's life I was Mr. Mom. Deana worked full time while I stayed home with Julia taking graduate courses in seminary. I loved the looks I would get pushing Julia in a stroller while grocery shopping or walking the mall in the middle of the day.

6. Julia as a sheep in a Christmas play at Memorial Baptist's Mother's Day Out program. I was wondering why rabbits were in the nativity.

7. Being at the Travis Elementary playground as Julia was just learning to read. She began sounding out an unkind word (putting it nicely), stopped and asked "Daddy, what does F..." I stopped her right there and we moved to another spot.

Happy Birthday, Julia!

I just discovered a couple of interesting web sites. Check out dontbethatguy.com and worldometers.info and let me know what you think.

Home Sweet Home

Deana, trying to converse on the phone, leaves the kitchen while Jenna, who is strapped into her high chair throws her head from side to side squealing at Julia who is making obnoxiously loud noises. At the same time water is boiling over the edge of the pan that is cooking the spaghetti noodles. Oh where would my sanity be if it weren't for coming home to the sanctuary of my family?

“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have a confession to make - I had never read or listened to this famous speech until just the other day. I’m ashamed of that. I’m ashamed that I have taken men like him for granted. But as I have come to better understand the Gospel of the Christ, I have come to realize how inextricably connected the message is to the daily living for the sake of others.

Last night I took Deana to the Houston Symphony to hear Emanual Ax. It was part of her Christmas present. Here are some things you'll never see at the Houston Symphony.

1) A woman screaming "I want to have your baby!" while throwing her bra at Hans Graf.
2) Audience members holding up lighters as they sing during the performance of Mozart's opera Resta, oh cara.
3) The concertmaster smashing his Stradivarius against the gong in the percussion section
4) Someone shout "BOR...ING!" during a dramatic pause of a movement.
5) The tuba player lighting one up during a long stretch of rests.
6) Bios of artists that include references to drug rehab and arrest records.

I just heard a news report that 80% of those who made New Year's resolutions have already broken them. I'm going running.

The human garbage disposal

I think Jenna will eat just about anything as long as it isn't green beans. She has an affinity for cat food and Jergens lotion. We've even caught her with the pump in her mouth more than once. You'd think one taste of that stuff and she'd learn, but not Jenna. I've seen her cram lotion-caked fingers into her mouth. Maybe we're missing out on something.

Another NCYM moment

I must say I was surprised by Accappella at NCYM. I had burned out on them years ago. But on Thursday morning they put on quite a show with a lot of passion, and some praise. It was a good time of worship. It definitely reminded me of back in the day.


Another highlight from NCYM... Chris Campbell taking caring of us at Appleby's. Thanks, my friend. I'll take the high road on the striping my hair comment. The thing about that is I can't really tell the difference in Deana's hair. I think I'm not the most observant husband. I look to the inner beauty.


I will brag on my wife though. She's been encouraged by some people to do some writing, and I hope she does. She's definitely one of the very best out there. She's too humble to admit it though.

NCYM

Here are some of my favorite moments from NCYM in Nashville.

1. Meeting Radar in a cell phone accessory store. Bryan, Doug and I walked into a this store that looked more like a pawn shop. A man introduced himself and his dog, Radar, to us. When Bryan asked if the man accepted credit cards, he replied "Yes you only need cash in this store. You don't need much money here." The cell phone chargers were only $2. When we went to pay for our chargers, the man told us to pay Radar. Bryan stuck out his two dollars, Radar took the money and put it in the drawer. The store must be a cover for something.

2. Riding in the backseat of a car about the size of a Chevy Cavalier Tuesday night with Bryan Borden and Michael Mercer trying to find Outback steakhouse. Needless to say, we were a little cozy. Some friends who initially were following us made it to the restaraunt before we did, and they were in a car accident. One of the guys commented that it was like we were in a Seinfeld episode.

3. Sharing a room with two double beds with Bordo, Doug and Mike Avery. Hey, we saved money!

4. Watching Vince Young rush for two touchdowns in the final five minutes of the national championship game. Though I'm not a longhorns fan, I'll root for a Texas team in a national title game.

5. Worshiping with 400 or so other youth ministers who are crazy about Christ.

6. Listening to the Toe Song

Though the speakers were awesome and the classes good, the week is more about connecting with those who share my passion and love for the Lord. It was a week well spent. Thanks guys!