Sunday Night Unfiltered

Lots of action today!
  • Today was a great day. Busy for a lot of people around me, but really good.
  • I don’t think I’ll ever get used to my alarm going off at 5:00 am. It’s always worth it for me, though, since I get to spend a few hours of uninterrupted time studying Scripture.
  • Preached through the entire chapter of Revelation 21 this morning. It’s been a long time since I’ve covered that big of a chunk of text. Was it too much?
  • Had some great positive feedback after worship. I hope the impact of my message lasts longer than the 10 minutes following the service.
  • As usual, I had to cut some stuff out. One of the things I wanted to dive into more was the statement “It is done” in Revelation 21:6. It parallels so much with the last words of Jesus on the cross, “It is finished.” I wish I had more time to dive into that parallel and the similarities and differences between the finished work on the cross and the ultimate finished work at the resurrection. Cool things to think about.
  • I talked a little about Joseph Kittinger’s space jump. You can read more about his crazy story here.
  • Didn’t mean to, but I got an almost two hour nap this afternoon on the couch holding Lilyana. Woke up 15 minutes before Connection Group, so I ended being a little late (sorry everybody).
  • Gooey butter cake will change your life. I could get used to this dessert at Connection Group every week thing.
  • The insights of my group always impress me. I’ve got a great bunch of people in my group.
  • Will Warfel pulled one of these this morning. And then after service he pulled this. I think he’s Jon Acuff’s alter-ego.
  • I bought the most expensive electric razor I’ve ever bought yesterday. I’m tired of dropping so much cash on razor blades. I hope I get a few years of use out of this one.
  • I’m pumped about going to Catalyst Conference again this year. I’m even more pumped that Brea is going! Watch out Atalanta!

Alright, that’s it for this week. Sleep well everyone!

Delighting in God (OR a theology of worship taught by a seven month old)

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
–Psalm 37:4

Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since Emory was born last May have come from the new role that I now have as a dad. I’ve heard people say that having a kid changes you more than you could ever expect. I can tell you without a doubt that it’s 100% true and happened faster than I expected. I’ve changed more over the past [almost] eight months than probably the past decade, especially in the area of my emotions. I’ve learned to open my heart more fully. I’ve learned what it really means to love someone more than you love yourself.

The most surprising lesson I’ve learned from Emory has been what worshiping God really looks like. I never thought that a person who doesn’t know how to talk could really teach me a profound lesson. The Psalms are a book of worship. One theme that runs throughout the book is that we, as God’s children, are to delight ourselves in Him. I now know what this looks like. I can also say, ashamedly, that my delighting in God is no where near where it should be in comparison to Emory’s delighting in me.

The squeals that Emory makes when I look down on her are more pure expressions of joy than any of the words that I’ve sung to the Lord. The giggles that she makes when I tickle her are more authentic than the prayers that I’ve prayed to my Savior. The smiles that makes when she sees me are deeper than the happiness I find when I study God’s Word.

Who would have known that one little ball of joy could teach, convict, and redirect my life lived as an expression of worship to God so dramatically and so soon. I love thinking about the journey of life that I’ll share with my daughter and the rest of the lessons that she’ll teach me. And hopefully I’ll be able to teach her a thing or two along the way.