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"Burn the Ships" . . .

2/29/2020

I love music, and a new song has a three-in-four chance of getting my attention: melody, beat, lyrics. (None of the above is option number four.)

Often I love the lyrics, but more often than not, it is the melody or the rhythm that will first grab my attention, and then I will pay attention to the lyrics. Sometimes I connect with the words; sometimes, I don’t (but I still like the song); and on a few occasions, I get the lyrics completely wrong (like when I was caught singing about “broken arms” when Journey’s song was about “open arms”).

The new song by For King and Country–– “Burn the Ships”–– was one of those songs whose melody and rhythm caught my attention first, and whose lyrics intrigued me. As I listened more closely to the words, I figured I had mastered their meaning . . . and I was close.

But not until I listened to Luke Smallbone provide the song’s backstory did the song come to life. Attached is the lyric version of the song, and a video of Luke explaining the song, before the group sings it live.

I hope you enjoy it –– its melody, its beat, and . . . of course . . . its lyrics.

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Face to Face . . .

2/22/2020

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The picture to the left is the recent first meeting of the youngest great-grandchild in the family with the oldest. I think that look of adoration and love is precious.

Since my father’s death, I have been thinking a lot about heaven. I have reread all the biblical descriptions, and I have listened to MercyMe’s “I can only imagine,” Bart Millard’s view of what it would be like to meet God after the death of his own father. He isn’t sure if he will stand in awe or drop to his face. Both I think are real possibilities when one meets the God of the universe who sacrificed His only son.

But the face of this youngest great-grandchild reminded me of one more encounter. I would like to think that as Jesus greets my father (one of God’s children) face to face for the very first time that He would put His hands on my dad’s face and look at him with that same love and adoration. I bet He does. I bet that’s how He greets all His children.

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Not Like Everyone Else . . .

2/15/2020

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Impeachment. Global Warming. Election fraud. Missing Airliners. The various stories and theories surrounding each of them could make a person’s head swim. Fortunately, there is only one voice that we need to listen to and only one whom we should fear.

As Isaiah said in Isaiah 8:11-14a

The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said,
   “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do,
       and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.
   Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.
   He is the one you should fear.
   He is the one who should make you tremble.
   He will keep you safe. (emphasis mine)

Matthew 10:28 also reminds us why we should be of this mind: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (emphasis mine).”

Both verses are good reminders for us, that while our time on this tumultuous and conspiracy laden world is short, (spoiler alert) eternity is forever.

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The Game . . . and the Bet

2/8/2020

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I thought San Francisco would win. They could have. They should have. They were right there with less than a quarter to go. But they didn’t . . . Kansas City did, and now I have to go to Missouri.

Last week we had a lot of family and friends coming from all over the country and world to attend my dad’s funeral. My cousin and my aunt, my dad’s sole surviving sibling, were two of those who came. They live in Missouri. (Back story now complete.)

Between our “extended” trip to Missouri this summer and then this short time together, this has been the most time my cousin and I have spent together—ever. Her work has kept her in Missouri, and until a couple of years ago, mine kept me in California. But I think both my father’s death and these times together reminded both of us that family . . . even family that lives 1500 miles away . . . is important . . . and fun.

Families often make promises to bridge the distance and visit each other, but good intentions often go unfulfilled, so to insure a visit by one of us to the other, we packed our promise with a little extra insurance in the form of a bet. San Francisco wins, she buys me dinner; Kansas City wins, I buy her dinner. I think you can see the problem . . . 1500 miles.

I lost. So I will honor my bet, this year or next, and get back to Missouri and take my cousin out to Dairy Queen. Had she lived closer she might have earned an In-and-Out Burger. The bill, by the way, will be sent to the 49ers.

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Dad . . .

2/1/2020

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I lost my father. No that’s not true. I know exactly where he is––in heaven, having been welcomed into the loving arms of our Lord on January 20, 2020.

I miss him already, but I am not going to use this space to eulogize him. Like all men, he had his strengths and his faults. Instead, I would like to share with you the inheritance he left my siblings and me.

Strong work ethic: My father worked hard. Having grown up without a father on a farm in Missouri, he knew what hard work was, and he was not afraid to do it. He was also not afraid to demand it. Married at 19, he worked his way through college while supporting his young family at the same time. Though our family may not have had as much as some other families, we never lacked food, housing, or love. Dad also believed that whatever job you had, no matter how menial, you did your best. No short cuts.

Responsibility: First, Dad firmly believed in working, saving, and living within your means. If you couldn’t afford it, you didn’t buy it. End of story. Second, he believed you took care of what you were entrusted with, whether you owned it or not. The homes they rented were as well maintained as the home they built and lived in 52 years. Everything they owned (cars, tools, clothes, etc.) was cared for, and lasted a long time.

Devotion to Family: Dad worked long hours, his job sometimes requiring him to be gone both during the day and the evening, but his spare hours and the weekends were devoted to his family. He rarely missed one of our sporting events or activities. He faithfully helped Mom with Sunday morning breakfast after church, and he would routinely take me out to a nearby tennis court to teach me the game. Holidays were always spent with family.

Generosity: Anyone who knows my parents, knows how generous they are. They invited everyone they met to come and visit, and they would house them for as long as they wanted to stay. They have had visitors from all over the world and from the next town over. All were important. Of course, Dad would want to drive them everywhere . . . Yosemite, the coast, San Francisco . . . even the Grand Canyon . . . sometimes to their guests’ exhaustion, but Dad wanted to make sure that if this was their only visit to California, they were going to see everything!

I will certainly miss my father, but I haven’t lost him. Though physically he is not with me, he is most definitely a part of me. Love you Dad.

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"Burn the Ships" . . .

Face to Face . . .

Not Like Everyone Else . . .

The Game . . . and the Bet

Dad . . .

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