Making God Laugh

I love the joke that the best way to make God laugh is to tell Him your plans. Our plans don't always work the way we want them to.

We had planned today to go off to the fair as a family and spend the day together. But, God laughed at that plan today. When my wife woke up, she had a very bad neck strain and asked me to get up with the kids so she can get some rest and feel better. Normally that's no problem at all, but I had a hard time sleeping last night and only got a few hours of sleep. But, because I'm awesome and super dad (and I learned how to use the coffee pot), I got up with the kids.

There are days when people wake up on the wrong side of the bed. We have placed our son's bed against the wall so that it would be hard for him to get up on the wrong side. But, today is one of those days. His mommy and I have been feeling a bit under the weather this week, and I think that he does as well and he woke up very cranky.

So, we add Lisa's neck pain, my exhaustion, and our son's crankiness with the fact that its raining outside today (not too surprising, when you plan to be outside in Southeast, rain tends to happen), and it equals a day of taking care of each other instead. Lisa's gotten some extra rest, I had some coffee installed by IV while she rested, I've had a nap, our son's had two and our daughter has had her multiple sets of naps. The exhaustion has stemmed away a bit, I feel better and I can help take care of my family. I think they need me today, when our kids are cranky and we aren't feeling %100, we need to team up with them.

So, no fair, no petting zoo for our son. But, that's okay, most of the animals at the petting zoo come from a corps member's house anyway. Its not what we planned, but maybe God knew Lisa and I needed to be able to be there for each other and our kids today. Since God knows me as well as He does, He has a habit of knowing us better than we want. If I hadn't planned on closing the store for the day to have fun with my family, I wouldn't have closed it without warning an I'd be there now working when my family needs me to be there for them today. So, today's not what I planned. I got to make God laugh today. But, He blessed me in making me be where I need to be. Knowing your family needs you, its a good feeling. Thanks for daily lessons Lord.

BLT says........when God changes your plans, look and see what He has in store for you. After all, His endings are always the best.

Priorities

"Now if you two don't mind, I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us all killed. Or worse, expelled."

"She needs to sort out her priorities."

That is by far my favorite line from the series of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named movies. But, I'm not trying to hide anything, its from Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. It always makes me laugh, that line. Which is worse, death or expulsion from school? For Hermione, its not finishing school.That part of the movie came to my mind yesterday when I was talking to my wife about the Southeast Alaska State Fair. One of the biggest draws of Haines is our highway out of town into Canada (the only community in Southeast Alaska with a road out) and the Southeast Alaska State Fair, which happens here in town every year at the end of July.
I'm not particularly a huge fan of fairs. I liked the Alaska State Fair in Palmer for the rides (which were way too expensive) and the food. Elephant Ears, Philly Cheese steaks, Funnel Cakes, Lemonade, Burgers, Barbecued Corn on the Cob, Smoked Turkey Legs. I liked the Lea County fair in New Mexico because of the amazing Limeade they have there. But, I've realized that fairs are one of those things where everything costs money, which I don't like to spend even if its on tasty food.


So, I've missed our fair the past two summers I've been here in Haines. The first year, my wife was pregnant with our son and we had just moved to town the week before and were getting settled in. Last year, the fair was the same weekend as our project of new windows and paint ended. For two weeks we had six visitors eating in our home and sleeping our home when they weren't working their extremely hard days on the project. When they left, my wife and I just wanted some time to be alone in our home and rest from two long weeks of hosting, so we missed the fair due to rest.

There has also been the fact that our son has been young enough that there's really been nothing for him at the fair. But this year, he's a year and a half, the petting zoo has returned, there's a bouncy house and a few other things. It would be good for him to go this year. So I suggested my wife take him today while I work the thrift store. She replied that going to the fair is a family event, and I should go with them.
I reminded her of my duties at the thrift store, getting things ready for Sunday and that I didn't have time to go and by Sunday wouldn't want to go because I'll be tired. Her suggestion was to close the store on Saturday, we won't make any money, but we won't lose any either, and go spend some time at the fair with my family.

The thought was appalling, cancel the ministry opportunity that the store provides just to be with my family. She asked, in her wise wifey way, "What's more important, and what are your priorities? It's one weekend and the chance for your son to do something new and for our family to make a memory together."

I thought about that for a few hours. What is my priority. I am a pastor, but a husband and father first. I work six days a week, every week. I have time with them, sure. But, this is a special weekend, and a chance to show what my priority is. My priority is my family and spending time with them. If anybody has a problem with my store being closed, they can come back next week and complain, and at least they'll know that I need to be able to be with my family, and maybe be an example to them that perhaps they should be spending special time with their family.

More than anything else, I'll remember tomorrow for years, my son's first visit to the fair. I wouldn't remember it if I worked the store, except for it being a missed opportunity.

So, the sign is up, tomorrow the store is closed, with a note at the bottom, "Come back next week, and I hope to see you and your family at the fair."

BLT says......I'm glad I've got my priorities sorted out, and I hope yours are too.

My Soap Doesn't Come In A Box

I think way too much. My mind is always going, planning out my day, making lists of things I need to remember today, tomorrow, next week, thinking about this week's sermon, next week's sermon. Planning for the next month, what to do with my family on our day off, what's for dinner, what meals would be good for the next week. My mind is always going.

I actually annoy my wife because she thinks I think too much. I guess I've always been afraid of being like the scarecrow, not thinking about things singing to myself "Oh I wish I had a brain." So I make sure that I use it for fear that whatever isn't used can in fact be lost. My wife is always saying, "You're over thinking it, making it too complicated." She's very right, I think too much, and need to take time to stop, slow down, and enjoy what's going on right now and enjoy simplicity more than complex plans and theories and ideas.

In fact, sometimes my over-thinking can even drive me nuts. I can't get it to stop. Most of the time. But there is one way, movies. T.V. shows I can ignore, and reality shows I do ignore. To me there's nothing worse than staged drama pretending to be real, I prefer stuff that admits its fake-it seems more honest to me. Again, I DO NOT like reality shows. Not even the one about the little people, even though I've always liked little people since I saw Willow.But movies take me away, draw me into the story and take me on a journey for 90-180 minutes depending on the movie. Movies shut off my brain, which is nice and I like it. When I watch them, I don't think anymore, I'm just a spectator enjoying a story. I don't predict endings or mysteries or twists. I don't focus on themes or plot lines. Most of the time I don't even notice bad acting (except for Thomas Jane who's only good role was in Dreamcatcher and that was even debatable). I just watch.

So, it drives me nuts listening to people talk about the lesson to be learned from a movie, the many themes, hidden themes (there aren't any in Transformers by the way), messages, politics, tricks in cinematography, and clues along the way (how the heck would I notice a red doorknob or the fact that Bruce Willis doesn't change his clothes during the Sixth Sense?). Sure some movies want to share a lesson, and independent ones are all about themes and lessons, but they're boring and just not interesting at all to me.

I really don't believe movies are meant to teach you something, so many other things do that. Movies are meant to entertain, take you away, help you escape, make you laugh, make you cry, give you hope in love and happy endings-not to think about the sanctity of marriage and whether its a misogynistic ritual or not. That's why I love Spielberg, Lucas, Burton, Favreau, Verbinski, Stevenson, Zemeckis, Abrams-they are storytellers, entertainers. They present to you a story and say, "Here, I love it and I hope you enjoy it, have fun with it."

So I ask you, if you like to analyze movies, or over think them or figure them out, decipher the hidden meaning, you may be missing the point. Take a mental step back and say, "Am I enjoying this? Does this interest me, is it fun?" If yes, just watch and enjoy. If no, turn it off and move on. Not everything has a lesson, not everything can be used to show you a truth about life, let's stop stretching the point and embrace the fact that movies are entertainment. Let the papers and editorials teach you truths and opinions.

BLT says............when watching a movie, stop thinking and enjoy it. Have fun or do something else.

Side Effects

Does anybody actually read the warning labels? I think that if we did, we'd probably use some things, like medicines and sugar free candies, much less often.Now that you're mind has gone wandering, I'm not going to be sharing stories of sugarless candy and the side effect of eating too many (i.e. WARNING: Too much of this product has a natural laxative effect). If you must know however, I think that's hilarious. But, I did want to share with you (yes you, you know who you are, yeah you) my experience of a truly unexpected side effect.

Some people take things for granted, like naturally smelling good. I am one of those people who has to work to maintain a pleasant aroma. A little bit of hard work goes a long way to tell people stay away if you know what I mean. I can't tell you how many times I've walked into a room and seen people's nose turn up towards me. Now I'm aware that some of this is due to my fashion sense, or lack thereof. Fashion wise, in my defense though there's only been like a span of three years where Converse All-Stars weren't popular shoes-the time period where I wore them all the time (I saw the movie Sandlot and all the kids had them). Most of the time it was because I was not a pleasing odor though, especially in school.

In sixth grade I met one of my first experiences of fatty segregation. Every student had to take P.E. classes, and the classes were boys only and girls only. Except, that for the case of the vertically challenged and exceedingly over horizontally blessed men, there was one co-ed gym class. The fatties and the hotties I called it. It was embarassing being one of 5 guys in a class of 16 girls, and our activities were a bit different than I expected. Aerobics (sans leg warmers, this was the late 90's), Volleyball, Badminton, way too much running, and some kind of gymnastic kung foo Barbie hybrid. There may have been other activities but I don't remember them (oh wait, rope climbing, which I got a negative score with).

While the things we did were a bit weird, especially aerobics, I didn't mind too much, there were cute girls in the class. Plus I figured that since I was the second skinniest (yeah it was that bad) I figured I had a chance at least at the third prettiest. All those hopes and aspirations died though one day when I heard some of the girls talking in line for the robe climbing (my nemesis). "Man these boys have pimples, they look like they have candy corn stuck all over their faces." "Not all of them." "Yeah, Mark has got a nice face." "Sure, but he smells really bad, does he ever shower?"

I quickly feigned sickness and retreated to the locker room. Of course I showered, every day in fact. I didn't shower after gym class, because that got you tormented. What was I to do? I told my dad about those girls and he had me take off my shirt and smell the pits. DANG!!! Those girls weren't mean, they were right! That was the day my dad introduced me to my friend, Mr. Deodorant/Anti-Perspirant. We have been inseparable ever since. The smell was gone, there went that complaint. Not to worry, it was replaced with something else once my face reached its pimple puberty.

A new brand came out a few years ago of Deodorant/Anti-Perspirant, one targeted at making the La-Days go wild!!!! Axe. I bought this stuff right away, because the commercial showed women entranced following this manly sent right to the source, and even though the gal was way out of the guy's league, he got the girl because of his ultra manly irresistable sent.

I bought this not to attract women, I was already married. But I wanted her to like my smell, and I wanted to break the stereotype of stinky big dude by being sweet smelling big dude. However, I need to tell you, that although this stuff says it drives women wild, the side effects I've seen are actually quite different.

One unmentioned side effect of my AXE is that mosquitoes and other biting insects go ga-ga over me. That's right, they eat me alive when I wear it, and where I live in the Spring and Early Summer, that's a lot of bugs to eat you. There have been times where I've felt like the dude from Indy 4 covered in bugs because of how badly they bite me. Yet, I still wear it because I like to smell good.The scariest side effect has actually been how members of the same sex reacted to it. When I went to visit my in-laws once with my wife on vacation, I had some scary encounters because of this stuff. I woke up one morning, after my wife for once, and took my shower (which was a treat because at our apartment the water didn't stay hot for long. I put on my man sent, which I think is awesome by the way and walked out into the kitchen. Just a few minutes later my brother in law walked up the stairs, repeatedly sniffing the air like a basset hound sniffs the ground. He sniffed all over the kitchen, in the fridge, the living room, the bathroom, and into the dining room where he inevitably stop sniffing at my neckline and said, "Wow you smell REAL good, what is that you're wearing?"

Gross, its supposed to drive women wild, not drive my own brother to me the way the smell of freshly baked cookies drives me to the kitchen. What is wrong with that? No ladies have ever said anything, yet my relative chased my sent up the stairs just to find me. I wish this was the end, but I've had the statement repeated to me several times. "You smell really good." And each time the speaker was one of my fellow males.

Today, though was the worst. At our monthly food bank as I was doing paperwork with clients, 7 men decided to tell me how good I smell. Maybe I'm not using this stuff right? Maybe I bought the wrong one? Maybe I should switch to Old Spice, do you ever hear anybody say, "Oh, Old Spice, that I can't resist."

However I'm torn, because I like my smell too. Strange side effect isn't it? Next time you see me, if I smell like Old Spice you'll know why. And, if I smell great, and you're my fellow brother in Christ, we're good, you don't have to tell me, it might scare me.

BLT says..........beware of the side effects, written or unwritten.

Angel's Pipes

If Sirens (mythological creatures, not emergency ones, I do live in reality) ever did exist, I imagine their luring singing sounding like the beautiful voices of the ladies of Celtic Woman.

How come their merchandising is only targeted at the female population? There are only five things I'm okay with advertising on my belly or back (with clothing, not tattoos mind you-no judgments on them, but the flab stays hidden at all times). Those things are Jesus (with COOL shirts mind you), The Salvation Army (because let's face it, I get free shirts), Star Wars, Comic Book Heroes, Old Navy (it rhymes with Davey), and liposuction. Okay that's six, but liposuction doesn't count because it was a joke. I don't support liposuction, I feel like its reading the end of War and Peace without doing the actual, difficult process of reading the darn thing. Meaning, it makes people skinnier without actually doing the natural and lengthy process of losing the flab through diet and exercise. Liposuction=expensive cheating.

However, if there really were a sixth option and there was Celtic Woman clothing wear aimed for men, I would be advertising. The music of Celtic Woman has completely changed my life, and helped me get through some sticky spots without blowing my lid, and has been doing so for more than three years.

When I was a seminary student (aka cadet), sometimes the schoolwork combined with long hours of requirements outside the classroom and the feeling of constantly being surrounded by the same people all the time (living together, eating together, all the same classes) like hamsters in a cage or fish in a fishbowl could be quite overwhelming.I've always been an awesome sleeper. People have numerously told me they were jealous of me because of how well I sleep. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm out for the count, dead to the world until my body is ready to wake up. This made it hard for "up all night" parties because I was always the first asleep and thus was pranked on in my sleep (with friends like that who needs enemies right), and has also included some scary instances when I was left alone during a fire alarm while I was sleeping (because I didn't hear the alarm-on an aircraft carrier of all things) and had there been a fire I could have been killed. But, I've always had this gift.

Until the overwhelming times of being a cadet caught up with me. There was always so much to process and think about, and for the first time ever I couldn't shut my brain off. There was actually a span of a week where I didn't sleep at all at night (which gave me plenty of time to get ahead with homework and walk around in the dark outside). Nothing I tried worked, and by the way, warm milk is nasty gross.

So as I sat in our living room, with no homework to do, nothing to study for, no desire to play video games, I surfed channels on our television (I'm a skilled surfer of TVs, not waves). While surfing, I cam across a channel I've always loathed (even more so than Phoebe Buffay), PBS, and while I never stop, just keep pushing, I was stopped dead in my surfing. Soothing colors accompanied the most beautiful rendition of Orinocco Flow I had ever heard, followed by more beautiful singing (from women singers actually wearing clothes for once, and clothes that actually cover the body, thank goodness) of gorgeous tunes. It lulled me to sleep.

I think I awoke the next day around noon, and my wife was pretty worried because I'm a strict up and at 'em at six a.m. sort of guy. My first thought when I woke up was, where are the pretty singing ladies? I couldn't find them on t.v. so I quickly showered and dressed (and by quickly shower I mean like 20 minutes), grabbed the wife and took off for Best Buy. But, I had no idea who these ladies were that sang me to sleep with angel's pipes.So I asked around, and the customer service at Best Buy in Torrance was pretty impressive considering all I knew was that it was four ladies singing traditional music. They didn't even laugh at me when they discovered what I was looking and longing for. The one lady even managed not to smile too hard at me when I asked if there was ONLY 2 Cd's of them. After purchasing my golden music, it was off to Panda Express (oh how I miss you, you drastically tasty Orange Chicken) and back to the dorm so I could introduce my wife to Celtic Woman.

I asked her to listen with me and we'd talk about how wonderful they were afterwards. However, I only made it through two songs before I passed out for four hours, listening to these ladies the entire time. When I awoke, I felt happy, and peaceful. I wondered to myself, could they help me with other things as well?

I listened to them on the freeway, and even in the middle of traffic on the 405, I could smile with their sweet calming melodies. In between classes, when people occasionally drove me nuts or teachers angered me, a few minutes of this music and I was back to peaceful loving thoughts. On airplanes, when I'm afraid for my life (this is not so bad anymore, I've given it to God and He's made me much better, and I thank Him), the music transports me to the green isles of Ireland, watching the ocean and feeling the breezes, taking life in nice and slow.

Even now, they make a rough day better. When my wife is gone I have a hard time sleeping (I think because I'm used to her talking to me until I pass out and I'm used to it), it is Celtic Woman who help me move into a state of calming sleep. When nightmares arise, prayer and some Celtic music bring happy dreams (usually involving my kids and a grassy sea or warm ocean).


When my son came in my room this morning at 4 a.m., grumpy, cranky, tired, whiny, possibly having a nightmare, and mad his mommy wasn't there, it wasn't me who lulled him to sleep, but Chloe. Maybe like father like son.

Its important to know how to calm yourself; count to ten, count sheep, count breathing (all of which are hard to do if you can't count very well), read a book are all suggested ways, but mine is prayer and music, calming music. Its amazing how it can even change my attitude or lull me to sleep. Thank God I've found my calming, peaceful attitude adjuster, it gets me through good days and bad.BLT says.......need a lift, a pick me up, something soothing? Give Celtic Woman a try, music so good it must be illegal or fattening.

A Grand Idea..........

We make them for athletes, race car and motorcycle drivers, test dummies, why don't we make them for little kids? After over a year and a half parenting with an extra clumsy little boy (which counts for like two years already in my book I think), it has become apparent to me that we need to make helmets for little kids, and not just for biking (because we already do) but for everyday use.

We worry about the educational system in this country not being as good as it can be, yet that seems silly when you think of little kids losing the information they learned with each knock on the noggin. Maybe its not the education system's fault but our own for not protecting our children from themselves. A brain is a precious commodity, it should be protected. Here are reasons why I believe we should make everyday helmets for little kids.

1. Last October my son fell and hit his head, cutting his head above his eyebrow so bad it needed stitches to close it.

2. My son hits his head in the bathtub almost daily when playing and splashing around.

3. My son attempts to pull my daughter off the furniture to cuddle with her. While this is cute, he can't hold her by himself and will drop her. One of these days, I'm sure he'll succeed.

4. My son and I like to play with his ball. We play a game called bowling for baby, where I toss the ball at him and he dodges away. Sometimes I miss and he forgets to dodge (don't judge me the ball is super light and oddly enough he finds it funny getting hit in the noggin. I bet he'll love the movie Dodge ball).

5. Our son is very good at walking down the stairs, but we all make mistakes. About four days ago he missed the last step and while I scrambled to catch him, he fell and hit his head on the concrete with extremely thin carpet cover. Ouch!

6. Four days ago my son fell off the bed in his sleep, apparently going head over heels.

7. 3 days ago my son fell outside while we were playing in the grass (also a reason for kid parachutes for everyday use, if the grass was a cliff, I shudder to think ;) ).
8. 2 days ago my son fell off the bed in his sleep, apparently going head over heels.

9. Yesterday my son woke me up dancing and jumping on my bed to his music (I forgot to turn off the IPod before I fell asleep. Before I realized what he was doing, he got a bit too excited and bounced himself off the bed and onto his mommy's cuddle pillow (what if it hadn't been there?).

10. My son has this crazy thing with spinning and spinning until it makes me queasy just watching him. When he gets done, he falls several times and has hit the coffee table more than five times.

11. While having a father son day at the park, he decided he was done with the swing and just scooted off less than a second before I could grab him, and, timber he went.

12. He falls off the piano bench at the church a lot.

All these things happened while he's supervised, he's just really clumsy. If these aren't enough reasons to manufacture everyday wear helmets for little kids, I don't know what else could be. Well, except for bungee jumping.

The older he gets, the clumsier he gets. You never know, pretty soon he might be walking around with a bike helmet (with Pixar's Cars on it of course) all the time, or he might have a pillow tied to his head, or a nice bubble wrap hat (which would both protect and make cool noises.I'd rather have a helmet for Mr. Clumsy than for a test dummy, wouldn't you in all reality? Time to be fair, helmets for all, from dummy to baby.

BLT says............time for a change, let's make helmets and everyday fashion item.

disCOURAGEment

Even when you hit a home run, you still end up at home plate, right where you started.The title pretty much says it all today. For over six months, our church of 6 or 7 faithfuls who have been here since we arrived has more than doubled, to 16-20 every Sunday. It has been an amazing two years to see what has been happening here at the corps. The past year especially, it feels like we've been hitting a home run with our ministry here.When planning our church goals for this year, we've made all sorts of plans for family outreach, beginning with Sunday School and Junior Church and Moonbeams and a craft night and a home group Bible Study and a monthly family fellowship event, along with the need for me to take over the thrift store. We're really excited about it all and have been for a few months now.

And then....ever notice in books that usually something great is followed with something not so great, connected with "And then?" It's like the harbinger of doom or something, you read it and you're like, do I have to keep reading, this next part's going to be depressing. Well, don't worry. You don't have to read my words, no one does, but I promise this section won't be long, and good stuff follows.
Then (ha, didn't use "and") July came along. All of a sudden we went from 16-17 easy each Sunday, to between 7 and 10. Its been discouraging, to work so hard and to be right back where we started. Even though the reasons vary, a corps member has a fractured back and his wife is taking care of him, camp, summer, fish-it hurts to see so few. Makes you wonder if you're wasting your time. Its made me wonder if I should be putting all my effort into keeping the programs going and the extra efforts for new ones, or if I should let things go because I'm wasting my time and nothing I'm going to do is going to make the church grow. Maybe after one home run, I'm back at home plate, and that's it.

I've struggled with it all month. I keep it to myself pretty well. Other than my family (why do they have to know me so well anyway?), no one else has known. But, the struggle has been there. Where do you go from here?I thank God that's not the end, and I thank Him that He has taught me to seek His Will, His advice, His Encouragement in His Word. I can't do it alone and wonder how I got over difficult times without Him and His Word. In my devotions I came across and familiar and very often quoted verse. Joshua 1:9 "I command you, be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go".

I've read this before, preached on it, taught it. But this month, I'm the one who needs to hear it. I forgot that discouragement is one of the devil's tools he uses while prowling like a lion ready to pounce. This month, caught off guard, he used it one, and it worked pretty well. I believe the corps is on the verge of something great, a ministry as a team and family of believers that will really bless the community of Haines and reach out with a heart to God and a hand to man. This will lead to more lives saved through faith in Jesus, and a growing church.
I also believe Satan knows this, that this corps is going to do something great, and he knows we had a home run last year and doesn't want it to happen again. Our people are strong, they've had a tough year but have come through and kept the faith, his attacks did nothing. But he found something to get me. Discouragement, try to get me to stop leading the church and working to save and grow before I have a chance to get it past the planning phase. A trend that happens every summer, lower numbers, he used to make me think that people had stopped coming and will stop coming and I'm wasting my time. He did it so well, I almost gave up, just sit tight and wait out the year, don't try you'll only fail.
I love the show Friends, have for years. One character, Chandler was asked if he could handle something without freaking out. He said, "Handle is my middle name. Actually, handle is the middle of my first name." I forgot what the solution, the answer for discouragement is, its in the middle of the word. Courage. Keep going, don't give up, don't quit. Many give up, many lose hope, but God commands, not asks, us to be strong and courageous, remembering we're not alone.

Today was a bit higher than its been, and I have been talking with people in our store, inviting them to join our family. Its possible that 6 people may start coming. If they do, I'll be extremely joyful, if not, I'll keep praying for them and working on them and seeking others as well. Although I face disappointments, I'm going to keep going, not going to give up, not going lose heart, not going to lose courage. I'll keep trusting in God and following where He leads, and His Will will have out.I'm going to fight discouragement with courage and strength. I'm going to keep fighting. I'm going to work really hard, take care of the people and programs we have, and I'm going to start the new ones. With God we knocked one out of the park last year, and although I feel like I'm back where I started at home plate, I won't forget that means its time to swing again. With God behind me as my strength, we can knock one out of the park again.

BLT says.........don't let Satan discourage you and keep you from swinging again.

A Rose By Any Other.....Age?

This time, its not my fault. Lots of things are my fault. There are many things that I know I'm to blame for. I have my faults, my mistakes, I'm human. But, there is one thing that is not my fault. That is my age. I won't say sorry for it, won't feel bad about it. Sometimes I rub it in with people I know who can take it, especially if they're much older than I.
But, I am 26, the father of two, married for eight years, a child of God, and a Salvation Army Officer, an ordained minister. Sorry if you don't like it, but God called when He called me, and when He called, I answered.

I've been a pastor for two years, and yesterday I had a conversation that was not one I thoroughly enjoyed, because it involved my age (which apparently means I'm inexperienced and ill-equipped). I don't get upset about it, in fact I think it ended kind of funny. One of the duties I have as the corps officer here is to run the thrift store, and by run I mean cashier, sorter, janitor, stocker, floor manager, everything, its all me. And yesterday a man came into the thrift store with a donation (a T.V. in two pieces).


"I've got a donation for you. Here you go."
"Oh okay. Does this T.V. work?"
"No, how could it, its in two pieces."
"Alright. Well I appreciate the donation and you bringing it down here to me, but its the thrift store's policy not to accept electronics that don't work."
"Why not"
"Well, because no one would buy it and I'd end up throwing it away, which would cost the store $25. That's a lot to pay to throw away one item when you consider how much money this store makes."
"How do you know someone won't buy it?"
"Experience"
"Ha!"
"In all my time working in thrift stores, not one person has ever purchased an a broken appliance. Would you buy it?"
"No, that's why I'm giving it away. What do you mean all your time. How long could that be?"
"Ten years"
"Okay, well I don't agree with that policy, can I talk to the manager."
"That's me. I set the policy."
"Did you okay this policy with the Salvation Army leader before you made it? Does he agree with it?"
"That's me too."
"YOU'RE THE SALVATION ARMY LEADER!"
"Yes, my name is Mark, Lt. Mark actually, I'm the pastor here at Salvation Army."
"You're not old enough to be a pastor."
"I've been ordained for a little while now, if it had been a problem I'm sure they wouldn't have ordained me after I finished school."
"High School."
"No, Salvation Army seminary school."
"How old are you, or are you afraid to tell me."
"I'm not afraid of anything, I've got nothing to hide. I'm 26."
"Can't be, you look like you're 18."
"Yeah I know, that's why I grew a beard, I used to look like I'm 12."
"26! That's really young to be a pastor."
"That's nothing, you should have seen how old the guy who moved here two years ago was."
"How old was he."
"24"
"What? Who was it?"
"Me."
"You going to take the T.V.?"
"No thank you, the store's policy is not to accept broken appliances. But thank you for your willingness to contribute."
"Is that the manager, the worker or the pastor talking."
"All 3."
"Well I guess I'll go take it to the dump young-in and pay for it myself."
"I appreciate that. Have a good day and God Bless!"


God called, I answered. I may be too young for some people, but I'm here. I was trained just like everybody else who has been ordained in the Salvation Army and I daily equipt myself with the armor of God so I can do His work, face the world, and stand firm. I'm not ashamed and I won't apologize for being 26. In fact, I've got a whole lifetime ahead of me to live as God's servant. I can't wait to see where He calls me to, what He calls me to do, even if I'm only 26.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." This used to be my life verse, 1 Timothy 4:12. I have since moved on to other verses, but this one helped me yesterday. Let's not be so concerned with ages, but with being living examples and servants for the Lord.


BLT says.........don't worry about your age, just serve God.