Jay placing all the names of those living in the Cannon Valley in the Wall in Jeruselem.
Jay praying for the Cannon Valley.
Monday, May 14, 2007
At The Wall
Jay placing all the names of those living in the Cannon Valley in the Wall in Jeruselem.
Jay praying for the Cannon Valley.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
"Do you know that I love you?"
This weekend we went bowling with our neighbors to celebrate one of their kids birthdays. It was a lot of fun. I did better than I thought I would have since it's been over four years since I last played. Anyways, while I was waiting for my turn to role around again I was standing behind a chair that Becca was sitting in, and Becca out of the blue looks straight up at me and asks me, "Daddy, do you know I love you?". Yep, I had the same reaction.
My heart melted. Later I began thinking about it. I know that I love God, but does He know that I love Him? Ok, follow me on this. I know God knows our heart, but how do we show Him that we love Him? Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey Him. So each day when we get up and we choose to worship God and no other and we choose to follow His ways by loving others as our self, in essense we are letting Him know that we love Him.
How about you? Does God know that you love Him?
later...
My heart melted. Later I began thinking about it. I know that I love God, but does He know that I love Him? Ok, follow me on this. I know God knows our heart, but how do we show Him that we love Him? Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey Him. So each day when we get up and we choose to worship God and no other and we choose to follow His ways by loving others as our self, in essense we are letting Him know that we love Him.
How about you? Does God know that you love Him?
later...
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Forever Power
I read this great article today. If you're a parent, especially if your a dad, you need to read this article.
Most of the memories I have of my dad are ones of being yelled at. Or when I was trying to impress him it would back fire and he'd act disappointed. I think that effects me still today. Sadly, I hear "that tone" coming from my mouth at times. The tone that says between the words, "you're worthless".I'm committing to my girls that I will guard my words, and more importantly my tone, from this point forward. We as parents, as fathers, need to make sure our children know that they are the most important thing in our lives and that we will always love, always be there for them, and that we will never forsake them.
Bless your children today. They need it.
Read article here: www.christianitytoday.c...
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
De-Marketing the Mind
We have been brain washed; all of us. "What do you mean", you ask? I mean that we as Americans live in the richest country in the world and yet we live in constant want. Let me give you an example.
As most of you know I'm a techie. I love learning about computers and other greeky stuff. When it comes to operating systems I use Windows XP and have always had a windows machine. Primarily because they are more affordable than the competition, Apple. I have, however, learned a lot about Apple's new OS X. The more I learned the more I wanted it and the more unsatisfying my current system seemed. Apple's marketing team did their job well. They got me to want what I didn't have and not want what I already had. Recently a friend of mine bought an Apple ibook. I have to confess, there was some lust involved. But as he was learning the system and setting up his home network (which included windows machines), he called on me to help get things configured. I finally had a chance to play with my dream system. What I discovered was that my expectations were not based on the quality of a product, but the quality of propaganda designed by a marketing team to make me think that way. I'll spare you all from the details, but the long and short of it is that the Windows machine is working the way it should and the ibook is a bit lacking in it's duties. I was a little bummed. I spent hours researching the problem, because I knew it should work because the commercial said it would. Well it doesn't.
This is one example, but it happens all the time. Kari wants a cell phone. Because we need one? No, because everyone we know has one. Is this want wrong, no. But it is a problem when the want is perceived as a need. I am blessed with having DSL, yet knowing that there are faster alternatives wonder, "Should I upgrade?"
The Church does not escape this. We hear all the "propaganda" being put out by ministries ( and I use this term lightly ) that are trying to sell the latest and greatest new program or teaching series. We see that our church doesn't have or do this or that so it becomes somehow lesser in our minds. And we want.
We wonder why our services lack power and experience. Could it be that we enter God's presence in want and not thanksgiving? Could we have been brainwashed to think wrongly about our lives and the Church? The Psalmist tells us that the way to keep our path straight is to "meditate on His Word". Paul instructs to think about what is good, holy and pure. If we stay in God's presence and are in His Word we will stand a better chance to live and make decisions based on truth and not "propaganda". Foster called it the Discipline of Simplicity. Paul called it contentment. Whatever you want to call it, it all comes down to remaining in Christ and walking closely after Him. We need to make sure that He is the primary input in our lives. If we do this we will eliminate want in our lives, and we will live based on the Truth of Jesus and not the "propaganda" of the world.
As most of you know I'm a techie. I love learning about computers and other greeky stuff. When it comes to operating systems I use Windows XP and have always had a windows machine. Primarily because they are more affordable than the competition, Apple. I have, however, learned a lot about Apple's new OS X. The more I learned the more I wanted it and the more unsatisfying my current system seemed. Apple's marketing team did their job well. They got me to want what I didn't have and not want what I already had. Recently a friend of mine bought an Apple ibook. I have to confess, there was some lust involved. But as he was learning the system and setting up his home network (which included windows machines), he called on me to help get things configured. I finally had a chance to play with my dream system. What I discovered was that my expectations were not based on the quality of a product, but the quality of propaganda designed by a marketing team to make me think that way. I'll spare you all from the details, but the long and short of it is that the Windows machine is working the way it should and the ibook is a bit lacking in it's duties. I was a little bummed. I spent hours researching the problem, because I knew it should work because the commercial said it would. Well it doesn't.
This is one example, but it happens all the time. Kari wants a cell phone. Because we need one? No, because everyone we know has one. Is this want wrong, no. But it is a problem when the want is perceived as a need. I am blessed with having DSL, yet knowing that there are faster alternatives wonder, "Should I upgrade?"
The Church does not escape this. We hear all the "propaganda" being put out by ministries ( and I use this term lightly ) that are trying to sell the latest and greatest new program or teaching series. We see that our church doesn't have or do this or that so it becomes somehow lesser in our minds. And we want.
We wonder why our services lack power and experience. Could it be that we enter God's presence in want and not thanksgiving? Could we have been brainwashed to think wrongly about our lives and the Church? The Psalmist tells us that the way to keep our path straight is to "meditate on His Word". Paul instructs to think about what is good, holy and pure. If we stay in God's presence and are in His Word we will stand a better chance to live and make decisions based on truth and not "propaganda". Foster called it the Discipline of Simplicity. Paul called it contentment. Whatever you want to call it, it all comes down to remaining in Christ and walking closely after Him. We need to make sure that He is the primary input in our lives. If we do this we will eliminate want in our lives, and we will live based on the Truth of Jesus and not the "propaganda" of the world.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
New Year, New Directions
Happy New year everyone! I've been trying to write since Saturday. This last weekend I had three days off. I really thought that I was going to get to rest, but it was crazy. We were either at someones house or we had someone here.
I'm excited for the up coming year. God has been doing some great things in my life lately and I believe He is moving me into some new directions. Personally, He has called me to wait on Him and because of this I have gone on sabatical from active ministry. This started at the end of November, but really it is only now that I feel like I'm now "in waiting". God had to take me through a stripping process. I held on to so much. Little by little God pulled and tugged till I was able to let go. I can not tell you how freeing this feels. I'm not sure what lies ahead, but I do know that God is in the driver seat and I'm in for the whole ride.
During this time of waiting, God has put it on my heart to study and dwell in specifically the Torah. I'm excited to see what God plans to teach and show me. And I will be reporting back to you what I'm learning.
Speaking of new directions, I'm taking my blog in new directions too. As you can see I'm already making physical changes to the site and I have a few more to do. I'm also refocusing the site on the disciple's life. I will be writing on issues that effect the disciples walk in the path of his Master. Not just on "spiritual" things, but on all aspects and areas of the walk; personal, family, career, community and church. It is my hope that this blog becomes a living journal of the disciples walk, and not just my walk but all of our walks. So, I want to encourage you to share your thoughts here too.
I will be posting more on this over the next week. I pray that God's face would shine upon you and may He give you peace this year.
later...
I'm excited for the up coming year. God has been doing some great things in my life lately and I believe He is moving me into some new directions. Personally, He has called me to wait on Him and because of this I have gone on sabatical from active ministry. This started at the end of November, but really it is only now that I feel like I'm now "in waiting". God had to take me through a stripping process. I held on to so much. Little by little God pulled and tugged till I was able to let go. I can not tell you how freeing this feels. I'm not sure what lies ahead, but I do know that God is in the driver seat and I'm in for the whole ride.
During this time of waiting, God has put it on my heart to study and dwell in specifically the Torah. I'm excited to see what God plans to teach and show me. And I will be reporting back to you what I'm learning.
Speaking of new directions, I'm taking my blog in new directions too. As you can see I'm already making physical changes to the site and I have a few more to do. I'm also refocusing the site on the disciple's life. I will be writing on issues that effect the disciples walk in the path of his Master. Not just on "spiritual" things, but on all aspects and areas of the walk; personal, family, career, community and church. It is my hope that this blog becomes a living journal of the disciples walk, and not just my walk but all of our walks. So, I want to encourage you to share your thoughts here too.
I will be posting more on this over the next week. I pray that God's face would shine upon you and may He give you peace this year.
later...
Monday, December 26, 2005
It's Not All About Us
Kari wrote:
It was 7:30 when I finally went up and opened their room and we started to make noise to wake them. It was still a bit till we got them up. Now tonight we went to a friends house and we didn't get home and in bed till midnight. So I'm sure they'll be up bright and early, while Kari and I want to sleep tommarrow.
It was a good Christmas. We had a lot of fun and it was nice with the girls this year. They are more into everything. Although, the big gift the we got for them was a bit anticlamatic. We got them hamsters. We're expecting screams of joy and celebration; we got, "Oh! Hamsters...". It was a bit of a let down for me. But I'll get over it.
There is a lesson in that I think. We as parents often have plans and ideas for our children. But it is they that choose the path they take. Our children are not going to always make the choices that we agree with all the time. They'll not get excited about the things we think they'll get excited about. It is easy for parents to feel bad when this happens. We feel like a failure as a parent or we become dissappointed in our child because they didn't meet our expectations. Do you see the problem? It's not them, it's us. When we have come to the point where we feel like failures or are dissappointed in them, we have to evaluate ourselves. We make it about us to often don't we? It's selfish and it hurts our kids. When we feel like a failure, we end up neglecting our kids. When we are dissapointed we bring condemantion into their lives.
So what are we to do? Just enjoy them for who they are. It is not our job as parents to make them into who we want them to be, but to protect, guide, discipline and interceed for, in order that they might become who God created them to be. And in Jeremiah 29 God says that He has some pretty good stuff ahead for us, and our children. Trust Him and love them.
later...
Can you believe this...it's 6:45 a.m., Kurt and I are wide
awake...where are the girls?? In bed still, sound asleep.....what is up
with that????????????
It was 7:30 when I finally went up and opened their room and we started to make noise to wake them. It was still a bit till we got them up. Now tonight we went to a friends house and we didn't get home and in bed till midnight. So I'm sure they'll be up bright and early, while Kari and I want to sleep tommarrow.
It was a good Christmas. We had a lot of fun and it was nice with the girls this year. They are more into everything. Although, the big gift the we got for them was a bit anticlamatic. We got them hamsters. We're expecting screams of joy and celebration; we got, "Oh! Hamsters...". It was a bit of a let down for me. But I'll get over it.
There is a lesson in that I think. We as parents often have plans and ideas for our children. But it is they that choose the path they take. Our children are not going to always make the choices that we agree with all the time. They'll not get excited about the things we think they'll get excited about. It is easy for parents to feel bad when this happens. We feel like a failure as a parent or we become dissappointed in our child because they didn't meet our expectations. Do you see the problem? It's not them, it's us. When we have come to the point where we feel like failures or are dissappointed in them, we have to evaluate ourselves. We make it about us to often don't we? It's selfish and it hurts our kids. When we feel like a failure, we end up neglecting our kids. When we are dissapointed we bring condemantion into their lives.
So what are we to do? Just enjoy them for who they are. It is not our job as parents to make them into who we want them to be, but to protect, guide, discipline and interceed for, in order that they might become who God created them to be. And in Jeremiah 29 God says that He has some pretty good stuff ahead for us, and our children. Trust Him and love them.
later...
Saturday, December 24, 2005
White Christmas?
The last three Christmas' have been brown and grey. This year we've had a lot of snow fall and it's been beautiful. I've been really excited about a white Christmas, but the last couple of days have warmed up and it's melting. I'm hoping it can hold on one more day.
Read more at www.weather.com/outlook...
Friday, December 23, 2005
Remembering Our Soldiers
As we head into the final hours of the Christmas season, let us remember our troops overseas. Send a prayer their way and listen to this poem that ran on our local radio station.
It's really powerful. Listen to it before reading it. click the link below.Read more at ktisblog.skylightradio....O come, all ye (well funded) faithful
WOW! I thought that I've seen a lot in my time in the church but this takes the cake. This church in St. Paul is auctioning off their best pews for their Christmas Eve Service as a fundraiser. Are you kidding me? What was some body thinking?!?
"Hey! I know! Let's charge people admission during the most likely time seekers may come around to find out more about the 'free' gift of God."Great idea guys! You sure hit a home run there! (extreme sarcasim here)
Anyways.... may God bless you this Christmas Season. And may he forgive the ignorance of some of the flock. And please, Father, send anyone who is truely searching for you to a body of believers that will show them what the Joy of Christmas is really about.
Read more at www.startribune.com/sto...
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Good News From India
One of my former professors and co-laborer in Christ has just returned form yet another trip to India. God has really been using Him the last few years and once again he has returned with good news. Here's the email report he sent me.
Dear Friend,
We are rejoicing with the following great report! We arrived back home on schedule. Our ride to the airport in India will never be forgotten. About half of it was on a "dancing" road. That means that there are so many potholes and ruts that the vehicle "dances" as it goes down the road!! The One True God answered our prayers. The rains stayed away our remaining time in India! God came down on the meetings in Chagalamarri. This town has only 3500 residents. The last and fifth night, we had 23,000 people on the grounds. 6600 people confessed Jesus as Lord, including 750 Muslims. Many of these Muslims received the Father's love in the prayer time at the end of each service. Demons manifested openly during the worship and during the mass prayer for healing. Dozens of people were delivered of demonization strong enough to roll them on the ground. Some had to be carried out by four men. Every one was delivered by the stronger One, Jesus. Many testified of their deliverance. So many people testified of being pronounced incurable by doctors. When they obeyed the Word of the Lord coming from the platform, and trusted God, hundreds were instantaneously healed. Hallelujah! Total number of decisions to follow Jesus was 9100 in ten nights.
We know that many of you were praying for us and the Indian people. Thank you very much!!
Blessings on you!
David & Sherry Nichols
Heart of the Father Ministries
Minneapolis, MN
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
"You will be my witnesses..."
My friend Chip had a great post today. He says that often evangelism becomes nothing more than "selling" the gospel to unbelievers. I have to agree with him and I've sat in those same classes, and I have seen the same results.
Witnessing has nothing to do with selling and everything with living. Jesus didn't just talk to people. He walked with them, helped them, healed them, loved them, and most importantly He lived everything He taught before He ever spoke.
We too need to live out our faith first. Then we need to walk as He did among them; helping, healing, loving, and then, and only then, can we truely be witnesses of the greatest story ever told.
And the "greatest story" is still being told, day-by-day in each believers life. What story are you sharing?
later...
Witnessing has nothing to do with selling and everything with living. Jesus didn't just talk to people. He walked with them, helped them, healed them, loved them, and most importantly He lived everything He taught before He ever spoke.
We too need to live out our faith first. Then we need to walk as He did among them; helping, healing, loving, and then, and only then, can we truely be witnesses of the greatest story ever told.
And the "greatest story" is still being told, day-by-day in each believers life. What story are you sharing?
later...
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Jesus Save Us ........ From Ourselves
Ok, I thought I've seen it all. Watch this
I couldn't believe it when I first saw it, but I checked the website and you can buys these for $40! There is no limit to the stupid things people can come up with.
If you want to check out the site go here.
later...
I couldn't believe it when I first saw it, but I checked the website and you can buys these for $40! There is no limit to the stupid things people can come up with.
If you want to check out the site go here.
later...
De-Serving
A dear friend of mine sends out a weekly devotional and this weeks really hit home for me and I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!
You De-serve It
Shane Burton
November 14, 2005
McDonald's tells us that we "deserve a break today." Come on, you know
you've earned it. You've slaved all day and night, at work, then at
home with your family. You DESERVE a break, don't you? You've washed
the clothes. You've carted kids around the globe to soccer games.
You've scoured the sink, washed the dishes, mown the lawn, washed the
windows, changed the oil in the car, and that was all before you left
for work! You've even taken time out of your schedule to stop and do
something nice for your spouse. Don't you DESERVE a break today?
There are so many advertisements on TV that tell us that we deserve
things. We deserve a BMW, a new house, a long, tropical vacation, a
decadent slice of cheesecake, the finest restaurant reservations, a
piece of chocolate, a new wardrobe, that latest CD, new shoes, new
grooves, a new plasma TV, and a brand new surround-sound DVD player to
go with it.
We deserve it...don't we? We're faithful to our employers for years
and so we feel we deserve a raise or a promotion. We're faithful to
our spouses and we feel we deserve gifts and affection to show their
appreciation. We're faithful to our children so we feel we deserve a
vacation away from them. We're faithful to our churches so we feel we
deserve recognition for what we do. We're faithful to God so we feel
we deserve to be shown His blessings in a physical way.
We feel we deserve...and we're right: we de-serve.
To de-serve would be the opposite of serving, wouldn't it?
As soon as we feel we deserve something, we have stopped serving. And
you know what, I'm guilty as charged. There have been so many times
when I just feel like I'm givin' and givin' and everyone around me is
takin' and takin' and I throw my hands up in the air and tell
myself...and God...that I deserve a break! I lay aside my plans and
desires for those of my spouse in an effort to serve her, but then I
tell myself that I deserve something in return for my sacrifice! I
de-serve God...I de-serve my spouse.
I have stopped serving the moment I feel deserving.
Jesus tells us here to look to Him instead of looking after ourselves.
As soon as we put our self first, we have made everyone else
last...including Jesus. No, especially Jesus.
Our plans and our dreams our always secondary to God's. Our wants and
desires always take a back-seat to God's wants and desires for His
Kingdom. As long as we feel we deserve to follow through with our
plans, follow our dreams, fulfill our wants, and satisfy our desires,
we are de-serving God. Jesus even goes so far as to tell us that if we
put our family before God, then we de-serve Him. Now that's radical
discipleship! He calls for a commitment that is absolute. And really,
there can be no absolute commitment without a total surrender. Either
we surrender all that we are and all that we have, throwing our hands
in the air and crying out “Help, Daddy!” Or, we end up in the same
useless, self-serving circle of distrust, disappointment, and
disintegration. It’s Jesus first or not. We put Jesus first or else
we de-serve Him. Period.
And so, as I sit here typing on this cold, November day, I'm asking
myself: who am I de-serving? And how am I de-serving them?
I invite you to do the same with me today. Take an inventory of who or
what you are de-serving. Are you de-serving your spouse? Your
children? Your friends? Co-workers? Ministry team?
Are you de-serving God?
If we serve God first, we deserve Him. If we put ourselves or others
first, we de-serve Him.
You De-serve It
Shane Burton
November 14, 2005
Matthew 10:34-39
“Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut—make a sharp
knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and
mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you
for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you
prefer father or mother over Me, you don’t deserve Me. If you prefer
son or daughter over Me, you don’t deserve Me. If you don’t go all the
way with Me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve Me. If your
first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself.
But if you forget about yourself and look to Me, you’ll find both
yourself and Me."
McDonald's tells us that we "deserve a break today." Come on, you know
you've earned it. You've slaved all day and night, at work, then at
home with your family. You DESERVE a break, don't you? You've washed
the clothes. You've carted kids around the globe to soccer games.
You've scoured the sink, washed the dishes, mown the lawn, washed the
windows, changed the oil in the car, and that was all before you left
for work! You've even taken time out of your schedule to stop and do
something nice for your spouse. Don't you DESERVE a break today?
There are so many advertisements on TV that tell us that we deserve
things. We deserve a BMW, a new house, a long, tropical vacation, a
decadent slice of cheesecake, the finest restaurant reservations, a
piece of chocolate, a new wardrobe, that latest CD, new shoes, new
grooves, a new plasma TV, and a brand new surround-sound DVD player to
go with it.
We deserve it...don't we? We're faithful to our employers for years
and so we feel we deserve a raise or a promotion. We're faithful to
our spouses and we feel we deserve gifts and affection to show their
appreciation. We're faithful to our children so we feel we deserve a
vacation away from them. We're faithful to our churches so we feel we
deserve recognition for what we do. We're faithful to God so we feel
we deserve to be shown His blessings in a physical way.
We feel we deserve...and we're right: we de-serve.
To de-serve would be the opposite of serving, wouldn't it?
As soon as we feel we deserve something, we have stopped serving. And
you know what, I'm guilty as charged. There have been so many times
when I just feel like I'm givin' and givin' and everyone around me is
takin' and takin' and I throw my hands up in the air and tell
myself...and God...that I deserve a break! I lay aside my plans and
desires for those of my spouse in an effort to serve her, but then I
tell myself that I deserve something in return for my sacrifice! I
de-serve God...I de-serve my spouse.
I have stopped serving the moment I feel deserving.
Jesus tells us here to look to Him instead of looking after ourselves.
As soon as we put our self first, we have made everyone else
last...including Jesus. No, especially Jesus.
Our plans and our dreams our always secondary to God's. Our wants and
desires always take a back-seat to God's wants and desires for His
Kingdom. As long as we feel we deserve to follow through with our
plans, follow our dreams, fulfill our wants, and satisfy our desires,
we are de-serving God. Jesus even goes so far as to tell us that if we
put our family before God, then we de-serve Him. Now that's radical
discipleship! He calls for a commitment that is absolute. And really,
there can be no absolute commitment without a total surrender. Either
we surrender all that we are and all that we have, throwing our hands
in the air and crying out “Help, Daddy!” Or, we end up in the same
useless, self-serving circle of distrust, disappointment, and
disintegration. It’s Jesus first or not. We put Jesus first or else
we de-serve Him. Period.
And so, as I sit here typing on this cold, November day, I'm asking
myself: who am I de-serving? And how am I de-serving them?
I invite you to do the same with me today. Take an inventory of who or
what you are de-serving. Are you de-serving your spouse? Your
children? Your friends? Co-workers? Ministry team?
Are you de-serving God?
If we serve God first, we deserve Him. If we put ourselves or others
first, we de-serve Him.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Used
I have to say that the most satisfying experiences I have ever had is when God chooses, by His grace, to use me to do or say something that touches someone's life. I have recently been blessed with such an experience.
A couple of weeks ago, on Sunday morning, Jay and I were praying for people at the alter, when I came to this women who had been suffering vertigo for a long time. As I layed hands on her God spoke to my heart and I could feel His presence there. I shared a prophetic word to her and then prayed over her. The next week she came to me and shared that she had not experienced any vertigo or head aches since I prayed with her. It has now been two weeks with no sign of any vertigo. Praise God!
God still heals! Don't stop praying. If you see someone with a need ask God to use you to touch their lives. Who knows? Maybe He will.
later...
A couple of weeks ago, on Sunday morning, Jay and I were praying for people at the alter, when I came to this women who had been suffering vertigo for a long time. As I layed hands on her God spoke to my heart and I could feel His presence there. I shared a prophetic word to her and then prayed over her. The next week she came to me and shared that she had not experienced any vertigo or head aches since I prayed with her. It has now been two weeks with no sign of any vertigo. Praise God!
God still heals! Don't stop praying. If you see someone with a need ask God to use you to touch their lives. Who knows? Maybe He will.
later...
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Help Give A Heart
I recieved this e-mail and wanted to help pass it along. This isn't for your reading pleasure. i'm posting so that you might give. Thank you.
A fellow dad needs our help. His name is Leo Akins, and seven years ago he lost his oldest son, Leo Jr. to a rare heart disease. “There were lots of nights I would hold his little body upright against me just so he could breathe,” Leo says.After a long battle, their precious little son (age 7) died in his daddy’s arms.
Life continued, and Leo and his wife were assured by doctors that the disease would not affect their other son or any children they would have in the future.
Four years later, they found Lyndon (age 8), lying blue on the floor. Leo administered CPR, eventually reviving him, as the paramedics arrived and whisked him off to the hospital. It was determined that Lyndon had the same disease that had killed his brother.
“Every night for a long time, I slept on the floor next to Lyndon’s bed,” Leo said. “I was afraid he would die in his sleep, and I wouldn’t be there to help him.” While Little Leo had always looked sick, Lyndon was the picture of a healthy 8-year-old. But, six months later after a normal day at home, Lyndon died. For the second time, Leo held his son and helplessly watched him slip away.
“Dads are supposed to be the hero,” he told me flatly. “But I couldn’t stop this. All I do is watch my children die and put them in the ground, and then they don’t come home to their beds ever again. That’s not much of a hero.”
“I don’t look at family videos or photographs...and everything feels gray,” Leo said. “I was just starting to enjoy life again when we got the news about Leighton.”
This past April, Leighton (age 5) was tested and found to have the same killer disease. “My fan club is getting smaller,” Leo adds. “I know I’m supposed to treasure every day...but I fear them.”
But this time there’s hope. Leighton is at the top of the list for a heart transplant. In fact, Leo and his wife Lisa could get the phone call today, which would whisk them off to Indianapolis so Leighton can receive a new heart and a shot at a normal life.
A heart transplant is incredibly expensive and the Akins’s finances are max’d out. “I just finished paying off Lyndon’s funeral,” he said. “Insurance will cover the transplant, if everything goes according to plan, and about a month in the hospital. But after that, it’s up to us to pay the remainder.”
I could see the burden in Leo’s face as he painted their financial picture. The way he figures it, they’re going to need about $65,000.00 the first year after the surgery to meet Leighton’s needs. Many have volunteered to have bake sales, garage sales, and art auctions to help raise the money, but they still need much more.
Dad, it’s time for us to step up to the plate and help this fellow dad who has buried two of his sons and faces an uncertain future. I’m asking you to put yourself in his shoes, picture your children dying in your arms, and then give.
I’m not talking $10 or $25 (unless that’s all you can do); I’m talking about giving $100, $500, $1000, or $10,000 as God has blessed you. Let’s help this dad. He needs us.
Make your tax-deductible gift to Leighton Akins at www.COTA.org Above all, pray for this dad and his family!!! Someone may come up and thank you in heaven someday for giving him a new heart.
To read more and see photos of Leo and his family, go to http://familymanweb.com/yydhome.htm
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
OK This Is Funny!
I don't know if this is real, but it is really funny.
Enjoy!
http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf
Enjoy!
http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf
Friday, October 07, 2005
Proud Moment
The girls are doing really good with their schooling, but the school year didn't start out like that. Becca was giving Kari a hard time with wanting to do her work. Finally after talking with Becca she told me that the reason was that "it" was boring. So Kari and I talked and looked at our options and tried a new aproach. First we didn't stick to the "official" lesson plan. Then we gave her more advanced work and used more hands on and verbal exercises and it's like we have a new child. She's doing great! In fact, last night we went out to eat and on her mat she drew a picture of a house and a pool in the back yard and then she drew a sign with an arrow with the sentance, "This way to pool." And then tonight Kari had to run into the store so the girls and I sat in the car. We had just left the library, so the girls were looking at their books and I asked Becca what she picked out. She had "Green Eggs and Ham". She then proceded to open the book and begin to read to me. The first 20 pages, before Kari got back, and I only had to help her with two words. I was so proud of her. Kimmi of course is quite sharp. She loves doing worksheets and is often upset when she runs out.
later...
later...
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Balance
I came acrossed this article and I wanted to share it with you.
My Job, My Calling: Can They Be The Same?
Dan Miller
48Days.com
My Job, My Calling: Can They Be The Same?
Dan Miller
48Days.com
