Goin' Mercer…ramblings and rants!

This was a common phrase of mine today! The Zoo was a great experience. I along with Leah had two little boys and every time they seemed to drift apart I would say, “Buddy up!” To be truthful they were very well behaved and followed the rules. In fact, Leah’s entire class was very impressive. When many of the other kinder classes were running around, Mrs. Mercer’s were staying in line, following directions, and always with their buddy. We saw several kinds of animals. We saw lions, tigers, but no bear. I guess he was sleeping. We saw the monkeys, giraffes, elephants, and even a bald eagle. One of my little guys really like birds, the other liked the monkeys.

Mrs. Mercer gave every group a sheet of paper that had animals to check off once you saw them and some questions to help make the zoo not only fun, but a great learning experience. It was fun and very educational. My favorite is always the monkeys! I have to admit though, the most interesting animal in the zoo today was two 6 year old human boys. They loved and respected nature, held the doors open for others, and had a blast seeing the creation of God. It was a great day.

I am quite tired now. The humidity mixed with walking all over and keeping up with two little ones has worn out this old man. I am so glad I went. I enjoy animals and I was thoroughly inspired by my wife’s skills and leadership. This one day makes the whole weekend worth it. I wish I didn’t have to leave her tomorrow. But soon we will be together.

-Michael

I feel that everything around me is a blur while at the same time I am moving like a turtle. We have been really busy around here and I just can’t seem to pack it all in one week. I haven’t had a full day off since April 15th and that was only one day that followed a week where every night there was an activity. So, needless to say that I am a little tired and in need of a day off. I am going to Houston this weekend, so at least I will be with my wife. I am going to the zoo on a field trip with her little ones. I think it will be a blast. I can’t blog long, because there is still much to do before I leave tomorrow.

I will need some time before summer to slow down and take some quiet time with God. It will be a busy summer. This program is larger than my last and has more activities. Also, we will be in the middle of a transition. Hopefully our house will sell and we will be moving. Hopefully Leah will have a new job and we will be putting her classroom together.

So it looks as though my choices are to find my warp speed or slow my universe down a bit. You can ask any athletic coach I have ever had and they can tell you that I lack anything near a warp speed. So I guess my only real option is to slow my universe down. Anyone know how to do that?

-Michael

Last night I had the opportunity to teach the 6th and 7th grade boys class. This was a wild bunch. I decided that since I am only teaching three weeks I would re-create something I have used before. I decided to go with “Who’s Who in the Bible”. The idea for this class is to look at the more obscure characters of the Bible. This is usually an 8 week series for me so I needed to narrow my choices. I decided that since my audience was male I would stick with only obscure men from the Bible. My first class uses a “simple” activity to introduce the idea of the importance in knowing less talked about characters. The activity is a competition to see who can be the first to find the character I call out in the Bible. I usually start with “popular” Biblical characters and then go to more unknown.

Okay, that’s the history and now for what happened last night. I look into the class and realize real quick that this class is heavily populated by our neighbors from the community. I was ecstatic that our intention on being missional is happening in this class. However, I was scared because my class didn’t fit some of the audience. I pressed on anyway and things went okay. However, I now see that there needs to be a paradigm shift for me. Youth ministry here is changing its face. We, just like the entire church, are becoming more missional and there is fruit. Because of our missionality we must change our paradigm and methodologies and be more inclusive to all who come.

It is enlightening to me. I hope as I teach these next two weeks I can learn more from these students and their desire to reach out to this community and the world around them. What a refreshing place to be!

-Michael

Three years ago Leah and I had the perfect day. We have over 400 family and friends witness our marriage before God. Marriage has been awesome! I could not have made it through life with all its ups and downs without my wife. She is spectacular! She has supported me through all the ministry done these past six plus years. We have walked in faith together down some unknown territory. She is not only my wife, but my best friend and my love. That day three years ago was a perfect day.

Today will be perfect again. Perfect because of the love we have for God and each other. We are charting new territory this year as a married couple. In June we will both be in Abilene. This is new territory, because it means new jobs for both, a new home, away from family, and a new church! God has called us both to be faithful! We have been called before and just like then, we will answer the call.

I love Leah’s laugh, smile, giggle, and comforting voice. I love it when she gets hyper off one sip of Dr. Pepper. I love to watch her teach and take control of the classroom. Its awesome to see her mingle with her students and their parents. I love the encouragement that she gives to me, but especially the encouraging notes she sends to others. I love to hear her pray, discuss Bible studies, and watch her be faithful.

God is good!

And though I don’t deserve his goodness He has gifted me with Leah!

I love you honey!

Happy 3 year Anniversary!

-Michael

Ah, the Rolling Stones! How true is this lyric. I am living proof right now of this lyric. I have been in Abilene since January 1, 2006. Everything about my job is more than I could have ever imagined. Everything outside of that has been confusing and discouraging. I have mentioned on this blog several times a need for prayer. Well, we still need prayers. I am confident that God has called Leah and I to Abilene and to Highland church. However, there are many things unsettled in this transition. Nothing has taken place ideally for our move and Leah’s job. In fact it seems that we get 90% bad news and 10% good news. We can deal with bad news but its constant flow is overwhelming. I am trying hard to give my worries over, like Jerry Taylor spoke not too long ago. I am trying to keep smiling and not whine. I am trying and failing. I know life isn’t smooth or fair. But cliches are empty phrases to us as we continue to seek what God is saying. Good News would inspire us! Good news may even revive us! We need our house to sell. We need Leah to get a job here. We need to be together! I need more faith. I need good news. I want all of this now. But as the Rolling Stones sing,

“You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need”

In the midst of the pain I strive to serve and worship as if everything were perfect. Because he is perfect!

-Michael

I took my two little precious pets to see the veterinarian. One cat, Maverick and one dog, Zeke. I told my wife this would be absolutely no problem. We arrived and went to the canine side of the waiting room. Zeke was on a leash and Maverick was in his carrier. Zeke was energetic but following commands very well. Maverick was a little irritable (he’s older and more cranky). Finally we were allowed in the back. Both were getting their shots. Maverick will usually not come out of his carrier at the vet. We usually have to undo his carrier to get him out. This time he came willingly. Zeke was excited just to be around other people. Everything was a little crazy but manageable until Maverick decided he wanted to be on the floor where Zeke was. Now you need to know that Zeke is an outside only dog and Maverick is an inside only cat. So they don’t see much of one another except for a few sniffs at the back door. Maverick jumped down onto the floor and Zeke went to greet him (read sniff and lick him). Maverick a little intimidated by Zeke’s 42 plus pound muscular bull-dog like frame reared back and lifted onto his hind legs. I am holding Zeke away as Maverick continues to hiss and growl, yes growl at Zeke. Zeke, a little confused just watches and tries to ensue his licking. Maverick pops his right paw up in the air as he cocks the left paw lower to the side. As Zeke pulls me and gets closer, Maverick pops the snout of Zeke with a right hook followed by a left uppercut, which followed with a right jab. I yanked Zeke as hard as I could, while feeling terribly sorry for Maverick’s anxiety and memory loss of having his paws declawed five years ago. Finally, Zeke was somewhat pulled away, Maverick returned to all fours and scoured the rest of the floor as if nothing had just happened. We made it out alive and no animals were hurt in making of this story.

I have never in my life felt the stress of what it must be like to be a parent with two fighting children. I have never in my life broken a sweat in the vet’s office. And I have never been so elated to leave the vet’s office than that day.

It may be comical now, but at the time I would have rather been taking the vet shots myself.

Oh and by the way, I gave up my one vice, Diet Dr. Pepper, for lent. So the stress that was induced could not be drowned in the rich syrup and thick carbonation perfectly blended together to burn the throat in the first gulp and thereafter take your worries away drink that I have come to know and love. I sure am glad I am not addicted to anything.

That was my visit to the vet and the story of my kids, er, pets!

-Michael

I am assuming since I don’t have any children. I took my two beloved pets to the vet today. Maverick, the cat, and Zeke, the dog, needed shots. So I took them. They got into a fight and I was embarassed. I will tell more later.

We have been planning Passion Week since January. This Sunday is the kickoff. Highland’s part of the week is Palm Sunday, the Triumphal Entry. The more I think about the event, the more I see that the people put the party and celebration of Jesus before it was really time. Knowing what we know now, we would have put the celebration at the end when he resurrected. However, as he came in riding on the donkey and people shouting Hosanna, Jesus was celebrated. The rest of that week goes downhill from there.

We have much to celebrate about Jesus. We have much to be thankful for. We don’t have to worry about celebrating early. However, there are times of celebration and times of mourning. I always look forward to the times of celebration. I am looking forward to celebrating this Sunday, but the angst of Friday awaits. The good news is that there is much to celebrate come that next Sunday.

That celebration entails much more than being able to drink sodas again. It is about the King creating a place in the kingdom for all.

Hosanna!

-Michael

What I mean is tangible! This past Sunday at lunch a friend of mine, Mark, and I were joking as usual about the ways that we as Christians do things. It all started with conversation about how things that Leah and I have been praying for and many others have been praying for like (house to sell, Leah to find a job, find a new home) have not been answered. I joked by saying that I have given up on faith. I joked even further when I said I had given up on God. My joking with Mark is usually sarcastic, but always brings to light some truths. Mark asked what I was going to do about giving up on God and I responded that I would make Leah my God (I chose Leah because she was sitting with us at lunch). The next few phrases and jokes out of my mouth made me really think, then and later about how I treat God.

I said, I will just ask Leah (remember using her name as a physical presence of God) for everything I want. I will sing her a few songs, read the things that she writes, and serve others in her name. Then I will ask what I want and she will give it to me. Mark laughed and had one of those sighs that comes when you have felt a dagger of truth enter your heart. I felt the dagger too. My Facetiousness got out of hand I understand, but when I realized what I expect from God versus what I give him I was convicted. I really feel good about singing a few songs to him, reading his word, and doing some of the other churchy things I do. Those things are good and welcomed by God and blessed, however, they seem futile matched up to the sacrifice of His son and a trivial task such as finding jobs and selling homes.

God is big enough to handle anything! God is big enough to do “small!” He doesn’t care what we ask, He just wants us to know Him and love Him. We may not get all we ask, but he loves us to love and need him.

I am in a process of living a life that reflects Christ to a broken world. I want to do more than sing some fun songs, read His word, and serve others. I want to be a disciple. The great thing about all this is I have the rest of my life to work on that with fear and trembling of course.

In our satire of conversation, Mark asked what would happen in Leah the God didn’t give me what I wanted? The quick satirical response, “I get a new God!”

It is sad when this statement hits home more than it should!

-Michael