Man Up

Finally, after April and May rains we have some great weather - the kind of weather people in the Northwest crave all year. It's also the kind of weather known to bring out stupid stunts and injury to muscles which haven't had much stretching. As a man a little over 50, this is more real to me than it used to be. Men will be men, the saying goes.

I was reading about the biblical King, David. Maybe you think of him as a poet and singer - and therefore kind of a wimp. You would be right about the fact that he was both poet and singer, but he was no wimp. I don't know the grand total of battles that he was personally involved in but let's just say he cleaned a lot of blood off of his sword. He was a man's man - and a poet and singer.

At the end of his life he spoke to the son (Solomon) who was following him as king and essentially told him to "man up." This is what he said.

"I'm about to go the way of all the earth... So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires. Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements..."

Someone has said, "Real men fight best on their knees."

I think prayer is one of those things that is pretty mysterious to men. We're bent to take action and "do something" and prayer doesn't seem to fit that model.

For the next few weeks I'm asking you to send me what you've learned about praying - like a man. Warfare on your knees so to speak. Are there particular things you've read from the Bible or other writers which have put something into you to understand how to pray as a man? Send them to me at daves@cityharvestchurch.com

Happy Mothers Day

My diary

This morning I was born. Mom was there before me, of course. Later I learned she worked hard just to have me. That was just the beginning.

Today I actually saw my mom. My eyes have been pretty blurry since I was born but today I actually saw her. Or maybe it was an angel. I couldn’t tell for sure.

Wow – this is cool. I did something. I’m not even sure what it was but my mom laughed and smiled at me. I think I’m gonna like this lady.

Oops. Pooped a lot today. Mom told everyone it (the poop I guess) went everywhere.

Today I pooped again. Mom said it was even worse than the last entry so I’ll just leave it at that. I’m not going to be writing for a while because pooping and sleeping seem to be about all I can do and I don’t want you to get bored.

Real food is not all that. I was kind of liking the other stuff. Mom said she hoped I would sleep now so she can sleep. I didn’t realize I was being such a problem.

Mom let me stand up on my own today. And then she left me standing there and told me to come to her – how the heck am I supposed to do that?!

I did it! I moved this one foot and then I moved the other. Everyone clapped. It was cool.

I’m pretty fast. I ran away from mom today when she called me. She got mad. I’m actually not sure what I think about this new freedom thing.

Trouble. I got in real trouble. This other kid took my toy and I shoved him over. He cried and mom got upset. She told me I had to share. I’m going to have to think about that.

I haven’t written for a while. I’m going to this place without my mom today. Wait! This can’t be right…. Even my words and crying didn’t work. Someone help me!

It wasn’t that bad. We did some cool stuff. Mom told me she was proud of me when I came home. I am sensing that this is just the beginning of something I’m going to be doing a lot of.

Well, well… there is an opposite sex. Basically, I think that’s a little weird – but also kind of OK. I don’t know… Mom said she’d talk to me about it later.

Jr High is stupid. My teachers are stupid. School is stupid AND lame. Even mom is stupid sometimes. I didn’t think that was possible but – oh yeah – she’s human. She got mad and cried when I told her she was stupid. I was just trying to express myself. I thought that’s what she wanted. How did I get into this mess? It’s her fault, right?

Mom was awesome today. We went on a hike. She made it all the way to the top and back. I thought she was too old for that but she surprised me. Actually, that’s the story of my life. Mom has always surprised me.

· The way she gets excited about the things I have accomplished.

· The way she gets upset about things I think are no big deal.

· The way she really seems to understand me. There are days when I think she doesn’t have a clue but then she surprises me with how much she really does know about me and my life.

· The way she loves me – pretty much no matter what.

One other thing – she knows God in a way I haven’t yet learned. I can see it in her so I know it’s real and possible for me to know Him that way, too. I guess, like everything else in my life, it’s going to take me some time to figure it out.

Mom is my example. She’s human. She’s not perfect. But she really works at this. Basically she has been laboring to help me from before the time I was born.

I think it is only right that I say, Thanks.

Thanks, mom.