March 7 – “Three funerals and a wedding”

Three funerals and a wedding.  Sounds like a movie title.  In less than a week.  That would be taxing on anyone, I guess.  Today we are focusing on paying tribute to our dear friend Scott up in Houston.  Yesterday we did the wedding and made the trek to Highlands to visit with Christi and her family.    The wedding was kind of fun.  We hadn't heard, but there was kind of a 50's theme attached to it.  The bridesmaids were wearing what looked like those poodle skirts from back then.  None of them had pictures of dogs or anything, but the skirts pooched out and they had those little sweaters that were short sleeved and only barely fit over their shoulders.  Chris noticed that the Mothers of the bride and groom were wearing dresses that looked like something Jackie Kennedy would wear.  I'm not sure what makes something fit into that category.  The groomsmen had simple black suits on.  Nathan was one of the groomsmen, and he told us that it was ten dollars cheaper to buy the suit than it was to rent it.  That's why Chris had the honor of hemming the pants the night before.  The groom's Dad and Grandfather shared the honors of doing the ceremony.   Both are pastors.  It seemed like they were both kind of emotional about the event.  I know from experience that it is really special to be in that position.   The reception was not at the little church.  We had to go to a park a few blocks away.  So everything was set up outdoors for a "meet and greet" with the bride and groom.  We did go over for a few minutes, so we got to see the cake and sample the white grape juice mixed with ginger ale punch.  We snuggled with Cailyn for awhile, and then eased our way to the car for part two of the journey.   From there we drove out to Highlands.  It's a community near Crosby, where Christi's grandfather lived.  We had no trouble finding the funeral home, and ended up parking right next to Josh and Christi's minivan.  Just as we signed in Christi walked up and told us Josh and the boys were back in the kitchen.  So we made our way through the maze of people and corridors.  When we walked in Caleb was the first to see us.  It took a moment or two for it to register in his mind exactly who we were, but when it clicked, he stood up in his chair and squealed.  It's great to be recognized, especially by the little ones.  We did pay our respects to the family, but ended up spending most of our time with the boys.  I was able to work in some wrestling time with Caleb and some serious Batman comics reading with Zak.  We even joined them for a quick trip to McDonald's to eat burgers from Whataburger before we left for Galveston.  Hey, McDonalds had a playground.  And we did get the boys food there.  The rest of us just couldn't bring ourselves to stomach their Mcfood, though.    Isaiah 49:13 says, "Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains!  For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones."   Father, these two families have one more big hurdle to get over today.  Walk with them through the funerals.  And grant your blessings on the new family that began.  Amen.

March 6 – “To Scott Scoggins”

We have some schedule juggling to do today and tomorrow.  Of course the first thing on tap is church.  Definitely a plus to look forward to.  After church we have to rush home to get ready for the second key feature of our weekend.  We are going to attend the wedding of one of the guys who was on the basketball team I used to coach.  I became good friends with his Dad who was a pastor here in Galveston.  I'm looking forward to it for several reasons, but one is so I can get a look at the venue.  They are having the ceremony in an old Swedish church that Ben (the groom) actually helped restore.  I did a wedding there once before, but they have done quite a bit more work on it since then.  I'm not sure where the reception is, mainly because we will probably not be able to go to it.   And the reason we have to depart soon after the ceremony is the next segment of our hectic schedule.  We have to choose which of two pre-funeral visitations to attend.  Both funerals are tomorrow as well.   The visitation for Christi's grandfather is from 5 – 8 p.m. somewhere over near Crosby, Texas.  If I understood Josh correctly, it is in the community called Highlands.  That's where a friend of mine is a pastor.  I'll have to take along his phone number if that's where we end up tonight.    The problem is that there is another funeral visitation at the same time, but this one is in far northwest Houston.  Scott Scoggins died yesterday.  He and his wife Mary were like parents to us when I was on staff at Langwood Baptist Church way back when we were still in college.  They walked with us through getting married and buying our first home and Chris becoming a Christian and having our first child and, for me, figuring out the reality of Jesus wanting a personal relationship with me.  We spent many Sunday afternoons at their house eating a big meal and playing with their daughter's food and napping while waiting for the evening activities at the church.  He participated in one of the best pranks I ever played on anyone.    At a Christmas party at their house, the "fun" thing to do was to wait for someone to go to the bathroom.  Then the entire group would gather at the door and serenade the unsuspecting victim with Christmas carols until they came out.  I watched the festivities a few times, and a plot began to develop in my brain.  I sought Scott out and enlisted his help.  I needed to borrow a pair of his boxer underwear.  He didn't ask what for.  He just reached into his dresser, handed them to me, and with a shake of his head, grinned a sly grin as if to say, "Go for it."  The words that actually came out of his mouth were, "Don't tell Mary I had any part in this.  If you do I'll deny it all."  With that he returned to his recliner to await the inevitable, and I went into the bathroom, announcing my exit by closing the door just a little too loudly so the group would be sure to know another patsy was at hand.    True to form the crowd gathered.  Unbeknownst to them, however, I was listening carefully to their whispers, waiting for just the right moment.  The first notes of the song began to trill forth, "Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly, Fa, la, la, la, la …"  And somewhere amidst the fa, la, la's, I ripped open the door and exclaimed, "Can't a person go to the bathroom in peace around here?"  Mouths were agape and the singing stalled at what they beheld before them.  I stood there, wearing Scott's boxers over my own, with my jeans around my ankles.  As I scanned the crowd, I found the eyes I was looking for near the back of the group.  And Scott's eyes were gleaming with mirth as he gave me a wink and a thumb's up.    To say they were friends is just not quite enough.  Even stand-in parents doesn't quite do it.  They were gifts to us from God at just the time we needed them.  He loved to sing, so I know he's enjoying his time praising Jesus in heaven right now.   We'll figure out our schedule somehow.    Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."   Father, thank you for my friend Scott.  Enjoy your time with him.  Amen.

March 5 – “Last Call”

I went to a funeral yesterday morning for a Jamaica Beach volunteer fire fighter.  He was killed in an accident on his motorcycle.  It was quite an impressive ceremony.  There was standing room only at the largest funeral home in town, plus the lobby was packed.  They had a bagpipes player, which is always an emotional experience.  But the hardest thing of all emotionally was the last call for a firefighter that goes out over the radio.  All the firefighters and police officers stand at attention and salute as the call goes out.  Except for the crackle of the radio, you could hear a pin drop.  Very impressive.   We also got word that Josh's wife, Christi's grandfather died.  He had been in an automobile accident several weeks ago, and was recovering slowly when he picked up pneumonia.  Looks like the funeral will be Monday.   In the afternoon I went to Kel's house over in Texas.  He had three ceiling fans to install in the house over there.  As is usually the case, we stumbled through the first installation.  I must have dropped the washers and nuts six times before we finally got it to stay up.  And at that we still were one nut short, if you don't count the two nuts who were trying to do the installation.  We never could find it amidst the mass of Legos.  I guess it will some day become a Lego man's hat or the top of a well or maybe a stone for a catapult.  Those Vaughan boys have a pretty fertile imagination.   I also got started reading a new book.  Transformational Church, by Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer.  We got some information in the mail at Seaside about a Transformational Sunday School conference, so I figured I should study up before I recommended it.  So far the book is interesting.  It is a report of a sociological study done to figure out a better way of measuring "success" in churches.  My favorite part so far was when they said the whole process is more like a spiral than a timeline.  That creates a whole new paradigm for church leaders to try to grasp after years and years of being told to follow this plan or that program.  I'm anxious to see how that idea played out in the actual research.   Isaiah 48:17-18 says, "This is what the Lord says — your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.  If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.'"   Father, thank you for that peace like a river.  Let the Norregaard family and Christi's family taste some of it this week.  Amen.

March 4 – “The Look”

I started my day yesterday at Seaside Christian Academy.  I had great intentions.  The plan was to get some more work done on the sermon for Sunday, finish up studying for the teaching at Life Group last night (Ephesians 5 – wives submit, husbands love- always a fun discussion topic), and move some files up from the old building to the new office.   I hooked up the laptop as soon as I arrived, hoping to get started quickly.  But I couldn't get connected to the internet.  Actually, I could get to the Yahoo opening screen, but when I tried to go anywhere else it just laughed at me.  Didn't make any noise at all, but I knew it was laughing nevertheless.  It did it's little "loading" notification, and even ran through the little process bar graph at the bottom of the screen.  But when it arrived at the "done" message, nothing had been done.  Same screen.    Finally I gave up on the internet and tried to get started on something else.  Something that would only require simple word processing.  That worked fine.  I finished my blog entry, but couldn't send it.  Then as I moved to the sermon file I noticed a flashing icon near the lower right hand corner of the screen.  Curios, I moved the cursor over it and discovered that I had been working on battery power, and that was just about depleted.  No problem, right?  Just plug it in for awhile, right?  I reached for the case, unzipped it and reached in for the power cord.  And it was not there.  Of course not.  I left it plugged in at home when I picked up the laptop.    Undaunted, I turned to the next item on the list, moving files.  When we moved my desk up at the opening of the new building, I left my two file cabinets full of files back down in the old office.  I didn't use them that often.  In fact, I had no idea what was in most of them.  But yesterday I had brought with me four boxes and a dolly to help me make the transfer into the two new file cabinets I had just picked up from a friend in Friendswood.  He transfer went smoothly.  Didn't take long at all, in fact.  The plan is to go through all those files and throw some of the old stuff away.  That'll be completed on another day.  For yesterday, though, I did find one small treasure that fell out during transfer.  It was a ribbon from the elementary school in Denver that Josh went to.  2nd place for something.  Way to go, Josh.   Next I decided to do some reading.  In fact, I read a complete book called Heaven is for Real.  It was about a 4 year-old's experience of visiting heaven while he was dead for a few minutes.  Interesting look from a father's perspective as the youngster reveals over the course of months more and more details of what he experienced while clinically dead for a few minutes during a serious operation.    A text from Chris determined my next move.  Cailyn was over and she was apparently having a melt down.  She was not happy that her Mommy had departed.  Not a problem in and of itself.  Nothing Chris couldn't handle easily on her own.  But there was another wrinkle this time.  Mom was trying to help out, and she was yelling at Cailyn.  Didn't bode well for a relaxing afternoon.    By the time I got home Chris had Cailyn out on a walk.  That way Mom wouldn't have to deal with the crying and Cailyn wouldn't have to deal with the yelling.  Worked out well.  Everybody was happy as a lark when I drove up.  Cailyn did give us one memorable moment, though.  As we finished up lunch she discovered Chris' sewing scissors on the table.  Of course she picked them up, and of course Chris cautioned her and requested transfer of said object into larger hands.  Cailyn understood the directive, and followed instructions without making a scene.  But then Chris got "The Look."  That look that every girl I have ever know has down perfectly by the time they are, well, about two years old.  Cailyn ducked her head just a little bit, never taking her eyes away from Chris' face.  Her brow wrinkled ever so slightly.  Her lips tightened into just the hint of a frown.  And slowly - oh, so slowly – her tiny hand raised from its place in her lap with the index finger extended, yet with a slight crook.  And slowly, slowly the finger began its movement.  Up and down.  Up and down.  Until finally it reached full blown wagging.  Oh, yes.  Cailyn has The Look down.  I'm glad it was Chris receiving the brunt of it.  Watch out for that one, ye future boyfriends.   Isaiah 48:12-13 says, "Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last.  My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together."   Father, thank you for the incredible power in the simple expressions of a tiny girl. It reminds me of the awesomeness of just a wink from you.  Amen.

March 3 – “Big Brother is watching”

I went fishing.  Sure feels good to be able to make that declaration again.  I went out in a friend's boat into the Bay.  Neither of us really knew where to go, so we just took off and stopped wherever his fish finder started beeping.  We ended up somewhere near the San Luis Pass bridge for awhile, then over by the intercoastal canal.  The extent of our catch was 5 whiting.  Not specs by any means, but they do fry up for a tasty treat.  Oh, and one crab that nailed my hand with a grip of steel.  That'll leave a mark.  I felt bad when my buddy insisted I take all the fish home, though.  He even offered to pay me for the bait I brought.  It was his boat.  He bought the gas.  I needed to pay him.  He wouldn't take anything, though.  Great guy.  And to top it off his wife had just made chocolate chip cookies when we got back.  Nice.   I helped him throw a couch over the side of his deck.  Actually he had a block and tackle set up so we lifted it over the side and gently lowered it into his waiting pickup on the ground.  Ingenious.  It is so great when things like that really work.    I missed Cailyn coming over, but I did get to see Jachin and Micah and Josiah briefly.  They had stopped by after a day at the beach to clean up a little before heading to Micah's baseball practice.  They were excited to see the fish, but they were even more fascinated by the few shrimp that were still alive.  Neither of them wanted to eat one, though.  Micah did say that he wanted to be around when we fried up the fish.  Chris promised he would be the first one we call.   Last night was regular you group worship night.  I told Chris to go on, and I stayed with Mom.  Chris doesn't get to go to worship much on Sundays.  She either stays with the little guys in the nursery or stays at home with Mom.  She seems to really like the music on Wednesdays, and I know she likes the staying after and talking to Rita for hours.  Last night was her time.   I got two big emails from our accountant.  Tax return stuff.  I almost deleted both of them, though.  The sender was listed as someone we didn't recognize.  I think she is the new secretary there.  I finally took a chance and opened them up, though.  Good news.  Looks like we get some back.  We have to sign one of the forms and fax it back so they can e-file the return.  Then the refund will be automatically wired into our account.  Ah, the miracles of modern technology.  Feels like a book I read once … 1984.  Big Brother is watching.   Isaiah 46:8-10 says, "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.  Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.  I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."   Father, do what you please with me, with my family, with Seaside, with Galveston.  Amen.

March 2 – “FLM’s”

I was supposed to go fishing yesterday with a friend from church on his boat.  Problem was, when we woke up there were 20 miles per hour winds and a 47 degree wind chill temperature.  It was supposed to warm up some, but being in a boat with that much wind is just not a good idea.  So we postponed the fishing trip to today. Look much more promising.   Since there would be no fishing trip, I got started early on the sermon for Sunday, and actually got a lot done on it.  I didn't get in to check on Seaside Christian Academy, though.  Once I got started at my desk at home, I just kept going.   Finally, yesterday afternoon I needed a break.  Chris had gone over to Nathan and April's to take care of Cailyn while April took a class.  Yes, she used to come over here, but they moved into Kel and Christina's house, which is about three or four blocks away from the college.  I figured it would not be as convenient to drop her off here on the way, and one of us still has to stay close to Mom, so I wouldn't get to see Cailyn as often.  OK, I'm officially jealous that Chris got to go.    So for my break I decided to take action on something Chris said the other day.  I wasn't totally sure how I should approach it, though.  It was one of those "FLM's" - female language moments, and even after thirty-six years plus I still don't always interpret it right.    What she said was, "I want to get that back flower bed done."  Sound very simple, and in a male world, that's what it would mean.  But not always so in the world of FLM's.  See, I wasn't sure if she meant, "I want to get that back flower bed done" or "I want to get that back flower bed done."  I didn't know if she meant that she wanted to do the weeding herself so she could feel the sense of satisfaction at having completing something, or if she just wanted to get the thing done so she could move on to the "planting of new things" stage.  The ramifications wouldn't in this case be necessarily earth-shattering.  But it would mean the difference in a lot of work on my part that would result in great gratitude or a lot of work on my part that would result in frustration and disappointment.  There's always a risk involved in choosing to take action.   I chose to weed the flower bed for her.  She seemed pleased when she got home.  I still am not quite sure if I understood the FLM, but I am sure that I married a very gracious lady.   Isaiah 46:4 says, "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."   Father, thank you for the great gift you gave me in Chris.  Her spirit really reflects yours.  Amen.

March 1 – “Generation gap”

I tried to watch In Cold Blood by Truman Capote yesterday.  Wow.  Talk about a sleeper.  Literally.  I could not stay awake.  I know it was about a family that got killed by Robert Blake, or whatever his character's name was.  Beyond that I have no idea.  And it didn't even inspire me to want to read the book.  Maybe the problem was that it was filmed in black and white.   Speaking of black and white films, Jachin and Micah were over here the other day to spend the night while their parents dealt with some aspect of moving or other.  They have discovered that there is a whole channel on television dedicated to nothing but cartoons.  They even have a pretty good idea of the regular lineup on the days they are allowed to watch it.  So they wanted to check it out while they were here.    As I was surfing through the other channels searching for it, I came across a Three Stooges show.  So I stopped.  It is my TV, after all.  And the stooges were in rare form.  Or in their case I guess it would be typical form.  They were tripping and falling and slapping each other continuously.  I waited to see how long the boys would stay with it.    Micah seemed to think it was one of the funniest things he had ever seen.  He wanted to know who those guys were.  And he never even mentioned that the show was in black and white.  Appreciation for the finer points of comedy, I'm sure.  But Jachin, being seven years old now, so he is much older and wiser than four year old Micah, was quite another story.  He watched somewhat patiently for a few minutes, probably to indulge poor old DadDad, who no doubt had forgotten his original plan to find the Cartoon Network.  He even stifled a chuckle or two.  Couldn't laugh outright or we would think he was enjoying this ridiculousness.    Finally Jachin let out an audible sigh, followed by, "DadDad, how about we see what Pokemon is doing?"  Upon hearing the cry of his older and wiser brother, Micah shook his head from side to side, as if to rid himself of the mind-numbing effects of this ancient black and white snare, and agreed, "Yeah, DadDad.  You said we could watch the cartoons."  Alas, the Three Stooges upstaged by a creature from another country.   Isaiah 45:22-24 says, "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.  By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.  They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'"   Father, you have control of even the weather.  It would sure be nice to get a chance to go fishing.  Whenever you are ready to calm the winds a bit …  Amen.