Repost: I Wish I Had Written This Blog

I am attempting to post a weekly. Every other week these posts will be reposts. I had been a contributor on two different sites that have since closed or changed to no longer include blogs. I will be reposting pieces that had originally been featured on one of these two sites.  

This was originally posted April 5, 2011

Lately I’ve been realizing that I hardly ever want to do things that will make me a better person.  However, I often wish that I was the type of person who had done certain things.  This applies to many areas of my growth and development.  Despite many overlaps and commonalities, growth in character is different than Spiritual growth, which is different than intellectual growth.  This phenomenon occurs across the entire spectrum. 

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Left Behind

While I was working as a Resident Director in Bowman House at Indiana Wesleyan University one of the fun parts of my job was coming up with T-shirt designs. I don’t have much artistic talent, but I’d have an idea and work with an artist to come up with something cool for the staff shirts and the hall shirts. Once the guys on my staff were so excited about a shirt that one of them literally slapped another across the face in a fit of chaotic jubilation (that’s a proud moment for me).

On the back of most shirts I had made for Bowman was the design below.

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Repost: Following Foolishly

I am attempting to post a weekly blog for the foreseeable future. Every other week these posts will be reposts. I had been a contributor on two different sites that have since closed or changed to no longer include blogs. I will be reposting pieces that had originally been featured on one of these two sites.  

This was originally posted March 31, 2011

I heard Jerry Root speak on Matthew 18:3, 

“...become like little children…”  

He listed many characteristics of children that Jesus could have been referring to and then spent most of the talk expounding on the idea that children are not complete; that they are always learning.  Now that I have a son I’ve been noticing HOW he learns. 

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Expanding Hospitality

Now that we have moved to a new place (the beautiful PacificNorthwest) we are beginning the process of connecting to our new community. Since we live on a university campus, meeting new neighbors is streamlined a little; my coworkers are our neighbors. Soon after we moved in we went over to visit with a couple who also live on campus. Visiting new friends for the first time isn’t exactly stressful, but one generally wants to be polite and make a good impression. In our case, any good impression is somewhat complicated by the existence of our two boys. 

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Repost: Is Spiritual Growth "Limitless"?

As stated previously, I am attempting to post a weekly blog for the foreseeable future. Every other week these posts will be reposts. I had been a contributor on two different sites that have since closed or changed to no longer include blogs. I will be reposting pieces that had originally been featured on one of these two sites.  

This was originally posted March 25, 2011

Hello.

I’m new to -blogging- and unsure of how to start.  Metamorpha has graciously agreed to allow me this venue for writing and sharing some thoughts and ideas.  I’m told that experiences in life and ministry are places to start blogging from.  So, here we go….

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The Kingdom I've Received

We have now been living on the west coast again for about a week.  This is my first, and much-awaited, blog post about transitioning to Oregon from Indiana.  I know that it’s “much-awaited” because in the weeks leading up to our move several people made comments about this post.

“Of course, Jared will write all about this transition.”
“And we’ll anticipate a moving blog post about this.”
“I can’t wait to keep up on your lives through your blog.”

…stuff like that.

This may disappoint some folks. In the midst of packing in the span of a week, finding out we’re moving to Oregon at the end of that week, then driving across the country there hasn’t been much time to reflect, meditate, or introspect. It’s been a whirlwind.

Such is life.

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Taking Sides

We were wrestling as a family on the couch.  Having a tickle fight between Mama, Papa, and boy.
All were participating equally until our son, Isaiah, changed the rules.

He stopped me and loudly whispered in my ear, "Let's get Mama."
It was a conspiracy, an alliance worthy of Survivor: Blood vs. Water
I was ready to team up with my son against my wife, since usually he'll pick her side.

I counted off, "one, two, ....Three!" and we lunged across the couch, both of us trying to tickle the woman we love.

Then, just as I began to tickle my wife, Isaiah threw himself between the two of us.  He was facing me defiantly.  His arm was back, protectively guarding Candice, and he commanded me,
"Stop!  That's MY MOTHER!"

I was severely chastised for my insensitivity and he made it clear whose side he was on.
I should have known it was a ruse.  My consternation was, of course, overpowered by the cuteness of our son.  Candice and I both burst out laughing.

While we laughed, Isaiah didn't take his eyes off me, or relax his stern expression.