A special Memorial Day thank you to my two grandfathers who served in the Air Force for our country. Thanks to Douglas Eckhardt and John Cliff, two heroes worth remembering!
John Cliff, Lt. Colonel, United States Air Force, WWII & Korean War Veteran
Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle
Everything I do is stitched with its color.
~W.S. Merwin, “Separation”
Have you noticed, I’ve been missing from this blog in the past two weeks? The combination of Orange Conference over-posting, and a busy personal life has created a vacant blog schedule. Sure I knocked out something on Mother’s Day, and you saw an already scheduled update of our newest Kidsplace Promo video…but really nothing about me. That’s why I have this blog, right? Because there are people out there that want to know about me!
If you’re still reading, then let’s hope that you know my tounge is planted firmly in my cheek. It’s not all about me, and being at the Orange Conference reminded me of that. I met so many of you guys that read this lame website, that I feel obligated to fill you in on much of what has been occupying my world lately. Can I share what’s up in my Ministry life?
That covers most of the ministry things happening in my life. Now, admit it. You feel like you know me better, right?
This is the most recent Kidsplace service video announcement at Trinity Church, in Lubbock, TX. It’s edition #1 of a project to get the word out to our congregation that we have age-specific programming for kids every weekend! Gina spoke about this here, but sometimes people fail to even know we have programming for kids every weekend. Or if they know, they tend to think of what they may have experienced when they were kids. More than once I’ve heard someone that visits our areas say, “I had no idea you guys had so much fun here with the kids!”, or I’ve heard “I wish we did things like then when I was a kid!”
We will be running these videos throughout the next few months. They are only 30 seconds in length, and are designed to fit along with whatever video announcements the church is running in weekend services. They are not designed to be stand-alone. They will also be used over and over throughout the year. Make sense?
We outsourced the work to a local place here in Lubbock. All videos were filmed, created, and designed by Kevin Rhodes over at Dream Taxi.
I live in the best of both worlds, as far as mothers are concerned. I can truthfully and honestly say that I have the best mother in the world, and I’m married to the most wonderful woman who has proven to be a fantastic mother for my own children.
I’m sure that many look back on rosy memories of their own mothers, overlooking the mistakes and faults that they grew up seeing. I, on the other hand, had a real saint of a mother. My mother arose early to read her Bible in the morning, always packed up great lunches for school, as kids she gave us freedom to run all around our neighborhood, yet she protected us from things that would hurt us. She always forgave us when we messed up, and turned everything…everyday into something fun. I’m not lying when I say that my mother rarely ever raised her voice at us in my entire childhood. I have memories of my mom taking us to swimming pools, playing with us at parks, running garage sales to save money for vacations, and always involving us in whatever was happening in her life at any given time. When I think of a servant, I can’t help but think of my own mother.
My wife could not be more different from my own mother, yet she stands on her own as a fantastic mother. Starr is the “cool mom”, but not because she let’s kids get away with murder. She’s cool because she can turn anything into something fun and exciting. Whether it’s making biscuit pizzas, helping me dunk my kids into cold water, making super-girl capes, or letting our boys jump off the top of a playhouse into 2 inches of water…she’s super awesome! Her boys know that she will always stop everything to go jump on the trampoline, and her daughter will always have her attention when a favorite song comes on the radio.
I’m fortunate, lucky, blessed, or any other adjective you’d like to add. Happy Mothers’ Day to my mom and my wife! Two of the best that have ever been!
And now a little Mother’s Day humor…
