More blessings to fuel the marathon!

Well we had another huge praise this week that appeared in our mailbox.  Inside one of the envelopes was a check from another anonymous giver for $1500.00 that simply said 'God bless you on your adoption journey.'  What a cool blessing to receive in our mailbox that normally is just filled with companies trying to get me to sign up for a credit card.  These gifts have come along and really renewed our confidence that we are stepping out in faith and doing something that is in God's heart.  I had to laugh because as we were filling out the Home Study application one of the questions is 'How are you going to fund your adoption?'  I really just wanted to write 'I have a really rich Father.'

Meanwhile, we have been approved for our homestudy and are staring at a mountain of paperwork and questions and information we have to fill out.  Wow!  It's a truly overwhelming process and by the end of it they are going to learn just about everything there is to know about our family.  Also, you can pray that God will protect us from discouragement because as we talk to people and read blogs there seems to be a recurring theme of how nearly impossible it is to actually walk away with an adopted child from Honduras.  However, we still believe that God has led us to this country and we are going to trust Him all the way through to the point where one of His little orphans becomes a son or a daughter with a Mom and a Dad!  Thanks again for all of your prayer and support!

God bless,

Brian

Well, yesterday was a great step in our adoption journey.  First of all, I need to stop and thank God for a huge step of provision!  God, moving through the heart of an anonymous saint, provided $5000.00 towards our adoption fees yesterday.  This same person also provided that identical amount towards Josh and Suzanne's adoption fees.  This provision came at the end of a long and tiring week and was a beautiful ray of hope and confirmation for us that God is with us and has resources beyond what we can imagine.  Obi, my friend from church, prayed over us on Sunday and quoted Philippians 4 in his prayer that says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  We have really seen God answering that prayer this week.

So we feel a new spark of motivation as we run this marathon.  Last night about 11:00 we finished our application to be considered for a home study (not the home study but a 13 page online application to start a home study).  So that was good to get that done.  I think our next step is to contact the Honduran Consulate downtown and sign the power of attorney paperwork.  Already, this process is strengthening our faith and creating great conversations with friends and family about adoption and why it matters to God and to us.  So thank you for continuing to pray for us!


in Christ,


Brian

The Beginning of our Adoption Journey

From the early days of our marriage Whitney and I have had a heart for adoption.  We love kids and know that they are all created in God’s image.  I have always been especially moved by James 1:27 that says, ‘²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world’.  Also, in my continual reading through God’s Word with a heart to obey and walk out the Christian life, I have discovered scattered all over the Old and New Testament how much God cares for the fatherless and desires His people to stand up for them.  As time went on we have met friends and people who have adopted and it has become a less foreign concept for us.  Their stories and journeys have very much moved us.   So adoption has been one of those things that has remained with us and has been in our hearts. 

Currently we are beginning to walk through the process of adopting a child from Honduras.  Why Honduras?  We personally have a heart for international adoption as we think it helps us and our kids gain a perspective that God’s love reaches to the whole world and not just our backyard.   Our church has had a relationship with this country for several years now.  The leader of our mission trips has been Larry Wilson who is a seasoned church leader, works for Lifeway, and also happens to be a mentor for the small group that Whitney and I are in.  Honduras was a natural starting place as our church has a connection already with that country.

Another cool provision for us is that Josh and Suzanne Bramlett, the youth pastor and his wife at church, have a similar heart for adoption and also feel led to adopt from Honduras.  So we now have a much needed support group and accountability system with Josh and Suzanne and Larry Wilson as we walk through this process all together.  Whitney and I both have perhaps never felt a more clear imperative from God than we do right now.  We know that this is what we are supposed to do.  We know that this will not be easy and that we will have to depend on God to do some things that we can’t understand right now.  We have talked with enough people that have adopted to know that trusting God in a big way is just part of the process and we are freaked out and excited to be right in the middle of that. 

Another cool thing that I have had clearly impressed on my heart is that maybe God will use us and the Bramletts (two of the StoneBridge staff) to create more awareness of adoption and perhaps get more people involved in adoption (adopting, funding, fostering, or praying for adoptions).  I have talked to so many people at our church that are very interested in adoptions but just don’t know where to begin so we feel like we can help lead the way and maybe that becomes part of our legacy.  God has given us a mantle of influence here and we would love to make an impact in the lives of the fatherless (here and abroad). 

Another aspect of this decision is thinking through how it affects Emily and Joshua.  I feel this conviction that it will impact them deeply.  I want them to see and experience their Mom and Dad following God’s calling by faith.  I want them to see our family praying for God’s provision and direction and wisdom as we go through this.  I want them to understand that we are all ‘adopted’ as God’s sons and daughters when we receive Jesus Christ.  I want them to widen their perspective of God’s heart for the nations and to better understand how big and far-reaching the gospel really is. 

As we make accommodations for this new child it will require sacrifices on so many levels.  But what a powerful life-long lesson in the way Jesus called us to live our lives, by loving sacrificially.  I think that perhaps we will better understand Philippians 2 where it says, ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.’  I believe that God built us to be at our happiest and most joyful when we live for others and not just ourselves.  I believe that when we become His servants and learn to love like He does that life is full and amazing.  Adoption gives us this lifelong experience of choosing this child and sacrificing for them and loving them because God first loved us.  Emily and Joshua and Whitney and I will get to be a part of that together.

So, yes there are a lot of hard decisions that we will have to make.  How will we afford it?  Will Whitney have to quit her job and find something part-time maybe?  Will we have to lessen our schedule and reduce the amount of activities we are involved in?  Will we have to get a mini-van to hold everyone?  How will this new child from another culture and country adapt to our life?  How will Joshua handle not being the youngest anymore?   

For me, as I observe Scripture and the lives of those who have faithfully walked with God over the years, there seems to be a pattern.  God speaks and we obey.  When God called Abraham, He simply said ‘go to the land I will show you.’  He did not answer all of his questions.  God does not call the equipped but He equips the called.  God does not wait for us to get all of our ducks perfectly in a row and then He uses us.  He often comes right into the mess of our lives and calls us to step out in faith and follow Him.  He tells us to ‘seek first His kingdom and righteousness and all of these things will be added to us.’  He loves to be our provider.  We are stepping out into something that is in the ‘center’ of God’s heart, ‘the fatherless’ – pure religion.  I am willing to take risks when I know I am in that realm.  

So this is the beginning.  Thanks for stopping by...Thanks for your prayers...Thanks for your support as we step out and trust God!

in Christ,

Brian and Whitney

T-Ball Games and Limbo Contests

Finally, after 2 consecutive rainouts Joshua got to participate in his first T-Ball game on his team, the Arizona Diamond Backs. Before the game he had his pictures and right before the photographer snapped the shot he slipped and fell into the mud thus giving the impression he like slid into homeplate for the winning run or something. This first picture is Joshua before the game. The second picture is Joshua on third base poised and ready to make his dash for homeplate. It was quite an entertaining experience getting to watch these little guys participate in the very first baseball game. One kid hit the ball and ran straight for the pitching mound (like he was charging the mound or something) and then eventually was rerouted to first base by several parents and the coach. Many of the kids hit the ball and then just stood there for a while in amazement and after several voices reminded him to start running he eventually made his way over to first. All the Dads hung out in the field with our sons and coached them throughout the game. My most repeated phrase was 'Joshua, watch the batter' as he was quite distracted with the grass and other things out in the field. All in all, I think he

had a lot of fun, had three decent hits, and got to throw the ball over to first.

Part 2 of my Saturday was spent with my beautiful little daughter Emily. We got to go to our first ever Daddy/Daughter Dance. I first asked her to go with me on Thursday night and I think her response was a very non-chalant 'maybe' later followed by a 'sure...' The night ended up being a really special time. We went with Matt and Elyse McCauley from church. We got all dressed up, had our pictures made and the girls both got roses (thanks Matt!). We went out to eat together at Black Walnut and Emily got to eat french fries instead of a vegetable (hey, this is her night). We had a great time hanging out and talking together at dinner. Next we went to the dance together. We put together a little butterfly craft at our table. Then we went and experienced the chocolate fountain together and ate some goodies. Daddy got a little silly as he tried dipping brocolli, carrots, celery, and potato chips in the chocolate. Emily seemed to get a good laugh out of that. Eventually, Emily agreed to go out on the dance floor with me. At first she was doing her own thing but after awhile she opened up to us dancing together. After awhile we were shagging, and jitterbugging, and break dancing and just going crazy. We did the hokey-pokey, the chicken dance, the macarena, the limbo and many other dances. It was an awesome time for me and my little girl (who is growing up) to spend together.

Joshua Reading

I recently captured a little shot of Joshua reading. He told us that reading is fun. He is very excited about is new skill.

Some Great Spiritual Questions

Today, a man from our church emailed me the following questions. I thought they were great questions and I wanted to share them and some thoughts to each with you as well.

-What happened to Adam and Eve- I know that Adam & Eve had children, but what happened to Adam? What happened to Eve? Didn’t Eve take off with some spirit? Adam lived for 930 years and then he died. We are not sure how old Eve was when she died. I’ve not heard of Eve taking off with a spirit before. Maybe you could elaborate on that one for me and I can try and help. As far as are Adam and Eve in heaven it’s hard to know for sure. I believe that in OT salvation was ultimately still be faith in God. Faith is really a matter of the heart. You either trust in God or you don’t and the evidence of that works itself out in your life.

-Who else was on earth after able dies? When you read Genealogies in the Bible they are selective and not all-inclusive. They highlight certain descendants as they trace a line. So Adam and Eve most likely had lots and lots of children that we don’t have any information on that began populating the earth. They were simply told by God to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen 1:28). So based on the fact that you had a man and woman walking around naked in a beautiful paradise and they were told to have lots of sex and make babies…well you can see where that probably led. The Bible draws attention to Cain and Able and then again to Seth but they most assuredly had lots more kids (especially since they live so long too!).

-Are there other book that were not put in the bible? I think there were some other books but either the council could not agree or it was not confirmed

the books was not proven to be 100% accurate (is this a correct statement). There were lots of books floating around before the canon we have today was made official. The council got together and they had 3 main criteria for whether or not the books would be canonized. By the time the council came together the Bible we now have was basically recognized and accepted and being used. For the few books that were in question they applied tests like: was it written by an apostle or close associate? Was it consistent with the theology of the rest of the Scriptures and the person of Jesus Christ? You may want to review the Doctrine book again on this topic as he has a little more info as well.

-How do we know the bible is correct- The bible says it is correct because it is written … and because the spirit helped to write the bible (is this correct)? The Bible has come under lots of scrutiny but when held up next to other historical books is truly in a class of its own. The Bible is superior in the number of manuscripts we have and in how soon many of the manuscripts were written to the actual events they talk about.

-How do we know other religions are not the right one? That is a great question. Jesus says, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.’ – John 14:6 So either Jesus is truly God’s Son and the Savior of the World or He is a liar and Christianity is false. If you take Christianity at face value it is all or nothing. Many people today try and say Christianity is right for some and other religions are right for others. True Christianity does not give that option. So here are some things to consider about why Christianity is true:

· The miracle of the Bible (50 different authors from all different walks of life, 1500 year span, 1 consistent message, fulfilled prophecies)

· The miracle of the Resurrection (Jesus truly was not in the grave and there is no solid explanation for His body missing other than the 500 eyewitness accounts of His Resurrection)

· The reasonableness of Christianity – I believe that Christianity has the best answers to the big theological questions. An Intelligent Designer, God, created the intricate and delicately balanced universe that we live in. Evil exists in the world because God allows us to choose Him or reject Him. The Cross – A holy God cannot just ignore sin but if He is truly just He must deal with sin. The cross becomes the only way for a holy God who loves us and desires a relationship with us to be with Him forever. At the cross our sins are paid for in full by Jesus’ excruciating death. At the cross we are made clean and right before God for all eternity. A true conversion into Christianity is always when a person in humility is overwhelmed by Christ’s sacrifice for them personally and exchanges their life of sin for His perfect life of righteousness. In the exchange you relinquish your own rights as boss and you now make Him boss over your life as His new adopted child.

· Changed lives – for thousands of years people have encountered Jesus and been changed by Him. His very followers ran away in fear and abandoned him during His crucifixion and then days later they are back with boldness and go on preaching in His name and almost all die as martyrs. People all over the world have experienced His freedom, His healings, His revelations through dreams, His peace, etc. If He was just some false prophet that had a run for 33 years and then died. No one would have talked about him for more than a few years after his death. Not the case with Jesus.

-How do you believe in Jesus Christ? – And how do you believe that Jesus Christ existed or that he will save us? There is no question that Jesus Christ of -Nazareth existed but how does a person know that he is the one true savior?

As I described above to believe in Jesus simply means to turn from your own way of doing things and to ask Him to be Your Lord and Savior. You ask Him to forgive you of your sin and make you clean. You thank Him for dying on the cross for you and you now choose to follow Him all the days of your life. People do this in the form of a prayer of faith but it’s not so much the words but that repentance (or turning towards Him and away from sin) in your heart and trust in Him that He sees and that saves.

Josh McDowell has a great little book called ‘More than a Carpenter’ that talks about the Lord, Liar or Lunatic argument concerning Jesus. Many people just want to say Jesus was a good teacher or maybe a prophet like others before Him and after Him. Yet, Jesus claimed to be God and said He is the only way, etc. Jesus Christ, when you read what He said, was very exclusive and is very clear that He is God’s way of saving mankind and offering them eternal life and forgiveness. So either we take Him at His word or we decide that He was a crazed, delusional lunatic or that despite all the good and amazing things He did and taught He was really just a bold-faced liar in it for Himself.

The Little Pink Felt Purse

Yesterday, my daughter Emily (7 years old) and I sat in church together. It was a great time of worshiping God through songs like 'I will follow', 'Waiting here for you' and 'Revelation Song'. So I was just singing and worshiping God but my little girl next to me kept distracting me in a good way. I particularly was distracted during the quieter moments of songs where you really hear people singing. What I heard was an amazing sound, my daughter belting out words of praise to her heavenly father. One thing that hit me was that she was not afraid to sing out with all she had. In fact the guy in front of us made a point to turn around and tell her, 'what a beautiful voice you have' as he clearly heard her singing as well.

Another teachable moment for me was the offering. As soon as we entered the worship center, Emily was asking me, 'have they taken the offering yet!' and I assured her that they had not. She had never asked me about that before. I then noticed that she was carrying this little pink felt purse proudly in her arms that had the remaining two dollars of her tooth fairy money (she later told us she had given the other 2 dollars and change to Ingred Michelle, the Compassion child our church supports). Finally the moment came where the ushers were approaching with the offering baskets. Emily was excitedly moving around in her chair. For a moment I thought she was going to lose patience and just run towards the nearest usher and tackle him with her money, but I was able to contain her until our turn came. As the basket came to her she quickly extracted the two dollars (completely emptying her purse) and placed it in the basket.

I walked away from that experience very challenged by my little girl. Do I worship God unashamedly and boldly like she does? Do I get excited about giving to God and His work like she does? This moment my daughter was teaching and challenging me. I think about 1 Timothy 4:12 that says, '12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.' 'God, help me to have faith like a child today and dare to trust You in a more complete and deep way!'