http://www.ourrescuer.com/index.php/site/index/ en washfeet@gmail.com Copyright 2010 2010-09-02T15:43:20+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/abby_-_a_source_of_joy/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/abby_-_a_source_of_joy/#When:15:43:20Z As we celebrate Abby’s 10th birthday this weekend… As we celebrate Abby's 10th birthday this weekend, we've gotta remember that we're cheering a LIFE that could've easily ended 15 months in, as she was in the back seat 8 1/2 years ago... So when people hear about the accident and nicely say how God must have saved my life for a purpose; I always say - "Abby's too!" "Abigail" in Hebrew means "source of joy," or "father's joy." And Scripture says, "The joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh. 8:10). If you wanna keep reading, you'll see a piece from my soon coming BOOK showing how Abby was a source of joy to her father giving me much needed strength to carry on:   One afternoon, before her bedtime, I reached for a pill, to take my pain medicine. Abby was three or four years old and she noted, "Daddy's taking his medicine." I replied, "Yep, from when I hurt my head and neck in the car accident." Abby then said, "I know, I remember." I thought, "Sure, you remember." Abby was only 15 months old the day of the accident and no one had ever told her what happened that day. She had bare bone details to give her an understanding of why I went through all I did. So I decided to dig a little deeper. "What do you remember, kiddo?" I asked. She answered, "They took you away for a while in a copler, and I was sad" (in Abby-terms at that age, "a copler" meant a helicopter). To that response, I nearly collapsed. When I gathered my thoughts and emotions, I faintly replied, "Do you remember anything else, Abby?" "Yes," she said. "They brought you back after a while, and I was happy." At this, I cried. I smiled. I hugged her, and I thanked God for her sweet child's heart and for giving us that brief but poignant interaction. 2010-09-02T15:43:20+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/to_a_child_love_is_spelled_t-i-m-e/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/to_a_child_love_is_spelled_t-i-m-e/#When:22:50:40Z This past weekend, our family road tripped down to the Ozarks to visit Kanakuk Kamps and Kids Across America (You Know!)... This past weekend, our family road tripped down to the Ozarks to visit Kanakuk Kamps and Kids Across America (You Know!) where I worked for a bunch of years. We had so much fun seeing old friends and doing fun activities (including tubing behind a boat!)... but what I enjoyed the most was just being together as a family in everything. I've heard it said that "To a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E." If that is true, we got a great dose of that this weekend. Since my last blog was about FATHERHOOD, and how God is also our Father, I just thought I'd do this brief follow-up on this same subject. Check out this short video; my eyes watered as I watched it alone: http://www.tacmovie.com/ 2010-08-12T22:50:40+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/a_fathers_love1/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/a_fathers_love1/#When:22:25:37Z We had a birthday party for our toddler son, Josiah, last weekend… We had a birthday party for our toddler son, Josiah, last weekend... Yep, JoJo turned 3, and my wife planned this amazing "Backyardigans" birthday party for him at this very cool park that had fishing, horses, and a super-cool playground. I simply grilled hot dogs and made the balloon animals for him and his little friends. Thinking about how much I love JoJo and Abby, our 9 year old daughter, it occurred to me that everyone referred to God as only that - God... until Jesus called Him "Father." Think about it... calling the Holy One, the Creator, the LORD Himself... "Dad"?! Yep, at one point Jesus actually did use the "Dad" term ("Abba" in Aramaic - Mark 14:36). This really changes the way I think about God when I think about how much as a DAD I love my children and they love me. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.Romans 8:15b 2010-07-29T22:25:37+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/hope_in_the_hurricane/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/hope_in_the_hurricane/#When:16:50:43Z One of my seminary professors was down in Haiti, and spoke about a man he met whose house was destroyed in a recent hurricane… One of my seminary professors was just down in Haiti, and spoke about a man he met whose house was destroyed in a recent hurricane. This man would be forced now to live in a church with 150 others. I thought of all that man had lost and would now be forced to deal with, not to mention his loss of privacy, and having to wait in line just to simply use the restroom! My friend asked the man, "HOW LONG will this problem last?"The Haitian man replied, "I don't know. But God does. And He can be trusted." Wow. My eyes got wet as I heard these words... I couldn't help but question myself and my own (lack of) faith. I just don't easily trust God in the midst of such obvious trials. I've heard Proverbs 3:5-6 for a lot of my Christian life, but have such a hard time really applying it to the way I think and feel. I was both encouraged and challenged by this man who had hope in spite of the hurricane. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.Proverbs 3:5-6 2010-07-13T16:50:43+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/the_big_red_tractor/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/the_big_red_tractor/#When:21:49:36Z Check out this video… what a great parable it is! 2010-07-09T21:49:36+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/thirsty/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/thirsty/#When:22:34:27Z I have to admit that I recently Googled, “how to make yourself less thirsty.”... Living in St. Louis, where the summer heat index is usually about 105 degrees, I have to admit that I recently Googled, "how to make yourself less thirsty." You might laugh out loud at what was listed in the first hit... 1. Suck on a button or other small object. Hard candy works okay. 2. Cool off. You're body loses moisture when you sweat. So keep yourself from sweating.3. Use your mind. Thinking of the Sahara Desert might help, but then again, thinking of a waterfall may work for you.4. Imagine the taste of something really sour like Warhead candies. There's a good chance you'll start salivating.5. Think of your favorite food if sour candy doesn't work for you.6. Don't get dehydrated to begin with. You don't start feeling thirsty until your body is well on the way to dehydration. But then I came across a statement by Jesus that made me more than curious: "He who believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35, 4:14). I was glad to know that while a little Gatorade might solve my liquid hydration dilemma, the Son of God was offering a more permanent thirst-aid for all of my needs. 2010-06-29T22:34:27+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/ghandis_goof_well/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/ghandis_goof_well/#When:17:49:48Z You may have heard before that one of our world’s greatest leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, once said… You may have heard before that one of our world's greatest leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, once said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." When I first heard this several years ago, I was appalled. But the more I thought about it honestly, and the longer I've lived, the more I have to admit that this extremely wise and discerning leader might have hit a certain nail painfully on the head. See, I realized that hypocrisy within God's church has been undercutting the message that Jesus started 2000 years ago... that he intended for His people to purely continue... with full faith and humility, leaning on Him the whole way. So I, for one, am "all in" on this one... depending on God's daily grace, and committed to making Ghandi's words a "goof"! Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6     2010-06-14T17:49:48+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/finishing/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/finishing/#When:16:56:04Z Last weekend I graduated from Covenant Seminary, and many people have since asked me how it feels… Last weekend I graduated from Covenant Seminary, and many people have since asked me how it feels... to which I generally respond in a way that makes them laugh - "Great relief!" I say, recalling the countless hours of Greek vocabulary words and verb tenses I had to memorize, not to mention the books I read and papers I wrote. I am also thrilled that now my evenings are usually fully spent focused on time with my wife and children! But I wanna be more specific about the journey of completing a graduate degree, and compare it to life's journey... obviously with its share of challenges and struggles, but also joys and accomplishments, all leading to the final completion. Actually, in many ways, this achievement, which God graced, reminded me of some marathons I had run for the aforementioned reasons. But particularly, when my dad physically joined me at mile 20 of the Chicago Marathon and ran with me for its remainder. You see, my folks had cheered for me every 5 miles or so throughout the marathon, but Dad actually ran with me for the last 6 miles. I was reminded of how in life, our Father, God, is "an ever present help in times of trouble" (Psalm 46:1).       2010-05-31T16:56:04+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/hurry_up_and_wait/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/hurry_up_and_wait/#When:05:23:59Z I sometimes call my toddler son a JUMPING BEAN because he seems to be an endless supply of energy… I sometimes call my toddler son a JUMPING BEAN, because he seems to be an endless supply of energy.  I mean, we found him this very accurate t-shirt that says, “I Have No ‘Off’ Button.”  I bring this up because I realize that in many ways, I am just like him, less because of my desire, and more because of what I feel are my responsibilities.  In other words, I don’t easily take breaks or rest because my culture tells me I have to keep on going and accomplish certain tasks… I even have a handy time saving device (my Blackberry) to help me stay on my hurried schedule.  But the first followers of Jesus were just like us, working hard with the brains they were given, and yes, they misunderstood the Master plan from time to time. The more they walked, the more He taught… and the day came that He left them in charge of His earthly ministry. Why? Because they finally learned all there was to know? No! Because, in my opinion, they knew enough to be patient and wait ("Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” Acts 1:4, emphasis mine). Be like those who have faith and are patient.  They will receive what God promised.  Hebrews 6:12b (NIrV) 2010-05-15T05:23:59+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/flying_long_straight/ http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/flying_long_straight/#When:05:48:55Z The NFL Draft just happened, and, being a St. Louisan, I was thrilled that the Rams got to choose first!!... Flying Long & Straight The NFL Draft just happened, and, being a St. Louisan, I was thrilled that the Rams got to choose first!! On top of that, given that I lived in Oklahoma for 4 years (and became an OU Sooners fan), I was extra excited that they drafted Sam Bradford, OU's star quarterback. Evidently, Sam is an awesome, accurate football passer. But this month, I want to ask a few questions about that: Can any of you throw a football (pretty straight) about 30 yards? How about 40 yards? 50 yards? Longer? What is it that enables you to throw a football long and straight... Is it the football's SHAPE? Is it the MATERIAL that the football is MADE OF? Is it your (the quarterback's) arm STRENGTH? Is it your TECHNIQUE (i.e. the SPIRAL) that you throw? What is it??? At this point, I want you to pretend that I toss you a FLAT football, and ask you the initial questions again... Can you still throw it long and straight even 15 yards? You see, I've learned that what matters most in helping a football fly long and straight is also what matters most in helping us people fly long and straight in life. It's what is on the INSIDE that matters the most. In the case of footballs, they need to be inflated with enough air. For people, we can thankfully just turn to God, and He fills us with Himself, namely the "Holy Spirit." Jesus reassures us with this promise: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."John 14:26-27 Sounds like our long, straight flights are good to go!   2010-04-28T05:48:55+00:00