Familiar Territory

Well, here we are again.

Been here...done this.  (But only once.)

Our baby (the gender of which remains unknown at this point, although I can see from the poll to the right that the girl-lovers are winning) is due to be born one week from today.  Whatever.  How can they really know the exact date?  The truth is they can't.

So...it dawned on me toward the end of last week that this birth could happen at any time--it is imminent.  That is what put me into familiar territory.

I find myself looking at Danielle and thinking, "Is she gonna go today?"  When I am in bed at night, I think, "Is tonight the night?"  Every time I get a text message I think it will contain the code words that Danielle and I agreed upon--"Bring the dollar!"  I am getting a little bit anticipatory (a little too anticipatory according to some).  Feel very much like I did in the days preceding Eldan's arrival.

Well, he finally showed up (with a little help from the doctors) and it has been awesome ever since, so...

I guess I can handle a few more days of waiting.

Then again...maybe tonight is the night?  "Bring the dollar!"

I'll let you know when everything comes out okay...

Powerful

In November of 1996, my family moved to Denver, Colorado and began attending South Sheridan Baptist Church.  For the next 2 years, I was under a youth pastor named Jason Janz.  Pastor Jay was one of 3 or 4 individuals who has had the greatest impact on my life.  Anyway, throughout our time at SSBC, I would hear occasionally about Pastor Jay's brother--Jeremy.  As I recall, Jeremy had graduated from Northland Baptist Bible College in 1994.  That summer, Jeremy was struck by a truck while riding his bicycle in Utah.  For the next 14 years, Jeremy lived in a persistent vegetative state.  A week ago Sunday, Jeremy died.  

I never met nor knew Jeremy, but I did feel a sharp sadness when I heard the news because of my friendship with Pastor Jay and others in his family.  I receive occasional email updates from Pastor Jay who is planting a church in downtown Denver.  In the most recent update, Pastor Jay included an article about the passing of his brother and a link to a tribute video that was played at the memorial service.  After watching the video on YouTube, I decided to post it here on my blog. (I don't think Pastor Jay would mind.)  I want you to watch it carefully.  The juxtaposition of word and image is compelling and convicting.  Sometimes God's ways stand in sharp contrast to the happy, healthy, hip Christianity that is being marketed these days.  Sometimes the problem doesn't go away.  God is still good.  God is still sovereign.

I post this video in hopes that it will expose Jeremy Janz's story and the message it proclaims to many who would not have otherwise known about it.