So, I am putting this on Craig’s list today, but I thought that I would show you guys too, just in case you were interested.

We bought this red oak Broyhill set in 2003, and it is in really good shape (the coffee table does has a few scratches and dings though). It is solid wood construction (except for the back panel) with the following dimensions:

center unit: – 77 tall X 44.75 wide X 22 deep (in inches)
two side shelves: – 74.5 X 21.75 X 16.75
coffee table: – 18.25 X 46 X 28

We bought it for around $2000, but I am looking for $650 for the main unit (center and two shelves) and then $50 for the coffee table, so $700 total for everything.

Here are the pictures with our 27 inch TV and DVD player still in it. . . .

We have a saying in our house that we often repeat to our children . . . “be grateful, not greedy”. . . and “we share in this family”. . . . can’t quite be sure of how well they are working, but we want the principles to ring true in their lives — Especially, . . . as we are living in such an affluent society. There are other ways that we try and teach our children about giving, serving, appreciation, and sacrifice – - like serving at the rescue mission tomorrow morning, or reading through the World Vision  catalog that we got in the mail a month ago. . . over and over. . . – it is one of the kids’ favorite “books”.

There are many other ways to instill these principles. . . . my point is. . . . it IS worth it to do these things. . . to rehearse these statements to your children, . . .  and to yourself.

I have a former adult student/friend of mine that I have such respect for because of how genuinely he engaged not only my class, but his ownfaith journey. He commented to me one time that through my class he was finding his way back to church. . . .something he had not diligently considered for years – - I never told him, but that might have been one of the best compliments I have EVER received. . . . well, he sent me this video yesterday, and I just think his timing is great . . . . I personally. . . . . can NEVER be reminded enough. . . . .

Ok, so Monday night, Ang and I get this crazy idea. . . . it is a dreary day. . . we are tired. . . .HEY – let’s take our kids (4.5, 3, and 1.5) to their very first movie (ok, truth be told, I think we tried Narnia a couple of years ago, that did not work out well, and they (Elli and Kya) don’t remember it at all). . . . all of us together to the dollar theater.

We try and set ourselves up for a win. . . .strategy is important for this kind of thing right?

(Financially) – it is family reel night which means any groups over 3 get in for just $.50 a piece + Dakota is free = $2.00 total for the movie 

(Attention) – we choose the 7:00pm showing in hopes that the youngest will be drowsy enough to just sit still and “absorb” the movie. . . . but it’s not too late so the other two kids are not getting too tired (parents. . . .you know what I mean here)     

(Food) – we eat a later than normal dinner, and then I buy the biggest and longest lasting “treat” that money can buy at the concession stand. . . . . . a small bag of Licorice!, which of course. . . you do not give out until there are some signs of restlessness in the ranks:)

(Developmentally) – we chose a movie. . . .ok, got lucky that the movie was out. . . . which had little violence, no big scary/mean/bad guy, and the kids could understand/enjoy

(Socially) – trying not to sit next to a bunch of people . . . so as not to ruin their night if our kids were a little loud, and vice versa!. . . . . but, of course. . . . still getting in seats with prime sound and visual quality. . . because. . . well, . . . there are priorities here

So. . . . how did it go you might ask? . . . . . really pretty well   Dakota tapped out (getting restless)about 45 minutes in, so Ang took him out into the lobby for a bit, and then he was good for the rest of the show. The other two sat on my lap, and were pretty into it. . . you know, . . . asking questions, but not too many.

 Just in case you didn’t know. . . I love my family so much. . . making memories !

Oh, and one more thing. . . . . an unlikely hero . . . who has the key to new life. . . .leaves the only place that he knows of. . . . in order to save the world . . . and in the process he frees a whole bunch of misfits/condemed to die, which actually follow him. . . . oh, and he eventually brings them all back “home” . . . . sound familiar?? . . . . I love the our story. . . THE STORY. . . never gets old

SO in case you have not seen this movie yet – here is the trailor for it:

It is thanksgiving week, and I was touched so much by this video. . . .I have such a mixture of emotions from gratefullness, to joy, to heartache, to some guilt, . . . . most of all though, I am soooo glad that there are parents out there that love their children this much!!! This inspires me to be the man that God wants me to be – the husband – the father – the friend. . . .

It truly is amazing what Love can accomplish. . . . . be open, willing, patient enough, and ready to be used by God today to love someone else. . . . . . .there is plenty of suffering right now. . . . . and not nearly enough care, compassion, encouragement, selflessness, and empathy. . . .

- as we go into another CRAZY holiday season. . . . . let us not forget to LOVE FIRST. . . . . it truly is better than any other gift you could ever buy. . .

For more on this amazing duo – go HERE

I have sensed from the moment that I stepped foot on this campus that I was called here. . . . . in part. . . . to stretch these students into becoming more than they every thought was possible. . . . to start a few fires in their hearts and minds that they cannot ignore, – - – you know, I often believe in my students so much more than they believe in themeselves. . . . . and one wish that I have for them. . . . is that they live out this radical love of Jesus. . . . . without feeling destroyed when others don’t approve.

This is a video that we used in our identity series last year or so at Lifeline (GSM now). . . . and it is a wonderful reminder to me today that God loves you and me so much. . . . . enough that. . . . we don’t have to play the comparison game anymore. . . . that your worth is NOT CONNECTED to others’ dissaproval or. . .  conditional love. . . . .The truth of God’s grace has set you free from those chains of being obsessed with other’s approval. . . . Praise God for that freedom. . . . and live like you are free. . . . because you are!

This song has really gotten to me recently. . .and a friend of mine Don Reynolds recently did a much better post than this one on this song (which he will be singing at Church soon) – you should check it out.

I think this song has had such an impact on me because I have always thought that I was so good at keeping my eyes open to what God has around me. . . . instead, my pride has blinded me to a whole different level of compassion that I was not aware of. . . . a new vision of pain and suffering around me. . . I earnestly seek to be aware of this. . . to be able to genuinely enter into their pain with hope – 3Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering (Hebrews 13:3) . . .though I know this will cost more of my heart. . .

Hebrews 13:11 says
11The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.

So, right now. . . I am wanting to go “outside the city gates” – and so I am going to India in 37 days – where in one city yesterday 60,000 Christians were forced out of their homes to refugee camps, with many dying. . . being burned alive, buried alive, shot, hung, beheaded. . . horrible persecution. . . . . . . . . . pray for them please. . . . . . . . . . .

but what is often more difficult for me . . . is going down my street . . . to those that I risk losing face to . . . where I really risk “bearing disgrace” . . . I pray that God will give me the eyes to see it . . . and the heart to care enough . . . . . . that I ACTUALLY do something about it. . . . . please Father. . .

Brandon Heath – Give Me Your Eyes from Brandon Heath on Vimeo.

Ok, so . . . sorry that I have not posted for a couple of days – there has been a lot going on:

yesterday - I spent the whole day with my Block class at Bethel at the Science and industry museum in Chicago.  Now, I forgot my camera, but here are a few pictures that Heather (one of my students) took  – we had a good time

Beyond these pictures – here are few more of my highlights:

1. I got to disect a Cow’s eye for 25 minutes with some of the students. . . . not going to lie. . . pretty amazing – especially the sheer volume of eye juice that was in there!

2. Heard the story and went inside the only German Uboat on American soil – the U505 – it was huge!! The whole thing is indoors, and we went inside for a 20 minute tour that took us back to what happened on the day that it was captured, we got to see the actual torpedo bays that sank 40+ ships, hear some of the music that the soldiers were listening to that day. . . . yes, I know I am a nerd. . . but it was amazing!

3. Saw one of the Ominmax shows. . . . . AMAZING. . . it was about South Africa and the Wild Coast – reminded me that my brother-in-law and sister-in-law are heading over there soon as missionaries (more on that to come)

4. Saw a baby chick hatching from its shell. . . live. . .

5. Got to get to know more of my students better – they are an amazing group of young adults!

 . . . .

Then I made it back to Bethel just in time to start my 6-10pm class that I teach every Tues. night. . . . those students are equally as great! – lots of fun, but I was tired . . . . thankfully I got to go home and see the real highlight of my day – Ang . . . isn’t this a great picture of her that Debbie Mann took a few weeks ago?

Today – I got to participate in a lecture series on social media that Aaron Marshall (the aforementioned brother-in-law) has been giving to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary over the past few months. He wanted me to explain a little bit about how I use this blog as well as my twitter and facebook accounts as an evangelistic tool. I had so much fun, because here I am in an office with a webcam. . . . where I can see them, and they can see me (free via Skype), and we can talk – as if we were in the same room. . . . even though they’re in Louisville, KY.

Aaron asked me some questions and I talked about how I feel like my blog is a witness/display to others of how I try (I am sooooooo far from perfect at this!!!!) to really keep God at the center of all my life (i.e., why I include many parts of my life on this blog), AND also how social media is my way of imitating God’s model of coming to us/our world with Jesus. . . so, I go into “their” world – my students (believers and non-believers) – a place that is comfortable for them, relevant to them. . . . . where they spend A LOT of time:). . . . and how, on one such occasion a few weeks ago – I was honored and humbled to help lead someone to Christ through Facebook Chat. . . Crazy. . . I know. . . . God can use anything to show others that He loves them!!! (ps – I am soo proud of that student!)

 One of the best things about this little talk this morning. . . is what happened afterwards. . . .I simply clicked a button on my computer to “hang up” and poof – just like that I am no longer in front of people at a seminary, . . . and then my wife calls and says that she, through a link that my sister-in-law sent her by twitter, was watching me from our home give my little presentation to the conference in Louisville. . . . WILD. . . . . ha! . . . . we have used Skype for awhile, but this is my highlight so far

Thanks for catching up with me. . . . have a great day everyone!

I love figuring out patterns. . . I study the brain, and well. . .  our brain loves patterns – it loves to be able to recognize themes/consistancies in our experiences and then go on to not only predict what will happen next. These recognized patterns can lead to bad things . . . such as stereotypes, prejudice, and belittling assumptions, but. . . . they can also lead to good things such as empathy, organization, and an understanding of the “big picture” . . . . here is one such pattern that Rob Wegner reminded me of this past weekend:

1. God says . . .think small. . . big will come – Matthew 13:33 (NIV)

33 Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

I love how I have read this passage many times, and know of the parable. . . and just skipped right over the “3 measures of four” part because, . .  . well, I have no idea what that means. . . I mean. . . of course you use flour in bread  – right, what is the significance of that.

The early audience of this message would have understood this at a much deeper level. . . 3 full measures of flour = 11 two-liter Coke bottles full of dough = about 100lbs of dough. . . yeah, . . . we are NOT talking about one small loaf of bread here!. . . and yet, Jesus says the power of the kingdom of God is only having to use “a little bit of yeast” and it will work its way through all 100lbs of dough!

God says. . . when big problems come upon you. . . THINK SMALL. . . .it is through small interventions that big problems are solved, . . . do not wait for some huge solution. . . . instead have faith that one small solution followed by another, and another, etc… you know, . . . like the small changes/decisions that we make in our lives – it is through these. . . that huge solutions are made. . . – - – God is telling us here that in God’s kingdom. . .  there is an immensity in smallness . . . . remember, the Kingdom of God is also like a mustard seed, which (Matthew 13:32 NIV) though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree.

If this is all true. . . . then we can start looking at things completely differently. . . . so, it is the small things that we do. . . . the everyday things that can bring the kingdom of God . . . things that we already know how to do . . . . no more excuses on not being “prepared” or not “knowing enough of the Bible” - 

here is my mustard seed list today

• smiling at someone that I do not know
• not complaining today, but being encouraging
• giving my wife and kids a great big hug and kiss when I get home today – before I say word or do anything else
• caring for my students – listening to them
• not exaggerating any stories today
• asking my 2 of my colleagues how they are doing today. . . and having the time to listen
• being grateful, not greedy
• calling a friend that I have been meaning to call for months

Make a list for yourself. . . and see what God does with your small interventions . . .

 -

Watch this video:

My question to you is why does this happen?

As a Cognitive Psychologist, I have studied attention a lot in my career. . . here are just a few findings about attention:

1. We only have a limited supply of it, so we need to be intentional on where it goes
2. Very few things actually CAPTURE our attention
3. We often are not aware of things in our plain sight due to a phenomenon called “inattentional blindness” – that is, . . . because we are giving all of our attention to something else.
4. Attention and awareness are primarily driven by OUR expectations

The questions then becomes. . .How does this relate to this scripture?

Jeremiah 5:21
Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear

Perhaps we do not see God move. . . . because we have no real expectation of seeing Him at all. . . . if our awareness is linked to expectations. . . . how about we start expecting to see Love winning. . . . His kingdom coming. . . the Holy Spirit igniting. . . . seeing opportunities in our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. . .

Father I pray that we pay more attention to what you are doing all around us. . . . Give us the courage to expect to see you move. . . . please. . . . even as our lives may be in difficult times. . . you say that you are with the brokenhearted. . . . help us to expect you to faithful. . . you always are – thank you!

I am fascinated with just the last few days in my life. . . not because I have done anything magnificent, but because. . . God seems to be showing so much of what this life is about. . . good and bad. . . all at once.

• I saw the love, courage, and passion of engaged couples as my wife and I taught the pre-marital workshop at our Church
• I was at a funeral luncheon in honor of my neighbor who passed away during election night. . . this world’s loss
• God allowed me to help someone come to know Christ through a 40 minute facebook chat. . . and a prayer with a friend afterwards
• Through advising some of my students – I have heard some of their dreams coming to fruition, but. . . others . . . are completely lost in the mystery of their life’s vocation
• I have had the joy of tossing my kids high up into the autumn air, . . . hearing their joyous screams. . . and then. . . . . . More Daddy. . .
• I witnessed History meeting its match . . . in the wonderful reactions of my brother’s and sister’s as their dream came true on election night
• A friend had a baby. . . 1-month early. . . . and everything is ok:)
• I received news of a student’s life suddenly brought to a screeching halt as she desperately holds onto life. . .
• I felt . . . for the first time. . . my fourth gift from God kick. . . and I smiled.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 (New International Version)

 3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
       a time to tear down and a time to build,

We really have no idea. . . . . about the adventure that this life will bring. . . . . I for one. . . . want to commit to being fully alive, fully present, and fully grateful for each and every season:. . . . . join me. . . .

Ang and the kids

I am amazed by my wife. . . some people who know me think, . . . Ted is alright. . . he has at least some skill at a few things, but. . . . I tell them. . . have you met my wife??!! – once they have . . . well. . . . they end up joining her fan club

Seriously. . . I love viewing the world through her heart and mind. . . . she just has a different perspective on many things that fascinates and inspires me! . . . . so, I confiscated her Bible this morning when leaving for work, and I am going to share some of the things that I have found in the “notes” pages . . . . many of these things have come from church services, books, speakers, etc… but there were no names listed. . . . . nevertheless. . . . enjoy what she has highlighted!

• Our goal is NOT to look strong or feel strong – but to become strong
• Satan will find us blocking his way at every point. Until God commands otherwise, I SHALL NOT MOVE!
• How are you measuring that you matter?
• There is no corner of human experience so hidden or so hopeless, that grace can’t find it. . . . . Love changes everything!
• Success has ruined far more people than failure has
• Goodness is not just the absence of badness
• Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention
• Holiness is not a list of things that I won’t do. . . . but a list of the desires of my heart
• The purpose of influence is to speak up for those that have none
• Crises don’t create heroes. . . they reveal them
• Sometimes we think we’re waiting for God when God is really waiting for us
• Courage is the absence of self
• To live the life God has for you . . . you must be willing to risk
• It’s not about men or women. . . it’s about God
• Change happens when the fear of where you’re going is less than the pain of where you are at.
• I commit that. . . no one is going to hurt me so badly that I’m going to hurt back.

There is a verse that I have been thinking about lately, and I wanted to get your thoughts. . .

- SO, what does this verse mean to you? . . . to us as the Church? . . . and what DOESN’T it mean?

Matthew 9:11-13 (New International Version)
11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

- the footnote is Hosea 6:6 (NIV) -  6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
       and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

- SO. . . .

Some of you have already seen this . . . .but I was reminded again last night of how much one video can change a person’s life. . . . and enable them to understand God in a completely new way. . . God is Love

Talk to me. . . . what is your reaction to this?

Because:

pursuing her throughout the adventure – is my favorite thing to do

there are not enough words to describe her

celebration is Godly

I am soo honored and grateful

appreciation doesn’t even come close to matching her sacrifice

this is our song

she has helped me discover me

words seem pathetic next to what I feel

she gives her whole heart to our children

she makes me smile. . . . she makes me laugh

Elliana, Kya, and Dakota simply adore her with all they are

she loves Jesus. . . . . and she breaks for the broken

I can . . . . AND. . .  I want to

next to Jesus – she is my definition of Love

I had heard from one of my students the other day about his Father not having much time left, . . . . and he spoke to me about his his legacy – encapsulated somewhat in two of his Father’s last emails.  I asked if I could share these with all of you, and this is what the student sent me. . .

FIRST EMAIL:
“My prayer request many times a day sounds like a car wash. Do you want a total, basic, or ultimate?

Lord, I pray for your will. Heal my body totally, basically, or ultimately. Ultimate is with him (The Works!). You choose , Lord. You have planned it all before the world began. You choose best. Help me with the tough suffering.

All paths are open to God because of his power. He is in charge. It is his choice. To walk with and trust in my awesome God is incredible. All of life is open to him… total, basic, ultimate healing.

He has made me ready for all three. None would be a disappointment. He has shown me himself and his way and made me excited for all the options. Where he leads. It is a very freeing way to think. Not trying to make things match your dreams. But praying strongly for each option and letting him chose.”

several weeks later

EMAIL #2:
“Looking at my health and my body, I would think that God is taking me home…ultimate healing. As I said, my prayers are open to what God would choose but to me it seems like I am going home.

Home is a good place and I am looking forward to going. There really is no better place than home. Margie (my dad’s sister how just passed away from ovarian cancer, lived there in hospice care) is there and rejoicing.

The hard part is that we are not all going together but God has a special plan for each of us. God needs to fulfill his special purposes in each of our lives as he carries out his overall Kingdom plan, then take us home.

We need to be fully involved here as he works out his purposes. He will take us home at his appointed time for us. All this was planned before the world began. God has everything planned from beginning to end. How does He do it?! He is an amazing God.

I did not know that my time to go home would be this soon. My dreams were for a later date, but I never knew God’s plans and neither do you.

We all need to live fully here so God can work his purposes thru us while learning more about our real home.

The journey home may be very hard. Will I be able to trust God for the trip when it seems too hard?”

There you go Dr. Bryant. . . . Hope that this can be a blessing to many people.

- Thank you so much. . . . . thank you for letting us into these sacred moments with your family. . . . I pray for peace and comfort during this time.

Well, it all comes down to this day . . . . and either way. . . History will be made. I tried to explain the whole election process to my daughter this morning in our 5 minute ride to her school. . . . I was right in the middle of breaking down the differences between the Electoral vote and the popular vote, when she says something to the effect of . . . . . “so we are getting a new king?”. . . .to which I responded. . . . “yeah. . . something like that”  – - – I wanted to dive a little deeper into the principles of Democracy, but . . . . we were already at her school, and well. . . . she IS only 4.

 It was inspiring though to wait in line this morning (Ang went first at 6am and waited for 45 minutes) – I followed with about a 30 minute wait at 6:45ish. . . . . but to see all walks of life there . . . unified. . . . each with his/her own team that they are playing for  . . . . committed. . . . passionate. . . .willing to do whatever it takes to do their part. . . . to reach their goal. . . . . . when else do we see this in this country???. . . . there was no threshold of affluency, race, religion, sexual orientation, athletic ability, intelligence, physical capability, gender, language, etc….. – WOW, you know what I thought of . . . . . . . isn’t this supposed to be kind of what the church looks like? - there was no checklist of rights and wrongs at the door to let you in – just your government issued ID. . . . . there were no further questions, judgements, or even looks – to try and categorize how “good” you were or what you believed – in fact. . . it seemed everyone was well accepted. . . . . . . . . . . wow, what a refreshing and INSPIRING experience to see unity – oh sure, . . . there were different opinions, but there was . . . one goal – to make this country better. . .  - and everyone was “ALL IN”.

Then it hit me. . . . Christians are all supposed to be on the same team right???. . . . sure, there are differences in our opinions, but the goal should be the same right?? – reaching the lost, suffering, broken, and poor. . . . . . but we aren’t even coming close. . . . in fact, one of the biggest reasons, from people that I have spoken to, that people don’t want to become Christians is because of all of the bickering/fighting/badmouthing that the see within the Church. . . . . . . . . and we are supposed to be the EXAMPLE of love, peace, grace, and mercy in the this world?

I pray for unity within the Church – NOT REPLICATION – but a committed effort, across our differences,  to do whatever it takes to reach our goal – together. . . . how amazing would that be?!. . . . . . . . . Maybe some day there will be lines outside of churches – people just waiting to get in,. . . . so committed and passionate to make a real difference in the world – without feeling judgement or threshold barriers of some sort. . . . . . . . . . . . maybe this will never happen, . . . but, I am going to give everything that I have as a part of the Church to do that (i.e., everyone I meet, everyday, everywhere) – I don’t want to shoot for anything less than that - – - – every vote counts right?. . . so does every smile, every hug, every encouraging word, and every listening ear. . . .

So, I am going to do a conglomerative (word??) post this morning on the past weekend.

FRIDAY: We start off with the Halloween festivities . . . . The Thursby’s (Ang’s older sister and family) came over too in their High School Musical 3 costumes. . . . our kids rocked the unicorn, fireman, and giraffe outfits. . . with Ang as a doctor, and well, I went as wanna be back in the 80′s guy

We had a great time!!!!

In fact I think we only made to about 1.5 streets, but Kya was still pretty excited about the “catch”

It was fun. . . . and I was so proud as a parent to hear my kids say “thank you” more often than not when they got their goodies:) – around our house we have a saying. . . . be grateful, . . .not greedy -

- SATURDAY: we took the entire day off – no commitments. . . . . .  2-hour nap!!!!. . . . heard my friend Don sing at church . . . . what a great day. . . Praise God

- SUNDAY: I once again had the honor and pleasure to speak at Youth Group (Granger Student Ministries – GSM). . . . This week on finding your shape. . . . now, if you have been around GCC at all you know that we take S.H.A.P.E. pretty seriously around here, because we really believe in finding everyone’s sweet spot – - -So knowing one’s Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences is one way of going about doing that. God did not make us from a limited set of cookie cutters . . . but all unique. . . and wonderful!. . .Now, . . . this is a 5 hour course (called 301) that our church offers, but I had about 20 minutes to give the High school kids a quick run-through. . . . . so, let me sum up the whole thing with a single quote from Max Lucado for you to chew on today. . . . .

If you don’t get you, we don’t get you

- it is not easy to figure out who exactly we are. . . . nor does it come overnight. . . . or even remain the same. . . however, I believe with all that I am that IF we chase after this mystery of ourselves. . . . we will not only find who you are. . . . . but the rest of us will benefit from your divine fit. . . . . we all have such a story to write and share . . . . Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”. . . . . chase on!