The ice maker portion of my mother in law’s refrigerator hasn’t been working for 2 years. The refrigerator itself works fine, but the ice maker quit making ice and then she developed a leak behind the fridge. After having an appliance repairman take a look she was told it would cost $200 to fix…so she cut off the water line and bought ice trays for her freezer.
While I was there this weekend for my niece’s birthday party she mentioned not having ice, and I said “let me look at it.” (I am no Bob Villa, but I’ve recently completed some projects around the house, my wife bragged about me to her friends, and I have a new found confidence) It appeared to my novice eye that a little rubber piece connecting the water supply line and the pipe that feeds the water into the ice maker had a tear in it. My little brain thought, “I bet if we replace that little piece with a new one, the water wouldn’t leak allowing it to get to the ice maker and make ice”. So I took it to Home Depot and bought a replacement and some silicon tape. I replaced the piece, turned on the water, and we waited. Today I received a text message from her that said “I have ice”. My total investment…$4.
The refrigerator was falling short of it’s full potential because of one bad piece. The bad piece wasn’t allowing water to flow correctly from point A to point B. Eventually it became more harmful to let it leak so that functionality was turned off altogether after getting some bad advice.
Now think of your organization, team or ministry. Is there a problem that might seem like a $200 problem that could be fixed with $4 worth of investment? Could it just take a fresh set of eyes to look at the problem? Maybe someone to start working on it, instead of talking about it?
Look for areas where things aren’t flowing as smoothly as they should, or where functionality has been turned off completely. Get creative. Imagine what might happen if you change just one piece.
My 2nd child, Branson Christopher Isaacs turns 3 years old today. (insert cheesy cliche here) “It seems like only yesterday he was born” but these 3 years really have flown by.
Being a dad is such a cool thing and having multiple kids, especially multiple boys has so many neat nuances.
With Cooper, our first, I have gotten to experience everything for the 1st time. He was the first birth, the first I got to rock to sleep, the first to crawl, the first to walk, the first to play t-ball…we’ve already had so many firsts, with many more to come!
With Branson, I have gotten to experience everything for the 2nd time, for the 1st time. I realize that probably doesn’t make sense, but with him I get to experience all of the things I previously mentioned in a whole new way, because he didn’t let me rock him to sleep the same way Cooper did. He didn’t learn to crawl like Cooper did (it was mostly an army crawl for weeks). He has also added some unique firsts to the list that make him his own man and create this special bond between the 2 of us that I can’t even describe.
With Tucker, boy #3, I am getting all of the same experiences of the first 2 with another completely different personality, demeanor, and disposition. He doesn’t like to sleep near as much as his 2 older brothers which has been a learning experience for me and Corrie. He is more of a momma’s boy, which I say with all due respect, but he has the coolest 2-teeth grin right now which the other boys didn’t have.
So back to Branson’s birthday. Today he turns 3, so I thought I’d write a few of the things that I think make him so special.
1) He has smiled from birth. I swear the kid just loves to smile. He has an infectious laugh. He carries out his “middle child” duties and serves as peace maker in our home, already. If he senses tension or thinks he or one of his brothers is about to get in trouble he tries to make his mom laugh (and it usually works). If he knows he is about to get in trouble he says “Sorry” without even knowing why. He brings a joy to our home that existed before he arrived, but couldn’t be complete if he weren’t here.
2) He’s already so laid back. I type that with a smile on my face because I knew God would give me a child like my younger brother Jason. Jason was the “whatever” kid. Nothing bothered him, he wasn’t into high drama or things that required a lot of time or patience…that’s Branson. While Cooper loves to finish projects with perfection no matter how long it takes, Branson just wants to finish, no matter the outcome. He doesn’t care what he looks like while Cooper wants to wear matching clothes, or a preacher suit to church or dress up like his favorite character or he can’t play pretend. Branson usually runs around naked. It’s just easier that way.
3) He can fall asleep anywhere! Cooper has described him as the “fastest fall asleeper ever” and I think he may be right. Once he lays down in his bed, he usually falls asleep quickly, but a bed really isn’t a prerequisite. He can fall asleep in the car, in a chair, on the ground, on top of my head while on my shoulders…you name it Branson can fall asleep there. I think it’s funny, Corrie thinks it a clear conscience…I’m not so sure about that one.
4) He loves to pray. Every night when we tuck the boys into their bed, Branson wants to pray. He will then bury his face into his pillow and pray a prayer very similar to this: “Dear Jesus, please touch mimi not to be sick anymore. Touch Papa not to cry for mimi anymore. Touch Jason, Andrea, Sadie, Grandma, Stephanie, McKenna, Greg, Melissa, Audrey, Henry…” and then he names everyone else that we know, and some people we don’t. It’s usually rather lengthy, but at the end he will sum it up with “and all of our friends and all of our fam-uh-we (family)” in case he left anyone out and an emphatic AMEN! He prays at most meals like this too, and is the first person I’ve ever heard who prays that Jesus would touch our food “AND OUR DRINK” which I have overlooked my entire life.
5) He has no fear. Which I think is so cool. Corrie hates it. No matter what his older brother tells him to do, he does it. He doesn’t get intimidated around older kids. He doesn’t mind trying things to see if it will hurt, at which point if it does hurt, he will not do it anymore. Once, Corrie and I heard a loud noise from the boy’s room. We went running and found Branson laying in floor a little bewildered. We asked him what happened. He said, “I wanted to see if I could flip off the top bunk”. I asked, “did it work?” He said “yes, but I landed on my back.” He hasn’t tried that again.
6) He was one fat baby. When we look at pictures we can’t even believe it’s him, but he was in the 98th percentile of weight for quite some time. And then almost overnight he got skinny. He better pray he has his mom’s metabolism because all the kid eats are Doritos and Cheetos.
There are thousands more I’m sure, but there is no denying that my middle child is a gift from God to me and Corrie. I remember right before he was born trying to imagine what life with more than 1 kid would be like. I remember the conversations Corrie and I had about trying to love each child equally and asking “how could you love someone as much as we love Cooper?”
…all of those things were quickly erased on February 9, 2007 when Branson entered the world and won us over as he started proving that he’s his own man!
In my quest to lose a little weight this year I am working out a little more regularly. One of my favorite ways to get some cardio in is playing basketball. At my local YMCA 5 nights a week are open gym nights where anyone can play some pick-up 5 on 5. I’ve been over there a few times with mixed results.
Last night I went and was able to play in a few games before they closed. In the first game I was guarding a guy named “D”. Great guy and I enjoyed talking a little trash with him throughout the night. He was by far one of the fastest guys I’ve ever seen on a court in person. This created problems for me, as my greatest strength is not the swiftness of my feet.
One problem, “D” couldn’t finish. He would blow right by people into the lane and realize he had gotten too far under the basket and have to throw a bad shot up toward the rim. Or he would get a rebound on our end of the court and take it the length of the floor only to dribble it off his foot just before he went up. Or he would make a spin move and attempt to pass it to a teammate streaking to the basket and throw it behind him.
I have never claimed in life or ministry to be the “flashiest” guy. I realize there are student pastors, husbands and fathers that get it right with way more regularity than me. That being said I hope that one thing I offer is consistency. Steadiness. Faithfulness. Those are qualities I admire in others and attempt to live out in my own life. To me this looks like:
- Under promising and over delivering.
- Giving the same effort for an event of 10 that I would 1000.
- Showing my wife affection like I did when we were dating…or more!
- Investing in my kids as much as I do in my job.
- Not creating new visions, ministries, goals, and theologies on a whim because of the latest book, sermon, or conference I’ve enjoyed.
- Starting out like I can hold (thanks to my Peepaw Lanier for this one)
It may look different for you. Just some thoughts from the Y!
This picture was taken when my wife Corrie and I were 15 (though obviously we weren’t married yet ). At that point we had known each other for about 2 years, and our friendship was a lot of fun. A few months after this picture we would date for a little less than 4 months. Before and after that short tryst we both dated other people…all the while, remaining friends.
In college our friendship grew. I confided in my roommate that I really liked her a lot, but was afraid we were now in what Joey and Ross referred to as the “friend-zone”. Her mom badgered her about why she didn’t just date me. Her reply was always, “He’s just my friend.” My mom didn’t believe us.
I got a job working at a church as a part-time youth pastor and my friend Corrie helped me connect with the girls. Our heart for ministry and the increased amounts of time spent together only deepened our bond. In January ’03 my pastor called for a Solemn Assembly of 40 days for prayer and fasting. Both Corrie and I, unbeknownst to the other, participated in the fasting component. Neither of us were asking God for a mate, we were asking Him for clarity about the future, a sense of purpose in life, and a growing relationship with Him. The 40 days ended on a Friday…we went on our first date the following Saturday night.
On Tuesday I called my mom and told her I needed help finding a ring. A few weeks later I went to a youth conference in Nashville, TN. I had a couple of rings shipped to the hotel from a jeweler/family friend. I picked the one I liked and sent them back to have it sized. Then I talked to Corrie’s mom and received her blessing.
9 years after meeting her, but only 6 weeks after dating her, I asked Corrie to marry me on a Wednesday night in a youth service in front of the students we had been ministering too, together. I told her that night, “this place seems fitting to start our life together, because ministry is what we are committing our lives too, together.” It didn’t have the Hollywood effect of roses and candlelight, but it had a certain understated quality that fit our lives pretty well. She said yes, by the way.
A few months later I accepted my first full-time ministry position and moved to Mobile, AL…alone…but only for a short time. 7 weeks later Corrie and I stood in her home church to pledge our love for one another.
6 years later, we have added 3 little boys to our family:
…and oh how that has made life fun.
I don’t know what the future holds, but if the last 6 years are any indication it’s going to be an unbelievable ride! I’m so happy this little girl
Yesterday Cooper participated with his K4-5 choir in our Kid’s Christmas Musical at the church. He had a little speaking part in between songs, and he really prepared over the last few weeks making sure he had his part memorized. He also dressed himself because he wanted to look “like a preacher”. I thought the size of the crowd would freak him out a little, but he said he was “only a little bit nervous”.
27 weeks and 2 days ago Corrie and I sat in a small room surrounded by a curtain and received the news that we had experienced a miscarriage and lost the child Corrie had carried for 12 weeks. It was a feeling of devastation and overwhelming loss. Having seen 2 prior pregnancies to full term without complication, we were shocked by this sudden turn of events. Later that evening an ultrasound was done to confirm the earlier results of blood work. When that screen came on, I saw a little baby that was very much alive.
This afternoon just after 1:36 pm I held that little baby in my arms.
I couldn’t help but think back to that very long night in the emergency room. I’m not saying that God chose to allow our baby to live while others have experienced the reality of miscarriage and death, but I am so thankful that sometimes a doctor’s report isn’t always the final verdict. I’m thankful that I got to hold my 3rd son in my arms today. I’m thankful my wife had a healthy pregnancy and wonderful delivery.
I’m thankful that in our case there was life after death.
This is my personal blog. Most of what is written is my opinion, observation, original thought, or things I find interesting somewhere else. While I am employed by Mt. Paran North, the things expressed here are not endorsed or necessarily accepted by Mt. Paran North or it's leadership. So don't go sue the church because you don't agree with something I write. Just post a comment and tell me I'm an idiot. It'll just be better for all of us.
