Let the readers decide, part Deux.

family christmas pho
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Here's option 2 in our contest... either this photo or the one below it will be on our holiday card a month after the fact..

Which one would you pick?

Be honest!!!

This one is option 2.

Let the readers decide...

family pho
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

It's either this picture or the one posted above it that will go out to friends and family on our belated holiday card... what do you like best?

Good news!

luke smile
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Luke is already a happy-faced guy. Those who read my blogs know the deal. Read on and maybe you will too!

Pride is a good thing...

allie luke 1-15 part 2
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

especially when your big sister is proud of you.

Allie has started acting like a baby more... wanting to cuddle, wanting to sit in the bouncy seat, wanting to cry louder and sleep more, and even drinking more milk.

She's already sentimental.

You know what time it is...

luke cat out bag
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Just nine years removed from the life on Beta First (Gary's dorm at Grace College), his son Luke carries on the legacy of not keeping things in the bag. He let's it all out here for the camera.

Little Dew

luke dad2
Originally uploaded by wailer2000.

Luke is fun to cuddle with. He's a pro at it. What can we say?

Denver Remix

Well, I spent last week in Denver, taking a class on preaching and leadership. The class was led by Dr. Scott Wenig of Denver Seminary and Mike Breaux of Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois.

Over the past five years, my life and faith has been influenced, inspired, and encouraged by several of the leaders at Willow Creek. When the opportunity to take a class with Mike Breaux came up, I was pretty pumped. Here's a church with over 20,000 people that God has used greatly to not only reach thousands of people in Chicago, but influence and build up the church worldwide. Like any excellent ministry, Willow Creek has had many churches and pastors who want to copy, imitate, or emulate what they have seen happen at this wonderful church. I'm afraid I can't blame them (us) for wanting to see God work in such powerful ways in our own churches and communities!

Today I feel moved to at least blog a disclaimer. It's not just their location (big city), their arts and music (mostly professional quality), their technology (state-of-the-art plasma screens), or their once-in-a-lifetime CEO/Pastor Bill Hybels - it's the fact that these people really love God and love people. I've included this link that has just a little bit about Mike Breaux.

The fact is that most churches exist today to serve the people INSIDE the building. The "membership" or the "fellowship" of the already-convinced.

But that's not exactly why Jesus invented the church.

I remember how Jesus described his own life mission - "to seek and to save the lost."

I remember what he told his closest friends - "Go and make disciples."

I remember the last charge he gave them - "Be my witnesses... to the very ends of the earth."

Seems like the God-given purpose of the church is to GO LOVE PEOPLE who are OUTSIDE the building. So Jesus would eat meals with "sinners." So Jesus pursued a reject tax-collector like Zaccheus. So Jesus went out of his way to talk to a hurting woman who did not know God's love. So Paul traveled all over the Roman empire telling people about Jesus.

If a "church" isn't placing a huge priority on spreading this GREAT news about God's love...
If a "church" is more concerned about maintaining the "way we've always done it"...
If a "church" isn't actively trying to build friendships outside of the church membership...

Then it's really NOT the church.

(Yikes -- this is our personal family blog where I'm supposed to tell people about how cute Luke is, what words Allie is learning, and how much Jennie is sleeping. Here I go off on some passionate tirade about the purpose of the church. I just felt like I had to share.)