**Mustard Seed Distributed**

I realize this morning that I have blogged in December for three years now, and I have yet to mention the 'annual bowling extravaganza' as berman likes to call it. There have been many guest appearances at the extravaganza over the years, but the three constants are myself, berman, and big swinging D. We all taught together years ago, and started this event on our Christmas break. How it used to go was lunch in Flushing at Skips, then bowling at Jacks. But the tradition has moved to the oldest continuously running bowling alley in the country, The Garden Bowl. If you are from the Detroit area, you must bowl here. Are the lanes smooth you ask? Not really. Do they have the this or the that? No. But they do have 'Ghettoblaster' Beer (made in detroit), they do have satellite radio pumping first wave tunes into your eardrops, and 'Papa Joe' just might buy you a round if you are the only ones in there. Papa Joe's dad bought the alley 63 years ago, and ...

This Christmas, I am fortunate enough to be able to travel to MI and visit with friends and family that I don't get to see as often now that we live in Brooklyn. Truth be told, I honestly was not looking forward to getting in the car and driving again for the holiday. But now that I get to be here, and hold my loved ones in my arms, see relatives I don't often see, and enjoy time with them, the trip was beyond well worth it. The presents are nice to get, but my emotions again get the best of me as I pause to seriously ponder the love God has for us. And I experience that love deeply in a few ways. One is music-it immediately connects me to our creator. Two is nature-even if it is in the form of a man made building, seeing the creator's creativity in all things blows me away. But perhaps the one He truly intended for us to experience is third-through other people. The innate need for community with others is powerful. And as I sit in this beautiful room that is bigg...

I came to the vivid realization of generational sin this morning on my way in to work. Of course, listening to Danny Cox's music on the way places me in a realm where my spirit is engaged with 'the mind of christ' on a much deeper level than when I'm not listening to it. And the vividness I experienced was the fact that Jesus came here in human form as God in man. Further, that he bore all the sin of the world so that we might have life. I've heard people and the bible speak of 'your cross to carry' in the past, but I realized the brevity of the cross we all carry, which is nothing in comparison to the cross Jesus carried for us. ALL THE SIN. HE BORE IT. So that WE MIGHT LIVE. All the sin He didn't even commit, he took it on, faced death, and rose from the dead. And I realized just how much our individual choices hinder the next generation. Sexual sin. Divorce. Abuse of our resources. Speaking falsities. Gossip. Think of the reality of our...

Among other things, over a foot of snow fell upon this grand city Saturday afternoon/evening on into the morning of Sunday. We landed at about 13" in "The Terrace", and I realized just how much a snowfall brings me into the spirit of Christmas and brings joy to my heart to see all things white. The beauty of the flakes, the quiet that falls from above paints things like they were not before. There is so much beauty in that. Speaking of beauty, Kushmonkey came and watched the girls Saturday night so we could enjoy an evening out with some dear friends of communitas. What a perfect evening to be out in a blizzard....and I actually mean that. Walking in the city with the hustle and bustle slowed to a crawl because of the snow, great conversations at a lovely restaurant that was actually reasonable-much praise to RR for putting it all together. The beauty I see in my closest friends is that of Jesus. Their willingness to show their brokenness and live open handedly he...

The sound of Christmas Carols, the Menorahs lit up across the landscape, Christmas lights on every corner, and even a bit of colder weather. Now it is feeling like Christmas. It might seem odd, but even with Thanksgiving and my bday-which usually instantly jump start the 'holiday mood' for me, it has not seemed like Christmas already to me. I thought maybe it was because the fall seemed to be trickling here in nyc, as it lasts much longer than in MI. The leaves stay on the trees, the weather is much much warmer, and it is sunny more often. But I think I have come to the conclusion that because I am engaged more in the day to day of life, and at least trying to do my best to follow Jesus, the time of year does not engrain itself into my daily thoughts and life as it used to. I am more 'present' in the 'present'. I am engaged more in daily life and the day, not the season. So as school this calendar year winds down, (or is it up?) I look back on 2009 and ...

Well, my superstar is in a new city doing new things, and along those lines, she was offered a job doing a new thing. Oh, you say to yourself: "Self, she was looking for a job then, right?" And I say 'no'. She wasn't looking for a job. And she was offered one. So we move to the east coast, and superstar feels like God continues to tell her 'be available'. For what? Not sure, but God continues to reveal new things for both her and our family each day. But this is quite a decision for our family. We have really felt blessed to be able to have the star be a CHO-Cheif Home Officer for the kkft. Her availability and pouring into our girls and our home has had an incredible impact on all of our lives. So now we think that God may be changing that mindset. The position is one that would be a family liaison/parent coordinator at a local middle school. Let's see-the position would entail a supporter of public education, holds family values at a hi...

Well, even though the kkft was a bit too tired to stay awake untill the end of the show, we did get to experience carnegie hall last night. We were in the nose bleed section, but that didn't matter. Pastor's wife even made it, even though she wasn't feeling the greatest. We got to see "Handel's Messiah", and the level of talent that was on the stage was quite impressive. The amount of hours in practice that must have went into the overall group is probably astronomical. But sitting there realizing the level of talent not only last night, but the amount of talent that have used their God given talents and brought joy to peoples hearts and minds there. Unbelievable. Thank you for that experience PS130. Even better-I got to have a 'date' with all three of my beauties, eat dinner in the city, and see the beauty of the city on a cold December evening. And so, I sit here and develop my talents. On Staten Island of all places. I never thought I woul...

Today marks the first day I have fasted in quite some time. It is a discipline that I have learned truly humbles you with our Creator. We take food for granted each day. I know that I almost always pause before eating and thank God for the food, but even with that moment of thanks I take the food for granted. But when you go without food, you have no choice but to be humble. To be without energy, without the ability to conquer this world. And so I come before God today with a triple threat request. Yesterday, Superstar was offered a job. She wasn't looking for it. She hadn't applied for it. We were thankful being here in nyc that she is able to stay at home and organize our lives, pour into our girls, and do all the things that we take for granted. This position would be serving families and parents in a local school. Is this God's plan for her? For our family? For the people she would be serving? We don't know. And so we ask God to guide us in this major...

Today marks the two year point on the timeline of this blog distributing mustart seeds across the airwaves. To me, it seems like this journey to NYC has been longer than two years + a few months. It seems like the journey has been happening for more like five years or ten years, and I am not really sure why that is. Maybe because what now seems 'normal' to me leads me to aplace of comfort and peace that transcends time and space. Maybe because I am not encapsulated into thinking like the world thinks. Maybe because I am finally seeking what I should seek, and living the way God designed me to live. Let's not get carried away with our thoughts, because I am not living the perfect life. I am currently under a struggle of selfishness and selectively choosing to turn my eyes from God. Why is it that I know what is right, and I choose to sprint down the path going in the other direction? Into the darkness and out of the light? I choose to dishonor God even though I kno...