Family Vision

Tomorrow, my wife and I are going in for the ultrasound that will tell us if we're having a boy or a girl. It's an exciting moment for both of us. Our ongoing debate will finally be resolved (I'm rooting for a daughter).

We already have names picked out for both a boy and a girl, so after the ultrasound, Little One will actually have a name. No longer will we have to refer to him/her as "it" or "the baby." Suddenly, this whole fatherhood thing is going to become a lot more personal. A lot more real.

Messianic Vision and an Interview on "Unashamed"

You may have noticed a new link at the top of the page entitled "Messianic Vision." It's a note I wrote about two years ago on where I see the Messianic Movement and its direction. I was prompted to put it up when Chris Knight asked me to join him as a guest on "Unashamed" over at Hebrew Nation Radio.

When Chris first asked me what was on my heart to talk about, I wasn't really sure. The things that I had been working on most recently were still too underdeveloped for a live interview. And they didn't really fit the intended audience--Messianic youth. It was during dance last erev Shabbat that I remembered our role as the next generation. We are the ones tasked with carrying on this growing faith. The question we need to be asking is this: What is our vision?

So, that's why I pulled out a two year old note and posted it to the blog. It's relevancy has not diminished, and it still rings near the center of my heart. We need to know where we are going and how we can actively direct our path to get there. Otherwise, we stagnate. Otherwise, we die off. "Where there is no vision the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18).

Anyway, I had a great time conversing with Chris and Daniel on the show. The one question I stumbled on a bit, and would redo my answer if I could was when Chris asked me what I like to write about. In the interview I stuttered something about vision and where we're going. Really, I'd say my favorite topic to write about is the Kingdom. I have often found trouble expressing the things the Father has shown me about the Kingdom of God, things almost too wonderful for words. That's what our vision is all about--building the Kingdom.

Book Review: The Giver

The Giver (by Lois Lowry)

Imagine a utopian world without suffering, hunger, or war. Everyone was treated equally with fairness. Everyone worked his assigned duties and everyone is provided for according to his needs (money had become obsolete). Children were taught from a young age to respect one another and mind the rules which kept their community peaceful. Science had virtually obliterated such nuisances as illness, inclement weather, safety hazards...and emotions.

Welcome to the monotone world of 11-year old Jonas, where everything is carefully regulated to preserve the community. Everything is predictable and safe...that is, until Jonas receives his unique role as Receiver of Memory.