The one with names

i created a poll for the name of our daughter to the right...
She is due in one month!

Names used to have meaning. Nowadays, it seems like people just want to give their kids unique names... we kind of think if we give our kids normal names now, their names will be unique compared to friends... but hopefully not old sounding...

Where we work & live names still have meaning.
And it says something about the person.

Of course, Soo is afraid of giving our daughter a name she has to live up to... so, we won't name her happy...

i was named after my Mom's Dad, and my brother after my Dad's Dad. We certainly can honor people with the names we choose...

For a long time i've dreamed of having a daughter and naming her after my sister who passed away a few years ago.
As it turns out, Soo's sister is also named Elizabeth.
Soo agreed with the name and even told her sister. However, after we found out we were having a girl, Soo revealed the truth- she wasn't convinced on the name. Unfortunately, we already told her sister, so now it's going to stick.

We both like the name Grace- perhaps Gracie better... but it seems every other Korean girl is named Grace, thus why Grace is a middle name - but we will call her Gracie...

Philip Yancy calls Grace the last best word. Grace, not as in gracious or graceful - but to reflect on God's grace to us- in giving us a daughter, in His Salvation, as in what He gives us every day and we need so desperately...as in Amazing Grace.

i actually suggested the name Hallelujah. i love that word. i love saying Hallelujah! It means praise the Lord. Every time we would see or call our daughter we'd be reminded to praise the Lord.

We were talking about it with our friends The Schooeys - and they suggested Halle for short... we kinda like it...


Not that we want to put pressure on our daughter, but since she will never meet my sister here, it may help her know who my sister was. And it gives honor to her and helps me not forget.
And the more spiritual names- well, we want to point her to God, right from the get-go.

So, we're looking at calling her Halle (like Halle Berry) (though i will call her my little Hallelujah), or Gracie

Of course some people will change their names later on...

Girl's names i like
1. Elizabeth
2. Grace (Gracie)
3. Halle
4. Hope
5. Joy
6. Merci
7. Hannah
8. Emma
9. Mae (beautiful in some countries)
10. Sophia (Sophie) (means wisdom)


i guess any of those could be in the running
Seven & Soda come from Seinfeld... and Muncie would be a good dog's name...

i think there are a lot more boy's names i like
1. Josiah
after the King, followed God, followed His word
2. Joshua
means salvation
3. Samuel (Sammy)
i just like the ring- i guess Sam could work for a girl too- but Samuel the prophet
4. David
it's majestic isn't it- and i do like King David... he could go by DJ
5. Timothy
again i like the Bible character, and have a lot of friends named Tim
6. Andrew
for some reason my favorite disciple... could go by Andy or Drew
7. Micah
8. Daniel
i think it'd work good for a middle name... maybe JD James
9. Jimmie (he'd be Jimmie James)
10. Montgommery (like Jackson, now he'd have a last name for a first name)
11. Sean
12. Jackson (see Montgomery)
13. Levi (My mom wanted to give me the middle name Levi)
14. Noah
15. Jeff
16. Judah
17. Zach

i like Biblical names, even if it may seem cheesy or "Christian." i like the Bible. i want our kids to think about the Bible early. i want their names to carry meaning


What names do you like?
What do you think about naming philosophy?
Don't forget to vote!

The thing about raising support

i don't really like raising support. It's awkward.
i tend to avoid awkwardness at all costs.
i mean, a lot of us do. That is why guys don't ask their friends out on dates and girls usually don't say yes. It's why we avoid dating in the office-place. It's why guy's don't initiate with other guys. It's why we avoid eye-contact while singing worship songs. It's why we use the bathroom at home and not at a friend's place. It's why we're careful about what subjects we talk about.

And everything about support-raising is awkward. The phone is always awkward. Talking about money is always awkward. Asking people for help is awkward. Let alone, talking to someone you haven't talked to in a long time or a complete stranger.

Most of the time i see support-raising (or MPD) as a necessary nuisance.
It's important.
i need people to pray for me.
And i need people to support us financially - or i don't eat, i don't have a place to live and i can't fly overseas.
We need partners, because we need the body of Christ and we need community.

Still, i wish there was a better way.


Well, that's not true. What i wish for is: An easier way.


Having people support us is a good way, it is God's way.
The body of Christ is supposed to support one another. We give to others also. And we partner with those who give.

Talking with people about what God is doing, sharing our needs, communicating - that's great. People need to know. People can be encouraged. People can be challenged.


So, when i say a better way, what i mean is an easier way. And my way wouldn't be better. It may feel easier, but it probably wouldn't be as effective- and certainly wouldn't be as good.


The time of support-raising feels useless. i would rather be out doing ministry.
But the reality is: this is a ministry. We get to challenge people to give: to give to God's work, to give to needy nations, to give sacrificially, to give joyfully, to give for God's sake and not for themselves, to give for the glory of God.
(i really need to learn how to convey this again and have this attitude).
It is a ministry because we challenge people out of their comfort zones. And we challenege them to follow God and to give to God.
It is also a ministry because we can make people aware of God's work in the nations and what God is doing and exalt God.
It is also a ministry because we can encourage people of God's faithfulness and power and provision.
It is also a ministry because we can make people aware of the needs of the lost and challenege them to reach out to others

This is an important ministry we have. i need to learn to embrace it. i need to learn to challenge.


It is also a blessing. A blessing to me and a blessing to the people i share with.
i was encouraged yesterday by a response of a friend who responded with "Thanks for asking about support!"
During my initial support-raising process i actually did have a few people thank me for the opportunity to give and support me.
This is a blessing for them. This is an opportunity for them to give to the Lord. It is an opportunity for them to be part of God's work. It's an opportunity to use their gifts. It blesses them as it does us.

And it is a blessing for us to be encouraged by how God uses people in our lives. It is a blessing to see God provide. A blessing to see God's faithfulness, sovereignty and power. And we are blessed by the kind words of encouragement, the love, the prayers and the faithfulness of people behind us. What a blessing indeed!

And it is a blessing because this is where God us right now! He knows exactly what we need. (to help us grow, to help us see Him). He is using everything to work in our lives. He is sovereign & He is taking care of us.

He certainly is teaching me, renewing me & reminding me of things i forogot. i am learning dependence and faith and seeing God even more.

Thank God for His blessing & leading on our lives.

It shows us the Gospel doesn't it? People give up, so we can go out. People sacrifice, so we can live.


MPD is a blessing, a ministry, an opportunity!

One with ten lists of ten

i like making lists... and you like reading them.

(idea stolen from Matthew Berry) Ten lists of ten

Cd’s to get

1.     Pieces of a broken heart ~ Sanctus Real

2.     Where light meets dark ~ Tenth Ave N

3.     Shelter ~ Jars of clay

4.     “Long fall back to earth” ~ Jars

5.     “Addison Road” ~ Addison Road

6.     “Awakening” ~ Passion

7.     “Spring” “summer” ~Jon Foreman

8.     “Leave this town” ~Daughtry

9.     “The far country” ~ Andrew Peterson           

10. “Just like you” Allison Irahetta

Top songs since I’ve been back

1.     Lead me                                    Sanctus Real

2.     Stand                                                Joel Houston

3.     This is where the healing begins             Tenth Ave N

4.     Walking on the stars                        Group 1Crew

5.     Short skirt long jacket            cake

6.     Airplanes                                    B.o.B. (feat Paramore)

7.     Rhythm of love                        plain white T’s

8.     Empire state of Mind                        Jay-Z

9.     Follow you                                    Leeland

10. Restless                                    Audrey

Favorite bands

1.     Jars

2.     Tenth Ave N

3.     David Crowder band

4.     Caedmon’s Call

5.     Bethany Dillon

6.     Brandon Heath

7.     Matchbox 20

8.     U2

9.     The weepies

10. Nichole Nordeman

  

Ten places to go eat next

1.     Mongolian BBq – free meal?

2.     Red Robin – free burger (expires Oct 9)

3.     ColdStone: free icre cream 

4.     TGiF – coupon (expires Oct)

5.     Buffalo wild wings (free dessert by Oct 10) watch a game there

6.     Texas Roadhouse – soo wanted to go.

7.     Noodles- twice (buy one get one free coupon – Oct 9)

8.     Skyline- close by & haven’t gone yet

9.     Outback

10. KFC : for a double-down

My Ten keepers for next year fantasy baseball

1.     Tulo

2.     David Wright

3.     Car Go

4.     Robinson Cano

5.     Adam Wainright

6.     Jon Lester

7.     Buster Posey

8.     Prince

9.     Andrew McCutcheon

10. Hunter Pence

Ten places I want to see still

1.     Jerusalem, Israel

2.     Rome, Italy

3.     Egypt (pyramids, sphinx, Africa)

4.     Yosemite National Park

5.     The Grand Canyon

6.     Athens, Greece

7.     Yellowstone National Park

8.     NZ or Australia

9.     London Baby! (and Stonehenge)

10. Seattle (Mt Ranier & friends)

Next ten books to read

1.     baby-wise

2.     Radical

3.     My Wife thinks I’m an Idiot

4.     Shepherding a Child’s heart

5.     His Needs, Her Needs (for parents)

6.     Coming Back Stronger

7.     Doctrine

8.     The Me you want to be

9.     It All goes Back in the Box

10. The Gospel we almost forgot

Ten movies I want to see

1.     HP7

2.     The A-team

3.     Narnia (Dawn Treader)

4.     The Social Network

5.     Dinner for Schmucks

6.     Amelia

7.     Due Date

8.     Terminator: Salvation

9.     Knight & Day

10. Shutter Island

Ten bad habits to get under control

1.     making lots of lists

2.     writing & rewriting to do lists & schedules

3.     forgetting where I took off my glasses, put my keys, etc

4.     going to bed  late

5.     eating junk food

6.     facebook, fantasy sports

7.     chewing my fingernails

8.     chewing on my shirt

9.     thinking w/o doing

10. not paying bills on time or not cancelling on time

Ten things I want to do every day (first seven are in the morning)

1.     pray for the day, submit it to God

2.     stretch my hastrings, belly & back

3.     jog/walk or run

4.     read a chapter of a book

5.     read from the Bible & journal about it

6.     spend some time with Soo, pray with Soo

7.     eat a small breakfast

8.   call or see a friend

9.     journal in the evening & give thanks

10. write a blog

My birthday playlist

Songs for the year...songs i hope will convey my life... or i think will... or songs i really i like

1.     Lead me ~ Sanctus Real

2.     This is where the healing begins ~ Tenth Avenue North

3.     It’s out of my hands ~ Jars of Clay

4.     I’m not who I was ~ Brandon Heath

5.     Be Near~ Shane & Shane

6.     The Kingdom ~ Bethany Dillon

7.     Wait & See ~ Brandon Heath

8.     What do I know of Holy ~ Addison Road

9.     Arms Wide Open ~ Creed

10. Stand ~ Hillsong

11. Walking on the stars ~ Group one crew

12. Good Riddance ~ greenday

My favorite birthday memories

Well, it was a great birthday, my first in the states in years... and first where people weren't required to come to my party... 56 people posted birthday messages on my wall (After the first few wrote matt, almost everyone wrote mookie)... got to see a bunch of friends over the weekend... it was great.

Though, i kinda feel like people forgot it was my birthday... not much singing these days (sideways glance)... not many phone-calls this year... actually only my parents... still it was a great day and birthday calls are kind of hard, so the next few days- that would be great.

This may go in my top 5 birthday memories. There wasn't much flashy, but it was relaxing, fun and encouraging. And it was my first with Soo as my wife, my first as a married man that is - and she's great.

We had a bunch of people over Saturday morning and Soo & my mom made doughnuts and some other stuff for breakfast. Then we had dinner with a couple friends (Brack & Marc) at the Weber Grill tonight. So, that was good.
i got a bunch of free stuff, which makes me happy.
i didn't get to spend the huge chunk of time at starbucks like i wanted, but did watch some football, and now going to spend some time with God... and went to church this morning.

So, best birthday memories?

My best bday memories

1.     2008: Serving others, time of sharing & worship, fun with a group, good convos… (i wrote about it in yesterday's blog, so i won't repeat myself)

2.     2001? UofM: Will threw me a surprise party (always great, always special), 3 birthday cakes (mom got me one, I took to Bible study, the girls across the street made one too… and another?) – or at least 3 parties, a good day of ministry: surveys, Bible study, discipleship even, lots of love and birthday wishes

3.     many growing up as a kid: we played baseball, football and basketball… went mini-golfing, and had pizza & video games at celebration station, all my friends spent the night… and I think doughnuts in the morning. God wasn’t involved here, but it was fun

4.     my 30^th bday: maybe just b/c I was turning 30… got some encouragement from lots of people and some creative gifts and a big party…. And a cake in the face

There have been a lot of sad birthdays and a number of average ones. This was a good one.

Thankful for good friends, loving family and of course my amazing wife. God has blessed me. My life has been good. And the Lord is good to me.

Thanks all!

My perfect day

about ten years ago i first heard this question: Describe your perfect day.
The Turkey Stint team discussed it. The most fun & memorable answer was given by sheila Settle who mentioned riding 4-wheelers, then realizing they were late for the ball and having a big dance party.

The one thing i certainly would not want is a dance party. That ruins any day for me.

i like asking this question. A lot of people may mention specific restaurants, others would have a lot of time alone. There could be dance parties or games... i don't know.

What would your perfect day be?

I used to say the day would go like this

Wake up in the morning and play basketball with a bunch of my good friends (And some random people) for a good couple hours… (roughly 9-11ish

Then go eat lunch with those folks + have a lot of other good friends join me (girls could be at both of course- though maybe more guys at basketball). For lunch we’d have waffles and some other good eats (rougly 11ish-1ish)

Take a nice long shower, and maybe watch some sportscenter – it’d be 2:30

Then I’d meet my significant other- whoever that may be- and spend time with her and go spend time with God together. Read some Bilbe, journal, talk together, pray together, maybe read part of a book

Then around 6 meet up with a bunch of friends for a Cook-out I guess : grilled burgers- even better Bleu cheese on the burger… maybe some BBQ stuff too… and cake, brownies, cookies, all that good stuff…A lot more friends would be there too- all sorts of friends  and like lunch (which I forgot to mention) good conversation. Fun conversation, lots of laughs. And also a lot of DEEP conversation, a lot of talking about God, Jesus, Bible, deep theology, and life issues. Some small group convos, maybe some one-one type stuff too. A lot of smiles, a lot of laughs, a lot of encouragement, edfiication & challenge.

Then there would be a great time of worship & prayer and perhaps a talk from God’s Word… followed by discussion and more prayer and more singing.

(I’m think 6-8 for the dinner part 8-10 for Worship,prayer, talk part, then an extra hour for more prayer, worship, talking)

Then we’d finish the night with some tv shows (at the point I would have first said this: Seinfeld & Simpsons + friends, maybe Cosby – now, I’d add scrubs, maybe 30 Rock, that 70’s show, maybe Sportscenter)… with some pizza- deep dish pizza even better.

People would head home, I’d walk my girl home, I’d come back, spend a good chunk of time journaling, then fall asleep.

I’ve changed that a few times, but pretty similar most of the time.

I kinda realized that was pretty much every weekend for my last 2 years of college  minus the girlfriend part (which maybe why there is just a little time with her in there).

Or it could be like Christmas Conference or fall retreat I suppose.

My Saturdays certainly started that way. Sunday mornings were kinda like that with church. Friday night we did have some prayer & praise nights that were pretty good.

Yeah, I had a pretty good life in College.

Later I said: maybe the best I could get now- my best day in fact would be: My wedding day! All my friends together. With my wife. Worship, good conversation…

Well, the wedding day was pretty good: after all, we got married.

No time for basketball… we did take a lot of pictures + there were a bunch of people I wasn’t too close too, people we hired who didn’t fulfill their bargains and a lot of stress… but it was still pretty good, even if we didn’t get the food we wanted all day long and several friends didn’t show up.

We had a great worship set, a talk, edifying conversation & encouragement of some sort – though not a lot of deep conversations- a lot of friends, some good food- and most importantly: my wife!

The key components to my perfect day:

1.     Good friends (family too)

2.     Worship in singing

3.     Feeling intimacy with God: through song, through prayer

4.     Time alone with God

5.     My significant other

6.     Good food

7.     Fun

8.     Laughter

9.     Deep conversation

10. And usually sports.

I added one component later- when I planned my last birthday as a single: serving others, blessing others instead of myself.

I like that.

A couple years ago : birthday 32 I did that. I invited everyone over and threw a party. I think years of parties not going the way I hoped, influenced that. But also a going away party too… and really, yeah, even though saw how expensive it was, I saw it as a huge blessing to bless others.

So that bday, I invited people over for games like corhole and catch or whatever, but not many came. The evening was mostly just filled with conversation and some silly games over dinner- though not a whole lot. Mostly conversation- as I made pizza and pulled pork sandwhiches for everyone. Then we had a wrship time. A few songs… then I opened it up for sharing and asked people to bless me, by sharing things God had been doing. That was pretty cool. And I may have even asked for prayer requests. Then we sang some more and prayed together. That was what I wanted on my birthday. To come together and celebrate God, not me.

After that, a few people stuck around talked and watched some friends episodes and ate some more.

Oh and in the morning, I did spend some time with God… and since some ppl came over early, there was some good conversation going on too.

So, now… yeah, maybe I need a couple days since I’m older… and married… and my friends are all different places, so… whatever.

But yeah…

I would want some intimate moments with my wife

- and that would be after a good sleep, and before… and I guess during breakfast- waffles (or doughnuts)

A nice hour long massage

A good shower

Lunch out with a bunch of friends – maybe Skyline Chilli or a Bleu Cheese burger or Weber Grill- yeah Weber Grill sounds good. (12-2:30)

Then a good chunk of time alone at a bookstore – reading books and the Bible, but probably mostly journaling (with a nice refreshing drink). Then some time talking with Soo about stuff (2:30-6)

Then dinner with friends – maybe pizza (Deep dish, bbq chik, pepperoni) and cake… also cookies, brownies…

Again both lunch & dinner should be good conversation: about God, Jesus, the Word, etc + a lot of stories and jokes and laughter.

Then around 8-10+ have a worship time with prayer and maybe sharing, maybe a talk – but maybe more people sharing encouraging things from the Word and from stories God is doing… followed by more worship, prayer & discussion – til 11…. Yes then maybe a movie or tv shows til about 1….

Everyone would leave, I would talk with Soo, watch sportscenter, journal, thank everyone on twitter, and spend more time with Soo before bed.

Time with God, time with Soo, time with friends, time alone, time talking, good conversation, fun, laughter, maybe some sports, good food, worship & prayer... this makes a perfect day

My wish list

My birthday is coming up.
Soo keeps asking me what I want. I really don’t want anything.
What do I need? I have it.
What do I want? Nothing really...

Well, I want is this.

1. a healthy wife & kid

2. a long time to spend with God (a healthy relationship with God)

3. a long time to write… and maybe correlate some of my writing

4. food I like to eat

5. a healthy body- to lose like 20-30 lbs. And add some muscle mass

6. Purdue Men’s basketball to win the National Championship in March(April)

7. Fun time with friends

8. Support to all come in soon, so I can have my sabbatical

9. Opportunities to make friends with non-Christians here and to share the Gospel

10. Opportunities to disciple and challenge some people

11. Campus funds

12. People to read stuff I write

I guess there are a few actual things

1. Some photo frames and printed pictures

2. I guess some music
    Tenth Ave North
    Jars of Clay last CD and one coming out soon
    Sanctus Real
    Jon Foreman
    Mat Kearney

3. Tickets & time to go to some Purdue games (basketball and football)

4. A chord for our digital frame

5. Gift-cards for some resturants
    Weber Grill
    AppleBees (I guess)
    Skyline Chilli
    Outback
    Jamba juice

6. A massage - actually one of those massagers- a nice one... this may be #1

7. Some books (but I plan on buying them anyway)
     (Radical, The Me you want to be, It All goes back in the box, The hole in our Gospel, Shepherding a Child's heart, Grace-based Parenting, My wife thinks I'm an Idiot, His Needs Her Needs, A million miles in a thousand years, Coming Back Stronger)

8. Maybe the PS3 with the PS Move – but really? I don’t know

9. A King-size bed. (but we’re only here a few months and I can’t take that with me to Asia)

i used to want a ping-pong table or air hockey table, but not really anymore...

i have what i want. A wife, children on the way, a puppy, good friends, espn, a computer, books, music, dvds, games.

i guess i'm becoming like my parents who say they don't need anything. It's true what do i need?

Sure, it would be nice to own a Lexus. An i-phone, i-pad would be cool. A PS3 might be fun, but not necessary. And someday i would love to be a home-owner (but i don't know if i ever see the Lord having me in one place for a time in a place i could buy a home, so...
 You really don't need to get me something that nice or expensive. i probably don't need it, and might not use it. Some may want to get me something because they like it, but that's ok.


i guess i'd ask for more time.
i'm certainly asking for good health for my family.
And i want to know, enjoy & glorify God.
What else is there?

 
If you want to do something for my birthday... write me an encouraging note, comment on my blogs, pray for me.

And if you want to support me or buy me a massager... i guess that would be good too.