Getting Up - Week 2

So, we're on our second week of rising at 6AM - and its getting slightly easier. We'd both find it to be far easier if Nahum would sleep though the night :) but so far that's not happening.

We have really enjoyed our exercise / prayer time and our family worship time at 7AM (when we get the kids up) is going much better than when we were doing it in the evenings. We did decide to take the weekend off, sleeping in on Saturday (well, as much as is possible) and rising a little later on Sundays. I'm not sure I'm entirely ready to part with lazy Saturday mornings yet.

Actually, this Saturday I did get up a little earlier than usual. I told Emery that when he got up he could come wake me up and we would go on an "adventure", just him and Dad. Our adventure turned out to be a trip to Wendy's and the hardware store, and then a walk back from the ranch after we got the van stuck in the snow - but it was good to have some quality time together "just us guys".

Update - and getting up!

From 091218

So, I've been bad about ignoring this blog for some time. We had our sixth child and third boy, Nahum Joseph Hicks ("Nacho" or "Mr. Stretchypants" for short), on October 13th, 2009. We also made considerable progress on our homeschooling, saw Aunt Kate off to college, had a family vacation to Denver over Thanksgiving, a great Christmas, a fun New Year's party. There are many other things I should have posted about but haven't. Moving on...

Crystal and I have felt convicted for a while now about getting up in the mornings. Neither of us are "morning people"*, and especially after you've dealt with a fussy baby all night long it's hard to roll out of bed in the morning. However, we could see the necessity of getting an early start to the day for several reasons:

1. We need time to pray together and discuss God's word apart from the kids.


2. we need time to discuss our plan for the day


3. we both wanted time to exercise and keep in shape


4. we wanted a time when we could consistently do family worship with the kids


5. we wanted to get the kids started on chores and school before 11AM

While we were trying to do some of those things in the evenings, there were often too many interruptions. Even when there wasn't something else going on we often were too tired and worn-out by the end of the day to stay motivated enough to get it all done.

We've agreed several times to start getting up at 6AM before the kids, but it was always too easy to shut off the alarm or hit the snooze, but in the end we realized the toll this was taking on our family. So yesterday, for the first time, we both got up when the alarm went off. I know this may seem insignificant to you morning people out there (you know who you are...), but it was really difficult for us. We prayed together while we exercised, and then woke up the kids and had family worship together. What a great start to the day.

To be honest, the rest of the day was miserable. We were grouchy. The kids were grouchy. They doddled through their chores, they fought with each other, they weren't obedient, they barely got any schoolwork done, which made us even more grouchy. But, in the end, we're still glad we did it.

We got up at 6AM today again too. It was a little bit easier (not much, mind you), and so far things have gone a little bit better. I'm hoping this pattern continues...

It really is refreshing to get a good start to the day. While we're both rather exhausted, being able to spend time focusing on God (both as a couple and together with the kids) first thing in the morning really will change things. I'm looking forward to it (all but the getting up part).

* Emery, unlike his parents, is a morning person. Regardless of what time he goes to bed he rises early to greet the new day and cheerfully (and loudly) lets anyone who is sleeping know that it's time to be up!

The Duggars: 20 and Counting / Do Hard Things

Getting back to my book reviews. I finished up two this week.

First, Crystal and I read The Duggars: 20 and Counting, authored by Jim-Bob & Michelle Duggar (whom you've probably seen on TV). Since they have 18 children we hoped to glean some tips and tricks for managing a large family. While the book contained plenty of this sort of advice in the end that wasn't what drew my attention. The underlying theme of the book (and the Duggar family) is trusting God to direct every decision you make. The Duggars go into detail about their past and the decisions which they made both with and apart from God's guidance - and the results that followed. It is evident that God has richly blessed their family both financially and fertily (is that a word?) for seeking his will. Even if you don't have a bunch of kids this book is well worth the read simply to see God at work in their lives.

Second, I read Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris. This book is written by teenagers for teenagers, but it speaks a number of truths that I found quite relevant as an adult. The Harris twins challenge teens to step beyond the world's low expectations of them and truly do something extraordinary. Scattered thoughout the book are dozens of examples of teens who put down the game controller and TV remote and made something of their life - prior to turning 21. Even for me at age 28 this book served as a real challenge to move beyond what is expected and tackle what is truly challenging. Beyond the message of the book I appreciated that the authors included a chapter on practical steps of acting on what you learned (again with examples). So many books will try to sell an idea but in the end leave the reader with no direction for how to achieve that idea. I wish I would have read Do Hard Things as a teen - I'm suspect the challenge within may have motivated me to waste far less time during that period of my life. This is going to be mandatory reading for my kids once they're a bit older.

The Greatest Mission Trip You'll Ever Take: Resource Friday - The Pineapple Story

The Greatest Mission Trip You'll Ever Take: Resource Friday - The Pineapple Story.

Follow the above link and read about then listen to the Pineapple Story. The author is very entertaining and there is a really great message behind it all.

Do Hard Things

I bought a copy but I haven't had the chance to read it yet. However, I have heard nothing but good about Alex & Brett Harris' book Do Hard Things. Here's an interesting interview with the authors.

Job

I love Job's response in Job 1. Satan has just finished hitting Job with the worst he can imagine: killing his livestock, servants, and even his children. Job has almost certainly had the worst day of his life. His response? "Praise the Lord!":

Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Man, I want to be like that.

Official Google Blog: Project 10^100

Google announced today Project 10^100, an effort to help people around the world. Quoting from their announcement:

"But what would help, and what would be most helpful? We don't believe we have the answers, but we do believe the answers are out there. Maybe in a lab, or a company, or a university -- or maybe not."

Maybe here?:

Love your neighbor as yourself. - Matthew 22:39b (NIV)

I think that the humanitarian effort with the greatest effect on Earth comes from the untold daily actions of the individual devoted followers of Jesus Christ in their daily effort to serve others with the love and respect. This world would certainly be a far darker place without the love of Christ shining through his servants. On the flip side I think one of the major causes of the world falling into its present dismal state is a failure of the individuals that compose the Body of Christ (myself included) to love their neighbor as well as we should. Imagine the impact we could have if us "westernized Christians" spent a little less time entertaining ourselves and a little more time serving others.

I'm glad Google wants to help people - and I think it would be great if their Project 10^100 was put to use by Christians as a means to serve our fellow man - but the announcement does seem kind of hollow without giving recognition to the ultimate humanitarian act:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 (KJV)

You can't top that one.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

Finding a Balance

I have to admit, one of the biggest challenges since we started hosting a church in our home has been ensuring that our marriage relationship and our relationships with the kids aren't given the leftovers. Adding the extra tasks of food preparation, hosting, and cleanup each week consumes a significant amount of time. Add to that attempting to be available to those who have needs throughout the week and family can be quickly lost in the process.

Since one of the primary goals of the church at our house is to encourage fellow Christians in their family relationships it is important that we find the right balance for our time. Crystal and I have both felt somewhat overwhelmed in the past few weeks trying to fit it all in. I pray that God will give us the wisdom to make the tough choices when it comes to our time: becoming better organized so as to maximize the time we have and learning to cut the unimportant from our schedules.

If Only He Knew

I recently finished If Only He Knew by Gary Smalley who specializes in helping Christians develop stronger relationships. This book is written to husbands who wish to better understand and relate to their wives. To be honest, there is a lot of great stuff in this book that really helped me to better grasp my wife's thought processes and reasons for doing things. This is one book I'll be keeping around to re-read from time to time, just so I have a constant reminder of the way I should be treating my beloved wife!

I recommend this book to all married and soon to be married men, and for the ladies out there I recommend the companion book For Better or Best.

Antioch Community Church - Whatever state you're in, be content

Antioch Community Church - Whatever state you're in, be content

An excellent article and reminder from Pastor Mark Fox of Antioch Community Church and author of Family Integrated Church.

Classic Christianity

I recently finished Classic Christianity by Bob George. I was amazed at how well the author manages to get at the root of the spiritual problems most modern American Christians face...the bonds that seem to hold us in the cesspit of mediocre living. Through stories and simple explanations Bob George does an excellent job exposing the simple Biblical truths that have the power to set us free, as God intended (note here that is the God's truth from the Bible that sets us free, not the words of Bob George...the author simply presents those truths in his book).

I recommend this book to Christians who seem stuck in the dreary day-to-day, and want to have their lives totally and radically transformed by the power of Christ.