A Baptism and an Ordination

Last Friday, we celebrated our second ever baptismal service at Tulane's outdoor pool. This time around, there was only one to be baptized, but it was great!

Liz Bowers made her public proclamation of faith in the presence of the Tulane Chi Alpha community, and a lifeguard. 

I don't have any pictures, currently, as Jen and I couldn't find the camera that evening, but hope to have some soon. In the meantime check out Liz's testimony.

Then, on Monday, I was ordained by the Assemblies of God. I'm not too big on formal occasions or for titles, but the service was still quite meaningful. Superintendent Doug Fulenwider preached a deeply challenging address on keeping the Kingdom of God first.

The night was even more meaningful as my dad, and his brother, John, were in attendance. I didn't even know they were coming to town until I discovered them in my dining room Sunday after church! Thank God for family.

Speaking of family, I'm looking forward to a non-surprise visit from my mom, tomorrow. This will be here first time to Louisiana.

International Christmas: Atlanta, Grand Rapids, Chicago...China and Iraq

Jen and I had the privilege of visiting our families in Atlanta and Grand Rapids for the holidays this year, culminating in a beautiful white Christmas in frigid Michigan. While traveling around the states, we we honored to host our friends, Cher and Inas. Cher is a Chemistry graduate student at Tulane from China, and Inas, an Iraqi physician, is a Fullbright Scholar in Tulane's School of Public Health.

While in Atlanta, we visited some fun sites, including the CNN Center, Centennial Olympic Park, World of Coca-Cola, and the Georgia Aquarium. Cher and I played with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear at the World of Coke, while Jen and Inas joined Jen's family at the Aquarium.





Of course, one of the other highlights of the stay in Atlanta was Sarah's (Jen's sister) baby girl, Savannah who will be two this month. She's a doll.







Though, Savannah's not the only cutey in the families these days. Matt's sister, Farrah has a little treasure of her own, 5 month old Micah. Here we are on Christmas Eve.





While visiting my family, in Michigan, we took a day trip to the Windy City with my cousins Gabriel and Courtney. Gabe took this picture of of us at Shedd's Aquarium after a thrilling dolphin show.

It was a whirlwind trip, but lots of fun. It's always a blessing to see family, and it was even more so, as we were able to share the hospitality of our loving families, as well as the wonder of Christmas with our friends from around the globe.

Happy New Year!

Pictures of the Nephew

The weather is magnificent in West Michigan these days, and the newborn nephew's as cute as can be. Click on the pic to see a few more.

My Sister is Having a Baby

While I type my little sister, Farrah, is going through labor to bring her first child, my first nephew into the world. Weird.
And exciting.

Jen and I are flying up to see the little drooly thing next week, and change some of his first chocolate-y diapers. But tonight, I'm surprised at myself. My dna is rejoicing, and I feel almost giddy. It's ridiculous, yet foolishly perfect...holy.

I've never been a baby person. I've always marveled at friends and relatives who become dads, how quickly they become different people. I thought maybe I was programmed differently, after meeting my niece this past year (Jen's sister, Sarah, had Savannah Belle in Jan '06). Savannah's a doll and all, but I didn't feel any special googliness around her...but, thinking of my sister pushing out that little boy-thing...

I'm programmed just like everybody else. God did something to our dna. We want to see it replicated at some deep sub-conscious level. It's a knowledge that resides in the body, not the mind, not the brain. It makes me feel animal, but it also gives me an appreciation for the love of God-the self-giving love of God. God knows His own goodness, and longs to see it replicated. He marked us with that goodness, and even though we've marred it, we still know the longing to replicate it.

Breathe, Farrah, Breathe!