38 Christmases and Counting!

Laura and I have been together for 38 Christmases.

This picture was taken when I was playing Santa Claus at Sears in 1974.

Laura came in to see Santa and have her picture made with me.

(Yes, that's my Arlington High class ring she is wearing!)

Now we have some more reasons for a Merry Christmas.

This is Easton's First Christmas!

This is Landrie, Karsyn, and their new little brother Ryan with Santa Claus.

Ryan arrived just in time for this to be his First Christmas too!

Let Me Introduce You to Ryan Marshall Kirk

Our newest addition arrived on December 15, 2011.

Now, bothe Landrie and Karsyn are BIG Sisters!

Finishing Weird - Part 5

Weird people don’t finish like normal people finish.

Weird people finish the course and fulfill their ministry.

Acts 20:24   "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."

1 Timothy 6:12   "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

2 Timothy 4:5-8   "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. "

I want to finish strong. I want to finish weird. But, I cannot do that in my own strength. So, I am asking for divine intervention:

Lord, help me to fight the good fight, to keep the faith and to finish the course.

Finishing Weird - Part 4

Weird people don’t finish like normal people finish.

Weird people walk in the good works He prepared for them to walk in and they don’t grow weary of doing good.

Ephesians 2:10   "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

Galatians 6:9   "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."

2 Thessalonians 3:13   "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good."

I want to finish strong, to finish weird. But, I cannot do that in my own strength. So, this is my prayer:

Lord show me the good works you prepared beforehand for me to walk in and don’t let me lose heart or grow weary of doing good.

Finishing Weird - Part 3

Weird people don’t finish like normal people finish.

Weird people run to win and run with endurance.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25   "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Hebrews 12:1-2   "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I want to finish strong. I want to finish weird. But, I cannot do that in my own strength. Therefore, this is my prayer:

Lord give me the strength to run with endurance the race you have set before me. Help me to run in such a way that I may win.

Finishing Weird Part 2

Earlier this year our pastor, Craig Groeschel released his book, Weird.

The theme of the book is that we are called to be weird - in a God weird way - because normal isn't working.

In this and the next several posts, I will be building on Craig's book and elaborating on what I am calling Finishing Weird.

But first, at bit of overview on being weird:

“If you want what normal people have, do what normal people do.

If you want what few people have, do what few people do.”

• Weird people don’t think like normal people think.

Romans 12:1-2   "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

• Weird people don’t live like normal people live.

1 Peter 2:11-12   "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation."

• Weird people don’t finish like normal people finish.