Hi Friends!

It’s been several months since my last post. A lot has changed since May. For those who don’t know, we have moved to South Florida.  It was a big leap of faith for us having lived in Nashville for ten years. Our desire to move to Florida stemmed from a deep longing to be closer to family. So now that we’re here I felt it was time to breathe life once again into this blog and chronicle a new stage of my life as a First-Time Floridian.

You may ask, “how hard can it be to move to Florida- with the ocean, beaches, and warm weather? Actually it was. I love the ocean and beach (though Amy’s not as excited about them), and I love her family, but other than that we weren’t interested in Florida. It seemed very materialistic, selfish, hoighty, rude and an anything-but-Christian place to live. Amy had moved back to South FL - after her finishing her undergrad in East TN – teaching in the publich high school, and found it to be a desert and wilderness. It was the worst time of her life. When we met and I began visiting Florida with her, I quickly understood why she felt that way. Family was the only haven.

We loved Nashville. We had the best friends in Nashville- THE BEST! Our friends were our friends: Amy’s and mine. Even our little girls had friends. When we were pregnant with Abigail, our first, 4 of our friends and community group members were pregnant at the same time- creating and instant social outlet for our little girl.
We also had an amazing church family that had walked with us, sharpened us, married us, and seen us through the worst time in our lives. It was through this church that Amy and I met- we served along side one another and I was given glimpses into Amy’s amazing heart.
I had a good job- a family-friendly job. And though it didn’t pay tons there was a sense of security in it, and we were comfortable. Nashville wasn’t too cold and the economy wasn’t terribly bad. The housing market hadn’t taken the hit that it had everywhere else. There was no real risk in staying. Florida, on the other hand, was full of risk, but it had one thing that we felt we needed: family.

It was almost a year ago when we first started praying about it. And soon afterward we felt that God was opening doors for us to make the move. We put our house for sale in January and then we waited. We were hopeful and expecting that this would be a quick process. But over the next several months, so many things happened that now, looking back, we can see how we needed to be in Nashville til the middle of August, when our house sold. God was truly preparing a place for us in South Florida and preparing our hearts to be ready to receive it. It wasn’t a fast process, but rather slow and faith-building one. But stone by stone God was building our faith on a strong foundation. We had to face opposition, fear, and doubt every week, and we found ourselves being reminded almost daily to trust Him for this. God was calling us to Florida and we knew it (most days). Some days that’s all we could rest in, but it was enough.

Come back to hear how God was preparing our hearts for Florida and Florida for the Franks!

Eph. 2:14 “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation….”

Christ is our peace. Christ is peace. He doesn’t just try to bring peace. He does it…completely! Too often we believe that his peace is fleeting, incomplete or perhaps that it’s one sided (peace for me, but not for my wife), but that is not the definition of peace. The scripture says, “[He] has made both one, and broken the middle wall of separation.” Eph. 2:14 is the perfect definition of what true peace is.

Imagine what peace with your neighbor would look like~
Instead of measuring your property line with a ruler every time they mow their lawn, you forget to even notice because it truly doesn’t bother you that they over-stepped the line. Instead of griping about the poor condition of your neighbor’s yard or house, you went over to help in their time of need. Imagine sitting down together, breaking bread with your neighbor, praying for their needs, and asking the Lord to bless them. This is the peace of Christ where breaks down the wall of separation.

Imagine what peace in the Middle East would look like~
It would probably resemble peace with your neighbor, but on a much grander scale. There would be no more fighting, bombing, cutting off resources, or killing. There would be no more power-struggles to take over certain countries,  no more persecution for peoples’ differences, and there would be an open door policy to their country – a welcoming spirit. There would be no over-priced oil, but rather a genuine desire to preserve this natural resource while sharing it for the benefit of all. Not only would they share with us, but we would share our resources and aid with them. We would be allies (friends) rather than adversaries. Only Christ is able to bring peace, but that’s what he came to do, and will do. The Lion will lay down with the lamb. Seems almost unfathomable, doesn’t it.  

Scripture goes on to say in Eph. 2:18 that “through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” By the shed blood of Jesus upon the cross He has taken people who are enemies and made them one in the Spirit. He has brought peace by the His crimson blood. This peace, His peace, is not just a show, an act if you will; this is true peace. This is the 2^nd chapter of Acts kind of peace. It’s where brothers & sisters sold all they had to care for one another. Where no one considered themselves above another, and where they were in one accord (peace).

Imagine what peace in your marriage would look like~
It would probably resemble Christ’s relationship to the church. He loved her so much that he willingly laid down his life for her. Peace with your spouse would be sacrificial: without pride, without selfishness, without comparison, without judgment. You would be one in Spirit, but that doesn’t mean you share a brain. You would still have your own unique thoughts, ideas, hopes and dreams, but being one in Spirit means that are submitted to one another and to the Lord, and desire to find common ground.

Paul wrote, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding….” The peace of Christ is beyond our full comprehension. The way I imagined peace with our neighbors, with the Middle East and in our marriages, doesn’t even begin to encapsulate how beautiful, rich, full and amazing His peace is. Let us press in for His peace, which breaks down the walls of separation and makes us one. He Himself is our peace, and this peace is good.

I’ve decided to resurrect this blog and to use it as my journaling space. I often prefer to think “out loud,” so I’m going to do that here.

I’ve been reading this book called, “The Rest Of The Gospel” by Dan somebody. It’s not that he’s not important. I just can’t remember off the top of my head. It’s been radically changing the way I look at my life in Christ and my walk with him. I feel like for the first time I am grasping things that should’ve been made aware (or obvious) to me as a new believer. It’s as if I didn’t know Jesus before. I knew about him. I had read the stories, identified with them, and even prayed for the “greater things” to happen in my time, but it’s as if I didn’t truly see (or believe) what he was saying. I feel like saying now, “You mean all those things you said are true?

It’s changing the way I look at communion too. I love communion. I always have. Before this book, though I would look at it as mostly a time of confession, a purging of my weekly sins. One problem was that I could never think of them all, and I wasn’t experiencing lasting change. The other is that I also wasn’t experiencing life- abundant, sweet, promised LIFE!

The Lord’s supper is not just about confession and forgiveness. It is communion – relationship- with God. It’s about sitting down with the one who knows you  completely, perfectly and letting your guard down. It’s about boldly coming before the throne of God. We can do that because He loves us and He’s invited us. There, at the table, before His thrown, we receive our life…or just the reminder that we carry this life within us. He has given us everything at the Cross. All that he could ever give is ours now. All the Love that He will ever bestow on us we have now. All the forgiveness that we will ever need (for our ENTIRE lives) we have now.

At the table we sit down with the One who lives within us. He sees us exactly as we are- who He created us to be. He reminds us of that. He wipes off the junk of this world that we seem to pick up along the way and He puts us back on our way for another week. He reminds us that we carry His Life within us. And we begin to truly believe.

He is the vine. We are the branches. We have been grafted into a life that was not our own. Our old vine (life) does not exist anymore. He has transplanted us from that dead, fruitless vine to His living, promise-filled, fruitful vine. Now His life flows through our vine to make us grow and look more like him.

I understood in head knowledge the idea of communion being an intimate time with God as a body. I didn’t understand so much about the sacraments themselves. Why blood? Why his body? I kept thinking, “Doesn’t the rest of the world think we’re cannibals? Why did he use this symbolism?’ And recently I got it.

We partake in His body and His blood because when we come to Him our spirit is made alive for the first time. Romans said, “I am crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live. Jesus Christ now lives in me.” He has grafted us into His body. It’s our reminder that we do not exist anymore. sure we still have an earthly body and a mind, but it’s just a vessel- a jar of clay- that He can move through. We are one with Him. That’s why we partake of His body. And we drink of His blood because blood is what is the essence of our lives. It carries life to every part of our bodies. We need His blood- His life- to flow through us. Without it we would be trying to live in our own strength- producing works in our own strength. There would be no life.  And without Life we are dead.

Thank you Lord for Life- Your life in me. Thank you that you live in me and have named me a co-heir with you. Thank you for revealing more of who you are through your word to me. I’m thirsty for more. Amen.

Gone are the days of less is more. Gone are the days where we had room to grow. Now there is barely a square foot of uncluttered space. Between the cats, the kid and the company I find myself without a seat. – Side note- the cats they think they own everything. The other day they were both laying perfectly content on the baby diaper changing table. Lovin’ that cushiony pad. Daddy was not happy!

Since getting married I have often said that God uses marriage to hold a mirror up to us to show us everything that He doesn’t (and never did) like about us. Since our daughter was born less than 3 weeks ago I realize that he uses children to show you even more how selfish you are, and how arrogant you are.

Prior to the baby Amy & I had our theories about what raising our child would be like. We had these high ideals that we were sure we’d be able to meet: everything from the type of delivery to the sleeping & eating patterns of our little girl. We’ve since found out that ideals are seldom lived up to.

–And I want to make a public apology to all parents everywhere for ever once thinking that it couldn’t really be that hard or that when I had children I would do it better. I had no right to speak, and am humbled by how truly little I really know.

People always said that I am good with kids.  And I think I am to some degree. But it’s very different when they’re your child and you need them to eat more or sleep more, or not cry so much. Sure, our baby girl seems to like the silly songs that I make up to get her to stop crying or fall asleep, but at 3:30 a.m. I’m not singing any made up songs. I’m praying, “Lord, please help Abigail to fall asleep.”

Right now we’re in that “schedule” verses “no schedule” questioning. How long can she go without a schedule before it starts becoming a pattern of it’s own, we ask ourselves. Basically, we’ve determined that at this point it’s all about survival. We don’t have to be great, we just have to survive. We’ve had to remind ourselves that with all the books out there there is no instruction manual to OUR baby. And even though we are both college educated there is no degree for parenting. It is a life skill that is learned by failing, stumbling blindly, humbling yourself, and much prayer.

Would definitely appreciate your continued prayers as Amy & I journey through this new adventure called parenting.

Well, it didn’t turn out to be a white Christmas after all. My mom called the Saturday before Christmas and told me that all the snow had melted from that week. All 8 inches were gone. I was bummed, but hoped that we’d get some snow before the big day. We drove up to Indiana on the windiest day that I can remember. I drove the whole way as it was all I could do to stay on the road; the wind was whipping violently. Just south of Indy it started spitting snow. That was a promising sign.  Around Anderson, IN the interstate started getting backed up. Being my old college town I new a few back roads so we got off on the less frequented first exit of Anderson. Our first stop light was a scary welcome back to Indiana’s fickle weather. The road was a sheet of ice. My wife’s car does not have front-wheel drive and we fish-tailed and skidded to a terrorizing stop. Welcome Back! Oy vay!
The entire town of Anderson- at least all the roads that we were on (heading through downtown)- were covered in ice. I tried to get back to the main road through town and liked to never get over the 8th Avenue bridge. All we could do was pray. Amy even suggested that we spend the night in Anderson and head out in daylight even though we were only an hour from home. Thankfully, once we got back to the main road things cleared up a bit. And as we finally got out of town the roads cleared up altogether. The wind come howling, but we made it home in one piece. Thank you, Jesus!
It was so good to be home- even without the snow. We had a great time with my mom. We had plenty of great conversations. And we didn’t go out too much b/c of the cold and b/c Amy usually gets sick when we’re home. Praise the Lord she didn’t this time! But instead, I was sick. I actually came home sick. I had lost my voice the week before Christmas and it didn’t return until after Christmas. Needless to say I didn’t get to sing Christmas songs with my mom like I had hoped. My voice sounded like I was going through puberty all over again, especially when I tried to sing.
Our family threw us our first baby shower while we were home. Most of my family, including my brothers, made it and a couple of family friends too. We had such a great time. My mom & my sister, Penny, did such an awesome job of planning the games, food and gifts. Amy & I had to compete against each other as we raced to diaper a baby blind-folded, identified melted chocolate candy bars inside baby diapers, and guessed the contents of baby food jars. It was great fun. And we got some awesome gifts for our little girl.
Our time at home was too short, but it’s always nice to come home to your own house. Amy & I had several days at home working on the house, getting chores done, and catching up on stuff before I had to come back to work today.
I hope that all of you had a great Christmas filled with  joy, laughter and love, and that your New Year is off to an awesome start!

I talked to my sister, Penny, this morning online and she told me they got 8 inches of snow this past weekend! I can’t wait to go home for Christmas. I’m ready for a white Christmas. And there’s a chance I’ll get to go sledding while I’m home.
I’m also ready to stay up late singing Christmas songs, sleep in, drink eggnog, and enjoy spending time with my family, especially my mom.

For unto us a Savior is born. For us the Son of God came down to Earth. For you the Prince of Peace was sent to rescue and redeem you. He came for me too. And I am so glad.
Christmas makes me sentimental. I can hear a simple song about this little boy who came to the world naked, cold, helpless, and I find myself near tears every time. All I have to hear is “O Holy Night” and I’m swept away to a place of intimate worship with the Savior of the World. I hear “O Come Let Us Adore Him” and I want to stop right then and there and adore him. I hear “Silent Night” and I can barely sing. Does it get any better than that? Does worship get any more powerful than silence? I know that the angels sing, “Holy Is The Lord! Who was, and is, and is to come!” But sometimes I feel that the Lord gets too big for words…the moment to powerful for sounds to capture my awe and complete reverence.
That’s what I want this season to be. That is all I want for Christmas. I want a Christmas full of moments: rich, moving, and deep. I want to savor everything that is true and right. The Lord is a Lord of abundance and yet I find the world telling me I need more. Now. I deserve it. And yet, my soul longs for more. I think all of ours does. It’s the kind of longing that the world cannot fill. It’s the longing that is fill with rich moments of silent worship, and hands clasped in prayer. It’s the kind of longing that is filled with the richness of manna from God’s word.
Too often I buy into what the world is selling. I get consumed with watching the Christmas movies, and decorating my house, inside & out, and I get hurried along by the crowds. I forget to stop and wonder. I forget to dream and wish. I forget to remember the reason for this entire bustle.
I want to talk to my wife until the wee hours of the morning and enjoy these last few months before parenthood begin. I want to know what her desires are….more than what’s on her wishlist, and yet, so many times, I forget to ask. I want to talk to my family more, and my friends too. I want to catch up with them. I want to reminisce. I want to reflect on this past year.
I want to sing more Christmas songs. And maybe write some of my own….maybe just for me & the Lord. I want to celebrate and worship the little boy who changed my life.

As I look out the window next to my cubicle I see a beautiful scarlet maple almost completely red. It’s a small tree and it grows in the back parking lot of my workplace. It’s the only tree that I can see from my view that is turning. Fall seems to be coming later to this area. It’s the middle of October and I’m missing the colors.

It seems that fall is much different here in Tennessee than it is in Northern IN. In Indiana, I remember feeling autumn come on slowly, even gracefully. You’d see the fields dry up and the nights would get cooler. Occasionally you’d see frost on the ground or on your car. Your breath was visible during the earliest and latest hours of the day. And the trees would gradually turn brilliantly beautiful hues of crimson, scarlet, gold, amber, yellow and brown, and then shed their leaves as if performing the most beautiful ballet- each one perfectly timed.

In Nashville, especially this year, the summer has held its grip far too long- not wanting to let go. The heat finally conceded to welcome in a much-needed cooler week, but summer hasn’t given up entirely. It’s like a teeter-totter going up & down; cool, then almost too warm. And the trees seem to be resisting as well. Perhaps after being nearly frozen to death in the spring, and practically dying of drought later in the summer they figure “Hey man, I’m going to stay green as long as I can! How could you deny me that?”   With those conditions I wonder if we’ll even have a fall at all.

And really, I have to wonder if what has really changed has been me. In Indiana life was slower. I lived in the country all of my life, except for my college years, and the views were spectacular. Maybe fall means even more because the farm that we rented only had 1 deciduous tree- a very young sugar maple. The rest of the trees were cragly, old cedar trees and every year it seemed we’d lose another one to a winter storm. We had a big yard and only one tree that changed. So I watched other trees on the bus, and I watched the trees as we rode to church. Along all the beautiful roads I would see God’s nature displayed gloriously.

Even in college, the campus had the most beautiful, huge trees- many close to a hundred years old. They covered the small campus. No wonder I connected with this school. There was a big hill near the library that my friends and I rolled down in the fall. It was a blast. But there haven’t been any days of rolling down the hills since I’ve moved to Nashville. You won’t often walk though a big pile of fallen leaves; the yard services aren’t being paid for that. In fact, I don’t even have a yard (well, not much of one).  Not that I’d have time to do it even if I did. By the time I get home it’s nearly dark and in a week or two it will be completely dark.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago how we went to Clarksville to enjoy a Fall festival and how it was a bust. When it’s 90 degrees outside it hardly feels like fall. Well, this weekend we’re trying again….hopefully. The Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, which I drive through as a short-cut everyday, is having their annual Music & Molasses Festival this weekend. It sounds as if it could be fun. And the weather should be a little more fall-ish. Perhaps after spending sometime really celebrating fall I will feel more like I used to when I was back home in Indiana.

I became an uncle again today for the 13th time! Little Noelle Joy was born to my younger brother Dan this morning. This makes for his 3rd child and second little girl. Mom & baby are doing great. I’m not 100% sure how they’ll spell Noelle, but for now I’m going with this. Congratulations Dan & Trisha! Welcome to the world baby Noelle!