3 years ago…I married Hailey Solena Trachsel…life has NEVER been the same since, and I’m glad!

So to all you mother’s out there. And if you have a mom (which you probably do) shame on you for reading my blog on her special day.

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

I saw this on THIS GUY’S blog.  Like him, I’ve watched it 3 times now…and cried…3 times.  “God is still God, God is still Good.”

Being the “Old Man” that I am, I went to bed last night @ 10:30.  I received a text this morning from my brother saying: “Are you up, are you watching right now?”  This could only mean one thing, something crazy happened last night post-me going to bed in the NCAA game.  So, being a Canadian, I go straight to tsn.ca to find out what happened.  Here’s what I saw:
You could imagine my surprise when the only mention of any NCAA event (last night there were 4 games) is a byline that reads “March Madness Roundup: Kansas State captures memorable win.”  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!  I know that the NCAA Tourney is a bigger deal in the U.S, but (what I found out later) it was a double-overtime photo finish…and….nothing. You could imagine my confusion when trying to figure out what my brother was referring too.  I decided to shoot over to espn.com just to see:

Full front page coverage and video of the game, and 2 of the 4 sub stories about other NCAA games.  For some reason, TSN believed that Montreal (6th place) beating Florida (12th place) in an NHL game last night somehow deserved the top line.  From this I can draw one of three conclusions.

1) TSN hires only hacks, that know nothing about sports
2) A 6th place team beating a 12th place team in hockey is multiples more exciting than a double overtime, winner moves on college basketball game
3) Canada is just really…that bad.

I think it’s a tie between 1 & 3.  On another note, American’s now are on a path to socialized medicine and probably socialism itself.  Maybe having crappy sports coverage is a socialism symptom.  That probably wasn’t in the Pro’s and Con’s that Obama listed when pitching the bill…

This week Thursday and Friday is typically a great day to “call in sick” and watch basketball all day.

Every year I’m in a family and friends pool. I always win lose, so maybe this year will be different!

So to YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU & YOU and a bunch more…your going down!

1) I know nothing. It funny how as you get older you realize not only how little you know, but how foolish you were. I had lunch a few weeks back with a good friend, and we talked about that exact thing…how “in our youth” we often count ourselves so much more highly than we ought AND take for granted the wealth of knowledge from those around us.

2) Life is getting busier. I remember years past when the most challenging thing on my “post-work agenda” was whether to play Madden or rock the DVR…not so today. Between growing responsabilies and work and @ home…life is definitely NOT slowing down.

So. Why do I write this? Well the first inclination might be that I haven’t blogged for 20 days, and unlike blogging rockstars like THIS GUY I have…well…left something to be desired…

But more than that…I find myself circling the wagons a little lately. I had a LONG conversation last night with a guy in my small group about the calling of a man to 1st be a good disciple 2nd be a good husband/father and 3rd be a good worker/employee/etc. God doesn’t need your 41st hour @ work. He doesn’t need the 3rd garage in your house or the new surround-sound speaker system…you know what though….He does ASK you to give ALL that you have and follow Him.

As life gets busier…compromising gets easier. Prayer for PS3…Devotions for David Letterman…it’s not that far a jump. Within a matter of days a slip becomes routine and then your “down and out.” One of the disciplines I’ve been pursuing lately is substituting good things for GODLY things. T.V isn’t bad…neither is PS3…but you know what is more that “not bad”….JESUS CHRIST. I want to love Him, live for Him, serve Him, follow Him and Lead people to Him whenever I can…and unfortunately…”busy” is in the way.

So why do I write this? I clearly DON’T have it figured out…

Well, that’s the point. No one does. I’m just a dude trying to live for the only thing worth living for. I get in my own way sometimes, but the Lord is gracious and leads me back to where I know I ought to be.

Thank-you Jesus.

<==Here is a picture of her holding Stella right after she was born. Go check out her blog HERE. God continues to be glorified in and through her and although she cannot talk, her heart speaks volumes to the grace and faithfulness of the Lord. Last week I had the opportunity to visit with her and I continue to be amazed at how she “suffers well.”

I read an article about the recent happenings in the life of Matt Chandler and his family.  Matt is the Teaching Pastor @ The Village Church, and is definitely a well-known teacher and leader within the Evangelical Church.  Check out this quote from the article…

“Chandler is trying to suffer well. He would never ask for such a trial, but in some ways he welcomes this cancer. He says he feels grateful that God has counted him worthy to endure it. He has always preached that God will bring both joy and suffering but is only recently learning to experience the latter.”

It makes me truly wonder how anyone…apart from God can “suffer well.” The overwhelming peace it Matt’s responses…the unexplainable joy in the face of my Nana…it comes from Jesus…nothing else. The craziest and most convicting part for me is this:

When I’m having a crappy day. When someone yells at me. When I’m feeling “off.” Praising God is not easy. How much MORE difficult is it to praise him when my life is REALLY off the tracks. The token question that naysayer’s always go to is “Why do bad things happen to good people..?” I understand now more than ever before. It’s not as much about God letting the bad things happen, but rather what He does in and through the “good people.”

Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Whether it’s the depravity in Haiti, a terminal illness, or just a bad say…STILL I will praise the Lord. God remind me of that truth when I forget.

Anyway, it’s cool to step-outside of the casserole box and eat something cool @ home.

Here’s hoping I don’t wake up in the night with food poisoning…

It is DEFINITELY good to be home with my two ladies! Expect to see an update and highlights psot very soon.