Nana has been following a great organization that is passionately committed to bringing clean water to the billion people who do have this basic human right. 4,500 babies die every day due to water-born diseases. This is a simple one: dig and maintain wells.
We can attack this one together. Scott Harrison is the founder and visionary for charity: water. Here is his September project. He’s shooting big to change the world.
Our team from Grace Church had a blast serving in Delft, Holland with David Koerts and Levend Water. They participated in a city-wide outreach called “DiverseCity” - bringing God’s love to Delft.
Here’s a video that Michael Fuller put together to capture the time.
A photojournalist from Levend Water put together an awesome slideshow of one of the events: an high tea for the elderly.
Kendrick Jr. played a great round of golf yesterday at Wildwood Green Golf Club in Raleigh. It was day 2 of the Jack Ratz Jr. Memorial Tournament. He shot 67 yesterday with a 70 the day before. He took first in age bracket winning by 7 strokes. I was really proud of him. He got his first eagle on a par 5 during a tournament. He did have one other eagle last year when he got a hole in one. He shot in the 60’s for the first time during a tournament.
Here are a few photos that I took on my phone. They turned out pretty well.
Curtis Campbell sent me this the other day. It’s an excellent speech by Art Monk as he receives his induction into the Football Hall of Fame. He’s gracious and yet incredibly open and speaks powerfully about his faith in God.
If you love football and Jesus, you’ll enjoy this clip - click here.
We finished up a great weekend with GraceMart. We collected a massive amount of clothing, furniture, household items, appliances, books, toys, food, and whatever else for the needy. There was a deluge of people leaving with arms full and hopefully hearts touched with God’s love.
Nana and I spent a week in Delft, Holland visiting David and Melanie Koerts. They are ministry partners reaching their city and nation for Christ. We did a marriage seminar, and I spoke at the church on Sunday. A group from Grace Church came the following week to help with a big outreach to the city.
We took the train from Rotterdam to Paris - a three-hour bullet. We had a blast in Paris. We were their on Bastille Day (their independence day). There was a big parade on the Champs Elysees. Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. The Louvre was open for free. We saw all the major sites. It really is an amazing city.
Sometimes things just come together. I had a delightful long weekend. Last Wednesday, we had a blast at the church picnic: great music, food, friends, and volleyball.
On Thursday, Kendrick Jr. shot a 71 at Wildwood Green to win a qualifying tournament for the California Golf Tour World Championship in Myrtle Beach, SC. Steve Young and I won our flight in the member-guest at Chapel Hill Country Club. Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open in a thrilling playoff with Rocco Mediate.
Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green are all returning for UNC, plus there are three McDonald’s All-Americans in the incoming freshman class. Oh yeah… some guy by the name of Tyler Hansbrough will be on the team too.
And… Sam Storms (Enjoying God Ministries) is here preaching this past Sunday as well as tonight and tomorrow night at Grace Church. You can listen to Sam’s messages at Grace Church’s sermon page.
This past Christmas at our staff party I ended up with the DVD “What About Bob?” It quickly became a family favorite, and I can’t tell you how many times that we’ve watched the movie this year.
We got a fish aquarium last week. All the fish have been named after “What About Bob?” characters: Gill (of course), Betty, Sigmund, Anna, Fey, Dr. Leo Marvin, and Mr. and Mrs. G. Unfortunately, we’ve lost two fish already. Fey and Anna have passed to a better place. We’ll replace them with Fey 2 and Anna 2. When I grew up I think my sister got up to Bubbles the 8th.
On a more upbeat note, here are some of my kids’ favorite “What About Bob?” quotes:
1. Dr. Leo Marvin: “I want peace and quiet in here.” Bob: “I’ll be quiet.” Holding up the peace sign, Sigmund says, “I’ll be peace.” This has become an evening ritual at our house when I put Aliesha and Gabriela down for bed.
2. Dr. Leo Marvin: “Why do you always wear black?” His son Sigmund responds, “Maybe I’m mourning for my lost childhood.”
3. Bob enjoying dinner at the Marvin’s house (eating corn on the cob). “Mmmm… Mmmm… Mrs. M. Mmmmm… is this hand shucked?”
4. As we start the day, we quote Bob: “I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful. I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful.”
5. Baby steps.
6. Bob: “There are two types of people in this world: those who like Neil Diamond and those who don’t. My ex-wife loved him.”
7. Bob: “I’m sailing. I’m sailing. I am a sailor.”
We’re ending our week in Williamsburg with a day at Busch Gardens. Our
first time for the family. So far the log ride is tops. With school in
session and rain predicted the lines are short.
Had to try my first blog post from iPhone. Up next: favorite “What
About Bob?” quotes.
Today my lovely wife is 40. I am the happiest and most blessed man on earth. Nana makes the Prov. 31[show]<div class="esv"><h2>Proverbs 31 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=mm%2F20031001-20031031" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=mm%2F20031001-20031031" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3>The Words of King Lemuel</h3>
<p><span class="chapter-num" id="v20031001-1">31:1 </span>The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:</p>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group"><span class="verse-num" id="v20031002-1">2 </span>What are you doing, my son?<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Hebrew 'What, my son?'">[1]</a></span> What are you doing, son of my womb?<br />
<span class="indent"></span>What are you doing, son of my vows?<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031003-1">3 </span>Do not give your strength to women,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>your ways to those who destroy kings.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031004-1">4 </span>It is not for kings, O Lemuel,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>it is not for kings to drink wine,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>or for rulers to take strong drink,<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031005-1">5 </span>lest they drink and forget what has been decreed<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031006-1">6 </span>Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and wine to those in bitter distress;<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f2" id="b2" title="Hebrew 'those bitter in soul'">[2]</a></span><br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031007-1">7 </span>let them drink and forget their poverty<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and remember their misery no more.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031008-1">8 </span>Open your mouth for the mute,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>for the rights of all who are destitute.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f3" id="b3" title="Hebrew 'are sons of passing away'">[3]</a></span><br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031009-1">9 </span>Open your mouth, judge righteously,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>defend the rights of the poor and needy.</p>
</div>
<h3>The Woman Who Fears the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span></h3>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group"><span class="verse-num" id="v20031010-1">10 </span><span class="footnote"> <a href="#f4" id="b4" title="Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet">[4]</a></span> An excellent wife who can find?<br />
<span class="indent"></span>She is far more precious than jewels.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031011-1">11 </span>The heart of her husband trusts in her,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and he will have no lack of gain.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031012-1">12 </span>She does him good, and not harm,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>all the days of her life.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031013-1">13 </span>She seeks wool and flax,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and works with willing hands.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031014-1">14 </span>She is like the ships of the merchant;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>she brings her food from afar.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031015-1">15 </span>She rises while it is yet night<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and provides food for her household<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and portions for her maidens.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031016-1">16 </span>She considers a field and buys it;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031017-1">17 </span>She dresses herself<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f5" id="b5" title="Hebrew 'She girds her loins'">[5]</a></span> with strength<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and makes her arms strong.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031018-1">18 </span>She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.<br />
<span class="indent"></span>Her lamp does not go out at night.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031019-1">19 </span>She puts her hands to the distaff,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and her hands hold the spindle.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031020-1">20 </span>She opens her hand to the poor<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and reaches out her hands to the needy.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031021-1">21 </span>She is not afraid of snow for her household,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>for all her household are clothed in scarlet.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f6" id="b6" title="Or 'in double thickness'">[6]</a></span><br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031022-1">22 </span>She makes bed coverings for herself;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>her clothing is fine linen and purple.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031023-1">23 </span>Her husband is known in the gates<br />
<span class="indent"></span>when he sits among the elders of the land.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031024-1">24 </span>She makes linen garments and sells them;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>she delivers sashes to the merchant.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031025-1">25 </span>Strength and dignity are her clothing,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and she laughs at the time to come.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031026-1">26 </span>She opens her mouth with wisdom,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031027-1">27 </span>She looks well to the ways of her household<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and does not eat the bread of idleness.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031028-1">28 </span>Her children rise up and call her blessed;<br />
<span class="indent"></span>her husband also, and he praises her:<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031029-1">29 </span>“Many women have done excellently,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>but you surpass them all.”<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031030-1">30 </span>Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>but a woman who fears the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> is to be praised.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v20031031-1">31 </span>Give her of the fruit of her hands,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and let her works praise her in the gates. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">31:2</span> Hebrew <em>What, my son?</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b2" id="f2">[2]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">31:6</span> Hebrew <em>those bitter in soul</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b3" id="f3">[3]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">31:8</span> Hebrew <em>are sons of passing away</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b4" id="f4">[4]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">31:10</span> Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b5" id="f5">[5]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">31:17</span> Hebrew <em>She girds her loins</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b6" id="f6">[6]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">31:21</span> Or <em>in double thickness</em>
</p>
</div>
</div> woman look like she’s loafing. She loves God and always wants to do His will. She’d go anywhere on the planet to serve God. She’d live in Africa or Asia or anywhere in between if God called us to move.
She’s a loving and supportive wife. I know that she’ll always support and encourage me. I can trust her 100% all the time. She’s loyal and respectful, yet always full of wisdom. She has helped me so many times in so many ways - in personal decisions and church leadership. She’s got great intuition with people. She laughs and she’s flexible - putting up with my spontaneous and crazy ideas.
Nana loves and serves her children tirelessly. She homeschools all subjects and teaches them the most helpful life skills. She’ll play basketball or take the kids swimming. She’s the best chef in town - healthy and delicious food. She loves to travel and speaks Spanish. She can sing and play the flute.
She’s smart, kind, and patient. She’s the best friend any person could ask for. She’s gracious and a good listener.
Many women have done nobly but you, Nana, excel them all.
