He Wanted More

My dad is one of the funniest people I know… no that’s wrong… he IS the funniest person I know. He has an unusual ability to sneak in hilarious lines at times when you’re not expecting it.

My dad is not perfect, yet he has been a wonderful example to his four kids and three grandchildren when it comes to being a loving husband and father.

What I find remarkable is his ability to be a loving father when he wasn’t fortunate enough to have a consistent, loving father raise him. His dad and step dad loved him, but my dad’s consistency as a loving husband and father far exceeds his predecessors.
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Dad & Me (replay)

In honor of Father’s Day I thought it’d be fun to re-post one of my favorite podcasts of all-time.

My dad, Norm Jones, sat down with me a couple years ago and we talked about dad stuff:

  • Playing with your kids
  • Band Concerts
  • What’s better: Being Dad or Papa?

 

I’m grateful my dad broke the cycle of divorce, instability & abuse for me and my siblings.

His decision to build a healthy marriage has had and will continue to have a positive impact on our family for years to come.

http://andyjoneslive.com/audio/andyjoneslive6-14-12.mp3

 

Love you dad and Happy Father’s Day.

I Feel Like a Fraud

As a pastor I’ve done my share of funerals.

They’re never fun.

People are hurting and are searching for answers.

Answers I wish I had, but rarely do.

I recently had to lead the memorial service of a close friend’s stepdad.

He died unexpectedly after 42 years here on earth.

Repeated heart surgeries were performed, but ultimately his body gave way.

As you can imagine the family is hurting and doing their best to comfort one another.

I’ve done my best to coach my friend through this horrible time. I’ve tried to comfort him with encouraging words. Tried to cheer him up in various ways, but the truth is I simply can’t relate to the pain he’s feeling.

I’ve never had someone really close to me pass away like he has.

After meeting with his family and planning the memorial service I’m struck by how strong his family is and how they’ve rallied together through tragedy.

I can’t help but personalize all this.

Acting strong for my friend and his family makes me feel like a bit of a fraud.

I have an infant son facing an impending open-heart surgery. How would I handle losing him? Am I willing to trust God the way this family is?

I hope so.

Until then I keep asking God for help.

Help me trust you. Help me bring comfort to others. Help me know you’re with me all the way.

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy!

He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.

(2 Corinthians 1.3-5, The Message)

Control Freak

“I wanna do it myself!” is heard often around my house these days.

I guess it’s pretty standard in a home with four kids seven years old and younger.

Lincoln, our two year old is really working to break free from parental control.

He wants to do things himself at any cost.

Will it take longer? Yes.

Is it likely he’ll spill on himself? Yes.

Is he in danger of hurting himself or others? Yes.

Does any of this matter? No.

He’s stubborn.

He wants freedom from control.

He wants his independence.

As frustrating as it is I can’t help but think of my own humanity when I watch little Lincoln struggle.

He is a mini-me. Really, it’s rather amazing. But it’s more than just looks.

His desire to take control of his destiny and do things “his way” is so much like my own.

Charting your own course, doing things on your terms is ingrained in us from birth.

Even though it takes longer, creates a mess and at times, puts him at risk it’s all part of growing up.

Life with God is like this.

We want to chart our own course, do things on our terms and control our destiny.

God is kind enough to allow us to give it a shot.

People might make many plans, but what the Lord says is what will happen. (Proverbs 19.21, Easy-to-Read Bible)

He’s always there when we fail. He’s there even when we’ve pushed him away. He loves us despite our own stubbornness.

When I Lincoln fights me for control it’s a gentle reminder to me to remember who really is in control of all things and holds my future.

God does. He is good. I can trust him.

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8.28, NLT)

I don’t have to fight.

I can relax and let him lead.

Now if I could only make Lincoln believe this…