Discerning Whitewater

I figure it is Monday morning, so let us start the week out with some lighter material from Discerning Whitewater.

I have had an excellent summer. My son’s baseball games were a blast to attend. I took a couple trips with the kids to the U.P. and I think my kiddos are now properly worn out and ready to go to school.

I have had plenty of major victories over the last year or so. One of the big ones has been starting to read the Bible with the kids. As my kids have gotten a little older, I spent a couple years praying about how to make them ready for the world. I really believe, with all my heart, that reading the Bible with my kids will help us discuss pretty much any problem that is in the world….. whether it be racism, anxiety, climate change, Biblical sexuality between a husband and wife, the list goes on and on and on….

So we started with Matthew. Not necessarily because it was the the first book of the New Testament. Of the Gospels, it seemed to be the one that jumped out at me.

By the time we got to Chapter Five (the Sermon on the Mount), my daughter was asking if she can do the reading. Score one for dad.

Last week was a rough week for me. I worked a ton, probably sixty hours. My sleep schedule was all messed up due to the use of Red Bull to get work done 🙂 . I will add…. the Afghanistan surrender by Biden is, in my humble opinion, the worst thing ever (EVER) done by our American government. My heart hurts for the people. My prayers for these people, for their leadership, and for our leadership.

So Thursday night my kids and I stayed up late and watched Avengers: Endgame. Again. Probably the fifth time we have watched Endgame.

I am a pretty big Marvel fan. I love the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. I also love the Daredevil series on Netflix.

Robert Downey Jr. was brilliant as Iron Man….not just for Endgame, but from the original Iron Man. Brilliant, flawed, egocentric, passionate, cocky…. his acting was stellar.

So Thursday night, lights off in our home…. my son and I snuggling on the couch. Dog between my son and my daughter (who is laying on the dog if you can imagine). Popcorn. Daddy has a daddy soda (Paulaner Oktoberfest).

And… Tony Stark, with the snap of his finger …. saves the universe from Thanos, with the most awesome line ever, “I am Iron Man.”

And my son gently puts his hand on my face, rubs just below my eye,

and says to my daughter, “Dad is crying AGAIN!!!”

Well, I am sorry….. the coolest dude on the planet just died saving the universe from Thanos. Dad can cry.

peace out (have a great week),

-mike

(I will also add that my prayers to out to a particular local family today and this week. I pray for so much healing and Grace for them)