BUILDING FORTS

I've had a thing for fort building in the last few years.

• I helped my kids turn the playground structure into one a few years ago.
• I then helped a friend build an adult sized one with all the trimmings in a tree.

And today I built another with my kids in the yard.

In like 2 weeks we have tons of family coming in from all over the place to hoot and holler with us and celebrate Becky and Billy's 6th birthday. Most of this party is an outdoor event, so I've been working away at my pre-party to do list, one of which entails the getting rid of lots of piles of wood I had lying around from various projects.

For months, my kids have been asking if we could build another fort out of the piles. So today it went like this:

I said, "if you help me pick up the wood and put the extra stuff in my truck, I'll build a fort with you."

They said "Deal."

I asked TJ, "What do you want this fort to look like?"

He said, "A fort built by kids for kids."

So.... here ya go. We gathered the wood and piled it up and cleared the weeds from the front area that "someday" is supposed to have concrete and be a patio for a "pool".... yeah that's not looking good these days.

Then we just started cutting and nailing and 2 hours later, the pile became this fort built for the "little rascals of the berrytribe".

the view towards the street with the ladder inside to the second story:

the view towards the other fort, from the street:

the side shot:

So now what?

• Well, rumor on the street is, the fort-to-fort water balloon fight is looming as we speak.
• Believe it or not, my truck bed is still full with the extras from the project. Man there was a lot of wood laying around my yard.
• Oh... and yes my curb appeal just went way down. Anyone wanna park a trailer out front, I'm evidently trying desperately to hurt property values in my neighborhood.
  

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WHEN STUDENTS STEP IT UP

Last night we went to a night of worship that our ministry does every year around the National Day of Prayer with high school ministries from all over the East County of San Diego.

It usually involves music, scripture, prayer, and some sort of experiential moment where students can do something out of their seats.  Last night was no different on many of those levels.  Lots of participation and various elements in the hour and a half we had together at a church across town.

But there were 2 things that were different about last night I found very encouraging and both involved our students stepping up to risky moments of faith. 

• I volunteered our student band to lead the music portion of the night.  When we were setting up they all said, "this is the biggest stage we've ever played on."  In more ways than one, that might have really been true.  In the end, they sounded great, they led with excellence and humility... and they directed students and adults to God.  It was so sweet to see them lead this way.  I was so honored to be remotely associated with what they displayed on that stage- especially since I can't take credit for ANY of their skill or ability.
  

• I had an amazing conversation with someone who took a massive risk to confess a fear and ask for help.  It was such an answer to the prayer from the post before this.  So cool how God works in just the times that we all really really really need to hear from him. 
  

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I PLAN ON TAKING THIS TO THE GRAVE

Last weekend in our high school ministry, we again offered a chance for students to write down their secrets or pains. We started a series called "My Life Unfiltered" and last Sunday was "My Junk and Jesus." In each program we had a card that simply read, "I have junk in my life too. No one knows but..." and then let students fill them in anonymously and turn them in during a 3 song music set.

An adult leader typed them up and I read them today. In the end, 1/3 of the students in our service took the time to fill one out and turn it in. What they ended up writting down was some of the hurt, pain, regret, fears, and doubts that our high school students deal with. If we're honest, it's a microcosm of humanity in general, not just teens today.

I would type them up directly as they were written, because they are raw and real... but even though most are anonymous, I said I was not going to do that publicaly. So here they are categorically.

• Several indicated they were molested or even did the molesting sexually as children.
• Some are struggling with sexual desires- both hetero and homosexually.
• Some feel like a dating relationship has ruined them.
  
• At least one student is specifically mad at me.
• Some can't make their parents happy.
• Some feel like they are in a comparison game trap.
  
• Lots feel very very alone.
• Several struggle with depression, suicide, and the pointlessness of life.
• Some are angry with someone or themselves.
• Some can't forgive- the pain is too deep.
  
• Some are hurting from divorce- both old and pending.
• Most are tired of faking it, but don't know who they can trust.

This list messed me up for most of my morning. But the one that instantly sent me to tears was a sentence about sexual regret and hurt that ended with the sentence. "I plan on taking this to the grave."

I can think of no worse thing, than at 16 to believe that your sin or pain is so great, that you'll have to carry it as a secret for maybe the next 70 years. Oh God I pray this student decides that's a bad idea and empties this HUGE brick of a lie out of their emotional and spiritual backpack.

Today I was reminded again of 3 truths:

1. My students hurt. People hurt. I hurt.
2. One of the universal struggles in the church is to be real. In the midst of God's people or people seeking God, the brokenness is always deep and the facades of perfection often are so think. This is NOT right.
   
3. Confession heals me. Public confession defeats the lie that "I'm the only one who struggles with this or feels this way" and that lie is still very very present in the church today.
   

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TYLER AS ROBERT FULTON IN GO WEST

Today we went to Tyler's school to see him perform in Go West.

He said his lines and sang nice and loud.

He amazed his brother.  This is Jake looking amazed.

He and his cohort Kyle are destined for Broadway.

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DADDY'S PRETTY LITTLE GIRL

Today, my pretty little girl got her hair done, by her very talented mommy who has been going to hair school here. 

Nice work babe.  She now has beads.  SOOOOO cute.

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SOMEBODY GETS PAID TO DO THAT

Ok.. so every once in a while, I think to myself, "I can't believe someone gets paid to do this."

So, like I think this about my job when I'm at the beach with kids or something.

I think about it everytime I read the labels on Vitamin Water. Like whoever writes those paragraphs laughs themselves to work everyday.

I also thought that when I was bored on my last flight and started flipping through skymall. Which by the way- who buys stuff out of here? Anyway, I ripped out this one page... which everyone does, cuz you can't buy it on the plane anyway... so yeah....

I ripped out this page for the "Zombie of Montclair Moors" Sculpture.

Seriously, someone convinced somebody else to design this, create a mold, photograph it, mass produce it, and ship it all over the world. Here's why:

We challenged artist Alan Dickinson to create his most macabre, haunting zombie statue exclusively for Toscano-and he certainly delivered! Not for the faint of heart, this gray-toned Zombie of Montclaire Moors statue features the most zombie-like eyes you've ever seen. Captured in meticulous detail in quality designer resin, this zombie garden statue brings the flesh-hungry undead to your daffodil bed! Arrives in 3 pcs.

HAAAA. My favorite part is the warning that it arrives in 3 pieces. This is important when you open the box and it has only one head in it or just an arm and your roommate or mom or something opens the package and calls the FBI and evacuates the house.

I should have bought it for Ian in honor of his zombie film.

.

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