Gum, Geckos, and God--by Jim Spiegel

When I was a student at Taylor, there was a professor that I got to know a little named Jim Spiegel. I never took a class from him. He taught philosophy and at the time, I think I thought that was a little to "academic" for me. Now being a student affairs professional, Spiegel was/is the kind of professor that all of us hope for. He was interested in the whole person and the whole of college life. I can still vividly picture and hear his Nostalgia night performances of Dylan tunes (probably my first introduction to Dylan.) I had a few good conversations with him while I was a student and every time that I have been back to Taylor he has been gracious to me.

Before Christmas I came across his latest book, Gum, Geckos and God. It is all about how conversations about God with his four kids, eight and under come out of everyday things like backyard campouts, baseball on the radio and the family pet gecko. This is something that I have thought a lot about and worked hard at at home, so I was excited to get into it. Amanda read it first and really enjoyed it. Last night I read the first few chapters. Spiegel captures the ease, risk and work that surround these conversations. I have said though (and Spiegel reiterates) that if I could have everyday conversations about the nature of God and his kingdom with college students, I certainly need to be able to do that with my own kids. As I read last night, I thought back to my reading from Dueteronomy 6.

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

One of the most important things that I do in my life will be the catechizing of my kids in the faith that God has given me. These verses capture my desire and also point to my deep need for the grace of God in this endevour. I will always fall short in this task on my own.

I am hoping to finish the book this week. For all of you who are parents of younger kids, order this book from Amazon and give it a read. Also check out Jim and Amy Spiegel's blog here. It is full of interesting anecdotes about their family, films, reading and life.

PJ Day

From January

Yesterday was a PJ Day at the Gammons house. This happens every few weeks. When I come home at lunch and find everyone in PJ Day apparel I know that either someone is sick, everyone is sick, Amanda is exhausted or Amanda is exhausted because everyone is sick. Sometimes it happens to just for fun. Yesterday was a PJ Day because Molly had thrown up at night for the past three nights and Matthew was complaining of his tummy hurting. Amanda and I have also both been "under the weather".

We are on the mend though. I am hoping everyone is better by this weekend. Last weekend I had to stay home from church with Molly. We have our first small group of the new year this weekend though so I am hoping everyone will be back to 100%.

Hymn of the Week--May The Mind of Christ My Savior

This week we have been singing the hymn May The Mind of Christ My Savior. I'm not sure where I learned this hymn, but I think it is fairly new to me. Maybe it was Calvin. It is a great hymn and hooks us into our churches focus this week on scripture memorization. This is why we memorize God's word, so that the mind of Christ (as revealed through his word) might also be our mind.


Hymn of the WeekMay The Mind of Christ My Savior
Words by Adelaide A. Pollard
Music by A. Cyril Barham-Gould

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.

An Ordinary Man--Book Review

I am on a committee at work that chooses a book each year for the institution to read together. I think the idea is a good one. Ideally it would lead to a common conversation for all of the faculty, staff and students. In order to choose the book, the committee accepts nominations and then chooses around 6 or 7 to read over the Christmas break. I have been reading a lot. I just finished "An Ordinary Man" by Paul Rusesabagina. It is the true story behind the movie "Hotel Rwanda" about the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994. I had of course heard about this movie, but I've not seen it.

The book was very good. It was an inspiring story of how one man can make a difference in the lives of his neighbors and even his whole country. Paul Rusebagina was a hotel manager in Rwanda who helped to save hundreds of people from the killings that were happening all around him. It was so interesting to read his account of the atrocities and why he made the decisions he made. I found myself, as I read, longing for him to know Jesus. It seemed that he was SO CLOSE. He was a former Seventh Day Adventist seminarian and talked about his relationship with and to God, but it always seemed just out of his reach. I have met many people like this and seem to always be drawn to them: coworkers, friends, Bruce Springsteen. They are people who know about God, maybe have even had experiences with him and his church, but for many reasons they choose not to trust and believe. They live lives that are genuine, true, admirable and even Christ-like, but they are Christ-less and therefore lost. I have had opportunities to talk to some of these people and tell them how much I would love for them to know the Jesus that I know and love. I long for them to know the forgiveness that Christ offers for the sin that they are often so aware of. They are often difficult nuts to crack. I pray for them.

I've drifted from my book review. If you are looking for a book that speaks of the total depravity of man and yet the hope that still lies in the heart of each man, the you should definitely read "An Ordinary Man". It is also a great book to open one's eyes to the world outside our normal vision. This will be my recommendation for our common book for next year.

Sledding video

2008 Wrap-up

From Christmas '08

I read Gregg and Allison's post reviewing the year that just closed and appreciated it so much that I thought I would take a wack at it myself. In order to do this, I actually got out a pencil and paper and rolled back through this year of posts.

This year . . .

• we had great trips to Florida, Indiana, Door County, Alpena for Independence Day and Christmas, and Seattle.
  
• Ben graduated from kindergarten.
• we welcomed Jacob Alexander Falder and Samuel Michael Gammons to our extended family.
• Matthew learned to go on the big boy potty.
• I mourned my friend Bill's leaving our office and our lunch table.
• Amanda turned 30!
• Ben and Caleb went to Gigi's house by themselves.
• Amanda struggled through anxiety to relief to joy in her homeschooling of Ben.
  
• Molly turned 1 and learned to walk.
• we instituted our Hymn of the Week at our family worship time.
• we mourned and prayed with our friends the Colberts as they journeyed (and continue to) through their daughter Abbey's leukemia.

Some of our favorite reads from this year

• Chaim Potok's The Chosen and The Promise
• Edith Schaeffer's books about family and home
• Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
  

The themes that have dominated this year are getting to know our kids as people even more, loving our church and finding connections there through ministry and our new small group, a struggle for contentment in vocation and developing a deeper partnership in parenting and life for Amanda and me.

It has been an interesting year and one of many blessings. We have seen God's hand in our lives drawing us into deeper relationship with Him. We have experienced frustrations as parents and even greater joy. We thank God for our family and friends--if you're reading this you fall into one of those. We pray that God shows us even more of himself in 2009 and this morning, I pray that for you as well. Thanks for reading.

New Year's and Breakfast with Caleb

For the past few years we have headed to Yost Park down the road to go sledding with Dave and Brad. It is always a Christmas vacation/New Year's highlight. This year was highlighted by both Brad and I going off of the jump and bruising our tailbones. I'm not sure why I did it after I saw Brad laying on the ground in pain after his run. I always seem to get some very fun pics and video from these days. I love the ones of the kids below.

From January

From January

From January

From January

You can see all of our photos from sledding (or sliding as they say in Minnesota) here.

On Wednesday, Amanda called me and reminded me that I had forgotten to take Caleb out for breakfast for his birthday. This is our annual tradition and I couldn't believe that I had forgotten. So, this morning we enjoyed another Cobblestone Cafe breakfast. It is so nice to be alone with each of the kids. I am thankful for Caleb and the joy that he brings to my life.

From January