life matters

whole sweep of scripture

ahanauer — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:37:14 +0000

non-sleeves and dry wear wear

ahanauer — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:30:06 +0000

jackson has a new favorite shirt he likes to call “non-sleeves.” this is simply a shirt with no sleeves or “sleeveless shirt” but to him it is his non-sleeves shirt.

will is constantly ensuring us that his “wear-wear” is dry. even if there happens to be a little poo left over from the last bathroom visit. all in all he is doing very well with the potty training.

kids are all doing well and adjusting nicely to baby andrea. she has been a fine addition to the home and is getting along just fine. she, no doubt, is going to be one tough cookie!

new life

ahanauer — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:59:42 +0000

on 7/7/11 andrea lynn was born into our family. even though this was our 4th child it felt like the first time. sure, i had been there before, but it never gets old watching god bring new life into being. as i held my daughter for the first time while in the operating room, sitting next to emily, i was once again in awe of life – new life. i said a silent prayer over my new daughter god had entrusted me with, thanking him for life. i know that life is tragic in many ways and there is the possibility of this little one being hurt, sick, and rebellious. but i can’t help but rejoice! god has granted us life and has taken care of our messiness. there is nothing more to fear in christ.

i am not worried about the teenage years, i am looking forward to them. i am looking forward to all the small little moments (even the hard ones) that i get so spend with my andee. the greatest joy in my life has been building a family. it has not always been the easiest and has often exposed some of my greatest weaknesses, but it has still been an absolute joy. i can only imagine what family will be like in heaven when all the “shortcomings” will be gone. when loving each other selflessly won’t be so hard.

“you are a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come!” thanks be to god for new life, and may we experience the god of wonder like a newborn child.

Some updates

ahanauer — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:06:43 +0000

We are 2 weeks away to meeting Andee. Very excited and praying that our little girl is healthy and Emily makes it through the delivery with no complications. I absolutely love being a dad. Not the easiest thing in the world, but one of the most satisfying. Can’t wait to meet the little princess God will be entrusting us with. Humbled by the blessings that Christ has allowed us to enjoy this far in our journey.

Speaking of journeys….for sometime i have seen all of life as a journey toward christlikeness. From my marriage, to my work, to my friendships, to my recreation. We have been on quite a journey of late and i am learning a lot. Whenever you have major decisions that impact life there is an opportunity to learn and grow. I am thankful for good friends, my wife and others that have walked with me along the way.

Just finished up “The Blue Parakeet” by Scot Mcknight and about 1/2 way through “One.Life” by the same author. TBP is about “how to read the bible” as story with tradition (as opposed to through tradition). I have come to align with this approach through the years, but it was really good to get his perspective. OL is about capturing a vision of the kingdom (God’s dream for the world) that transforms all of life. This is what I am most interested in talking to people about. This, however is not what I find most people willing to talk about. They would instead prefer to talk about “personal acts of piety.”

It seems to me that Jesus was far more concerned about teaching the Kingdom and casting a vision for his kingship. Just think of all the parables. Again and again “the kingdom of God is like….”

May today we recognize the Kingdom that is all around us, in us and beyond us. May we see that there is no realm of our lives that Christ is not Lord. May we awaken to the in breaking reality of God in all of life.

picture of the gospel

ahanauer — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:10:19 +0000

the god who is above all, worthy of all praise from all of his creation, stoops low to rescue, restore and redeem his creation. i found this powerful picture in psalm 113 this morning. this is a (THE) god that alone is worthy of all praise!!

Psalm 113

1 Praise the LORD.

Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.
9 He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.

Praise the LORD.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.) (Ps 113). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

gospel in life: grace changes everything

ahanauer — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:48:59 +0000

week from sunday our small group is going to begin tim keller’s small group study entitled “gospel in life: grace changes everything.” it is an eight lesson series that begins with “our world: the city” and ends with “the world to come.” tim is a master of teaching the deep truths of scripture and making them very practical and relevant. i am looking forward to this study, and going through it with our group.

thinking about the title – grace certainly does change EVERYTHING. we spend our lives earning. trying to earn money, love, acceptance, and so on. we work and work to achieve, and it mostly leaves us exhausted. it is not that “working” is wrong – it is actually a good thing. but when it becomes the ultimate thing it will leave us empty and hollow. when it comes to the deep truths of our lives, working becomes even more soul sucking – but then in walks grace. grace changes the very landscape of our lives, from foundation to the very last brick. grace beckons us to relax, and recognize we have been accepted – EVERYTHING has been taken care of, all there is left to do is trust the gift and allow it to penetrate our hearts and do it’s “work.”

this is NOT easy. we come from a long line of workers, but i am convinced it is the only thing that can truly transform, and it is the scandalous message of christ and the cross. no other religious system talks about a god who has rescued and paid it all, only christ.

grace and peace. grace and peace, paul declares over and over. grace and peace. let the grace of god rest on every inch of your life. you are NOT good enough, you are NOT smart enough, and you do NOT have it all together. oh, and you don’t have to be. god WILL transform us into the image of his son….by his GRACE.

“the greatest game”

ahanauer — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 02:11:57 +0000

“Baseball is not really as much a sport to me as it is an alternate universe where I am welcome to step out of whatever role I’m playing or responsibilities I have and discover something deep, true and innocent.” (iMonk)

i came across this today and it hit home for me. visit internetmonk.com to see the full blog posting by the late great internetmonk. he would be a guy i would like to take in a game with. he seemed to get me on all sorts of levels, baseball being a very important one.

reds are 2-0 in 2011. off to a good start. lets keep it rolling!

hell

ahanauer — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 02:03:39 +0000

first. i have had a suspicion that some of his ideas put forth in the book would be a working out of cs lewis’ allegorical tale called “the great divorce.” i was also thinking that much of this would align with some of the teaching i have both read and heard from tim keller, who happens to be a “pastor in good standing” with the “conservative of conservatives.” these suspicions were validated for me after reading his chapter on hell. so, it is kinda ironic that the he has been “crucified” by some of the same people who support tim keller. anyway…..just think that is all kind of silly, but not sure many people are seeing what i am seeing. i read and listen to a wide range of pastors, teachers and authors and it gives me a perspective i don’t believe all have —- now on with the show.

this chapter was again shaped by tons of scripture. i didn’t look up ever passage to ensure it was used in it proper context, though i readily admit. he deals with all the hell passages, or lack thereof, in the ot (even references to death, destruction, etc) and then turns to the new testament. he also wrestles with god’s wrath and anger that is being poured out. so i didn’t find him dodgy in the least, but tackling these issues head on.

he admits a belief in hell, judgement and punishment just not in an eternal sense. he sees judgement/punishment being restorative in nature and purpose. this is a new concept to me as i have always thought hell is eternal conscious torment in the lake of burning sulfur (and all that language was believed by me to have been very literal).

i did not completely buy what he was selling. i do believe the bible teaches hell as a “giving over” to what we have made ultimate in our lives. god’s ultimate judgement is rendered if we do not submit to his lordship and we finally get what we have always wanted – which will become hell to us throughout eternity or in the “age to come.”

i have finished the book, but want to do more studying on the nature of hell. i have purchased “a fire that consumes” by edward fudge. it is a much thicker volume than i was anticipating, but i think it will be a rewarding study/read. for the record i still believe there to be a hell in which people will not have the opportunity to “get out of” after this life. not certain on the duration, or just how hot it will be though.

good week

ahanauer — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 02:18:40 +0000

we are not far away now! all winter we have been anticipating spring, we have been waiting for the time when they put on their spikes, gloves and hats and take the field. that time has arrived. thursday will mark the beginning of the 2011 reds baseball season. the journey will begin.

exciting week, this week. good things are in store!

lay ‘em down!!

ahanauer — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 02:26:15 +0000

love the “rawness” of this band. more needtobreathe – live acoustic. have to get through the first little bit, but then it rocks!