Friday, March 28, 2008

When the Sneetch Children Cry

Hi friends, I'm one of the contributors to the Compassion International Blog, and my most recent post, When the Sneetch Children Cry, is now online. Come check it out when you get a chance. And while you're there, you should scan through some of the great writers we have contributing to the blog. I think you'll find their entries heartwarming, informative and inspirational. Thanks!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

What Type of Song Are You?

Last night, as I was watching one of my favorite TV shows, Scrubs, one of the characters, JD, described himself by saying what type of song he is. He described himself as an 80's pop song. I think of myself more as a pop/rock song. A little edgy, but with a predictable hook...that keeps repeating itself. (Or in this case, who keeps making the same mistakes in life over and over again!) Maybe I'm like a Nickelback song. They're a pop band that sounds like a rock band. Ya know what I mean? They have a good rock sound, but if you analyze their songs, you realize they are more pop than anything else. I think I'm like that. I'm a rock song on the outside with pop on the inside. Ha! I tend to put up the front of a hard-nosed guy who would rather spend life alone than with a crowd, but inside I'm a bit of a softie who quite honestly wants to be accepted and needs interaction with other human beings from time to time. Wow. That was a lot more revealing than I cared to be. What type of song are you?

Friday, March 21, 2008

365 Days

365 days ago, I saw his face for the first time. That little pink, wrinkled face all scrunched up as he let out his first cry ever. What a sweet sound.

My little baby boy, Morgan Douglas Glenn was born. After years of prayers he was finally here. Poor Jen, she spent the next three hours in recovery, without being able to hold her baby boy.

I, on the other hand, spent every minute of those three hours with him. I was there for his first bath. There when they weighed his tiny 5 pound 3 and a half ounce frame. I rocked him in my arms for nearly two hours in the nursery...just staring at his perfect little face...listening to him coo. It was the sweetest two hours of my life. I remember it like it was yesterday. In fact, it feels like it was only yesterday.

I know it sounds cliche', but the 365 days that have passed since then have really flown by so fast. And Morgan has changed so much since then. He has so much personality. He flirts. He plays games. He sings. He's affectionate. He's so outgoing...he's never met a stranger.

As I wrote in a previous post, he started calling me "daddy" last week. As if my heart hadn't melted enough, that completely did me in.

What an amazing year this has been. It has been everything I ever hoped for...and more. To be a father is the greatest gift ever. To be a father to such a wonderful boy is beyond my comprehension.

365 days.

Happy birthday, my beautiful son. I love you so much.


Wednesday, March 19, 2008

"Daddy"

It's the word I've waited years to hear. The word I thought I'd never hear. But last week, my little boy, Morgan, called me "daddy" for the first time. And my heart melted.

I tried, to no avail, to get "daddy" to be his first word, but "mommy" came out weeks sooner. Still, nothing can steal the sweetness of seeing his face light up and his little voice utter the word I have longed to hear for so long.

"Daddy." It's what I called my father so many years ago. A man I never really got a chance to know. He passed away at the age of 30. I was only 7. Still, I revere the man. He was raising five kids, with the help of his mother, after his wife (my mother) left us--never to be heard from again. What a man. What a father. I hope I can be half the daddy he was to me and my siblings. I wonder if he rejoiced at hearing me calling him "daddy" for the first time like I did with my son. I wonder if it broke his heart like mine is broken this week. Broken with absolute adoration and love for my son.

"Daddy."

Has a nice ring to it. And I couldn't be more proud.

I'll try to get it on video and share it with you here sometime in the near future.

P.S. On Friday, Morgan will turn 1! I'll have a few things to write about that, on Friday.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Joel

Confession time: I was sitting in church a couple of weekends ago, listening to pastor Eric teach out of Matthew, when he made a reference to the book of Joel. "Joel?" I thought. "I don't remember a book in the Bible named Joel." I sheepishly thumbed through the Old Testament, having no idea where to find this book--certain that Eric had made a mistake. "Surely he meant to say Job." I've been a Christian since I was 16. Trust me, that was a looooooong time ago! I read the entire Bible in college. Start to finish. (Not a very effective way to do it, but I did nonetheless.) And this incident in church was a reminder to me that not every bit of it sank in--obviously. Or at the very least, Joel needs a better PR firm. I'm reminded of the verse in Psalms that says:
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." -Psalm 119:11
Ouch! So I guess maybe it can get so hidden that even I can't find it! So I decided to check out this book of Joel. Three short chapters--only takes a few minutes to read. But it's very interesting. Basically, the entire book talks about desolation and destruction...how the kingdom of Judah was being punished for sin...the pastures burned away, water sources dried up, three different kinds of locusts destroying the land. At first glance, not a very cheery book. But in the midst of all this desolation, Joel shares the message of God.
"'Now, therefore,' says the Lord, 'Turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.'" Joel -2:12
And, when the fasting, weeping and mourning are done, God promises restoration. One of the most powerful sections, in my opinion, is found in chapter 2, verses 25 and 26.
"So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust,
my great army which I sent among you . You shall eat in plenty
and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who
has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never be
put to shame." Joel 2:25-26
What a message! Now there's one that I want "hidden on my heart!" God lays out the formula for restoration in this short, rarely publicized book of the Old Testament.
If you're at a point in your life where you feel like everything is dried up. When it seems the world around you and all you care about is dead or dying, cry out to the Lord. Fast. Weep. Mourn. Turn to Him...and not only will He take away the desolation, but He'll restore the years that were taken from you.
Imagine that! He'll take away the years that you've lost!!!God's grace is like anti-aging cream!
And not only that, God says you will be satisifed. You will praise Him...thanking Him for bringing peace in the midst of turmoil. You will be restored.
Amen!

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Music City

I'm in Nashville right now...at a broadcaster's conference. I get to come to Music City once or twice a year and I always enjoy it. There's something about the atmosphere...the energy. As you walk along the sidewalk down Broadway, you can hear a lively cocktail of blues, country, rock and jazz spilling out into the streets from the various night clubs and bars. It's a music lover's paradise. Obviously I love music. But many folks are suprised to hear that I like country music. Actually, I like just about every kind of music. In my opinion--a good song is a good song--whether it's rap, rock, pop, jazz, blues, opera...or yes, even country. So imagine how stoked I was today when I was invited to an event at the Grand Ole Opry House. There were about 200 of us who gathered to eat lunch on the stage...the actual stage where legends like Minnie Pearl, Little jimmy Dickens, Hank Williams and a whole slew of other superstars performed. I walked through the hallways and saw the old black and white photographs of artists who were the foundation of American country music. Photos of them singing into bulky old microphones, playing simple acoustic guitars and banjos...on the very same floor where I was now eating my Tuscan Grilled Chicken and mashed potatoes. How cool is that? Actually, most of those performers were part of the Grand Ole Opry back when it was in the Ryman Auditorium. But when the G.O.O. moved to the newer building in 1974 they took a section of the wooden floor from the Ryman stage and put it onto the new stage. So today's performers are standing on the same section of floor that artists like Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Roy Acuff all sang on. One thing I noticed about those old photos. There were a lot of older performers at that time. It seemed almost odd to see artists like Granpa Jones on stage. I remember when I turned 30. I was talking to a record label rep who told me I was "too old" for a label to take a chance on me. Too old at 30! But that's the business today, isn't it? So much of it centers around a "marketable face" over music. Back then, it was all about the music. Sure, there were marketable personalities, but they didn't get anywhere if they didn't have the songs. And my, what songs they were! Songs that meant something. Songs that told stories of heartbreak, love, addiction. There was something so pure about those old days of country music. And it was one of the highlights of my life to be there today. As a bonus...our group sang worship songs together. So now I can say I've sung on stage at the Grand Ole Opry! :) Ahhhhhh....I love Music City!