Like Reading a Good Book

"It's an AWESOME ride... If you can handle it."

Those are the words I often from my dad when we talk about how wild & crazy it can be following Jesus.

My journey--just like yours, I'm sure--has always had challenges and rewards. For me, the last couple of years have been especially challenging. There have been rewards, too... In fact the rewards have been like nuggets of gold dug out of the turmoil and heartache.

But recently, there seems to have been a shift... Like a break in the clouds when the sun comes beaming through.

And it has been AMAZING!

These are things I have prayed and longed for for years... Things I KNEW God wanted to do, but--honestly--things I had never seen before!

I don't just mean here, either. Jennifer & I lived through 6 years of revival at Brownsville, & I never saw these things then, either.

But I'm seeing them now!

And it is SO exciting!

It's an honor to be a part of it, too!

I was thinking today about how much fun this has been, & the perfect description came to mind.

Have you ever been reading a really good book, looking forward to turning the next page, and wondering what kind of excitement you'll find?

Well, that is EXACTLY how I feel.

And I hope you persevere in your journey long enough to get to this place.

It's like reading a good book!

Family Day, the Vieux Carre, & Hard Rock Cafe

Today is Family Day for the NOLA Oettles.

I learned a LONG time ago that families in the ministry suffer by default--unless you prioritize time away just for them.

My wife--the textbook definition of a helpmate--has forced me to live by that principle over the years. And I am NOT complaining! Her insistence that we dedicate a day each week to our family has done more to keep us close than any of my "parental heroics." I love & appreciate her for that!

One of the things she got me to do while the kids were still VERY young (I think we started with each of the girls when they turned 5) was Daddy-Daughter Dates. If you & I are facebook friends, I'm sure you've noticed how important those are to me. Oh... Did I mention that those were Jen's idea?

I guess at this point that any remnants of thought that I'm a great dad are now giving way to thoughts of giving credit (to Jen) where credit is due (to Jen). I'm happy to have busted your bubble, if you had one. ;)

Anyway...

So, we started the day with Faith helping me make chocolate-chip pancakes, scrambled eggs, & bacon. (I LOVE bacon! I asked Jen to choose another insult this morning when I was eating too much; "pig" made me feel a little too canabalistic!)

After some clean-up, we were off to the Children's Museum. It took us FOREVER to get downtown (there's ANOTHER festival/parade in N'awlins--just like every other weekend, it seems!) and we found a spot right in front!

I should've listened the spirit of pessimism that was riding in the truck with us because we spent about 10 minutes putting money in the meter, piling out of the truck, & walking inside only to find that they were closed for a special event. Ugh.

Jennifer--never one to miss an opportunity for retail therapy--commented that Urban Outfitters was just a few blocks away in the French Quarter (Vieux Carre if you're from N'awlins) & [Gasp!] they were having a sale that she'd been wanting to check out anyway! Honestly, if going to the Children's Museum had been her idea (it was Faith's), I'd have been REALLY suspicious.

So, we made our way over to the Quarter & dropped Jen off while the rest of us parked the truck. We went up to the Riverwalk so the girls & Judah could play. (Fortunately for me, the girls haven't yet caught their mommy's shopping bug. Don't misunderstand me, though: they can hold their own in the mall!)

Mommy came out with her bag of loot & her excursion into bargain hunting had apparently given her quite an appetite. The kids were hungry, too (they always are!), so they were THRILLED to hear that she wanted to eat.

And [another gasp!] Hard Rock Cafe just "happened" to be right there.

So we enjoyed some food, enjoyed our family, and enjoyed our Family Day.

Why I LOVE Apple

My PC-loving friends just don't get it.

Neither does anyone else that has never used a computer.

Or lost a paper to a "crash."

Or a virus.

Or... I think you get the point.

But it's not just because Apple products are made BY geeks FOR geeks like me!!

I LOVE the way the strive for excellence... And today I got a glimpse into WHY Apple is excellent.

I got up early this morning to stand in line & buy a new iPhone 4s for Jen... She's been waiting MONTHS for this (& I've been married long enough to understand the power of the brownie points I could score here)!

One of the big deals is Siri, a suped-up voice-command app that does just about everything for you.

No, really... Just about EVERYTHING the iPhone can do!

If that weren't excellent enough, Jen asked it this afternoon, "Siri, will you marry me?"

What did Siri answer?

"I'm sorry; I don't understand?" Nope.

"Please rephrase your request?" Uh-uh.

How 'bout this: "Let's just be friends, OK?"

Siri-ously (sorry: I couldn't resist)... That's how Siri responded.

I heard someone said, "Siri, I love you!"

Siri replied, "I bet you say that to all your Apple products."

Apple could've programmed Siri with no personality, no humor, no sarcasm, but THEY DIDN'T!

And it is THAT kind of attention to excellence that makes them LIGHT YEARS in front of everyone else... & why I LOVE Apple!

Welcomed to the Club!!

Thursday, I turned 40.

Yep... "The Big Four-Oh."

For some reason, I was really looking forward to 40. 30 wasn't a downer for me (like a lot of people I know), & 20 was no big deal. I don't remember being excited about a "milestone" birthday since I was 16.

For some reason, I have a real sense of expectancy with this birthday. I was talking with Jen that night when a thought occurred to me: the number 40 is a time of testing throughout the Bible--Moses was in the desert 40 years & on the mountain 40 days (twice, back-to-back!), and Jesus had 40 days in the wilderness.

And I've had 40 years on this earth.

My friends that have experienced their 40s say they are/were some of their best years... I'm looking forward to finding out for myself!