One of my former youth group students is now the lead minister in a southern California church, has been married for several years, and is the dad of one daughter with a second girl set to arrive in March. Another of my former students serves as a deacon right here at Sunrise, leads our worship ministry, has been married for a number of years, and is the dad of a son and a daughter. Besides making me feel OLD, these young adults remind me of the importance of investing in our youths, because they are the ones receiving the torch we pass, the ones who will continue to reach this world and make disciples. I’m thrilled to say that these men are doing just that. Even as the torch is passed to them, they are beginning to hand it off to the next generation after them. While their race is not over, they are helping others to start down the path of Christian living and service to the King.

The only good thing about our amazing elder and staff person, Bob, being out of town for the past couple of weeks was that he was unable to use his tickets to watch the “Lady Zags” game. You see, this worked out great for me because he was kind enough to give his tickets to me! I took my daughter, Addi, who was beyond excited to watch these women play the sport she is already growing to love at a young age. She dreams of one-day playing at a high level and was inspired by the performance of the Zags. Although I’m not excited for my kids to get older and eventually leave me, it’s fun to think about what they will become and what their lives will look like as adults.

My wife has this fun tradition of taking a photo of our three children together, standing on our front porch, on the morning of the first day of each school year. A couple of months ago, she continued this tradition when it hit her (like a Mack truck) that our son was starting his “last” first day of school while living under our roof. In fact, this whole school year has been, and will continue to be, a year of these “lasts,” these final traditions and celebrations he will share with us before moving out and going on to college.

Two of my children are high schoolers and therefore had the opportunity this past weekend to participate in the “Homecoming Dance.” For my son, it was his last; for my daughter, her first. They had an incredibly fun time with friends, getting a little crazy (in a good way) and just enjoying being young and in the company of likeminded souls. That’s how “Homecoming” should be: a time of “coming home” to a place of great joy, surrounded by others experiencing the same kind of celebration.

I have a teenage daughter. If you are, or have been, in this season of life, you need not read any more. You get it. You and I understand each other. We feel each other’s pain and yet we know the incredible joy as well. But hear this: I LOVE my 14-year-old princess more than I could begin to put into words. Her happiness takes me to the moon and her sadness crushes my soul in a way that causes physical pain. I love her when she thinks I’m being “so annoying!” I love her when my simple “hello” causes unbelievable irritation to her. I love her when she braids her sister’s hair. I love it when she goes on an errand with me just to take a car ride. I love her when she succeeds and when she fails. I love her when she wants to be with me and when she doesn’t. Nothing could make me love her more or less than I already do.

This morning, my heart craved the words of Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I continually see and hear and read so much that is negative; God’s Word reminds me of the better, much more positive things on which I should focus my mind.

Once such “excellent or praiseworthy” thought is the Spokane Youth Rally hosted by our youth ministry this past weekend. Many students and adults experienced the glory and presence of God as they sang in worship, engaged with messages from Derek Voorhees, and shared in small groups and spiritual conversations. A good number of us can resonate with the old Third Day song, “Show Me Your Glory,” which includes these lyrics: “I caught a glimpse of Your splendor / In the corner of my eye / The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen / And it was like a flash of lightning / Reflected off the sky / And I know I’ll never be the same.” It goes on to say, “When I climb down the mountain / And get back to my life / I won’t settle for ordinary things.”

Yesterday as we sang to our Savior, we lifted up these words to God: “By your Spirit I will rise / From the ashes of defeat / The resurrected King / Is resurrecting me.” What an amazing thought: the very power that raised Jesus from the grave enables us to walk in a new life, even as we hope for the future resurrection to live with our Savior forever.

Kelly and I enjoyed an incredibly romantic, some would even say “hot” date yesterday. Our son was off playing basketball (where else would he be?), so after driving our middle child to the fair and sending our youngest daughter on a playdate with grandma, we took advantage of our precious time alone as a couple: we headed straight for Costco and Fred Meyer for some serious grocery shopping! Yes, for us, this is a “hot” date – we love each other’s company, we laugh and act silly, and we reminisce about our pre-kid years even though we absolutely adore our children and could never imagine life without them.

Back in 2002, a band called “Big Daddy Weave” released a song entitled “Audience of One.” Here are some of the lyrics: “And I lift these songs / To You and You alone / As I sing to You / In my praises make Your home / I have one desire / To bring glory to Your name.”

Isaac Newton declared, “Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.” He also shared, “This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.” One of the most influential scientists of all time, who developed the principles of modern physics and is most famous for his law of gravitation, understood what many of us have tried to deny: a created universe demands the existence of a Creator.

Isn’t this what the Bible has told us all along? Psalm 19:1-4a says:

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
            the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
            night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
              no sound is heard from them.
^4a Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
            their words to the ends of the world.