13 Hours of Rain

"It's Brown Bear's birthday today. He's three," you grin at me as you squeeze your precious stuffed bear. Your eyes twinkle with delight. You disappear for about half an hour as I answered morning e-mails. I see you grab the Spiderman gift wrap. Some tape. Various pieces of cardboard and cotton puffs. You come back with two makeshift packages. "I've wrapped some presents for Brown Bear. Where should I put them?" you inquire. "Under the tree," I smile at your ingenuity and thoughtfulness. After all, if it's Brown Bear's birthday, he's gotta receive some gifts! "So, what did you buy Brown Bear?" "Some bones. And a bowl for his food." My son, you are creative and imaginative. I marvel (and sometimes cringe) at the battle scenes you enact with your Lego creations. I chuckle as you belt out songs from the bathroom during your morning routine. I swell with joy when I see you creating a Batmobile ...

We were challenged this Sunday to intentionally ask fellow believers if they confessed their need of Jesus today and if they read their Bible today. The speaker wasn't being rhetorical in his challenge, but rather desired for each one of us to ask one person, every day, this week, those hard -- but essential -- questions, until next Sunday. Part of me cringed at the thought, envisioning the whole awkwardness of the scenario, the quasi-judgmental nature of the query. What would a person think if I bluntly asked them, "So... did you read your Bible today? What did you read? Did you pray to Christ that you need Him to save you today?" Whoa... hold on a minute... My sister is a woman of refreshing candor. I know that eventually, in a face-to-face conversation, she will ask me how I am doing spiritually. Often, she'll phrase it as, "So, how is your heart today?" I know the aim of her sentimental question. She wants me to disclose the deep down "spiritual s...