So when are you having kids…

After just a mere 3 months (almost) of being married, ‘people’ are asking the ridiculous question, ‘So when are you having kids?’  Are they serious?  What in the world?  People sure are funny when it comes to this kind of stuff…

Welp, here is the answer…in print…for all the world to see (if they even care!).  *Taylor and I plan to wait at least 3-5 years before we have kids (*denotes the Russell’s plans, not necessarily the Plans of our Father!).  Our desire is to really get to know each other really good because we know that if a child comes in to this world, the tendency will be for him (it’ll be a boy….I have promised my dad) to be our focus.  Does that make sense?  I need to know Taylor more before we bring a lil’ Russell into this world.

 But……we have LOTS of kids!  Friday night, Taylor had 3 high school girls over to the house to make cookies and spend the night.  I ventured off to the Ellison HS soccer game for a first half BEATING (5-0 at half, Belton!) and then went to see Vantage Point, the movie, by myself.  Yes, by myself.  I love going to the movies by myself!  Anyhow, Taylor had girls over to make cookies and such and when I came home to the ‘girls’ they were yelling, ‘Dad’s Home!  Dad’s Home!’  No, for real!  They were really yelling that.  They told Taylor that we should think about adopting them.  I mean, can you imagine?  I cannot tell you how excited I was when I got home.  Here in our home, my wife is loving high school girls (where they are; in the current state that they are in; with reckless abandonment!) so much that they want us to adopt them!  Ministry as a Team has begun… My heart was so overjoyed it was unbelievable.  These girls LOVE Taylor.  I am thankful that we have unlimited text messaging because we would be in the hole (debt) if we did not.  Lots of texts.  These girls love Taylor because she is available to them.  She listens to them.  She laughs with them.  She cries with them.  She shares her life with them.  She tells them about Forgiveness.  She tells them about Grace.  She tells them about her past.  She tells them about a God who Loves them Right where they are at, today!  No Matter What! 

Why would you not want to be around someone like that?  They are contagious!  We all long to be around someone like that and even be like that ourselves.  Are you available to those that need you?  Family?  Friends?  Co-Workers?  The world pulls us in 1,538 different directions every second, every day.  Which way will you be pulled?  Who will you listen to?  Will you be disciplined enough to not speak and just listen?  Will you pray for them?

A guy called me to go to lunch with him today.  On his dashboard of his vehicle, he has 3 pictures.  One for each of his girls.  Each one is from a different woman.  The life he used to lead is in the past.  Christ has given him a second chance.  He has left women, weed, ecstasy, alcohol, gambling and the things of the world in the past, bobbing in the wake of his flesh.  He desires Christ now.  He desires Life now.  A 41 year old man calling me to have lunch with him so I can share with him about how to love a lost world and a lost family.  Right where they are.  In the Current State that they are in.  With Reckless Abandonment!  All of our pasts are checkered with something or other.  Something we are not proud of.  Things we have done.  Things we don’t want to talk about.  He is getting Baptized on Thursday morning in a creek.  Brrrrrrr….  At age 41.  He is beginning the Life that Jesus has always called him to.  He is beginning the ministry that he was made for.  He is ‘Loving People To Life!’

Are you there yet?  What is holding you back?  My friend is 41.  Moses was 80.  I was 20.  Jesus is in the Business of Changing Lives!  Has your life been changed?

‘The Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save what was lost’… that’s you and me!

A friend of mine asked me today how many folks visited this blog each day and I did not have any idea.  Am I expecting anyone to?  Maybe.  I don’t know.  So I snooped around and found out.  About 15 or so.  Some days it’s 36.  Other days it’s 8.  Not sure what spurs someone on to look one day and not the next.  But regardless, whoever  is ‘out there’ I hope that you are being blessed and challenged to think deeper and about others rather than yourselves.  Have you thought about Him lately?  Do you know Jesus?  Not, Do you know about Him, but do you KNOW Him?  He loves YOU … Right where you are.  In the Current State that you are in.  With Reckless Abandonment!

It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?  Well, it is True.  And as John 8:32 says, ‘You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you Free!’