I left on Wednesday of this week to attend the 13th Annual Conference of BISCMI (Batterer Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan) and returned on Friday. The emphasis of the conference was strategies for addressing batterers as fathers. I was invited to attend by the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition as a facilitator of the Proud Father's Proud Parents program. What I gleaned from the conference was the collaboration that is needed between batterer services and the ongoing work of addressing the needs of fathers. I see this whole collaborative effort as more preventative than reactive. Based on the panel of experts present at this conference Michigan is the leader within the states to offer such collaborative services. Another reason I was there as a facilitator was presence... to meet and share with various community, state, and national leaders the importance of reaching out to fathers and helping to give the skills needed to be the "Dads" they want to be.
Two conversations that stood out to me while I was there... One was with a father and son present to share how the Proud Father's class had impacted their lives. The son was now a teenage father. He shared with me the struggles and joys of being a Dad at such an early age. It truly requires the help of his supportive parents to make it. The other conversation was with the president of the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition. I shared with him some of my giant onion rings late on Thursday evening (was it ever a mistake to eat those that late at night). Our conversation turned from professional to personal as I asked about his faith. I believe it was a God moment as it seemed he needed to share what had been on his heart for a long time (hurt and disappointment). I pray our conversation may help lead this man to a time of spiritual renewal within his life.
One other neat God moment... on the way up to the conference we (Jack, the guy I traveled with) stopped for dinner at a Bob Evans. As the waitress brought out our meals I asked her name and then asked if there was anything she would like for us to pray about for her. She seemed taken back and had to ask what we had just said. I asked again and she just stood there for a moment and then shared a concern that was on her heart. She left and then we prayed. I don't do this every time I eat out (perhaps I should), but this particular time I just felt the need to ask and so I obeyed. I trust in the Lord for this to make a difference in this lady's life.

Okay, this is how it all went down at 1:30 this morning... Dixie, our dog, came into the bedroom needing to go outside. Nothing unusual here, almost every night the dog has to go out. I stagger through the house with one eye open, walking much like the monster of Frankenstein with arms outstretched to keep me from bumping into the walls. I make it to the back door, open it and Dixie runs out. I know sooner get the door shut and turn around for my blind journey back to bed when I hear Dixie bark and then I hear the scream of another animal. This went on for about 10 seconds and then... silence. Now Dixie has caught many animals in the back yard... squirrels, chipmunks, moles, birds... but I was not certain what she had come up against this time. I stumble back to the bedroom to get my shoes and then to the kitchen to find a flashlight when suddenly my mind begins to race about the different animals this might have been... It was too early for any self respecting squirrel or chipmunk to be out (the usual suspects that Dixie chases, and sometimes catches). Could it be a raccoon, they can be mean... how about an opossum? What if it was a skunk? Did I really want to go out there and possibly be sprayed by a skunk? I opened the back door very slowly, sniffing the air the whole way. My mind was racing thinking about the weird Animal Planet episodes I had seen of small woodland creatures ATTACKING! I called for Dixie and heard her collar tag jingle. I shinned my flashlight all around... I didn't see anything, nor did I smell anything (thank you Lord). Dixie was running about like she was hot on the trail of... something, but nothing could be found. I called for Dixie and we both went in only to be woke up again by Dixie at about 3:30 wanting to go back outside... this time Angela let her out. Angela had to 'strongly encourage' me to let Dixie back in around 4:30 (I'm thinking, does anyone want this dog). There, lying on the back deck, was Dixie's trophy... or what was left of it; a large half eaten rabbit.
I really don't think there is a way of tying in my devotional & scripture reading with my experience earlier this morning. My scripture reading was from Genesis, chapter 17 and dealt with the covenant of circumcision God established with Abraham and his descendants. My devotional reading dealt with the one sin Jesus condemned more than any other... Hypocrisy. Those that pretended to be God-lovers by all their outward signs, "unholy fakes who try to fool people - but they can't fool God." The reading went on to say, "...the Lord knows if our profession is merely a facade without saving trust or genuine devotion."
I guess my dog was just being a dog. Who am I? Lord, search my heart and reveal to me the true depth of my love for you. May I be found trusting in God's grace and relying on Christ.

Yawn, stretch, scratch... the start of another work week. Yesterday was actually a good start to the week with the time of worship we spent at church. My devotional reading this morning had me to consider my worship to the Lord and why I do it. Do I worship the Lord in hopes of benefiting in someway? If this is my motivation then my directed worship is in error. Don't get me wrong, I do benefit from truly worshiping the Lord, but this can not be my motivation for worship.
My scripture reading his morning took me to Genesis, chapter 13 which tells the event of Abram and Lot going separate ways. The Lord God had blessed Abram, and Lot, to the point that the area they were living could not sustain them both (their livestock was too large and quarrels broke out with the herdsmen). The solution was to separate. Abram gave Lot the choice of the land. Lot took was appeared to be the better piece... rich in multiple ways. Obviously Lot believed he would benefit greatly from his choice. It's easy for me to speculate that Lot's motivation was along the selfish side. As it turns out Lot's choice became a downfall. As you read on you learn that Lot and his family moved closer and closer to Sodom... a very wicked place that was later destroyed by God.
Lord, help me to make wise choices, as free as can be from selfish motivation. May my worship to You be from my heart... out of the abundant love I have experienced from You. -Amen.