The Name of Jesus!

“At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” - Philippians 2:10 This verse has never more real to me than it was last week. I've always known that the name of Jesus holds power. I've heard all the Bible stories, but now I have my own story. Let me take you back to Thursday morning. Most mornings I would have left for work a couple of hours earlier, but this was a Thursday. On Thursdays, my son Tristen has a class that starts earlier than usual, so riding the bus is not an option for him. This particular day, I was planning on working from home, then taking him to school and heading into the office. That was the plan, but that plan changed at 6:40am. I was already busy on my computer, having started at six, when I heard my wife, Nicole, start screaming my daughters name. “Janée!” she yelled. A moment later I heard my name called out frantically from the other end of the house. I quickly got up and headed into the house. Janée had stayed home with a fever the day before and so I figured she must be throwing up or something. Most the time Nicole handled the kids being sick like a pro, but when it comes to unexpected throw up that ends up everywhere, we can all use some help. As I headed in the direction of my frantic wife, then I saw her and panicked, one of my worst fears realized. I saw my daughter. She was in my wife’s arms. That in itself wasn’t out of the ordinary, but this time it was different. Janée was lying limp and lifeless with her eyes rolled back in her head. She wasn’t responding or acknowledging any of us. In normal circumstances it is easy for me to stay calm and collected. This was different. This was my daughter. My mind went cloudy. All that first aid training went out the window as I quickly grabbed her from my wife. I couldn’t think. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to pray, but I couldn’t find the words. As I held her close and carried her over to the couch to lay her down I managed to force one word from my lips. “Jesus,” I whispered into her ear. I cried out again, this time with a little more volume, “Jesus”. At that moment she sat up and spoke as if nothing had happened, “Mom…..dad, what’s wrong?” I looked up and asked her if she was ok. With a confused look she said that she felt fine. We told her what had happened and that there were paramedics on the way to check her out. When the paramedics got there they checked her out and did everything from checking her temperature to her blood sugar and everything in between. According to them she was perfectly healthy, but they recommended we take her into Emergency to have them take a look, just in case. I did that as well and still nothing. They wrote it off as a fluke incident and told us to keep an eye on her, but they don’t think there are any issues. Later that day I asked Janée if she remembered what happened. She said that she remembered getting out of bed and walking into the bathroom. Nicole was in there doing her make-up and she asked her why she hadn’t woke her and her brothers up yet. As Nicole began to answer Janée said she was feeling dizzy. The next thing she remembered was being on the couch and wondering how she had gotten there. After she had started feeling dizzy Nicole had grabbed her to keep her from falling and ran her out to me. I can’t say for sure what happened and neither can the doctors. What I do know is this, something had happened that caused Janée to pass out and become unresponsive. She was like that for about a minute until the name of Jesus was spoken into her ear. Once Jesus name was spoken she came back to her senses and hasn’t had any lasting effects or issues. It would be easy to write this off as a ‘fluke incident that just happens,’ but I need to give glory to whom glory is due. My daughter was brought back to me by Jesus name. In Philippians we see that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God and at His name every knee will bow. Everything has to come under the Name. Whether it be sickness, disease or anything else. Jesus name is above all other names.

You're not my enemy.......You're my brother!!!

As a parent there are many times that my children say things that stand out from their normal banter. Some times it provides conviction and other times it just provides a laugh. This is a story that provides both. Also, please note that the pictures have nothing in particular to do with the story. They are just included because they make me laugh.

Before I begin my story I want to mention the dangers of teaching your children the difference between right and wrong. The danger is this: If you ever mess up (not that you ever would) they will be the first to remind you about it.

Now, this story takes place (as most of the interesting ones seem to) on a day when it is just me and the kids. My wife was out with her mom and sisters. I decided to take the kids and go to Costco for lunch and groceries. To brag on them a little, they actually did great at Costco. And to brag on my accomplishment for a minute I fed all 5 of us lunch with dessert for under 12 bucks. That's the beauty of a Costco dogs and frozen yogurt. Leaving Costco is where the the title of this blog comes from.

I got the car loaded with all the kids and groceries and start to back out. As I am about half way out of my spot another car comes rushing up behind me like they are not going to stop. I hesitate my backing because I am not looking for a wreck or anything. At that point the car stops...just close enough to make it really awkward to turn any further as I continue to back out. Well, I managed to finagle my way the rest of the way out and as I do so I comment to nobody in particular, 'That guy is being an idiot."

Just then my daughter speaks up, "Dad, you said we are supposed to Love our enemies. That means we shouldn't call them names."

OUCH!! Correction from my seven year old. As I am thinking of what to say my boys come quickly to my defense.

"If you're not supposed to call them names, then why are you always calling us names," they said.

Without missing a beat my daughter responds, "You're not my enemies....you're my brothers!"


That response made me laugh a little. Then I made my apology and acknowledged that my daughter was right and we are supposed to Love our enemies and do good to them, even when you don't feel like it.

So there are a few things that I learned from this conversation. 

1. If I teach my kids something I better make sure that I practice it or I am going to find myself asking them for forgiveness (which is bound to happen sometimes anyway).

2. My boys will come to my defense (at least if it means verbally attacking their sister)

3. Apparently siblings are in a different category from enemies, so it is OK to call them names

They were supposed to smile

They were supposed to be serious

They were suppose to be funny

If you have anything kind of funny that you have learned from your children please comment below. I would love to hear it.