(R) Adam Davidson

Yes. Sometimes… the church hurts people and — here’s the stark reality — it’s going to… IF we put our hope in the church alone. Jesus and His church are distinct entities. Jesus loves the church, He’s given Himself for the church, and He’s healing the church. This healing is a process that sometimes leaves us confused as to why…
that’s what we’re talking about today and this week. I hope it helps.

Join me today in thinking about the Spirit of glory and God being on us as we do the difficult task of discipleship. I’m feeling the pressure as an adult. Maybe you do, too. Are our expectations unrealistic? Do we think following Jesus will be easy, especially in the context of raising kids, leading people, and moving organizations forward?
Join me in the journey, to the glory of God.

The goal isn’t for a broken world to believe us (His followers) but rather that they’d believe Him. The works we do in serving the world are testimony to Christ in us — and, someday, Christ in them.

My dad recently turned 70, which is nothing to shake a stick at.

I’m only 43, but I wouldn’t be 43 if he wasn’t 70. I wouldn’t exist if he didn’t. My existence is possible and made better because of his — it’s always been that way.

70 years is a long time. I remember math classes at John Glenn High School feeling like they were 70 years long, especially since lunch came next. And, speaking of math class, I should mention that Dad and I went to the same high school. Not at the same time, mind you, but close enough to end up having a few of the same teachers. I once asked my gym teacher if he remembered by dad. I didn’t even mention his name, yet Coach Lusk studied my face for a second and piped up “Yeah — you’re Davidson’s kid, aren’t ya?” to which I grimaced, unsure of what would follow. He stared at me for a few seconds and then had us run more laps. Did I spark the gym teacher fury or did he think I needed more exercise? Probably both.

Before my first day at John Glenn, dad drove me around the exterior of the building and pointed out where stuff was: the cafeteria, the pool, the gyms, library, the place they used to let students smoke. He pointed out the stadium bleachers and the space under the bleachers, too. Lots of giggling from him at that point.

My grades plummeted in Junior High, so dad took me for a walk in a field and gave it to me straight: it’s not an option to fail school. I had to do my homework, do it right, and turn it in. I wasn’t scared, but I knew he meant business. In fact, I was never scared of my dad, but I did listen and take him seriously. Still do. I passed, not with flying colors but certainly in vivid greyscale, which is why I graduated from (our) high school years later.

Just about everything he’s figured out so far in his 70 years he’s passed down to me. Not all of it has stuck, but that’s not his fault. The rules of backgammon still escape me. However, most of what I know about stuff — from swinging a hammer to talking with just about anybody — originate in his life lessons. These Bobby Foundationals are the essentials on which everything else is built.

I still call and ask about the challenges. He’s always got something, even if it’s only a listening ear. Most of the time, that’s what I need, anyway. I just now asked him about a phrase I used above: “shake a stick at”. I figured he’d know, being 70 and all. Of course, I could’ve googled it, but that’s an option I’ll always have. Instead, I asked him and he googled it, but only to confirm what he already knew. As for the origin of the phrase, he gathers it has something to do with a wasp nest. Sounds good to me.

He’s 70 — and that’s nothing to shake a stick at.
I love you, Dad. Happy Birthday.

We get nervous with silence. We fill our prayers with talk talk talk talk so as to avoid the awkwardness. But remember: it’s two-sided. God speaks as well, sometimes saying the most in silence.

Yesterday was beautiful but the glory of God is and will be far far greater.

Feeling afraid, alone, hopeless, weak? God is with you and God can help you. But… we can help, too. If you’re in a rough spot, reach out. Say something. People care about you.

How much faith do you actually need? The apostles prayed for more faith and got handed a lesson instead: you only need this much (*) and to believe enough to act on it.

Yesterday was a big day for our family as we jumped through the hoops of parental termination, which paves the way for adoption. Going through this process with Brittany has shaped my heart as a dad and gives me greater perspective on the heart that God the Father has for us.
Do you realize how much He loves you?

We’re sitting in a courtroom again. Brittany brought her stack of three ring binders and her classic bucket of fight, sitting with our attorney and her stack of papers, binders, and book of Michigan Court Rules. Nicole (the lawyer) was smart and brought coffee from outside. This courthouse is an island, served only by vending machines in a building surrounded by corn fields and Trump flags. That’s Ottawa County for ya.

Carter is sitting next to me. He’s in a good mood. Last night he went to the Dayseeker concert last night with his older cousin. He’d typically be in school right now, but today is his day in court. The goal is to terminate Carter’s biological mom’s parental rights, thus enabling him to be adopted by Brittany and I. It’s an arduous task that requires an endless amount of paperwork from county officials, the state, law enforcement, and the people of Neptune. Not really, but it seems that way. And that difficult.

We could be here for hours. The biological mother’s court appointed attorney, aiming to cover all her bases, is already making this difficult.

I’ll do my best to keep you all updated. I have been quiet about family details lately because we have two people “out there” who pose some level of threat to the safety of our kids.

Your prayers are much appreciated. A few reached out to see if this hearing had already occurred — it didn’t because of a ridiculous two week loophole. Yes, it does sometimes seem that the system is not set up for the protection of the child. Other times, the protection is obvious. Right now, we’re in the middle of it. Much will be determined in the coming hours. Brittany is now approaching the witness stand…