I am a blessed man.  When I was a young man I could have never written a story like the one I live.  My wife and children are amazing.  I wish I could freeze time to enjoy these days a little more.  My prayer is that I would be the man they need me to be.

My life passage, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, sums up my thoughts concerning ministry.  I am so grateful that God calls me faithful even when I wasn’t faithful.  My prayer is that I would be the man that Jesus died for me to be.

1 Timothy 1: 12-17 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. ¹³Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus ¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

When I came to Christ I was added to the Every Nation family.  One of our values is spiritual family, meaning, that the church is a family and the call to follow Jesus is not a call to isolation, but a call to family.  One of the greatest joys of my life thus far has been my EN family.  I am constantly amazed as I travel internationally that I have family from every tribe, every tongue, and every nation!  In this family I have fathers and grandfathers (thank you), brothers and sisters (we can do it), and sons and daughters (we need you). I am so proud of my spiritual family!  My prayer is that I would be the leader in this family that God has called me and Every Nation has equipped me to be.

Finally, I realize that at this point in my life there is so much more to do.  I am convinced I need to be a more aggressive learner.  I am committed to surrender all I am to become a passionate follower of Jesus. I am compelled to fulfill the mission to honor God by planting Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, socially-responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation. My prayer is that not only will I be sinless, but selfless – here I am Lord, send me!

Happy Birthday to me and my August 4th friends!

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This blog is the ninth in a series of the top 10 things that I learned during my five week leave of abscence for the birth of our newest addition – Caden Jonathan Michael.

Christy at Dover Castle

#2 -  I have a wonderful wife

Main Entry:      wonderful
Part of Speech:     adjective
Definition:     great, extraordinary
Synonyms:     admirable, amazing, astonishing, astounding, awe-inspiring, awesome, brilliant, cool*, divine*, dynamite*, enjoyable, excellent, fabulous, fantastic, fine, groovy*, incredible, magnificent, marvelous, miraculous, outstanding, peachy*, phenomenal, pleasant, pleasing, prime, remarkable, sensational, something else, staggering, startling, strange, stupendous, super, superb, surprising, swell, terrific, too much*, tremendous, unheard-of, wondrous

All of these synonyms together do not accurately explain how blessed I am to have my wife!  You have got to read my reflections from 14 years of marriage that I wrote for our anniversary which we celebrated on July 1st.  It will give you insight into our relationship.

These five weeks of leave have taught me (reminded me) the following things about my wife:

• Christy is selfless.
• Christy needs a raise.
• Christy is a great mom.
• Christy really loves me. (Why? I’m not sure.)
• Christy is that Proverbs 31 woman. (Proverbs 31: 10-12)

I found this recent article that summarizes what I have learned.

Families Can Customize Mom’s Job Description and Create a “Mom Paycheck”

Are you wondering what mom should be paid for her work as mom? Salary.com has valuated the “mom job” of both the Working and Stay-at-Home Moms! Based on a survey of more than 12,000 mothers, Salary.com determined that the time mothers spend performing 10 typical job functions would equate to an annual salary of $122,732 for a stay-at-home mom. Working moms ‘at-home’ salary is $76,184 in 2009; this is in addition to the salary they earn in the workplace. The job titles that best matched a mom’s definition of her work are (in order of hours spent per week): housekeeper, day care center teacher, cook, computer operator, facilities manager, van driver, psychologist, laundry machine operator, janitor and chief executive officer.

Amen.

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Gracie @ Fischer/McNamara Wedding

Main Entry:      compassionate
Part of Speech:     adjective
Definition:     having tender feelings
Synonyms:     all heart, being big, benevolent, bleeding heart*, charitable, commiserative, forbearing, going easy on, humane, humanitarian, indulgent, kindhearted, kindly, lenient, living with, merciful, old softie, piteous, pitying, responsive, soft shell, softhearted, sparing, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, understanding, warm, warmhearted

During my leave I had lots of time with my oldest child – Laura Grace (a.k.a. Gracie).  On June 9th she turned 10.  She is really maturing and her sprouting into a young lady has Daddy nervous! =)

Grace has always been “cautious” or “careful”.  She unlike her younger siblings has always had intrinsic boundaries that have helped protect her.  This summer at Holiday World and then Busch Gardens those boundaries disappeared!   She wanted to ride every ride and practically did!  She drug me on to major roller coasters that I was unsure of.  She is a great coaster rider!  We had a blast running to the next ride, waiting in line, and screaming to the top of our lungs each time… these will always be amazing memories!

My Sister's Keeper

Another interesting “leaning” that Christy and I want to watch is Gracie’s amazing compassion for the physically challenged and under-privileged.  A good clue for us should have been that “Extreme Home Makeover” has been her favorite TV show forever… and now she watches other things like, “Little People, Big World.”

Most recently, she has been asking me to take her to “My Sister’s Keeper,” a movie about a family defined and distorted by the leukemia of their older daughter and middle child, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva). Kate’s disease was diagnosed when she was a toddler, and to save her life her parents, Sara (Cameron Diaz) and Brian (Jason Patric), conceived another daughter, Anna, who was genetically engineered to be a perfect donor of blood, marrow and whatever else Kate might need. I probably wouldn’t mind her to see it, but I don’t have the heart to tell her that Daddy can’t make it through it! However, the movie seems to have a parable like plot.   We (mankind) are sick with a disease called sin and we have to have a perfect sinless man be born and die so that we may be redeemed, forgiven, and recieve eternal life – with that in mind… I may have to see this movie! Thank you, Jesus!

The above entry on compassionate is a great adjective for our Gracie and most of the synonyms fit as well.  It is going to be awesome to see how God uses that!

I do have amazing children!  Thanks for letting me boast on them.  Make sure that you read “Things I Have Learned” #4 – #7.  Its all about my kiddos!  Sometimes…  you have to slow down to really enjoy all that God has blessed you with!  Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” I am a blessed man!

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Charlene Darling

#4 – I have incredible kids: Mollie

Main Entry:           sweet
Part of Speech:     adjective
Definition:             friendly, kind
Synonyms:     affectionate, agreeable, amiable, angelic, appealing, attractive, beautiful, beloved, charming, cherished, companionable, considerate, darling, dear, dearest, delectable, delicious, delightful, dulcet, engaging, fair, generous, gentle, good-humored, good-natured, heavenly, lovable, loving, luscious, mild, mushy, patient, pet, pleasant, pleasing, precious, reasonable, saccharine, sweet-tempered, sympathetic, taking, tender, thoughtful, treasured, unselfish.

Many of these words describe my Mollie Marie.  She most reminds me of Charlene Darling – the “over-affectionate mountain girl from The Andy Griffith Show.”  Mollie’s love language is “physical touch.”  Mollie doesn’t have a great sense of personal space.  But to tell you the truth… I love it!  If you ever need a hug to feel better… Mollie’s your girl!

Mollie will be 7 in August – going into second grade.  I’m so proud of her!  In January we decided it was best to transiton her from home school to “real school” as she called it.  At first, her teacher was concerned that she may be a little behind in reading.  She was already the youngest in her class.  There were discussions of retaining her in first grade again this school year.  We were fine with that.  But something happened… she was going to represent for TeamCantrell – she took off!  Guess what? For the end-of-the-year rewards Mollie earned… Most Improved!

Mollie Marie

We have had a great summer!  Mollie is a ton of fun… never lacking in personality.  She is unpredictable… she will say anything or do anything.  She has few boundaries… for space or people.  At the Lincoln Memorial she decided to “go see the ducks” and by herself made her way a good distance from the memorial to the waterfront.  After a brief search – she emerged as if it were no big deal!

Mollie reminds me – I have amazing kids!  This summer we have built some amazing memories!

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Nate as Dash

Main Entry:          prodigy
Part of Speech:     noun
Definition:     person or thing that is extraordinary
Synonyms:     brain*, child genius, curiosity, enormity, freak*, genius, intellect, marvel, mastermind, miracle, monster, natural, one in a million, phenomenon, portent, rare bird*, rarity, sensation, spectacle, stunner, talent, whiz kid*, whiz*, wizard, wonder, wonder child, wunderkind

In reality he may be none of these things but for TeamCantrell – we think highly of our Nate-man!  Some friends of ours (the Grider girls) named him “delicious Aloysius.”  Aloysius is his middle name.  Bottom line he is a super kid!

Nathan has 2 speeds – Wide open & sleep.  When he awakes his motor is reving and when its bedtime he is our best sleeper!

Nathan in his "Dash" suit

Nathan loves to win you over with his good looks and charm.  He doesn’t really have to work at it.

Nathan is smart – this summer at VBS he dazzled the teachers with his reading skills (He’s 5).  Anyway my time with him this summer has been awesome – we had a blast at Holiday World.  To steal a line from Charlotte’s Web… Nathan is “some kid!”

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Me and Cinderella - isn't she beautiful?

Warning this blog is a little long and PG13.

July 1, 2009 – today, Christy and I celebrate 14 years of marriage. There was a year of friendship/dating and a year engagement prior to being married on July 1st, 1995.  We have been together now for 16 years!  Anyone who would put up with me that long is a saint!  Christy is my first round draft pick and providentially God gave me more and better than I deserve. (Doesn’t He always?)

Love at first sight… I first saw Christy at a “block party” while in school at Middle Tennessee State University.  She was standing between me and the keg.  (Needless to say not the recommended way to meet your spouse.) My jaw dropped and my heart fluttered.  I told her that night that she was a perfect mix between Jodie Foster and Reba McEntire.

She kissed me first… unlike other girls, I immediately knew Christy was different.  I was frozen from any romantic suggestion. So, after a few months of dating SHE KISSED ME!  Later, I found out that she used that kiss as a measurement of whether or not she should continue seeing me.  (Again, these are pre-Christian days for both of us… and not recommended relational instructions.)  Good news… I must have passed the test!

We were married… on July 1st, 1995 and honeymooned in Atlanta, Ga.  I went to work as a football coach / teacher (in that order) and she was a freelance make-up artist for Lancome.  We almost didn’t survive the first year, or the second, or the third… no foundation.  Our marriage wasn’t Christ-centered.  It was rough.

Then came Jesus… on June 1st, 1998 starting at a funeral (Ecclesiastes 7:2) and ending in a parking lot with a good friend who knew enough to point me to Jesus, I surrendered everything!  I was born-again. 1 week later I was added to a local church (now called Bethel Murfreesboro), 1 month later I was filled with the Holy Spirit, and 1 month more water baptized at the good ol’ YMCA.

The Cross changes everything! My personal transformation transformed my marriage… what saved me – saved my marriage – the grace of God! We owe much gratitude to our first pastors… Franco & Mary Lou Gennaro, Paul & Aleta Barker, and Ron David and Nancy Moore.  We were difficult disciples – raw with lots of baggage!

Better with age… Since that moment of surrender, every year, month, week, day, hour, minute, second gets better!  We are blessed with 5 incredible kids and our house is a home.  Today, we celebrate 14 years!  We give thanks to God for rescuing us and bringing us together.  The life we are living is better than the one we could have scripted.  Are there not “speed bumps?” Of course. But we are learning to navigate those better everyday!

I will close with the 5 things I love most about my bride…

1. I love how she overlooks my inadequacies and flaws. I must be tough to live with and I’m not much to look at.
   
2. I love how she sacrifices and serves. Anyone who really knows Christy is aware that she could be an independent success. A driven career-woman. Instead she pours herself into me and our family. She’s amazing!
3. I love how she is so flexible.  Ever seen The Incredibles? Don’t you thnk that Christy looks like Elasta-girl?  She is elastic.  She has surrendered  first to the will of God and also to the idea that in ministry as part of Team Cantrell – we pray the Isaiah 6 prayer often… “Here I am – send me.” In our Every Nation world it could literally mean any nation. I needed a flexible woman.
4. I love how she “mothers” our children. Christy is a great mom.
5. I love how she is my friend. At the core of our relationship we are friends.  We are for each other.  We are a team!  Christy is my best friend.  She has stuck with me, when she didn’t have to.  She has given me all she has. She has decided to grow old with me – and that is a scary thing…

Christy as Elastigirl

Baby, I love you!  Happy Anniversary! I can’t wait to grow old with you.

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#6 – I have incredible kids: Abigail

Main Entry:          delight
Part of Speech:     verb
Definition:            make happy; experience happiness
Synonyms:            allure, amuse, arride, attract, be the ticket, charm, cheer, content, delectate, divert, enchant, enrapture, entertain, exult, fascinate, freak out, gladden, glory, go over big, gratify, groove*, hit the spot*, jubilate, knock dead, knock out*, please, pleasure, ravish, rejoice, satisfy, score, send, slay, thrill, tickle pink, tickle to death, turn on, wow

Abigail Isabella is my 3 year old. She has become an extremely independent toddler.  Of course, I love Abigail of the Bible.  The name “Abigail” means, “Father’s Delight.”  Abigail as she has grown has turned in to a real daddy’s girl!  She certainly brings me lots of joy.

As a father, one of my greatest joys is “bedtime!”  Every night that I am home, I put the kids to bed… usually a BIG routine. It includes teeth-brushing, reading, singing (not sure why anyone would endure my singing, but it puts the kids to sleep – knocks them out I think!), and praying.  My kids love me to put them to bed and it brings me such joy.  As a father, it is a key time for affirmation, affection, impartation, correction, and direction.  It is a great time for me to locate the spiritual pulse of my children.  In April, during my normal routine I had the awesome pleasure of leading my second daughter, Mollie, to Jesus.  We cried together, prayed together, and celebrated together!  It was amazing!

As for Abigail she is a great sleeper and goes to bed well.  I love it when Abigail and I sing “Lord, Prepare Me” together. It’s a hoot!

I love my kids and during my leave, I have learned I have some awesome children!

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