SOOOOO much!

I don't know why, but it's been my experience that infants/toddlers love playing "How much does mommy/daddy love you?  SOOOOO much!"

Try it right now.  Even if you're alone.

Did you stretch your arms out?

Maybe I'm slow, but I just realized its similarity to Christ on the cross.

"For God so[ooo] loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children?

Are you kidding me? 40 good reasons not to have children. That's the title of a new book by Corinne Maier. Here are the 40 "good" reasons:

• The "desire for children": A silly idea
• Labour is torture
• You avoid becoming a walking pacifier
• You keep having fun
• Rat race plus rugrats: No thanks!
• You keep your friends
• You won't have to use the idiot language when talking to kids
• Open the nursery, close the bedroom
• Kids are the death of desire
• Kids are the death knell of the couple
• To be or to do: Don't decide
• "The child is sort of vicious, innately cruel dwarf" (Michael Houellebecq)
• Kids are conformists
• Kids are a treasure, and will cost you one
• Kids are unbiased allies of capitalism
• A brain teaser: How to keep kids busy
• The parent's worst nightmares
• Don't be fooled by the "ideal child" illusion
• Your kid will always disappoint you
• The horror of becoming a merdeuf
• Parent above all? No, thank you
• Keep the experts at bay
• The family: a horror
• Don't revert to childhood
• It takes real courage to keep saying, "Me first"
• Kids signal the end of your youthful dreams
• You can't stop yourself from wanting your kids to be happy
• You can't get away from your kids
• Get used to it: School is a boot camp
• "Raise" a child...but toward what?
• Avoid benevolent neutrality like the plague
• Parenthood is a sad, sweet song
• Motherhood is a trap for women
• Motherhood or success: Pick one
• When the child appears, the father disappears
• Today's child is the perfect child: Welcome to the best of all possible worlds
• Danger, child ahead
• Why wear yourself out for a future that doesn't include you?
• There are too many children in the world
• Reject the ten absurd commandments of the "good" parent

I might be bias, but I think the title should be changed to 40 Selfish Reasons Not to Have Children. What do you think?

Whose birthday is it?

Unless someone told you, you never would have known I turned 28 today (see below). Yes, I was born on 09/09/81 (mathematical) and today's date is SUPER cool -- 09/09/09.

Em made things festive this morning with candles in our breakfast. Notice it's Maddie's second birthday and my first!


Maddie loves the candles SO much she took one out of her bag (in her lap under the table) and stuck one in her chicken nugget! Wait a minute, whose birthday is it?


She's becoming a pro at blowing them out. Good thing, because she turns TWO in a few weeks!

This has been one of the best birthdays ever. Maddie is at an age where she understands what is going on. I've heard "Hap burt-day to dada!" a number of times and even got two homemade birthday cards covered in Disney princess stickers!

Oh yeah, thanks Em for the "guest post". I know how much you HATE to write and how much more you hate someone to read what you write. I love you so much. Thanks for making this birthday extra special as well!

Samuel's Memorial Service

The Apinis' posted links to Samuel's memorial service. It was moving, not only because of their loss, but because of their faith. CLICK HERE to check it out. And please, keep them in your prayers.

I was the happiest man alive!

I first noticed Emily at Southland Christian Church's Day of Service in June 2003. We were at the same site clearing brush. I recall being taken back by her beauty, but more importantly, her desire to serve.

At the time, I was in one of those started-dating-in-high-school, on-again-off-again relationships. The relationship finally came to an end in April 2004. I found myself sitting through a service one Sunday night. The pastor mentioned his prayer that men would search for a woman like that in Proverbs 31 and that women would strive to be like that in Proverbs 31.

Never having read Proverbs 31, I did so immediately. I was amazed. It was exactly what I had longed for and more importantly, what God longed for me. Now knowing what I wanted and having just ended a long-term relationship, I told God I was willing to wait...a year...five years...ten years. It didn't matter. I knew what I wanted and I was willing to wait. In the meantime, I prayed for her.

Shortly thereafter, I found myself in the same circles as Emily. I hadn't seen her since the day of service. Having remembered what went through my mind that day, I took an interest. She was quiet, didn't talk to "boys" and hadn't dated anyone for a NUMBER of years (the same number of years I had been in a relationship as a matter of fact). She believed God would bring "Mr. Right" into her life, so why fool around? Her family always felt if she was going to go (i.e. get married), she would go quickly -- and she did!

It didn't take long for me to realize she was "the one". There was only one problem -- she was "rooted" in Lexington (i.e. had started her career, her family was in town, etc.) and I was moving to Atlanta. I wrestled with whether or not I should tell her how I felt. I didn't want to say "Hey, by the way, I REALLY like you." and then move several hundred miles away. But at the same time, I didn't want to move without tell her how I felt out of fear of "what could have been".

So I took a chance. I put myself out there and let her know how I felt. I believe we were in the cookbook section of Joseph-Beth. I think I said something profound like, "I have something to tell you. I REALLY like you." As you can imagine, she was shocked. We "stepped outside" to discuss the "bombshell". Than God the feelings were mutual!

Knowing I was moving to Atlanta, we didn't want to waste ANY time. My parents had taken off the week I was moving, so we decided to get married that Thursday night. I actually moved everything to Atlanta, got the apartment ready, and drove back the day of our wedding!

It was an intimate affair -- 15 people in all. It was somewhat of a whirlwind, but I'll never forget how badly my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I was the happiest man alive!

Our "reception" was at the Merrick Inn. They had a room that fit us perfectly. After the dinner, Emily and I drove off to the Cumberland Inn. Our drive to Atlanta was one of the most memorable moments as well. I'll never forget Em sitting with her back against the passenger door, her feet on my lap, smile on her face, sun shinning, country music blaring and the two of us looking forward to starting our lives together.

If I had to do it all over again, I would -- and I wouldn't change a thing! I'd take a wedding on a Thursday night and a honeymoon in Atlanta any day of the week.

I love you sweetheart.

Happy 5-Year Anniversary!

Samuel

Samuel died this morning. Our hearts ache for the Apinis'. Please pray for Bryan, Kathryn, Caleb and Joel.

You Alone Can Rescue

Matt Redman's latest project, We Shall Not Be Shaken, was released on iTunes today. The lyrics from my favorite track nearly brought tears to my eyes as I read Samuel's update this morning.

Who, O Lord can save themselves
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still

You alone can rescue
You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to to find us, led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise

You, O Lord, have made a way
The great divide You healed
For when our hearts were far away
Your love went further still
Yes, Your love goes further still

We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes,
You're the giver of life
[Repeat]

Samuel

Please continue to pray for Samuel. Bryan and Kathryn were informed on Sunday that Samuel is in critical condition and anything could happen at any time. Our hearts ache for them as they continue down this road on which God has them. Their testimony of faith is amazing and has challenged me in so many ways.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19)

Two Months

Micah is two months today. I can't believe it! It seems like it's taken just as long to get used to having two around the house. If it's not Micah, it's Maddie. If it's not Maddie, it's Micah.

He's doing what baby's usually do and just started a half-smile. Maddie seems to be paying a little more attention to him as well. She pushes him in his swing, gets him his pacifier when he's crying, and even kissed him -- ONCE. It'll be exciting to see how they interact once he becomes more active.

While I'm on the subject of babies, I have two prayer requests:

1. For Baby T. A couple in our community group who suffered through a stillbirth a year ago is getting induced tonight. Please pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby. I can't imagine the anxiousness that is trying to consume them right now. Thank God for his peace, which transcends all understanding and protects our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

2. For Samuel. Bryan, the dad, is the Director of community groups for our area. They knew about Samuel's heart condition before he was born. Unfortunately he has issues with his lungs as well. Please pray for God to perform a miracle and heal Samuel's body. Please pray for Bryan's leadership as he, his wife and their two sons journey down this path God has them on. And please pray for the boys, Bryan and Caleb, as Bryan and Kathryn spend most of their days away from home. Thank God for Samuel's improvement thus far and for the testament Bryan's and Kathryn's faith.

Louie Giglio's Press Conference on Twitter

I wanted to share Louie Giglio's press conference on Twitter. It's HILARIOUS. Especially since I shared his sentiment, but subsequently surrendered as he did.

Here's what he said on February 12, 2009 to warrant the press conference:

"I'm not twittering about the church [Passion City Church] 'cause I don't believe in twittering...but that's just a personal thing...but I know a lot of you are and a lot of you do...and that's fantastic and I'm SO excited for you...but there's no one on the planet that I am so DESPERATELY concerned about that I want to be updated on their every move in life...and so that person hasn't emerged yet and I'm certainly not one of those for anyone else."

Feel free to follow me, but don't expect too many tweets.

You know what they say...

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

About a year ago I surrendered to Facebook. Today, I've surrendered to Twitter.

I can't stand community group mentioning something like, "How'd the thingy go?" To which the person responds, "What thingy?" And then someone else chimes in and says, "You know, what you 'tweeted' about the other day."

Meanwhile, I'm standing there clueless because I'm not in the loop.

Our friends are having a baby this week. They don't know the sex, so they're going to "tweet" it. I asked last night if they would do the old-fashioned thing and call. Assuming they'll get sidetracked and forget, I've surrendered. I don't want to be out of the loop.

Don't expect too many tweets -- my mobile has never surfed the net.

If you care to follow, follow me @mmauntel.

What they don't teach you in History class...

Thanks to Huckabee, I've discovered a website that offers a plethora of information supporting the claim America was founded on Christian principles. The organization -- WallBuilders -- is "dedicated to presenting America's forgotten history and heroes, whit an emphasis on the moral, religious, and constitutional foundation on which America was built."

John Adams, for example, "is regarded as one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States" (Wikipedia). In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, he wrote:

"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those principles are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."

After perusing the website, one can only conclude the Founding Fathers were influenced by their faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Why are we told otherwise?

It has a name...

I took our community group to another level last night by sharing my desire to change my hairstyle. I can't help it. I go to North Point.

What's the new style? I don't know. Maybe something longer, which brought up this:


That, my friends, had me puzzled for years. I first saw it in college. There were two frat boys in my class with it. I never wondered what it was until I moved to Atlanta. It was all over! Was it a Southern thing? Or, were these guys just hiding something...

It took me nearly three years to muster up the courage to ask someone what it was. I was at the Tour Championship with my friend Jimmy. He's from Atlanta, went to Villanova...and didn't have it.

After noticing it all around me, I turned to Jimmy and said, "Jimmy, you see those guys back there with Vineyard Vines shirts and seersucker pants?"

Jimmy: "Yeah."

Me: "What kind of hairstyle is that?"

Jimmy: "Oh, you mean the SEC Sweep?"

Me: "The SEC what?"

Jimmy: "Sweep. The SEC Sweep."

Me: "You mean it has a name?"

Jimmy: "Oh yeah."

So THAT, my friends, is the SEC Sweep. It has a name. And, it's coming to a town near you (if it hasn't already).

Renew Your Mind

I read an interesting - and challenging - article in this month's issue of Charisma entitled "Go Against the Flow" by Rich Rogers. The article addresses the challenge of "staying faithful to God when the people around you are compromising." A study was conducted on 10,000 individuals from around the nation and found "that most people who claim to be a Christian don't have the mind of God on important issues." According to the results, 84% claimed to be Christian and some of the "same people also deemed the following behaviors and lifestyles 'morally acceptable':"

• Abortion - 45%
• Adultery - 42%
• Cohabitation - 60%
• Gambling - 61%
• Pornography - 38%
• Sexual relations between homosexuals - 30%
• Use of profanity - 36%

Rogers notes, "The Bible tells us that man will never think the thoughts of God unless he experiences the transformation of the mind" and references Isaiah 55:8-9.

"So, how does one begin the transformation process? Simply put, you must learn what God has to say about everything. How? Become familiar with His Word and allow it to change the way you think."

Thanks Dave!

According to The Auto Channel, "The United States is still very much in love with the automobile, with a national average of 2.28 vehicles per household." Thanks to Dave Ramsey, the Mauntel family is now a ONE vehicle family.

Our streak has finally come to an end...

This may or may not be "blog worthy," but I thought I'd share it anyway.

Emily and I went to a movie last night for the first time together...EVER. That's right. Our streak lasted over four and a half years. A co-worker of mine was raving about Fireproof and suggested we go see it. I told her about our streak and she reacted the same way everyone else does - as if I had a third eye. Long story short, she bought us tickets. We saw Fireproof last night. It was a great movie with a great storyline. I highly recommend it!