Life is short, God is in control, and He's still good -- SO good!

A year after our friends suffered through a stillbirth (Brooks), I find myself reflecting on the brevity of life again.

Samuel Erik Apinis died after four weeks. Samuel is the son of Bryan and Kathryn. Bryan is on staff with North Point Community Church and is the Director of community groups in our area.

As a group leader, I meet with Bryan on a quarterly basis. We've met three times since our group launched in January.

At our first meeting, Bryan revealed Kathryn was pregnant.

At our second meeting, Bryan revealed "the baby" had a heart condition and would immediately require surgery. Although concerned about the surgery, he seemed more concerned about Kathryn's concern she wasn't going to be able to hold the baby in the days/weeks immediately following the surgery. With Emily pregnant and recalling how it felt not holding Maddie for over six hours after she was born, the news hit close to home.

At our third meeting, Bryan revealed "the baby" wasn't going to require surgery until it was older. We celebrated the news and looked forward to the birth. Micah was a few weeks old at the time. I had forgotten what it was like to have a newborn and reminded Bryan of what was to come.

If you've followed their blog, you're aware of what has happened. I believe Samuel, as well as Bryan and Kathryn, have had more of an impact on the lives of others in four weeks than I have in 28 years.

Their testimony of faith is amazing and I can only hope that Emily and I would respond to tragedy in the same way.

For me, Brooks and Samuel are reminders that life is short, God is in control, and while the outcome can be tragic, he's still good -- SO good.

"I don't know what to do with the fact that God answered all my little requests but did not answer my big one. I am thankful for His faithfulness in the small things, and I continue to trust that He is good and loving. He is my comfort in this new day without Samuel. But I don't know why God didn't save the day and heal my son. I will probably never know. What I do know is this: what God asks of me is my trust in Him, my continued faith, my obedience to Him, and my heart. He wants me to come to Him in the dark times and continue to proclaim His goodness (He IS good!), and He wants me to love Him. Those things I will seek to do with all my heart, but I know some days it will be harder to do than others. I know I can rest in His unchanging grace, and I know on the harder days, He can handle my sorrow, anger, and lack of faith. I will strive to authentically walk this road of grief before me and let God, who did not heal Samuel's heart, now heal mine."

All Over the World

Last week was the launch of North Point Online. According to the website, 4,000 were live while another 3,000+ tried to connect. While we only stuck around for the worship led by Steve Fee, we were very impressed. It was moment to remember as we worshiped with Maddie sitting in Em's lap and Micah in my arms -- AND thousands all over the world.

Tune in this Sunday for Part 2 of Andy Stanley's Losing Your Religion.

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).

Our Nation's Motto

Andy started a 2-part series this weekend titled God & Country.

Did you know on July 30, 1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law officially declaring "In God We Trust" to be the nation's motto?

According to Wikipedia, it was placed on all currency in the previous year as a reminder of the self-evident truth that as long as this country trusts in God, it will prevail!

Sometimes it takes Him a while...

Andy started a 3-part series this weekend titled He's Still* Got the Whole World in His Hands. It's a timely series given the uncertainty surrounding us. "Knowing that God is still active during uncertain times allows us to maintain hope and faith, and keeps us from despair" (NP). He closed Part 1 by sharing a conversation he had with Rev. Otis Moss at the National Prayer Service. Towards the end of the conversation, Rev. Moss -- an African-American who grew up orphaned in Middle Georgia during the days of racial segregation -- paused, gazed off into the distance, and then recited the first half of Romans 8:28, "And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him." adding, "And sometimes it takes Him a while."

Can you maintain your faith in God when there's absolutely no evidence of His activity in your life? According to Andy, your answer to that question will determine your response to the uncertainty in your life.

Proud of Our Pastor

We were tipped-off by a NPCC "insider" that our pastor, Andy Stanley, was invited to pray at the National Prayer Service yesterday. So, we DVRed it and watched it last night. Here's his prayer:

"Gracious God, whose glory is in all the world; we commend this nation to your merciful care that, being guided by your Providence, we may dwell secure in your peace. Grant Barack Obama, President of the United States, and to all in authority, your grace and good will. Bless them with your heavenly gifts. Give them wisdom and strength to know and do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve the people of this land in honor of you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."