Family Resemblance

With the birth of a new baby there typically are a number of different questions that are always asked. For example, the "are you getting any sleep?" seems to be a favorite right now (And to answer that question, Athan is sleeping really well right now. I'm tempted to say he may be a better sleeper than Hudson was). The second topic that always seems to come up is the "who does he look like?" conversation. Its always fun to watch grandparents, uncles, and aunts stare at a child and discuss whether that nose was Grandpa Tingle's or a Harrison nose. Each part of their little faces is diagnosed and discussed. During the conversation last week regarding Athan, my Dad in a way that only he could, just stated that he thought Athan looked just like him when he was a baby. He even pulled out old baby pictures of himself to bolster his argument!

No doubt Athan will have features that are distinctly his own, but as I've seen with Hudson he will look like Jen at certain moments, or play like me at others. Their personality, temperment, and look resemble their family.

As I listened to that conversation in the hospital it made me think how much joy I get when I have someone tell me that Hudson looks like me or acts like me. I think we as parents enjoy seeing that resemblance in our own children (at least when its a positive trait!). It also made me reflect on whether I resemble my Heavenly Father in my interactions or words to others.

As Christians, the Bible tells us that we are adopted sons and daughters of God (Romans 8). We are born again when we come to faith in Christ and this new birth is a birth into the family of God (John 3). We are to look to the Lord as our Father, even calling Him "Abba". We are part of the family of God, and are to view fellow believers not only as partners in ministry, but as spiritual brothers and sisters (1 Timothy 5).

As God's child there should be some family resemblance. John says in his first epistle, "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, or the one who does not love his brother." John is arguing that God's children are going to love their brothers and sisters, they are going to practice righteousness. This doesn't mean I will always behave in those ways just as Hudson or Athan won't always behave as I wished they would. Just because they don't behave as I desire them to wouldn't mean they would forfeit their sonship. What it does mean is that God's children, living in God's Spirit reflect God's character.

So do I resemble my Heavenly Father by serving selflessly as Christ did, or are my own selfish interests secretly at heart? When others see my interactions with a bad cashier at a store, do they see love and compassion conveyed? In many respects, just as Athan has a hair line that looks just like mine, so our character should reflect that of our Heavenly Father.

I can think of nothing our Father would desire more, than for His children to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, seeking to t reveal their family resemblance with the Maker and Creator of all that exists. By doing so not only do we bring our Father joy, but we fulfill the responsibility He has given to us, to testify to others of His goodness and grace...

Athan Lane Felker

Well as I sit in the hospital room watching my beautiful wife and new son fall asleep I wanted to jot down some of the details from the past 24 hours. We checked into the hospital last night at about 8:30 for an induction that was to begin early this morning. Around 10:30 Jen received her epidural and the first scare took place. The first epidural hit a blood vessel and the anestheseologist said she would only try it one more time and if it didn't work Jen would have to go with no drugs. It managed to work that time. Jen progressed at a rapid pace and by 11:30 was ready to push but her doctor was in surgery. We were both worried and concerned, but by 11:45 he made it and after a few short minutes Athan had arrived!

Athan weighed 7 pounds and 2 ounces, which wasn't bad for a baby three weeks premature. He was 20 inches long and had a head full of black hair (which fits him well with his Greek name!) In many ways he reminds me a lot of Hudson in the face, but I'm sure over the next few weeks he'll begin to have his own look. As for now we are so very humbled by God's grace. After last years loss I feel so very blessed to have a baby boy to hold and even change!

Athan's name is a bit unique, but something we spent time praying about and researching. I had always liked the idea of naming my children after great men or women of God particularly in Church History. I wanted to be able to tell my kids that they were named after a great man or woman of the Lord and my prayer is they would imitate such devotion in their own lives. My favorite two names were Hudson and Eliot. When I found out we would have another little boy I didn't have many ideas.

Years ago I had heard of a story about a young man named Athanasius, who managed to sway the bishops of the Byzantine Empire from following the newest fad and unbiblical teaching of Arianism, and instead to accept orthodoxy. He did so through his great writings on the Incarnation of Christ as the central tenet of our faith. Its possible he was even the author of the Nicene Creed, and all of this he did before the age of 28! From the time he was 30 until his death he served as the bishop of the great city of Alexandria as he pastored the cities' churches. He was banished five different times, his life was threatened by emperors and even assassins and still he held faithfully to the Bible's teachings on Christ's incarnation.

A man who stood for truth in the face of persecution, who studied diligently, and shepherded wisely was surely someone worthy to be an example not only to me, but to all believers. My prayer is that Athan would come to know the Lord early, and model these habits of Athanasius in his own lifetime.

Rocks of Remembrance

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to get to preach on Sunday morning. I chose the passage in Joshua 4 where the Lord brings the Israelites across the Jordan River on dry ground and commands them to setup a memorial that would testify constantly of God's goodness to them. This memorial of rocks was to remind them of what God had brought them through and spur them on as they sought to take the promised land. The memorial was to be a teaching tool for the Israelites to use as they instructed their children and grandchildren about the Lord. It also was to be used to proclaim to the nations that the Lord God of Israel was to be feared by all nations and peoples. One of the principles I sought to emphasize is that as people are reminded of what God has done in their past, they will be more likely to rest in God's sovereignty and goodness with their present trials and circumstances. In that regard, our past can have a significant impact on our spiritual formation in the present and the future.

My challenge for the congregation starting with myself was to reflect on my past and identify significant events, people, and even places that the Lord has used to impact the path I am now on and the man I am today. Secondly, after identifying those "rocks of remembrance" its my responsibility to share those with others. I believe God does not bring people or events into our lives for our benefit alone, but so that we can in turn share those with others and they can benefit from our experiences as well.

So here are a few of my "rocks". Some of these I shared from the pulpit, while others I came up with as I reflected on my own life.

• God's provision as we moved- I had a number of moves as a child and adolescent. It seems like I would get adjusted to a situation, make friends, get comfortable and we would be moving again. In some cases my Dad took a job where he was able to balance his time between work and home more so. Those years were wonderful as he was able to coach little league and spend more time with me, being that Godly example I needed. Other moves meant he was taking a job that prevented him from being around as much. In many cases those moves will serve as rocks for me as each time I became dependent on the Lord to provide (especially if Dad lost his job), but also to be that "friend who sticks closer than a brother." Those moves also made me closer to my brothers and parents as I looked to them as more than family, as friends.
• Jen- Our friendship began as seniors in high school and has had a monumental impact on the man I am today. Her authentic faith challenged me and my relationship with the Lord. We often have talked together about Priscilla and Aquila. Each time the married couple is mentioned they are mentioned as a team. Its also interesting to point out that Priscilla is always mentioned first, perhaps expressing her as the primary minister of the couple. Jen is my Priscilla.
• Countryside Church-In the spring of my freshmen year I had still not found a church home and was struggling to get plugged in anywhere in Stillwater. My dad encouraged me to try out Countryside and the next Sunday I did. From that point on this has been my church home. The love for God's Word and opportunities to serve forever changed the path I was on.
• Harry Layden, Butch Simmons, and JB Bond- These three men are a few of my role models. Men I love, I admire, and have been instruments God has used to mold me. Harry has been a friend, a man who married Jen and I, whose family I truly do love and respect. Harry was wonderful in pre-marital counseling in emphasizing communication between Jen and I. I'm not talking about the weather or the latest episode of "the Office." I mean real communication, turning off the radio on the way to Mississippi and just talking. Its something that I still feel we seek to practice in our marriage. Butch has been a wonderful role model of grace, of humility, and a man whose life oozes Christlikeness. I spent a summer in Starkville and got to know him for a few months. For reasons I can't quite figure out, he has continued to seek out our friendship and taken an interest in me. JB has been more than a boss, he has been a terrific up close example of faithfulness and dedication to the Lord. That example constantly challenges me to imitate those traits as well. His passion for God's word is contagious and I caught it soon after hearing him. I've thankful to have each of these men as rocks in my life.
• Jen's Job-Shortly after getting married Jen had still not found a job in Stillwater. The plan was for her to get a job while I finished school (she graduated a year early, I was not late I was right on time!). She tried everything, she even went to do a few random jobs for a temp agency. Bills were coming due and we were both concerned. I remember her calling me at work to tell me that a man who was looking to hire a secretary had called to tell her she didn't get the job because she was over qualified. She was crying and I felt terrible for her. She went home and a half hour later she called back and the job she had wanted, that was closest to her field of study, had called to offer her the job. In God's perfect timing He provided exactly what we needed and Jen wanted.
• New Orleans Mission Trip #1- The trip took place the spring after Katrina. We took a relatively small group down to New Orleans with the sole purpose of gutting and cleaning up from the disaster. The trip was monumental for Jen and I as we witnessed devastation that we had never seen before. It also gave us an opportunity to serve alongside one another and alongside our students. From that point on, I knew I wanted to take mission trips with our students. There is nothing more rewarding than serving alongside those you minister to.
• Senior Class 2010-Too often there seems to be a focus on the teacher, the pastor, the writer, or the shepherd as the one whose life is a blessing to others. In my experience in ministry, my life has been seriously impacted by those I minister to. They have been a blessing, a comfort, and an encouragement to me in ways I could not express. The 2010 class has been special to Jen and I. Many came to the hospital when Hudson was born and have loved him (even when he screamed all through Kansas) as he went on Mission trips and ski trips with them. They cooked us a meal in New Orleans on Jen and I's anniversary. They went to the middle of nowhere in SE Oklahoma with us as 8th graders! Other kids and classes will be special as well, but this groups dedication to the Lord has been such a challenge to me and I will always think of them as rocks in my life.
• Eliot's Comfort-It may seem unique to have a trial listed as a rock. In many ways losing Eliot may be the low point of my life thus far. I've described the whole situation as "silence" because that word better than any other describes that time in my life. In situations like that all you have to cling to is the Lord. His comfort and peace have surpassed my understanding. More than that, I don't know why it happened, but its brought tears to my eyes to see good come from that situation. To know that his little life cut short, in many ways has still blessed the lives of others. I believe we are more equipped to comfort another having experienced heartache ourselves (that's Paul's point in 2 Cor. 1:3-8).

I could name others, but I think this is good for now. Thanks for reading, I encourage you to consider what your rocks would be too. Until next time...

J