in death reflects life.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting in Pittsburgh at an LA Fitness are incredibly sad. The scary part is that I don't think the scenario leading up to the shooting is all that uncommon. I took some time to read the shooters online diary. I don't know what made me do that, perhaps it is my psych/counseling background but it can be found here: http://georgesodini.com/20090804.htm

A couple things stood out to me in his writings. Psychologists would say he had major depression (which is probably true) and that he had an obsession with women (also true). However, the aspects that are more common than we like to admit in this scenario are a wounding (by family and church) and a lack of authentic community/friendships. These build off each other in most cases. I know too many people who have been hurt/wounded by family members (especially fathers) and by churches they have been a part of. The saddest part is, they still need and seek community, but refuse to find it because of how they have been hurt.

We, as a church, need to be a part of the restoration process God is doing on this Earth. "We need to be conduits of God's Grace" I once heard someone say. Our culture wants nothing more than to be connected, to be a part of something; but they have the wrong idea of God and the Church (many for good reasons) so they do not seek either. We need to enter into their world, enter into the messiness that is the unredeemed life, and expose the Truth of the Gospel for what it is. We all need it. Forgiveness. Grace. Passion. Life. Seeking God.

The Gospel is hard to accept. It's a life change that causes us to recognize our inefficiencies, and rely on One we cannot see. But people are looking for that truth to be told to them. They are not looking for us to dance around the subject and make it sound as nice as we can make it. We need to present the Gospel as it is, allow people to decide, and love them no matter what. I am not sure if this is what that shooter was looking for, but I hear that in his diary. I see that in those around me.

the best laid plans.

Jonathan has been doing well sleeping for a few nights. So yesterday, my wife and I took the day off to do some "life planning." It is amazing at how complex life can get when you throw a little one into the mix. So during our 5 hours of working out all the little things that need to get done each week (working out, eating, sleeping, work, reading the Bible) and discovering a new love for google calendars, we have a plan.

So last night, I was getting ready for bed and for an early wake up this morning for the gym when I heard Jonathan, who had been sleeping for about 3.5 hours, gagging and coughing. I run down to his room with dental floss hanging out of my mouth, to discover him throwing up all over himself and his crib. This was about 11 PM. This is Jonathan's first major stomach bug, so being a new parent I have a lot of emotions that probably are typical of this type of situation such as pity, saddness, and the ability to all of the sudden not be grossed out by the massive mess that is covering my son. Regardless, I was able to settle him down, give him another bath, change the sheets in his crib, all in about 15 minutes with Lindsey's help. Five minutes after that, he did it again.

Jonathan and I were in his rocking chair until 3 AM. He was getting sick every 10-15 minutes until 2 AM. Our newly laid plans are not off to a good start.