My friend Max

I have a friend named Max. I met Max in KidZone at Impact in the 4/5 year old class. I don't know why, how, or even when we exactly met. I don't know why we connected but we did. I say I don't know why, but I know God intended for our lives to intersect.

I also know being the adult that God intended me to be an example to Max. There is a Chinese proverb that says something like; A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark. The funny thing is that Max has made a pretty big mark on my life. Max I love the way you live life, granted you are only 5 and following the instructions of you parents. I love your smile, your humor, your love for God, your inquisitive mind, and your caring heart. When I typed inquisitive mind I am reminded of one of the first times I met Max, I was helping him with a puzzle in KZ and I was shocked at how well he was at putting all the pieces together.

Last Saturday was a work day at Epic, a church plant of Impact. All the Listro's showed up. Just another example of their abilities to touch lives. Max and Gavin who are like 5 and 3 helped paint the outside of the building. Granted it was a toss up if they got more paint on eachother or the building it was so awesome to see these five kids working hard.

I can see that same love of life as I look at Max's brothers and sisters so I know that it comes from their parents. Max's parents, Amy and Christian, love God and have given their lives to him and I mean entirely. I was with Christian, Max's dad, last Saturday and he was talking about their up coming move back to Connecticut. All their belongings will fit in to two van's. That is two parents, five kids, and everything they own. I couldn't fit all my own junk in two van's. They are moving back to Connecticut as they prepare to leave the USA to go into the mission field.

The reality that they will be leaving in 8 weeks is setting in for me and I have to admit that I am sad they are leaving. I will miss the marks that they all leave on my life and all the lives around Impact...I will miss Max leaving marks on my paper. Amy and Christian are awesome parents, this world would be a much better place if there were more like them. They have five kids that are very fortunate to have them as parents because they actually parent and they are going after God's heart. So I guess I have to give my blessing to the Listro's to leave Impact and head out and impact more lives in this world. It is is comforting to know that they will be touching lives where ever they go.

Max my prayer for you is Proverbs 3: 5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Hoping are paths cross again.

Your friend,

Jim (I mean Mr. Jim)

My friend Max

I have a friend named Max. I met Max in KidZone at Impact in the 4/5 year old class. I don't know why, how, or even when we exactly met. I don't know why we connected but we did. I say I don't know why, but I know God intended for our lives to intersect.

I also know being the adult that God intended me to be an example to Max. There is a Chinese proverb that says something like; A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark. The funny thing is that Max has made a pretty big mark on my life. Max I love the way you live life, granted you are only 5 and following the instructions of you parents. I love your smile, your humor, your love for God, your inquisitive mind, and your caring heart. When I typed inquisitive mind I am reminded of one of the first times I met Max, I was helping him with a puzzle in KZ and I was shocked at how well he was at putting all the pieces together.

Last Saturday was a work day at Epic, a church plant of Impact. All the Listro's showed up. Just another example of their abilities to touch lives. Max and Gavin who are like 5 and 3 helped paint the outside of the building. Granted it was a toss up if they got more paint on eachother or the building it was so awesome to see these five kids working hard.

I can see that same love of life as I look at Max's brothers and sisters so I know that it comes from their parents. Max's parents, Amy and Christian, love God and have given their lives to him and I mean entirely. I was with Christian, Max's dad, last Saturday and he was talking about their up coming move back to Conneticut. All their belongings will fit in to two van's. That is two parents, five kids, and everything they own. I couldn't fit all my own junk in two van's. They are moving back to Conneticut as they prepare to leave the USA to go into the mission field.

The reality that they will be leaving in 8 weeks is setting in for me and I have to admit that I am sad they are leaving. I will miss the marks that they all leave on my life and all the lives around Impact...I will miss Max leaving marks on my paper. Amy and Christian are awesome parents, this world would be a much better place if there were more like them. They have five kids that are very fortunate to have them as parents because they actually parent and they are going after God's heart. So I guess I have to give my blessing to the Listro's to leave Impact and head out and impact more lives in this world. It is is comforting to know that they will be touching lives where ever they go.

Max my prayer for you is Proverbs 3: 5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Hoping are paths cross again.

Your friend,

Jim (I mean Mr. Jim)

Amazing drummer

I stumbled on this video clip of an 8 year old drummer who is amazing. I am amazed...mostly because I have a hard time doing any two things at the same time. Chewing gum and walking...dangerous. Singing and clapping...I may hurt myself. Flying a remote control airplane and watching it...I will post a picture of the carnage.

http://www.video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1581867722104021421

My one day hobby

For the past few years I have thought about trying radio controlled airplanes. I have had no real experience with them...just think it would be pretty cool to fly one. I even found a web site last year where I could fly a pretend one on my computer screen...not exactly the real thing but close. I kind of lost the gotta have one bug recently...until I found one for $35. I figured what did I have to loose.

Well after a few hours of assembly and a couple of mini flights to see how the controls worked I took my plane out last weekend. I found a nice wide open field in a park and after a few tense moments decided to launch it.

The flight kind of went like this. The plane began a quick ascent, at about 75 feet of height it began banking left, shortly after the banking began it started to descend...quickly. It covered the 75 feet in mere moments. At about 35 feet I became concerned and tried everything I could do to gain control of the missile I was now watching. At about 10 feet I gave up all hope of recovering the flight. At 5 feet I began thinking about how well the plane would survive the crash that was about to happen. At the point of impact I saw a lot of pieces fly and it was over. It was my first and last flight...unless she can be rebuilt.

Kidzone

I saw her coming, I tried not to make eye contact, I knew I couldn't say no. I ended up helping out in Kidzone this morning with the 4 year olds. I don't know why but for some reason they tend to think I am a climbing apperatice. After we were done climbing we settled down for some serious puzzle work. I worked with a group of them and put together a puzzle only to find out we were missing 5 of the pieces. Max is a young puzzle phenom. It was fun to watch them work and see their reactions as they figured things out. I also got to read "Little Red Riding Hood" to a group of them. Alley loved the book but thought the big bad wolf was not a very nice wolf.

I am glad eye contact was made, I am glad I got to go play. I think I learned today that some days you've just got to drop the "important" things and just play.