Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Back to School

My wife starts her first class tonight in her master's program at Xavier University. I'm experiencing mixed emotions as we enter into this new phase. I'm excited at what she'll be learning and experiencing. I'm sad that it will require such a time commitment. I have no doubt that she will excel in this new challenge. She'll handle it like a pro. I, on the other hand, may need a little more adjustment time.

I actually think it's very cool that I'm a little depressed about this. To me, it's just more proof that we have a great relationship. Sadly, a lot of people seek out ways to be apart from their spouses. Not me. I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I'm lost without her!

Winter

Man, it was cold this morning! And the dusting of snow on the ground just reinforced the fact that it is indeed winter. That's bad news for a lot of people, but I'm somewhat of an oddball. I actually like winter. Ok, I don't like it when the wind is so cold that it hurts. I'm not crazy. But I do like winter.

The dusting of snow this morning made me wish for a more significant snowfall. I guess I still remember some of the big snows from my childhood. Snow meant a fun day when I was a kid.

I'd like to have just one day this winter where my family gets "snowed in." There would be no school, so my wife (who is a teacher) would stay home. I couldn't make it to the office (even though I literally live about 30 seconds away!). And so Nicki, Ryan, and I would all stay home. Play in the snow. Make some warm comfort food. Sounds like a winner to me.

I've heard that we may have a little snow in the forecast at the end of this week. I can only hope.

Developing a Servant's Heart

Our church is preparing for a 40-day spiritual campaign entitled Developing a Servant's Heart. We distributed commitment cards the past two Sundays and I'm pumped about the response we've received. People are signing on to read the 40-day devotional book, to attend a class focused on the weekly theme, to be present for all six of our worship services in the campaign, and to be a servant by intentionally serving other people.

I don't even think it is possible for us to remain the same after this campaign. With this kind of early response, I believe that God is prepared to do some incredible stuff. Can't wait to see what He's got in mind.

Old Friends

Just got back from a little jaunt to Falmouth, KY. We drove down for a get-together with some old friends from our college days. I was sad that some couldn't make it due to illness, busyness, distance, etc., but we had a great time with the crew that was able to show up. Nothing better than eating some Cincinnati-style chili with good friends!

Somebody told me before I started college that I would make friends that would last a lifetime during my time there. Today is proof positive that they were right. College was a long time ago, but that doesn't seem to make any difference when we're all together. Wish we could do it more often.

Team Building

Had a good team building session with our church's leadership this morning. It was hard to drag out of bed early on a very dark, rainy Saturday morning, but it was worth it. It's good to sit around a room and talk with our leaders. It's cool to see everybody laughing together, thinking together, and talking things out together.

I also like the fact that I'm not leading these sessions. I probably still talked too much this morning, but I'm working on talking less and listening more during these times. That takes some restraint because I'm passionate about the stuff we're working through, but I want everyone to be part of the process. If I dominate the discussion, then it ceases to be a discussion and it turns into a sermon. I'm already preaching one of those tomorrow morning.

Tuh-May-Tow or Tuh-Mah-Tow

Heard this on the radio yesterday. You may think it's goofy, but I think it's interesting. Hey, it's my blog. Deal with it. :0)

Consider this age-old question: is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable? According to the "expert" on the radio yesterday, the tomato is actually a fruit. But the U.S. Government disagrees, declaring that it is a vegetable.

It all started in 1887 when our country began leveling a tariff on vegetables, but not on fruits. This made the tomato's status a matter of legal importance. Believe it or not, this matter made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court! The high court settled this controversy in 1893, declaring that the tomato is a vegetable. Their reasoning was that, since the tomato is generally served with vegetables at dinner and not with fruits as a dessert, then it must be a vegetable.

So there you go. The tomato is actually a fruit, but our government has declared that it is a vegetable.

Isn't it interesting how someone could simply decide that a particular truth just isn't true for them? Tomato the Fruit didn't work for them. So they created Tomato the Vegetable.

I've met so many people whose lives run on this same system. A particular truth doesn't work for them…so they choose a truth that is a better fit for them, their lifestyle, and their worldview. The basis of truth becomes attitudes and feelings instead of evidence and facts.

The church must devote herself to lovingly (please note that our own attitude is key!) challenging people with the truth of the gospel. If we are passionate about the truth, it will be contagious. If we clearly communicate the truth, it will be life-changing. If we waver from the truth, we will become irrelevant.

God gave us the clear mandate: Speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15) It's been said that love without truth is sentamentality. Truth without love is dogmatism. Speaking the truth in love is Christianity.

P.S. – One more tomato fact: Last year, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a law that would have declared the tomato to be the official state fruit, but the bill died when the Ohio Senate failed to act on it. Our tax dollars at work.

Library Integrity

When Robert Nuranen was a high school freshman, he went to the library and checked out Prince of Egypt by Dorothy Clarke Wilson. Then he returned the book to the library.

Before you think, "Wow, this is incredibly boring. Mike's blog has officially bottomed out!" you should know this: 47 years passed between the check out and return of this book. That's right…47 YEARS!

Robert recently found this book in the bottom of a box in his attic. And he not only returned the overdue book, but he also paid the 47 year late fee. $171 to be exact.

What is integrity? It's doing the right thing when no one else is looking. It's doing the right thing even when you can easily get away with doing the wrong thing. It's returning a long-forgotten library book and ponying up the 47 year late fee.

Great People

Just read this great quote from Mark Twain.

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

I've got to admit that there have been times when I've allowed this to happen to me. I've allowed my visions and my dreams to be belittled by somebody else.

My goal is to never squelch anybody's passion or dreams. My goal is also to never allow the squelching of my own dreams.

Greg Page

I just read today that Greg Page has left The Wiggles due to a chonic health condition. That is news that is sure to interest parents and children alike.

If you have a toddler like I do, then you probably know that The Wiggles are four guys from Australia who have devoted their careers to entertaining young children through song and dance. You may also know that Greg Page was the "Yellow Wiggle." He was also the lead singer and songwriter for the group.

The Wiggles have already named Greg's replacement: a fellow named Sam Moran. Even though they have a new leader, the group will continue on. They will continue to tour, sing, dance, and, well, wiggle.

It's a pretty good reminder for me and anyone else that is in the business of leadership. I have been called to preach and to be a leader in God's church…for now. The time will come when I won't do that anymore. Maybe God will call me to do something else. Maybe I'll do this until my life is over. Either way, I won't be preaching and leading anymore. And that's ok. I am a leader, but I am not irreplaceable. Neither is anyone else.

A God Moment

I'm off work on Fridays, so I usually get to spend the entire day with my two-year-old son, Ryan. It's a fun time to leave everything else behind and just be a dad.

Ryan got up early this morning, so I was quite tired. I was sitting in my chair, pretty zoned out. Ryan was watching Playhouse Disney, which airs his favorite shows each and every morning. We don't normally allow the TV to "babysit" our son, but I've gotta admit that this didn't sound like such a bad idea this morning. I was tired and Ryan was content. All was well.

And then, for no apparent reason, Ryan came over and climbed up in the chair with me. He didn't say a word. He just smiled at me and then we sat for about 15 minutes watching TV together.

Ryan, being a normal active two-year-old, doesn't slow down very much. But this morning, for those few minutes, he slowed down and just sat with his dad. And his dad loved every second of it.

Actually, it was a God moment for me. It was a moment where something just clicked in my mind. My life is busy. Seems like I'm "on the go" now more than ever. I now have a tiny inkling of how God must feel when I do choose to slow down and sit on my Father's lap for a few minutes.

There was nothing structured about those few moments between Ryan and me this morning. It was just the two of us being together.

Maybe, instead of watching the clock (I've got to pray for at least 10 minutes; I've got to read my Bible for 30 minutes), we could just slow down and be with our Dad. Seems like that would be a step away from religion and toward a relationship.