I’ve uploaded a number of new pictures which you can check out here. My (Joel’s) parents were in town and got to meet Justus. Needless to say, we had a great week.

I began pondering what it meant to be a man and to raise a son then all of a sudden my eyes started watering. However, honestly, it wasn’t because I was “moved” about being a father. It simply was the smoke in my eyes . . . I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve smoked a cigar.

I thought about raising a son to be a man. There are countless examples of manhood. Turn on the radio or TV and you will hear and see men bragging about their money and the women they can get.

Rappers boasting.

The Bachelor having two dozen women pursue him.

Business men with endless ambition in the pursuit of money . . . and happiness.

Then, there are “dead-beat” dads who are either completely out of the picture or only provide support by sending a monthly check.

Other fathers who throw themselves into their profession but won’t show up to a sports game or have a serious conversation with their children.

All around us we see horrible examples of poor parenting and misguided manhood.

Then, I thought of the men in my life. Men like my father and father in-law, pastors, mentors, coaches, teachers and professors. Men who sacrificed to invest in me.

How do I raise my son to be full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness?

How do I raise my son to stick up for himself and others without being a bully?

How do I teach Justus to love justice?

How do I teach him to be able to provide for others without loving money?

How do I teach him to be both strong and gentle?

How do I instill in him the ability to be full of passion while also being compassionate?

How do I teach him to be independent without being prideful?

These questions scare me. Raising a son is a daunting task. Over the past few weeks, Justus has shown me my own selfishness and shortcomings. He has shown me the areas of “manhood” I need to grow in.

I pray that I will be a good example of a loving, caring father and that Justus will grow up to be a man of God.

If I think all the social and racial issues were solved in the sixties, we’re not paying attention. The fact of the matter is that God’s concern for justice leaps out of every chapter of the Bible. God doesn’t play favorites. When Israel was on the receiving end of injustice, God acted. When they were the instigators of injustice, God acted…. As Christians, we call for justice for George Zimmerman. But not only justice for George, but for Trayvon also and all the other Trayvons that got up this morning to a world that is a little different than ours….

The fact of the matter is, I am not suspicious for walking down the street in a gated community in a hoodie. But that’s not true of everybody. As followers of Jesus…as the body, we are deeply aware that in the body of Christ when one part hurts, we all hurt. That’s a normal functioning body…a dysfunctional body feels no pain when another part is hurting. When I see Trayvon as my son, as my brother, as my sibling, as a young man who was loved by his mother (and) father…who had a future like any seventeen-year-old kid, when I view him as that…(we) stand in unity as a family of God and grieve.

“Where Jesus appointed, we take volunteers.

Where Jesus sent pairs, we send herds.

Where Jesus admonished for danger and quiet humility along the road, we opt for vacation destinations and loud self-congratulations.

Where Jesus asks to be bringers of peace, we often bring chaos.

Where Jesus designed an opportunity for a disciple to lean into a new family, learn a new culture, and serve under the head of a household (who best knows his own need), we march in with a plan and the resources to git’er’done – completely missing out on the gift of being “a worker worth his wages”.

Soooo…. basically, we do it, like, exactly opposite to the way Jesus did. “

Here is our progress so far:

I could relate.  As soon as my son was born, I felt this overwhelming wave of love well up in me.  I instantly knew that I loved Justus unconditionally.

I am sure other parents understand.

But this all has deeper implications.  This means that we as humans can expand and contract our love.  Sure, sometimes it is easier.  Holding my newborn son made loving him easy.  However, nonetheless, it was still a choice.  We all know fathers who have chosen to not love their children.

Our human capacity to love is expandable.

And this has made me think, if God is Love and I am a follower God, how am I expanding my love towards others?

My love towards my co-workers?

My love towards my wife?

My love towards my neighbors?

My friends?

We’ve spent a considerable amount of time updating this website.  We’re regularly adding blogs and updates, and pictures of Justus, life, and softball.  Check it out (if you’d like) and give us some feedback.

He weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces and was 22 inches long.

If you haven’t heard by now, our son, Justus David was born Sunday March 25th at 9:11pm. He was 22 inches long and weighted eight pounds, three ounces.

We’ve just a bunch of pictures which you can find here.