Monkey Business ... Its All Relative

I just read this on yahoo.com. Ok, without getting into an evolution debate here, can I just say that I really don't want to be referred to as "the cousin" of a stinkin' ape.

Check this out:

By LISA SCHENCKER, Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO - The apes at Lincoln Park Zoo are finally getting a chance to take their revenge on people who for years have been pounding their palms against the glass walls of the primates' old home.

At the zoo's new Regenstein Center for African Apes, chimpanzees can touch a panel hidden from public view that will shoot harmless bursts of air at unsuspecting visitors.

"You often hear about chimps spitting or throwing," said Steve Ross, a behaviorist at the zoo. "They do that to get a rise out of the public. This gives them that opportunity but in a safe way."

The feature is one of many in the 55,000-square-foot habitat meant to help people connect with their primate cousins.

You can read the rest of this highly evolved "science" here.

Can you believe it? Well I'll be a monkey's uncle...

"I Miss My Daddy"

I've just returned from taking a friend of Emily's home. She was supposed to be staying the night but after a few minutes in the dark and the realization of "bedtime" sinking in, Emily's seven year old friend had had enough. Emily came around the corner from the hall and into the living room where I was and announced that "________ wants to go home." to which I replied with a typical fatherly (let's get to the bottom of this and fix it)- "why?" Emily's next words were telling, "because she misses her daddy."

How do you fix that? How do you argue with that?

We made a last ditch effort and called her dad but her mind was made up. She wanted to be where her dad was and it became obvious to her that dad wasn't at our house.

My son John and I drove her home (about a 4 iron) to her daddy. She opened the door of my car and ran straight into her daddy's arms. It was a splendid scene to behold.

John and I took the long way home (about a long par 5) so I could show off my new car (15 years old, but new to me) that he hadn't yet seen. As I drove I remembered the times that John wouldn't want me to leave his room and asked me to come be a counselor at Outdoor Ed Camp. I remembered when John "missed his daddy."

John now lives in an apartment less than a mile from us. He is ultra responsible - holds three jobs, is completely on his own financially, gets himself up at 3:30am for work, etc. He is everything I could ask for in a son. I doubt he still "misses his daddy."

Someday Emily and her friend will too grow up and no longer "miss their daddys"

I find that sad. Probably because I'm a dad. I also see a spiritual lesson in that truth:

May we never get so old that we stop missing our "heavenly" dad. May we always realize that wherever our dad is ... that's the place we want to be!

The Voice of An Angel

Last night I received my real father's day present. After church I asked my daughter Laura if she was interested in going up to ACU's Kadesh Camp (a leadership camp for 10 -12 grades) to the evening devotional. She said yes and off we went like little praise junkies to get our second "fix" of the night. We arrived at the devotional and made our way to the top (where guests have to sit) and overlooked a group of 400+ students singing their hearts out to God. The volume and the harmony of the crowd was great. Seeing the expression on the faces of the other worshippers was just plain cool. Watching as hands were lifted and heads were bowed was touching. But there was one voice that rang out above the others. There was one worshipper that completely captivated my attention more than that of all the others. As we began to sing "All Praises Be" I heard the voice of an angel cover over me. My entire body got chills and despite the temperature of that hot summer evening, I had to wrap my arms around myself just to get warm. This voice surrounded me and filled me and penetrated my soul.

As I glanced over my shoulder I saw the tender face of this worshipper lost in wonder as she beautifully sang praises to her Savior. She stood only one step above me yet it looked as if she was in heaven against the black of the star-filled sky. Each note contained passion and each word emotion. I was as awestruck with the purity and holiness of the moment as this girl was with the purity and holiness of the God she was praising. As I turned my focus back to the crowd, I realized that, although this encounter with that angel only lasted a moment, it was a memory that I will cherish for a lifetime. For you see, that angel who was the worshipper who sang "All Praises Be" more beautifully than I had ever heard it was my very own daughter Laura.

Thank you Laura for loving Jesus so much. It is the best gift a dad could ever receive.

HE IS WONDERFUL

Soprano:
All praises be
To the Lord and King
And the Lord our God
He is wonderful

Alto:
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
He is wonderful

Tenor:
Hallelujah
Salvation and glory
Honor and power
He is wonderful

Bass:
For the Lord our God is mighty
The Lord our God is omnipotent
Our God is wonderful

Yes friends, our God is wonderful!

We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For

Here is a recent baccalaureate address given by Jim Wallis at Stanford on June 12 that Mike Cope linked in his blog that I thought was totally amazing. This is a must read. Thanks Mike.

The Love of God

I've been preaching and teaching often these days. More than I have the past 9 months. Less than I did the last 9 years. I love to speak about God for God's glory.

One of the inherent challenges of the messenger is to try and describe the majesty of the Message. How does one stick the camel of the big love of God into the eye of the needle of small words?

F.M. Lehman tried in 1917 and did a pretty good job.

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

Hallelujah [3x]

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song

May our limited language, constrained communicators or measurable minds ever keep us from trying to grasp the love of God.

Friends Like "Fella"

Today I will be blogging a response to an e-mail comment that I received from Ronnie Washington. Ronnie doesn't have e-mail so this is the only way he will know that I received it.

Ronnie,

It is great to hear from you! I've always kept a framed letter that you, Jeff, and Sam wrote to me on my desk. I think of you often and it is always with a smile. We had so many good times didn't we? I could never forget you! Who else do I know that named himself "Fella" and who else do I know would wear my white t-shirts even though they were frappin 18 sizes to big for you? Dude, every time I drive by a Captain D's I think of that dumb game we used to play where you and Jeff would slug the crap out of me.

So what's up? Tell me about your marriage. How is Jeff? What is he up to? What about Sam? How is your grandma? Ya'll still in Huffsmith?

So, Ronnie, I know you don't have e-mail and this is the only way that you're going to know I received your e-mail - Well I did. And I praise God that you found me. Of course, the only thing I really ever wanted for you and Jeff and Sam was to find Jesus. I know you started that journey when I baptized you all but I don't know if you're still on the road with Him.

I am ... it is an amazing life!


For my Joy & King,

- Joel

Joel G. Quile
Crosswind Ministries
Director of Ministry Development
joel@jeffberry.org
325.673.7729 ext 14
-----Original Message-----
From: ronnie "washington" carroll [mailto:noreply-comment@blogger.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 10:59 PM
To: jgq03a@acu.edu
Subject: [Joel Quile's Blog] 6/3/2004 08:58:55 PM


Joel,it's being a long time.And you might not remember exactly who I am,so let me refresh your memory.Me and my brother Jeff,used to be in the youth group,at Tomball Church Of Christ.We were the only black kids in the youth group.We stayed over in Huffsmith,with our grandmother.We also stayed with you,when you were staying in the brick house! Right across from the washerteria,not to far from the police station.You remember Tyron,he was the one who actually,brought us to Tomball Church Of Christ.This might help also,can you remember the time we went to astroworld,and sam put the church van in reverse and almost hit another car, or what about the time we went to"ACU"and seen that group accupella.So any way I had seen"Andy Chastein".And I ask him have he heard from you,and he told me that he email you,told me how to go and search for you.He also told me that your were back at"ACU".So hows the family.Tell"Kim"I said hello.As for me,I also got married in"April".Me,and my wife had our one year anniversare.Every thing is"a"okay.I want to say thanks for always being their,when we needed it the most.What can I say,you was like a father to us.You took us in,as though we were one of your own.And thanks you I am,the man "God want me to be.Not only did you show,me and my brother what life really means.But what it takes to live a life.Thank You.I don't have an email at this time.But what I can do is check your email just to see if you got this meaasge. Ronnie Washington.

--
Posted by ronnie "washington" carroll to Joel Quile's Blog at 6/3/2004 08:58:55 PM

Da Da Dunt - Da Da Dunt!

I woke up early this morning and made my way into the Stevens den to check out Sports Center. However, I was lead to read from the passage I will be sharing tomorrow morning (Matthew 14) and was convicted of what a day Jesus had just been through when he walked on the water. Check this - he had just come from his hometown where he couldn't do any (Mark's translation) miracles except (get this) heal a few sick people. Then he gets word that the man who announced him and baptized him lost his life by brutal beheading. He gets away to ponder the news and the crowds follow him there. He spends the entire day preaching, not in an air conditioned auditorium, but in the desert. He has to prepare dinner for a small intimate gathering of roughly 15,000. The crowds repay him by wanting to force him to be a king he can't (and shouldn't) be. He spends the evening praying (does the guy ever sleep) and then gets in his exercise for the day by walking 5 miles on a storm tossed sea at (this is crazy!) 3:00am.
Talk about an amazing athlete...If that doesn't make Sports Center I don't what would.