47 Candles & a liitle Contemplation

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Celebrating Father's Day with my Dad this past Sundy

Forty-seven June twentieth's ago was Father's Day. And on June 20th, 1965 my dad became a father and my Grandpa & Grandma, Rollo & Verna Arp, became grandparents. 
I had no siblings and no cousins yet on my dad's side of the family. But that all changed before I had a chance to feel lonely. I had many cousins on my mom's side of the family, so they kept me busy until my father's side caught up. 
I received three birthday cards this year. 
One from my insurance agent. He is happy every year I celebrate a birthday because that means he didn't have to pay out on my life insurance policy. 
 I also received a birthday card from Tom & Lori Jacobs, the district superintendent of the Iowa Ministry Network. His friendship, encouragement and insights have been a great blessing ... and he sends me an annual birthday card!
The other card came from my parents. I think it is always a good thing when your parents remember your birthday and are glad you were born. The more birthdays I celebrate, the more appreciative and thankful I am for them. On almost a daily basis, I talk to people who were not as fortunate as I was to be born into such a loving and happy family.
When you're young and have birthdays your thoughts are more goal oriented - thinking about things you want to accomplish before your next candle blowing session. 
I noticed the past couple of birthdays that when you've had quite a few of them you start to get more contemplative. I heard that is especially true once AARP starts sending you birthday greetings. 
I truly feel blessed to have had the experiences, the relationships and the opportunities that I have had. 
My prayer is that with God's help, I will be able to leverage those blessings to have an even bigger Kingdom impact over the remainder of my life.
One of the greatest blessings of my life is my wife. I was born on Father's Day in 1965, Lynn was born on Thanksgiving. Whereas, I was the oldest child in my family, she was the youngest. And we were both surprises. 
My parents had endured at least one miscarriage before I was born (And I am looking forward to meeting my older brother in Heaven). And they were told that they would probably never have children. That was before they were Christians - followers of Jesus! After they gave their lives to God by trusting Jesus as their personal Savior, they ended up with three kids.

Walking with my Sweetie by the Des Moines River.

My in-laws were told they would have no more children after my wife's older siblings were born. But she was born 16 months after her brother. We met in church when we were five. I anticipate a fourth card is coming later today. At nineteen we were married and at 21 we became parents of a beautiful daughter. By 42 our daughter and her younger brother had both graduated from high school and we were empty-nesters again.
It is true that the only constant in life is change. And I guess that is the hallmark these past 47 years of life. Experiencing the transforming power of change in my life through the Holy Spirit, and helping others experience the changing power of God as a Youth Pastor, Senior Pastor, Lead Pastor and now Program Director with Teen Challenge.  
As long as I live and keep celebrating birthdays, I want my life to be about change! And mostly, the changes that happen in people's lives when they give their life to God, is what I want my life to be about!

On Tuesday nights I facilitate a Lifeline Connection Insight Group at our center. Kasey Johnson is cutting a cake she had brought last night to celebrate her fiancee' Adam Steen who was celebrating his birthday yesterday. She was also kind enough to put my name on the cake as well, so we had a great time celebrating the faithfulness and presence of God! Next Tuesday night is the last week of our Insight Group in which God has done amazing things!