So over the next few days she organized herself – making signs, gathering supplies, and spreading the word, all with a little help from her parents, Trudi and Brett.  Then on Sunday January 31st in the Camden Ridge neighborhood of Auburn, Kirra set up her little card table and put out the signs, balloons and marshmallows.  In the next two hours the glass jar on the table filled up to a total $280.  But this grew even more when a neighbor, moved by the cause, offered to match the funds dollar for dollar…taking it up to $560.  The next week Kirra sent the entire $560 to the UNICEF, going to help aid orphaned children in Haiti.

What an amazing story that shows us what it looks like to love as Christ: a young girl rallying a neighborhood on a cold day to send money to those in need.  This is the wisdom of God that is poured into children that we often overlook and don’t see.  We’re too busy, too sophisticated, or just too self-centered to get it.  But Kirra’s heart got it.  We all have much to learn from her.

Kirra, thank you for teaching me and Cornerstone Church how to see and love the world like Jesus.  You are a champion and a true daughter of the King!

“It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love we put into them that matters.”  Mother Teresa

What are you thinking about after watching this?  I’d like to know.

Last night before bed he started to get a little nervous.  Maybe it didn’t help that I had him sit and listen to me read the school rules to him from the handbook and then sign a piece of paper saying he understood them.  (I know, probably a little over the top.)  On the way to bed he started saying that he was a little nervous.  He talked it through with Leslie and I and we all remembered the scripture we learned at Camp Cornerstone…“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid.  Do not be discouraged.  For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)  After some prayers and more talking he finally said, “I’m ready.”

Then this morning it was like a whole new depth of joy to see him walk into his room with so much courage.  I knew he was a little nervous but he went for it.  I’m just so proud of him and he’s growing up so fast.  Today was a great victory in parenting for Leslie and I.  We are thanking God so much for the unbelievable blessings of Benjamin, Liza and Grace.  What an amazing ride.  So thankful to be doing this with you Leslie!

Benjamin’s First Day of Kindergarden from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

It’s a shot of an old dilapidated billboard that reads, “Jesus loves you anyway.”  See how the framing on the billboard is falling off and the paint is all faded.  I love it.  But I especially love the “anyway” part of it.  It set’s it apart.  Breaks the pattern of the normal old “God loves you” phrase (although that in itself is quite profound).

Rusty ended up using this picture in his sermon yesterday at Cornerstone.  He beautifully related how many times we feel like this old crusty billboard…kinda rough, pieces torn apart, weeds growing up all around, paint chipped off, weakened from storms over time.  But the words…they are still there, written on your heart.  It became a beautiful image of how he loves and accepts us just as we are.

Praying that you believe this today.

“God loves you.”  Three of the most profound words we will ever hear.  But after all the billboards, trite little bumper stickers, TV evangelists and preachers shouting on the street corners, it’s become wrote and even tainted.  A numbness of frequency.  And something many of us really don’t fully believe, if at all.  I’m praying that we bring back the depth of these three words in these next 6 weeks.  I mean it…for real, that’s my prayer.  Imagine what our lives would be like if we really believed this and just flat out accepted God’s love.  It would change everything.  It could not change everything!  We would be radically compelled to live love…we couldn’t not do it.

God loves you?  Do you believe it?

I was 24 years old and she was 23. Seems so young now but at the time we didn’t think so. And It’s been an amazing 10 years together…really 13 years…we dated for 3 before getting married. There is something so special about her and I saw it the first time we met. She was flat out beautiful and so full of life (and still is both). An incredible gift to my life. I just don’t know what I would be doing without her…completely lost. So Jesus, I thank you for Leslie.

For our 10th Anniversary I am actually in Uganda of all places. So we are planning to get away to the beach by ourselves next weekend. But with a little help from Wi-Fi in Amsterdam, time-released blog posting and twitter I hope to give her this gift.

So Leslie, Here’s a little something I put together for you. I have missed you so much in these last two weeks and can’t wait to see your face and hold you when I get home tomorrow afternoon. I love you so much babe. And tell the kids I miss them so much and will be home soon. These have been the best 10 years of my life. Happy Anniversary! I love you – Josh

10 Year Anniversary from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

(PS Leslie, You’re probably wondering how I got this thing posted today.  I did it from Amsterdam on the 13th and set it up to post on the 22nd.  Love You!)