We even got her a Dora cake! She loved the cake but not so much the attention. Check this out:

Just a little update on baby Judah…

This week has been a little big of a journey.  Judah was born on Monday morning and immediately we sensed that not everything was right (I know that’s not proper language, but it’s how we felt).  He was a little grey and was having trouble breathing.  They immediately took Judah to NICU to give him more oxygen and because of this little complication they did immediate blood tests. What is ironic is that Judah’s breathing immediately got better but the tests revealed that he had a deadly infection in his blood.  To be honest, if he had not gone to the NICU for his breathing they probably wouldn’t have caught the infection.  

Since this discovery they have had Judah on antibiotics and he will be in hospital for a total of three weeks.  For us, this is a miracle!  He is completely healthy and when released he will have absolutely no infection in his blood system.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this is something I personally needed.  You may disagree theologically and I appreciate that and it’s even seems odd to say.  But it’s how I feel.

I’ve had some time to do an evaluation of my life and if I were honest my life has been easy.  I’ve never really suffered or come face to face with sickness or death.  This experience has shown me how big my God is and how fragile life really is.  I find it easy to depend on myself, yet this week has been a clear reminder of who is in control.  I needed a wake up call to the fact that every breath I take and every moment I have is because of Jesus.

Some of the mid-wives, doctors and nurses have thrown the words “luck” and “karma” around.  Some can’t believe how fortunate we are that they found the infection so early.  We have a different perspective and we’re thankful we serve a God who is watching over us every day!  

Heather, Ava and I are proud to announce the arrival of our new baby Judah Andrew Fess.  He was born yesterday morning (Monday, May 17th at 4.10am).  He was 8 pounds 13 ounces and over 21 inches long.  He is already being scouted by the Leafs and the way they played he may start next year.

 There have been a couple bumps in the road.  Judah has been fighting a little bit of an infection and is looking to be in hospital for the next couple weeks.

We are praying that he strengthens and that there is a quick recovery!

1. I wait for someone to tell me what to do rather than taking the initiative myself.

2. I spend too much time talking about how things should be different.

3. I blame the context, surrounding, or other people for my current situation.

4. I am more concerned about being cool or accepted than doing the right thing.  

5. I seek consensus rather than casting vision for a preferable future.

6. I am not taking any significant risks.

7. I accept the status quo as the way it’s always been and always will be.

8. I start protecting my reputation instead of opening myself up to opposition.

9.  I procrastinate to avoid making a tough call.

10. I talk to others about the problem rather than taking it to the person responsible.

11. I don’t feel like my butt is on the line for anything significant.

12. I ask for way too many opinions before taking action.

Dave and Jon Fergusson – Exponential (pg. 59)

He’s had his own battle the last six months with cancer.  He took some time to share at Together For The Gospel with CJ Mahaney a couple weeks ago.  Chandler is an example of someone who is suffering well.  Watching this helps put everything into perspective.

What I enjoyed about the conference was the diversity of content and speakers.  You had guys sharing from mega-churches to house church movements, to anywhere in between.

Shane Claiborne shared one of the afternoons on community transformation.  

I had read bits and pieces of his book but never heard him live.  His talk was fantastic and easily one of the best presentations at the conference.

Here’s a little recap and some notes and quotes. 

Shane Claborne

 ”Transformation takes more than a doctrinal statement”

 ”Doctrines are important things and we need to have that right but it is love that draws people to community”

 ”Discipleship is more about than just what we believe”

“The final judgment will not require you to submit your doctrinal statement”

Listen to what Jesus says about us standing before him… 

Matthew 25: ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“What do your doctrines look like?  What are you practicing?”

Transformation is more than: 

1. Transformation takes more than ideologies.

How are you proactive?

2. Transformation takes more than just a good vision

“The person who is just in love with the vision of community will destroy community”

 ”You can be obsessed with social justice and still be mean towards each other”

I’ll pipe in here and say BAM!  I’ve run into a lot of people who are Claiborne groupies and heavily opinionated about social justice yet treat people like crap.  

3. Transformation takes a neighborhood

“Move in… Learn… Listen…”

“It takes patience”

“One of my greatest temptations has been to come a church planter”

What he means by this is that it could be easy for him to start a church in Philly where he is because of the need.  His philosophy is that he wants to join God in what he is doing and help the churches that are established in the area.

“In my neighborhood we don’t need more churches, we need the church.”

 ”There’s a whole lot of counterfeit community” – talking about virtual community

 ”Do something crazy.  Go face to face to someone and ask them to be your friend!”

What Does Transformation Take?

1. Transformation takes imagination

 ”We’re all addicted to something.  We are all recovering from something.”

He shared a powerful story of gun violence in Philly and how the community came together to not just transform the problem but transform the root of the problem (gun shops selling guns illegally).

2. Transformation takes humility

“It isn’t about the donkey.  It’s about who (Jesus) rode the donkey.  We are just the asses that get to bring Jesus in.”

For more on Shane check out the Simple Way.

We showed this video tonight.  I suggest reading Josh Harris’ book Dug Down Deep.

                                                                                         Do you ever wonder what kind of world your kids will grow up in?

I love ESPN Classic.  Tonight I watched Gretzky’s first game at Maple Leaf Gardens from 1980.  It was crazy to see how old and slow everything was.  

While watching this game from 1980, where there were no cell phones, no internet, really bad hair cuts and this relatively new invention called the goalie mask, I was using my Iphone to read my bible, read articles and a book, check my e-mail, tweet, and connect with people on Facebook.  I also had cable TV on in the background while Heather was on our Macbook and wireless phone talking to friends and family.  

It’s not rocket science.  Things have changed since Gretzky’s first appearance at the Gardens.  

I wonder though… what will 10, 20, 30 years look like from now?