Reports From The Astro's Game

I just heard from Robbie last night, who confirmed what Brooke told me today.

1) Chris Sampson is your new favorite baseball player. Maybe all of you all could say a prayer for him and his wonderful wife, Heather. Heather made a flyer for the players to explain the meet and greet. The Astros told her she couldn't distribute it at the lockers. Heather did anyway.

2) Robbie showed up with his crew of 20, which, from my blog research included both of his brothers and a bunch of kids. They were childrenAs we mentioned earlier, Robbie took both of his brothers - Brian wrote about his experience here (who confirmed that to him, at least, the 'Stros was his fave team), and Chris is mentioned in this guy- Donald Zimmerman's - blog.

3) The kids who came, along with Ryan and Robbie's, had been through some real trials. So when they met 15!!!! Astros, including your favorite baseball player Chris Sampson, including Lance Berkman, including Cecil Cooper and his staff...wow. I'll get some pictures up soon.

4) Notice how no one mentions Zoe at all. How cool is it that God will use all of us in our way and that He will get the glory.

5) Zoe is mentioned by Robbie in his blog here.

One prayer that scares me a little is to pray to God to use me. Because when I do, without fail, and usually that day, He does. That's the one prayer I can think of that just always is answered that day.

I am so proud of my daughter, my family, and my friends. Brooke, Heather & Chris Sampson, and yeah...Robbie. All used by God to do some pretty incredible things.

Zoe's crying upstairs right now, Day 146. God's used her every day. I pray we all can say that.

Your Love Is Strong

Our house has had Jon Foreman's EP's in heavy rotation on all MP3 players and iTunes. Kellen even talked to Robbie about them, and Robbie was big about them - he's a huge Jon Foreman fan, and said he was working on or had already played some of the songs in church.

This particular song is a sing-along even for the boys. Ethan will call from his carseat at the back of the van that "I can't hear the music."

Right now, we've got an insane landlord, feeling pressure from the just-beginning school schedules. Work for me is awesome - and exhausting. We've got a blown cylinder in the van and today, on the way to probably the biggest presentation in my life, my tire blew out. Right there on 45.

For some reason...it just didn't get me. And maybe some other minor things do, but this one didn't. The steel belt sticking out of the shredded tire was...just another thing to do. You sigh, you shake your head, and you take care of it.

So, why do I worry? Why do I freak out?

Your Love Is Strong

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Chorus (3x):
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

Tonight's The Night

On the scoreboard tonight at Minute Maid Park during the Houston Astros game it will read, "Welcome Robbie Seay Band. We love you - the Batiansilas."

HEY HEY HEY...IT'S FAAAAAT ZOE!

Zoe weighed in at the doctor's office yesterday at 8 lbs and 8 ounces. That's up from 7 pounds, 4 ounces from mid-July, and almost to her older brother's birth weight!

Jen and I go back to those days when she was 4 lbs, something, and one doctor was suggesting that maybe we feed her whatever she wants to eat, since maybe that was her body's way of dealing with her Trisomy. RIIIIIGHT.

We're still dealing with a baby who needs special help and lots of attention. But we're also dealing with a real life, someone who shows no sign of going anywhere.

Chug Chug Chug The Batblog Keeps Going On

My completely random study of Batblog visitor stats shows that we're down from our peak of 33 countries to 23 countries around the world. But we can welcome both Honduras and Guatemala. That we have some very regular visitors from the Netherlands Antilles. That of the over 12,000 page views the blog has had in the last month, almost 12 % of the visitors were unique new visitors.

Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

Serendipitous Scripture

While writing the previous post, I stumbled across Jesus going through what I'm going through (times a billion, but still...). His heart is troubled. He knows what is being asked of Him. And He knows that this hour is why He's here.

27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"

Check out God's response:

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

So, pray that His name is glorified in our trials. That people see the hope and the peace - the glory - of God. He will glorify His name again, in us. In Zoe.

Blessed Are The Poor Part II

Last night was another long night for Zoe. She just doesn't do well at night. Sometime, at like 3 or 4, I heard her gasp four times in a row.

I jumped across the bed towards her and then she burst into tears. Whatever had happened to her had scared her, too.

I couldn't stop crying. I kept just begging God for her life. Just begging Him for mercy on her.

Blessed are the poor, Jesus says, for yours is the kingdom of God. He isn't promising us a kingdom here. Just promising us that He knows the ending, and that the ending is His. But it's a little like if you offered a two year old a quarter and held it up - or a billion dollars. The two year old would take what he sees. How can I wrap my brain around a billion dollars or the Kingdom of God?

Izzi came back from a week-long ropes course, and she showed me this Bible verse she learned that she said is her absolute favorite: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

I have no special gifts in all of this. I'm just a destitute father begging for his daughter's life. I pray for the peace and wisdom to see the Kingdom and the blessing and reward my daughters - plural - have waiting for them.

Yours

As you know, I really struggled with Steven Curtis Chapman's loss. No one told him the lesson I had to learn: that the idea we will have a happy, healthy, long life for us or our children is an illusion. No one told him to count days and breaths with his children.

What a waste, right?

And if Steven wasn't getting over 800,000 blog hits and emails, I'd tell him what I learned. But it looks like SCC has been given that wisdom. After his little girl died, he went back in and re-recorded the ending of one of his songs called "Yours."

As always, I'm linking to it. If you buy it, proceeds go to baby Maria's foundation.

Yours

I walk the streets of London
and notice in the faces passing by
something that makes me stop and listen
My heart grows heavy with the cry
Where is the hope for London
You whisper and my heart begins to soar
as I’m reminded every street in London is Yours

I walk the dirt roads of Uganda
I see the scars that war has left behind
Hope like the sun is fading
and they’re waiting for a cure no one can find
And I hear children’s voices singing
of a God who heals and rescues and restores
and I’m reminded that every child in Africa is Yours

It’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky to the depths of the ocean floor
and it’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours
You’re the maker and keeper, Father and ruler of everything
It’s all Yours

I walk the sidewalks of Nashville
like Singapore, Manila and Shanghai
I brush by the beggar’s hand and the wealthy man
and everywhere I look I realize
Just like the streets of London
for every man and woman, boy and girl
All of creation, this is our Father’s world

It’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky to the depths of the ocean floor
and it’s all Yours God, Yours God, everything is Yours
You’re the maker and keeper, Father and ruler of everything

It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God
It’s all Yours, God

The glory is Yours, God
All the honor is Yours, God
The power is Yours, God
The glory is Yours, God
You’re the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords

And it’s all Yours God, Yours God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky to the depths of the ocean floor
And it’s all Yours God, Yours God
Everything is Yours
All the greatness and power, the glory and splendor and majesty
Everything is Yours
It’s all Yours

*****The 2008 radio single version adds this fourth verse*****

I’ve walked the valley of death’s shadow
So deep and dark that I could barely breathe
I’ve had to let go of more than I could bear
And questioned everything that I believe
But still even here
in this great darkness
A comfort and hope come breaking through
As I can say in life or death
God we belong to you.

What A Waste

Believe me, those words have crossed my mind. Not just about Zoe, but even about A.E. up north.

How about this piece of wisdom from My Utmost For His Highest:

"Look at God’s incredible waste of His saints, according to the world’s judgment. God seems to plant His saints in the most useless places. And then we say, "God intends for me to be here because I am so useful to Him."

Yet Jesus never measured His life by how or where He was of the greatest use. God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be."

I'll repeat the part that requires stressing: TOTALLY INCAPABLE.

Zoe Update

We took Zoe in for a little more bloodwork. Results show that her liver function is fine - no direct jaundice. This is counter to what we heard on her release from the hospital, that direct jaundice doesn't leave unless there is surgery. Results also show kidneys are working perfectly fine.

And her heartbeat was in the 130's.

And she's downing 3 ounces of formula now.

I'm convinced, more than ever, that her breaths and her life and health are the result of all of your prayers and all the love you have. God is good. Day 138.

Your New FAVORITE BASEBALL PLAYER

...is Chris Sampson! Sampson is a relief pitcher for the Houston Astros. He actually was a very good shortstop, was drafted to play the position, but retired when he saw that he didn't see himself playing at the highest level. So he retired and started coaching at a local community college.

As he pitched batting practice for the college, he began to realize he had some real gifts as a pitcher. The more he practiced, the better he got. So he contacted his old team-the Astros-and told them he'd like to try out as a pitcher. And...bang! They hired him and he's pitching for them.

Pretty great story, huh? It gets better.

Chris met Heather and they fell in love. They were married at home plate on the Astros field. Aww. great story, huh? Wait.

Heather is great friends with Brooke, my co-worker at Avicom. Brooke told Heather about Zoe, about us, how Robbie Seay had mentioned his hometown ball team, the Astros. And I met with Heather, and she's a dear. A real sweetie and a very nice lady.

Heather went back home to Houston and talked to the Astros about doing something special for Robbie Seay. Robbie is a guy who notched a top-5 hit in Christian radio last year and thought it'd be cool to come up and do a show to benefit Zoe. That's how he rolls.

Heather contacted us and said she had 20 ground level seats for Robbie and a chance to meet some of the team. So I contacted Robbie and told him. Robbie was excited. He said he's going to take his neighbors, who have adopted many -10!- disabled kids and he knows they'd love to meet the players.

Great story, right? Hold on...

Today, Heather let us know the other big deal: Fox Sports Net is going to do an interview with Robbie at the game. And they're also going to talk about Zoe, the little 138 day old baby who somehow has rock stars, major league pitchers and their teams, and you following her life. And Fox Sports Net is going to make sure to mention Zoemeanslifefor.us in case people want to help out Zoe's family.

I wasn't going to even talk about the thank you because it's a gift from the wonderful people at Avicom to a wonderful giving man. But I have to, because it's God at work.

Who do you thank? What do you think? Listen, I love the Brewers, but I'm so cheering for this man when he's on the mound. And I'm still listening to Robbie. And I gave Brooke a hug. And I'm so grateful that today, when I was a lot low, a lot low, God again will not let me go to the darkest places. This isn't about you, He says. This is about me in you, and in Zoe. And in Heather. And Brooke. And Chris. And Robbie. And Fox Sports Net. Fox Sports Net? Yep.

Birthdays : Two Christiansen Lads

I'm that kind of an uncle. I totally overlooked the birthdays of two of my nephews, Brennick and Temish Christiansen (Deirdre's kin). Both of these guys are growing like weeds and will someday - we pray - have all the coolness of their mom, except male-like.

Temish just turned 9 yesterday and Brennick turned 16 last week. Pray for these great kids as they continue to walk and grow in Him.

Why?

I asked this question months ago. Last Friday, a friend was in my office, looking at Zoe as she snored, asking the same question.

The answer is simple - not easy. And it's harder to confront now that I know Zoe's smile and the color of her big eyes. Harder to think about now that I don't wake up at 3 in a terror to see if she's breathing. (Now I wake up and stumble to make a bottle, with little or no thinking).

The answer is that God can change hearts - even the hearts of those we thought were forever hardened. That God can change lives. And that Zoe's life is not unlike mine or any other follower of Christ - one where we are being used to transform a world seemingly jaded and hardened to hope. Zoe's life has brought families together and made us all consider how precious each minute is. It's a life lived in the Master's arms and likely, lived more purely and close to the Savior than I could ever imagine.

Thanking Robbie

We're in the final stages of getting something - and by no means, by no comparison a reciprocal something - to Robbie and the band and his kids. I'll keep you posted. I'm just happy we can do something to thank them back. And he seems pretty stoked, too.

Throw It Away.

If it's broken, or old, or not what you wanted, just throw it away. Right? Isn't that what I hear from Luxemburg, WI? And Spain? The combination of prenatal testing and abortion has shown that 95% of children diagnosed prenatally with Down's Syndrome are aborted.

You ok with that? What if you knew that the diagnoses were not accurate as previously thought?

If you're still trying to figure out your answer to the above, take a look at the video below. Throw her away?

Latest and Greatest Robbie Pics

From our friend Andy Stenz...A local photographer with a terrific eye. Awesome pics, Andy!

Ethan's Birthday Pictures

I know, I know, it was two weeks ago...but here's some pics of Ethan's 5th Bday.

Zoe Says Hi

Hello World!

Summer's End

For us, summer is almost gone. State Fair has begun, a sure sign of the end. Somewhere, someone is downing one of the 110,000 ears of roasted corn and over 360,000 cream puffs sold at the fair.

End of summer, beginning of camp. Kellen starts football camp two a days on the 11th. He's been working at WR and QB.

End of summer, beginning of SENIOR YEAR. Teia starts her last year in high school in just a few weeks.

End of summer, end of an era. My mother and father are moving...somewhere. They aren't sure where, but have been informed that they can't live where they've been living.

If I sound melancholy, I just am. I'm not ready for the 8 months of winter our state provides.

In Awe of Day 132

My terribly rude synopses of the quote below: if a bird had a baby bird with Trisomy 18, it would not care or even be capable of understanding the great tragedy, the great weight of baby bird's each day.

Same, too, if it were a monkey and a baby monkey.

It is we who add the vast importance to baby Z. Endowed with an understanding of eternity and life, love and death. And faith and hope.

I now defer to the true writer:

We are inveterate poets. Our imaginations awake. Instead of mere quantity, we now have a quality--the sublime.

Unless this were so, the merely arithmetical greatness of the galaxy would be no more impressive than the figures in a telephone directory. It is thus, in a sense, from ourselves that the material universe derives its power to over-awe us. To a mind which did not share our emotions, and lacked our imaginative energies, the argument from size would be sheerly meaningless. Men look on the starry heavens with reverence: monkeys do not.

The silence of the eternal spaces terrified Pascal*, but it was the greatness of Pascal that enabled them to do so. When we are frightened by the greatness of the universe, we are (almost literally) frightened by our own shadows: for these light years and billions of centuries are mere arithmetic until the shadow of man, the poet, the maker of myth, falls upon them.

I do not say we are wrong to tremble at his shadow; it is a shadow of an image of God. But if ever the vastness of matter threatens to overcross our spirits, one must remember that it is matter spiritualized which does so. To puny man, the great nebula in Andromeda owes in a sense its greatness.

~C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock, "Dogma and the Universe", (1970)

__________

* from Pensees by Blaise Pascal (1660): "The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me."