Magic Cubes and Prayers

This weekend we had a “Family Movie Night”. We made sure we had plenty of microwave popcorn and then headed out to Blockbuster. Our goal was to find the perfect flick to stimulate the collective Pannell brains for an hour or two. My job, as the titled “adult” of this legislation was to ensure that the flick selected was one that would appeal to everyone in the family. In other words, the newest Ben 10 or Power Rangers may not make it far with the female Pannell demographic, and Barbie Mariposa would probably be a flop amongst the male Pannells. So, I was to delicately navigate the aisles and lovingly reject ideas until we could all agree on the one that I tricked them into thinking they selected! :)

The winner this time: “Mr.Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”. It was a lovely little movie. In fact, I loved it. Me and my wife were enthralled. The kids didn’t quite get the deeper meaning of it all, but it was visually beautiful enough to keep their rapt attention. One scene in the movie REALLY moved me. My friend Matt calls moments like these “echoes of something more”. He is referring to times in media where they may not say it, but God is alive in the background of things. This scene in the movie was one of those times.

The girl in the movie (played by the lovely Natalie Portman) was stuck in a rut. She couldn’t quite figure out her life and was stuck trying to write a musical piece. So, her friend, the magic Mr. Magorium (played expertly by Dustin Hoffman) gives her a gift to inspire her. It is a large wood block. But he tells her if she believes in it, it will help her figure out what she is to do. She knows it to be only a block of wood, but accepts it gratefully and throws it to the side. After all, how can a wood block solve her problems?

Later on in the movie, she is desperate for “something”. So she sits down with the cube. Staring at it she says “OK. You are supposed to have all the answers. Sop would you please just fix things? Just show me what to do”………and of course, nothing happens. So after waiting just a few seconds, she angrily stands up proclaiming “I knew you couldn’t help. Fine! I’ll just go and do it myself!”

WOW! What a powerful moment in the both the plot of this storyline and in most of our lives! How many times do I treat my Heavenly Father like that? I believe he has answers but I only come to Him when at my ropes end. And then, I expect Him to act on MY whim and immediately give me clarity. And how many times when we do not see an answer right away, do we storm off saying “Fine. I will do it myself!”

I believe we treat prayer like this far too often. Instead of using it as a tool to line ourselves up with God’s will and plan, and to patiently listen to His voice, we want it to act like a cosmic ATM, spewing out nuggets of blessing at our every whim!

In the movie, only when Molly began to fully BELIEVE in the power of the cube did it respond. When she wholeheartedly threw herself into believing in the total power of the cube, the cube responded and came alive. Then, she was able to see everything clearly.

I think you get the point….there is immense power in prayer. The answers are there. God is in control. You and I……well, we just gotta’ believe.

few of my favorite things....

list of things that made me happy recently:


I found this quirky little indie-flick and WOW! It had me emotionally drained by the end of it.


This little drink is yummy to my tummy (the "Red Drive" is awesome)


go see Speed Racer!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Most fun I have had in a theatre since....well in a LONG time!


I found ol' Alice's radio show at night. It is the MOST random thing I've ever listened to!


Year after year since about 1991, this band's music has always made me happy and just been "there for me"...long live Evan Dando!

Just try looking at these....

........... and not smiling! :)
My little girl brings SUCH joy to life. She is already at 2 (almost 3) such an energetic presence. She literally brings joy and energy to a room. She amazes me. I have such fun with her, and she is SO DANG GORGEOUS! I love you Merrick Harper Pannell!

Lawson Boyce McCord

My precious nephew was born recently. It is my baby-sister's first child. It was a very rough pregnancy, with many complications for her and baby. He was born 5 weeks early, but is home now and doing great. Check him out. He's beautiful!

Jesus is Lord

how is this for a cool story???????

here

NBA Live and God

My son has re-taken to a basketball video game lately. When he was younger, I would play with him, and would actually turn his team to “computer controlled” letting him think he was playing. When he got older I’d let him play, but he couldn’t quite master the controls. So, I’d intentionally pull defensive players away from him letting him score, making sure I let him win. So you can imagine my surprise when I played him recently.

The boy is good! I have now played him 3 times. And, each game, he beat me. This is nothing new for us, except for the fact that I was trying. I was trying hard! Suddenly he gets it. The buttons and combinations all make sense. He is driving past my defense, making reverse shots and throwing alley-oops. Despite my best efforts, I cannot beat him. He’s taken the little bit of control I slowly gave him and turned it into incredible talent. He was learning when I wasn’t aware of it!

Kids are amazing like that. They learn so quickly, even when we think they aren’t. As Christian parents, we should take this to heart. Often, when we don’t think we are teaching, even when we think their “controls are turned off”, kids are actually in the game, soaking everything in.

We’re always to be teaching our kids. Because, they are ALWAYS learning. So, we must be on guard. They are going to learn whatever they see. Just because you may not be sitting over a Bible, every second with our kids is a chance to teach them God’s ways. Every word and decision is a chance to show them Jesus.

And here’s the deal: they will be “playing on their own” before we know it. These kids are sharp! Go sit in any Sunday school class or youth group lesson and see if you aren’t amazed with the knowledge you will experience! Our children will grow in faith in accordance to what “game” we constantly put them in. They will be “controlling their own team” before we know it. Which team they play on largely depends on which team we showed them when we thought they were not looking! We are called to bring our kids up “in the training and instruction of the Lord”, in all that we do. It’s a big task. I pray we are up to it!

Oh and Jude......no more alley oops from Parker to Duncan!

Beautiful boy

My son goes to “Kindergarten Round-Up” today. He gets to meet his teacher for next year, and hear a little about what school will expect. It is very exciting, but also VERY sad. I just cannot believe the way that time is moving. How is my first born child starting school?

To be honest…it is breaking this Daddy’s heart. I know that he has to grow up. I know that he has to experience life, even the hurts and heartbreaks, but I am not ready for that! I want him to still beg me to sleep with him every night. I want him to still snuggle with his Spidey blanket and suck his thumb when tired. I want him to still need my help getting dressed. I want him to always think kisses from girls are gross. I want him to always choose being with me over friends.

I am proud of the boy he is. He is SO smart. He is loving. He is strong. He knows God. And I am excited to watch who he will become and all the great things he will do. Yet, it is hard letting go little by little each year.

I am so thankful for my kids. My daughter is so beautiful. She is growing old too. Three comes next month! Around the same time, I will have a new daughter. I am grateful for these blessings….and I pray that God teaches me how to always cherish EVERY moment.

Jude….have fun in kindergarten. Be a good boy. Daddy is so proud of you. And yes…I will sleep with you tonight.