Bringing Aiden Home

I am writing to you to make you aware of a very urgent situation that has come up in our family. The little boy you see on this blog entry is named Aiden. Aiden is an orphan with down syndrome and a heart condition that lives in Eastern Europe. Aiden needs to be adopted into a family before he turns 4 years old or he will be institutionalized- this means he will pretty much be placed in a crib with iron bars , feed once a day and left alone. When he turns 16 he will be released into society to fend for himself. The tragic reality is that many of the orphans released when they are 16 end up being a victim of human trafficking. My wife and children and I have committed to bringing Aiden into our home and raising him as our son .

I remember the day I first saw a picture of him. I was in the prayer room and Tracie (my wife) called me in tears and told me that she had found the little boy that we were to adopt. We had adopted our daughter Elia just 19 month's earlier making her number four for us. We knew we would adopt again, but figured it would be in another year or two. Funny how things don't happen as you had planned. I rushed home and before she even pulled Aiden's picture up I knew I would be in trouble and that there would be no going back. That is exactly what happened. As soon I saw his precious little face, their was an ache in my heart for him that I can not even put into words. I have never felt so much emotion so quickly. Right then and there he was my son.

To be honest it scared me and it still does. I found myself "cutting deals" with God in my spirit. "Oh God please provide a way for us to get this little boy..." I promise I will do "this" or won't do "that" anymore etc.. The affection I have felt is both great and terrible. Great because I feel like he has been my son since he was born, and I will do anything for him. Terrible in the sense that if we somehow lose him, I don't know if I will survive. My heart is in this 150%. To be honest, I find much offense in my heart building towards God. I have found my inner man raising his fist and shouting "You did this to me, now you had better come through or I will never venture down this road again and you and I just may be done for good!" Scary huh? Sounds like someone needs to be "rooted and grounded in love " just a little more. So I'm learning to trust ..again. I have seen God come through on so many adoptions. My wife Tracie has been helping couples adopt over the last year and has seen many children placed in Christian homes, and we have seen God provide for every single one of them.

I know His heart is for this. So this big, mushy puddle of a daddy is asking friends, family and strangers to partner with us and help bring Aiden home. It's gonna cost around $20,000 - $25,000 by the time it's all said and done. God has brought in everything we have needed so far, and I am leaning into Him and trusting Him for the rest. I am now doing my part by making our need known and asking that you help us bring our son, Aiden home.

Please pass this blog along to family, friends or anyone who you think could help via prayer, financialy contributing or both.

Here is how you can donate:

PAYPAL:
1.Go to Tracie's BLOG
2.Donate through our PayPal Link (this is not tax deductible, but helps with our immediate financial obligations to the agency)

GIVE THROUGH REECES RAINBOW (this is tax deductible)
1. Go to the Reeces Rainbow Link

GIVE THROUGH OUR IHOP ACCOUNT (also tax deductible)
Checks Payable to IHOP-KC (not w/ our name anywhere on the check)
mail to:
John and Tracie Loux
12312 Askew Street
Grandview MO 64030

SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISERS
Click Here

ADOPTION FUNDRAISER!!!!!

Nick is doing a fund raiser for our adoption!
GET DETAILS HERE!

More to come!

The Naked Guy

I am a processor, which basically means this... I'm not the fastest thinker on my feet. But I also save myself from getting into some weird situations due to this need to process. The following story is a true story and I'm not sure exactly if I handled it the best way I could have. Never the less, I did the best I could with what God gave me.

Friday afternoon, I was driving home down Blue Ridge Blvd. after dropping off my lawn mower to the lawn mower fix it guy for like the 19th time this summer. I approached the light at the Ruskin High School intersection which had just turned red. As I came to a stop, I noticed a very strange sight in the right hand lane. I couldn't believe it at first, but then my brain caught up with my eyes. Standing there at the red light in all his glory was a naked guy.

Now folks, I'm not talking about inappropriately dressed, I'm talking inappropriately not dressed. Not a stitch of anything on this guy, not even sandals. He just stood there at the light with his hands in the air. I figure he was either drunk, high, or on some sort of personal freedom walk. I sat there in disbelief until the light turned green and I drove on by.

It was then that my brain kicked into gear and I thought, "What would Jesus do?" At that moment, I really didn't know. Would He have been caught in the same shock I was in? Or would He have sprung to action? After I was about 50 yards past him, I concluded that Jesus would have clothed him. But then I thought, "Wait, I can't do that. Then I'd be the naked guy."
And to be honest folks, my wife doesn't need that right now, so that option was out.

Then I thought, I could give him a ride, I knew he at least didn't have a weapon. But I just couldn't get over the "ewwwww" factor and also, what I would say to my wife when I picked her up and told her that I had just given a naked guy a ride home in the very seat she was sitting in.

About a mile down the road, I noticed that I had a beach towel in the back seat. Dang it, I thought, I could have at least given him that. Just my luck, I'll get to heaven and Jesus will say, "I was the naked guy and you drove right past me. Depart from me, you shall spend eternity in Branson, Missouri playing lead guitar for K.D. Lang."

A Little Ninja Action Going Out To All You Dad's Out There

Mr. Brain Storm

So I'm in the process of recording guitar parts on two CD's at the moment- one with Nate Panke and the other with Dave Campbell. I was rehearsing with Dave on Tuesday along with the other members in the band- Paco, Josh Motlong, and Adam- when Dave suddenly asked me, "So, John, do you have any ideas?"

Dave often goes around the room and asks the different players what they think of the arrangements and if they have ideas or opinions.

When he asked me this, I drew a blank. Now, understand, I've been going non-stop for a couple weeks now and my brain was fried.

I simply looked at him and said without hesitation, "Dude, I have so many good ideas, I'm just not feeling released to share any of them with you."

Hey, when in doubt, blame the Holy Spirit, yo.

And the Scales Tip

So we're all driving in the van on the way to Deanna Rose Farmstead. It's a beautiful Saturday, 70 degrees, blue skies- happy family time. Out of the blue my oldest son Nick who is 15 says, "Mom, is Dad ever right and you're wrong?"

I simply smiled quietly to myself and thought, "My, justice comes swiftly."

I turned to him and said, "Hmmm, you noticed that too, eh?"

Of course, these moments are very rare, and I've learned not to jump on them and ride them for all they're worth. I've learned to celebrate them quietly, as to not ruin the rest of the outing.

I Don't Know Jack, but I Still Prayed for Him

While in Louisiana this past week, we drove past this realtor's sign. I quickly pulled off to the side of the road, turned off the mini-van, and we had a moment of prayer for this gentleman. He must have had a rough childhood. And that's all I'm going to say.

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