Every Sunday in October, we have written about one of our four kids.

This is my final post, and the last Sunday for “31 Days of Rest and Risk”.
I have absolutely loved sharing this topic with my wife.  I hope I made her proud, and didn’t scare too many of her followers away…

I am glad my last post…  is about my first son.
Gunnar Powell TeSelle – Born on June 8, 2000 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Gunnar had to endure parents that really didn’t know what they were doing with a newborn.  It’s a small miracle that he is still alive.

I gave him horseradish when he was 6 months old… fed him peanut butter when he was
8 months old.. and I’m sure I dropped him a few times… a week.   OK, I confess… I didn’t know what I was doing… Caroline was the one that kept Gunnar alive!

Gunnar joined our family and immediately joined our chaos.
* His first concert was a hardcore show at 6 months old.
* He went on Road Rules trips with us around the country. He turned one in Oregon,
two in Iowa, three in Ohio, four in North Carolina, five in Illinois.  I’m sure he was quite confused about where he actually lived!

Whether it’s the environment he’s growing up in, the genetics of his family, God intervening in his life, or a combination of all three…. Gunnar is great kid who loves life.

He loves to play and loves to laugh… (he laughs just like his grandfather Wayne)
He reminds us that playing and laughing are crucial elements for successful resting.
He makes us slow down… He makes us play… he makes us laugh.

He loves his brothers and sister.  He’s sensitive to the feelings of others.  He is quick to forgive and quick to forget.  He understands grace and mercy… and gives both of them freely.  His conscience is clear…he’s honest… and his compass is solid.

He’s a great guy who understands people are the most important thing to God.

~ Greg

{This is a series of posts for 31 Days of Rest & Risk. To read the other posts, click here.}

My friend Reeve will love this post… at least I hope so She’s one of the best vocalists and musicians I know. She lives in Charlotte, NC… I live in Chicago. I miss you Reeve.

I love music. I have since I was little. I have promoted over 120 shows with more than 500 bands from around the world. You name the style… I’ve done it… well, almost.

Let me continue to dazzle you with my musical prowess…
* I played the trumpet from 5th grade to 9th grade
* I sang bass in a quartet for one song
* I performed that one song in church on a Sunday morning to hundreds of people

So as you can tell, I’m a musical genius… … but I do like music… and I do want my life to be a symphony of love… having flashbacks of the 2009 TeSelle Family Christmas Video

All that to say, I understand the importance of a rest. A musical rest. A life with rest.

Rests: 1 whole 2 half 3 quarter 4 eighth 5 sixteenth

If you are like me… and want your life to be a symphony of love… you must learn when and how to enter God’s appointed rest.

There is no music being played during any of the 5 rests above… but understand this…
There is no making of music without rests.

Our lives should be characterized with intermittent rests.

God writes the music of my life, which includes His rest. It is merely my job to learn the tune, and at the same time not ignore His times of rest.

If I ignore His rests… I will screw up the symphony He is writing for my life.

Stay in tune. Rest Regularly.

~ Greg

The Last Freaky Friday
I’m published… but not how you might think.

On October 26, 1991, (21 years ago), my good friend Lara Oliver asked me to escort her to her Debutante Ball in the Trump Plaza in New York City. My best friend Tim Webster was dating Lara at the time, but she needed two escorts, so she asked me.

It was a risk.

* Thousands of people from many countries would be attending this event.
* I’d have to wear a black tuxedo and white gloves.
* I’d have to learn how to waltz.
* I’d have to waltz with Lara in front of “the world”.

This was before Dancing With The Stars was popular. Waltzing was not something 23 year old guys were doing for fun… at least not me.

They say what happens in Vegas… stays in Vegas…
but evidently what happens in New York… gets published in Playboy!

All the details of how a photograph of me, Tim, a couple other escorts, and a Debutante, got published for the feature article for Playboy in March of 1992, aren’t important for this post… Maybe for another time… and please don’t go check to see if I’m telling the truth…
just trust me

Being published in Playboy was something I was embarrassed about for 19 years…
but now it’s a memory I cherish… because…

… my friend, Lara Oliver Webster died on February 5, 2010 of a brain tumor.
She was 39. Mother of 3 kids. Married to my best friend for 15 years.

Lara’s funeral was amazing! Over 1500 people, from around the United States attended her celebration. She was an amazing person. Caroline spoke at the funeral as her close friend… another honor we accepted… that has lasting memories. If you have 5 minutes… here is a video put together by Mike Eller of her celebration service.
(If you can’t watch it below, just click here to go right to the vimeo site)

Lara was and is a Christian. She is now “home” with Jesus. We will see her again…
and when we do, I’m sure we will reminisce a little about that ridiculous weekend in NYC.

Because I took a risk, and escorted Lara to her Debutante Ball in 1991…
I had the honor of waltzing with Lara Oliver Webster…
at The Trump Plaza…
in New York City…
in front of the world.

It’s a ridiculously good memory I have with Lara that reminds me of what’s really important in life.

~ Greg

{This is a series of posts for 31 Days of Rest & Risk. To read the other posts, click here.}

Have you ever wondered about the first guy who ever attempted to skydive?

What was he thinking? Someone had to have the idea… build some contraption… go up in the plane… and jump out!. I do not know skydiving history. Maybe it went well for him, maybe it didn’t. But one things for sure… this person had no desire to play it safe.

It seems like we all desire safety. America seems to be consumed with being safe. We have put warning labels and seat belts on everything… and have helmets for everyone… it’s out of control.

But when it comes to Christianity… does the Bible tell us to play it safe? I think many Christians and churches across America are probably playing it safe, and therefore are viewed as weak and fearful, rather than a powerful force.

Look at Jesus…
He left heaven… unsafe.
He loved unconditionally… unsafe.
He told the truth… always… unsafe.
He came to this planet and was crucified… unsafe.

Look at people who followed Jesus…
They wound up sawed in two… unsafe.
They were in dens with lions… unsafe.
They were thrown in the fire of a furnace… unsafe.
They were following Jesus… which is generally… unsafe.

God desires a lot for our lives… but I’m not sure safety is near the top of His list.

Some of us play it safe. We want more… we desire more… but we will never become who God is wanting us to be if we surrender to safety.

Safety. It may be nice at times… but if you have decided to follow Jesus… then you must abandon the idea that Jesus has called us to be safe.

Jesus called us to follow Him… it’s exciting… and life changing… but hardly is it ever safe.

~ Greg

{This is a series of posts for 31 Days of Rest & Risk. To read the other posts, click here.}

Tygar Wayne TeSelle – Born on June 23, 2002 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Tygar was a surprise. Actually all our kids were surprises.
I know what you’re thinking… and yes we know how God makes babies…
I guess we were just taking some risks before we rested

Tygar came into the world screaming… and he continued to scream… He was colicky. Tygar literally kept us awake for a year, and he has kept us on our toes ever since!

Tygar is our risk taker.
He loves anything that goes fast… motorcycles, rollercoasters, etc.
He’s the first one to try anything new.
He’s a thinker and asks “why” all the time.
He’s inquisitive, smart, clever, and absolutely hilarious.
He’s creative. He’s an artist.
He’s wears a mohawk, and has his own fashion style.
He’s responsible, but at the same time a rule-breaker.
He’s thoughtful and very self aware.
He challenges status quo.
His blue eyes will pierce your soul.

Tygar is currently in a cast… He broke his left arm a few weeks ago… trying something crazy on his bicycle… didn’t work out like he thought…

Tygar pushes our family to try new things. We need him.

He brings life to our lives.

~ Greg

{This is a series of posts for 31 Days of Rest & Risk. To read the other posts, click here.}