WEEK FIVE: A NEW NAME

​Hours after our first son was born, the pediatrician after glancing at the name Joshua Champ Rhodes on his chart, joked: “Is that a family name, or is this going to be some great kid?” Our son’s middle name was meant to honor Joe’s grandfather, while we planned to call him Joshua, based on hours of discussion and pouring over birth name books. But when we brought our five-pound bundle of energy back to the small village where we lived as missionaries, the Eskimos insisted on calling him Champ and added their own middle name—Boyukbuk, loosely translated as little big smoke. The name Champ has stuck ever since, and to answer that doctor’s question, yes, he was a great kid and has become an even more amazing adult. 

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Ten years later, after a roller coaster of painful infertility, God surprised us with Jonathan Samuel Rhodes. Coming up with his name felt weighty and consequential in light of the miracles and abundant answers to prayer that characterized the adoption process. Champ wanted his brother to be called Jonathan, which means asked of God, and I chose Samuel, which means sent by God. Our second son is well into his third decade now, and I have never gotten over the wonder of God sending us such a gift.
Names matter, as you probably know from your own stories. 
For the full devotional, click on Week Five below. (Or if you're new here, begin with Week One!)

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WEEK ONE

Week two

WEEK THREE

WEEK FOUR

WEEK FIVE