Explaining Eternity

"If you have a steel ball, solid steel, the size of this earth, 25,000 miles in circumference, and every one million years a little sparrow would be released to land on that ball to sharpen his beak and fly away only to come back another million years later and begin again, by the time he would have worn that ball down to the size of a BB, eternity would have just begun." - Chuck Swindoll

"Along with that, even young children are having to deal with peer pressure and other societal influences.

Beyond the drugs, sex and rock'n'roll their boomer and Gen X parents navigated, technology and consumerism have accelerated the pace of life, giving kids easy access to influences that may or may not be parent-approved. Sex, violence and foul language that used to be relegated to late-night viewing and R-rated movies are expected fixtures in everyday TV.

And many tweens model what they see, including common plot lines "where the kids are really running the house, not the dysfunctional parents," says Plante, who in addition to being Zach's dad is a psychology professor at Santa Clara University in California's Silicon Valley.

He sees the results of all these factors in his private practice frequently.

Kids look and dress older. They struggle to process the images of sex, violence and adult humor, even when their parents try to shield them. And sometimes, he says, parents end up encouraging the behavior by failing to set limits — in essence, handing over power to their kids.

"You get this kind of perfect storm of variables that would suggest that, yes, kids are becoming teens at an earlier age," Plante says."

An email forward was sent to me from Allan, our associate minister, with this article tackling the topic of children as early as elementary school trying to live like teenagers. It is quite a sobering idea for parents out there and for those, like me, that have a child on the way, to deal with the issue of kids wanting to be older and wanting to make more adult decisions. It's my prayer that we can shield our children from this mentality and help maintain their innocence in a fallen world.

Experience

I have been getting my feet wet recently by speaking in the pulpit while Allan has been away. Although I don't feel like I am cut out to be a preacher, I do enjoy the experience of talking to the entire congregation from time to time. It keeps me on my toes!

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Last night 40 from this church family(it was our youth time with some older couples that decided to tag along) traveled over to the Driftwood 8 Theatre to see "Facing the Giants"- a movie about football with a strong Christian message. It was great. It is very evident that this movie does not have any actors, but after a while you forget all about that because the message is so powerful. If their is a theatre near you showing this film, I encourage you to take your church family to see it. It refreshed and renewed my heart for action.

High and Dry

Here I am, left by my local colleagues to hang in the wind! The entire church family is meeting in the auditorium to have a special Thanksgiving Service. Allan, our Associate Minister, has skipped town to be with family. Bryce, our worship leader, has skedaddled over to OK. Our new preacher, Greg Neill, has not yet moved here. So that leave little old me-the youth guy (who Allan lovingly refers to as the Volleyball Net Coordinator)-to come up with a plan. I will try to do the same for you one day!!

Well, I used the word local in the first sentence for a reason. My precher buddy Jim from another state has sent me some thoughts to help me have a nice devotional this evening. I now think that I will be able to stumble through somehow. Thank you, Jim, for all your help!

Well, it has been quite some time since my last blog and for that I am deeply sorry. Between working overtime getting ready for the Friday 5th Quarter, anticipating the visit from our new preacher and his family and substitute teaching, I have been away from my beloved laptop. And I really don't like being away from my laptop. Some of you may know what that feels like.

I will blog later today. Right now I am going to visit one of the teens that is in a residential treatment center and try to take him out to lunch.

Only A Little Bit

I don't have much time to type this. Here I sit in McNeil High School Library while I await the results of the 4 students from Marble Falls Choir and their TMEA All State competition results. I have once again agreed to chaperone and infuse some exciting energy in the students as they prepare to sightread and sing measures from O Schone Nacht by Brahms, The Conversion of Saul by Stroope and a piece by Ralph (pronounced Rafe) Vaughn Williams, among others, that are fairly difficult. It has been a pleasure to hear them as they rehearse their voice parts alone and then to hear them as a large group of Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses. What beautiful music!!

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I awoke the other night to the sound of my sweetheart crying out in pain. With a start, I turned to her and got ready to take her to the hospital, but it was not what I thought. Her calf had cramped so tight that she was feeling immense pain. Although I was relieved, I went over to the other side of the bed and massaged out the hard cramp until the muscle was relaxed and she was feeling no pain. After the whole ordeal, she laughed at me and told me noticed that I was on red alert lately and that made her feel good. I guess I do wake up more in the middle of the night if I hear a sound that is out of the ordinary.

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Well, I gotta go. They are shutting the school library down now. I will blog more tomorrow!

Quote Of The Day

"How seldom it is that the soul keeps itself silent enough for God to speak." - William Buckhouse and James Janson

Shower of Blessings

This past Sunday evening, EL and I were showered for our baby that is soon to be here! Wow, the days keep flying by. Anyway, our church family here is the greatest. They have given to us time and time again. So much so that A.L. Hahn jokingly took me aside and told me that we were not allowed to buy another house or have another baby in at least a year. He got no argument from me or a tired EL. We are so grateful to this family for blessing us in every way possible. There are no words that can describe how we feel about this congregation. Ms. Ann, our secretary, informed us that the baby will not be ours but will be the whole church's to pamper and spoil and raise. What fun! We are so excited!!

The Latest

Here is the latest that has been happening on the Marble Falls front:

Thursday-I subbed for the Middle School and had some great classes.

Friday-I worked at the office, ate lunch with Allan (who I haven't seen in a long, long time), and prepped for our 5th Quarter for the last football game of the season: Marble Falls vs. Burnet-what a wild game-2 of our guys got hurt one right after the other-Big John Bird (Marble Falls) and then Thomas Levens (Burnet). They are doing fine now.

The 5th Quarter brought 30+ teens and friends to our new house. I got to meet some teens that are from the school and community. The pictures you see are from the party!

Saturday-Kyle B, Thomas G and I babysat for the ladies patriotic brunch. It was fun. We watched Ice Age and played Ratchet & Clank in the Youth House.

That evening, EL and I sat out on the newly uncluttered back patio and played Gin while the sun went down. We only played a few games because it got cold quick.

This morning-In class we talked about how to love people that we can't stand. We came to the conclusion that it's a lot easier said than done, but that it is what Jesus calls us to do as His radical disciples.

Tonight-I will fill you in on the happenings tomorrow afternoon with more pictures to accompany.

I Love Trivia

Tell me what it is?

The word of the day (and the one you, dear reader, must define to me by comment or email) is:

Lenugo.

Inquiring minds want to know.

Hint: It is only found on two types of people!
If you answer with these as well you will get brownie points.

Whaddaya think?!?

Down With The Sickness

I just don't know what it is, but it seems that every year, around my birthday, I get a nasty bug that puts me down for a few days!! Well, now I am back on my feet almost normal again.

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Our yard is now fully equipped with a brand spanking new sprinkler system! Now it is time for the privacy fence in the backyard and (last but not least) the spreading of topsoil and the laying of sod. What fun!

Today

Today...
Jerry, Scott and Dennis are working in the trenches and holes that they have dug for the new sprinkler system. It is getting very close now!

Today...
I have been watching a young man that has been expelled from Colt Elementary. His mother did not take off from work and needed someone to watch over him while she was in the office. I took some time out to show him around the office, a little bit of what I do, my new house, and the Youth House. We spent some time playing with his toys and playing Ratchet & Clank and Jak & Daxter on PS2.

Today...
I have heard disheartening news of the struggle it has been for my mom to move into her new house. The seller has broken many legally binding items in the contract and is being very rude to my family in FL. My mom, being a Christian, does not want to take the seller to court, so there is not much that she can do right now. Keep her and the rest involved in your prayers as they go through this ordeal.

Today...
Civilians from Marble Falls are lining up right now to show support for the Fallen Soldier procession on 281.

Today...
I am going to spend the whole evening with my sweetheart!!

Today...
Is a good day

Quote Of The Day

"Character is what you are in the dark." - Dwight L. Moody