In and Out

I have been in and out but mostly out this week and it it taking a toll on me! Poor little Jenniva got sick on Wednesday and I had to leave the office a little early to take her home to rest. I got an appointment with her doctor on Thursday and found that she has a bad sinus infection. I was sad to be away from my office but really glad to spend some QT with my little bundle! GranMary is at home with her today and they are having a good ole time!

Anyway, as for the nonexistent blogging-we have no internet or computer at home yet. That will all change with the sale of our TX home to the new Marble Falls Youth Minister in the New Year! Is that amazing or what?!?

I am astounded at the number of teens that will be taking part in the Progressive Dinner and Christmas Party. There will be 40+ of them tomorrow as we celebrate the reason for the season!

Getting ready to preach this weekend for both Sunday morn and eve since Mike and Joel have left this morning with their better halves to depart on a sea cruise. I am very jealous!

I will be back next week with more blogs and some pics.

Benton Christmas Parade

Well, the Northside Christmas Party was a smashing success! Elvis did indeed enter the building. Mike and Joel were quite possibly the ugliest women I have ever seen as we subjected the unwitting crowd to our rendition of "Mele Kalikimaka" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. I was surprised by the standing ovation Sarah Jane and I received following our performance of "The Prayer." That was exciting!! And the food was great!

Tonight the teens and I will be singing and bringing holiday cheer in the Benton Christmas Parade. I will be back later with some posted pics!

The Northside Christmas Party

We are busy in the behind the scenes work for the church Christmas Party this evening! Charlie Manning and I are the MC's. I am privileged to sing the Celine Dion/Andrea Bocelli or Charlotte Church/Josh Groban (whichever you have heard) smash hit "The Prayer" with Sarah Jane Manning. Joel, Mike and I will be putting on quite a show. Someone special may be 'entering the building.' Lindsey and Randy Mitchell will be singing a song. Stephanie and the ladies will be entertaining us with another song. Ole Santa will even make an appearance. There will be laughs and much festivity. It will be great!

Be back later with pics!

Quote Of The Day

"For the Son of God did not stay in the safe immunity of his heaven, remote from human sin and tragedy. He actually entered our world. He emptied himself of his glory and humbled himself to serve. He took our nature, lived our life, endured our sorrows, felt our hurts, bore our sins and died our death. He penetrated deeply into our humanness. He never stayed aloof from the people he might have been expected to avoid. He made friends with the dropouts of society. He even touched the untouchables. He could not have become more one with us than he did. It was the total identification of love. " - John Stott

So Dizzy!

Things are happening too fast here in Benton, America! It seems like just yesterday I was in Marble Falls, Texas. The days and months are flying by. My nose is down in my work as I prepare a proposal to give to the elders here tonight; get ready for the Holiday Party this Friday (in which I am singing and MC'ing); make sure that there are enough teens to help babysit this Saturday as we give parents a time of shopping and freedom for a day; and prep for the Benton Christmas Parade in which the Northside teens and I will be singing on a float! So much to do and so little time!

Hope this blog finds you in the holiday spirit! I know that I am! My 11 disc changer in the Jeep is loaded with Christmas CD's! El just rolls her eyes.

My sweethearts and I will be traveling to Tyler, TX this week to spend some great quality time with my family. I can't wait to be around the hustle and bustle that will be in my sister's beautiful house. What a great time it will be! Little J-Boo's first Thanksgiving outside the belly!! I will try to blog from TX but cannot promise anything. Here's wishing you and yours a wonderful time of family and counting blessings. I will leave you with this thankful article from youth guru Mark Oestreicher.

"Last thanksgiving I was—I'll admit—struggling to feel thankful. Maybe you're in this space right now. Know what? God is not spooked by that, or disappointed in you, or frustrated that you don't "get it". Clearly, the 12 disciples struggled with this on a regular basis, and Jesus didn't kick them out of the disciple club!

If you're struggling to find thankfulness, please take care of your soul and find some space and time to be quiet this week. Sit with God; and allow God—without a big agenda on your part—to provide you with thankfulness. Let's be honest—we can't always muster it up on our own. God's Spirit would love to cozy up to you in a place of quiet and reveal to you some reasons to be thankful.

This year, I have to say, I'm feeling way-thankful. I feel like my life is so wonderfully full of great stuff right now. My wife and children give me so much joy. My friends are so loving and caring. My spiritual community is so rich. My work is so fulfilling. And you youth workers continue to provide me with reason upon reason for joy and thankfulness. Your stories, your passion, your calling—they all fill me with a great hope. And, really, isn't thankfulness intimately connected to hope?"
Mark Oestreicher

Wow Weekend!!

What a great weekend and beginning of this one!! Friday night was our Scavenger Hunt around town with the teens. 28 teens and 8 adults showed up that night to chow down on some great burgers and scrumdiddliumptious homemade (by the one and only Ed Butterworth) hot wings. Oh Boy, there were hot wings and more hot wings - Honey Mustard - BBQ - Mango Habanero - and Original!! Delish!!!! The night was awesome and a lot of fun.

Saturday night several of us got together over at the home of Philip and Stephanie Howell for a night of eating, singing and fellowship! What great times!

Sunday morning was my first time to lead the worship for morning services. We were blessed with almost 400 people that morning. People that wanted to sing out with all their hearts.

On Sunday evening, Jeff Haughe brought the worship and I brought the lesson since Joel, our preaching minister, was sick at home. It was a good night.

Tonight, the teens and I will lead the all-church devotional and spend some time in thanks to our great and mighty God!

A Must Read

Wow! Walt Mueller has hit the nail on the head with this insight into reaching the teens of this generation. In the introduction to his book "Engaging The Soul Of Youth Culture" he makes this statement:
"Third, at times I am critical of the "faith" we're calling young people to. For too long youth ministry has been about getting people "saved." I struggle with our definition of what it means to be saved and the methods we employ to get young people saved. Gordon Smith says that the church is guilty of thinking of conversion in "minimalist terms: What is the very least that a person needs to do in order to be freed from the horrors of hell and assured of the glories of heaven?"

We have failed to understand that conversion is not just about belief, repentance, forgiveness and eternal life. Something else has to happen after someone accepts Christ as Savior. Salvation makes a person free from sin and a slave to righteousness-integrating the Christian faith and kingdom of God into all of life. When we call young people to faith, we are not calling them out of the world and into heaven. Rather, we're calling them to live God's will and way in the world."

His words call us to step up to the plate. Stop seeing things as a list or step by step process that we can check off upon the completion of each step. We need to see baptism as the beginning of a long life of discipleship, not as the end of the to-do list. Don't get me wrong. I am not de-emphasizing baptism, but I am trying to place a strong emphasis on what happens after the death of the 'old man.' Discipleship, true and strong, interacts with this world and expresses Christian truth in every aspect.

Parents and Youth Workers, if you have not read this book, I encourage you to go out and get it. It sure is helping me understand the ever changing culture of our youth.

Lyrics of the Day

"I'm not what I ought to be, I'm not what I'm going to be, but thank God I'm not what I used to be!"

Quote of the Day

I am stealing a quote from my friend's blog that I, as an reader of the Word, thought should be passed on to those of you out there that love to read the Bible. Tell me what you think about this.

“If the book we are reading does not wake us, as with a fist hammering on our skull, why then do we read it? A book must be like an ice-axe to break the frozen sea within us.” ~George Steiner, 1970

Getting There!

Well, El and I were able to get the house closer to its' destination while preparing for the arrival of my mom! Well, it turns out that she will not be able to come because she is sick. Please keep her in your prayers.

Mike K and I are cooking the meal this evening for the church family! I wonder what people will do when they see that we are the chefs this Wednesday. The menu is chicken tenders, mashed taters and gravy, green beans with bacon and onions, bread, banana pudding and cookies. We're not that bad. Well, if Linda P is in there to show us the way!! Can't wait!

Just letting you in on the innerworkings of the Northside church in Benton, AR on this wonderful Wednesday.

Finally!!

Well here I am finally able to stop for a minute and let you all know that I am alive and well. When my Dad and I got into town, I have been going 90 miles an hour trying to get everything unloaded at the house, get my office set up and figure out the iMac G4 in my office.

At the same time I have tried to re-establish some old relationships and begin some new! What a great, if not chaotic, time it has been here in Benton, Arkansas. I love Joel and Mike dearly and know that we will work together very well. I also love Joyce and Linda! What an office staff we will make!!

While here I have already enjoyed a cool hayride with the teens, gone to court to support a friend, been to a funeral, led a song at the graveside, been to a Benton/Bryant Jr High football game, heard the Benton Jr High Chamber Choir perform, taken a group of teens to Harding University for Bison Daze during Homecoming, paid visits with Joel and Mike, gone to a movie with one of the teens, had a bible study and baptized a great young man, and eaten way too much going out with my fellow ministers. It has been a whirlwind. But I love every minute of it.

The house is getting there. Not quite ready to be seen by the outsider, but livable. Neither of us will be away this Saturday so things are looking up for 'around-the-house' work.

I will be back from now on with daily thoughts and fond remembrances of the group I left in Marble Falls as well as exciting glimpses into the future here as we begin a new work!

Out For A While

I will be out of pocket for a while. I am in the process of packing and loading the Uhaul tomorrow and will be heading out no later than Noon on Wednesday. Then I will unpack on Thursday and hopefully get to spend some great, quality time with my sweetheart and baby on the weekend! The time is flying by right now. Anyway, I will most likely be unable to blog until I get my internet established at the home or office. Keep us in your prayers as we make this huge transition.

Misc

My office is looking strange to me. Hardly any books on the shelf and lots of loaded up boxes. I have thrown away a whole bunch of stuff and it is crazy how it piles up so quickly. I need a daily reminder to let things go when they do not need to stay. Hard to do!
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Tis the season for bugs, bugs and more bugs! I first noticed it on Tuesday night when I came back from the Marble Falls High School Concert, which was amazingly wonderful by the way!, and I headed in to the office and starting hearing crunches as I walked up to the exterior. There are bugs all over the place and there is nowhere we can go right now without stepping on one or seeing one or nearly inhaling one. Crazy! I am ready for them to leave.
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Just sitting here wondering if my old pal, Jim Burger, is gonna blog again! The days are just not the same without his daily insight.

STUFF!

This week is my last week and I am in the process of boxing things up at the house and in the office. I can't believe how much stuff I am throwing away! I am just going wild and trashing things with reckless abandon. It's funny how things accumulate. I am a bit of a pack-rat. I keep things because of the association. That is not always good.

Going to lunch with Guy N-I will be back in a while to finish the tale.

Quote of the Day

"He has a head like cement-all mixed up and permanently set." - James O. Dobbs

Words Of The Day

I have had a couple of words thrown at me recently. I had to look them up. Tell me what they mean. Here they are:

Defenestrate

Involute

Changing Colors

Happy October!!

I know it is now 3 days into it, but I really love Fall. The weather takes a cooler turn. The leaves start to change a bit. The air becomes crisp.

I saw on the news that the highs for the end of the week are going to be in the 80's with the lows in the 60's! That just gets me all pumped up!!

It started me thinking about the beauty of this creation and the artwork of the Master. So, I will leave you with an encouraging word from Richard J. Foster and a scripture.

"So give your attention to the created order. Look at the trees, really look at them. Take a flower and allow its beauty to sink deep into your mind and heart. Listen to the birds-they are the messengers of God. Watch the little creatures that creep upon the earth. These are humble acts, to be sure, but sometimes God reaches us profoundly in these simple ways if we will quiet ourselves to listen."
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"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world."
(Psalm 19:1-4)

My Little Girl

Today is Jenniva's first day in day care. I am very anxious and am waiting with baited breath for the call this afternoon from Elizabeth when she picks her up. I have mixed emotions about her being in a day care, we both do. Have there been examples out there of good quality day care? Just wondering. Oh, here's a great picture of the future punk rocker!

Homecoming

Last night was homecoming for both Faith Academy and Marble Falls High School. I was able to do a half and half deal. I spent the first half at the FA Flames game against Prairie Lea. I then went over to see the MF Stangs fight the Lampasas Badgers. They both won!! Mf won 21-0 and FA won 44-40! It's always great to win at your homecoming game. Anyway, 6 students went with me to Whataburger after the game to get some grub and then came over to my house to watch a movie. I hit the sack at 2:00 and woke up for an early meeting at 7:00. I am pretty slap-happy right now! Feeling good, though.

Very Surreal

Last Wednesday evening, parents, elders and ministers met in the Youth House to discuss the future of the youth ministry since I am leaving in the near future. I was there to really just listen and help with what I know, but in the middle of the whole deal, I leaned over and whispered to one of the parents that it was just really strange and weird that I was there listening to them plan a minister-less calendar! Makes me feel like a lame duck.

Add to that my sweet girls are gone from here. They are already in AR, chomping at the bit for me to come be with them. I'm all alone. Kinda lonely and sad.

I have seen a lot of traffic in my house but have not yet gotten an offer. Hoping and praying that it will sell in the near future. Please lift that up!

Overall, I think that I am just down in the dumps. Life has indeed become very surreal.

Continuing The Conversation

Here is more of my good friend's blog posts. Allan and I were able to discuss this over the phone a little the other day. I believe he has many good things to say.

"I’m 40 years old, I have a green mini-van (Carrie-Anne drives it, not me), and, not only have I never played with a Wii, up until two days ago I didn’t even know how to spell it. I own, and sometimes wear, a pair of blue jean shorts. And with the exceptions of Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Audio Adrenaline, if it was recorded after 1985, I don’t listen to it. I have tube socks older than you. If I had my way, every room or office would have a Lava Lamp, the first Thursday and Friday of the NCAA basketball tournament would be declared national holidays, and we would sing “How Great Thou Art,” “It Is Well With My Soul,” and “A Mighty Fortress” during every single worship assembly. In my mind, Tom Landry is still the only coach the Cowboys have ever had.

Maybe we don’t have a ton of things in common. But let me tell you this: I love you.

I love you. Your youth minister loves you. The elders in your church love you. Your preacher loves you. The older lady that you think frowns at you all the time loves you. The man in the back who refuses to sing a “new song” loves you. Your friends’ families love you. And your parents love you more than you can possibly begin to imagine.

If you were beginning to learn how to drive a car and your dad took you to the Driver’s Ed place and the teacher told your dad, “We offer two different education packages. For $39 I can teach your child everything he needs to know to pass the test. It’s only the basic stuff. It’s not too difficult, he should breeze right through it, and we can get him his license in just a couple of weeks.”

“But for $79 I can give your child the extended course. We’ll teach him the basics, naturally. But we’ll also give him tons of practical experience behind the wheel in both urban and rural settings. We’ll take him out on the highways and through the school zones. We’ll teach him safety. We’ll show him how to react in emergency situations. How to avoid dangerous circumstances. How to react when faced with difficult conditions. It takes two months instead of two weeks. And it’s not nearly as easy. It’ll require some dedication and study and lots of field work. But I think it’s worth it in the long run.”

One course gets you your license. The other course provides you with the teaching and the tools necessary to greatly increase your odds of being safe and staying alive. Which one will your dad choose?

Don’t carry the metaphor too far out. It may break down.

Why would the person who loves you the most give you just the basics? He wouldn’t! He would want you to be fully equipped to face whatever challenges or crises come your way.

And that’s what everybody in your church wants for you. We love you.

I want, more than I can explain, to provide you with the teachings and the tools you need to live exactly like our Savior. I want you to be just like him. I want you to think about and talk about sacrificing and serving and thinking more highly of others than you do yourselves. Submitting to each other in love. Seeing your place in the body of Christ, both now and in the future, as vital and critical and paramount to the growth and spread of the Kingdom.

Trust me (and you know this already), we concentrate on you because we see how we’ve messed things up for ourselves. We want things to be better for you than they are for us. We know very well how we’re supposed to act. And we know very well that we don’t. And we know that if the Church of Jesus is going to make a difference in reclaiming the world for its Creator, we’ve got to change. And we see you as the ones who can more than likely do what we’re unable to do.

I believe Jesus’ apostles were teenagers when he called them. Going through both Scripture and ancient Jewish education history, I think it’s clear that the apostles were likely between the ages of 12 and 19 when they decided to follow Jesus. Peter is the only one that Scripture points to as maybe possibly being in his 20s. I think they were teens.

And I think Jesus chose teenagers, not just because that was the way the rabbinical system had been working for a couple of centuries, but because he knew the passion and the energy and the desires of teens to identify with a cause and dedicate themselves entirely to it. I know that fire, too. I see that fire in you all the time — at youth rallies, on retreats, at WinterFest, and around campsite campfires at 2:00 am. You’ve got it. You want, most of you, more than anything else in the whole world to be exactly like Jesus. And you look to church and church leaders and church culture to find out exactly what Jesus was like and what he taught so you can be exactly like him.

And I’m afraid we let you down.

The last two posts on this blog have not been about you. They’ve been about us. They’ve been about me.

And here’s my plea, to you from me: don’t leave us.

Statistics show you’re leaving the churches of Christ in record numbers. It happens as soon as you get out of high school. Some of you come back eventually. Most of you don’t. And we’re all scrambling, every one of us, trying to figure out why and what we can do about it.

Don’t leave us.

A young man named Brian, a college student at ACU, asked that panel why it was such a big deal when teens born and raised in the churches of Christ left for other faith traditions. If we’re still claiming Jesus as Lord and still serving Christ in love, he said, why does it hurt you when we leave this particular heritage?

I waited until the session was over and grabbed him in the hallway. (Not literally. I said his name.) Yes, it hurts us when you leave, I told him. It kills us. Because it means we’ve let you down. It means we were not successful in passing on the baton of faith and tradition and heritage in our own fellowship to our own kids. We take it as a sign that we’ve failed. And it kills us. It means to us that you didn’t really see us, the churches of Christ, as a family. And that’s what all of us long for it to be.

Don’t leave us.

I know we’ve horribly distorted the Church that Jesus died for. You’re not stupid. You know it, too. You know how inconsistent we are. You know how we preach and teach one thing and then act totally the oppposite. You see right through our feeble attempts to justify our own wants and desires and comfort zones by misapplying this passage or pulling that verse completely out of context. It’s crazy sometimes! Sometimes it makes me want to leave!

Don’t leave.

As I told Brian that day at ACU, stay and help us. Wrestle with us. Grow with us. Teach us. Show us how to worship with passion and joy and with the freedom we have in Christ. Point out the inconsistencies. We know how crazy it is to say you can clap and raise your hands in the Youth House but not in the auditorium. We know that makes absolutely no sense. But we keep doing it anyway. We’ve been so inconsistent for so long, we’re blind to a lot of it. Show it to us. Challenge us. You know how God works best when we’re getting our hands dirty in the low income apartment complexes and the homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Most of the people in your churches know it, too. But there’s nobody challenging them to act on it. We know it’s nuts to expect you to submit and sacrifice for us when you see us slamming each other and gossiping all the time. Tell us about it.

Find somebody in your congregation, maybe somebody other than a youth minister or an elder or a parent, someone with a big picture view of things who’s not going to be caught in the middle because of job descriptions or expectations, and talk to them. Make that contact. Make that friend. And then when somebody or something in the church is beating you down, go to that person. I think you’ll find that, if you haven’t already, when you engage an adult in serious reflection and discussion and give him your trust, he becomes your biggest fan.

To the youth group here at Legacy, specifically: I’m your biggest fan. Getting to know you at the Discipleship Retreat last Spring was such a wonderful experience for Carrie-Anne and me. Listening to you, sharing with you, especially those of you in Group Five (”common name, uncommon game”), gave me such optimism and joy. It made me so excited to be coming to a church family with such a thoughtful and passionate group of young people. If anybody or anything in our church family is beating you down, if you’re confronted with a teaching or a directive that’s contrary to Jesus’ example or teachings, you let me know. Come see me. And I’ll be at the very front of your parade with flags and trumpets and whistles and bells. Driving a green mini-van. Wearing blue jean shorts.

Don’t leave us. Stay with us and help us grow together in our Lord."

Insider Struggles

The posts this week on the blog of my friend, Allan Stanglin, are very provocative. They certainly have my interest because they address flaws in ministering to youth. Being a youth minister, I am always looking for thoughts and ideas that will aid me in nurturing tweens and teens as they grow in the Lord. Here is a quote from his post today as to why teens are more and more becoming disenchanted with Christian community:

"Let’s narrow the focus to concentrate today on what I see as the number one problem: bad-mouthing the church in front of our kids.

You want solutions? There are no easy ones. But I think everything, all of this, changes in very positive ways if we’ll just all stop talking negatively about the church in front of our teens.

When the only time our kids ever hear us talking about church is when we’re bashing it, why would we not expect our teens to leave the church and start looking for something else? Our kids aren’t stupid! They can connect the dots. We teach and preach one thing, but they see and experience something different. They read in the Scriptures one thing. But they hear something different. They know we’re called to something more. They’re convinced that God’s church is a loving, united, nurturing community of faith that puts others’ needs ahead of our own. But when they see their parents gripe and complain and threaten to leave if things don’t start going their way; when they hear their parents slam song leaders and song selection and elders’ decisions and Bible class teachers; when they experience the tension in the arguments and the gossip and the backstabbing; how can we blame them for wanting something else? Don’t you think this has a huge impact?

I’ve been very, very disappointed in some of the magazines and websites and blogs out there that angrily tear apart our brothers and sisters in the Lord’s body who don’t believe or practice every single thing the exact same way we do. Labeling preachers as wolves and denouncing entire congregations as heretical based on personal opinions or personal comfort levels is wrong in every way. And damaging. So very damaging. Some friends of mine made a vow almost two years ago to stop reading that stuff. Even if it’s just for information’s sake, for the sake of amusement or entertainment or even curiosity, stop reading it. It’s damaging.

And now I see preachers and teachers on the other side, the ones who’ve been labeled as wolves and heretics, the ones who preach and teach unity and love and fellowship, engaging in the exact same practices. There’s just as much, if not more, hate and anger and selfish enmity and hostility than was in the old school stuff. It’s repulsive. One brother commented on one of these preacher’s blogs recently, in response to a criticism of a Church of Christ program that espoused some fairly rigid views, that “pretty soon they’ll all be dead, including ________, and the problem of traditional Church of Christ’ers will snuff itself out.”

And he mentioned the older preacher by name.

It was as if this brother would personally delight in slashing the throats of all his brothers and sisters who disagreed with him if he thought he could get away with it.

And we don’t see that this kind of thing has a tremendous impact on our kids? That man’s blog is no longer on my list of things to read every week. No way. There’s no place anywhere in our Christian faith for that kind of attitude to be thought, much less articulated in a public forum. I’m embarrassed and ashamed and saddened by the way we treat each other. God, forgive us. Have mercy on us.

It’s not ACU. It’s not youth ministers. It’s not the kids. It’s us. It’s the church. It’s the parents.

Is complaining and griping and ridiculing the church in front of our children the biggest part of the problem? Can it be stopped? Would it matter?"

Youth Ministry

Anyone that is a youth minister, youth leader, young adult, or teen needs to go right now and look at today's blog written by my friend and former colleague, Allan Stanglin. His thoughts on youth ministry are insightful and thought-provoking. Let me know what you think about this ever-increasing problem.

New Partner

Here I sit in my office talking to my wife and checking my email and something shoots across my peripheral vision. 'Jimmy, your mind is playing tricks on you,' my mind states. You see, I just got back from watching The Brave One with my buddy, Eric Teague, and I think I am being a little paranoid. And then all of a sudden I see it again and this time I snap my head in that direction and discover that something else has taken up residence in my office. A mouse is skittering away and seems more afraid to see me than I him. I have gotten up to search for it, but it has disappeared and I just think I will wait until tomorrow to get it. Besides, my new office-mate might prove to give Ann or Greg a good scare!!

I'm Missing It All!!

Since my lovely wife and baby have been away, I have missed them dearly. AND I have already missed some stepping stones in my daughter's life!! And I don't like that one bit. While in Arkansas, a few things have happened:

1 - Jenniva's first tooth popped out of the gums!

2 - She is now officially a rug rat because she is crawling all over the place! I have not been able to see her fully crawl yet.

3 - She is now talking more than ever and I can't wait to hear those silly sounds.

It sure is hard to be away during this period. I am in constant supplication to DAD. Here are a few things at the top of my prayer list now. Please consider them. The church here needs a new youth minister ASAP and we need someone to buy our house. Please take that to God for us!

Thoughts and Prayers

First and foremost I ask that you pray for Whitney Stanglin. She is the daughter of some of my friends, Allan and Carrie-Anne Stanglin. They are doing some testing on her eyesight and doctors are baffled with the test results. They just don''t know what is going on right now. Whitney was in my youth group here in Marble Falls and anyone that knows her would tell you how much of a sweetheart she is. I love this family dearly and hope that God will continue to bless them through all of this. Please lift Whitney and the Stanglin family up to the throne room of God.
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For all of you out there that don't know-I have a running Jeep once again. The battery was replaced on Friday and ever since it has started up with a Lion's roar. It is sweet music to my ears to hear the power!!
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Finally, I was blessed to sit at the feet of F. Lagard Smith, former law professor at Pepperdine University and author of books like Radical Restoration, Who Is My Brother and After Life among many others. Very interesting if not indicting thoughts about our faith in this faithless and lukewarm society.

One thing that got to me was the idea that if we Christians would have half of the zeal and fervor of Muslim terrorists we would win far more to the cause of Christ than if we just choose to sit in pools of our own inactivity. Now that is radical and it almost had me out of my seat, but then I started to think about it and realized that it rings true! If we would go about radically teaching and preaching Jesus with the audacity that is exhibited in many Muslim terrorists, our message would be heard and we would be looked upon as serious followers.

I am still formulating my thoughts on this and in no way am I condoning the heinous atrocities that have been committed by Muslim terrorists the world over, but let me know what you think about finding passion once again in Christian community.

What More Can Happen?!?

This morning, the Jeep that I purchased on Tuesday would not start. It wasn't the starter. What had happened to the battery? I did not know.

I am glad that I called my old buddy, Greg. Now, if you know Greg you would know that he has pretty much done it all and is very good at everything he puts his mind and hands to! He came over and looked at the battery and told me that it was not a maintenance-free one. And it had not been maintained by the former owner. The poor guy was probably like me-No Idea! Anyway, we filled them and jumped the batt.

Then, after lunch with John W and Ann G, we got out in my Jeep and it would not even turn over. Providentially, Vic C was at Janie's and he jumped the batt. I then took it over to Wal-Mart for a new batt and clean cables.

Hopefully-Prayerfully-That was all it was.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I spend money that I don't really have!!

We Covet Your Prayers

During this time of transition stress for the Mitchell family is already near its peak. Then it all comes undone.

While traveling to AR for closing on the new house and to transport furniture and necessities to El and J-Boo, my Jeep of 10 years broke down. Some great guys in Pittsburg, TX helped me out with a new radiator cap. They seemed to think that was the extent of the trouble.

It was not, however.

It got me to Benton for the closing. The Title Co, Janis and Shirley were all good sports and stayed later to meet with us. God bless them all!! We signed, got the key and unloaded that night. The very next day I spent with J while El was working at school. I had errands to run and was planning to meet El in Fountain Lake for the FL-Hot Springs HS football game. Things quickly changed! My Jeep started overheating again and I quickly took it to a shop there in Benton. They informed me that I had a cracked radiator and head. Wow! Just like that - no more Jeep!! Sad.

I found another vehicle and am very happy with it!! But we are now Strapped and Stressed!!

Please pray for us as we go through this very tight time. We know that God will provide as He has so many times in the past, but we are gonna be living on PB and J sandwiches for a while.

Changes

Here I sit stranded in Arkansas! I will be back later with a full report as to why. Meanwhile, I am here in Conway with my sweetie, my baby girl and mom-in-law. Things have changed really fast and my head is spinning. More on the Jimmy debacle later.

Hit the Road, Jack

Getting ready to hit the road yet again! This time I will be hauling a load of furniture and living necessities for EL and J-Boo. We are closing on the house tomorrow afternoon and I am gonna be there ready to move some goodies into our new place. I will have a short time with my 2 sweet girls and then head back on Saturday. A lot of time on the road in a short period.

Anyway, Greg is coming over with me to help load the U-Haul up in a few, so I better get ready to go to work!

I have been without my girls for a week and a half now and it's not really that fun. I have been getting some good reading in lately, though. I am 10 pages away from one I started the other day and getting ready for the next one. That part helps me out quite a bit!

Next post will be from the road.

Quote Of The Day

"On the bed of your life place the remains of your broken and scarred past...the emptiness of your poor character traits...the habits that have so long controlled you...the limited vision that continues to characterize you...the slight irritation that nags or the large one that looms...the anger or violence or lust or greed or discontentment or selfishness or the ugliness of pride. Lay these things before the Father and stretch yourself out under His shadow ad you ask Him to bring about remarkable, even miraculous changes in your life.

Is He able? Get serious! I'm referring to "the God of impossibilities," the One who has limitless power, who has never-and will never-meet an intimidating obstacle He cannot overcome, an aggressive enemy He cannot overwhelm, a final decision He cannot override, or a powerful person He cannot overshadow." - Charles R. Swindoll

A Prophet In The House!

Well, he wasn't there for long last Wednesday night because he got arrested.

Let's start at the beginning, shall we?

Monday afternoon while I was working away in my office, I heard what I thought was a loud, old man excitingly talking to our secretary, Ann, over the front door intercom. When the verbal exchange was over, Ann walked back to my office and told me that it was not an old man. It was a man that had been wandering the streets in a shirt, sarong and sandals. She told me that he was looking for a church with a Spanish ministry so that he could get to know a Mexican lady and marry her. Ann then added that he was certainly not all there. He had moved but it was later in the afternoon and Ann and Millie (who was working in the Bible Lab) were a little on edge. I walked Millie out to the back door and watched as she walked to the car. That was the end of day one.

Then came Tuesday. Josh French had come in town to eat with Greg and me and discuss taking over the reins of the youth ministry here. Greg, Josh and I were getting ready to leave when we saw the saronged-man leave the foyer of our auditorium. We found out from our custodians that he had found an unlocked door and made his way to the bathroom. They escorted him out. End of day two.

Wednesday evening, Greg sees the man waiting around and invites him in to the combined worship with us. He sat on the back row and proceeded to stomp his feet, bang his head, mumble to himself and laugh out loud during the songs, prayers and lessons. The congregation could not see what was going on. Only those of us that were facing the audience could see him in the back. Don Graves, one of our elders, got up and went to the back door thinking it was someone pounding to be let in. Then Clint Young, one of the biggest men in our congregation, figured it out and went to the foyer to watch him closely.

At the end of the service, several men stayed behind to keep watch on him while he and Greg discussed the Bible and Satan. The conversation was going nowhere since he told us that he was a prophet and he alone truly knew God. Finally, Greg told him that we needed to close the building and that he needed to leave.

That's when things took a turn for the worse.

He called us Satanists and loudly declared that if we were going to practice witchcraft that he was going to urinate on our building!! He made his way up to the granite sign on the lower part of the front wall near the office complex and hiked up his sarong to do just that!

I asked him kindly not to do that and he yelled at me to stop looking at him while he tried to go.

I went into the auditorium and informed the other men that he was peeing on our building. Don went in to call the police while Clint walked straight up to the guy and told him to get off of our property. He marched up to Broadway Ave, faced it and pulled up his sarong again. He told all of us behind him that we were all homosexuals and lesbians for looking at him while he was trying to go in the street. As he tried to urinate he continued to yell one phrase over and over again "How do you like me now?!?"

We didn't like him very much at that moment.

The police finally arrived, took a few statements, called for back up and took him into custody.

A night that will be forever etched in our memories!!

Tyler Bound

I am headed over to Tyler in a few minutes to visit with my family and watch a couple of my boys from the youth group play some 6-man football against King's Academy. Both Clayton and Kyle B are playing offense and defense this year for the Faith Academy Flames and they have told me that this night will be history in the making. I hope that their words hold true. Gonna meet up with my Dad, Bro-In-Law and Nephew to see the battle on the field. Then I am headed over to Mario's restaurant to be a guest headliner with the main act, Misti P (my sister who sings there every weekend). It's going to shape up to be a full day today.

Vid Of The Day

Take a look at this video about watchmaking and let me know what you think.

Gaffs and Goofs

This blog is really intended for the amusement of Jim G, Allan S, Greg N and me as well as other ministers out there that have endured or enjoyed the many garbled words that have graced our ears while meeting weekly with other ministers and elders. This may be irreverent but I just cannot pass up this opportunity to share a few belly laughs with my buddies. So what follows is a list of misspoken words and sentences that I have heard in our meetings while in ministry. These are from several different sources so I am not picking on just one or two people. Remember that this is all in good humor. Fellow ministers, if you have any other funny words and phrases that you have experienced in meetings like this, please feel free to share. Here goes:

1. 'It was a devastating Soosami.'
2. 'That was my initianal response.'
   
3. 'They learned it by rope.'
4. 'Out of money pocket.'
5. 'God, please bless Nancy Hilton.'
   
6. 'We need to repwiotize.'
7. 'It's called a Willy-Willy.'
8. 'I believe they recite the Koran in their Bah Shmishmah.'
9. 'Remember when Nehemiah had leopardsee?'
10. It is pronounced Frow Frow!'

These are just a few times that I have had to bite my tongue in meetings from Arkansas to Texas. And here are just a couple that I have had in my visits:

1. 'Naw You?!?'
2. 'Jim Burger?!?'

Go ahead and share some others that have made you bite down hard and cry to keep from rolling on the floor laughing.

Early Bird

I can't believe that I got here in the office before Bob Sears! For those of you that know, this is quite a feat!! The reason for this marvel is the 6:15 Senior Sunrise at Marble Falls High School. It was the first year for this event. Basically a time for all of the seniors to come together on the first day to be pumped up by their new principal, Mr. Roberts, and to watch as the sun rises on their first day as seniors. I thought that the idea was great. And it was good to see Thomas G, Kirsten I, Karla Mc, Katherine P, Josh J, Becca N, Ari H, Carina G, Berrilyn D, and others as they geared up for their first day back. A wonderful way to get things started.

I am getting ready for a short meeting with my friend, Todd Lewis. It will be great to spend a little time with him before I leave this place.

I will be back in a little while to share some of the good times from our Back To School day on the lake this past Saturday.

Flava Flav!!

Got this picture from a friend of mine in the ministry. While in Harding School of Biblical Studies, we got to know each other as well as some of our professors really well and we had inside jokes running with them all the time. Pictured here is one of our fave professors and well known church statistician, Flavil Yeakley. My classmates in HSBS will know what's going on here. Not a bad representation, huh?

Supplication

Abba, I abandon myself into your hands. Do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you. I am ready for all: I accept all. Let your will be done in me and in all your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my spirit. I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord, and I give myself, surrender myself into your hands without reserve, with boundless confidence, for you are my father. - Charles Foucauld

Quote Of The Day

"The cross is a confrontation with the overwhelming goodness of God revealed in the broken body of His only begotten Son. Our personal encounter, not simply the intellectual cognition, but the experiential awareness of the love of Jesus Christ, propels us to trust." - Brennan Manning

Celeb Encounter

Well, some of you could not stand it. You had to know by IM and email who it was that we saw in the Austin-Bergstrom airport. Here is how played out:

Elizabeth, Jenniva and I were waiting for our luggage. Over an hour, actually! Anyway, we were there waiting when I saw him approaching. I said, "El, look over there! It's Dennis Quaid!" She looked over there and said, "It sure looks like...It is Dennis Quaid!" I was so excited that El was finally there when I saw a celebrity so that she could go over with me to shake his hand.

She would not do it.

For whatever reason, she could not bring herself to go over there and meet the actor.

So, I went over and shook his hand, telling him that I really liked his movies. He was very nice and thanked me for being kind. At that point our luggage bell rang and our case popped out on the conveyor. I then went back and we got our luggage and left. It was pretty cool.

Sorry for the week of no blogging! Last week was a wild one. Everything was hard and fast. 2 Sundays ago, I took a group of 22 to the Westover Hills church of Christ in Austin for the annual Intersection area wide youth rally. It was great! We praised God in song and were blessed to hear and see one of the shepherds of the congregation as he made some beautiful jars and pots and spoke about the heavenly Potter that shapes us and molds us into the vessels He wants us to be. A really nice night with the teens and Stan, Holly and Ellie Sue Whittle!

The very next morning, El, J-Boo and I woke up at 5:15 and drove to the Austin-Bergstrom airport to fly out into Little Rock for some house hunting and a visit to the Wells Fargo in Benton. We looked at seven houses and found one that looked great to us. While in the area we were able to partake of a meal with some of our dearest friends, Philip and Stephanie Howell. It is always great to be with them. We also got to take a look at the unfinished Youth Loft in the Outreach Building and have walked away with some great ideas and are already drawing up prelim designs. We then came back on Wednesday with a delayed flight and even longer delayed luggage! But, if we had not been there at that time we would not have met who we met. (Will be posted on a later blog).

Came back tired and ready to get back to work here.

Last night, Todd Lewis and I took a group of 20 to attend a youth rally and see ACAPELLA in concert. It was awesome!!! Their bass singer is low and rumbly and the lead tenor is great as well.

Be back later with my newest celebrity encounter.

So Much To Do In Such A Short Time

There are some things that I have promised myself I will do before I leave this beautiful place and I would like to list them below for you dear reader.

Now the first list is comprised of things I would like to do again before I depart. Here goes:

1. Eat once more at Opie's in Spicewood! Would be cool to do it with Allan, but that probably won't happen.
   
2. Walk the Riverwalk in San Antonio.
3. Visit IKEA Swedish Furniture Outlet (OK this is really El's idea, but I thought it was pretty cool.)
4. Have a slice of pie and some coffee at Pie Happy Hour at the Bluebonnet Cafe.
5. Substitute at the school one last time.
6. Spend more time with Jim, Greg and Ann!
7. Roll around in a meadow of bluebonnets! Not gonna happen!!
   

Here is a list of things that I have not done but would really like to do:

1. Head over to Fredericksburg to visit the shops and have some yum German food.
2. Take El to the Bob Bullock Museum of Texas. I have been once, but she has not and she would love it!
   
3. Go see what is so good about Chuy's Mexican.
   
4. Visit the Alamo.
5. Go to The Backyard and hear a live concert. This is not likely to happen.
6. Hear some dueling pianos at the Ivory Cat.
7. See and shop at the completed Galleria at Bee Cave.

That is just what I can think of for now. I am sure there is more, but that is all at this moment in time.

Quote Of The Day

"Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe. Delight me to see how your Christ plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not His, to the Father through the features of men's faces. Each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all." - Joshua Abraham Heschel

Worn and Torn

I am now officially "meeting"ed out!! I am exhausted from the last few meeting stuffed days.

Monday Morn: The staff met for an hour and a half to discuss life in the Kingdom here.

Tuesday Morn: Elders/Ministers met for 3 hours to discuss leading and nurturing the flock.

Tuesday Eve: Elders/Deacons/Ministers met for an hour and a half to discuss financial and budgetary items for the future.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that these meetings needed to take place and they will do some good, but I feel worn and torn from the rapid succession in which they came! I look forward now to spending some good quality time with Sean today before he leaves for Buda this weekend. I love him and know that God is blessing more than can be understood.

The News

"Congrats Jimmy and Elizabeth! We are proud of you. You have been and will continue to be in our prayers. Thank you for letting God work through you. We will miss you, but you'll see us again. You can run, but you can't hide! Ha ha. Phillip and I are EXTREMLY happy for you two."

This comment on a blog from our dear friend, Stephanie Howell, written December 1, 2005, rings very true as Elizabeth and I have officially announced that as of November 1 of this year, we will be moving back to the Central Arkansas area. We will be back in my sweetheart's home congregation and the place where I interned while I worked on my degree at Harding School of Biblical Studies. The Northside church of Christ in Benton, AR will be our new home.

The motivation to be near family and work with a group of teens that I already know and love was just too strong. How exciting it will be to have a 'GranMary' just a short distance away to pour out her love on baby Jenniva! Also the prospect of working with my mentor, Mike Knappier, is amazing. I already know and love the families and teens there and have worked with them in the past. I look forward to rekindling old relationships.

I have been greatly blessed to be able to work with the family here in Marble Falls and I leave here a spiritually better man for the relationships that have been formed here. I love the teens and will do everything in my power to find them a worthy replacement to lead them on to bigger and better things. I love and respect the shepherds of this flock as well as our new preaching minister, Greg Neill, and his family. I don't quite know what I will do without the resident wiseman, Jim Dobbs, and his sweet wife, Helen. They each, in their own way, have helped us through some hard times and have blessed us with their love through the good times. We will miss them all dearly.

When I solicited your prayers last Friday it was addressing this huge, life-changing decision. Thank you for lifting us up to the throne room of our Father over the weekend.

Misc

I tell ya! I am still walking around with the great blessing of Kadesh in my heart and mind! If you are a YM or a student, please do yourself a favor and go check it out. It will help you stretch and grow.

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Please pray for my family and me as we seek God's guidance through the raising of a little one and everything else you might think of!

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It was sure great to see my old compadre, Allan Stanglin, for a (too) short amount of time on Wednesday evening. I hope to be seeing him soon.

Quote of the Day

"We get so preoccupied with ourselves, the words we speak, the plans and projects we conceive, that we become immune to the glory of creation. We barely notice the cloud passing over the moon or the dewdrops clinging to the rose petals. The ice on the pond comes and goes. The wild blackberries ripen and wither. The blackbird nests outside our bedroom window, but we don't see her. We avoid the cold and heat. We refrigerate ourselves in summer and entomb ourselves in plastic in winter. We rake up every leaf as fast as it falls. We are so accustomed to buying prepackaged meats and fish and fowl in supermarkets, we never think and blink about the bounty of God's creation. We grow complacent and lead practical lives. We miss the experience of awe, reverence and wonder.

"Our world is saturated with grace and the lurking presence of God is revealed not only in spirit but in matter - in a deer leaping across a meadow, in the flight of an eagle, in fire and water, in a rainbow after a summer storm, in a gentle doe streaking through a forest, in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, in a child licking a chocolate ice cream cone, in a woman with windblown hair. God intended for us to discover His loving presence in the world around us."
- Brennan Manning

The Turning Point

Back in town and trying to catch up on some rest from the long, wonderful week at ACU Leadership Camp Kadesh. I have to say that I fully admire and respect Jan Meyer and Bob Strader for their awe-inspiring leadership and tireless energy. I can think of no greater camp directors than these 2 people. Kyle Wade has also shown me that there is power and wisdom in youth leadership and ministry. What a powerful speaker and loving leader!! Both uears that I have been involved in this camp I have walked away a spiritually changed and charged man and the camp is not even for me!! It is designed for the teens and I feel like I get so much out of it. It is that amazing. I say this and I mean it with all my heart: I can't wait to take a group next year!! It's that powerful. A turning point in the lives of many.

Anyway, today El, J-Boo and I are traveling to Georgetown to have a day of shopping and fun! I will be back tomorrow with more news.

Stuffed Silly

I am full to the point of popping. Elizabeth, Jenniva and I just got back from having a great time over at the home of Aubrey and Betty Jo Dunn. What great people. We met up with the likes of Ann G, Madeline F, Bob and Pat W, Bob and Elaine S, Al and Trudy S, AL and Imogene H, the whole Neill Clan and many others, to eat some great crab cakes aand brisket with tomato, onion, pickles-oh just everything. We then mad our way out to the Ping Pong table to get promptly schooled by Betty Jo. Everyone there decided that she is a Ping Pong Shark!!

Well, we had to leave early because my baby and sweetie pie were both ready for a nice nap.

So, I am here at the office going over last minute details before taking a group of teens up to the spiritual life/leadership camp at Abilene Christian University. I will blog as much as I am able in the week ahead.

Through All The Ups And Downs...Life Is Good!

My friend, Allan Stanglin, who preaches at the Legacy Church of Christ in North Richland Hills has been robbed. His laptop, along with the laptop of the youth minister there and some money from youth missions, has been stolen. He blogged about it yesterday afternoon. Go check it out. Talking to Allan last night, even through all of this, his spirits were good and he knows that God will take care of them. Please keep them in your prayers as they try to get back on track.

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In unrelated news, my wife is being taught something great this morning! Trudy Stucky, one of our members, has graciously offered to teach my sweet wife how to bake pies!!! I am so excited about this! They are making 3 items this morning-a Chocolate Pie, a Cherry Pie and a Quiche. I can't wait to dig into it with extreme fervor! So...Life Is Good!!

Ahh ...the sweet (lack of ) smell of success!

Well! Today was a complete success. And I am not just speaking about the morning study that continued today in our First Principles Day Camp. We covered repentance and baptism today! It was great. But more than that, the day was a success because of what did not occur this year. I refer you now to read this blog posted approximately one year ago. Tell me what you think about that!

First Principles Day Camp

Today was the 1st day of our First Principles Day Camp. We had 18 4-8 graders who came ready to learn about sin, accountability and the focal point of our faith-the Cross! The camp goes through Wed and we will cover other great foundational principles of our faith in Christ-repentance, baptism and living in Christ. I am looking forward to the days to come!

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I am just chillin' like a villain with my good pal and former student, Jasmine Nelson!

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Tonight, we will try to resume the book of Hebrews in our Meat Eaters study.

Traveling Man

The whole family has traveled to AR this week for a speaking engagement I have at an Area Wide Youth Function at the Northside Church of Christ in Benton. We are here in Conway staying with Elizabeth's mother for a while. I will try to blog a few times while here. It just won't be the same because Internet access is not as great as it is at home.We won't be getting back 'til later in the week. I will keep you up-to-date as the time goes by.

Bust A Gut!

I busted a gut laughing at this and I think we all need a laugh right about now! Go check it out!!

Aftermath

I am busting at the seams over the handful of teens that are willing to be on call for this week and the weeks that follow to help with the cleanup in the aftermath of the flooding.

Yesterday, we drove to Spicewood to help the Montgomery's clean up. I believe their home, of all our members, was hit the hardest with over 5 feet of water coming in and destroying the lower half of everything. We had a full day of tearing out drywall, fiberglass and shoveling detritus and fecal matter. Yep, water and mud were not the only Montgomery home invaders. Feces made a grand appearance. I am gonna have to go update my shots (Hep A and Tetanus) after hearing Connor tell me about his cut on the 1st day of cleanup. His foot and leg swelled up and turned purple due to a staph infection. I need some shots and soon!

Today, most of the same group moved furniture at the home of Clint and Tiffany Young. It was not as grueling as the first day, but we helped get their house back in order. They just have no carpet now.

I want to thank the teens and people like Jim Moore and Don Graves for all of their hard work and service after this disaster.

Please continue to pray for all who were affected by what meteorologists are calling a 'rain bomb.'

'Water, Water Everywhere But Not A Drop To Drink!'

I no longer reek of 2 days worth of shower-less body odor! As of 6:45 last night the water came back on. Everyone in the Mitchell house and in the city of Marble Falls were singing praises!! After the rushing water settled down and it was safe enough, a diver was sent down to repair the damage to a water pipe running into the city's water plant. It worked! We are still warned to conserve water, boil the water we do have and throw out all ice from ice makers. I can handle that.

Devastation, pt. 2

There's more.

2nd day without water! That means no dishwashing, showers, restroom using, clothes washing etc. How we realize the great need for something when it is not available. Keep us in your thoughts.

On Wednesday evening, Dolly Montgomery, one of our members here, had a premonition of sorts. She felt that the weather was going to turn bad and that she needed to get herself and her granddaughter out of the house. This was before the rain came! Well, she followed her gut and is sure glad that she did. Her house wound up receiving extensive damage with well over 5 feet of water flooding the place. Please keep her and the others hurt by this flood in your prayers.

I will be back later with more.

Devastation

We have been given a blow here in Marble Falls. Some of us are in the middle of dealing with the fallout from a devastating amount of rain and heavy flooding. I stayed up in the wee hours of the night (around 2:30 a.m.) catching rain with 2 Igloo coolers and our garbage dumpster from our gutterless roofs before it rose up to our front door. I filled the dumpster 3 times before the rain slowed down a bit. Turned into a long night of worry.

But the night was even longer for some of my dear friends. Cindy and Jerry Jamar had to leave their flooding house at 4:00 in the morning. Clint and Tiffany Young have a flooded house. Bill Fortner has water damage. 4 of Dan Burdett's rental buildings have been demolished by floating vehicles. Residents of Meadowlakes gated community are unable to leave. Elizabeth and I are keeping one student at our house until his living quarters are livable. We don't know when that will be. Rain is in the forecast for the next 7 days! People that were planning to travel back into town by bus or plane today are unable to come.

The total is 19 and a half inches. Almost all of that came in 5 hours time. Roads have been closed. Some have been moved to another place entirely. Huge chunks of road are missing. Johnson Park is no more. The National Guard and Red Cross have been called in. Some say Black Hawk Choppers are on the way to help with search and rescue. Vehicles are in trees and have smashed into buildings. Restaurants and other businesses are either closed due to flood damage or lack of water. The water plant has shut off water to over half of the city and the mayor has put a boil warning on the water when it comes back on.

We have to go out and do more patrolling, helping and assessment. I will try to get some pics while out.

Quote Of The Day

I found this quote on a blog the other day and could not pass up the chance to share it with you. It really hits home!

“Reality came starkly home to me nine weeks ago today when I was driving on a winding road in Colorado. Suddenly, I missed a curve and my Ford Explorer slipped off the pavement and started tumbling side to side at 60 miles per hour. An ambulance appeared, and I spent the next seven hours strapped to a body board, with duct tape across my head to keep it from moving. A CAT scan showed that a vertebra high on my neck had been shattered, and sharp bone fragments were poking out next to a major artery. The hospital had a jet to fly me to Denver for emergency surgery.

“I had one arm free, with a cell phone and little battery time left. I spent those tense hours calling people close to me, knowing it might be the last time I would ever hear their voices. It was an odd sensation to lie there helpless, aware that though I was fully conscious, at any moment I could die.

“Samuel Johnson said when a man is about to be hanged, ‘it concentrates his mind wonderfully.’ When you’re strapped to a body board after a serious accident, it concentrates the mind. . . . I realized how much my life focused on trivial things. During those seven hours, I didn’t think about how many books I had sold or what kind of car I drove (it was being towed to a junkyard anyway). All that mattered boiled down to four questions: Whom do I love? Whom will I miss? What have I done with my life? And am I ready for what’s next?”

- Philip Yancey (from a sermon given at Virginia Tech two weeks after the shootings . . . from Christianity Today)

My Brushes With Celebrity

I told you, dear reader, that I would be back with a note about 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon or something like it and here it is:

While running into HEB last night to get some last minute things, I bumped, once again, into the former host of the Love Connection, the inimitable Chuck Woolery. And it got me thinking about my chance encounters/former relationships with celebrities on their way up-in their prime-or heading into retirement.

'Why does he care about this?', you may ask. Well, one thing you may not know about me is that I received my undergraduate degree in acting/performance and was in the middle of Repertory Theatre work and Cruise Ship performance when I decided that I would rather not live like a gypsy (running from contract to contract until finally making enough money to be able to scrape by in a studio apartment in L.A. or NY.) I wanted a home with a family before I got too old. So, I abandoned my original plans and went back to the drawing board.

But, every once in a while, especially when I meet a star (like talking to Tony Shalhoub from Wings and Monk fame at LAX Airport or pumping gas with Luke Wilson at the EXXON in Marble Falls) or when I see a friend on a television commercial or in a movie (like my friend Adam Langley who was recently 'Out-Whataburgered' in a t.v. commercial or Dorothy Miles who had a small speaking role with Naomi Watts and Sean Penn in 21 Grams or Shelley Dowdy who I saw in Slackers, a KIA commercial and who has a role in the upcoming Evan Almighty or my friend Mark Johnson who has performed in several John Grisham movies including The Firm and A Time To Kill or Jeff Bailey who was the taxi driver in Walk the Line or Michael Davis who sang in The Producers. All of these friends have shared the stage with me at one time or another. And now, last but not least, my colleague and friend, Jim Dobbs, who, I found out the other day, was a contract actor back in the day and has worked with Cary Grant, Ida Lupino and Robert Alda in The Man I Love and Night and Day) I get to thinking about my old profession. Every once in a while I get this twinge in my stomach and I start to think about where I could be right now in my acting career. 'Oh the places we could have gone!' that inner voice says.

But I know and have experienced the unsure world of the actor and if I had not left the field and gone back to get my grad degree I would not have met and fell in love with my beautiful wife and we would not have this sweet little baby to care for and love so my thoughts only go so far before another, stronger voice steps in and tells me to cool it.

So there you have it. My 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon!

Headed To Court!

I'm headed to court and I will be back later with some 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon or something to that effect!

Check It Out!

I was very glad to see that David Griffin, one of the promising graduates of the student ministry here, has begun to blog once again! He is getting ready to study youth ministry in the hallowed halls of Abilene Christian University. We all wish him luck in his future endeavors. Anyway, now that he has his own personal lap-top, he will be able to blog on a more regular basis! Check it out!

Larrys and Lamperts!

OK, here I am once again. I will apologize in advance for what will most likely continue to be sporadic blogging. I will not be able to access the internet several weeks throughout the Summer, so there will be spurts here and there.

Last week and yesterday were full of roller-coaster emotions.

VBS wrapped up last Friday afternoon and I believe that everyone involved did a superb job. One elder proclaimed that of all the VBS programs that he has seen or been a part of, this one was the best! It's so good to hear that from a shepherd.

Sunday marked the last time in 9 weeks that Brian Jamar, one of our teens, was able to worship with us before heading off to Fort Knox, KY for some rigorous Boot Camp training. We (Marble Falls Youth Group) spent the evening at my house sharing our words of love, wisdom and encouragement. There were tears through the laughter as we recounted good times and sang a hearty rendition of John Denver's 'Thank God I'm A Country Boy'. We'll miss him greatly!

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We have begun a new study in Meat Eaters on Monday nights. After delving into Genesis, John, James and Revelation, we are now looking at the Hebrew epistle. Last night we tried to figure out who wrote it. After looking at the whys/why nots for Paul, Apollos, Aquila/Priscilla, Barnabas, Clement of Rome and others we came to the same conclusion as Origen, one of the early church scholars - "Who wrote the epistle, God knows the truth."

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If you have never met a true Larry, here he is! A little inside joke between me and anyone who knows Allan Stanglin. But seriously, you will find the insights of one of my dearest friends, the new preaching minister at the Legacy Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, TX, to be pretty inspiring. I have him as one of my permanent links on the side as well.

VBS

Listen here, now, boys and girls! Today began the week long joy of Bible School on the Avalanche Ranch! I am Rowdy! Can you say 'Howdy Rowdy'?!? God Is Real...WAHOO!!! Oh, sorry, I am still stuck in VBS mode. I will post some pics as the days progress.

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Tonight we finish our study of the Revelation of John in Meat Eaters at the Mitchell Mansion. I look forward to learning more!

4 Years Together

Yesterday was a special time for my wife and me! We hit the 4 year mark of marital bliss. May 31st was a great day for us. We lay there in bed recounting some of the highlights that have brightened our time together over the years. Here are some of them:

• We have lived in 5 homes! The 1st was a townhouse on 14 Orantes in Hot Springs Village. The 2nd was a townhouse on 4 Perralena in HSV (only a minute away from the church building). The 3rd was a real house on 121 Arias near the middle of HSV (had a 2 car carport and everything!) The 4th was a small house owned by the church here in Marble Falls that seemed like it had been built in the 40's - we lived there for 8 months and at about the time that a pregnant Elizabeth was about to kick me out the double bed because her belly was hanging over the edge we moved into the 5th and final house - a nice, brand spanking house on Northwood right across from the Middle School. A place that will fit our California King and the only home that little Jenniva has ever known.

• I have had 2 jobs. Youth Minister for the Village Church (a little over 3 years) and now for the Marble Falls Church (1 year, 4 months).

• She has filled many roles. Waitress at the Pantry in HSV - Banker at USBank in HSV - Band Director at Oaklawn Elementary Arts Magnet in Hot Springs - Nursing Student.

• We have gone from just the 2 of us to just the 5 of us. 1 cat (Gabbi), 1 dog (Peanut) and the newest and sweetest addition - 1 baby girl that likes to eat and show her dimples when she smiles (Jenniva)!

We have had our ups and downs and have loved every minute of it! I wouldn't change one thing for the world. I love my family dearly and pray all the time that God continues to bless us as we make the journey together.

I would like to end this blog with the words of a song that greatly expresses my sentiments to my lovely wife and baby.

"Longer than there’ve been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there’ve been stars up in the heavens
I’ve been in love with you.

Stronger than any mountain cathedral
Truer than any tree ever grew
Deeper than any forest primeval
I am in love with you.

I’ll bring fires in the winters
You’ll send showers in the springs
We’ll fly through the falls and summers
With love on our wings.

Through the years as the fire starts to mellow
Burning lines in the book of our lives
Though the binding cracks and the pages start to yellow
I’ll be in love with you.

Longer than there’ve been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there’ve been stars up in the heavens
I’ve been in love with you
I am in love with you."

Dan Fogelberg

5 Best Pop/Rock Songs Out There Right Now

5. "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" by Fallout Boy
4. "Apologize" by OneRepublic
3. "New Shoes" by Paolo Nutini
2. "Boston" by Augustana
1. "Stolen" by Dashboard Confessional

I listen to these each morning as I, or try to, run 4 miles before heading to the office.

Pics

Big Day

Yesterday was a big day!
1 - Court
2 - Housing and Laundry Transfer (Inside Story)
3 - 'Packing Up The Dreams God's Planted' with Allan and seeing him off
4 - Trying to get a hold of Bryce to no avail!
5 - Talking with my buddy, Jim Gardner

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I am back and I will now post some more pics of little Jenniva. I kept promising you a treat, but I can't figure out how to post a video from my video files onto the blogsite. If any of you friends and readers out there know how to do this please comment or shoot me a quick email. I need help!

Be Back Later

I'm going to spend some of the day in court with one of my students and solicit your prayers as we go through this as a family. The situation looks promising. I'll blog again later today.

Sweet Moments In My Recent History

Spending a day in North Richland Hills with my good friend Allan and 'praying it up' one last time with him on the Lord's Day.

Getting to know Greg and realizing that he has a great, sincere heart.

Living in a new house! The new, improved Mitchell Mansion!

Singing with Bryce and Dan! Learning new songs and hearing our group get better and better.

Working closely with the HS Choir Program and watching it grow like gangbusters.

Sneaking around the office and scaring Ann, Greg, Allan and anyone else that happens to be around.

Listening to the profound wisdom of this church family's own personal Yoda - Jim Dobbs!!

Looking at the seniors this year and thinking about how close we have gotten and how much I am going to cry like a baby when they are gone.

Loving my wife and the ever deepening relationship we have.

And certainly not least - watching with tear filled eyes as my baby Jenniva grows and makes her daddy and mommy so happy!!!

Back In Pocket

If 'out of pocket' means being unavailable then wouldn't it stand to reason that 'in pocket' would mean being available? Just don't know! Anyway, I am back once again and ready to attack the world of blogdom. I have so much to say that I don't really know where to start. Here's how the last few days played out:

Thursday-I spent most of the day helping my good friend, Allan, move his office from here in Marble Falls to Legacy church in North Richland Hills. While there, I was able to meet one of his secretaries, both youth ministers, and some of the families that are involved with the youth program. I also got to see his beautiful house on Ember Oaks. It just sounds fancy, doesn't it? I am really happy for him. I'm gonna miss him a lot.

Later that afternoon-My two precious girls met me at Allan's house and we said our goodbyes to him. We headed over to Lindale where we sneaked up on my sister and brother-in-law. We were all so excited that we stayed the night to spend more time together. We went over to meet the youth minister in Van-Marty Baker. Got to know him and hear stories about a younger Greg Neill back in his YM days. We ate some Milano's Pizza and went to bed. The next day we (Misti, Kameron and Brenden) went over to Tyler, ate Bodacious BBQ and met with Big Ole Bear(my Dad). That was some great quality time!

Friday Evening-We came back and collapsed in the bed.

Saturday-We got up late, came to the church building and EL helped with VBS work day for a little bit while I set up Sunday morning's PowerPoint for worship and worked on my a.m. class and p.m. sermon. I know that some people hate my guts because I was not able to help at all with the VBS Work Day and I am truly sorry!! My girls left me at the building. When I was done with my stuff, I borrowed the church van and went to the Nelson house to celebrate the impending graduation of David Griffin, Brian Jamar and Jasmine Nelson. Boy was that BBQ good. After 2 consecutive days of it I was feeling like a walking, talking Brisket and Sausage Plate!

Sunday-I lead worship in the morning (Allan preached) and brought the Word in the evening. We then walked over to the Large Fellowship Hall where all 8 of our graduating seniors had their pictures, awards and tables set up for viewing. I gave them Bibles with Elders and Minsters autographs and Jan Graves gave them quilts that the ladies had made. A lot of gifts and money were given that night. Must be nice!

Yesterday-Allan's last official staff meeting with us. Bittersweet Day.

Today-Later I will have a treat for you readers.

Back For A Short Time

I am only here for a little while. I have been and will be out of pocket for a really long time now and it is getting old.

Monday-We had our staff meeting-then took Allan to Opie's U.S. renowned BBQ for one last time. He sure is gonna miss that. Then the rest of the day was prepping for the Senior Banquet. Congrats to David G, Shana G, Brian J, Kurt M, Jasmine N, Laura P, Ryan S and Kellie U! You guys are awesome and will be sorely missed!

Tuesday-I got into the office at about 11:00 because I had not been able to go to sleep 'til 2:30 in the morning-too wired!! I let Allan borrow my lawn mower to 'nub the yard.' Then I went to the Senior Band Concert!

Today-I mowed my lawn then went to give moral support for one my teens and his family who are going through a rough patch right now. I spent the better part of the afternoon in the Burnet County Courthouse. I got to the office in time to look over my plans for tonight and get the Youth House set up.

Tomorrow-I am getting up early to travel over to Richland Hills with my buddy, Allan, to move boxes into his new Fancy Preacher-Man office at the Legacy Church building. Then we are off to his new 10,000 square foot house to get some rooms furnished and something about a messed up shower that needs fixing.

Well, I best be off!! The morning is going to come earlier than I want tomorrow! (Blair, I will call you whilst on the road!)

I'll have a neat little surprise for you all when I return to the blogging!

Plane Ride Home

Back from my travels! The past few days have been wild, to say the least.

Though I hated to do it, I left my sweetheart and little girl on Mother's Day of all days to come back here for the special Going Away Party for my friend and colleague, Allan Stanglin who will be leaving us this month to start a new work as preacher man in Richland Hills, TX at the Legacy Church of Christ. I really don't want him to go. I'm gonna miss him a lot!

Anyway, I got to the airport in LR ready, or so I thought, for the plane ride to Dallas then to Austin. I got to the checkpoint with my toothpaste, floss, hair stuff and aftershave in baggies for inspection. Well, I had not read that it had to be 3 oz or less and had to surrender the items to the airport inspectors because my sweetie had already left me. What fun, huh? Wait-it gets better! I got to the gate and was told that my carry-on would have to be checked because the plane was too full of carry-ons. Great!! So I could have kept all of the aforementioned items and left them in the carry-on that was to be checked as luggage anyway. Wish I had known! So I got on and sat next to a pregnant lady on the 3rd leg of her flight. She looked a little nauseous and told me that she did not feel right. Right before we landed in the Big D we hit some turbulence and she proceeded to fill not only her bag but mine also! I patted her on the shoulder and offered what little help I could during the process. On top of all of that I had to wait forever for my luggage to slide out onto the conveyor belt. Long Day!

I will be back tomorrow to tell you the rest of the story...

From Arp To Conway

Well, here I am in Conway, AR (home of my In-Laws) by way of Arp, Lindale and Van, TX (home of my family-El's In-Laws). It sure is nice to be able to stay with and visit my whole family only 5 hours away and then travel a few days later to see El's whole family only 4 hours away. It makes for shorter travels each way! That's good for all involved!!

I will be here for a few days and then head over to see some of the core students from my former youth group graduate from Jessieville High School over by Hot Springs Village. It will be cool to see them again.

I hope to see as many of my old friends while I am back in AR-the first time in almost a year and a half!!

I will blog as much as I can. There are so many stories to tell.

Bueno Buddy!

This weekend was a blur as several things happened in the church family here.

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First off, Joshua Gorenflo, a former intern with the youth group here, spent the weekend at our house. He came primarily to catch up with us and the teens that he worked with while here. It was a fun time- a little too fast-but fun nonetheless. Joshua is the titular role of Bueno Buddy for me (we spent a lot of time at Taco Bueno together while being camp counselors at Abilene Christian University Kadesh Life Camp 4 this past Summer).

While here, Bueno Buddy and the Mitchell family ate dinner with Jammer on Friday night, opened up the house for about 20 people (youth and family that came to catch up with Josh) on Saturday night and held a combined MS and HS class on Sunday morning. He even stayed for lunch (the ever exquisite China Kitchen) and dinner (Lakeside Pavilion fellowship with Smithwick).

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Secondly, Greg Neill and I were put in charge of opening up the Pavilion and setting up chairs, tables and songbooks. Fortunately, the Wenmohs family, the Stanglin clan and some others were able to help us get it together for the night of prayer and praise. It was a smashing success with a little over 200 people there to worship God and encourage one another.

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Thirdly, the 3CT (the Tenor trio that I blogged about the other day) performed for the whole group last night. We sang 3 songs and were quite flawless, if I do say so myself! lol Anyway, it was a nice performance that was well received by our brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Tonight, we cover chapters 8-11 of Revelation in Meat Eaters at the Mitchell Mansion. If it's anything like last Monday night, everyone will be on the edge of their seats.

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I will be back in the future with more pics of sweet little girl.