Geometry and Blogs

Here I sit once again substituting at Jessieville School. This time the subject is Geometry. Since there is no lesson plan, the students are playing catch up on homework and finding out what everyone is doing for the weekend. McKayla M is sitting on the desk beside me keeping me company while Zach is striving to pop a pencil in the ceiling. The energy of youth!

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Worries and concerns of mine:

How can we reach out to the lost if the saved are constantly arguing over methodology?

Jesus came and shattered perceptions of how we 'do' church. He rebuked and revamped to reach those on the fringe of and outside of religious circles.

Are we not called to do the same thing?

I am not trying to push anyone's buttons, but I genuinely would like to know what we, as servant-leaders in the Kingdom, are supposed to do with the lost.

Near The Foothills...

Ahh, Harding University. A great place of academic and spiritual growth. Always buzzing with youthful energy. I have had the privilege to be back on campus for the Lectureships. To hear the story of Jesus from the likes of Randy Harris, Buddy Bell and others is quite a treat. They have such a way about them that keeps the old, old story fresh and ever vibrant for self application. God has greatly blessed these men with the gift of story-telling. Tomorrow, Don McLaughlin will conclude the series with the story of Christ's Resurrection. It will be a blast to sit at his feet as he breaks the bread to us.

I will try to keep the blogs up. I have been leaving early morning and arriving home later in the evening. Today, I had the joy of waking up at 4:15 and chauffering the ladies to their Ladies Day at College Church. I got home early enough to sit down and type this up.

Goodbye for now. I'm off to eat Dinner!

Quote Of The Day

"Everything in God's store is on the bottom shelf - you have to get on your knees to get it." - Robert Collier

SYATP

Please excuse my absence over the past two days. To say that I am swamped and busy with double duty is an understatement. But here I am now, back in the midst of blogdom.

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95 students of Jessieville schools gathered around the flagpole yesterday to pray for wisdom, safety and strength during this new school year. It was great to see them strong in numbers. While supportive parents and family members stood in the background, teens and tweens took the lead singing songs of praise and lifting up the needs of themselves, their friends and families to their loving Father in Heaven. Posted pics are forthcoming.

Quote Of The Day

"Always have your bags packed; you never know where life's journey is going to take you." - old Appalachian saying

Addition

I added a new link to this blog. Jeff Garrett is very interesting, to say the very least. His perspective is quirky and off-the-wall, but at the same time pretty refreshing and thoughtful.

Pic

Here are some of the 5th graders that I entertain and teach on the third Friday of every month. This morning we learned "Como el Ciervo." That is "As the Deer" in Spanish. We also listened to some interesting remakes of "Over the Rainbow" and "Tomorrow."

If you have not yet looked at Jim Gardner's Wednesday blog, I suggest that you do so. He has placed some interesting charts there. Are we missional?

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I am now tutoring 2 new students at the High School. One in Algebra and the other in French II. Wow, I have been away far too long. It is quite funny how one can get so rusty in former subjects.

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Last night the youth had a great discussion about Suicide. For many, it is an unpardonable sin. But is it really? God does not condone it, I know, but will the person that ends their own life be sent to eternal punishment? These were the questions that we trudged through in the youth room last night.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Is suicide unforgivable?

Godsends

God has blessed the Village church by sending two very special people to work and worship in our midst. Carlos and Maribel Preciado are two hard working, God loving people that have not stopped working ever since they set foot in the Village! I have had the great honor and privilege to spend some time with them in fellowship. I love them and their tireless evangelistic ethic. I know that they will certainly be blessings to the families that they minister to in South Florida.

Awesome Tailgate

We had a record number of tailgaters last night! 100 people showed up to eat burgers, dogs, spend time in fellowship, reach out and support the Lions of Jessieville. it was a great night of family and friends.

Jim, 'Naw, You!' was there to partake. He said it a couple of times (for good measure, I guess). I tried to call you but your phone was turned off.

All of the young couples are going to be treated to a special dinner this evening at the home of Rick and Gail Northen. It will be a time of encouragement and goodbyes from the couple that will be soon leaving for Cambodia to continue their work for the Lord (this time on a Medical Missions Boat). We love them so much and will miss them greatly.

Pumped

I am pumped up this morning! I am at Jessieville School this morning substituting for Mrs. Sears (College Engilsh and Spanish Teacher). The atmosphere is abuzz over tonight's upcoming game versus Ola. The VCOC is hosting a tailgate party before the game to get members, both young and old, to come and show their Lion Pride. At this moment, I miss Jim Gardner. He has always been my grill-mate and I don't think anyone can quite fill his shoes. We miss you, Jim. We'll be thinking of you at the game.

Family Matters II

I have been greatly blessed by the company of my sister, Misti, and my nephews, Kameron (3 years old) and Brenden (3 months old). They have been troopers all through staying 9 days in our house without transportation of their own. I love them so much and am glad to be able to really spend time with them.

If you have family, make sure to let them know that you love them and appreciate them. Everyone needs a little verbal reassurance.

Well we finally fixed the problem. For those of you that were trying to access my blog from the Village church of Christ website, the problem is now repaired. I am sorry that you were taken to the other places. It is now up and running correctly.

Whirlwinds

It feels like everything has blown me around lately. Several things have happened to me that are rough and harsh.

Please continue to pray for my famly as they face trying times. As I said in an earlier blog, God knows what you are praying for.

Keep the church family in your prayers as well as they seek a new leader. We know that God will bless us greatly.

My heart goes out to Stephanie H. She was a great asset here in the VCOC and we miss her so much. Sunday morning at around 1:45, she was in a horrible wreck that fractured her ankle and foot in 4 places. Her right arm was badly injured and her neck was fractured as they flipped 6 times. She is in the hospital now and is being taken care of. I pray that God will bless her and her mom, Janet, as she faces physical therapy and 3 months with a neck brace.

It is at times like these that I look up to the heavens and thank God that He is there and able to undertake anything, good and bad, that comes our way. He is always there!

Later

I'm sorry to all of you readers out there in the blogdom. I did not realize that 'later' would be two days later! I am back now and ready to blog.

Something that I found very alarming for parents and families:
"The average five-year-old spends only 25 minutes a week in close with his or her father, according to one recent survey. That same child spends 25 hours a week in close interaction with the television.
The moral of the story? If we're not commited to tour children as God expects us to be, we shouldn't expect them to be commited to us. They will find a replacement-even if it is a television set." Focus on the the Family(09/05)

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I am blessed to have Carlos and Maribel Preciado, a young couple that we are supporting to work down in the south Florida area among the Hispanic community, here with me to minister to the young families and teens. They will be here working with us for two months. I am pumped!

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I ask that you pray for me. I won't go into all the details, but I know that God will hear and understand if you lift me up to Him.