Quote Of The Day

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." - Mignon McGlaughlin

Mawage

Jeff Bearden's surgery went well!!! Thank you, God, for being the Omniscient Answerer of prayer!

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Now, let me finish my story from yesterday. Where did I leave off when Scott came by for lunch (which lasted quite a long time, by the way. We just kept talking and talking about everything under the sun - from the Nephilim of Genesis 6 to the Heffingtons of Marble Falls)?

Oh yes, now I remember!

We were at the Quarry Market. A great place, by the way. We decided to catch a movie. Then we traveled over to one of my favorite places-Borders. I could have been in there for hours but we both got hungry for dinner and decided to eat over at Joe's Crab Shack-a place that I knew about and had always wanted to try. Good food! Elizabeth had the Coconut Shrimp and I had the Louisiana Platter. We walked away with full bellies and a couple of T-Shirts.

Great times with a great woman by my side. I could not ask for anything more.

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Speaking of that great woman-Today is our anniversary.

As of 1:30 today, we will have spent 3 years in wedded bliss! In those 3 years, we have lived in 4 different houses, we have been given a Beta fish that did not live very long, we bought other fish that did not live very long (there must be something to that), we have been given 2 little animals: a Schnorkie (Schnauzer/Yorkie mix) we named Peanut and a kitty we named Gabbi(surprisingly, they have lived!) and made one big move from AR to TX.

I love Elizabeth with all my heart and look forward to what the next 3, 6, 9, 20, 30, 50 years bring with them as we travel through life as one.

Elizabeth, I can't wait for what the future holds with you and me walking side by side through this journey. You are my song and my heart. You truly do complete me. I hope that you are as happy today as I am. I pray continually that God will help us to grow ever closer as the days progress.

I am going to end this with some words of wisdom stolen from the Princess Bride:

"It’s wot bwings us togeder today.

It’s that bwessed awangement.

It’s that dweam wifin a dweam.

Mawage.

Tweasure your wuv."

First of all, I ask for your prayers for my Jeff Bearden, a friend both to me and Jim Gardner. He is in surgery as I type this. Please take a moment out of your day to lay his needs before god's throne.

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Yesterday, my sweetie and I were able to get away to the beautiful city of San Antonio. We went to the zoo and spent some quality time with the animals there. After 4 hours of birds, hippos, leopards, okapi and the like, we traveled to Quarry Market. What a cool place!!

OK! Gotta run. My friend, Scott, and I are going to lunch. He has arrived and is ready to spend time in fellowship. I will return with more of the story later...

Verse Of The Day

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18)

Quote Of The Day

"The most infuriating aspect of radical faith is its adamant refusal to be impressed with the obvious...and [its] steadfast adherence to an alternative reality: God reigns." - Daniel Smith-Christopher

New Pics

I am excited that I finally figured out how to post pictures on the Church website. Not all of the pictures are up yet, but if you would like go ahead and take a look at it.

Tan the Man

Every Monday through Wenesday, I get to spend around an hour and a half with Tanner W. We study together, talk about boxing, video games, music and basketball. I am with him right now as I type this blog. Great times!

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This evening in Meat Eaters, we will be honored with the presence of Jim and Helen Dobbs. Jim is going to share with us the life of Isaac. He is a genius and a great servant leader in God's kingdom. I look forward to tonight!

The Royal Telephone

Yesterday, Allan, Jim and I met together in Allan's office to prepare for an evening of singing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We talked and reminisced about old favorites that are not in our new book. We looked at newer songs adored by the youth and many adults. We discussed the backdrop of history during the writing of many of these songs and how it has changed considerably. Then and there we decided to make it an evening of just those songs: old favorites that did not make the new book and new favorites that had not been included in the book.

One of the songs stood out to all of us, though. An old song that we came across in a compilation from 1947. We laughed so hard that we nearly cried. I would like to share some laughs with you today. Here it is-The Royal Telephone:

"Central's never 'busy', Always on the line
You may hear from heaven, Almost anytime;
'Tis a royal service, Free for one and all,
When you get in trouble, Give this royal line a call.

There will be no charges, Telephone is free,
It was built for service, Just for you and me;
There will be no waiting, On this royal line,
Telephone to glory, Always answers just in time.

Fail to get the answer, Satan's crossed your wire,
By some strong delusion, Or some base desire;
Take away obstructions, God is on the throne,
And you'll get the answer, Thru this royal telephone.

Carnal combinations, Cannot get control,
Of this line to glory, Anchored in the soul;
Storm and trials cannot, Disconnect the line,
Held in constant keeping By the Father's hand divine.

Chorus
Telephone to glory, O what joy divine!
I can feel the current, Moving on the line;
Built by God the Father, For His loved and own,
We may talk to Jesus, Thru this royal telephone."

Post a comment or email me with some other hymns that you find to be interesting or funny. I would like to read your thoughts on this!

Senior Banquet

Last night, 60+ friends and family members toasted and roasted this year's graduating seniors-David Barr, Mackenzie Lewis, Hannah Love and Kyle Smith. The night of irreverent honors took place in the Live Oak Room at the beautiful Balcones Springs camp and retreat center. After sufficiently filling ourselves with delicious fajitas catered by Balcones Springs, we had an evening full of fun.

We were blessed to have the multi talented Scott Payne as our entertainment. A great singer, songwriter and worship leader, Scott brought the house down with sweet songs followed by some crowd favorites. He even lead the audience in a rousing rendition of "It Is Well With My Soul." That started the banquet off with a blast.

Next came the roasts of the soon to be grads. Whew! No punches were pulled. I am so glad that I was not one of the roasted. The juniors and sophomores had a ball tearing into the guests of honor. Nothing was taboo. All bases were covered: From female underarm hair to Manly Weed Whacker School for Dummies. No holds barred!!

The night was not only about fun and games, though. At the end of the evening, there was a slideshow of the seniors-past and present-followed by some touching words of wisdom and love from the parents. Eyes were misty as, one by one, parents stood up and read from a letter that they had composed for their son or daughter.

The evening was a success. I pray God's blessing on each of these young men and women as they start this new lg of the journey.

MISC

I am having technical difficulties with posting pics on the website. It is not going as planned. Still trying!

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I had lunch today with Scott and Brent Payne. Scott is an extremely talented man who is on fire for the Lord. His singing and songwriting abilities are out of this world. His brother, Brent, a missionary in New Zealand, is here visiting with family. Scott has agreed to entertain (with both funny and sentimental songs) for the Senior Banquet tomorrow evening at the Balcones Springs' Live Oak Room. It is sure to be a night to remember. I will blog more on that later this week.

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This evening Elizabeth and I will be accompanying Jim and Mandy Gardner to celebrate their daughter Trae's 8th birthday! Grammy (Trae and Tori's Grandmother, Sherry) will be in attendance. It will be a great time of fun and fellowship.

Marble Falls High

I am subbing today for Coach Futrell (a great guy that I will blog about at a later date). His classes are very well behaved. Well, I say this but it may or may not be true. Subbing for HS is just a world away from MS. You see, at the MS, if the kids are not doing their work, it is evident. As a matter of fact, my blood pressure has risen while working with a certain 7th grade class! (Suffering short periods of high BP is just one of the many facets of my ministry!) HS is a different story. If they are not doing what they are supposed to be doing, they are either too tired or too cool to make much spectacle of themselves. The difference here is night and day.

I write this with total humor and joy for there is nothing else I would rather do than get to know all of the young students in this community. I love the energy and excitement that youth brings with it! It is a great perk of the job. It helps me reminisce about my past and look forward to the day when I raise children of my own!

More blogging to come...

What?!?

What's up with Chris getting kicked off last night? I am in shock with the rest of the world out there! I think Taylor and Kat are great. I was so sure that Chris would be in the top three. Never did I think that Elliot would make it there, though. I am not saying he's no good. I just believe that Chris brought with him a breath of fresh air. And I still believe that his albums will sell hotter than the remaining 3. Wow! I am still reeling.

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Elizabeth and I will be helping out with a birthday party this coming Monday evening and, due to a large amount of requests, we will not be canceling our Meat Eaters meeting. Instead of meeting on Monday we will meet this Saturday evening at 5:00.

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Something happened Monday that kept returning and returning to my mind throughout the afternoon, the evening and well past the midnight hour. It bothered me. It riddled me with anxiety and frustration. In fact, it pressed on my heart and mind so much that I finally fell into bed at around 4:00 a.m.

This is not the first time something like this has happened to me and I am certain that it won't be the last, but I kept wondering why. Why do thoughts like this beset my walk with Jesus? I wanted to know what it's purpose was in my life as a follower of God. Where did it fall in my Christian journey?

Life is full of questions and struggles that hold us in their grip for long periods of time. That keep us up at odd hours of the night. That make us sad. That make us mad. That crush our spirits.

But some verses came to my heart and mind and set those emotions to rest. Verses that let me know that I am an unfinished product that is being shaped and molded to be a strong instrument for God by these events. He is not through with us yet! Here they are:

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way." - James 1:2-4

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." - I Peter 1:6-7

Intersection

My internet connection to my laptop has been repaired and is finally up and running. We're back in business! Sorry for the long hiatus.

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Last night 15 from the student ministry traveled to Intersection, an area-wide youth rally, held at the Westover Hills congregation in Austin. We spent the evening in praise and devotion to our God. Scott Baird led the worship for the night. It is awesome to hear 450 youth singing their hearts out to God. The speaker for the night was Scott Wood. he shared with us the difference between a life in Christ and a life without Him. He spoke of the pain and struggles he faced when trying to live for himself. Finally, he told of coming into a relationship with Jesus and how that totally changed his life. The devotional time was a great time for all of us to draw nearer to our Lord.

After we spent time in worship, we played Bingo and Let's Make A Deal. Two of our students walked away with a prize. Kylie Ann won 21 dollars and Natalie won the grand prize-a Fender guitar!

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This evening we will be discussing the life of Abraham, Sarah and Lot in our Meat Eaters study. Make sure that you come to eat - of food and the Word.

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I will be posting pics of devos, Meat Eaters and Intersection this week on our church website.

My Top Idol Picks

I am here to tell you that Chris, Katherine and Taylor are the top three American Idols. I know that each of them had a bad number tonight, but they all redeemed themselves with the other tune. Chris' rendition of Renegade, Katherine's You're Not The One For Me and Taylor's Something all had my utmost attention. They are truly the ones to beat. As for who should go home: Paris Bennett. Email me or post a comment with your picks for the top slots.

More

Here are the other pics that did not upload the first time. Man, have I been frustrated lately with the screwed up internet provider. That is part of the reason that I have not blogged very much in the past week. I can't get the blog out fast enough before it shuts down on me. AARGH!!! Oh well, maybe things will go back to normal or get better soon. Please let me have the patience to stand it.

Youth Pics

I realized over the weekend that I have not yet posted pics of my new youth group for you, dear viewer. Here are some shots of them hanging out, playing Assassin, Kiss & Tell and Red Rover. This a great group of students.