Where Have I Been?

Friday brought back so many memories of my own high school and university experience that it was overwhelming. I subbed for Bryce Gage-the Choir Director.

1st period was the Varsity Girls Choir. We worked on sightreading and memorization of Christmas pieces with emphasis in proper vowels, dynamics and proper breathing.

2nd period was Music History. We took a 70 question test that was not quite easy. I tried it myself and think I made around an 80%.

Last period was Music Theory. We worked on P, M, m and other intervals as well as key signatures and scales.

Wow, what a blast from the past. It was a great day and I am proud of the strengthening of the music program at Marble Falls MS and HS!

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Yesterday, Ann (our secretary) and I took Allan out to eat in celebration of his 40th Birthday! Wow, he is getting up there in years! Quite an old man! We went to Opie's in Spicewood. The barbecue there is so good, it was covered in a special on the Food Network! It has become our fave place to eat brisket and sausage around here!

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Today, Jerry and Dennis are cutting up our new yard and installing the sprinkler system! Elizabeth and I have been emptying boxes, putting up blinds, hanging curtains and placing art and pictures on the walls. Everything around the new place is starting to look like a real home.

Yesterday morning, we had a great visit by Jim and Helen Dobbs. Last night, we had our Meat Eaters Bible study in the new living room! It was great!!

Ahh..the new Mitchell Mansion is wonderful!

The Puzzle

One verse has continually come to my mind over the past few months. Going through the fear of having a baby with abnormal chromosomes, not being able to find a house and losing my good friend, Jim Gardner, to a great work in Fresno, California-all in the course of a few months-truly tested my faith and belief system. The verse that has kept me glued together through these crises and others from the past is Romans 8:28:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

I don't see how the pieces fit. I don't presume to know the future and how everything comes together to complete His will. I do know, however, that there is a Master Plan and that God is putting it all into place to carry out His perfect and awesome will. I rest in that! I tell my human nature to put a cork in it and let God do His thing. And that is the best we can do in this puzzle called life.

Villa Antonia

I had a typo for the hyperlink to the wedding center website. For those of you who tried to access the site and found nothing, here is the true link:

Villa Antonia

It is the most beautiful place to have a wedding!

Go Marble Falls!

Monday morning, I traveled with Bryce Gage and 4 students from the Marble Falls Choir to Vista Ridge for All State Choir Competition. It was a great, however long, day! Even though the tension was in the air, all 4 (Ariel M., Becca & Bethany N. and Cody S.) kept their composure. I am proud to say that they all passed on to the next round and will be singing in the All-TMEA Choir!!! I am very proud of them!

Let me go on to say that this is the first time in 20 years that Marble Falls has seen one of their own move on into this level of All State Choir competition. So for these 4 to move forward is amazing. Bryce Gage is working very hard with the students and they love him very much (even though he is tough!).

More Pics

Wedding Pics

Many Stories

Have I got a lot to tell you!

Sunday morning, Elizabeth and I helped with the new Spanish Ministry that has begun in the last month. I lead the singing in Spanish and helped with the Communion. It was great to see the growth! We went from 10 the Sunday before last to 17 this past Sunday. We are growing!

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That afternoon, Elizabeth and I headed over to Villa Antonia on 1431 near Austin for my first wedding to officiate! I was very nervous, to say the least. The rehearsal and wedding ceremony went very well. Many people came to me afterward and told me that the ceremony was one of the best that they had heard. Even the wedding planner (who works for the Villa and was on the 5th wedding that weekend) exclaimed how the ceremony was on of the best she had heard. I can't say that any of that was me, though. I have God and my good buddy, Jim Gardner, to thank for all of the help and guidance. I can now say that I have officiated 1 wedding and 1 funeral without any hitches. Thank you, Jim, for your great insight and support! I owe you big time!

I will post some pics of the wedding now!

Quote Of The Day

"Seize the day by seeking its Maker. Revise the bumper sticker slightly, to read Carpe Deum: 'Seize God'-and don't let go! If you have never reached for His powerful hand before, you're in for a great adventure. He alone is the source of true passion for all you do in life." - David Jeremiah

Again!

Well, it happened again! I have only been here for 8 and a half months and I have already 2 celebrities. First, it was Luke Wilson at the gas station. And yesterday it was none other than the host of Love Connection, Chuck Woolery! EL and I were in Horseshoe Bay for her Dr. appointment (which went very well, by the way), we were through and signing up for her next appointment when a man walked up to the receptionist's desk. I looked at him and to my surprise it was the gameshow host himself! I leaned to EL and told her to look up. She did and said "Do you know him?" I told her "That is Chuck Woolery!" She came back with "Chuck Who?" Oh well! I approached him, shook his hand and told him that his show was cool! He said thanks and we left it that because he looked a little under the weather.

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EL and I are so blessed! This past Sunday evening we were pounded and money treed by the church family!! We were overwhelmed with food and monetary gifts that we were speechless. I thank God for the family here and I pray that I can give them the leadership that God calls me to give for the teens and young families here.

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We were blessed also by another family here. They bought us 4 trees for our new house. 2 Oaks, 1 Peach and 1 Pear. We can't believe the generosity of this congregation. Thank you all for everything.

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And, Yes-My Roomie-Chad Joice, I do read my email!! You should have a reply in your box today!! I miss ya, man!

Shaping Young Hearts

I apologize once again for the sporadic blogging. With the new house, cleaning out the old one, counseling and subbing, I am constantly out of the office. I think next week will be a little slower.

I did something new yesterday. I substituted for 1st grade! What an experience and a hugely full day. I now have so much respect for Julie Bridges (whose class I taught) and others like her that work with elementary children. You have to be cut from a certain kind of special, patient, compassionate cloth to spend your days teaching young hearts and minds. Julie, you have what it takes and you are a great example to others out there and to people like me! Teachers: Thank you for all that you do! May you be blessed as you bless others along the way!!

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Well, now I am off to have my blood drawn for cholesterol screening. What fun!

Settling Down

Well, we are finally starting to settle down in our new place. This past weekend was a blur with the signing on Friday, moving the majority of our stuff from the 'Mitchell Mansion', going to the football game and 5th Quarter, then moving all of the heavy stuff on Saturday and now getting it all unpacked and put in the right place according to Elizabeth's instructions. I am beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

I want to gratefully thank Roy Swann, Jerry & Cindy Jamar (+ Kassidie), Berrilynn Daniell, Karla McCoy, Thomas Levens, Jasmine Nelson, Allan Stanglin and Sean Luke Henderson for helping us haul and lift heavy things! You guys saved me from a herniated disk!

I also want to thank George and Brad Offutt for all that you have done for EL and me! You are great! Where would we be without you guys?

EL and I now can't wait to have someone over to the new digs!!

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Now I am looking forward to spending some time today with our newly hired minister, Greg Neill. He is coming into town with his fam to househunt and see the sights here in Marble Falls, America! I am going to show and tell what I know.

So Excited!

Elizabeth and I are so excited!! Tomorrow morning we will sign the closing papers on our new house here in Marble Falls. After that, we will be busting it to put all of our stuff from the 'Mitchell Mansion' over into the new house.
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There will be a brief interlude of the football game (now across the street) and the 5th Quarter (hosted by Guy and Ruth Ann N.) in the Youth House.
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Then we will be back in the new house getting it ready to live in.

Saturday, we will be inviting everyone from the church to help us move the rest of the stuff out of storage with us.
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Another brief interlude of door knocking with the new Spanish Ministry for a few hours...
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Then back to the new house to try to get it somewhat settled! Man, we can't wait!!!

Quote Of The Day

"Here is a word for our churches. Every foreign country is our fatherland—we belong to Korea, Paraguay, Angola, Bulgaria, and Mexico. All countries are honored. All need Jesus. We belong to them all because God loves them all and all are in need of the kingdom of God.

But at the same time, every fatherland is a foreign country—even our own, even America. We do not trust it to solve our most substantial problems or look to it to fill our greatest needs. We do not assume it is always right or always good. And we do not consign to it our hopes or our future. Our future belongs only to God who is the ruler of all nations and who grants us the extraordinary rights and privileges of living as citizens, not here, at least not for long, but forever in his glorious kingdom." - Jack Reese

Chaotic

Today has been a crazy day and I am unable to blog much further. I am having all of my numbers and accounts changed for the big move this Friday. I am also meeting with David G and Brian J. I have had luch with George Q and my sweet wife, Elizabeth. There is also a baptism this evening. All good news this day but it has left me reeling!!

Be back later with more information...

Ministry In A Nutshell

"I have a special pass. The kind that gets some people into every athletic event for their school or that permits some people to park wherever they want.

Only my pass allows me to enter into the holy places of lives.

I’m a minister. I’m one who speaks the Word of God, one who shapes worldviews, one who challenges, chastises, encourages, teaches, forms, unforms, and guides. And because of that — ill-formed though my life often seems to me (dogged by doubts and shortcomings) and ill-prepared though I’ve always felt (despite those many years of Greek!) — I’m given a pass that permits me to walk into sacred places.

Places where vows are made. Places where last words are spoken by best friends before walking out to make vows. Places where grieving widows or widowers say one last word at the casket after everyone else is gone. Places where parents hold their breath and beg God, waiting for the latest MRI to come back. Places where people speak their secrets, needing reassurance that God still loves them. Places of grief, relief, sorrow, joy, fear, and ecstasy.

What would I say to a young person who’s considering ministry?

Well, let’s be honest. It isn’t always easy. (What job is?)

But it’s a privilege, a blessing beyond blessings. My pass lets me weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. And when that happens, I feel fully alive. Even with those hidden doubts and shortcomings." - Preacher Mike

That just about sums it up for me. I love doing what I do! I love ministering to not only the teens and tweens, but people of all sizes and shapes (and Ages).

I have always wanted to help this world in some way and I can think of no better way of doing it than sharing the love of God and His son Jesus Christ with a fallen race. It is my prayer that I continue to be melted down and reformed into His image as I reach out to the lost and the hurting.

Thank You, Lord for loving us and giving us Your Spirit to guide us in this place! Thank You, God, for making us in Your image and giving us the tools to spread Your good news to the ends of the earth!

Quote Of The Day

"Two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self." - St. Augustine