Fed From The Word

These past 2 weeks I have been privileged to hear fresh insight from the study of God's word. Between the Spiritual Growth Workshop in Fresno, CA last week and the Harding Lectureship here in Searcy, AR this week, I am a blessed man!! To hear from the likes of Dan Williams, Allan Stanglin, Mark Shipp, Adrian Hickmon, Brandon Holt, Eli Hooper and many others is to be truly fed!

I am hanging out with a wild father and son team while here. Mike and Chad Knappier have allowed me to stay in their room with them and we are running all over creation. We're having too much fun. Too much fun and we need to be separated in order to stay out of trouble.

I will tell you more all about it when I get back to my own personal computer.

Celebrity In And Out Of The Brotherhood

First off, I have to tell you about the celebrity I spotted in Los Angeles on Tuesday. It was none other than this man:












He sang lead in an early 80's punk rock band with a name that I will leave off of this post for the faint of heart. You might know him and you might not. If you do, then you will know why I chose not to approach!! If you don't, then I suggest you watch any television interview with the man and you will see why immediately!
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As to celebrity in the brotherhood: I am in the midst of it!! It has been 'such a joy' to work and worship with the likes of Jim Gardner, Allan Stanglin, Truitt Adair (director of Sunset School of Preaching), Dan Williams (Small Groups and Family/Marital Counseling Guru), Brandon Holt (grandson of G.P.), Eli Hooper (go-to guy for anything youth related on the west coast), John Wiegand (editor of Praise For The Lord songbook), among many others that I have yet to hear.

I look forward to the blessings of God through Kerry Williams, his father Stan, Nick Perez, and others on the list.

This workshop is a veritable who's who in the churches of Christ!! It's quite exciting to me!

"California, California, Here We Come!"

OK, so I am already in California, but I thought the quote from Phantom Planet's song would do quite nicely for a title since it is streaming nonstop through my head.

I am so excited to be back with my old buddy, Jim. But, I am even more excited to be with Mandy and the girls!! Don't tell Jim. Mandy made her world-famous chicken enchiladas last night and I stuffed myself silly. So good!

I got to meet Andy and Ashley Frizzell, the new Youth Minister and his wife. They are a great couple already working hard here in the beautiful city of Fresno. I can't wait to get to know them better.

Jim has taken me around and shown me many of the sights, but I left my camera sitting on the counter back at home! I always forget something. The Gardners have a camera, though, and they said I could use it to get some great shots in. I will take them up on that!!

One of the cool things about this place is the abundance of ethnic food restaurants. I look forward to eating some Thai, Armenian and whatever else great pops up along the way! So cool!

I will blog again soon with some pics and a story about the celebrity I encountered in Los Angeles.

Special Thanks

I just want to specially thank some people for things they have done recently. Here goes:

Special thanks to Stephanie Howell for 'wearing herself slick' and sick working the teen rummage sale last Saturday! Add to that list El, Brenda G, Griselda T, Wendy C, Karen B, Lisa G, Missy Mc, Josh H, Alden M, Luis S, and all the teens that helped.

Special thanks to Greg and Marvelyn Tapp for sharing with the teens the importance of financial responsibility.

Special thanks to the men who have undertaken the huge responsibility of leading Life Groups.

Special thanks to Wilma Lunsford for just being who she is. You know!!

Special thanks to Ed Butterworth for mowing (even scalping) my lawn and enduring an unexpected yellowjacket sting in the process.

Special thanks to Fernando Toledo for all the hard work that he has put in for the Hispanic Ministry and just plain having a heart of gold!! An amazing man!

Special thanks to Mike Knappier, Joel Lewis, Fernando Toledo, Linda Pike, and Joyce Smith for putting up with the likes of me on a daily basis.

Special thanks to Eric Lewis for his constant energy and encouragement.

There will be more to come later...

Held Through It All

May God bless you with healing and peace as you go through this day. As we remember the tragedy that befell our country 7 years ago, I hope that we realize that God is not watching 'from a distance', but is with us in our hearts everywhere we go. He will take us/carry us/hold us through our pain and our grief. I leave you this morning with a beautiful Natalie Grant song (introduced to me by my sister, Misti) that is so fitting for such a time as this.

"Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.

Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.

This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred know our sorrow.
The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.

If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held."

Little Growth

Just wanted you 'Brothers of the Brush' to know how I am coming along with my beard. Almost a week in and I have a little growth.

So I have come from this:


To this:

Epiphyseal Plate

"Tuesday afternoon, I was just sitting down to a bible study with Dannie S when my cell rang. There had been a mishap at daycare and Jenniva couldn't stand on her right leg. I immediately took her to the Dr. and had it X-Rayed. Not broken. But severely bruised and swollen. She still won't stand on it. Keep little Boodle in your prayers."

This quote is taken directly from my blog post Friday morning. Later that evening, El and I were called by the Pediatrician. The Radiologist saw what she didn't. It has been fractured! Boodle has what they call a 'Toddler Fracture.' It will not be set in a cast but will heal over the course of 2-3 weeks. It broke on the growth plate. Really sad. Please keep us in your prayers.

Catching You Up

Got to spend a few days with dear friends of ours - Allan, Carrie Ann, Whitney, Valerie and Carly Stanglin, this past weekend!! Allan came in to speak for our 5th Sunday and was amazing! We got to spend some quality time together and laugh about old times and ponder some present times with bright hope for the future. We also just played. Backgammon, PS3, Would You Rather, Cranium and threw around the football. I miss them so much and can't wait to do it again soon!

Tuesday afternoon, I was just sitting down to a bible study with Dannie S when my cell rang. There had been a mishap at daycare and Jenniva couldn't stand on her right leg. I immediately took her to the Dr. and had it X-Rayed. Not broken. But severely bruised and swollen. She still won't stand on it. Keep little Boodle in your prayers.

So, instead of going to the Salt Bowl, I stayed at home with Boodle while Gustav came a-knockin'. The lights went out at about 7:20 and came back on around 10:00. Fun times!! I was sure glad that Bob had given me that wind-up flashlight I thought I would never use. Well, I have used it and love it now!

Last night, El and I were stressed beyond that point as we headed to our first evening of Financial Peace University with Dave Ramsey. Why were we stressed? Finances. Today is the closing date of our house in Marble Falls! That's a good thing. That's a great thing!!! But, the closing costs were a little more than we calculated and that is where all the stress came in.

So, now I look like this!

And I have decided to grow a beard (not necessarily because we can't afford a razor) and will soon look like this!
Well, maybe not that bad!! Sorry, Natalie Portman, I just don't think your boyfriend's look is what I'm gonna shoot for.

Beard Brothers

So my friend Clint S and I have decided to grow beards for this season!! I think even Ed B, now that he has a new job, will join in. We will be Beard Brothers!! Anyone else want to join in the fun?!?

Pictures of This and That

Here are some shots of things that have happened in my life recently.

Mom and Dad (AKA Bobba and NaNa) spent some time with us a few weekends ago. It was an awesome time!! I'm ready for them to come again.


This is what happens when you work shoulders with me!!


Boodle had a great time shopping with Kitty on Labor Day!