Gratitude

Thank God for the rain. As I type this blog, the sky is open and the rain is coming down. I pray that it will keep coming. We need it here in the Village and surrounding areas.

I pray also for the families in New Orleans that they will see an end to Katrina. God bless them as they face this terrible Hurricane.

Be back later with more thoughts.

Beautiful Morning

This morning I had the oppurtunity to spend an hour in a classroom full of 5th graders. I am in a rotation of adults that get to spend time with these young minds while their teachers are in conference. So, the 3rd Friday of every month I am able to share with them stories of my life and my ministry. I also get to hear their takes on Jesus and His love. I cannot think of a better way to start the day!

Application

I just finished giving a devotional thought to the seniors that are taken care in The Good Samaritan Nursing Home and Assisted Living complex. We discussed 'Forgiveness.'

Forgiveness.

Such an easy word to say. But the application is where things get difficult.

How many of you out there have held a grudge that just kept getting larger and more painful? Something that may have begun as a little tiff suddenly snowballs into relationship damaging bitterness. And the cycle will not end until one or both parties involved say "I'm Sorry."

I have read of families and friendships being ripped apart over small things like the cost of sugar. Sad, but true.

Please, if you are embroiled in an argument with your friends or family, take the time to renew your relationship through forgiveness. Pray to God that He give you a piece of His heart and break the chain of 'unforgiveness.'

Quote Of The Day

"When you forgive someone, you slice away the wrong from the person who did it. You disengage that person from his hurtful act. You recreate him. At one moment you identify him ineradicably as the person who did you wrong. The next moment you change that identity. He is remade in your memory.

You think of him now not as the person who hurt you, but a person who needs you. You feel him now not as the person who alienated you, but as the person who belongs to you. Once you branded him as a person powerful in evil, but now you see him as a person weak in his needs. You recreated your past by recreating the person whose wrong made your past painful." - Lewis Smedes

About...

About the smashed van window...one of the young men from the youth group, in trying to scare one of his buddies, flat-handed one of the windows at it's weakest point and accidentally smashed it to pieces. It was a lesson in restraint and responsibility that will not be quickly forgotten. He has profusely offered to work and scrounge up extra spending money to pay it off.

About last Saturday...Walt and Shirley M. were once again gracious hosts for the youth and several young families for the Back To School Celebration with more food than we could all consume, 4 boats to ski and tube behind on Lake Balboa, and a great atmosphere for God's family to fellowship. Thanks to Walt and Shirley, John and Trish, Rick M, Doug, and Gary for providing great times!!

About my Mom...she spent the weekend with Elizabeth and me to have a nice, relaxing weekend getaway, but wound up getting more than she bargained for. She was the third in line to tube and as she jumped out of the boat her hand got caught in the crevice between the gate and the boat railing. She said later that she felt a pinch on her way down. In reality, it was more than a pinch. As she came up out of the water, I noticed that her right hand was bleeding. Thinking it was a cut, several from the boat asked if she was alright. But she had actually severed her pinky finger in half. The top of the finger was found and put on ice. We rushed my mom and her finger to the hospital, in hopes that the doctors would be able to sew the finger back on, but they were not able to do so.

My mom was a trooper during the whole ordeal. She stayed strong and God blessed her with a minimal amount of pain. She is at home now resting and recovering from quite the opposite of the weekend that she thought she would have. We love you, Mom and pray that God continues to keep you out of pain and in great health.

About life...it has a strange way of constantly changing on us.

About God...He has a great and mysterious way of taking care of us through it all.

Sinking In

Well, it is just now starting to sink in that my partner- in-crime, Jim Gardner, is really gone. Being here in the office without him is something that will take a while to get used to. The shepherds here have been really great and supportive. Matter of fact, Rick N. came by the office to give his support to Jeanne and me. Thanks to you men for your encouragement.

I gave the motivational address to the faculty and staff of Jessieville Schools today. My heart skips a beat when it is time for school to start back. Even though I am well out of high school, the fond memories come rushing to me. I am sure that I speak for many kids in my youth group, as well.

I have to go now. I am prepping for my sermon this coming Sunday morning. I will blog later about the incident of the young man and the smashed van window...

Thoughts

We are back from Camp Barton in one piece and on a spiritual high. A week full of creating and shaping memories. How many of you out there have a fond memory or Bible Camp story that you would like to share with the rest of us?

_____________________

Several of the youth met today to paint and redecorate the youth room. We worked, played and ordered in Pizza. I got a little too overzealous with my pizza order, so we will most likely be eating it again for lunch tomorrow when we meet to wrap up the room. I will be posting pics soon.
_____________________

I will miss you, Jim.

I'll miss riding in the truck and talking about everything under the sun.

I'll miss deliberating over serious matters in the office.

I'll miss 'Naw you' and 'Jim Burger?!?'

I'll miss Good Sam Chapels together.

I'll miss visiting in homes and in hospitals together.

I'll miss grilling out together before the games

The list goes on and on...

Time To Party

21 from the youth group are getting set to leave tomorrow afternoon for a week-long spiritual party at Camp Barton. Party in the sense of laughter, fun, games and fellowship. Spiritual because every element will be building toward our focus on the goal: Jesus Christ!

This year's theme is centered on the fruits of the Spirit. I ask that you keep us in your prayers. Prayers for safety, fun, focus and spiritual growth. Prayers for strong leadership and mentoring. Prayers for guidance from the Holy Spirit.

I will not be able to blog for a whole week. Don't worry though, there will be posted details, thoughts and pics when I return.

Thoughts on Jesus

My buddy, Scott P. sent me this through email and I thought it was pretty neat. Max Lucado is a very insightful author and his viewpoint on Jesus is intriguing. Here it is...

"Why would Jesus, on his first journey, take his followers to a party?
Didn't they have work to do? Didn't he have principles to teach?Wasn't his time limited? How could a wedding fit with his purpose on earth?
Why did Jesus go to the wedding?
The answer? It's found in the second verse of John 2. “Jesus and his followers were also invited to the wedding.”
Why did they invite him?
I suppose they liked him.
Big deal? I think so. I think it's significant that common folk in a little town enjoyed being with Jesus. I think it's noteworthy that the Almighty didn't act high and mighty. The Holy One wasn't holier-than-thou.
You just don't get the impression that his neighbors grew sick of his haughtiness and asked, “Well, who do you think made you God?”
His faith made him likable, not detestable. Would that ours would do the same!
May I state an opinion that may raise an eyebrow? May I tell you why I think Jesus went to the wedding? I think he went to the wedding to - now hold on, hear me out, let me say it before you heat the tar and pluck the feathers-I think Jesus went to the wedding to have fun.
Maybe these thoughts catch you by surprise. They do me. It's been awhile since I pegged Jesus as a party-lover. But he was. His foes accused him of eating too much, drinking too much, and hanging out with the wrong people! (See Matt. 11:19.) I must confess: It's been awhile since I've been accused of having too much fun. How about you?
We used to be good at it. What has happened to us? What happened to clean joy and loud laughter? Is it our neckties that choke us?
Is it our diplomas that dignify us? Is it the pew that stiffens us? Jesus took time for a party...shouldn't we?"

Quote Of The Day

"Worshiping together is a more personal thing than riding trains or attending movies together. Tolerance is not enough; it must be real brotherhood or nothing." - Frank T. Wilson

Arlington Trip

Here are some neat pix of the group in Texas. These were taken before the AC went out in the van, thus all of the cheery faces. Trust me, you would not want to see them afterward. lol

Interesting News

Here's a piece of news that you might find interesting:

Babies Take Viagra

Babies who suffer from pulmonary hypertension have a 12-month mortality rate of 37%. But 14 children who used Viagra therapy (yes, it improves blood flow to the heart and lungs, too) were all alive at the end of a preliminary trial. Pfizer, Viagra's maker, is planning a large-scale trial toward marketing the drug for infant use. ("Newsweek," July 25)

Back In Town

Well, we're back! 23 from the youth group traveled down to Arlington to catch the Rangers play the A's and to spend a day at Six Flags. The kids survived, or should I say that the chaperones survived.

We had only one bad thing happen to us on the trip, though. On the drive home, the air conditioning in the van went out on us. For a few hours, 12 of us sat in a rolling sauna. A neat way to lose weight, huh?!? We lived.

I am glad to be back home to blog some more. I will be posting pics of our journey soon.

More Pictures

Our Lovely Youth Group

Just thought I would post some of the latest pics from some of our youth and family activities. There are some pictures of Steph H's going away party. (We miss you!) Some pictures of our VBS and some pics of our First Principles Day Camp.

It won't let me put all of the pictures on this one, so I will continue on into the next one...

Quote Of The Day

"The greatest hermeneutic of the gospel is a community that seeks to live by it." - Lesslie Newbigin

Getting Older

What a blessing it was to have 19 youth on our first day, 20 on the second and 23 on the third and final day of First Principles Day Camp! The cool thing is that there were other kids out there that wanted to be here but could not because of summer jobs.

As excited as I am, though, I feel that I am getting older.

On Tuesday, I took the kids to the community pool and wrestled with all of them. Some kids at the pool that I have never seen before decided to join in the fun and try to take me down. While I believe I held up pretty well at the pool; I went home with a bruised side, a jammed finger and an aching, wrenched back. I think have started to feel some of my youthful invincibility begin to wear off.

What a bummer.

Beginnings and Endings

Today was the beginning of our annual First Principles Day Camp for students ages 9 and up. The camp lasts three days and serves as a crash course in our belief system as disciples of Christ. We were blessed this year to have the largest crowd in attendance. 19 students were here, eager to learn more about the basic, foundational principles of Christianity. There are whispers that there will be a few more tomorrow. That excites me. Young hearts ready to study the will of God for their lives.

On a sad note, there also comes an end to things. Several of our youth are leaving us this week. The Tates are moving to Florida and Stephanie H is moving to Albuquerque. They will be sorely missed. Compound that with the near departure of our preaching minister and his family and you have a few wet eyes in the house.

God has big plans for them. Plans that maybe you and I don't see with our miniscule grasp of the 'Big Picture.' But since the 'Big Guy in the Sky' knows all and sees all, I trust that they will be great blessings to the new communities in which they live and serve.

A word to the movers: We love you and pray for your spiritual safety as you leave us and embark on a new leg in your journey. God bless you.

So, there are beginnings and endings. Transitions that shape and change each one of us.

Quote Of The Day

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein

Pics of my family

Here are a few pics of my sister, Misti, her sons Kameron and Brenden, and my Mom. WHen Elizabeth and I traveled down to Florida, we stayed with them for a few days.