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!

Barnabas

Son of Encouragement, right?

I have decided to adopt his stance in life. In all things.

The world is already full up with skeptics, pessimists, whiners, critics, complainers, curmudgeons...the list goes on and on.

And it's not only the worldly contained within this list. It's followers of Christ as well. Those of us who have been saved, called, blessed, exhorted, edified, forgiven, redeemed. We join in. Why? Why would we let the nasty junk of the world creep into our spirits?!?

I say no more!!!

So, I've decided to let God give me an uplifting makeover. I'm gonna let Him fill me with encouragement and help me dish it out to others in this world. Dish it out to...

Not only my Christian brothers and sisters but my community surrounding.

Not only my wife and sweet, little girl but my neighbors next door.

Not only my coworkers/coministers with whom I get along but the members in church who hurt my feelings/make me angry.

Not only those who smile and love me back but those who flip me off in traffic or cuss me out when I do something they don't like.

I am gonna be an equal opportunity encourager.

I ask you, Dear Reader, to come along and join me.

Out of Sorts

I didn't blog yesterday because I was just too out of it.

First off, I have been feeling a little under the weather (a cold trying to come on and an ugly fever blister-add to that an under the weather/cranky spanky baby girl) yet really happy at the same time.

Then mix in trying to get a lot done and plan and visit and mow and prepare for upcoming events-all keeping me out late at night.

Also, going to see one young and healthy member recover from a heart attack and some older members that are about to leave the hospital and go under hospice care has made me pretty blue.

This is getting me all out of sorts!

I tried to nuke some oatmeal in the fridge 2 times this morning! If that's not out of sorts, I don't know what is!!!!

And to top it all off, my partner in crime, Mike Knappier, has just played the worst of all pranks on me. I won't go into detail, but I will tell you that I deserved it from one huge mischievous prank that I pulled on him in June. It was coming. I knew it. But I just wasn't ready for it. It was, in the language of our newest minister, muy malo!!!

The Future's So Bright!

I woke up really early this morning!! 6 is not that early but it sure is for me on my day off. Especially after a nice, big Sunday with meetings in between meetings!

No, the reason I have graced the early morning with my presence is because I am just too excited to sleep!!!

Excited about the ministry at Northside. Here's why in a nutshell:

• We keep growing in number! People are placing membership with us every week.
• The youth group is getting massive! We are truly growing spiritually as well.
• There has been a reconciliation between NS and one Jim Gardner. 12 years in the making.
• We have a new full time minister on staff. Fernando T is our Hispanic Minister and I love him to pieces! He is a true servant of God and a man of the Word. He keeps baptizing 'em left and right. He is in the office right next to mine. I think I get too excited, though, because I get a little too loud and he laughs and then shuts the door!!!
• We are getting ready to begin small groups again and the response/need is overwhelming. We already have over 140 signed up. In one day!!
  
• Friendspeak is about to begin.
• Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is about to begin.
• Our Sunday morning Children's Worship has gotten so big that we have had to move to 2 big rooms.
• Northside's beautiful voices increasingly continue to blow me away!

There is more and I will continue, but I must go tend to a Boodle who just woke up!

Fleshy Meat Arms!!

Just posted some improv done by Conner S, Leavon B and Johnson F on Youtube. Just note that this was done at around 5:40 in the a.m. at an overnight lock-in with Robinson and Center in Conway. The longest and strangest 6 minutes of my life! Johnson scares me sometimes. I really don't know what is funnier-the scary improv, the slaphappy giggles of Katie N and Savannah S, or the total lack of any kind of expression on the faces (due to being totally unimpressed) of everyone else in the audience. Look it up if you dare-Fleshy Meat Arms!!

Hairy and Not So Hairy Days

I was looking at some old pics that some friends on Facebook

posted and tagged the other day and found some doozies!!
Thought I would share them with you, dear readers.

Back in 1994 when I thought it would be cool to shave my head. Turned out not to be so cool!! And yes those were the days that I had a gross fixation with purple. You can't see them, but my shoes were even purple!


This was me and my "other family." Grew all this out for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2001 at Harding University. Don't I look like a mountain man?!?


There I am yet again with some extra bushiness going on!

A Great Start

We could not have had a better start for the week. My buddy, Jim Gardner, brought a great lesson this past Sunday morning. We had over 480 people in attendance!! That number is higher than we have been in a long while.

Many came from Hot Springs Village to hear Jim preach. It was amazing to see some old friends and catch up and talk about times past.

I was able to spend a good amount of time with Jim and talk about the old days and peek into the future.

Later that afternoon, something happened to 6 former 6th graders that were getting ready to graduate into the youth group. They were kidnapped! By the youth minister and those already in the youth group!! After all the scary stuff, we had a great time of eating and swimming at the Norris house!! There were 40 there to join in the fun. Brenda G was there as our photog. She took some great pics. I will post them as soon as I get them.

The Road

I just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy and I have to admit that I cried a bit. OK, maybe I blubbered. It was such a great read, though. If you have not read McCarthy before, I tell you now that you must go out and get one of his books. The writing is unlike any other I have read and it took me a few pages to get accustomed to it, but once I did, I fell in love with the style. I believe you will, too. Great book!! I highly recommend it.

Recap

Yesterday was a bit more wild than I thought it would be. After the breakfast, I met with Cameron Cook and we worked on our evening Oasis worship last night, then I got to work on other things and totally forgot to fill you in on Tuesday's action packed events.

I was honored to be a part of CAC's revisioning of The Amazing Race! I was merely a driver. No more than that. And I was supposed to just go where they told me even when I knew our destination might be in the opposite direction! That was hard to do, but I managed pretty well.

We left the CAC parking lot and traveled to:

The Big Dam Bridge Road
Pulaski Tech (Old Expo Center)
Little Rock Zoo
UALR-Welcome Center & Fountain
Clinton Library
Somers Avenue Church of Christ
Linens N Things
Barnes and Noble
Target
The Old Mill
Sherwood Humane Society
Sylvan Hills Church of Christ

At these stops, the group would take pictures, find clues, meet new people, watch videos, play games and buy things. What a crazy day!! I had a lot of fun and I know the teens did. Can't wait to do it again soon.

The Amazing Race

I had a big day today with Central Arkansas Christian seniors in something like 'The Amazing Race.' I will fill you in about it tomorrow mid-morning when I get in to the office after our weekly 'Vision Wednesday Ministers Breakfast'.

Shredded Part III

A big part of the group wanted to be out in the rain so we went over to the Sloans valley and played in the rain and mud-relay races,
human pyramid,


a contest of best 3rd base slide (with 3rd base being a mud puddle),

Red Rover,



and some great wrap football in the grassy section.



We ended the night with a great time of singing and devotion to our Lord and Savior followed by stuffing ourselves with yummy food. Awesome times!! I am just so proud that we still had a huge number-60+!!

If you want to see more pics, go over to the NS Youth Facebook Page!

After all of that fun, I am just about shredded!!