Stress-Free Zone

Welcome Back!
Sorry to all of you (Sister) who have missed out on the wonderful things that are happening in these parts.
The past few weeks have been all but stress-free. Presentations, papers, and finals are all anyone seems to be talking about and it is a major point of interest in our household. My lovely bride is facing 8 finals in 8 days and a GRE to top it off. Sounds like fun doesn't it. Well, I hate to tell you that its not. I take finals like any other thing I do... I'll do alright with no worries. She, on the other hand, panics at the mere saying of the word, FINALS! So I have decided to introduce a stress-free zone into our house. In this zone, there is no studying, school books or bags, school discussions, Finals, or anything else that causes stress. It is a place of laughter, joking, sleeping, sugar, spice and everything nice. I will let you kow if it catches on and feel free to try it your world. Or as the PS2 likes to put, "Live in your world, PLAY in ours." Deep thoughts I know but my brain is fried after the ONE final that I took.

You are now entering a stress-free zone. I have great day and forget about the rest of it.

OH, by the way,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

Much love and I'll holla later.

Slight Detour

A few weeks ago my wife and I faced a difficult situation: Stay in a minstry position that we were miserable in or move on and refresh ourselves before we are called again. Well, to make a long story short, we moved and things seem to be on the up swing. I will miss the students that I have worked with for the past two years greatly. My heart was crushed when I realized I had to tell them that we were leaving. But eveything happens according to the plan God has for us so right now I will call this my slight detour to return to the desert and rejoice in the goodness of God. This may seem selfish but I am glad to have more time with my wife (alone) and the rest from the relentless return of the Sabbath. I will rejoice in my time as minister without a church because ideas are already coming to mind for the next sheep to shepherd. My cup does run over and I will be excited for the time God returns me to a church.

Random. I know but itis one of those months.

Are You sure?

The past few weeks have been very difficult for me. We had revival at church. Nothing happened. We started looking at ways to reach the community. No ideas were given. Tonight I am up late becuase I am thinking of everything and anything. Not sleeping. I am at a point where I wonder what I am doing in the place I am at and why is nothing happening. I pray. Some. I study. Too much. It seems familiar but the Voice I once heard clearly is now very faint. I think "what if" not "why not". I am frustrated that what once seemed so clear is now so foggy. When I talk with the Lord , my question is "Are You sure?" not "I am here, send me." What I hear is yes but what I see is chaos at best.
A friend of mine had a tough day last week. His mom was in an accident and when I first heard about what happened, I was scared. For her, for him, for the family. And even for me. The question was "are You sure?" She was fine but everything could have changed in an instant. It may already have. I am here doing what I was called to do but things are not going the way they are supposed to. Lord, are you sure I need to be in West Texas? Lord, are sure I am supposed to lead others to you? Lord, are you sure you want to give me this much responsibility? Lord, are you sure you are still there? This may be a challenge or it may be time for change. What was certain today is still up for grabs tomorrow but something keeps reminding me in a still, very small voice....

Yes, I'm sure.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Revelation 22:13

Fantasy Revival

I don't know about anyone else in fantasy leagues but I have become obsessed. For the first time ever, I am playing in a fantasy football league and I think I have a problem. Everyday, whether I am playing or not, I take a look at the stats, the players, and the standings. It's ridiculous! This week I get to play my cousin, who haven't seen since his wedding in July, and he is already talking trash. But since he has endured the rains of 3 or 4 hurricanes he can talk all he wants. We will see how it turns out Sunday. Let the obsession continue.
On a more serious note, planned revival starts at my church next week. I am having a hard time with it since I don't think very many people in my church get what the purpose of revival is. They are bringing a former pastor of the church and a musician who grew up in the church to lead us. I am not opposed to home grown boys leading revival, but I do not understand why the names of these men are so important to the revival outcome. Many people have said that they will bring many in because of who they are. Maybe its me, but I thought the name that brought revival was the name of Jesus Christ and his alone. Revival is defined as a period of renewed interest in something or a highly emotional evangelistic meeting but we are missing the interest some and the evangelism part out right. Revival begins in the soul of each disciple of Christ and then spreads like fire to those around. It does not begin by naming the speaker and singer. I have been teaching on the disciples with my youth group and we recently discussed Peter. When Peter spoke in Acts 2, he was prompted by the Holy Spirit and the result was 3,000 people making a life commitment to Jesus Christ. One Sunday School teascher I had put it this way, "We don't need to be revived, we just need to live 'vived'."

Be "VIVED"!!!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:25-26

Kids

Today has started as a great day. My class that I like to hate was actually tolerable this morning. Parents brought little children (0-2 years) in for us to observe. This made it is easy for me enjoy since I love kids. We were supposed to write stuff down about their developmental achievements and their growth but very few of us did that. We played for an hour and it was the shortest hour for me in a long time. I grew fond of a little named Shelby. She was a 8 months old and she was a chunk. She liked to laugh and pull things. (We may get in trouble because she pulled some things of a bullentin board in the hall but oh well). I am not anywhere near ready for kids but today was a reminder of how much fun they are and why I can't wait to be a daddy. I guess even the bad classes you have to take can have moments that mwke you smile.
Have a wonderful day.

Teachers teaching teachers...

Classes have started again and I am not so excited after the first couple of days. Of the two classes I have, I only go to a classroom for one of them. This class is shaping up easy yet difficult. The class is Child & Adolescent Psychology/Development. It may sound interesting and it may be from a pscychological standpoint but are focusing on the developmental part. The reason behind this is that is a class full of education majors and is taught by an education professor. Now, I have nothing against teachers at all. I respect them for what they do and support them anyway I can. But, when teachers are teaching future teachers, it seems that the IQ of the class drops 20 points. The professor uses her "speaking voice" which means loud and slow and uses words most second graders would understand. This may not seem like a problem to you and it may just be me but this is going to be a long semester. Apart from this minor dilema, school will be over soon and I will start school again, as a grad student (yea!). Does this ever end?

Have a great day!

That Was a Close One

Let me set the scene for you... We were headed to Midland, TX for Rock the Desert 2004. POD is the headline band with many more Christian artists that were going to be awesome. My students were all over the chance of a good concert especially if it lasted all day. Midland is about 2 1/2 hours away so we load up in the church van and 2 other vehicles and hit the road. We were talking about strange things, no doubt because of the Junior high girls who were sitting in the seat behind mine, and car trouble became a favorite topic. Anyway, we were about 15 minutes from Midland and everything is going great. Then the van starts shaking and that usually means kids are rocking it back and forth. This time they weren't. About that time I start thinking this isn't right and everyone else thought the same. BOOM! There goes the front tire on the driver's side of a 15 passenger van. Worst nightmare come true! I have other people's kids and we are about rollover into oncoming traffic. The van heads toward a car in the opposite and lane and then someone else started driving. I was still sitting in the driver's seat but the Lord had taken control. God and His angels guided us safely to the side of the road where we changed the tire and made it to our destination. And the drama isn't over yet! The only mother that came with us took the van into get new tire because the side wall of the spare is cracked. They replace tire and check the pressure on the other tires. Then they notice a bubble on the front passenger tire and said that the tire was also ready to blow. I've never been so glad the a tire was cracked in all my life because we may have to do the scene all over again had the technician not checked the tires and the tire not been cracked. Needless to say we made it home safely and the kids really enjoyed themselves. The girls got to freak out, the guys got to experience something "cool", and the sponsors, well, we survived.
And what did we learn from our dramatic experience... The Lord is always at work even when we aren't paying attention. This is a very good thing. Last year we got rained on, this year we blew a tire and got blown away, what will happen next year? Only the Lord knows and I'm glad He is in control.
"For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways."
Psalm 91:11

NEXT...

This is a new thing for me (bringing in others to share in the madness). I have often wondered what it would be like for someone to be in my head seeing what really goes on and this is my chance. Which way now? I will soon find out and will take you along for the ride. But unitl I get there, does anyone have a map?