Monday, June 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Father's Day and Updates...
On Sunday I found out this news:
I'M GOING TO BE A DAD AGAIN!!!
That's right, we're having a third baby. It was a good day.
Monday morning I took a group of five of my youth guys and headed for LaGrange/Canton, Missouri for some sandbagging and help with the flood fight. It was two days of tough work but it was so great to be able to help try and save these communities that are filled with people that I love. I'm home now and very tired. Perhaps I'll give a bigger update later... and maybe some pictures.
Have a great one!
I'M GOING TO BE A DAD AGAIN!!!
That's right, we're having a third baby. It was a good day.
Monday morning I took a group of five of my youth guys and headed for LaGrange/Canton, Missouri for some sandbagging and help with the flood fight. It was two days of tough work but it was so great to be able to help try and save these communities that are filled with people that I love. I'm home now and very tired. Perhaps I'll give a bigger update later... and maybe some pictures.
Have a great one!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Late Night/Early Morning Post
I'm still awake. Bethany and the boys are in Missouri till Saturday. I'm hanging out watching the weather channel. It looks like we have some more severe weather on the way for tomorrow. I think my sump pump finally pumped all of the water out of the crawl space from two nights ago.
Today I took a couple of the guys from Voltage and headed to Springfield. We had a great time. Later, we headed for the Smith compound to watch game one of the NBA Finals. I'm stoked to say that the Celtics won. It looks to be a really good series. I thought for sure that Paul Pierce had broken his leg during the game but he came back out just fine.
I haven't updated this in awhile so I'll let you know that our soccer season is over. I think we ended with a 4-1 record. I'm not really sure if we won that last game or not but another guy and I decided that we probably ended up with more points. Javan said he wished that soccer went forever. He sure likes playing that game.
Today I went to Walmart to get some groceries so I don't wither away while the wife is away. Lately I've been reading again. I finally finished a Mark Driscoll book I had been reading for a long time, read the first 19 chapters in Hood by Stephen Lawhead, started The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, and read some in Here I Am to Worship by Tim Hughes. so far all these books have been fantastic. I'm hoping to get finished with the Narnia series in time to get my Lawhead books back (loaned them out) and finish them. I also found out that I can get a sticker on a Winchester library card that allows me to check out books from the Jacksonville Public Library. That's exciting and means that I'll have more reading material at my disposal in the near future.
Youth is going along as normal. I'm pretty excited because it looks like we have some people really looking at where God wants them. He is definently working on people. I can feel Him working on me as well...even in the midst of times when I mess up. God is so good.
Well, this is just a bit of an update for the two or three of you who will actually read this. Peace to you.
Today I took a couple of the guys from Voltage and headed to Springfield. We had a great time. Later, we headed for the Smith compound to watch game one of the NBA Finals. I'm stoked to say that the Celtics won. It looks to be a really good series. I thought for sure that Paul Pierce had broken his leg during the game but he came back out just fine.
I haven't updated this in awhile so I'll let you know that our soccer season is over. I think we ended with a 4-1 record. I'm not really sure if we won that last game or not but another guy and I decided that we probably ended up with more points. Javan said he wished that soccer went forever. He sure likes playing that game.
Today I went to Walmart to get some groceries so I don't wither away while the wife is away. Lately I've been reading again. I finally finished a Mark Driscoll book I had been reading for a long time, read the first 19 chapters in Hood by Stephen Lawhead, started The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, and read some in Here I Am to Worship by Tim Hughes. so far all these books have been fantastic. I'm hoping to get finished with the Narnia series in time to get my Lawhead books back (loaned them out) and finish them. I also found out that I can get a sticker on a Winchester library card that allows me to check out books from the Jacksonville Public Library. That's exciting and means that I'll have more reading material at my disposal in the near future.
Youth is going along as normal. I'm pretty excited because it looks like we have some people really looking at where God wants them. He is definently working on people. I can feel Him working on me as well...even in the midst of times when I mess up. God is so good.
Well, this is just a bit of an update for the two or three of you who will actually read this. Peace to you.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
To all the moms out there I'd just like to say, "Happy Mother's Day".
My wife is such a good mom to our boys. I am truly blessed to have such an amazing partner. God always knew exactly what I needed and was faithful to provide. Our boys are probably far too young to realize how great of a mother they have. One day they will and I'll do everything I can to teach them.
This is what we got for Bethany:
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Violet Hill
So, in recent music news, Coldplay made their first single from their new album available for free on their website last week (I believe). It's called Violet Hill and is a bit of a change for the guys. It almost reminds me of a little Sunny Day Real Estate (in places due to the vocals being reminiscent of Jeremy Enigk).
I still need to dig deeper into it but as of the first listen and a half...I dig it. I think Coldplay, like U2 before them is one of those bands that in today's culture are making great music but it's unfortunately lost on our youth driven-fast excitement culture. They still sell millions of albums but most of the students in our local high schools probably prefer the latest jam from 50 cent or Panic at the Disco. It's a deeper audience that this music reaches out to... it looks for those interested in lyrical content and artistry...not just a "phat beat" and danceable hooks (not that there's anything wrong with that). Food for thought. I'm sure this same principal could be applyed to other points in culture...
Last night we had a pretty decent discussion about sin at youth group. If you're the praying type, pray for my students from Voltage. Pray they would take God at His Word and that their lives would explode with faithfulness, worship, and service.
I still need to dig deeper into it but as of the first listen and a half...I dig it. I think Coldplay, like U2 before them is one of those bands that in today's culture are making great music but it's unfortunately lost on our youth driven-fast excitement culture. They still sell millions of albums but most of the students in our local high schools probably prefer the latest jam from 50 cent or Panic at the Disco. It's a deeper audience that this music reaches out to... it looks for those interested in lyrical content and artistry...not just a "phat beat" and danceable hooks (not that there's anything wrong with that). Food for thought. I'm sure this same principal could be applyed to other points in culture...
Last night we had a pretty decent discussion about sin at youth group. If you're the praying type, pray for my students from Voltage. Pray they would take God at His Word and that their lives would explode with faithfulness, worship, and service.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Diet again
So, I started back on Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet on Thursday. Over the course of the last year I have gradually recessed in my eating habits. I began treating myself more and more rather than the occasional time. At my lowest known weight I was down to 208lbs. I was happy there. However, once we moved to Winchester, I started eating all of the tasty, "not so healthy" foods available here. So, I'm back on the Beach. Since Thursday it appears that I've lost 8lbs. Hopefully this pace will continue and I'll be down below 200 lbs by Cornerstone Festival. That's my goal. That's 40 lbs in two months. I'm not sure my body will do it that fast but we'll see. I'm doing it healthy and not starving myself or anything stupid like that.
My problem was that I didn't do the maintanence stage of Phase 3 very well. Instead of splurging once in awhile, I did it all the time. Eventually, (and a couple of weeks in Slovakia didn't help) I was eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted...even late at night.
Another benefit is that I think I'm more active now. I coach my son's soccer team and play basketball with my students at church. Hopefully this increased activity will add to the pounds lost. I'm hoping to be doing some walking/jogging also.
In all of this I have been praying that God would help me and be my strength. It might sound trivial to some (to spiritualize a diet) but I have learned that I need to trust God even in seemingly small things because I know that I can't do it on my own... but I can rely on God as my strength. It is only by Him that I was able to loose the first 81lbs a couple of years ago... see www.xanga.com/butterneverbleeds (my old blog) for details on that.
I weighed in a few days ago on Thursday at 238 lbs. I am currently at 230. Only 22 lbs to go till I equal my lowest weight. Exciting!
Anyway, have a great week!
My problem was that I didn't do the maintanence stage of Phase 3 very well. Instead of splurging once in awhile, I did it all the time. Eventually, (and a couple of weeks in Slovakia didn't help) I was eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted...even late at night.
Another benefit is that I think I'm more active now. I coach my son's soccer team and play basketball with my students at church. Hopefully this increased activity will add to the pounds lost. I'm hoping to be doing some walking/jogging also.
In all of this I have been praying that God would help me and be my strength. It might sound trivial to some (to spiritualize a diet) but I have learned that I need to trust God even in seemingly small things because I know that I can't do it on my own... but I can rely on God as my strength. It is only by Him that I was able to loose the first 81lbs a couple of years ago... see www.xanga.com/butterneverbleeds (my old blog) for details on that.
I weighed in a few days ago on Thursday at 238 lbs. I am currently at 230. Only 22 lbs to go till I equal my lowest weight. Exciting!
Anyway, have a great week!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Club Beyond Service Project 2008 - Post #1
Below is a video explaining the ministry of MCYM/Younglife/Youth For Christ. This is the organization that I was working with while in Slovakia over Spring Break. Hopefully, this video will give you a little knowledge about the students that I was directly working with while in Europe. I am hoping that my next few posts can describe some of the awesome things that happened on Service Project 2008 - Presov, Slovakia.
When I watch this my heart breaks for these students who go through everything our students over here go through with the added stress of being in a foreign country, having your parents go down range, and moving around all the time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
