another observation

Few people commented on what a large crowd we had at church Sunday (2nd biggest ever), but lots commented on the return of a family who returned to our church after not being there for a long time. They not only commented on it, but they loved on that family while they were there. They have a way of keeping things in perspective for me.

Words just aren't enough

This morning was such a wonderful church service. Words just aren't enough to explain how good it way. I started the service by telling everyone I'm not sure what to expect today except that God will be with us and that He is good. He was definitly with us and He was definitly good.

We had Amy Lewis bring a pottery wheel to church today to help us figure out what it means when the Bible always compares us to clay and God to our potter. Amy, who is pretty shy, thrived even though she told me later she was shaking the whole time (How do you make pottery when you're shaking?). People made comments throughout the demonstration bringing it home to real life. Some people were crying because it spoke to them so deeply.

I guess I talked a lot, but so did Amy, and so did a lot of other people in church. And through all of us talking I think we all heard God talking to us.

God is doing such a wonderful work in our church. We are definitly in for a fun ride.

Gifts

This week I had fun listening to and watching others in our church. One gave me a simply wonderful idea for something we could do as a church that has left my imagination running and the other did a simple task in a way that I thought was great and more than I could have asked for. It was a lot of fun this week celebrating with others the wonderful work God is doing in them.

Tomorrow in church we are having one of the artist of our church bring a pottery wheel to church and she is going to throw clay. We are gonna talk about how that all relates to our walk with Christ. Somebody told me she is pumped about the service and has even said, "I'm so excited that I get to be a part of the service." I think God is trying to tell me something through that quote.

Mandy's a hottie

This morning Mandy had on the cutest maternity clothes. She was wearing this pink button up shirt and you could see the form of her belly (now six months pregnant). She looked so beautiful that I didn't want her to leave. I never thought pregnant women were all that attractive until now.

I had fun 

our attempt at getting in the dispatch 

"The Gates" well some of them anyway. 

Spring Revival

Just saw a friend of mine in the caft. at MVNU. This friend, Dusty Lawson, is just one of those people who you look up to. He is an example to me in so many ways. He walks humbly with the Lord.

He told me he was preaching in Spring Revival this year, Thursday, March 10th to be exact. Spring Revival has always been special to me. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of having revival, spring revival at the Naz was always a powerful experience for me. I'll never ever forget my senior year during spring revival. It has a ton to do with who I am six years later.

I told Dusty I would pray for him every day. Would you take the time to pray for him as well. Not only for Dusty, but also for MVNU.

3am

Got in at 3am last night and I already find myself at Seminary with a whole day of classes ahead of me. Might skip Greek tonight, I'll see how I feel. The Gates were really cool. Had a real cool discusion on the way home in the car last night too.

Positions filled

Sean, Lacy, Caden (their one year old son), Mandy and I will be leaving tomorrow night for New York City!!! I feel so giddy. Who says once you grow up and start having kids and get real responsible jobs you can't take off and have fun once in a while?

NYC TRIP?

Watching the news tonight we saw a story about "the gates" in New York City's Central Park. It's a big, kinda weird, art instalation that goes throughout Central Park, which is huge. Mandy wants to go see it (I wouldn't mind either), but it gets taken down Feb. 27th which means the only free day we would have to go see it is this Monday. I figure leave about 10pm Sunday night, get there at sunrise, spend four hours in central park, get a piece of NYC pizza, and be home by 10pm Monday night.

I'd have to miss class Monday, which I think I can do, but we need at least one other person to drive with us to make it possible. It seems kind of crazy to do something this stupid at my mature age of 28, but you only live once. I figure if someone calls by Sunday morning it might be a sign that we should do this. Call 740 392 3197 if you are interested. I'll go out on a limb here and say that I really don't even have to know you.

There is a weird feeling going through my body right now... I think I feel like a kid again.

Isn't it great when you are late to class because you pull off the side of the road to record such wonderful milestones in the life of your car. May this car see this number again. 

Kingdom

Most of you are aware that I've been thinking about the Kingdom a lot lately. In church when it's testimony time I now ask if anyone has seen the Kingdom break into their lives lately. What does it mean to be citizens of the Kingdom, is a question I ask a lot lately. So when I find quotes about the Kingdom I pay attention. I really liked this quote I found on someone else's blog today.

We're all aware of the tension that we live in, the tension of the Kingdom, the Kingdom come but not in fullness...the already and the not yet. In the times when we long to see a practical manifestation of the rule and reign of God break into our lives, and yet don't see it, we're tempted to lean towards the side of the "not in its fullness" or the "not yet". My encouragement to you tonight is to lean towards the side of the Kingdom come, of the "already". Why not fall towards that? Dare to hope a bit. Give the Kingdom come the benefit of the doubt. Take a risk and pray "Your Kingdom come" with an air of expectation.

Good News

Felt Lucy do something (possibly kick?) for the first time tonight! Also, I only got two weeks left of Greek and then I'll be done with Biblical Languages at Seminary!

Hotel Rwanda

Saw Hotel Rwanda last night with Mandy on a date. Not sure it was a date flick, but almost appropriate on a date now that I think about it. Hundreds of thousands of people being killed in a country and nobody cares about it cause we're all too busy going on dates. Well that's one way to look at it I guess.

Good movie. I think everyone should see it. Yet I left not knowing what to think or do. Movies like that always leave me me wanting to change, but I struggled greatly with what my response is suppossed to be. God forbid my only response is to say that was a terrible thing that happened and I hope it never happens again. But what else can I say or do? Any ideas?

heartbeats

I went with Mandy to her monthly pregnancy doctor appointment today. When we got there the billing lady called us back to talk to her in her office. To make a long story short she told us that the new doctor in the office wasn’t approved by our insurance company yet, which won’t be a problem for us unless she is on call the day we have Lucy. If she delivers Lucy and she is still not approved by our insurance we get stuck with an out of network doctor bill which could run us hundreds of extra dollars. They told us there is a very good chance she’ll be approved by May and Mandy’s not due until the middle of June. They told us if we didn’t want to risk it we could go to another practice, but the nearest one is 40 minutes away and we couldn’t deliver at our local hospital. I was really mad to say the least. They just told us that’s the way it is and if you don’t like it leave, no working with us at all.

Then we go in for her checkup and I’m still pretty mad. The nurse pulled out the heartbeat finder thing and I realized I forgot we got to hear Lucy’s heartbeat again today. As I started hearing her heartbeat I realized I couldn’t enjoy it because I was still too angry. I realized I couldn’t hang on to my anger if I wanted to enjoy my baby’s heartbeat. I had to let it go. And I did let it go (at least for awhile anyway) and I enjoyed the little thumps of Lucy’s heart. I think I might have learned something today. I hope I learned something today.

Super Bowl Party

I'm not a big fan of the NFL anymore, but we had a SB party last night anyway. More or less just as an excuse to invite people over to get to know them better. It was nice hanging out with some people I don't know very well yet. I felt bad for my friend Jamie who had to watch his most favorite team get beat.