It's finally Friday, I am so ready for the weekend. I have had a great week, but an average weekend trumps the best of weeks any time.
Yesterday we had our big Prevention luncheon at the St. Johns COunty Squad Room, we had Julie Ann Rivers in attendance and she did a presentation on what exactly prevention work through the Betty Griffin House is. I'm so surprised at how many intelligent, well aversed people in attendance had no idea what exactly prevention is. The Betty Griffin House has existed for over 30 years for helping, mending and fixing which is the definition of intervention. But, now since I came on board they have started prevention work. The word prevent means to stop before it happens.
Joyce, my boss at BGH called me while I was working at the Homeless Coalition offering me a job. I was interested, but remotely. THat is until I found out what the job was. My job is as a Community Educator, I go into the schools and talk to all different age groups about a different aspects of violence that eventually lead to domestic violence.
Prevention is what I as a pastor actually strive for. I want to prevent people from going to Hell, from making mistakes and from missing out on life's greatest treasure which is a relationship with JEsus CHrist. Unfortunately, most of my time as a pastor is spent in intervention and that helps me to understand the work at the BGH.
I am excited that I took the position, I hope while I am here to raise awareness of violence and domestic violence helping young men and women to grow up and respect first themselves and secondly others. To help them understand that violence is not a normal part of life. I'm striving to change society as a whole, but it involves changing the community one group at a time. Sounds a lot like my roll as a pastor I know, and that is why it is such a great fit at this point in my life.
So pray for me as a pastor, and as a community educator that I can be the lead change-agent in society as a whole by changing the lives I come in contact with daily.
It all leads me back to my slogan, "Every Touch Leaves and Impression."
Have a great weekend and I'll tell you about mine on Monday!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Hump day
Wednesday, yet another un eventful day in the life of the Gatlins. It was a busy day, but Wednesdays always are. Wednesday is my longest day of the week by far, and my second favorite. I leave the house at 6:30am and I don't get home from taking kids home from youth until after 9pm. But it is well worth it.
Last night I must admit I was somewhat disappointed that I didn't get more phone calls for pick ups. I usually pick up a van load, but this week was different. I made 2 stops picking up about 5 kids and we were headed back to the church. But, when I got there about 7 of the kids I usually pick up were there and had found their own rides. So we once again had a full house. Packed out almost standing room only just the way we like it. It was raining so the kids were a little on the rambunctous side as they are used to playing basketball and football before and after worship, but we survived.
After youth I went home and got ready to relax. Tara got home from her long day of working at Publix until 3pm, and at Limited Too until 9:30 so we were both exhausted completely.
So that's it, not much excitement on hump day, but good numbers at youth so what can I say!
Last night I must admit I was somewhat disappointed that I didn't get more phone calls for pick ups. I usually pick up a van load, but this week was different. I made 2 stops picking up about 5 kids and we were headed back to the church. But, when I got there about 7 of the kids I usually pick up were there and had found their own rides. So we once again had a full house. Packed out almost standing room only just the way we like it. It was raining so the kids were a little on the rambunctous side as they are used to playing basketball and football before and after worship, but we survived.
After youth I went home and got ready to relax. Tara got home from her long day of working at Publix until 3pm, and at Limited Too until 9:30 so we were both exhausted completely.
So that's it, not much excitement on hump day, but good numbers at youth so what can I say!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Boring!
Alright, I'll admit it life was boring without the occasional bad things happening in my life. Life is going pretty smoothly right now for me and I like it.
Alexa and P.J. are spending their summer days in a pool, any pool will do just fine for them. They have been in 4 different pools already this summer and one lake.
I like how they take ownership of things and quickly start expecting things to be as they feel they should be.
Just Monday afternoon my mom was saying how she wanted to take the girls swimming over at our neighbors' house. We have swam in their pool since I was a little boy every summer. Well, P.J. saw Mr. Moll outside and walked up and gave him a big hug. Then she told him that it was fine if he wanted to work in the yard, and get the pool cleaned, but she would like him to let grandma know when it is done. What a girl! He thought it was hilarious, which is good because we're at his mercy on this one.
Other than that things are pretty quiet on the homefront. Tara is working at both Publix and Limited Too. I'm getting off work, going to play basketball with Alexa and working on sermons. Not too much excitement there!
We ordered the cam for our engine for the car and should start assembly this week some time. I'm hoping to be at the races by mid July, but we'll see how well that works out. Dad will be racing this Saturday(weather permitting) and shooting for another "wally" for the family. The wally is the pinnacle of trophies for a drag racer, something that is reserved for only 2 races per year at NHRA tracks, something that every racer wants sitting on his mantle. I have a Wally but not mantle so it's on top of the TV looking all pretty.
So that's it from the Gatlin ranch, life is good, life is quiet and all is well.
Alexa and P.J. are spending their summer days in a pool, any pool will do just fine for them. They have been in 4 different pools already this summer and one lake.
I like how they take ownership of things and quickly start expecting things to be as they feel they should be.
Just Monday afternoon my mom was saying how she wanted to take the girls swimming over at our neighbors' house. We have swam in their pool since I was a little boy every summer. Well, P.J. saw Mr. Moll outside and walked up and gave him a big hug. Then she told him that it was fine if he wanted to work in the yard, and get the pool cleaned, but she would like him to let grandma know when it is done. What a girl! He thought it was hilarious, which is good because we're at his mercy on this one.
Other than that things are pretty quiet on the homefront. Tara is working at both Publix and Limited Too. I'm getting off work, going to play basketball with Alexa and working on sermons. Not too much excitement there!
We ordered the cam for our engine for the car and should start assembly this week some time. I'm hoping to be at the races by mid July, but we'll see how well that works out. Dad will be racing this Saturday(weather permitting) and shooting for another "wally" for the family. The wally is the pinnacle of trophies for a drag racer, something that is reserved for only 2 races per year at NHRA tracks, something that every racer wants sitting on his mantle. I have a Wally but not mantle so it's on top of the TV looking all pretty.
So that's it from the Gatlin ranch, life is good, life is quiet and all is well.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
It's over?
What, my disasters have slowed down? My life is going along smoothly now? This can't be. Saturday I went to the church and got everything that I needed to get done, done. Sunday we had a wonderful day, probably one of my best since taking the job at Freedom. We had a great crowd, we had great music and everyone seemed to respond well to the message.
My SUnday started out with my two little ones jumping on the bed telling me I had to open my Father's Day presents. Alexa saying open this one, P.J. in all her patience saying, "Open Mine Daddy, it's new shoes!" So I opened them and I got a new Florida shirt and a pair of shoes i never would have picked out for myself in a million years.
My little cousin Justin works at Nike so he was able to tell Tara which shoes would be good for my arches and good for running in. That narrowed down the choices drastically, but Alexa had her sights set on one pair. They are dark blue with goldish yellow markings on them. Yeah, I couldn't picture myself in them either. But, because they were picked out by Alexa they seem all the more comfortable and I like them. I wore them to play basketball with ALexa just yesterday and they do fit well as well as the comfort. So, I'll be wearing them regularly now.
Aren't kids cool! Last night while watching tv, Alexa enlightened me as to what she was going to do when she grows up. She wants to play basketball for the Gators, as well as softball and then be a professional drag racer like Erica Enders. P.J. on the other hand wants to be a competitor on American Gladiators. That's right, American Gladiators, what a high and lofty goal for a young person to have. THe difference in the 2 is so funny, but those goals pretty much say it all for the two. When Alexa graduated from Preschool she stated that she had learned her ABC's, shapes and colors. When asked the same question this year upon her graduation, P.J. said she had learned not to put things in her mouth! Profound, don't you think!
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
My SUnday started out with my two little ones jumping on the bed telling me I had to open my Father's Day presents. Alexa saying open this one, P.J. in all her patience saying, "Open Mine Daddy, it's new shoes!" So I opened them and I got a new Florida shirt and a pair of shoes i never would have picked out for myself in a million years.
My little cousin Justin works at Nike so he was able to tell Tara which shoes would be good for my arches and good for running in. That narrowed down the choices drastically, but Alexa had her sights set on one pair. They are dark blue with goldish yellow markings on them. Yeah, I couldn't picture myself in them either. But, because they were picked out by Alexa they seem all the more comfortable and I like them. I wore them to play basketball with ALexa just yesterday and they do fit well as well as the comfort. So, I'll be wearing them regularly now.
Aren't kids cool! Last night while watching tv, Alexa enlightened me as to what she was going to do when she grows up. She wants to play basketball for the Gators, as well as softball and then be a professional drag racer like Erica Enders. P.J. on the other hand wants to be a competitor on American Gladiators. That's right, American Gladiators, what a high and lofty goal for a young person to have. THe difference in the 2 is so funny, but those goals pretty much say it all for the two. When Alexa graduated from Preschool she stated that she had learned her ABC's, shapes and colors. When asked the same question this year upon her graduation, P.J. said she had learned not to put things in her mouth! Profound, don't you think!
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Monday, June 16, 2008
More weed! haha
So I told you last week just how strangely bad my Thursday afternoon had been. Well, the bad news was the following day was Friday the 13th. I am not at all superstitious and I don't worry about such things but there is such a thing as coincidence and it happened again to me.
Friday morning, I went on to my office and started typing out my last blog entry for your specific entertainment. WHile I was actually still typing it Tara pulled up at the office and asked me to go by and pay the FPL bill with cash because of the lost debit card and all the confusion we were trying to track all the charges on our account(yes we have had stolen identity before and it wasn't pretty!) So I agreed to do so. She told me it was N&R at 819 West King Street, no biggie I go down King Street a lot and I should have no trouble finding it.
So I left my office around 9:30 to go pay the bill and I rode west on King Street all the way to Holmes Boulevard and I couldn't find 819 or N&R. So I turned around at the firestation and headed back East, this time I was able to realize that 819 was a house, not a place that you would be able to pay FPL bills. So, I decided to turn around again and look specifically for N&R, to no avail. I couldn't find it so I turned down 4 mile after going up and down King about 4 times. I saw an old friend from high school hanging outside a store and I had knodded at him several times as I passed by.
Well, when I turned on 4 Mile I decided to call Ken's Corner store and see if they knew who took the FPL payments and sure enough it was them, and their address was 890 West King Street so it was all coming together for me. I turned around circled the store and couldn't find a place to park so I pulled up to the back side of the store. Well, I guess I looked a little suspect riding up and down the rode and smiling and knodding at a friend(who is now gone) so as I parked 2 fine outstanding citizens started toward me asking, "What you looking for", "I got ? and he got ?" I immediately explained that I was just looking to pay my light bill and they backed off. The buddy came back out the store laughing hysterically. "That's Flash", he said. "He wouldn't know what to do with them if he got them anyway" hahaaha!
So, Friday morning was simply an extension of Thursday afternoon. What a pair! I hope you laughed, I know I did!
For the record, I did not buy the drugs and I did pay the light bill. Yes I do want our ministry on the front page, but not like that!
Thanks for laughing, I mean reading and have a great day!
Friday morning, I went on to my office and started typing out my last blog entry for your specific entertainment. WHile I was actually still typing it Tara pulled up at the office and asked me to go by and pay the FPL bill with cash because of the lost debit card and all the confusion we were trying to track all the charges on our account(yes we have had stolen identity before and it wasn't pretty!) So I agreed to do so. She told me it was N&R at 819 West King Street, no biggie I go down King Street a lot and I should have no trouble finding it.
So I left my office around 9:30 to go pay the bill and I rode west on King Street all the way to Holmes Boulevard and I couldn't find 819 or N&R. So I turned around at the firestation and headed back East, this time I was able to realize that 819 was a house, not a place that you would be able to pay FPL bills. So, I decided to turn around again and look specifically for N&R, to no avail. I couldn't find it so I turned down 4 mile after going up and down King about 4 times. I saw an old friend from high school hanging outside a store and I had knodded at him several times as I passed by.
Well, when I turned on 4 Mile I decided to call Ken's Corner store and see if they knew who took the FPL payments and sure enough it was them, and their address was 890 West King Street so it was all coming together for me. I turned around circled the store and couldn't find a place to park so I pulled up to the back side of the store. Well, I guess I looked a little suspect riding up and down the rode and smiling and knodding at a friend(who is now gone) so as I parked 2 fine outstanding citizens started toward me asking, "What you looking for", "I got ? and he got ?" I immediately explained that I was just looking to pay my light bill and they backed off. The buddy came back out the store laughing hysterically. "That's Flash", he said. "He wouldn't know what to do with them if he got them anyway" hahaaha!
So, Friday morning was simply an extension of Thursday afternoon. What a pair! I hope you laughed, I know I did!
For the record, I did not buy the drugs and I did pay the light bill. Yes I do want our ministry on the front page, but not like that!
Thanks for laughing, I mean reading and have a great day!
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