Not much excitement planned for this coming weekend. One of the first people I found myself having a relationship with at the Homeless Coalition was ms. Bernice. She was an older lady who lived in the Homeless Coalition, she mopped and cleaned around the office and other areas on a daily basis so I got the chance to spend a lot of time getting to know her. Her funeral is tomorrow and I look forward to a chance to honor her life as I know she knew the Lord. It was neat to talk with her as she was a perfect picture of someone who had made a world of mistakes, and fully understood GOd's grace and mercy.
We do have a double header tonight at 7:00 and 8:00 so I am excited about the opportunity to look bad for twice as long. It's always fun to play twice in one night because everyone gets a lot more playing time.
I have a new book I am reading, a small one by Dan Aycock entitled "Be still" on how to have conversations with God, it's a great little book I would recommend to anyone wanting to work on their conversations with God.
So have an awesome weekend! Thanks for reading!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
No kids
So I went to youth last night, I got there about 2 hours early. I got the trash all taken around for pickup tomorrow, the video games all hooked up, the rooms swept and my power point all set up. I even had about 30 minutes left over to do some extra quiet time and prayer. I finished off my book on Humility and did some just quiet listening in the youth room. I must admit it's almost eery feeling when a youth room is perfectly still and quiet.
Youth went well, a lot of people missing that we really needed to be there, but all in all a good night. Aaron left shortly after and all of the crew took off to see Batman. I had a chance to drive a truck load of kids home and then I went home myself. I got home and again peace and quiet, but this time I just couldn't take advantage of it, yes I am here to confess to you today that I missed the running around and wrestling matches that come with parenting Alexa and P.J. You see they were staying at Tara's parents' house last night and I am just not one of those parents yet that can appreciate a night without them. I needed them to want to watch Sponge Bob, to play Uno, watch a horsey movie, anything but be there in the house by myself waiting for Tara to get off work.
There I said it, I missed them and I missed them even more this morning and I dont' even see them in the morning.
Not a whole lot to report on the homefront, race car is ready to go but no where to race this weekend. Kids weren't home so reports there, just the quiet life of a Pastor and his wife, without kids last night.
Hope you have a great day, and God Bless!
Youth went well, a lot of people missing that we really needed to be there, but all in all a good night. Aaron left shortly after and all of the crew took off to see Batman. I had a chance to drive a truck load of kids home and then I went home myself. I got home and again peace and quiet, but this time I just couldn't take advantage of it, yes I am here to confess to you today that I missed the running around and wrestling matches that come with parenting Alexa and P.J. You see they were staying at Tara's parents' house last night and I am just not one of those parents yet that can appreciate a night without them. I needed them to want to watch Sponge Bob, to play Uno, watch a horsey movie, anything but be there in the house by myself waiting for Tara to get off work.
There I said it, I missed them and I missed them even more this morning and I dont' even see them in the morning.
Not a whole lot to report on the homefront, race car is ready to go but no where to race this weekend. Kids weren't home so reports there, just the quiet life of a Pastor and his wife, without kids last night.
Hope you have a great day, and God Bless!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
P.J.'s 5th
We finally pulled off P.J.'s 5th birthday party last night. Amidst rain, threatening thunder and lightning and bugs we did it. We had a great evening of just sitting by the pool, talking watching her swim with Lexie, Alexa and Caden. She opened her presents and then ate some cake(delicious cake) and played some more in the pool. A special thank you to every one who came out and spent time there with her, she doesn't seem like it, but she remembers who was there and it's in her little memory bank who came to see her at her party.
A special thank you to the Brown/Athanaseas families for allowing us to use their pool and back yard for yet another birthday party for our kids. A thank you to Nancy Cubbedge for providing the delicious horse covered cake for us.
I hope everyone has a great day, not too much excitement to write about on my end. We're plugging along, paying bills and feeding the kids, seems to be our 2 main reasons for existing right now.
Have a great day and thanks for reading!
A special thank you to the Brown/Athanaseas families for allowing us to use their pool and back yard for yet another birthday party for our kids. A thank you to Nancy Cubbedge for providing the delicious horse covered cake for us.
I hope everyone has a great day, not too much excitement to write about on my end. We're plugging along, paying bills and feeding the kids, seems to be our 2 main reasons for existing right now.
Have a great day and thanks for reading!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Kicked out again
So I made another move, my Jeff Gordon/Trophy case has been moved again. So far it has been kicked out of about 6 different places over the past 8 years. I moved my little shelf and my racing trophies along with my JEff Gordon cars that my family has given me to my office at the Betty Griffin House. It's interesting how it has sparked so much discussion. My office looks like "it belongs to Jeff Gatln now" someone commented. It doesn't look like a place that I stuck a desk in and made the best of.
It got me thinking, what impressions do I leave on people? Why is it that everyone thinks that stuff fits me more than the plain office?
I have watched through the years as I was at a larger church, and many people who never watched Nascar started watching to make conversation with me. Many people who knew nothing about Drag Racing got interested and started learning about it. Am I showing the same passion for my Lord and Savior? Am I creating interest and making people feel like knowing God and His Word would create a great opportunity to build relationship with myself? I don't know the answer to these questions, but it concerns me that I'm not sure about such things, more thoughts on this to come later in the week!
So, tonight is P.J.'s birthday party. We are excited about doing a little pool party for her as it is what she wanted. The really neat thing is she never complained about not having a party last week. She just wanted people there when we ate the cake she made herself. The majority of those people she listed will be there tonight and she is so excited. You can't help but be excited when that little blonde gets her blue eyes all big and excited. I dare anyone to try to keep their composure when she is upbeat and energetic about something. Her passion for life inspires me.
Have a great day!
It got me thinking, what impressions do I leave on people? Why is it that everyone thinks that stuff fits me more than the plain office?
I have watched through the years as I was at a larger church, and many people who never watched Nascar started watching to make conversation with me. Many people who knew nothing about Drag Racing got interested and started learning about it. Am I showing the same passion for my Lord and Savior? Am I creating interest and making people feel like knowing God and His Word would create a great opportunity to build relationship with myself? I don't know the answer to these questions, but it concerns me that I'm not sure about such things, more thoughts on this to come later in the week!
So, tonight is P.J.'s birthday party. We are excited about doing a little pool party for her as it is what she wanted. The really neat thing is she never complained about not having a party last week. She just wanted people there when we ate the cake she made herself. The majority of those people she listed will be there tonight and she is so excited. You can't help but be excited when that little blonde gets her blue eyes all big and excited. I dare anyone to try to keep their composure when she is upbeat and energetic about something. Her passion for life inspires me.
Have a great day!
Monday, July 21, 2008
The weekend that was
What a great weekend, after a rough Friday. Friday was a day filled with bad news at work for me and it made me long for the weekend even harder. I walked away from the office on Friday ready for some softball and some racing. Mostly though looking forward to Sunday.
Friday night we played softball in the worst conditions I have ever witnessed. Home plate could not be seen as it was under water, if you took a pitch or didn't swing for any reason you were the recipient of a rather large splash. I watched as Hali played catcher and felt sorry for her(selfishly,not sorry enough to offer to play the position though). We won and it was a lot of fun. I'm sure it brought out the kid in all of us, you don't get many opportunities as an adult to be childish(although I know you're thinking I find my ways regularly, I confess I do) and not worry about doing so.
Then, Saturday morning I got up and went to the church, moved some stuff around and just spent some time in prayer(as is my daily routine) and then got ready to go to the races. This was the racing trip I had dreamed about for almost 3 months now(my longest lay off 15 years of racing), finally a chance to go to the track and race my car. Well, I was going to use dad's truck to pull the car because he has a lot more tools in his and we weren't taking his truck. I loaded the trailer, got all of my racing gas and got ready to leave. THen, no lights on the trailer so I spent about an hour completely re-wiring the trailer just to go. We got there, the night went off better than planned and I was even able to win a few rounds. It was great to be back in the swing of things. Racing is my getaway, I don't need a vacation, weeks in the Bahamas or such to unwind, just a few nights a month at the track does the trick for me.
Then comes Sunday, to be completely honest with you the highlight of the weekend. THrough the fun Friday night and the racing Saturday night there was nothing that compared with the opportunity to sit back and let the youth ministry of our church enrich our lives. THey spoke from the heart and it moved me deeply. To see the lives that have been changed through much prayer by parents, church members and myself. To share with a whole congregation the fruits of their labors as we do our best to provide a valid and relavant atmosphere for our young people. To see the answers to prayer in the hearts and lives of teenagers and college students. What an awesome experience. It's days like that, that make the bad days just seemingly float away. All the headaches, heartaches and trials don't seem to mean much when you get to see the fruits of a lot of prayer inside of a 30 minute span. To see the families there supporting them, many from other churches making sure these young people understand that they are important and they are the backbone of the church. It is my heartfelt cry that Freedom Baptist Church always place youth and childrens ministries at the top of the list. Not just another ministry, or another financial burden, but the very pinnacle of all we are doing to reach this community for CHrist.
Thanks for reading, thanks for supporting and have a great day!
Friday night we played softball in the worst conditions I have ever witnessed. Home plate could not be seen as it was under water, if you took a pitch or didn't swing for any reason you were the recipient of a rather large splash. I watched as Hali played catcher and felt sorry for her(selfishly,not sorry enough to offer to play the position though). We won and it was a lot of fun. I'm sure it brought out the kid in all of us, you don't get many opportunities as an adult to be childish(although I know you're thinking I find my ways regularly, I confess I do) and not worry about doing so.
Then, Saturday morning I got up and went to the church, moved some stuff around and just spent some time in prayer(as is my daily routine) and then got ready to go to the races. This was the racing trip I had dreamed about for almost 3 months now(my longest lay off 15 years of racing), finally a chance to go to the track and race my car. Well, I was going to use dad's truck to pull the car because he has a lot more tools in his and we weren't taking his truck. I loaded the trailer, got all of my racing gas and got ready to leave. THen, no lights on the trailer so I spent about an hour completely re-wiring the trailer just to go. We got there, the night went off better than planned and I was even able to win a few rounds. It was great to be back in the swing of things. Racing is my getaway, I don't need a vacation, weeks in the Bahamas or such to unwind, just a few nights a month at the track does the trick for me.
Then comes Sunday, to be completely honest with you the highlight of the weekend. THrough the fun Friday night and the racing Saturday night there was nothing that compared with the opportunity to sit back and let the youth ministry of our church enrich our lives. THey spoke from the heart and it moved me deeply. To see the lives that have been changed through much prayer by parents, church members and myself. To share with a whole congregation the fruits of their labors as we do our best to provide a valid and relavant atmosphere for our young people. To see the answers to prayer in the hearts and lives of teenagers and college students. What an awesome experience. It's days like that, that make the bad days just seemingly float away. All the headaches, heartaches and trials don't seem to mean much when you get to see the fruits of a lot of prayer inside of a 30 minute span. To see the families there supporting them, many from other churches making sure these young people understand that they are important and they are the backbone of the church. It is my heartfelt cry that Freedom Baptist Church always place youth and childrens ministries at the top of the list. Not just another ministry, or another financial burden, but the very pinnacle of all we are doing to reach this community for CHrist.
Thanks for reading, thanks for supporting and have a great day!
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