Monday, December 21, 2009
Preaching for the First Time
I went through the process of revamping my paper into something I could preach on, and with the limited amount of time I had I was getting a little nervous about not having some quiet time away from the apartment to practice the actual delivery. Any attempts I made in the apartment were short lived and pretty much non-productive - it just felt as if I were reading everything and it didn't feel at all natural. Truth be told - I've never done much "practicing" for any "public" speaking I've done in the past ... I basically just work it out in my head and then go with it. But I knew this wasn't something that I could "just go with." So I got up early Sunday morning and headed to church to practice. My hope was to go through it twice before anyone else showed up; instead I went through it once and felt pretty good about it, so I decided to leave it at that.
When the time came in the service to get up and preach, it all came pretty easy. I went out on Saturday and bought a new camcorder so I could record it and review it later ... as well as share with all the folks back home. Surprisingly, I actually didn't even think about it being on - which I guess was a good thing. I also thought I would be a lot more nervous, but I guess after spending lots and lots of hours standing in front of classroom teaching, it just came naturally.
It wasn't a perfect presentation. Looking back there were things I wish I would have said differently. There are things I wanted to include but forgot. I would have liked to been able to add a little more creativity to the presentation, but with the limited time I just needed to get something presentable. All in all, the Lord was very gracious to me in all of this. Things could have gone much worse ... which could have led me back to the business world forsaking this whole Venture!
If you'd like to see the video, drop me an e-mail and I'll send you a link. Once you're on the list, you'll be able to see all future sermons that I'm able to record.
Thanks to everyone for all your prayers! The level of comfort I felt through this whole process was evident of the grace that came from your prayers!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The End of Fall '09
My work at the shelter is going well. The first two weeks were a little rough, but I'm feeling more comfortable with the goings-on there and the past several weeks have been incident free. I've had some wonderful volunteers helping me out each week, and that makes things go smoothly too. I'd still like to encourage everyone to find a way to donate some time this Christmas season to helping out those less fortunate - trust me, you'll be glad you did.
Our newest addition to the family continues to do very well. She is growing quickly and sleeping longer at night, which Mommy especially appreciates. My other two kids are learning what it means to be a good big brother and sister. We've had a few close calls when the older two get playing a little too rough ... hopefully we are past those episodes now. Yesterday, my older daughter and I had our first real Daddy/Daughter Date. We went to McDonald's (one with a playland) for lunch and then went to see The Princess and the Frog afterwards. We had a great time - although the movie itself had some things in that I wasn't too fond of ... once you see it, you'll know. But the point was to be able to spend some quality time with her and we certainly were able to do that. My son continues to do well in school. He's taking on more responsibility around the house: he takes the trash to the dumpster, he feeds his baby sister when I need to make dinner, and he keeps a good eye on his other sister when we send them outside to play.
My wife and I would like to say a special "Thank-you" to all our friends and family for the wealth of Christmas cards, notes of encouragement, gifts, and especially the prayers we've received over the past couple of months. We know ourselves to be truly blessed by God to have people like you in our lives!
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Universe Next Door
One of the things that surprised me the most was that in the midst of doing my job, I could still find myself nearly unaffected by all of the sad situations that surrounded me. I suppose part of that stems from the fact that I was new to the job and at times it was all I could do to make sure that we were adhering to the prescribed schedule. Yet in the midst of everything, I had a few moments to sit and talk with some of the ladies. I heard more true-life accounts of the what it means to live out the gospel from one lady than I had probably heard in the last two months combined. To hear from a woman who has next to nothing telling of her desire to live a life that reflects the love of Jesus Christ to everyone she meets was truly a blessing to me. And it occurred to me that one of the greatest things that inhibits our Christian witness is the possessions we own. How hard is it for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
In this coming holiday season, especially with the economy hitting charities hard, won't you join me in spending some time helping those who are less fortunate. It's easy for many of us to simply write a check and believe that we have done our part. But I want to challenge everyone reading this - this year, give something more valuable than your money - give of your time and of your life. The early church thrived in the midst of persecution - and the ministry those Christians undertook was looking after those people that society had deemed worthless. Somewhere we've abandoned that calling, to care for the poor, the orphan, the widow - and we've turned it over to the government. Let's join together and take back what never should have let go ... I believe in doing so we can begin to truly transform our culture, from the bottom (in the eyes of the world) up.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Continual Adjustments
This past week we've also had to make some adjustments that have caused us some concern. The government job that my wife had been told was hers provided that she pass her background check was given to an internal candidate. The bright side to this is that there is another position in the same office that she qualifies for, but the whole selection process is starting over and there is nothing to say that she will be selected for this other position.
The encouraging thing we have to remind ourselves is that this does not come as a surprise to God. And as such we take comfort in knowing that God is in control and will provide the finances we need to continue our Venture.
Our baby girl continues to do well. She is as healthy as can be, and she is growing noticeably everyday. However, each evening she does have some screaming fits which we believe are gas related. These episodes generally last a few hours which can last until the early morning hours. We've been blessed to have family visiting us since the birth which allows me to get some sleep at night knowing that with the extra help here, my wife can try to make up the sleep during the day.
The other two kids are both doing well too. They love their sister and really enjoy giving her kisses on her head. Mad Science and dance lessons continue for both of them. This past week we went to a "trunk or treat" event at my son's school where both kids dressed up and came away with enough candy to last them well into 2010! My daughter especially had a good time participating in the parade of costumes. She dressed as Minnie Mouse and my son was Captain Rex from Star Wars: The Clone Wars series.
Starting in mid-November I will be joining the staff of a winter shelter in St. Louis. I will be working there one night per week. I'll arrive around 6:00 PM and stay there until about 6:30 AM. I'm really excited about this opportunity. Admittedly, I've been a bit pharisaical regarding ministry to the poor and needy among us. This is work that I've always wanted to participate in, but I've never been intentional about actually doing it. So when this opportunity came up, I jumped on it and was glad when I got the call offering me the position. I will be writing about my experiences there over this upcoming winter. I know that God is going to use this opportunity to teach me plenty about myself and about His love.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Here She Is ... Blessings Upon Blessings
Anyway, mom arrived safely and she has been a tremendous help in the days since. On the morning of October 1 (around 5:30 AM), the hospital called and said they were ready for us to come in for our scheduled induction. We got to the hospital around 7:00 AM and got checked in. Everything went pretty much as we had expected, and around 4:30 in the afternoon we had a daughter. My wife requested an epidural a little before 3:00 and it was almost 4:00 before they were able to get it in and she began to feel the affects. About a half an hour later it was all over. The doctor almost missed the delivery because no one had really checked on my wife's "progress" in several hours. By the time the doctor got into the room, adjusted the bed and got his gown on, my daughter's head was already showing. Three pushes later, she was born.
Since then, my daughter has been doing extremely well. She has taken to eating well. She has already gained back most of the weight she lost after birth. She sleeps really well at night. She doesn't fuss a whole lot - except when she should. The Lord has really blessed us. My other two children have taken to their new sister quite well. They both insist on giving her a kiss on the head before bed each night. They are also eager to hold her - except when she is crying. For my son especially - the whole idea of learning to be gentle has really been good for him. Did I mention how much God has blessed my family?
We have also been extremely blessed by our church this week. We have been receiving meals from different families each night this week. The food has been fantastic and it has allowed us some teachable moments with the kids regarding what it means to be a blessing to others and what it means when someone chooses to be a blessing to you and how you can show gratitude for those blessings.
Have I mentioned how much God has blessed my family? :)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Mad Science and Ballet
My son has been staying after school one night per week for "Mad Science" classes. The first week the class learned about the science of magnets, performing various experiments. He brought home his very own magnet kit. This past week the class learned about mirrors and each person in the class built a periscope. When I arrived to pick him up, I found that the class had started late and many of the children were still working on their periscopes. But my son had already completed his project and was actively helping another child at his work area. It was great to see him being helpful to his classmates.
We are now one week away from the induction date. We have been told by the hospital to be ready at 6:00 AM and they will call us when they are ready for us to come in. It's going to be a long day for sure. The good thing about the date is that it is on a Thursday and I only have one class that day, and I can make up the lecture from an mp3 recording online.
We have the nursery all ready. The car seat has been loaded into the van. The stroller is waiting in our storage room downstairs. My mother will be flying out next Wednesday to stay with us for a while and help us adjust to our new addition.
Last Saturday the women of our church held a baby shower for my wife and the wife of the other intern working with the church. It was a wonderful event and to say that the families of the church were generous is an understatement to say the least. Despite the problems the church is facing, the people there have truly loved us well since our arrival.
Needless to say, my wife will be working until the beginning of next week and then (obviously) she'll be off for a while. This means a couple of things for us. First, money will definitely be tight as the only income we will have coming in will be what I'm making working for the church. Second, it will clear the way for my wife to complete the necessary requirements the government needs to complete her background check. From there we will simply be waiting for the background check to complete. Once the background investigation is complete, her new job should allow us to stabilize our financial situation for the remainder of our time here ... for me, that day can't come soon enough. But be that as it may, it is extremely encouraging to know that we have that to look forward to, and we are thankful to the Lord for his provision for our family.
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Countdown Continues
The family watched the movie "The Sandlot" tonight. For the first 2/3 of the movie you would have thought it was the scariest movie the kids have ever experienced. I'll admit, the beast is pretty intimidating. During the movie, I had to keep telling my daughter that the doggie just had a bad tummy ache, but there were still several times when both kids would pull their blankets up over their eyes. But in the end, both of the kids proclaimed the movie a huge favorite and they love recounting the exciting scenes.
As you may recall, I have been working as the Worship Director for a local church here in the St. Louis area. Since our arrival the church has been going through some struggles. This past Sunday the members were faced with a vote to either dissolve the church or commit to a revitalization effort. The vote was to pursue a revitalization effort. To that end, I will be stepping up my efforts and duties to ministries beyond worship. This will be an exciting time, but one requiring extra effort and every one's part. Having a baby in the midst of all of this will really make for some interesting times ... but we knew this when we decided to make the move out here.
Last week we started Covenant groups at the seminary. These groups meet for an hour each week where small groups of students and faculty get together to talk about our stresses and joys, and then spend some time praying for each other. It has been a real joy to get to know some other men that I do not share classes with. A couple of the men are actually older than I am, which is a nice change to be able to talk with men who have a little more life experience under their belts. But my group is a great blend of men who are readily willing to share and be transparent. It has really become one of the highlights of my week.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Never Forget
Today, we remember those who were senselessly killed. We honor those heroes who gave their all to help save some knowing full well that they themselves might not be saved. And we also reflect on the aftermath of those events: the wars that they have led to, the over-reaction of hating all things Muslim, the insistence of some religious leaders that this was God's judgment on our nation for tolerating certain sins, my own initial reaction of wanting justice (or was it vengeance) to be brought to those responsible.
In that reflection we must begin with the understanding that nothing we say or do can erase the past. Things have been done and decisions have been made and we must deal responsibly with the consequences of those actions. And while we can't change the past; hopefully we can learn from it. I will not take the time to expound upon that which I think our government should have learned from these events ... that would take way too long and I don't think Uncle Sam reads my blog. Instead, I'm going to focus on what the Christian Church should ponder.
In the days and weeks after the attacks I heard Christians say that we should turn the Middle East into a parking lot. I heard sermons preached on the "Just War Theory". I heard television preachers say that this was God's judgment upon this country because of its acceptance of various sins including homosexuality and pornography. I perceived that some Christians were truly fearful that we might one day become the United Muslim States of America. I heard the indirect questions of "Where is God, and whose side is He on anyway?"
It's actually that last question that is the most dangerous for a Christian. Once we begin to ask that question, we have already imposed so many assumptions on God that it's no wonder that it feels like we are drowning in an ocean of doubt. And doubt we did. But the problem is that we were asking the wrong question from the get-go.
This morning Professor Jerram Barrs preached to the Covenant Seminary community on Joshua 5:13-15.
13When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" 14And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" 15And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
This episode in the life of Joshua comes just before the famous battle of Jericho. But notice that Joshua, on the very verge of a battle that God had instructed him to fight, asks the same question this pre-incarnation of Jesus that we ask of God today, "Whose side are you on?" And the answer is "No." God does not exist to serve our interests, even when we are acting on his behalf. Instead our focus should be on holiness of God and our worship of him.
Let there be no mistake. The events of September 11, 2001 were evil. I am not calling into question the subsequent actions of our government - enough people are already doing that to serve their own agendas. But as the chosen people of God, we need to learn from our immediate reactions to that event. We need to see, in our own lives, where we did not respond with a heart of worship. The emotions of that day and the days following were fraught with intensity. But in those raw emotions, we dare not ask, "Whose side is God on anyway?" Because God's answer is, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." He calls us first to worship. Joshua still went to battle, but Joshua did not make the walls fall down - God did.
So on this day when we remember the fallen heroes, let us also remember that even in the midst of evil, our first calling is to worship God.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Counting Down To Baby - One Month To Go
My bride is coping rather well I think. The past several days/weeks have been unseasonably cool for the end of August beginning of September. This has been an extra special blessing this year for her. I reminded her the other day that this was evidence of God being extra kind. Still I don't think the next 30 days will pass quickly enough for her - even though she probably would say that, "there is still so much to do beforehand."
Earlier this week, my daughter was able to attend her first ballet class. She has been longing for these lessons for quite a while now, and I can say for certain that the first class did not disappoint. She came home very excited wanting to demonstrate all of the stretches and positions she had learned. I'm not exactly sure what the technical terms are, but there was a lot of talk about butterflies (which I understood from the stretches we did in H.S. soccer) and ice cream cones.
My son continues to do well in school. His daily behavioral report is always on "Super" - which is the highest rating. We need to do some brushing up on some spelling words and writing of certain letters. This year he is learning to tell time on a regular "face" clock, and he likes using his flash cards to test himself on various times.
I've made it through the first full week of classes and so far so good. I've been able to keep up with all of my assigned readings for the four classes I'm taking. We'll have to wait and see how I'm doing a month from now, but I'm sure that we'll manage somehow. I'm really enjoying each class for what it has to offer. Some of the things are new and some are more of a refresher, but all of it is needful right now. I also really enjoy being able to attend our chapel services twice each week. The speakers are great and it's just a great time to worship together with my fellow seminarians. It really puts the classwork into perspective.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Beginning Again
Earlier this week, my son came home with a note taped to his chest. As he got off the bus, all I could think of was that he had got himself into some serious trouble at school and we'd have to spend a lot of time talking about his behavior and how to manage certain situations, etc. etc. But much to my surprise, as he got closer I saw that the note card read "Music MVP." Now I know what you're probably thinking, "He's a chip off the old block - just like his dad!" While I'd like that to be true, let's hold off on that for a little bit. His award was more related to his excellent behavior and doing what he was supposed to be doing in class. And because of this recognition, he was entered to be the "Wildcat Of the Week" (WOW) ... we'll have to wait and see if he gets it! In any case, in a situation where it would understandable for him to have behavioral problems this year (in light of our move and all of the changes these past several months), I think it is simply outstanding that he is adjusting to his new school very well. The Lord has blessed us with wonderful children who are healthy and well-behaved ... there's a lot to be said for not under-valuing that blessing.
We are about 5 weeks away from the arrival of baby #3. Yes we have names picked out. No we won't share them until the baby is born. My bride is starting to feel the weight - pun intended. I have a feeling that she will be more than glad to have this baby born as soon as possible.
Next week my daughter will begin weekly ballet lessons. She is very excited as she has been requesting dance lessons for some time now. She already has the outfit and shoes, so she's ready to go. There will be a recital in December which should be interesting and entertaining to say the least.
Finally, I started a morning exercise regimen this week. Nothing too strenuous just yet, but I've been doing 30 minutes of cardio each morning with the hopes of slowing increasing the time and intensity. As long as the weather is good, I shouldn't have a problem walking down to the workout room, but once it gets cold out, that might be a different story. Hopefully this will help me shed a few more pounds. So far I have avoided putting on the "sympathy weight" like I have the other times my wife has been pregnant. I'd like to keep it that way.
Monday, August 17, 2009
13 Years Ago Today ...
- I went out and recruited a professional music group (they had performed at Carnegie Hall) to play at the wedding, and they got lost on the way showing up only minutes before the wedding was supposed to start.
- No one actually told the ladies in the bridal party that the wedding was starting, so while the men and I are standing at the front of the church with the music playing the ladies were nowhere to be seen. Finally after several painful minutes, they finally wandered to the sanctuary and made their entrance. (This is where it really paid to have professional musicians.)
- Some friends of mine came to the wedding to find themselves surprised to see friends of theirs who also happened to be friends of my wife's. (If that's confusing to you, imagine how it was for them.)
- The minister was a good friend of mine who on any given day could have subbed for Yanni. He showed up with his long black hair in a pony-tail. One of my aunts came up to me and asked, "Who the **** is that?" The look on her face was priceless when I told her it was the minister!
- We ordered twice as much food as could possibly be eaten by the number of people we invited. I believe the rest ended up being donated to a local mission, but I don't recall finding out for sure.
- The drive to our honeymoon suite was eventful because my car was somehow completely filled with balloons. Since the AC in the car didn't work well, we just rolled down the windows and let the balloons fly out on their own. We received several friendly honks and waves on the trip.
These are just some of the interesting things that happened that day. But the greatest thing that happened was that I got to pledge my love to my best friend. (I invite you to go back and read my blog from June 26 of this year to hear how the wedding itself actually came to be.) We knew at that time that this was the right decision for us, because we had spent the previous four years becoming best friends. In the past 13 years we have had some wonderful times and some trying times. We've laughed together and fought together. But the foundation for our marriage was supremely built on our friendship and our faith that God had brought us together in the right time. It's because of that foundation that we both know that (barring death) we will face the years to come together. We know that our current Venture will undoubtedly lead us on some rougher roads, but we have confidence in each other that regardless of what may be down life's road, that we will handle it together, because that is what best friends do.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Are You Smarter Than A 2nd Grader?
Thursday was the first day of school here, and my son handled it well. He got on the bus and had a good time at his new school. His only complaint was some kids on the bus were "bugging" him on the way home, but we talked about how to handle situations like that and on Friday there were no reported problems.
Thursday was also closing day on our house in PA. All the papers are signed and the house is no officially no longer ours. Another big ticket item checked off the list. So we celebrated Thursday evening by going to a local ice cream shop that is within walking distance of our apartment. The blueberry cream cheese ice cream is delicious - although the kids highly recommend the cotton candy flavor.
On a sore note, Wednesday afternoon I aggravated a muscle or two in my back and have been dealing with severe spasms ever since. I've been to the chiropractor twice and things are starting to loosen up albeit very slowly. My hope is that the Advil will be enough to get me through our Sunday worship service tomorrow. It's tough to play the piano and sing when your back is screaming in pain. I'll go back to the chiropractor again on Monday and hopefully the muscles in my back will be calm enough where they can do a proper adjustment and get things feeling back to normal again.
My Fall semester classes begin in a couple of weeks, so I've been re-reading some books in preparation. I need to brush up on my Greek, but with my back being out of whack, it is not something I have had the wherewithal to work at. Hopefully next week, I'll feel a little better and get back at it.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Not A Bathroom Accessory!
On a different front. I finished summer Greek this past Friday. I didn't get much time to study because we had a splendid visit with one of our dear PA friends this past week as well. She arrived on Wednesday and left Sunday morning. On Thursday we took her to the Arch and the zoo and just had a marvelous time catching up and enjoying the sights and animals. So now I have a couple of weeks without the stress of classes, but I am still keeping my mind to my studies and preparing for things that I know are coming up soon.
My son will start the second grade this Thursday. School starts much earlier here than in PA, but I think he will enjoy it once he gets there. He has been saying that he doesn't want to go to school - he wants to be home-schooled instead. Not sure what the primary cause of this is, but I think once he meets his teacher on Wednesday night that most of that nervousness will dissipate.
We have also registered my daughter for some ballet lessons. My wife bought her some leotards and other accessories last night. She is excited for this opportunity, and it will give her an additional outlet to make some friends.
And finally, our house in PA is set to close on Thursday. That will be a huge relief once all the papers are signed and finalized! The Lord is truly faithful!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Living Out Our Witness
At the pool, I pretty much allow the kids to just be kids ... provided their are no safety issues to address. This is one reason why I'm so excited over their ability to be comfortable in the water, it means that I give them a little more freedom. I don't have to be in the pool with them. So apart from the safety concerns, which I talk with them about as new situations present themselves, they can be free to interact with other kids, other adults or myself as they desire. And I don't take the time to stop and think about what other people might think about me or my kids. Or at least I didn't until someone went out of their way to make a comment.
On Monday, I took the kids to the pool in the afternoon ... the same as we do most days when the weather is permitting - which is more often than not. There weren't many other folks at the pool. We pretty much had the water to ourselves while a few sunbathers soaked up a few rays. At this particular time, I was in the pool playing with my daughter. We were playing different race games chasing after her inflatable ring. After that she wanted me to help her walk on her "tip-toes" into increasingly deeper water. It was about this time, that one of the sun worshippers came into the pool and approached me.
She was an older woman (late 40s or early 50s I'm guessing) of either German or Swiss birth judging by her accent. But she walked over to us and politely asked if I was married. The question took me by surprise to say the least. There are a multitude of thoughts and questions that race through one's mind when someone of the opposite sex asks that question. Not sure of where the conversation was headed, I explained that indeed I was married and that my wife works most afternoons which is why she can't always come to the pool with us. Her reply was that she was curious about this because of the evident strong bond between my daughter and myself. She also remarked about my daughter's ability to speak very pointedly about various subjects, and she also said that my daughter should be featured in a magazine.
We thanked her for her kind words and then she left the pool, but her words stayed with me and gave me something to think about. While I am often worried about my embarrassment in how my kids behave, it occurs to me that what I should be more concerned about is how well does my public relationship to my children (and my wife for that matter) reflect the love of God to the world? One of the best gifts I can give my family is to demonstrate how to be a living witness to the Truth in everything we do. When we make His concerns our concerns, we are much less worried about our public image and much more focused on what we can do allow His image to shine through us.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Some Twists and Turns in the Road
The interesting thing is - I'm not as upset over this delay today as I would have been two and a half months ago. The Lord has reminded me enough of times in recent days that His plan will always bring about the best result and that I needn't fret over the details. Besides that past 5 weeks of Greek have been enough stress in and of itself.
Which leads me to another milestone - I passed Greek 1. The final exam was this past Monday, and while my grades weren't at the top of the class - I passed, and that's good enough. Greek 2 started on Wednesday and I am enjoying this class more than the first. We are working our way through translating the entire epistle of I John. My bible study software (see my commercial post a few weeks back) has really helped me thus far ... unfortunately I won't be able to use it on the upcoming quiz and test, but I think I'll be okay. So come August 7, I'll be finished with "Summer Greek" and will that ever be a great feeling ... just in time for my birthday - which I keep telling the kids that I am NOT celebrating this year. Of course, this does not sit well with the kids (or my wife) as they are insistent that we will be celebrating. The kids still think that we should do our celebrating at Chuck E. Cheese's again, but No - I have to draw the line somewhere.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Star Wars - Episode #7
I remember the day we brought him home. I had the television on and we laid him on the floor facing away from the TV. This little guy, only a few days old, rocked himself 180 degrees around so he could face the television. I can remember when he was only a few months old, and I would come home from church and watch football with him lying on my chest. We napped together during many a game that way.
I used to be able to hold him in my arm like a football. Now, he's a tall skinny kid who is growing like an out-of-control weed. I can still pick him up and give him a bear hug; I wonder silently if this will be the last birthday of his that I can.
This year he asked me to make his birthday cake for him ... he was impressed with the job I did on my wife's cake several weeks ago. He asked for a cake with a Star Wars theme. So I stayed up late last night to make the cake, making a late night run to the local grocery store to get the specific cake flavor and frosting he wanted. I woke up early (5:30 am) this morning to put the frosting and decorations on only to run out of the lettering frosting half way through - so it was an early morning run to the grocery store as well. In the end we had a cake that said, "Star Wars 7" with action figures and seven candles (you can see a picture on my Facebook page).
So we had chocolate cake for breakfast (a la Bill Cosby). Then we took a trip down to the Gateway Arch and took the 630 foot tram ride to the top. Both kids loved looking down on the city and the Mississippi river. Afterwards, we toured the Westward Expansion Museum and learned a lot about frontier life and the various trails leading to the west. After that we had a late lunch at Chuck E. Cheese, and yes, the kids had a ball there as well. When we finally got home we had more cake and watched Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
In a couple of weeks, my son will enter the second grade. The time has certainly flown since the days of Sunday afternoon football naps. He is growing in stature and he is growing in his knowledge of God. I couldn't be more proud of who he is, or the person he is becoming. We all want our kids to do well ... to do and eventually be better than ourselves. Whatever my son chooses to do, he will have a great and glorious Venture of his own. My prayer is the God will continue to bless his life. My life has been tremendously blessed because of him.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
A Swimming Breakthrough
It wasn't until my junior year of college when a very nice and extremely pretty college lifeguard insisted I learn to swim. And while I'm not a great swimmer by any stretch of the imagination, this young lady did a good enough job with me that I no longer fear getting into the pool - and I can swim well enough to keep myself alive. Oh, and in case you're wondering - I eventually married that lifeguard!
So needless to say, when we had children, one of the things I insisted of my wife is that she teach them to swim. I did not want to have to relive any of those scary episodes from my childhood with my own kids. My son, however has inherited his father's apprehension about the water. For the past few years, I have been doing everything I could think of to help him get over his fear of water - especially his fear of putting his face in the water and of going under the water. My daughter on the other hand inherited her mother's "fishiness."
Today, both of my children took a giant step - or should I say jump forward in their water skills. My son swam the width of the pool underwater while pinching his nose shut ... basically he kicked his way across. But he didn't panic, and even though it took him several tries - he kept at it until he could do it. Once he accomplished this, I decided to see if he could go a step further - so I told him we could stay longer at the pool if he would jump into the pool. We started in the 3 foot end where he can touch the bottom without a problem. Then we moved up to 4 feet where it was much more likely he would go under. He did it, on the condition that I stand there and help to make sure he came back to the surface. Then we moved to the deepest part of the pool - 5 feet. He was definitely scared ... he had tears running down his cheeks. I told him that he didn't have to jump, but I also assured him that once he did, he would think it was so much fun that he would want to jump in over and over again. Sure enough - that's what happened. Once he made the jump and realized he would come back to the surface - he started jumping whether I was in the area or not ... and he would doggie paddle over to the wall, hop out and jump in again.
Once my daughter saw how much fun he was having, she wanted in on the fun. We went through the same progression, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet. In no time at all - we were all having a blast - and me all I was doing was just standing in the water - laughing. Now the kids can't wait to show my wife, and I can't wait to see her face when they do.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Making The Most Of Your Bible Study - A Commercial
Before coming to seminary I was introduced to a bible study software package called Logos. After checking out some of the videos on their website (http://www.logos.com/) I was immediately sold on the product and knew I had to have it for seminary and beyond. After saving up my pennies for over 6 months, I purchased the Scholar's Library:Gold edition. I've had the software for a little over a month now, and I'm realizing that I've only just scratched the surface of what this software can do. The user interface is designed to feel like you are working off a website - you can simply type in a passage, word, or topic that you want to study and the software goes to work researching your electronic library of books for information about your entry. I would encourage you to visit their website and take 5 minutes to view the demo ... it would give me a serious case of carpal tunnel to type out all of the information they provide in just seconds!
A few features that I really love are:
- I can copy and paste information directly from an electronic resource to my word processor, and the software automatically generates a footnote for me! This is the feature that stole the show for me.
- I can pull up my Greek New Testament, and by simply mousing over a word, the software will pull up all of the lexical information about that word in a bubble. It will give me the part of speech, the root word, the lexical form, etc. And just by selecting an option, I can have a separate window bring up the full lexicon entry (including the scope of meanings the word has). So for all of the stuff I have to memorize in my Greek class now - this software will give it to me just by mousing over a word! Simply incredible.
- You can even create your own parallel Bible with the versions you choose. It will highlight the differences for easy comparison.
- You can expand your digital library over time.
So what does this mean for you? The potential for learning here is almost unlimited. By having the ability to access the original Greek and Hebrew, you can make your own personal Bible study as indepth as you want. With all of the resources at your fingertips (including info on Biblical people, commentaries, maps, and illustrations just to name a few) you not only will feel better about your study, but you'll gain confidence in your ability to lead a Bible study and share what you have learned with others.
So what does this mean for me? Well as I already said, this tool will help me not only survive seminary, but it will help me to thrive in my studies ... and as I get older, I need all the help I can get. But also, Logos has teamed up with http://www.seminaryscholarship.com/ to offer folks like me (and possibily you too) a seminary scholarship with an added incentive to promote their website on my blog. Please feel free to check out their site for more information.
The preceding was an unpaid advertisement for Logos Bible software and www.seminaryscholarship.com. We will now resume with our regularly scheduled programming.
Friday, July 3, 2009
An Offer, A Counter and An Acceptance
Some other notes of interest:
- My bride had her job interview on this past Tuesday - which went well. There are still a few hurdles that have to be crossed, but we're one step closer.
- The kids are enjoying their loft beds ... they really do conserve the floor space.
- The kids and I have also enjoyed going to the pool several days this week. Jayna is swimming the width of the pool by herself, and Thomas is practicing putting his face in the water each day ... I had to resort to a mild bribe to get him to do this, but whatever it takes to get him more comfortable in the water is worth it.
- I didn't do so well on my Greek test (I don't have the official result yet). While I had the time to study - my study techniques weren't up to their usual caliber this time around. I completely missed two full chapters of vocabulary words, and with so many different paradigms to memorize - I faltered on some of those as well. Today we were given an opportunity to complete a bonus assignment (due in a week and a half) - it will help some, but the points are distributed on a sliding scale ... meaning those doing well in the class (which I was until this test) will receive fewer points than those who haven't been doing quite so well. All that to say ... I'm really looking forward to August 7 when Greek 1 and Greek 2 will be completed (and hopefully passed).
- A tip of the hat goes to one of my wife's aunts who made me a very scrumptious rhubarb pie. My son loves it as well ... I couldn't get my daughter to try it.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Family Reunion and Other Notes
There were several encouraging events on this trip. One of the second-cousins, who was only about 7 the last time I saw her - she's 19 and in college now, was about to embark on a trip with some of her classmates on a missions trip to Switzerland. All but one of her group was at the reunion. The trip is designed to minister to teenagers there, and the group performed a couple of their skits for us. Needless to say, it was very encouraging to see how the Lord has worked (and is working) in this young girl's life. I look forward to hearing how the trip went when she returns.
Of course, the food there was wonderful too - especially the deserts. Homemade pies, homemade fudge, fresh fruit, cakes, pastries, you name it ... it was good. The other thing I realized is that many of the aunts and uncles have huge gardens, so I also have good reason for frequent visits - if for nothing more than to pick up some fresh from the garden produce. Fresh vegetables taste so much better than the canned or frozen stuff you can buy at the store.
My in-laws are currently staying with some family up there, and they volunteered to keep our kids with them so Rose and I could work on unpacking some of the extra stuff they brought out to us. We now have a dining room table again, along with our sofa and some extra bookcases and additional kitchen stuff and the like. On Friday, I purchased a set of loft beds for the kids. These are especially nice given our tighter living quarters as both beds are elevated. This frees up some much needed floor space for the kids to play in their bedroom. We've had to set down some pretty firm rules about the beds to minimize the risk of injury, but I think they will do fine.
Rose's job interview scheduled for last Thursday was postponed until Tuesday. Hopefully everything will go well with that and the follow-up checks will go quickly. We are still waiting for the house to sell. We lowered the price today in the hopes to draw an offer. We know the Lord has the right buyer for the house already picked out, so we will continue to wait patiently for the right time.
I'm still plugging away at my Greek studies. I have a major exam on Wednesday covering a lot of material. Up to now, I've completed 28 credits in this Masters program - and this class by far is the hardest. Studying for this class leaves you feeling like you're recovering from a hangover ... everyday! I'm hanging in there, but it feels like the train is riding on the edge of the track and if I don't keep up with it ... well the whole thing could come undone. I do get a week off from classes next week - so hopefully I can recoup and try to get ahead a bit for the home stretch!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Together - A Tribute to the Vagabond Bride on Her Birthday
Finally, in January of 1996, the armour cracked, the defenses faltered, and she agreed that we could be more than just friends. Not wanting to waste anytime, lest she might change her mind - I proposed to her seven weeks later, and we were married that August.
Since then we have lived in: Bridgeport/Clarksburg, West Virginia; Whitehall/Allentown, PA; Mechanicsburg, PA; and now St. Louis, MO. We have served in at least 4 different churches. We have thus far survived the raising of our two (soon to be three) children. We have known financial comfort and strain. We've built relationships and also seen some dwindle due to laxity and distance. We've shared joys and tears, success and failure, happiness and fear.
Through all of the past 13 years, the truly beautiful thing is that we've done all of it together. My bride has been my biggest encourager. At times, she has helped my vision more than LASIK ever could. She makes a perfect compliment for my weak areas. Together, we make it work. Together we have sought the Lord's will for our marriage, our family and our future. In February 2008, when we were deciding whether we should stay in Pennsylvania, or come to St. Louis so I could go to school, she was the one who had the confidence in God's calling on our lives to give the thumbs up on the move. Our time here in St. Louis is not about me going to school; instead, it is about us - training together for the present/future ministry that God calls us to.
So to my bride I say, "Happy Birthday and I love you!" The Venture would not have come this far, nor been this much fun without you. I cherish our past and look forward to our future together.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Hot, Hot, Hot and A Really Nice Neighbor
If we had moved to Florida, I would expect weather like this in the summer, the comfort being that we would at least be close to the beach. Not so here. The funny thing is that the locals here seem to be proud of the heat - like it is a mid-west badge of honor or something. The only thing I can liken this to is the summers I spent working in the laundry rooms at Messiah College. Spending summer days working in the basement of an old building with five industrial gas powered dryers was enough to squeeze the last drop of sweat out of anyone.
The bright side to the story is that we have a couple of swimming pools to go to here at the apartment complex - so if you are looking for a safe bet to invest some extra cash - I would recommend a popular sunscreen company because we will be buying plenty of it this summer!
On a completely different note, we received a very nice and completely unexpected surprise late the other night. One of our neighbors works for a popular chocolate company (obviously not Hershey's), and she came knocking on our door bringing a "welcome to the neighborhood" gift ... a nice sized box of chocolate covered strawberries! No secret that those are two of my favorite foods ... not to mention how much a certain pregnant woman was loving that gift as well. Needless to say, we have some really cool neighbors here!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Biking: Not What It Used to Be
So before I decide to start biking to class (I made it 85% of the way to the seminary before turning back), I will need to do some more practice runs to get my legs back into shape. It will do me absolutely no good to arrive at school ready for a nap! My hope is that come fall, when the temps get out of the 90s and back into something a little more manageable, my legs will be ready for the task at hand. In the meantime, I'm going to get a haircut so I can try to survive the heat.
Friday, June 19, 2009
A Week of Mixed Feelings
Second, I am adapting to the on-going mental exertion that learning Greek requires. I have had 3 quizzes so far ... I aced the first two and did okay on third. This Wednesday was our first exam, and I did well - scoring a 94%! That was a huge relief. Our professor is challenging those of us who are doing well in the class to seek out classmates who are struggling and offer to help them study. I really need to do this, but it will be a challenge on several levels ... mostly logistical, but I should make the effort nonetheless.
We took the kids to the swimming pools here on the complex yesterday. The temperature was in the 90s. Unfortunately, our supply of sunscreen ran out after we covered the kids and Rose ... so needless to say I am rather pink today ... except for a rather peculiar "pac-man" shape on my left shoulder that is completely white. Somehow I got some sunscreen there, but I don't have any idea how that happened.
Also on Wednesday I was able to get a chiropractic adjustment. I went in for a follow-up today. Needless to say I really needed that - my back pain, which was nearly constant for a couple of weeks has all but disappeared. I am going to a health center on the campus of a local chiropractic college. They have a program for full-time students where you pay the regular price for the first visit, but each subsequent adjustment is only $7. So I am being seen by one of the senior interns at the college who is supervised by a professor/clinician. This process is comparable to student teaching, except if the student is having problems, the clinician steps in and does the majority of the adjustment. This has been the case for my two visits thus far, but for $7 a visit I can handle the process ... just so long as I can remain pain free.
On the less positive side of things, the church I have been working with is not doing well. There has been some internal strife that really came to a head just before we arrived last month, and it has pretty much decimated the church body. Attendance has dropped by more than half. 3 of the 5 elders have resigned and left the church. The congregation will meet several times in the next month and then take a vote as to what the future of the church will be. This could involve dissolving the church altogether. Please pray for me and the other leaders of the church that we might have wisdom to appropriately minister to the congregation during this time.
Now that my back is feeling better, I am going to venture into trying to ride my bike to the seminary next week as the weather allows. Our temps have been in the 90s the last couple of days and it looks like the trend will continue throughout the summer ... I am told by the locals that this is quite normal.
Thomas and Jayna continue to adapt well to our new living conditions. We have moved their bedtime back by 30-60 minutes. This seems to help them fall asleep quicker and also causes them to sleep a little later in the morning, which is a good thing most days. They continue to make new friends here in the complex. Yesterday at the pools they made a new friend and had a great time playing with him in the water. This boy is about a year and a half older than Thomas, and he has a lot of confidence in the water. This is a great thing because I believe that it will help push Thomas into wanting to improve his swimming abilities.
Thomas has also been practicing the art of jumping off a swing. I can remember doing this growing up. We had a large metal swing set in the backyard, so I had lots of time to practice. Thomas has been competing with some of the neighborhood boys (both of who are older than him) at the playground. So being the good responsible dad that I am - I took some time the other day when we were over they with no other kids around to give him some pointers. I can see the cogs turning in his brain, and I'm sure he will practice and do better as the summer goes on.
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Vagabond Children
The truth is that I am amazed at how well they are adapting to these major (and in the case of living quarters) frequent changes. In PA, Thomas and Jayna each had their own bedroom. For the past month they have been sharing a room. Since moving into the apartment, they have been sleeping in their sleeping bags ... kind of like an extended indoor camping trip. While they have their moments of getting on each other's nerves (not to mention their parents!), they play remarkably well with each other.
Here at the apartment complex, we have a nice playground where I take them most afternoon's when the weather cooperates (unlike today). They have found several new playmates there, and the wonderful thing is that their play time has become a truly multi-cultural event. As we have found out, speaking English is not a requirement in playing "tag" or other playground games.
I asked both kids what they thought of our move to St. Louis. Jayna smiled at me and said, "Fun." I asked her to elaborate and she said the she likes having people live under us, and all the "houses" and she likes living in a "new place". She said "It's good living in a new place ... you should move every day when God tells you."
Thomas says that he likes it a little and a little not. He says that he likes meeting new friends and going to the playground almost everyday. He doesn't like living on the top floor of the apartment, because there are some games that he can't play due to the fact that there are people living below us. Thomas also likes the layout of our new kitchen, as now he can reach more things ... including all the ingredients for PB&J sandwiches - which he makes frequently for Jayna and himself. He also says the air conditioning/heating vents sound a little creepy here.
God has truly blessed my family with two wonderful children. Baby #3 is lucky to already have two great older siblings!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Some (dare I say it) Good News!
- Yesterday (Thursday) we were able to get our (BIG) television into the apartment (thanks in large part to a very nice and strong guy named Steve). This means that the kids can stop using my laptop as their source of movie viewing.
- I aced the Greek quiz I took on Wednesday (including the bonus questions) and I'm pretty sure that I aced the one I took today as well. It's easier to keep the grades high than it is to pull them up.
- Rose got a very encouraging call regarding the position she applied for with the government ... we can't say that she has the job, but after we go through some administrative hurdles - it is looking extremely positive! More to come on this end, please keep praying ... If this comes through, it will be a HUGE stress reliever (for me especially).
- I'm really enjoying getting to know my fellow classmates ... I'm excited to see the possibilities that these families bring to the furtherance of the Kingdom of God!
Thanks to all those who have been praying for us! Please keep it going!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Greek - Day One
I was hoping that on the first day, we'd learn the alphabet - spend a while practicing writing the letters and learning their sounds, maybe look at some vocabulary words ... we'll we did all of that in about 25 minutes! Then we moved into different types of nouns - declinations and parsings, articles and the like. Needless to say my head started swimming - I couldn't copy the notes off the board without getting behind. My brain just doesn't process new information the way it used to.
Anyway, I took the kids over to our playground this afternoon and spent an hour or so going over the material, and feel slightly less stressed about the whole thing. It is confusing though ... trying to train your brain to look at a letter that looks like an "n" and know that it's more like an "e"; the "u" is really an "m"; the "w" is an "o" and on it goes. I'll adjust I'm sure, but the statement "It's all Greek to me" makes so much more sense today than it did yesterday.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
A Busy Week
We do not have Internet access at the apartment right now, so my response to anything Internet related will be delayed.
We are still waiting for the house to sell, so your continued prayers for that are certainly appreciated.
I also intend to start biking to class - at least on occasion and as the weather permits. We are only about 5 miles from the seminary now, so I think my old legs should be able to handle it ... so chalk another one up to the Vagabond family's effort to "go green."
We had new student orientation Saturday. I was able to meet several other new students and I'm excited about the new relationships that can be forged here. One thing I noticed is that Rose and I seem to be "in the middle" of the age range. There are many people younger (10 years or so) than us and some (10 years or more) older than us ... but we didn't see too many in the 30 something range. This is not a disappointment, but just an observation.
Saturday, I also had to take a "Bible Content Exam." Now one would probably think that this should be a fairly simple exercise - a formality really. Unfortunately, I am humbled to say that this was anything BUT a formality. I could only remember 8 of the 10 commandments ... it took me almost 20 minutes to remember the 13th disciple/apostle (the one who took the place of Judas - can you name him without looking it up?) ... I don't know that I ever considered how long the Jordan river would be ... the kingdom's listed in Daniel chapters 2 and 7 - plus the evangelical interpretation??? ... the seven churches written to in Revelation (I got four of them). Now I did get a few right as well, but sometimes it takes a test like this to remind one that the Bible is a BIG book loaded with information. It was a wake-up call to my memory functions that I really need to get back into "student" mode again! Your prayers in this area would be greatly appreciated too.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Emotional Highs and Lows
The lone bright spot of the day was Rose finally getting a call from the government about a job she applied for back in February. The job itself would be a huge answer to prayer, however there are 50 people in the candidate pool and the posted hours would mean she would have to work every Sunday and never get to go to church.
I have found that faith is easy when you have some semblance of control in your life ... or at least the illusion of control in your life. I'm at a place now where there are so many things completely out of my control (the illusion is gone) that I feel paralyzed to do anything ... except to get on keeping on. When people ask me how I'm doing, my answer is always the same, "Day by day." The ironic (for lack of a better word) thing is that while I'm in the most uncomfortable place in my life, I still believe that I am exactly where the Lord wants me. I'm beginning to understand Paul more on a personal level when he talks about his weakness ...
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001, S. 2 Co 12:9-10)
I don't know that I'm ready to "boast" at this point, but I understand that unless I go through these trials and emotional lows, then I will never be able to minister to anyone else who will be facing them in the future.
Before we left Pennsylvania, our small group was doing a study on Brian Chapell's book Praying Backwards. The crux of the book talks about what it really means to pray "in Jesus name." One thing that it means is that when we pray in Jesus name we are submitting our prayers, requests and desires in such a way as to allow Jesus to conform them to His will. I confess that I've forgotten that the past several days. I've been trying to force God to conform His will to mine ... a sure recipe for a failure. Again, it all comes back to the issue of control and wanting to accomplish things within your own power. Oh there are so many things I have yet to learn, and one is how to be content in my weakness. Only then can I really claim the scripture passage above.
Friday, May 29, 2009
What's Another Change?
Today Rose and I applied for a 3 bedroom apartment closer to the seminary. This move will greatly increase our monthly expenses, but I am hopeful that with my interview yesterday that enough work will come in to allow us to meet these expenses. So after all the unpacking of boxes, it is now time again to begin repacking and trying to figure out how we will get the other necessary items currently housed in West Virginia (like our sofa, dining room table, and the kids' beds) out here. This is definitely not the way we drew the plans up while we were still in PA; however, I do not think that our timing was a mistake. The timing of my coming onto the staff of the church here as worship director was perfect. I believe the Lord had a plan for us to get out here, and start working there before we could find a more appropriate and permanent place for us to live. The timing of our move allowed Rose to apply for and get a job. No the mistake was not in the timing - our "mistake" (if you can really call it that) was thinking that we could stay here in The Promised Land for three years.
The apartment complex we are moving to is nice. It has a clubhouse with an indoor and two outdoor pools. It also has a workout facility and a little "cyber cafe". There is a playground on the far side of the complex for the kids to play at. And the location puts us only about 5-7 minutes from the seminary. We've heard good things about the school district as well.
Needless to say, the Vagabond family will covet your prayers ever the more now as we take another step in faith. Rose and I have a peace about this decision and we believe that things will work out as they should. The Venture is not easy, but the final rewards are out of this world!
On a bright note, I've lost over 10 pounds in the 3 weeks we've been out here. Some of the loss is from stress, but most is from the fact that I'm not snacking like I used to, and I'm eating more sensible portions at meal times. I even make use of my weights and bench every now and again. The most important thing is that I feel better with the weight coming off.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Job Interview Today
Thanks everyone for your prayers and notes of encouragement - they are greatly appreciated. Hopefully today's activities will get the phone ringing!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Genetics
But what has really surprised me is how much Jayna is like me. She is not nearly as competitive as Thomas, but she definitely has my knack for memorization. It cracks me up when I'll hear her say something that is completely beyond her years, and when I ask where she heard it - it turns out that she is quoting a movie. It may have been a movie she has seen several times, or only once. She just has the ability to remember what she hears. Today it went one step further. This morning the four of us gathered to play a Winnie the Pooh memory game ... you know where you have a bunch of cards with pictures and you try to find two that match. Let me say at the outset that the version we play has about 80 cards (40 matches), so this is not an easy test of the memory skills. While we were playing Jayna was eating a grilled cheese sandwich, and it appeared that she wasn't paying much attention - even though this was the game she chose. She would often turn over the same card first and then try to find its match. Then all of a sudden in the middle of the game, she started making match after match. She was finding matches that Rose and I could not have made at the time. Rose and I just looked at each other in amazement, we knew she could remember lines from songs, movies and television shows, but now she was really showing an aptitude for visual memory as well.
I can remember as a kid memorizing Bible verses for Sunday School. Each month there would be a different verse or sometime a whole chapter to memorize, and would handle each one without much trouble. I would go to play rehearsals with dad and sit with Lelia Calvario (the prompter) and memorize the entire play just from listening to them rehearse. There was no effort to it at all, it was just something I could do. Now Jayna is doing just as easily. Fascinating!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Vagabond's Venture
So far our Venture in Missouri/The Promised Land has lasted two weeks. Here are some random thoughts and observations about our Progress/Venture:
- Knowing that something is going to be hard and actually experiencing the difficulty are two extremely different things.
- The armor of God contains no covering for your back ... so turning to run is a foolish idea, but remains a temptation nonetheless.
- There is simply no substitute for supportive family and friends. All the money in the world could not match their value.
- My kids are very resilient and adaptive ... much more so than I would have ever been.
- It's easy to forget the faithfulness of God in the past when facing major stress in the present. I guess that's why Jesus included a section on money and worry in the sermon on the mount!
- Churches everywhere go through problems.
- Health insurance (or the lack thereof) can become a major burdern ... especially when you have a baby on the way.
- I need to start connecting with friends in the St. Louis area ... procrastinating in this area is not good.
- Past experiences are designed to help you in the future.
- God is good all the time - even when it doesn't feel like it!
Past Praises:
- We arrived safely in Missouri ... a special thanks to Bill Pudder for driving the U-Haul for us!
- Rose was hired part-time to work at Walmart.
- I was hired by Emmanuel Presbyterian Church to serve as the Worship Director there.
- We had a great time meeting folks from the neighborhood at a block party last Saturday.
Upcoming events (a.k.a. things that need prayer):
- I have an interview with a temp agency on Thursday.
- We need to decide on a health insurance plan.
- I need to register and pay for my summer classes before June 5.