Spring Break Blast

What a great time we had at the Fabulous Blount Mansion on Thursday, March 30th! 15 students and 3 "adults" helped splash the water of of the pool, enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs (along with chips, drinks and brownies), played all kinds of games (can you say "Skip-bo"?), and just relished each others' company on the Thursday of Spring Break Week. "Lord Vader" had the gals beating him with Fun Noodles, the Marco Polo game got pretty wild, and Scott proved to be the "War" king. Ha!

On a more serious note, the C-I-Y Summer Conference costs will be $350, and all of the money must be in by Sunday, May 14th. Payments to your account are being accepted now. Summer Conference is one of my favorite trips each year, although I have to admit that it takes me longer to recuperate from those trips each year. This year should prove to be very interesting because the Blount family leaves from Milligan College to head to Louisville, KY, and the North American Christian Convention. Since Elliott will be part of the worship band for the adult sessions at this year's convention, how could we NOT make the trip? So, our recovery from C-I-Y will be at the NACC. Whew!

The 2006 Florida Christian Youth Convention promises to rawk your socks off. This convention takes place Dec. 1-3, and features Bart Stone as the speaker, the Atoned worship band, and my dear bud Phil Luckeydoo to emcee! Yeah, baby, come on down for this convention!

Oh yeah, and our youth group is once again this year participating in the 30 Hour Famine during which we raise money to feed hungry children through World Vision. If you would like to sponsor me, please send checks made out to "World Vision" to me at the church (796 20th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL, 32962). It takes only a dollar a day to feed a child, and I would love to feed at least one child for one year. Can you help? Thanks!

The Life

I have spent way too much time stressing over things that I cannot change lately. Today was one of them, as I spent an hour and a half in a meeting dealing with the various complexities (read "Catch 22") involved in our church building project. I am still stinging from from some other personal matters, and the fact that we are driving a rental car while Vatland tries to fix Elliott's car (I emphasize TRIES) just adds to my general sense of frustration. So, this afternoon after dropping Ian off at work and before going back out to pick him up while dropping Emily off at work, I decided to read a book by the pool. I got in my swim suit, pulled a chair out into the sunshine of a March afternoon in Vero Beach and did some reading about the shame of the cross. I also did my personal devo reading and journaling, all thanks to my iBook and the wireless Internet connection at the house. I love that combination. Sitting by the pool listening to the water churn and feeling the light breeze as the sun warmed my ever-increasingly large body was just way beyond relaxing. Even with the heavy subject matter of the book I am reading to help with sermon prep. Yes, I was working, but my office was my pool deck. Just gotta love that. I may have to spend most of the day tomorrow out by the pool, reading and enjoying the benefits of living in Vero Beach, Florida. Time to stop stressing and start relaxing in the love of God. After all, He could have me somewhere up north where it is still freezing cold, gloomy and generally yucky. Yes, this really is the life, isn't it?

March Out of Control-ness

Well my NCAA brackets bled out long ago, but I must say that I am totally impressed with LSU's performance over their past two games. The fact that Florida also made it to the Final Four just goes to show the pundants don't have a clue. The S-E-C is down this year eh? How many Big East Teams made the Final Four? Zero. How many ACC Teams meade the Final Four? Zero. How many Big Ten Teams? Zero. HGow many S-E-C teams? TWO. May Florida and LSU meet in the National Championship Game. Yee-haw (Juntion).

Seminole Trail

This is a picture of my childhood home at 519 Seminole Trail in Danville, KY. The huge Oak tree in the front yard was a sappling we planted when we first moved there in 1969. It is massive as you can see. It was good to be back in my hometown and see some friends. The occasion was stinky...burying my childhood best friend, Mike Wilson. It was the toughest thing I have ever done in my ministry, but it was also rewarding to know that I was able to fulfill Mike's request and that the family was more than pleased with my words at the funeral service.

Anyway, it was wild to see the Oak at 519 Seminole Trail. Childhood memories. Hmmmmm...

David Michael Wilson - Oct. 2, 1958-March 1, 2006

It's been a long day. I just got word this morning that my best friend from childhood passed away after a long battle with medical complications stemming from lymphoma. Mike Wilson was the best man at our wedding. He was the only guy from Danville, KY, that I kept in regular touch with over the years. Mike lived in San Diego, but ten summers ago, the two of us met in Danville for our 20th High School Reunion. That was the last time I saw Mike. We talked on the phone often, but not nearly often enough. Mike was fiercely loyal, a big family man (he loved being a grandpa...that's right he was a grandpa!), and he had a heart of gold. Even while battling his lymphoma over the past five years, he did pro bono legal work for other cancer patients to help them through the legal and insurance mazes they had to travel. Yeah, he was a good guy lawyer.

We often talked about growing up in the small southern town of Danville, and we both agreed that we lived a charmed childhood in that little town. It was always his desire to be buried there. Next Friday, that wish will come true. About four years ago, when Mike was having several medical problems all at one time, he asked me if I would preach his funeral. Of course I told him that I would, but I also told him that I didn't want to do it for at least another 20 years. Well, Mike did his best, but he fell short of that goal. Mike was one of the most courageous men I have ever known. He was the kind of guy everyone would want for a best friend. Although he took second spot on my best friend list after Peggy, he never complained.

A flood of memories has come my way today, most of which will remain mine, several of which will be shared with those who attend the funeral in Danville next week, and all of which give me great comfort in this time of loss. While Mike was not perfect, he did come back to Jesus over the past five years. Nothing else matters. Mike, you have fought the good fight, you have finished the race. Now take your crown of righteousness and save a seat for me, will you?