Don't faint because I am posting two blog blurbs in one day. It's catch-up time. In spite of the fact that my sinuses are on the warpath and my head feels like it weighs a ton, I need to get this business taken care of.
Emily is now 18 years old. There, I've said it. I don't believe it. Oh no, not for one minute. You see, you can't go from 12 to 18 in one fell swoop. So, I guess I can call her 13 years old now. Alas, her birth certificate proves otherwise. Perhaps this is why I feel so yucky today. My baby turned 18 yesterday. Yeah, that's what I'll go with...it is all HER fault that I am sick today.
No, Emily. I am so proud of you. The only way I could be more proud would have been if you had worn the "get in line" shirt on your birthday. Because that shirt is the straight up truth and you know it.
I love my Chick-A-Boo, and I am proud to be her "Pau Pau."
Friday, December 28, 2007
Christmas Day Blessings
We got the spend the day on Christmas Day at Nanny & Papaw's over in Palmetto. Elliott and Abi came down from Clearwater, so we had a nice, intimate, celebration. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by family. I know that I am a blessed man. I am married to my soul mate, who keeps me drawing closer to Christ all the time. I am the dad of three beautiful children (and while I can never take the place of Papa Pardue, I will count Abi as one of mine, making it FOUR beautiful kids). Peggy's parents have always treated me like a son, not a son-in-law. I am, without a doubt, the luckiest man on the planet.
Having had the chance to make my Bride tear up with joy as she opened presents this year, because I finally got it right and got her the things she really wanted, and having had the chance to watch the joy in the faces of our children as we spent time together, made this Christmas the best one ever for me.
Taking the picture of the four children in front of the lake by Nanny & Papaw's reminds me of how blessed I am. You are looking at my 3rd favorite gift - our children. First is my salvation through Jesus Christ, and 2nd is my Bride Peggy. After that, it is all icing on the cake, my friends.
Having had the chance to make my Bride tear up with joy as she opened presents this year, because I finally got it right and got her the things she really wanted, and having had the chance to watch the joy in the faces of our children as we spent time together, made this Christmas the best one ever for me.
Taking the picture of the four children in front of the lake by Nanny & Papaw's reminds me of how blessed I am. You are looking at my 3rd favorite gift - our children. First is my salvation through Jesus Christ, and 2nd is my Bride Peggy. After that, it is all icing on the cake, my friends.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christmas Ponderings
In Luke 2:19 we read: "But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." When examining the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of Luke, we see that Mary and Joseph have traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem (a distance of about 80 miles) when Mary is VERY pregnant. That is a trip that could not have been fun for Mary. When they arrive in Bethlehem, there is no place to stay, so they wind up bedding down in a cave-barn behind an inn. There, Mary gave birth to her first son. Not exactly a sanitary setting for childbirth, in the hay next to the donkeys, but that is where God chose to have the Savior of the World born. The first visitors to worship the Christ child were shepherds! Not exactly the top of the social strata, these guys had been visited by an angel declaring the birth of God's Son, and had witnessed a heavenly choir of angels singing glory to God. So, these shepherds set out for Bethlehem and found the Babe just as th angel had said. The shepherds left from there declaring the Good News: that Jesus had come into the world. The, we read the famous line quoted above.
Oh, to be like Mary. Not that I want to give birth, I just want to be used by God for His Purposes. No matter where that leads, no matter how far out of my comfort zone that takes me, no matter what He asks of me. That was the attitude Mary had when she told the angel that she was a bondslave of the Lord. That is the attitude I need to exhibit. No that is the attitude, I need to live out. By submitting my life to the Lordship of Jesus when I was immersed into Christ on August 27, 1985, I promised to be a bondslave of Christ.
I know that it isn't Christmas yet, but I am already in sermon mode for Sunday, December 30th. Yeah, I am preaching on that date, and as I contemplate God's message for the last Sunday of the year, I am contemplating what it means to truly commit to a New Life Resolution. My New Life Resolution is found in Philippians 2"14-15: "14Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a)crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world," now THAT is something to ponder.
Oh, to be like Mary. Not that I want to give birth, I just want to be used by God for His Purposes. No matter where that leads, no matter how far out of my comfort zone that takes me, no matter what He asks of me. That was the attitude Mary had when she told the angel that she was a bondslave of the Lord. That is the attitude I need to exhibit. No that is the attitude, I need to live out. By submitting my life to the Lordship of Jesus when I was immersed into Christ on August 27, 1985, I promised to be a bondslave of Christ.
I know that it isn't Christmas yet, but I am already in sermon mode for Sunday, December 30th. Yeah, I am preaching on that date, and as I contemplate God's message for the last Sunday of the year, I am contemplating what it means to truly commit to a New Life Resolution. My New Life Resolution is found in Philippians 2"14-15: "14Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a)crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world," now THAT is something to ponder.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Christmas Lights
This year, we have added to our outside display of lights, the manger scene. In this close-up of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus, you can also see roses blooming on our "rose tree" just behind the manger scene. I love Christmas in Vero Beach. I was in jean shorts and a tee shirt as I hung the lights on the house on November 29th, and the seat was rolling down my face into my eyes! Roses are still in full bloom. Yep, THAT's my kind of Christmas season weather.
Speaking of the Christmas season, I want to take the time now to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. May you always keep in mind the true meaning of the season: God loves you, and He gave you the ultimate Christmas Gift - Jesus!
There are a few more pictures taken on Nov. 29th of the lights around our house, and one of the rose blooms that are about eight feet off the ground. Just check out the flickr site.
May this season in which we celebrate the coming to earth of the Savior of the World, find you and yours doing well. Thank you for your continued prayers for us Blounts. We'll take all the prayers we can get!
Speaking of the Christmas season, I want to take the time now to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. May you always keep in mind the true meaning of the season: God loves you, and He gave you the ultimate Christmas Gift - Jesus!
There are a few more pictures taken on Nov. 29th of the lights around our house, and one of the rose blooms that are about eight feet off the ground. Just check out the flickr site.
May this season in which we celebrate the coming to earth of the Savior of the World, find you and yours doing well. Thank you for your continued prayers for us Blounts. We'll take all the prayers we can get!
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Birthday Cake
Several people wore as much of Ian's birthday cake as ate it, including the birthday boy:
So It Ain't So!
It is hard for me to believe that my baby boy, Ian is 19 today! Words cannot express the love I have for our "middle child." We have been (and continue to go) through so much together! From his "hurry up, here I am" birth, through various physical challenges in his infancy and toddler years on up to today, Ian is absolutely one of a kind. A fact for which Peggy and I are eternally grateful!
I know there are plenty of challenges ahead for our "Ieebee Dah Man" and I pray that he will draw closer to Jesus, and let the Lord of all Life be his guide through the good times and the bad. I am so blessed to be Ian's Dad, and I am so unworthy of that honor. I just pray that he always knows the depth of the love I have for him.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Bearded Lady
Over the past several months our Children's Church gang has been collecting an offering to go towards Vero Christian Church's "Connecting Christ With Community" campaign. Our goal was to reach $500 before Commitment Sunday, which is this Sunday, November 11th. We have achieved our goal, and will present our offering at the end of the adult worship service this week. I will be wearing a dress (and possibly makeup, a wig, and high heals depending on how much offering is collected this Sunday)! Yeah, I am a fool for Christ. I will do whatever I can to help kids get excited about worshiping God by the giving of their offerings to Kingdom Work. The Children's Church gang knows that we will continue collecting offerings each week, and that other goals will be set, not always with a goofy consequence for me. Anyway, I decided a couple of weeks ago to let my beard grow out (such as it is) so I can be the "Bearded Lady" on November 11th. The things we do for love.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Missing My Mom
This is my favorite picture I took of Mom, catching her "in the act" of ironing. She hated to iron, and she is telling me not to take the picture. I disobeyed. I miss Mom. On this day that is the anniversary of her birth, I celebrate the blessing of being Bettie Johnson Blount's son. I can't believe it has been over 14 years since she passed on. Time hasn't flown, and what I wouldn't give for her sage advice over a meal of choice Mexican food.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Costume Bible Study
Our college age group Wednesday night Bible study group decided to go with the theme on October 31, 2007. We studied 1 Samuel 17, "Facing the Giants," but we also dressed up, ate chicken wings, and other munchies and handed out candy to a handful of Trick or Treaters. It was a great time! A great study, fantastic discussion, and plenty of laughs before and after the study. If I haven't mentioned before, I really love this group of college age students.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Enjoying Greta
One member of Ed's family that didn't make the move to Anniston last week is his Scooter, "Greta." Now, Ed got Greta to combat the high cost of traveling back and forth to work with Gracie. Now that Gracie has retired (and Mercy is now Ed's main mode of transport), and now that Ed is living in SWEET HOME ALABAMA where the hills are large and the necks get red at the sight of scooter (jk), Greta is now residing with me here in Vero Beach. She took me to work this past Monday and it was a blast. I had a motorcycle back before Peggy and I got married, but have been without motorized two-wheeled transportation for over two decades until now.
Anyway, this morning, Greta dutifully took me back to work, so I thought I would at least take her picture in front of the office so that Ed and others could know how much Greta is loved and appreciated. Oh yeah, with the "dry season" coming soon here in Florida, Greta will be my MAIN mode of transportation to and from the office, and I am truly looking forward to all that this entails (savings in gasoline costs, less mileage on our "road vehicle" Pistin and the thrill of the ride).
Having heard from Ed almost daily since his move, I am thrilled by what is happening in Alabama. I am thrilled by how God is using Ed to accomplish so much, and by the attitude with which Ed approaches this time in his life. I just wish my attitude was always as good as my Lil Bro's! Maybe more time with Greta will help in that regard.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Mmmm...Sonic!
So, we got Lil Bro moved up to Alabama this past week, and while there are plenty of stories to tell about that adventure (which turned out splendidly, by the way), I want to just focus on our supper jaunt on Tuesday night. After a day of cleaning out the garage and moving in Ed's stuff, Ed, Dad and I made a "late night" Wal-Mart run and then headed to: Mmmmmm...Sonic! Dad says he has never eaten at Sonic, so I wanted photographic proof of our visit and I wanted a picture of Dad's goatee. He kinda reminds me of Harlan Sanders with his new look, but for now we will just be satisfied with Mmmmm....Sonic.
Ed is now settling in with Dad, and that is an answer to many prayers. There are many others to lift up on Ed and Dad's behalf as they make the adjustments to life together under one roof in Sweet Home Alabama.
Monday, September 24, 2007
My Heroes Clock
So, a couple of weeks ago, just as the "Heroes, Season One" DVD was coming out, Peggy says she thinks she would like to watch that series, and it would be cool to have season 1 watched before the new season began. I was flabbergasted because Peggy is not a big SciFi fan like I am. I didn't watch the show last year for that (among other) reasons. Nevertheless, when she made the suggestion, I decided to take her up on it, and we purchased the season 1 DVD. We have been squeezing in the episodes in our overly busy lives, but are now ready for tonight's premiere of season 2!
Meanwhile, and totally unrelated...or so we thought...Peggy got a new clock for her classroom at Garden City Elementary. The school ordered clocks, and hers was one to be replaced. When she opened the box and put in the battery, she noticed that the clock ran BACKWARDS! She returned the clock to the person in charge of the order, and they were going to send it back. However, she told me about it, and I had her rescue the clock for me, saying I would pay whatever the cost for the clock was. How cool is it to have a clock that runs backwards? I'm not Hiro, but my clock does what he was trying to do in the first episode of the show "Heroes" and I don't even have to squint my eyes to make it run backwards!
Now, I have no desire to go back in time, but I do love having a clock that is a little different from the pack.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Rock My Weekend
Peggy and I took a few teens to the "Rock The Universe" Weekend at Universal Studios in Orlando, Sept. 7-9, 2007. The lineup included Jars of Clay, Hawk Nelson, Mercy Me and Casting Crowns on Friday night. All I can say about Friday is OH MY GOODNESS! I've been a big Jars of Clay fan for 15 years, and Hawk Nelson is one of my new favorites in Christian music. Mercy Me always does it up right musically and lyrically, but Casting Crowns knocked it out of the park Friday night! It was one of the best concerts and worship times I have been part of in years.
The Saturday lineup included Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Toby Mac and Relient K. Again, a great lineup with a mix of "oldie goldies" and the latest in today's Christian hits. We also got to ride some rides at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. Of course, we also had one of those obligatory afternoon thunderstorms around 4 o'clock. After waiting out the rain for an hour and a half, I broke down and bought a golf umbrella. By the time I paid for it, and we walked out of the gift shop in which we had been holed up for 90 minutes, the skies had turned blue and the sun was shining. That's Florida for ya!
Peggy and I ate lunch Saturday at theBubba Gump Shrimp Company,a nd she is pictured above with her drink in hand. The other picture above features our little RTU monkeys (sans Turtle, who joined us for Saturday night, but wasn't with us for the whole weekend). Ian, Skanky Jay, Emily, Kevin and Kaley kept us in stitches all weekend long.
It is now 9:30 on Sunday night, and the weekend has taken it's toll on me physically. time to call it a GOOD night.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Surprise!
Lil Bro, Elliott and Abi were coming to Vero for a celebration of my birthday. We thought we would throw some babyback ribs on the grill and just enjoy a quiet evening...well, we enjoyed the evening, but the party grew to 12 of us, 11 of whom you can see in this picture I took as the ribs slow cooked on the grill.
It was, without a doubt, one of the best birthday celebrations of my life. I am NOT a fan of celebrating my birthday, as my family will readily tell you. I am, however a big fan of having family around, and that's what happened on this evening. Some were invited in advance, some just showed up, knowing that they are ALWAYS welcome in the "Fabulous Blount Mansion." The fact that ribs on the grill had somehow leaked out led to the invasion of folks some of whom who have had ribs with us before and they knew what was in store.
Like I say, I don't enjoy having a fuss made about my physical birthday, and I really do keep hoping that someday folks will make a bigger fuss out of my Spiritual Birthday (August 27th, by the way), because that is the one that is important to me. However, I have to say that having Ed, Elliott, Abi, Ian, Emily, Jonathan, Mike, Turtle, Jordan, and Melvin join my Bride Peggy and me for this occasion was wonderful beyond words. I just want to praise God for the blessing of the afternoon and evening. You can see several pictures from the celebration on my Flickr site including the beautiful "Southern Lights" display God put on for us as a birthday card from Him. I am so grateful for the blessing of family. I know that I am the most blessed man on the planet, and I want everyone to know that those blessings come from God in spite of fact that I am one of the biggest goobers to ever walk the planet. I don't deserve any of it, but I am thankful to my Lord Jesus for blessing my socks off anyway!
May God's richest blessings be yours, and may all of your surprises in life be as wonderful as mine was on this very special day.
Be God's,
Scott
It was, without a doubt, one of the best birthday celebrations of my life. I am NOT a fan of celebrating my birthday, as my family will readily tell you. I am, however a big fan of having family around, and that's what happened on this evening. Some were invited in advance, some just showed up, knowing that they are ALWAYS welcome in the "Fabulous Blount Mansion." The fact that ribs on the grill had somehow leaked out led to the invasion of folks some of whom who have had ribs with us before and they knew what was in store.
Like I say, I don't enjoy having a fuss made about my physical birthday, and I really do keep hoping that someday folks will make a bigger fuss out of my Spiritual Birthday (August 27th, by the way), because that is the one that is important to me. However, I have to say that having Ed, Elliott, Abi, Ian, Emily, Jonathan, Mike, Turtle, Jordan, and Melvin join my Bride Peggy and me for this occasion was wonderful beyond words. I just want to praise God for the blessing of the afternoon and evening. You can see several pictures from the celebration on my Flickr site including the beautiful "Southern Lights" display God put on for us as a birthday card from Him. I am so grateful for the blessing of family. I know that I am the most blessed man on the planet, and I want everyone to know that those blessings come from God in spite of fact that I am one of the biggest goobers to ever walk the planet. I don't deserve any of it, but I am thankful to my Lord Jesus for blessing my socks off anyway!
May God's richest blessings be yours, and may all of your surprises in life be as wonderful as mine was on this very special day.
Be God's,
Scott
Friday, August 31, 2007
Seeing Clearly
I had my annual eye exam this morning. s I type this, the words are very blury on the computer screen because my pupils were dialted as part of the examination. It will take a good portion of the day for my eyesight to return to "normal" which for me, means the need for a slight correction for distance, and a little correction for reading. Yes, bifocals have been a way of life for me for the past several years. Not that I HAVE to wear my glasses all the time, or even when I am reading, but they help.
As I contemplate the words of the gal who did much of my exam this morning, I can't help but think about the notion that people think if they wear their glasses that their eyesight will actually deteriorate and they will be more dependent upon those glasses. She said that the rality of the matter is that your brain gets used to being able to see better, and recognizes the difference when you don't wear them.
When I spend time daily in God's Word, my life really is more closely aligned to God's plan for my life. Oh, I can "get by" when I don't spend time in the Word every day, but I am only fooling myself into thinking that it is okay. Just like "getting by" without wearing my glasses may be okay, I can "get by" with the reading I do for lesson prep, sermons, etc. But that is not what is best for me.
Just as wearing my glasses helps me see clearly, spending time daily in the Word helps me stay focused on my relationship with Christ. I don't need an annual exam to see how I am doing in this regard, I just need to be held accountable for my personal daily devotion time each day. I have a couple of accountability partners to help me in that regard. Do you?
As I contemplate the words of the gal who did much of my exam this morning, I can't help but think about the notion that people think if they wear their glasses that their eyesight will actually deteriorate and they will be more dependent upon those glasses. She said that the rality of the matter is that your brain gets used to being able to see better, and recognizes the difference when you don't wear them.
When I spend time daily in God's Word, my life really is more closely aligned to God's plan for my life. Oh, I can "get by" when I don't spend time in the Word every day, but I am only fooling myself into thinking that it is okay. Just like "getting by" without wearing my glasses may be okay, I can "get by" with the reading I do for lesson prep, sermons, etc. But that is not what is best for me.
Just as wearing my glasses helps me see clearly, spending time daily in the Word helps me stay focused on my relationship with Christ. I don't need an annual exam to see how I am doing in this regard, I just need to be held accountable for my personal daily devotion time each day. I have a couple of accountability partners to help me in that regard. Do you?
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Birthday Girl
We celebrated my Bride's birthday on August 14th. Not only did she have the cake of her choosing, but a steak dinner and a fun evening at home with Ian, Emily and me. It was the kind of quiet family gathering we love, but don't often get with both Ian and Emily working these days. In light of the news of this week about Stacie Coomer, it makes me appreciate that much more the time God grants me with my Bride and my kids. Happy birthday, Peggy. I love you!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Slap Me Upside The Head
For the second time this summer, and unexpected calling Home of a brother or sister in Christ has me seriously contemplating the brevity of life on this planet. Last night, we got the call that Stacie Coomer had passed on. Stacie was in our first youth group at Westwood Christian Church some 20 years ago. She had stayed in touch over the years and the miles (she lived in Xenia, Ohio), and was one of the few who commented on my this blog. When Stacie didn't report for work at the library yesterday, and didn't respond to repeated phone calls from work and from her Mom, the building supervisor in the apartment building where Stacie lived was alerted and asked to go in the apartment to check on Stacie. She was found on the couch in her pajamas with no visible sign of foul play.
Barb and Tom Coomer are understandably devastated. I spoke with them both briefly last night. I know that Kristen (her older sister) is beside herself. I join them in their grief. I also know that God is in control, and that while we may never know while we are on this earth the purpose behind His calling Stacie Home now, someday it will all be made clear.
Earlier this summer, a brother in Christ and fellow minister of the Gospel, Mark Angel, died when caught up in a rip current in the Gulf of Mexico while on a Mission Trip. Heaven is rapidly filling with saints I have known personally on this planet. Sigh.
Barb and Tom Coomer are understandably devastated. I spoke with them both briefly last night. I know that Kristen (her older sister) is beside herself. I join them in their grief. I also know that God is in control, and that while we may never know while we are on this earth the purpose behind His calling Stacie Home now, someday it will all be made clear.
Earlier this summer, a brother in Christ and fellow minister of the Gospel, Mark Angel, died when caught up in a rip current in the Gulf of Mexico while on a Mission Trip. Heaven is rapidly filling with saints I have known personally on this planet. Sigh.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Welcome Home
One of the great features of our property here in Indian River County was the lot behind us. Filled with vegetation, it was a rarity in our general area. I had the chance to purchase the lot earlier this year, but couldn't swing the cost. Upon our return home from Alabama this morning, my greatest fear was realized: the lot has been cleared of all vegetation in preparation for building on it. I can see the parade of traffic on 27th Avenue (a major north-south thoroughfare in our community). Ah well. The end of an era, and the beginning of a new neighbor possibility.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
All Good Things...
...must come to an end. Or so the saying goes. Today we pack up and gear up for the trip back home. We are trying to determine the time of our departure, and will consult with Lil Bro as well, since he has another two hours of driving to do after we get to Vero, and he has jury duty Monday morning. All I have to do is go to the office and tackle the mounds of work piling up and awaiting my return.
Yesterday, we got to see two of the newest members of the extended family: Addison and Ellen. It is wild to see the grandchildren of my cousins. It was cool to watch Aunt Phyllis beam with her great grandchildren around. It was a hoot watching Yolanda and Terri each hovering over a granddaughter. Meeting Sam was a blast, he is one hilarious dude. It still boggles my mind to see Candice as a mom, and to see Autum blooming out there for the expected September delivery of her first child. Woof! I must be getting old. Naaahhhhh!
Anyway, our visit here at Anthelion is coming to an end. Back to reality. With an elders' meeting Monday night, the college group Wednesday night, and youth group Thursday night, a full week awaits. I am glad to have had this time of refreshing so I can gear up for the days ahead!
Yesterday, we got to see two of the newest members of the extended family: Addison and Ellen. It is wild to see the grandchildren of my cousins. It was cool to watch Aunt Phyllis beam with her great grandchildren around. It was a hoot watching Yolanda and Terri each hovering over a granddaughter. Meeting Sam was a blast, he is one hilarious dude. It still boggles my mind to see Candice as a mom, and to see Autum blooming out there for the expected September delivery of her first child. Woof! I must be getting old. Naaahhhhh!
Anyway, our visit here at Anthelion is coming to an end. Back to reality. With an elders' meeting Monday night, the college group Wednesday night, and youth group Thursday night, a full week awaits. I am glad to have had this time of refreshing so I can gear up for the days ahead!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Morning Devos
The view from the back veranda of Yolanda and Robby's house is the perfect setting for early morning devotional time.I must admit that I have fallen behind in my daily devos thanks to a crazy travel schedule, but I am in the process of getting "caught up" while sitting out here enjoying the view of Smith Lake. I wanted to take a break to post this. Now, it is back to my quiet time with the Creator of heaven and earth!
Cabos San Lucas
Who would have ever thought that we would come across a GREAT Mexican restaurant in Jasper, Alabama? Cabos San Lucas is just that, my friends. We are staying with cousins in Arley, Alabama this week on the shores of beautiful Smith Lake. On Wednesday, we drove over to Anniston to visit Dad, and on our way, we noticed a Mexican place in Jasper, and the seed was planted that perhaps we would indulge in some Mexican cuisine for supper. Upon our return trip from Anniston, we talked with Robby and Yolanda about our desire for Mexican Food, and we were immediately steered away from the restaurant we had seen, and told to check out Cabos San Lucas. Best advice we have had all week, my friends! The atmosphere was wonderful, as you can see from the statues lining the walk into the establishment. That one looks vaguely familiar, doesn't it?Anyway, the food was even better than the atmosphere! I must admit that I likely blew all my daily Weight Watcher points and many of my Flex Points on this one meal. It was well worth it! BTW, I am down 21 pounds since we started Weight Watchers.
My chicken enchiladas and the chicken burrito were delectable. The hot salsa had just enough heat to be nice, and the flavor was fantastic. It was a most enjoyable experience to top off an interesting day in the middle of a beautiful vacation week here in Sweet Home Alabama!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Hangin' Wit My Crew
Tuesday and I am feeling like an old man in a young man's game. *grin* I got to "blob" a few people at the waterfront today including Taylor and Katie (yeah, Katie, the red mark on your back from where you landed in the water the wrong way will eventually go away).
Austin is the "blob" king, that dude can get some air! I am sore from climbing the ladder and from the ultimate Frisbee game earlier in the afternoon, but I will survive (Tylenol works wonders). With a game winding down and worship about the gear up, time to get off for now.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Church Camp, Baby!
It's Monday evening of the week of church camp at Lake Aurora, and I have already been captured in the "Faculty Hunt" meaning I have to sit in the staff lounge in the A/C while others are out sweating in the heat of a July night in central Florida. Ha!I'm working as a counselor during a 7th, 8th, and 9th grade week. I have six dudes I am hanging with this week: Austin, Gabe, James, Nathan, Robby, and Tyler. They are hoots. Here is a picture of us at the archery range earlier today. They are a high energy bunch of guys, and I am an old man. Pretty sweet combo.
I LOVE church camp. I am so glad that I was asked to serve in this ministry. I have such a heart for church camp, and such a love for Lake Aurora that this absolutely will be the highlight of my summer.
We are helping the students realize that God wants to Unveil Himself to us. There is such great Kingdom Potential in this bunch of middle school students.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Back In The Saddle
Sitting here at my desk in the office, reflecting on the blessings God showers upon me reminds me that I shouldn't keep those blessings to myself. I am back in the office for the one week out of five in this summer stretch run. C-I-Y and the Sunset Beach vacation weeks are behind me, camp and the Alabama vacation weeks are ahead of me. This week Ian, Emily and I are alone at the house, since Peggy is still with her family in North Carolina. Of course, the kids are working a lot, too, so...yeah. Last night Emily and I went out for supper (Ian was at work) following a funeral service for a Dad/Grandad of some folks at our church. It was a touching tribute to a man who obviously loved his kids and grandkids very much. It reminded me of how God has blessed me with three (now four) children who love the Lord, and a wife who is (to quote Nacho Libré): The BASTE.
I did get to spend Sunday with Elliott and Abi, and to attend church with them at First Christian Clearwater. I must say my ego was stroked quite heavily when at least three different folks told me that I couldn't be Elliott's dad...his brother perhaps, but not his dad. Ah yes, I look so young. Right. It was nice, anyway, and I am sure those folks are all making their eye appointments soon.
Ian, Emily and I are planning a cookout and hangout time tomorrow as we celebrate July 4th, and while I wish Peggy was with us (it is our 30th Anniversary of "going steady"), I am glad that she is getting to spend extra time with her parents, sister and cousins. Being surrounded by family...now THAT is heaven on earth. I treasure those times, and I praise God for them. I praise God for my freedom in Christ, and I pray for those who have been blinded by the devices of satan to keep them away from God's Word and His clear plan of salvation as taught in the Scriptures. I have much work ahead of me in spreading the Gospel. The family times of rest help prepare me for the spiritual battles ahead. Praise God!
I did get to spend Sunday with Elliott and Abi, and to attend church with them at First Christian Clearwater. I must say my ego was stroked quite heavily when at least three different folks told me that I couldn't be Elliott's dad...his brother perhaps, but not his dad. Ah yes, I look so young. Right. It was nice, anyway, and I am sure those folks are all making their eye appointments soon.
Ian, Emily and I are planning a cookout and hangout time tomorrow as we celebrate July 4th, and while I wish Peggy was with us (it is our 30th Anniversary of "going steady"), I am glad that she is getting to spend extra time with her parents, sister and cousins. Being surrounded by family...now THAT is heaven on earth. I treasure those times, and I praise God for them. I praise God for my freedom in Christ, and I pray for those who have been blinded by the devices of satan to keep them away from God's Word and His clear plan of salvation as taught in the Scriptures. I have much work ahead of me in spreading the Gospel. The family times of rest help prepare me for the spiritual battles ahead. Praise God!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Beach Musings
As our family vacations this week at Sunset Beach, NC, I have had plenty of time to rest, relax and read. Those are my favorite vacation activities. Oh eating is nice, but on Weight Watchers, eating is not the primary focus any longer.Getting to hang out with Peggy's parents, her sister's family, an aunt, and our very own Turtle this week has been a great source of comfort, much laughter, and a little orneriness of the family variety.
I finished up Shawn McMullen's "Unlesashing the Potential of the Smaller Church" yesterday, and started reading Reggie McNeal's "The Present Future: Six Tough Questions For The Church " as recommended by my bud Robin Sigars. Challenging reading to say the least, but both books have reinforced thoughts of mine. Cool how God places these books in my path at just the right time.
Anyway, the vacation timing was wonderful. It is nice to rest following a major ministry week like C-I-Y Summer Conference. One more full day here, means I have much reading to do if I am going to finish McNeal's book, and then on Friday, we pack up and head south to Vero Beach so Emily can be at work Saturday. I'll be in the office for one week, then it's off to church camp for a week, and following that, a week's vacation with my side of the family in Alabama! Can anyone say mansion on the lake? Yay!
Now that Peggy has decided to stay up here with her family next week, that means I won't see her until after I come home from camp. It took some fancy foot work to get everything worked out, but we did. It will be lonesome without her, but she will enjoy the family time with some cousins who will be here next week.
Oh yeah, I have posted pictures from C-I-Y and from our beach vacation in North Carolina on my flickr site. Leave me some comments, eh?
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Final Day at Summer Conference
Friday, June 22, 2007
Influence. We all have it, the question is will we influence for Jesus or against Him? This was the main wrestle-with question for the day. What a fantastic end to a fantastic week at C-I-Y Summer Conference (soon to be known as "Move").
Doug Aldridge's morning devotional was once again right on target, and I survived the adult elective again in the afternoon. It is such an honor to get to lead an elective and to teach materials written by Zus!
Peggy, Tyler and I took the vans to gas them up, and apparently everyone in Elizabeton, TN, decided to gas up their vehicles at the Wal-Mart as well. Tyler commented that he hadn't seen gas lines like this since the hurricanes. Of course, since it took so long, we were going to miss supper on campus, so we sacrificed and headed to Taco John's, for some Taco Bravos. Yay!
Celebration tonight was amazing. Greg Frazee does an excellent job in leading folks to the throne of mercy and grace. He is quite frankly, my favorite C-I-Y worship leader. His presence on stage is totally designed to take the attention off of him and place it squarely on Jesus. Robin Sigars knocked it out of the park with the closing message of the week on Identity. I so appreciate Robin and his heart for students. Since Robin loves me more than he loves Dave VanBuskirk, it makes it even more special to get to hang out with my brother. I am excited for Robin about the new direction he is heading in ministry, although I will miss hanging with him at Conference.
Youth Group Time was intense. One student expressed fear about heading back home and falling into the "same ole, same ole" pattern. This open expression of what many were feeling led to one of the more intense discussions we've had in Youth Group Time ever! It was fantastic, and it certainly gives us plenty to think about and work on as we head back from the Mountain Top experience that is Summer Conference.
We Blounts will depart from the rest of the traveling party on the way back tomorrow, heading to Sunset Beach, NC, for a week's vacation with Peggy's family. I am looking forward to some time with my stack of books, with the laughter and good times with family that awaits. It will be a time of physical renewal and refreshing to follow this time of spiritual renewal and refreshing at Summer Conference.
Thanks Robin and all the C-I-Y folks from Tennessee 2. You RAWK!
Influence. We all have it, the question is will we influence for Jesus or against Him? This was the main wrestle-with question for the day. What a fantastic end to a fantastic week at C-I-Y Summer Conference (soon to be known as "Move").
Doug Aldridge's morning devotional was once again right on target, and I survived the adult elective again in the afternoon. It is such an honor to get to lead an elective and to teach materials written by Zus!
Peggy, Tyler and I took the vans to gas them up, and apparently everyone in Elizabeton, TN, decided to gas up their vehicles at the Wal-Mart as well. Tyler commented that he hadn't seen gas lines like this since the hurricanes. Of course, since it took so long, we were going to miss supper on campus, so we sacrificed and headed to Taco John's, for some Taco Bravos. Yay!
Celebration tonight was amazing. Greg Frazee does an excellent job in leading folks to the throne of mercy and grace. He is quite frankly, my favorite C-I-Y worship leader. His presence on stage is totally designed to take the attention off of him and place it squarely on Jesus. Robin Sigars knocked it out of the park with the closing message of the week on Identity. I so appreciate Robin and his heart for students. Since Robin loves me more than he loves Dave VanBuskirk, it makes it even more special to get to hang out with my brother. I am excited for Robin about the new direction he is heading in ministry, although I will miss hanging with him at Conference.
Youth Group Time was intense. One student expressed fear about heading back home and falling into the "same ole, same ole" pattern. This open expression of what many were feeling led to one of the more intense discussions we've had in Youth Group Time ever! It was fantastic, and it certainly gives us plenty to think about and work on as we head back from the Mountain Top experience that is Summer Conference.
We Blounts will depart from the rest of the traveling party on the way back tomorrow, heading to Sunset Beach, NC, for a week's vacation with Peggy's family. I am looking forward to some time with my stack of books, with the laughter and good times with family that awaits. It will be a time of physical renewal and refreshing to follow this time of spiritual renewal and refreshing at Summer Conference.
Thanks Robin and all the C-I-Y folks from Tennessee 2. You RAWK!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Day Five of the C-I-Y Trip
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Isolation. Sometimes...okay often, it is self-inflicted. Many other times it is not, and the pain of isolation is deep. We were not meant to be alone, and God desires us to be in community with Him and with others. So was the theme of the day at C-I-Y Summer Conference today.
Doug Aldridge's treatment of the relationship between David and Jonathan during Morning Encounter was right on the money. We all need a Jonathan in our lives, but just as importantly, we need to be a Jonathan in the lives of others. I have spent a good part of the day reflecting on my "real relationships." There aren't as many as I would like. Peggy is my best friend and confidant. Jeff Sagstetter is my brother, and we still communicate fairly regularly even though he is in Kansas (where every "good Jew" knows to avoid when traveling from Oklahoma to Nebraska since Kansas is the Samaria of that region of the world...hey...you had to hear Jim's message the other night to get that one, so don't worry about it). I have isolated myself from folks locally for fear of truly being crushed. I have plenty of professional relationships, and I do consider Greg and Anne (our high school youth sponsors) good friends, but I don't have a Jonathan relationship even with them. Something to work on. Yeah.
Our trip to Roan Mountain was a blast. Okay, so we started the trip off by having lunch atTaco John's in Elizabeton. Oh yeah, baby! My lunch was 23.5 points in the Weight Watchers' system. Can you say "Flex Points"? Anyway, having been alerted to a particular sign on one trail at Roan Mountain, I wanted to make sure I got this picture:
Since I was the only one in the party at the time of this picture with a "handy cap" I could take this particular trail.
The beauty of God's creation is so abundant in the mountains, and I always love taking the Florida flatlanders for exscursions such as this when we are at Conference. Breathtaking views and lots of "ooohhhs" and "aaahhhs" were commonplace this afternoon.
Doug Aldridge spoke at Celebration tonight. If I forget anything else from the week, I want to be sure to remember "call the whole world" and the need to be intentional and desperate in reaching others to pull them from their isolation. During Youth Group Time, we discussed several students who could have been here with us this year but aren't. Two have been in the past. Others are new to the group and need to be included in a better way. There are so many others who have been on the fringe, visiting from time-to-time, but not really getting involved. The question of the year for us in the VCC youth group is: "what are WE going to do about that?"
Our prayer circle continues to be my favorite time of the day. We are praying for the person on our right and the person on our left each night, and they have to be different people each night. Our prayer circle is filled with laughter and tears as we love on each other, building community and reinforcing the idea that we were not meant to be alone.
Watch for a special post detailing our "Wise Youth Worker" Anne. As soon as I get the video clip uploaded to You Tube, you will know it!
Isolation. Sometimes...okay often, it is self-inflicted. Many other times it is not, and the pain of isolation is deep. We were not meant to be alone, and God desires us to be in community with Him and with others. So was the theme of the day at C-I-Y Summer Conference today.
Doug Aldridge's treatment of the relationship between David and Jonathan during Morning Encounter was right on the money. We all need a Jonathan in our lives, but just as importantly, we need to be a Jonathan in the lives of others. I have spent a good part of the day reflecting on my "real relationships." There aren't as many as I would like. Peggy is my best friend and confidant. Jeff Sagstetter is my brother, and we still communicate fairly regularly even though he is in Kansas (where every "good Jew" knows to avoid when traveling from Oklahoma to Nebraska since Kansas is the Samaria of that region of the world...hey...you had to hear Jim's message the other night to get that one, so don't worry about it). I have isolated myself from folks locally for fear of truly being crushed. I have plenty of professional relationships, and I do consider Greg and Anne (our high school youth sponsors) good friends, but I don't have a Jonathan relationship even with them. Something to work on. Yeah.
Our trip to Roan Mountain was a blast. Okay, so we started the trip off by having lunch at
Since I was the only one in the party at the time of this picture with a "handy cap" I could take this particular trail.
The beauty of God's creation is so abundant in the mountains, and I always love taking the Florida flatlanders for exscursions such as this when we are at Conference. Breathtaking views and lots of "ooohhhs" and "aaahhhs" were commonplace this afternoon.
Doug Aldridge spoke at Celebration tonight. If I forget anything else from the week, I want to be sure to remember "call the whole world" and the need to be intentional and desperate in reaching others to pull them from their isolation. During Youth Group Time, we discussed several students who could have been here with us this year but aren't. Two have been in the past. Others are new to the group and need to be included in a better way. There are so many others who have been on the fringe, visiting from time-to-time, but not really getting involved. The question of the year for us in the VCC youth group is: "what are WE going to do about that?"
Our prayer circle continues to be my favorite time of the day. We are praying for the person on our right and the person on our left each night, and they have to be different people each night. Our prayer circle is filled with laughter and tears as we love on each other, building community and reinforcing the idea that we were not meant to be alone.
Watch for a special post detailing our "Wise Youth Worker" Anne. As soon as I get the video clip uploaded to You Tube, you will know it!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Day 4 of the C-I-Y Trip
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Injury. The theme for the "heavy day" at Summer Conference. Doug Aldridge got the theme started with his look at David's life and specifically his sin with Bathsheba. We're not just talking about physical injury, but emotional injury and spiritual injury as well. The D-Group lesson provided an excellent opportunity for students to open up about their injuries. One of our students did so in a major way. It was so beautiful to see this student become so vulnerable before the rest of the group. It was so beautiful to watch the rest of the group shower the love of Jesus on this person.
Jim Johnson continued the theme with a powerful message during Celebration. I appreciate Jim's ability to mix humor with a very serious subject. I'll never forget his mad parenting skills (can you say broken femur bone and busted heads?) I so much appreciate the story that he is Number Three on Andrea's list of best kissers...makes me feel not-quite-so-bad that Peggy told her parents I was "gross" when they tried to encourage her to date me way back in the 70's. But Jim nailed it when he reminded us that support groups are a good place to start the healing process for our emotional and spiritual injuries. They are not the finish line. Jesus is. In our Youth Group Time, we reminded our students that sometimes the most loving thing we can say to someone who is injured is that, "you need to repent of your sins." Sometimes, what is needed is a hug and a shoulder to cry on. Always, what is needed is someone to point the inured to Jesus.
Our students loved Robin's story about the farmer and the lamb that he had to injure to teach that lamb to let the farmer take care of him. See, the lamb kept running away, so the farmer had to injure the lamb and keep him in a special pen in his barn while nursing the lamb back to health, and while teaching the lamb to be okay with being dependent on the farmer. How often do we run away from Jesus, especially when we are hurting? I know that during my times of great emotional or spiritual injury, my natural tendency is to distance myself from Jesus. How foolish!
Of course the day wasn't all heavy. Bucket O Fun was a hoot with the tennis match. I love the short clips of "Juans." And Thor Ramsey had us all belly laughing for 45 minutes in the afternoon session. Good times for sure!
As we closed in our group circle prayer, I had everyone pray for the people on their right and their left. that meant you got to pray for someone who had just prayed for you. Once again our prayer circle was filled with emotion. Tears and laughter abounded in those prayers, and I know that God was right there with us, laughing and crying. When the student who had really opened up earlier in the day asked to pray after our prayer circle had ended, we were all in tears. They expressed heartfelt gratitude for having a place to belong, and having a family who accepted them just as they were. We do, but we love this person (and all of them) enough to not leave them like they are right now. We want to help them grow to be more like Jesus.
After our crew headed to their rooms, a fellow youth minister who also happens to be a young man we have seen grow up in youth group at another church came to me with tears in his eyes and a heart burdened for his students. He said that he felt so inadequate, and that he didn't know how to "fix" the kinds of injuries the students in his group had expressed today. I told him welcome to Youth Ministry. We are not called to "fix" those injuries. We are called to love those students in the Name of Jesus and to point them to Him. Many of those problems may never be "fixed," but our students need to know that they were never meant to be alone. Not only is God with them, but we are with them through this journey called life.
Thanks again, Christ In Youth, for a fantastic day at Summer Conference, and for plenty to think and pray about. The tears I have shed for my students today remind me to keep my heart pure and my eyes focused on the love of Jesus and the need to stay in step with His Plan for my life every day!
Injury. The theme for the "heavy day" at Summer Conference. Doug Aldridge got the theme started with his look at David's life and specifically his sin with Bathsheba. We're not just talking about physical injury, but emotional injury and spiritual injury as well. The D-Group lesson provided an excellent opportunity for students to open up about their injuries. One of our students did so in a major way. It was so beautiful to see this student become so vulnerable before the rest of the group. It was so beautiful to watch the rest of the group shower the love of Jesus on this person.
Jim Johnson continued the theme with a powerful message during Celebration. I appreciate Jim's ability to mix humor with a very serious subject. I'll never forget his mad parenting skills (can you say broken femur bone and busted heads?) I so much appreciate the story that he is Number Three on Andrea's list of best kissers...makes me feel not-quite-so-bad that Peggy told her parents I was "gross" when they tried to encourage her to date me way back in the 70's. But Jim nailed it when he reminded us that support groups are a good place to start the healing process for our emotional and spiritual injuries. They are not the finish line. Jesus is. In our Youth Group Time, we reminded our students that sometimes the most loving thing we can say to someone who is injured is that, "you need to repent of your sins." Sometimes, what is needed is a hug and a shoulder to cry on. Always, what is needed is someone to point the inured to Jesus.
Our students loved Robin's story about the farmer and the lamb that he had to injure to teach that lamb to let the farmer take care of him. See, the lamb kept running away, so the farmer had to injure the lamb and keep him in a special pen in his barn while nursing the lamb back to health, and while teaching the lamb to be okay with being dependent on the farmer. How often do we run away from Jesus, especially when we are hurting? I know that during my times of great emotional or spiritual injury, my natural tendency is to distance myself from Jesus. How foolish!
Of course the day wasn't all heavy. Bucket O Fun was a hoot with the tennis match. I love the short clips of "Juans." And Thor Ramsey had us all belly laughing for 45 minutes in the afternoon session. Good times for sure!
As we closed in our group circle prayer, I had everyone pray for the people on their right and their left. that meant you got to pray for someone who had just prayed for you. Once again our prayer circle was filled with emotion. Tears and laughter abounded in those prayers, and I know that God was right there with us, laughing and crying. When the student who had really opened up earlier in the day asked to pray after our prayer circle had ended, we were all in tears. They expressed heartfelt gratitude for having a place to belong, and having a family who accepted them just as they were. We do, but we love this person (and all of them) enough to not leave them like they are right now. We want to help them grow to be more like Jesus.
After our crew headed to their rooms, a fellow youth minister who also happens to be a young man we have seen grow up in youth group at another church came to me with tears in his eyes and a heart burdened for his students. He said that he felt so inadequate, and that he didn't know how to "fix" the kinds of injuries the students in his group had expressed today. I told him welcome to Youth Ministry. We are not called to "fix" those injuries. We are called to love those students in the Name of Jesus and to point them to Him. Many of those problems may never be "fixed," but our students need to know that they were never meant to be alone. Not only is God with them, but we are with them through this journey called life.
Thanks again, Christ In Youth, for a fantastic day at Summer Conference, and for plenty to think and pray about. The tears I have shed for my students today remind me to keep my heart pure and my eyes focused on the love of Jesus and the need to stay in step with His Plan for my life every day!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Role With It
Here are "Clueless Hot Chick," "Ladies Man,", "That Guy," and "Weird Girl" striking a pose at C-I-Y 2007 at Milligan College! For individual pictures of these characters, please visit my FLICKR site.
Day 3 of the C-I-Y Trip
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
"Ladies Man," "That Guy," "Clueless Hot Chick," and "Weird Girl" all made their debut this morning. Pictures will follow. Sorry, I didn't upload them yet.
The theme for the day is Identity, and I pray that our students (and our adults) got the message that our identities are not complete until we know Jesus. In fact, our identities don't truly exist outside of Jesus!
Doug Aldridge led the Morning Encounter Devotion with an excellent look at David's life. Peggy led our D-Group and did her usual excellent job in tackling a tough subject: the masks we put up to be our "identity." We are to bring the masks with us at Celebration tonight. Oh yeah, and "Bucket O' Fun" in the AM Session was a hoot! Good times to start the day, fer sure!
Today we also had the first of two electives times. I am leading an adult elective this year titled, "Youth Ministry From The Inside Out." It is excellent material written by Zus, and preparing to lead this session has had me re-examining once again my priorities as a Christian and as a youth minister to make sure I am lined up with God's priorities!
The Alternative was an absolute scream! Amber got up in an impromptu display of courage and sang a Spanish lullaby. She rocked! However, you must ask anyone who was there about Joe's rendition of "Old MacDonald."
I spent much of our free time researching Roan Mountain for our Thursday excursion, and am looking forward to that trip on Thursday!
Meal time has been a much more pleasant experience than some of us expected. Eating in the Cafatentia is not bad at all, and I am able to easily stay within my daily point boundaries for Weight Watchers.
Celebration was once again phenomenal. Jim Johnson nailed it in so many ways with his sermon on Identity. Ask me sometime about the illustrations dealing with Julie and with Daniel. Sweet stuff fer sure!
Our students are really enjoying the chance to pray for one another in very specific terms this year, and I also got to sneak in on South Haven's prayer time at the end of the day. A FANTASTIC DAY in every sense of the word. Can't wait for tomorrow!
"Ladies Man," "That Guy," "Clueless Hot Chick," and "Weird Girl" all made their debut this morning. Pictures will follow. Sorry, I didn't upload them yet.
The theme for the day is Identity, and I pray that our students (and our adults) got the message that our identities are not complete until we know Jesus. In fact, our identities don't truly exist outside of Jesus!
Doug Aldridge led the Morning Encounter Devotion with an excellent look at David's life. Peggy led our D-Group and did her usual excellent job in tackling a tough subject: the masks we put up to be our "identity." We are to bring the masks with us at Celebration tonight. Oh yeah, and "Bucket O' Fun" in the AM Session was a hoot! Good times to start the day, fer sure!
Today we also had the first of two electives times. I am leading an adult elective this year titled, "Youth Ministry From The Inside Out." It is excellent material written by Zus, and preparing to lead this session has had me re-examining once again my priorities as a Christian and as a youth minister to make sure I am lined up with God's priorities!
The Alternative was an absolute scream! Amber got up in an impromptu display of courage and sang a Spanish lullaby. She rocked! However, you must ask anyone who was there about Joe's rendition of "Old MacDonald."
I spent much of our free time researching Roan Mountain for our Thursday excursion, and am looking forward to that trip on Thursday!
Meal time has been a much more pleasant experience than some of us expected. Eating in the Cafatentia is not bad at all, and I am able to easily stay within my daily point boundaries for Weight Watchers.
Celebration was once again phenomenal. Jim Johnson nailed it in so many ways with his sermon on Identity. Ask me sometime about the illustrations dealing with Julie and with Daniel. Sweet stuff fer sure!
Our students are really enjoying the chance to pray for one another in very specific terms this year, and I also got to sneak in on South Haven's prayer time at the end of the day. A FANTASTIC DAY in every sense of the word. Can't wait for tomorrow!
Day Two of the C-I-Y Trip
Monday, June 18, 2007 Tim's Birthday
Happy 47th birthday to my younger bro, Tim. I called him last night from the motel knowing that I would be on the road and busy getting us started at Conference today.
Our morning meeting with sponsors, breakfast and topping off gas tanks before heading back on I 26 West went as smoothly as possible. Now traveling with 33 total people in five vehicles, we knew we would be in for plenty of "pit stops" along the way, and we made several. My goal was to get us through Ashville, find a spot for lunch and then cruise on in to Milligan. We almost pulled that plan off without incident. However, the passenger side front wheel of the van Amos was driving decided it didn't want to travel all the way to Tennessee, so it jumped off the van. On the Interstate, with lots of students and luggage in it. No one was hurt in any way whatsoever, and because Southside had plenty of room in their van for extra passengers and luggage, they were loaded onto that van, and we found aspot for lunch. While Amos called AAA, we ate lunch and made plans to take the rest of the group on in to Milligan (about 50 miles away at this point), get everyone registered and settled in, and then we could come back for Amos if need be. Amos was agreeable with that plan, so I helped Julia go through registration to get the South Haven crew taken care of at Conference. Amos kept me posted as to the progress with the van getting picked up and taken to an auto repair place. God was so good during this whole process. The van was easily repaired, with no damage other than to the wheel, and Amos was able to join us at Milligan in time for the Adult Sponsors' meeting at 6:00 p.m.!
The theme this week is ONES with a subtheme of "We were never meant to be alone." What a great practical demonstration of that subtheme! Since we were traveling with two other church groups, WHEN something unexpected happened, we had plenty of help from brothers and sisters in Christ. We were not meant to be alone as individuals, but neither were we meant to be alone as congregations. As the body of Christ, we need to realize that each congregation is not a body, but a body part. Southside certainly played the role of helping hands for South Haven today. Thank You Lord for being so good, for keeping everyone safe, and for giving us a practical application for the Conference subtheme before we even got to Conference.
Celebration rocked! The open illusion was powerful as the story of the Creation of Man and the Fall from Grace was read from Genesis. Robin's message was right on target as always, and the bar for the week has been set extremely high. It's gonna be a GREAT WEEK! It has already been off to a GREAT START!
Happy 47th birthday to my younger bro, Tim. I called him last night from the motel knowing that I would be on the road and busy getting us started at Conference today.
Our morning meeting with sponsors, breakfast and topping off gas tanks before heading back on I 26 West went as smoothly as possible. Now traveling with 33 total people in five vehicles, we knew we would be in for plenty of "pit stops" along the way, and we made several. My goal was to get us through Ashville, find a spot for lunch and then cruise on in to Milligan. We almost pulled that plan off without incident. However, the passenger side front wheel of the van Amos was driving decided it didn't want to travel all the way to Tennessee, so it jumped off the van. On the Interstate, with lots of students and luggage in it. No one was hurt in any way whatsoever, and because Southside had plenty of room in their van for extra passengers and luggage, they were loaded onto that van, and we found aspot for lunch. While Amos called AAA, we ate lunch and made plans to take the rest of the group on in to Milligan (about 50 miles away at this point), get everyone registered and settled in, and then we could come back for Amos if need be. Amos was agreeable with that plan, so I helped Julia go through registration to get the South Haven crew taken care of at Conference. Amos kept me posted as to the progress with the van getting picked up and taken to an auto repair place. God was so good during this whole process. The van was easily repaired, with no damage other than to the wheel, and Amos was able to join us at Milligan in time for the Adult Sponsors' meeting at 6:00 p.m.!
The theme this week is ONES with a subtheme of "We were never meant to be alone." What a great practical demonstration of that subtheme! Since we were traveling with two other church groups, WHEN something unexpected happened, we had plenty of help from brothers and sisters in Christ. We were not meant to be alone as individuals, but neither were we meant to be alone as congregations. As the body of Christ, we need to realize that each congregation is not a body, but a body part. Southside certainly played the role of helping hands for South Haven today. Thank You Lord for being so good, for keeping everyone safe, and for giving us a practical application for the Conference subtheme before we even got to Conference.
Celebration rocked! The open illusion was powerful as the story of the Creation of Man and the Fall from Grace was read from Genesis. Robin's message was right on target as always, and the bar for the week has been set extremely high. It's gonna be a GREAT WEEK! It has already been off to a GREAT START!
Playing Catch-Up
Sunday, June 17, 2007...Day One of the C-I-Y trip.
Having gathered up the church van and getting the ever-sinking feeling that we won't need the luggage carrier attachment that Kevin Aldhizer spent a good part of this past week getting, putting on the van, and having way too many problems in doing so (he just got it taken care of in final form yesterday morning at 8:30 after miles of driving and many different automotive locations in trying to get this done), Peggy and I gassed up the vehicles and loaded our minivan for the trip.
This morning everyone was to meet at the Sunday morning worship facility (for those who don't know, we are in temporary quarters these days, meeting at the Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home) to load up the church van and help with setup, since we were leaving immediately after the worship service. Plans were to meet up with Southside Christian somewhere on the road, and with South Haven Christian at the first exit in Georgia where we would top off the gas tanks for cheap, and fill up our bellies at the "everything under the sun" truck stop known as Cisco.
Most everyone made it on time, but I had failed to communicate the whole 8 am need with Samantha, oops! Boy was she surprised when I called her at about 8:20. Fortunately, she had her C-I-Y bag packed and ran it to me so I could load the church van. Church services went well on this Father's Day, and we were actually in the vans by 11:45 a.m. and heading for Buger King...our Vero lunch stop before hitting I-95 for the long drive ahead of us.
Oh, while at Burger King, Alison's Mom joined us. Alison had forgotten a pillow. Of course Jordy had forgotten towels, and Turtle had forgotten sheets, but both had already had those needs taken care of before church started. Confident that we had all the necessary gear, we hit the highway at about 12:30, get timing as far as I was concerned.
I heard from Ron at Southside and they were only a few minutes behind us on the Interstate, so we figured we would see them very shortly and would caravan to the meeting place in Georgia. It was not to be so. They made a stop at a Krystal's and we didn't know it until about an hour later. I was getting worried when they never appeared in my rear view mirror, but a quick call to Ron let me know that they were now 40 minutes behind us on the Interstate! Meanwhile, a call to Amos gave me the news that South Haven had gotten trigger-happy and left about an hour earlier than they needed to. Ha! They got to wait at the truck stop for a LOONNNNNNNNNGGGGG time.
To make this long story shorter, we did finally all hook up in Georgia, drove to Brunswick where the group will stay on the trip back next week, took care of the motel business there, and ate Father's Day Supper at Sonnys. hey, I got free desert, which is not much of a temptation for someone on Weight Watcher's these days, but I had a few bites of a not-the-greatest pecan pie I had ever tasted.
We completed our last leg of the journey on this day by driving to Columbia virtually without incident (unless you count the whole Dave VanBuskirk from Fort Caroline Christian pulling along side of us on the Interstate, and hanging there with us until we figured out it was him...what a hoot!), arriving at our motel (Qualtiy Inn) in Columbia South Carolina at 10:20 p.m. Right on the time frame I had figured for the day. An UNEVENTFUL day of traveling, just the way I like it on a youth group road trip. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Having gathered up the church van and getting the ever-sinking feeling that we won't need the luggage carrier attachment that Kevin Aldhizer spent a good part of this past week getting, putting on the van, and having way too many problems in doing so (he just got it taken care of in final form yesterday morning at 8:30 after miles of driving and many different automotive locations in trying to get this done), Peggy and I gassed up the vehicles and loaded our minivan for the trip.
This morning everyone was to meet at the Sunday morning worship facility (for those who don't know, we are in temporary quarters these days, meeting at the Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home) to load up the church van and help with setup, since we were leaving immediately after the worship service. Plans were to meet up with Southside Christian somewhere on the road, and with South Haven Christian at the first exit in Georgia where we would top off the gas tanks for cheap, and fill up our bellies at the "everything under the sun" truck stop known as Cisco.
Most everyone made it on time, but I had failed to communicate the whole 8 am need with Samantha, oops! Boy was she surprised when I called her at about 8:20. Fortunately, she had her C-I-Y bag packed and ran it to me so I could load the church van. Church services went well on this Father's Day, and we were actually in the vans by 11:45 a.m. and heading for Buger King...our Vero lunch stop before hitting I-95 for the long drive ahead of us.
Oh, while at Burger King, Alison's Mom joined us. Alison had forgotten a pillow. Of course Jordy had forgotten towels, and Turtle had forgotten sheets, but both had already had those needs taken care of before church started. Confident that we had all the necessary gear, we hit the highway at about 12:30, get timing as far as I was concerned.
I heard from Ron at Southside and they were only a few minutes behind us on the Interstate, so we figured we would see them very shortly and would caravan to the meeting place in Georgia. It was not to be so. They made a stop at a Krystal's and we didn't know it until about an hour later. I was getting worried when they never appeared in my rear view mirror, but a quick call to Ron let me know that they were now 40 minutes behind us on the Interstate! Meanwhile, a call to Amos gave me the news that South Haven had gotten trigger-happy and left about an hour earlier than they needed to. Ha! They got to wait at the truck stop for a LOONNNNNNNNNGGGGG time.
To make this long story shorter, we did finally all hook up in Georgia, drove to Brunswick where the group will stay on the trip back next week, took care of the motel business there, and ate Father's Day Supper at Sonnys. hey, I got free desert, which is not much of a temptation for someone on Weight Watcher's these days, but I had a few bites of a not-the-greatest pecan pie I had ever tasted.
We completed our last leg of the journey on this day by driving to Columbia virtually without incident (unless you count the whole Dave VanBuskirk from Fort Caroline Christian pulling along side of us on the Interstate, and hanging there with us until we figured out it was him...what a hoot!), arriving at our motel (Qualtiy Inn) in Columbia South Carolina at 10:20 p.m. Right on the time frame I had figured for the day. An UNEVENTFUL day of traveling, just the way I like it on a youth group road trip. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
He Made It!
On Saturday, June 2, 2007. Ian Scott Johnson Blount graduated from Vero Beach High School. It was an evening of pride, relief, and extreme happiness for us all. Ian, along with fellow chorus mates Kevin Wellmaker and Jonathan Woodward sang the National Anthem during the ceremonies. They sounded fantastic, and we couldn't have been more proud for Ian than we were at that moment. Or so we thought.
Ian has expressed a desire to go into full time Christian service as a Youth Minister. That is a thought that humbles me to my core, and a thought that causes praise to our Lord Jesus to course through every fiber of my being.
To the 600 or so members of the VBHS Class of 2007, I send out my heartiest congratulations. To Ian, I send my deepest love. You are a son that any parent would die for. You are a son that every parent dreams of. May God continue to watch over your every step, and direct your path always. I love you with all my heart, Ian!
Ian has expressed a desire to go into full time Christian service as a Youth Minister. That is a thought that humbles me to my core, and a thought that causes praise to our Lord Jesus to course through every fiber of my being.
To the 600 or so members of the VBHS Class of 2007, I send out my heartiest congratulations. To Ian, I send my deepest love. You are a son that any parent would die for. You are a son that every parent dreams of. May God continue to watch over your every step, and direct your path always. I love you with all my heart, Ian!
Saturday, May 05, 2007
College Graduates
Okay, it's time to brag on our kids. As you already know, Ian was student of the month at VBHS in Feburary. Well, on Friday, May 4, 2007, Elliott and Abi officially graduated from Florida Christian College. They both completed their coursework back in December, but they "walked" on May 4th. A record-breaking 62 graduates had either an Associate's or a Bachelor's degree conferred upon them at the 28th Annual FCC Commecement Excercises that evening.
Elliott and Abi both graduated Cum Laude (GPA of 3.5 or higher). But that was not the highest honor bestowed upon them both that evening. Let me quote from the Commencement Program:
Zeta Upsilon
The Zeta Upsilon Honor Society was created by the founding Faculty of FCC to honor graduating seniors who have demonstrated the qualities of scholarship, character, service, and leadership during their years in the College. Only seniors with grade point averages of 3.0 (B) or greater for the course of study are eligible. Candidates must be nominated to membership by two Faculty members. No more than three dissenting votes in a secret ballot election by all the full time faculty members is permitted. This is the highest honor that the Faculty can bestow.
Out of the five Zeta Upsilon awards given to members of the Class of 2007, Elliott and Abi each received one! Needless to say Peggy's and my hearts swelled with pride as did Dave and Jan Pardue's.
God has blessed us with children who love Jesus, and who are willing to use the talents and abilities they have been given to bring glory and honor to God. Elliott is now the full time minister of Worship Arts at Frist Christian Church in Clearwater, and Abi plans to pursue Master's level work this Fall in the Tampa/St. Pete area. Ian plans to pursue a degree in youth ministry from Florida Christian College (after a year at Indian River Community College), and Emily continues expressing a desire to work in the education field, perhaps even looking into becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist like her Mom! Yeah, I am proud!
Elliott and Abi both graduated Cum Laude (GPA of 3.5 or higher). But that was not the highest honor bestowed upon them both that evening. Let me quote from the Commencement Program:
Zeta Upsilon
The Zeta Upsilon Honor Society was created by the founding Faculty of FCC to honor graduating seniors who have demonstrated the qualities of scholarship, character, service, and leadership during their years in the College. Only seniors with grade point averages of 3.0 (B) or greater for the course of study are eligible. Candidates must be nominated to membership by two Faculty members. No more than three dissenting votes in a secret ballot election by all the full time faculty members is permitted. This is the highest honor that the Faculty can bestow.
Out of the five Zeta Upsilon awards given to members of the Class of 2007, Elliott and Abi each received one! Needless to say Peggy's and my hearts swelled with pride as did Dave and Jan Pardue's.
God has blessed us with children who love Jesus, and who are willing to use the talents and abilities they have been given to bring glory and honor to God. Elliott is now the full time minister of Worship Arts at Frist Christian Church in Clearwater, and Abi plans to pursue Master's level work this Fall in the Tampa/St. Pete area. Ian plans to pursue a degree in youth ministry from Florida Christian College (after a year at Indian River Community College), and Emily continues expressing a desire to work in the education field, perhaps even looking into becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist like her Mom! Yeah, I am proud!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Happy Couple
I just got back from a quick trip to Iowa for my Aunt Dianne's funeral. What a mixture of melancholy and merriment. Aunt Dianne was married to my Mom's Brother. Uncle Alan passed away in 1992. He always referred to Aunt Dianne as his "Bride." That is a tradition I continue to this day when referring to Peggy. To say that those two influenced me would be an understatement. To say that I had stayed as close to Aunt Dianne and the Iowa branch of the family as I should have over the years would be a lie.
Aunt Dianne had back problems, and over the past six months had two surgeries. While the surgeries went okay, other complications set in and let's just say that the family had an extremely tough past six months. Following her second surgery about two months ago, Aunt Dianne never regained consciousness, her kidneys failed and were revived only to overshadowed by numerous other complications.
When the time came to make the decision to take her off the respirator and put her on Comfort Care, the family was physically and mentally exhausted. She lasted less than 24 hours after being taken off the respirator. A blessing for everyone involved, to be sure!
Aunt Dianne had a soft spot for special needs kids. She and my Uncle Alan were foster parents, and they adopted several children who started off as foster children. She leaves behind a gaggle of children...seriously...seven to be exact. Ranging in age from 11 to 40!
My cousin Ray (Aunt Phyl's youngest son...he's 40, too) and I were there to represent the Johnson side of the family as Aunt Phyl was unable to make the trip. She is invading Iowa in a couple of weeks as the "mop up" crew. Ray and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit with each other and with Rod, Jeff, Robyn and all the Iowa cousins, some of whom we had never met before!
But, I must say that the highlight of my couple of days was the making of a new girlfriend in Robyn's youngest child, Regan. Guess she could tell that I am about four years old mentally, so we bonded immediately. Not that she didn't spend a lot of time on Ray's lap as well, but I won out while I was there because I live in Florida, have a pool, could take her to the ocean and to Disney World. Ray didn't stand a chance, poor fellow.
Anyway, we have exchanged email addresses, cell phone numbers and snail mail addresses with the promise to do a better job of staying in touch. It was good to sit on Robyn and Tim's patio Monday after the funeral and just reminisce about Uncle Alan, Aunt Dianne, and the good times we had growing up. Those visits to Granny & Grandpa's in Kentucky were special indeed. The laughter we shared on that patio Monday reminds me that I need to stop being so "busy" and slow down long enough to enjoy family and loved ones in Christ.
Thank you Uncle Alan and Aunt Dianne for the influence you still are in my life. Thank you Aunt Phyllis for the glue you continue to be to hold the family together. Thank you Regan for loving on an old guy like me, when you obviously will be able to have anyone you want for your "boyfriend."
Aunt Dianne had back problems, and over the past six months had two surgeries. While the surgeries went okay, other complications set in and let's just say that the family had an extremely tough past six months. Following her second surgery about two months ago, Aunt Dianne never regained consciousness, her kidneys failed and were revived only to overshadowed by numerous other complications.
When the time came to make the decision to take her off the respirator and put her on Comfort Care, the family was physically and mentally exhausted. She lasted less than 24 hours after being taken off the respirator. A blessing for everyone involved, to be sure!
Aunt Dianne had a soft spot for special needs kids. She and my Uncle Alan were foster parents, and they adopted several children who started off as foster children. She leaves behind a gaggle of children...seriously...seven to be exact. Ranging in age from 11 to 40!
My cousin Ray (Aunt Phyl's youngest son...he's 40, too) and I were there to represent the Johnson side of the family as Aunt Phyl was unable to make the trip. She is invading Iowa in a couple of weeks as the "mop up" crew. Ray and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit with each other and with Rod, Jeff, Robyn and all the Iowa cousins, some of whom we had never met before!
But, I must say that the highlight of my couple of days was the making of a new girlfriend in Robyn's youngest child, Regan. Guess she could tell that I am about four years old mentally, so we bonded immediately. Not that she didn't spend a lot of time on Ray's lap as well, but I won out while I was there because I live in Florida, have a pool, could take her to the ocean and to Disney World. Ray didn't stand a chance, poor fellow.
Anyway, we have exchanged email addresses, cell phone numbers and snail mail addresses with the promise to do a better job of staying in touch. It was good to sit on Robyn and Tim's patio Monday after the funeral and just reminisce about Uncle Alan, Aunt Dianne, and the good times we had growing up. Those visits to Granny & Grandpa's in Kentucky were special indeed. The laughter we shared on that patio Monday reminds me that I need to stop being so "busy" and slow down long enough to enjoy family and loved ones in Christ.
Thank you Uncle Alan and Aunt Dianne for the influence you still are in my life. Thank you Aunt Phyllis for the glue you continue to be to hold the family together. Thank you Regan for loving on an old guy like me, when you obviously will be able to have anyone you want for your "boyfriend."
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Student Of The Month!
Ian has been named the Vero Beach High School Student of the Month for February, 2007. His Mom and I couldn't be more proud. Ian lets the light of Jesus shine in his life every single day. He is humble in his servant attitude. In fact, he is not the one who told us that he had been selected for this honor. It was a couple of friends who happened to be at the house a couple of days ago (to check out our new Wii), who broke the news.
We praise God for all of our children and for their accomplishments in the Lord Jesus. Today, however, we want to give God the glory as we relish the honor Ian has garnered as student of the month.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
The Year Flew By!
One year ago today, my best bud from my growing up days passed from this life to the next. I didn't find out until March 2, 2006, that Mike Wilson has lost his battle with lymphoma, and I blogged on that experience ( David Michael Wilson). I woke up thinking about Mike Wilson and our youth in Danville, KY. Here's a picture of my childhood home on Seminole Trail:
In the year since I made my way back to Danville to perform the funeral service for the guy who was my best bud growing up, and best man in my wedding, much has happened:
1. I am a year older (and hopefully wiser).
2. My Bride is more precious to me now than ever.
3. My kids continue to be a source of great joy and healthy pride.
4. Peggy, Ian, Emily and I traveled out of the country on a vacation cruise.
5. We spent a week with cousins in Alabama and this was another reminder that I haven't done the best job in "keeping up" with important people from my childhood.
6. I have maintained a closer phone relationship with Dale Wheeler from Danville, meaning for the first time in 30 years, I have regular contact with someone from my childhood home town.
7. Vero Christian Church sold the building, now meets in temporary facilities and we called a full-time preaching minister (all very exciting moves in my book)!
8. Peggy and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary.
9. Ian and Emily both got part time jobs.
10. Ian entered his senior year of high school.
11. Elliott and Abi got married.
Whew! I get tired just thinking about the whirlwind that has been the past 12 months. On this day when I am more in tune with events from my past, I just want to praise God for the friendships with Mike, his Dad, Dale and others from Danville. I want to praise God for the deep abiding love I have with my Bride, Peggy. I praise God for our children and for their love for Jesus. I praise God for allowing me to minister in Vero Beach, Florida.
Thank You Lord Jesus, for Your rich, abundant love. Forgive me for taking relationships for granted. Help me to be better in sharing Your love with people from my past and people with whom I have daily contact now.
In the year since I made my way back to Danville to perform the funeral service for the guy who was my best bud growing up, and best man in my wedding, much has happened:
1. I am a year older (and hopefully wiser).
2. My Bride is more precious to me now than ever.
3. My kids continue to be a source of great joy and healthy pride.
4. Peggy, Ian, Emily and I traveled out of the country on a vacation cruise.
5. We spent a week with cousins in Alabama and this was another reminder that I haven't done the best job in "keeping up" with important people from my childhood.
6. I have maintained a closer phone relationship with Dale Wheeler from Danville, meaning for the first time in 30 years, I have regular contact with someone from my childhood home town.
7. Vero Christian Church sold the building, now meets in temporary facilities and we called a full-time preaching minister (all very exciting moves in my book)!
8. Peggy and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary.
9. Ian and Emily both got part time jobs.
10. Ian entered his senior year of high school.
11. Elliott and Abi got married.
Whew! I get tired just thinking about the whirlwind that has been the past 12 months. On this day when I am more in tune with events from my past, I just want to praise God for the friendships with Mike, his Dad, Dale and others from Danville. I want to praise God for the deep abiding love I have with my Bride, Peggy. I praise God for our children and for their love for Jesus. I praise God for allowing me to minister in Vero Beach, Florida.
Thank You Lord Jesus, for Your rich, abundant love. Forgive me for taking relationships for granted. Help me to be better in sharing Your love with people from my past and people with whom I have daily contact now.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
What On Earth Am I Here For?
Now, isn't that just the question of the age? We all want to believe that there is a purpose for our lives. Unfortunately, many in our society have been duped into thinking that they evolved from apes and that there is nothing for them after existence on this planet. We have folks like James Cameron pursuing and exploiting hoaxses trying to call into question the very nature of Jesus, and people fall for such pap on a regular basis. Ignorance is NOT bliss, it can kill.
A simple survey of the surroundings shows that there must be an Intelligent Creator behind the universe. To think that somehow, this all came about by random accident defies logic (not to mention the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics). So, putting any assumption of a Creator aside, and taking the existence of the Creator to be fact then and only then can we start to address the question posed at the beginning of this discourse.
Since there IS a God, there must be a purpose for my life. My purpose is to bring glory and honor to Him through His One and Only Son, Jesus. Now, that purpose keeps me plenty busy! When I am "on task" I don't have time for the pity parties that seem to engulf me on a far too regular basis. When I am "on task" others around me are being blessed. When I am "on task" my life runs so much more smoothly!
Over the next 40 Days (okay, now 37) I am participating in the "40 Days Of Purpose" Campaign with Vero Christian Church. Over the next six weeks, we will examine the five purposes of the church and of us as individuals: Worship - You Were Planned For God's Pleasure, Fellowship - You Were Formed For God's Family, Discipleship - You Were Created To Become Like Christ, Ministry - Your Were Shaped For Serving God, and Evangelism - You Were Made For A Mission.
I am leading groups for children, youth and adults in our campaign, and we have a dozen groups studying this material. It is my desire to see the congregation known as Vero Christian Church grow closer to God and closer to one another.
A simple survey of the surroundings shows that there must be an Intelligent Creator behind the universe. To think that somehow, this all came about by random accident defies logic (not to mention the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics). So, putting any assumption of a Creator aside, and taking the existence of the Creator to be fact then and only then can we start to address the question posed at the beginning of this discourse.
Since there IS a God, there must be a purpose for my life. My purpose is to bring glory and honor to Him through His One and Only Son, Jesus. Now, that purpose keeps me plenty busy! When I am "on task" I don't have time for the pity parties that seem to engulf me on a far too regular basis. When I am "on task" others around me are being blessed. When I am "on task" my life runs so much more smoothly!
Over the next 40 Days (okay, now 37) I am participating in the "40 Days Of Purpose" Campaign with Vero Christian Church. Over the next six weeks, we will examine the five purposes of the church and of us as individuals: Worship - You Were Planned For God's Pleasure, Fellowship - You Were Formed For God's Family, Discipleship - You Were Created To Become Like Christ, Ministry - Your Were Shaped For Serving God, and Evangelism - You Were Made For A Mission.
I am leading groups for children, youth and adults in our campaign, and we have a dozen groups studying this material. It is my desire to see the congregation known as Vero Christian Church grow closer to God and closer to one another.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
40 Days of Purpose
Our congregation begins the 40 Days of Purpose campaign on Sunday, Feb. 25th. We have 12 small groups ready to do the weekly Bible study. Steve Jones is preparing the messages for Sunday morning. We are advertising like never before in the local newspaper. In the past two weeks, we have had nine people call the church office and sign up for one of the small groups Bible studies. We have started the campaign yet, and it is already one of the more successful outreach events we have done in the six years I have been here.
In a survey I did with several larger and growing Christian Churches in the state of Florida about three years ago, each of those responding credited 40 Days of Purpose as a defining moment in their growth. I don't believe that this campaign will be a "magic pill" but I do believe that getting our people excited about studying God's Word together, and getting our people excited about asking their non-churched friends to join them in the study will have a profound impact on Vero Christian Church. Join me in prayer about this matter, won't you?
In a survey I did with several larger and growing Christian Churches in the state of Florida about three years ago, each of those responding credited 40 Days of Purpose as a defining moment in their growth. I don't believe that this campaign will be a "magic pill" but I do believe that getting our people excited about studying God's Word together, and getting our people excited about asking their non-churched friends to join them in the study will have a profound impact on Vero Christian Church. Join me in prayer about this matter, won't you?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Super Comments
I am not a big Colts fan (at least not since they left Baltimore in the middle of the night and moved to Indy), but I am a huge fan of Jesus. I am therefore a fan of those who will publicly proclaim their faith. Check out these two video clips featuring Colts Coach Tony Dungy:
A post-gameinterview after the AFC championship game victory.
An Athletes In Action breakfast prior to the Super Bowl.
Thank you Tony for publicly standing up for Jesus!
A post-gameinterview after the AFC championship game victory.
An Athletes In Action breakfast prior to the Super Bowl.
Thank you Tony for publicly standing up for Jesus!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
All That I Need
In my personal daily devotions the other evening, I read Psalm 23 (among other passages from the one year Bible...check it out online.)in the New Living Translation. It reads: The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything that I need. As I ponder that thought, it has hit me, that I spend way too much time concerned about my needs, and not nearly enough time thanking God for meeting those needs. Like many people who live in Florida these days, we are having to find a new homeowners insurance company. We got non-renewed by Lloyds of London, I guess because of our hurricane damage claims from 2004. We were paying about $1,200 a year for insurance three years ago. It went upto $3,900 for 2005 and 2006 with a wind damage deductible jumping from $5,000 to $7,500. Today, the best deal we can find has an annual premium of $4,400, and a wind deducible of $12,000! I have sweated bullets over this, but after shopping around, this was the best deal wecould find. So, if another hurricane does hit us and we sustain the kind of damage we did after Francis and Jeanne in 2004, well, I know that God will provide. I just have to have faith. I still believe that God wants us here in Vero Beach. Our work here is not even close to being done, so, I have to believe that God will provide our needs. Of course, I am praying that we have no morehurricanes hit us. But, even if we do, and even if our damage is $12,000 (or $11,999), God will provide for our needs.
I don't write this to try to come off as some spiritual giant. I have struggled to getto this point. I simply write this to publicly proclaim that God is able to do more than I ask for or even imagine, and I trust that God will provide for all my needs, just as He has done all of my life.
I don't write this to try to come off as some spiritual giant. I have struggled to getto this point. I simply write this to publicly proclaim that God is able to do more than I ask for or even imagine, and I trust that God will provide for all my needs, just as He has done all of my life.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Cats Blow Out the Vols!
Well, hopefully our Cats have come out of their two game slump. They certainly did it in style on Sunday, January 28th, defeating our arch rivals, the Tennessee Volunteers 76-57. Now, I realize that the Vols didn’t have Chris Lofton, and that we still have to go to that pagan land of Knoxville later, but let us celebrate our blow out victory today, okay? This win tops off a great weekend here at the Fabulous Blount Mansion as Elliott & Abi were in for an early birthday celebration for Dude, and Nanny & Papaw made it in for a nice visit, too. There are new pictures up on our flickr site, so check them out. Things are going fairly well with my voice, and I go to the E-N-T again on Friday to get the scoop there. Hopefully, I will be back on the radio next weekend, and back to more “normal” activities vocally before much longer. Thanks for the continued prayers, and no, I haven’t exploded because I had to be quiet during ballgames, etc. over the past month. Ha!
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