Quick update

this are going really well up here and we're just trying to settle into a new life...

two post are coming as soon as i can get to them
1. pics of the new place and some Indy stuff
2. Ode to E1

Cleaning out the inbox...

I was cleaning out the 600 emails that I have left in my inbox this morning and I found a few pics that made me laugh...

my boys nick and evan on a dare when and took some pics with random girls @ Falls Park in g-ville... these pics one them some ice cream sandwhiches... I love you guys.

This vid was taken at camp this year when on a dare Whitney Hayes ate a huge LIVE bug...

This was vid is from "The Great Handcuff Fiasco of 2007"
This is when I got them cut off in the Easley Sonic parking lot

I hope this brings laughter to your day...

I'm working on an Ode to E1 for next week

today is an emotional day... my mind is whirling

people have been asking me how i feel about whats been going on the last few weeks and I have to say :bittersweet

BITTER
This is home... always has been (im actually typing through tears)
My mom is here.... and most of you know how awesome she is...
All my family (that i like) is close by
TABLE ROCK... and the SCWY... huge part of who i am
Joes.... downtown easley.... yummy
david, tj, jason, brian, and a cast of hundreds of people that i love seeing all the time.
plus a million other things


SWEET
God has made this clear that its what He wants us to do... and to be in the center... its good
I love indy...
To live in a new area excites me ... new possiblities new people.... yay!
To be working for someone who vision i can get behind and sink my teeth into and with someone that will encourage me to stretch and will allow me to use my gifts.... fun fun
to attend a church of my choosing... I LOVE E1!!! but its always nice to change things up a bit
D and I having our own place!!!!!!
and plus anywhere I can be with D is sweet!!!
I think the thing that excites me the most is this ministry is wide open.... so many options, so many choices.... im getting all jacked up

I know that this is a spastic post full of typos and misspellings but its where my heart is... its sputtering with anticipation of leaving behind things that WILL create a void and the anticipation of filling it back up again.... not replacing anything or anybody just making more room...

love you all!!!

"In God We Trust"

So our lives have been a whirlwind the last two weeks... God has done some major things in our lives and sent us on a incedible journey that in three weeks will lead is here...

Deb and i are moving to Noblesville, Indiana (about 15 miles north of Indianapolis). The Lord has seen fit for me to have a position at Wesleyan World Headquarters in Fishers. Oh yeah, read it again I can hardly believe it myself. When I was in Orlando two weeks ago for convention steering meetings and FUEL Scott Simmons (see below) approached me about the position (Assistant to the Director of Youth Ministries) I was floored and humbled. I talked to D about it and all of sudden God flung open all the doors and next thing I know I'm in a rented Ford Tarus heading north to go meet with Scott and find an apartment.

And there it is... two bed room two bath with screened in porch and they will let us paint and HAVE A DOG!!!! (thats another post altogether.)

This is D with our check for the security deposit.... why is this moment so important? Because up until this point the only thing we had committed is time and prayer, writing that check was the point of no return, at that point we were all in. And we are very excited!!! (isn't my wife beautiful!!!)

Scott Simmons, Director of Youth Ministries for The Wesleyan Church

So thats my boss, a man known by many names... none of which i will mention here (you don't bite the hand that feeds you) but he is a leader of vision and leader that I am excited to get behind and support with what little gifts and talents I have to offer. I can truly say that my goal for however long God leaves me @ HQ is to fade into the background and make Scott and his ministry as successful as I can and that excites me. I believe in this guy... I have since I met him and count it a blessing to be involved in what God is doing in the youth of the Wesleyan Church... thanks Scott.

Anyways, I know thats a lot of info in a short blog and that may leave a lot of questions with some of you so just ask and I'll do what I can.... I'm sure that I'll be blogging about this a lot over the next few weeks since it will consume my life (i hate packing) for the next few weeks. Here's a question for ya... what kind of dog should D and I get?

I love you all!

Greetings from ORL

So I'm in Orlando this week for convention meetings and youth pastors conference. We are staying in the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel and Resort.

Yeah, that one...

This is the view from the VIP Suite...

Yes, I said VIP Suite... mad props to your Director of Youth ministry, Scott Simmons for letting us use his pass while he's in meetings...

This is Heath and I's room... lots of pillows and flat panel TV

Oh yeah, this a 3 panel fridge FULL of ice cream... wish you were here D

And yes, Jesus served us dinner... He was a servant!!!

All in all, being here makes me so excited about this convention, God is going to move BIG time!!!!

frustrated...

First of all, I was driving to work this morning and passed this...

What does this mean? I literally drove passed it read it and laughed as I usually do but then I got to thinking about it and got frustrated. I'm going to do my best and be optimistic about the reasoning behind this message but the way it reads sounds very "exclusive" to me. What about they people who "don't do" church? Aren't they the people who need church? Church and church people make no sense to me. I hate church signs, I feel like in most cases they confuse people about Jesus, or give people a reason to make fun of the church (I find myself doing the latter most of the time). But if I had one and had to put a message on it about our church, I would want it to say, "The church for people who are tired of church." or "The church for people who want to know who Jesus really is." But screw that (pardon me), I want to people of my church to be it's advertisement. I want they way that we live our lives to be a testament to the church I attend and even more that that the God that I serve. You know I think we are so quick to blame Satan, people's hard hearts, or unwillingness to give up a life of sin as reasons people "don't do" church, but I honestly believe that church people that are more willing to put a cheesy (ie. "Someone call 911 because this church is on fire for God." or "Walmart isn't the only saving place in town.") quotes on a sign than actually following Christ's example and getting out there and pouring into people and loving them with everything they have. I am interested in getting feedback on this issue.

And secondly, I was looking for some stuff on my old laptop and found this picture...

So I went to the doctor yesterday and he told I should lose a few... I used to be skinny, what happened? Ugh, this is depressing, I'm either going to be motivated to do something about it or I'm going to eat myself into a coma because I'm such an emotional eater... and as I read that last statement I realize that I am also a female for having said that.

Dare You To Move... 2nd Movement

2nd Movement, Relationships

Tension:

In a world of impersonality could it be possible that the methods that God uses to take us to the next level be through personal interaction?

Self-examination:

Do you have people in your life you can turn to?

• The desire to be in relationship is built within all of us.
• Who is in you sphere of influence?

What God has to say:

What if relationships were designed to point us to Christ instead of lead us astray?

Peter's Denial and Restoration

17"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." 18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
John 18: 17-18

25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked , “ You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” 27 Again Peter denied and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
John 18: 25-27

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" “Yes, Lord," he said, "You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
John 21: 15-17

• Peter damaged his relationship with Christ by denying Him in His greatest hour of need.
• Have you damaged a relationship.
• Have you been damaged?
• Christ restored Peter completely for each offense
• As a result of that restoration and the continued relationship Peter changed the world, Peter moved.

Self-application

1. Spend time with people who point you toward Christ.

• Your (youth)pastor
• Other Godly mentors

2. Reevaluate relationship that may lead you away from Christ

• Its much easier to be lead away than to pull someone towards
• Example: If you are standing in a chair its much easier for someone to pull you out of that chair than for you to pull them up.

Challenge:

1. What would your life look like if you built Christ centered relationships?
2. Could you take it to the next level if you built relationship that pointed you to Christ instead of away?