I have been traveling and teaching/speaking/preaching (whatever you want to call it) for about 4-5 years now.  Sunday night I was the first time I have ever taught at the church I call home.  I must tell you, God was very good.  It is amazing how much joy God gives  you when you are doing what He has called you to do.  It was a great time.  God used it not only to shape others, but to shape me as well.  I will admit that sometimes traveling can feel like a job, so it is great when a night comes like this past Sunday.  Showing up where you call home, and getting to teach God’s heart-changing, life-altering, mind-shaping, and eternal Word.

I have an itchin’ to go fishin’!  I need to get on the water soon.  So far, I have only pulled three bass this year in two days on Lake Murray.  Matthew needs some fish in the boat.  I must be honest- some people say that fishing is good even when you are not catching anything.  I think those people must not catch many fish.  Personally… I feel horrible when I leave a lake, stream, or river when I have not done very well.  I like to catch them pretty little fishies.

Get out this weekend and enjoy God’s Glory in His Creation.  Some of us will be stuck in a wedding in NC.  Fish for us.

Have been in the midst of some fairly major planning lately.  There are lots of things coming up that I have to be prepared for, and it would be easy to let it all overwhelm me, but to be honest I have to praise God for all the great opportunities to do what He created me to do.  With camps coming up, more D-Nows, Teaching at MY OWN CHURCH!!! YIPPEEE!!  There is just lots to do.  I can honestly say though… I could not be happier.  When you find yourself in the middle of doing what God designed you for, there is amazing joy.  I am not saying that it will always be easy, and that it cannot overwhelm a person, but it is still amazing.  For me, it is one of the greatest things God uses to confirm His will in my life- if I can still feel abundant joy in the midst of mayhem and a little chaos.

While in Barnwell, SC this weekend, I visited an old friend who is most likely in his final earthly days due to lymphoma.  I had not seen him in 8-9 months and it was staggering to see the tole the disease had taken on his body.  I say body only, because his spirit was completely healthy.  While sitting with a man who, barring a miracle, is in his last days, I saw not just a glimmer of joy, but blinding joy.  Of course, there was sadness there, but the overall impression was peace and joy.  See, my friend knows God well.  He was a servant unlike any I have ever seen.  He also knows that his suffering can and will be used to the Glory of God.  This fact is satisfying for him.

How amazing is that?  To be dying a painful death with satisfaction!  I have yet to see fully the lessons God is teaching ME through this.

I head out tomorrow for a weekend with some high school guys. It is in a small town with lots and lots of pollen. On the good side though; we are discussing how to tell “your story.” In other words, we are putting down on paper how God has changed our lives. I had to do this for an evangelism class when I was 24 or so. It was honestly the first time I had written “my story” out.

It is an amazing experience to sit down and create a timeline of how God has changed our lives. It gives us perspective of exactly where we have come from. It seems sometimes that maybe we have not come that far, but once it is on paper, it really comes through exactly how far God has brought us. Even more amazing is that He is going to take us even farther!

What is your story?

Today I looked again at Jesus’ Prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane.  It is where I am starting this week of study leading up to Easter and such.

I gotta say that I think this passage deserves a week or more of study.  I am not sure we can truly unpack it all in a day.  First, I look at the setting.  Beneath Mt. Olives in a placed basically called “Olive Press.”  Just studying what took place there traditionally, and then seeing what Christ is going through there is enough to try to absorb in one day.  Imagining Christ being emptied or pressed/crushed because of my sin . . . wow!  Am I really worth that?  Are you?  Are we really worth the crushing and emptying of one so pure and blameless?  I can honestly say that there is nothing  that I have ever done that would make me worthy- nothing; Not a thought, a deed, an intention, an action or even a single fleeting moment of goodness.  But God asked it, and Jesus accepted it.  Again, WOW!

I could never repay this, but I should try.

Since Easter is upon us, I have been thinking that this week would be a great week to study the final days of Christ before His crucifixion.  We sometimes only see the actions of Christ, but we forget about the anguish that must have been going on inside of Him during this time.  Since Christ was 100% man while being 100% God, I am quite sure that the man in Christ must have been going through some very serious thought.  After all, He did know what was coming.  He had been telling people about it for a few years now.  What must He have been going through?  What were His thoughts?  What insight and clues can scripture give to us about this?

If you were looking for somewhere to go in the Word this week, I encourage you to look at the places in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that would correspond to the last few days before the crucifixion.  Let’s see what we see.

Yeah, apparently my allergies have decided that they hate Columbia, SC.  Itchy eyes, runny nose, itchy throat . . . not so fun.  It could be worse though right?

I am glad that spring is coming though.  The green is coming back and the Bass will be jumping in the boat soon (not jumping as much as being pulled in on my line).  So, in spite of the allergies, it is a good time.

Spring is also the time for Disciple Now.  Apparently almost all churches that do D-Now’s do them in March or April.  So, the next few months will be fun in that respect too!

So, this weekend I was at an event in the upstate of SC, and I visited my parents while I was there. While I was staying with my parents I accidentally left some Baker’s Chocolate sitting in a place that I should not have. One of my parents dogs (their babies) snatched the chocolate and ate 3 ounces of it on Sunday.  (Just a note-  Bakers chocolate is like extremely toxic to a dog.  Apparently just two ounces can kill a 20lb dog)   My mom just called, the dog just died in her arms. How rough is that?! My parents were in the midst of driving the dog to a Vet ICU in Georgia. Only after their vet in Greenville could do no more. So, yeah- I feel pretty rotten! Pray for my parents. I know it is an odd thing to ask for prayer about, but I know if I lost my dog it would hurt, and I know my parents are hurting. I hate that.

You can call me what you like, but I must be honest; I miss my wife when she is gone.  She is out of town for a few days for work, and I really do miss the gal.  I like knowing she will be here when I come home.  I like eating with her.  Eating by yourself is simply not fun, and food should be fun!  Come HOME WIFE!  Oh well, I will wait it out a few more days for her.