Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sunday Mind Dump

I took last weekend off from doing a Sunday Mind Dump so here are my thoughts for this week:
  • Enjoyed teaching today. When I am away from it for long I forget how much I enjoy it. I'll enjoy it while it lasts and we'll see where God takes us from here.
  • Went to visit another church here in town last night. They did an hour and a half worship service. What a treat to just spend that extra time singing...April and I were both horse from it!
  • Enjoyed the Snow days this week. I think that's about over and it'll be back to the grind until summer gets here. Only 3 short months until I am home free for a little while. Of course, I am taking 12 more credit hours this summer to finish up my Ed.S degree, which should be completed in the fall.
  • Enjoying some reading right now. I run in spurts where I read heavy and spurts where I don't...not sure why that is?
  • April and I are leaning toward taking the remainder of our year long sabbatical after we are done at Central Park. I need some time to get away and just listen to God's voice again. I do love teaching and ministry, but both of us need that....unless he steers us otherwise, that's most likely where we'll be.
  • I am out for the day....enjoy your day!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Sunday Mind Dump (Monday Edition)

So, two weeks in a row doing the Sunday Mind Dump on Monday...It can only mean one thing. I've been busy! So let's dump:
  • An interesting first day at Central Park in Toledo. Still not sure if it's the right place for April and I long term but glad God has given us the opportunity to step in and provide some help for them over the next few months.
  • We sang a couple of songs with just April and I on the guitar. Very nice and loved hearing people passionately singing with us. Very cool!
  • After church we had lunch with an old friend (we'll o.k., not a friend who is old per se! But a good friend!) It was nice to catch up and hang out for a few hours.
  • John and Shelley came to Central Park Sunday...since they are two of my favorite people in the world that was awesome to see!
  • After church and lunch we went over to my old HS and watched Bree Lauer to her drumline thing. Very cool and a great job to all the kids in the drumline!
  • A few things I am chewing on this week: Why is it that spouses see things so differently? Still pondering how and why God placed us with people that are so different that us guys? (No there aren't any marital problems! Just me thinking out loud)
  • Why do we allow the way we worship in church define us? Traditional people hate modern worship...people that do modern worship can't stand traditional worship....I mean I have my preferences, but does it really matter since we worship in spirit and not by the actual style of worship? To me it's a cultural thing and not a worship thing.....we take that cultural thing and turn it into a war..It's a war that's gone on in churches for years and if we stayed at Central Park it's likely a battle that would be fought again....just questions I am pondering.
  • I guess it's time to end this rant and move on to something more productive.
  • Night all.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Sunday Mind Dump (Monday Edition)

So normally I write my Sunday mind dumps on Sunday but yesterday was a bit longer than most days and I didn't have the energy to write it until Monday. Hopefully, the extra day makes me smarter or more witty or something :) So, let's dump:

  • Our last day at 242 church. What started as a short three month help get a new church off the ground commitment turned into much more when we lost a good friend and pastor. I am very grateful to everyone at 242 you guys were and are awesome to April and I. You've got a great pastor in place now and I look forward to helping coach him through the church planting process!
  • I am looking forward to seeing what God does at 242 church. You've got a great foundation laid and you just need to build upon that. The momentum at the church is real and tangible...Don't mess with momentum!
  • Next week, and for the next few months, we'll be at Central Park church in Sylvania. Still not sure if it's were God is calling us to be long term but I know that God put some things in place for us to go there and help out. We'll be praying about the long term, all while enjoying serving him there over the short term.
  • Took Jake to HU for his music scholarship audition today. That kid has so much talent it makes me sick! He completely rocked the audition piece he had to play and the professors seems genuinely impressed with him....now to see if they offer him some scholarship money or not....that is the question.
  • Been praying about how to deal with some potential situations and ironically right after The Superbowl last night I think I got an answer. I actually put the scenario before my boy just to see what he thought about it and even he liked the idea...so maybe it's a God thing after all.
  • Slept like doo doo last night....just one of those nights where I was so tired, yet completely wired and could not shut my brain off for sleep. I get that way from time to time. Let's hope tonight is better.
  • Now that April is accepted to law school in the fall we are trying to get some additional things in order so we can afford to live on just one salary. By this summer we'll finally have the rest of Real Life's bills paid off (Thank You God!) and we are hoping we can be down to just our house payment by then. That will make April quitting her job to go to school full time much easier on us.
  • For the first time in a long time I am really excited about what God is doing in our lives. He's brought us through so much, there's been pain, tears, joy, friendships lost, and friendships gained and it's all brought something to us. God is amazing like that....His promise really is true that he will use all things for Good if we seek him.
  • I better get started on dinner. My bride tends to be a hungry little woman when she comes home from work! See Y'all late....