I'm learning all kinds of great things about the Little Rock area. I already knew about things like caving. mountains and fly fishing. All of which I can't wait to do. I grew up fishing and hiking so those are things I love. What I'm learning about that most excites me are the great restaurants. Jeff already introduced me to Sticky Fingerz. And now Lynn has told me about the Whole Hog Cafe. While Deana eats boca burgers I just want a good slice of BBQ pork. I've gotta try this place.

------------------------------

Refuge last night was terrific. Hope decided to give her life to Christ and follow him. So, Refuge ended with her baptism. What an amazing night!

-----------------------------
I want to be a part of a community in which we all seek to help each other be formed more and more into the image of Christ. My prayer is that we learn to love one another in such a way that we embrace one another for who we are and journey together as followers of Christ. I pray that we invite others to join us and show them what Jesus' kingdom is.

Last night while Deana was helping with our church family's Home Away from Home ministry, I took care of the girls. Jenna would shout "Julala" and tackle her big sister and they'd play together. I'm so impressed with Julia. Though she sometimes gets frustrated at Jenna, she's very good with her. More patient than I am. I got to take a picture or two of my little girls, so here they are:

If Jenna were a teenager, I'd tell her she's biscuiting and to pull her shirt down. Not to mention that her diaper is showing.




-----------------------

On a completely separate note, I've been working on our Wednesday night program called Refuge. One of my biggest goals for students (and myself) is to create space to encounter God in meaningful ways. As I think about my own life I realize that I most often encounter God in the most meaningful ways when I'm alone with him and honest. Sometimes that takes place while spending time in nature. Other times while in worship with other believers. Sometimes at 6:30 AM as I'm sipping a cup of coffee considering the words of Jesus. There never seems to be just one way that happens. So please pray for this Wednesday night to be a time when students engage God and they listen as he speaks to their hearts.

When it rains, it pours. At 11:30 I was standing at mid-field with another soccer coach and our ref. Our girls were set to kick off, the ref was ready to go and then God turned on the faucet. I mean it started as a light rain, but within a minute it was as if I was standing under a running faucet. (You would have thought I was back in the Houston area with the humidity and warm weather this morning.) Needless to say, neither the other coach nor I were too disappointed. So, I did what any daddy would do... took my daughter to Larry's Pizza with my vegetarian bride. No, she didn't eat any cheeseburger pizza.

We watched our first Bryant Fall Festival parade this morning at 9 AM and discovered that the parade was better than trick or treating. Julia hit the motherload of candy. We even saw a couple of teens. Way to go Sophie and Leah!

-------
On another note, tomorrow we're talking about the relationship between facing trials (or the church word for it is persecution) and maturing in faith. I spent the week pouring through Jesus' words and the NT writers to make this an easier topic, but here's what I've come to see from the NT writers. Jesus does indeed expect us to face trials (as Keith reminded me last week). Maybe I'm too comfortable...

So, the New Orleans Saints are among the undefeated; my two starting fantasy RBs are hurt (one is out for the season, the other has played very little). What surprises to this young NFL season! I'm not thinking it's going to be a good NFL fantasty football season for me.

-------------------------
As I'm learning more about my new church family, loving my heavenly Father more deeply and learning to minister to a new group of teens I'm seeing many surprises. It's amazing that what I have been doing the past 6 years has prepared more the things that I'm now doing in my new place. I see how God has prepared continued me for this time.

I recently read a preacher who said he believed that God wants us to be happy and enjoy life. Though it may sound good, I tend to disagree. Maybe it's out of jealousy I have for one so financially stable, but I don't think so. As I read the article in Time and considered Jesus' words, particularly those in Matthew 5:3-11, I came to the realization that my idea of what it means to be blessed might just be slightly twisted. Though I have things and a place to live I wouldn't consider myself blessed to have them, for Jesus never said I was blessed to have those things either. I began to realize that I'm not any more blessed than my fellow follower of Christ who has no place to call home. I'm simply richer. Now, the responsibility lies with me to take what I have and offer to God in service to others in the name of Christ out of my love for him and others.

Good Monsters

Jars of Clay

All the good monsters open their eyes

To see the wasteland where the home fires rise

And the people shouting "why, why, why"

Do you know what you are?

Do you know what you are?

All the giants wake from their sleep

And roll outside safety's keep

And the pain makes them feel alive

Do you know what you are?

Do you know what you are?

We are bored of all the things we know

Do you know what you are?

Do you know what you are?

Not all monsters are bad

But the ones who are good

Never do what they could, never do what they could

All the good monsters rattle their chains

And dance around the open flames

They make a lot of empty noise

While all of the bright eyes turn away

As if there wasn't anything to say

About the justice and the mystery

Do you know what you are?

Do you know what you are?

We are bored of all the things we know

And we are forms of everything we love, we love

If good won't show its ugly face

Evil, won't you take your place?

Nothing ever changes, nothing every changes by itself

We are bored of all the things that we know

Do you know what you are?

Cause we are, we're so in love with ourselves

We are forms of the things we love

Dazed and confused might be the best words to describe our first soccer game today. Here are some lessons learned from our game.

1. The field is bigger than you realize.

2. When a soccer ball hits a 7-year-old square on the nose, it causes the nose to bleed.

3. It's not good when a player falls down and continues to try to kick the ball while lying on the ground.

4. Just because you don't keep score doesn't mean there's no score.

5. When little girls get tired they stop running.

I had fun this morning coaching my first game ever. I learned a lot and the girls seemed to have fun (even Tabi who got the bloody nose.) Any pointers out there from some of you soccer pros?

As I was reading the Sermon on the Mount I began to realize Jesus calls us to things that will alter the course of our lives. He doesn't just offer us a system of ethics or good things to do; instead, he offers a completely different reality. His kingdom is radically different from the world in which we live.

What do you do with words that are so different than what you expect? With teaching that asks you to alter every aspect of your life, that has the ability to determine the course of your life?

"He brings good things to light." This was the theme of the Best Friends retreat in Cordova, TN. We spent the weekend talking about being a light. It was a great weekend. I got to know many of our students better, spend some time with a few of our parents and even go undefeated in beach volleyball (5-0) on Sunday afternoon.
I came home exhausted, but recharged in many ways. We have a great group of students. I'm excited about Refuge on Wednesday night.

--------------------------------------------------

Last week I was watching MTV's VMAs. Of all the things said that night, one person's acceptance speech stood out. Zachy Vengeance, guitarist of Avenged Sevenfold, simply said "I'd like to thank god, whichever one I believe in because I'm not quite sure yet."