That's Nall, Folks!

I'm moving

2006-11-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been inspired by my good friend David Smith so I'm moving. My new blog will be www.thatsnallfolks.wordpress.com. It's the same great taste in a new package. Thanks for all the comments and reflections you share. You inspire me to follow Christ more closely and are a part of what God is doing in my life.

2006-11-13T06:02:00.000-07:00

I'm on a roll. A week ago I locked my keys in my car twice (one time the car was running at it was while meeting a friend for lunch at Jason's Deli.) Friday night I took my family to a cabin at Heber Springs that some friends from Bryant own. About 10 minutes away from the cabin I had the startling revelation that I had left the key to the cabin at home. I called the owner and told him I couldn't look Deana in the eye and tell her what I had done. Deana, bless her heart, did an amazing job keeping her composure. No sarcasm, no shoes flying, no lumps on my head. As it turns out, a neighbor in Heber Springs had a spare key, so we had an amazing time. I've never lived anywhere that the leaves turned orange or brown or any other color due to natural causes.

What a great view of the river. I can't wait to go back and spend some
time fly fishing. There were guys out here catching trout all over
the place.

I have the cutest girls ever!

I think Deana posted this tree on her blog.

There aren't trees that do this in Alaska

or Baytown.

2006-11-07T06:03:00.000-07:00

I have a friend whose wife has been in Nicaragua since May adopting a child. It's been a long, arduous, painful and joy-filled journey for this family. While his wife has been in Nicaragua he's been at home with their children here in Little Rock. They have hung in there jumping through all the hoops, cutting through all the red tape, doing everything that's been asked of them just to bring home a child. By the time the wife comes home, it will have been 7 months. I'm not sure I would have hung in there that long. I don't know if I'd have made it. But they cling to the hope that she'll be home by December.

I thought of them as I considered Paul's words in Colossians this morning.

"We thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints - the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel, that has come to you."

Am I so filled by the hope I have in Christ that I act out of love and faith in all aspects of my life?

Real Beauty

2006-10-31T09:19:00.000-07:00

God told Samuel to look past the external features he saw in Jesse's oldest son. Instead, God reminded Samuel that he looks at the heart of a person. But we seem obsessed with outward appearances. Here's a link to a site I've found very interesting. It might even be helpful as we help our teenage girls better understand what true beauty really is. The video really hits home about how distorted our view of beauty just might be. Thanks to Mary Beth for the link.

Enough

2006-10-25T09:12:00.000-06:00

"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never grow hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

" I am the living bread that come down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me."

"But everyone who drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

"My food is to do the will of him who sent me."

If I really believe Jesus is who he says he is... if I've really given my life to following him... if I say I have surrendered my life to him... If I really trust that the words he spoke above are true, then why is it that he's not always enough? Even though the things I often turn to for fulfillment always leave me empty, wanting more, why do I keep trying to find meaning and fulfillment in anything other than Christ?

My prayer is for Jesus to simply be enough.

2006-10-23T08:55:00.000-06:00

Here's an excerpt from something I read this morning that I'm considering for the day.

"Jesus makes us uncomfortable, causes us to question our daily practices. Jesus' life reminds us of the realities of suffering, hostility, hatred and resistance that often accompany any attempts at living in truth and love."
Mark Yaconelli, Contemplative Youth Ministry

I'm not sure how much of these I've really experienced as a follower of Christ. Maybe that says something about the way I follow.

2006-10-18T10:00:00.000-06:00

Did you know that if you buy an F series pick up truck from a dealer in Benton, you'll also get a 12-guage shot gun? I'm feeling more like I'm back home in Alaska. Instead of a 12-guage though, I'd probably get a rifle for moose hunting if this were done in Alaska.

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I have the chance to design a youth room from the studs up. I've inherited two 30x30 rooms and its my decision on how they are to be designed. Those of you who know me well know how creative I am and how interesting this will be. Let's just say I get a lot of input from Deana because I'm just way too predictable when it comes to stuff like this.

2006-10-15T09:55:00.000-06:00

This morning during communion I was thinking about God's amazing love for me. As I read Romans 5 several times allowing its words to penetrate I began to slowly realize that I don't love others as unconditionally as I should. I began to think of the conditions that I put on others. Here are just a few that I am coming to terms with in my life:

1. I tend to love those who dress more conservativle like I do. In other words, I'm more easily drawn toward those who look more like me.

2. I tend to love those who behave well more than those who don't. I find myself having to try harder to really connect with those who don't conform to my image of what I think is a good person.

3. I tend to love more easily those who return my love.

4. I find it easier for me to love those who agree with me more than those who make me uncomfortable with their beliefs.

Jesus died for me unconditionally. He didn't wait until I met his expecations or got my act together. Lord, help me to grow in my love for all people no matter what.

Some random thoughts

2006-10-13T07:27:00.000-06:00

Last night Deana, Julia and I went to a children's play, Charlotte's Web. Although Wilbur looked more like a pink Easter bunny and Charlotte was a black widow the play was very cute. I love watching children in plays. They're so unpredictable. Some friends of ours had three children in the play and they were all so cute.

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Every Friday, Julia and I have a date before school. We leave about 15 minutes earlier than usual and stop by Strawn's Bakery for a donut and chocolate milk. It may not be healthy, but it's a cheap date.

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Tod, Jan and their boys are coming over tonight to experience Larry's Pizza for the first time. As my friend Lynn says, Friday night at Larry's is quite a local cultural experience. Tod and I grew up in Alaska together. After 11 years without spending any time together Tod and I now live 45 minutes apart. It's been one of the many blessings of being in this area.

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Mom's coming to visit soon. Enough said... It'll be good for her to be here. She's staying for a week. This will be her first visit to Arkansas and Little Rock Church.

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Wednesday night was awesome. Kendall, one of our juniors, shared what God has been doing in his life over the past year. It was amazing. Taylor, his brother, played guitar in worship and did an incredible job! I was so proud of those boys. One of the goals of Wednesday nights is to try to help students experience the love of Christ through each other. We were all pretty wound up and it was a light, energetic mood. I think they needed that. We were even telling jokes in the middle of the time together.

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Aren't relationships so important. It's through our relationships that we primarily learn how to love God. It's through our relationshis we seem to experience forgiveness, compassion, mercy, patience and all those other characteristics of the Spirit. Though I believe the Lord works in any way he chooses he seems to love to use our relationships to help us better understand his nature.

2006-10-06T07:47:00.000-06:00

"We live by faith, not by sight." - St. Paul

Faith has many faces. Faith can be seen in a single mother doing all she can to raise her children and maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith can be seen in the work place from one who chooses to be generous and compassionate rather than seek that promotion at all costs. Faith is expressed when a student is a constant encouragement to others on her cheerleading squad. Faith is expressed when a teacher can use his art to share what God is doing in his life with his students at school.

The picture above was taken at Refuge Wednesday night as Mark, an art teacher at a local high school, used an art piece he's working on to share what God is doing in his life. It was so awesome, especially because there were 1-2 people who aren't part of our church family that know him as a teacher.

What are some different faces of faith you have seen?

2006-10-02T10:50:00.000-06:00

We had a great weekend. Julia did great in her soccer game. I was proud of the girls. We had no subs for the entire game because we were missing three teammates. They were exhausted when the game was over. Those 7-year old girls played four 10-minute quarters.

Saturday night, I got to hang with Gerald while our wives spent a night out. Gerald and I fed our kids pizza and just spent time talking. Come to find out we share similar faith journeys in that each of us has a parent with a mental disorder that has had a profound impact on our lives. Sunday we ate lunch with another couple our age who happened to be youth ministers in Baytown in years past.

Sunday, we focused on what it means to have peace in our lives. What a great thing to discuss. One thing I've learned is that peace is only experienced in the context of relationships. I may write more on this as my thoughts mature. In the meantime, God bless and pray for me.

2006-09-28T07:38:00.000-06:00

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.

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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!

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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.

2006-09-25T16:14:00.000-06:00

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.

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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.

2006-09-23T11:46:00.000-06:00

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!

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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...

2006-09-18T15:50:00.000-06:00

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.

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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.

2006-09-14T19:31:00.000-06:00

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.

2006-09-11T08:18:00.000-06:00

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?

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?

We are bored of all the things we know

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?

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

2006-09-09T20:25:00.000-06:00

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?

2006-09-09T07:42:00.000-06:00

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?

2006-09-05T07:51:00.000-06:00

"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.

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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."

They may be clumsy but...

2006-08-30T05:52:00.000-06:00

they sure were fun to coach last night.

I coached my first soccer practice last night. My team consists of seven 6-8 year-old girls. We tried to learn names, but most had trouble remembering. We tried to learn how to kick a soccer ball with the inside of your foot, but most toed the ball. We tried to show them how to stop a ball with the inside of your foot, but most stopped it with their toe, bottom of the foot, head, arm, hands or any other way they could. We even tried a little scrimmage for about ten minutes.

Though the soccer skills aren't quite there yet, they instantly played together and got a long well. They instantly accepted one another and acted as if they had known each other for years. And when it came time to go home, none of them were ready. They wanted to play some more.

Maybe I'm the one that learned a few things last night...

What's normal?

2006-08-25T12:06:00.000-06:00

We're getting settled into a routine. Tomorrow is Jenna's birthday. 2-year-olds are so fun. She was right there in Target when Deana and I bought her birthday present but she had no idea. Of course we got Julia a congratulations-you've-been-a-big-sister-for-two-years present as well. We'll celebrate tomorrow. Deana's parents are coming into town on Labor Day weekend but I'm leaving for an area-wide retreat with a group of students so I'll only see them Friday night.

I'll let you know how soccer goes. I'm looking forward to coaching this year. Our first practice is Tuesday and I'm attending a coaching clinic on Sunday.

Watch out Ronaldo

2006-08-22T15:42:00.000-06:00

We signed Julia up for soccer last week online. Deana asked me if I would be interested in coaching and I said yes, so she checked the box for assistant coach. We didn't hear anything from anyone until last night when I was informed that I could pick up my coaches packet at the Bryant United Methodist Church. I thought I might get a call and would be able to ask questions. Nope. Apparently I am the head coach of Julia's team. I played soccer in 8th grade.

2006-08-14T21:31:00.000-06:00

Today I was my first official day at LRC. I was treated to lunch at Sticky Fingerz Rock-n-Roll Chicken Shack which was great. One of the seniors baby sat tonight while Deana and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary. I took her to Sonny Williams Steak Room in Little Rock. Of course it wouldn't be a complete experience without a trip to Wal-Mart.

2006-08-06T23:59:00.000-06:00

The U-Haul is outside just waiting to be loaded. Most of our things are in boxes. I never realized we had so much stuff! I don't remember having all this. And just think, we're down sizing. I can't say enough good things about my family who sent us off tonight. We did hear a few Arkansas jokes, but what a blessing the night was! All I have to say is that I hope Little Rock Church is ready -- for my girls that is! At one point one of the teenagers who's no longer a teenager talked about how we have helped her with all the "crap in her life." She realized she said "crap" in a mic to a mixed crowd and blushed. My darling bride who's always so soft spoken just shouted "Hey, call it what it is! It's ok!"

Anyways, I hate saying good bye, but I'm so excited about the work at LRC. We will load the truck tomorrow and begin a new chapter in what has been an amazing walk with God so far. So, LRC ready or not here we come!