Going Home Today!

Leslie and I are going home to Alabama today and I'm so pumped. So pumped that I had a spur of thoughts that I thought I'd get out before my final Church History exam I have in 39 minutes. It was a sudden decision for us to go home this weekend...greatly influenced by an invitation from our good friends, the Ragsdales, to head to Lake Martin for a few days of skiing, knee boarding, lounging, grilling burgers, and just relaxing. We are heading out after my exam today at 4pm. We're leaving Benjamin with my parents on Saturday night while Leslie and I head to the lake. I just feel like it's time to go home for a bit and just love on some folks. I want my parents to see how much Benjamin has grown. And hear him say "pizza", "cock a dooooo", and "I yub you". And then there's Chucks and Jim Bob's. Yes, these are two of the finest eating establishments in the Auburn/Opelika area. Chucks is your local pit bar-b-que joint, owned by a wonderful man and brother in Christ, Chuck Farrell. This is the kind of bar-b-que that is vinegar/mustard based...makes you want to slap someone it's so good (you can tell from this email that I'm already starting to get back into the Alabama vernacular). I particularly like to sop up the sauce with the soft white bread when I'm finishing everything up. Jim Bob's...owned by Chuck's Son in Law...has the best chicken fingers of all the kingdoms of the world. It is also Benjamin's favorite place...he mostly likes the fries there and the fact that he can run around and mess with other people as they eat (it's one of those wide open places). I'm sure we'll run into lots of local friends at these places and catch up on who's graduating from high school...the latest on Auburn football, etc. I'm so thankful for having a warm home and community to go back to. Being so far away makes it that much more special.

Better Run...going to cram in a little more info about realists vs. nominalists in the next 30 minutes!

Rush of Prayers

Ever had those times when you feel like there is just so much to pray for that you get a little overwhelmed. Like when you suddenly become aware of what so many other people around you are facing...like breast cancer, having babies, financial problems, discerning job paths, dating issues, sick kids, etc. I could go on and on here. Last night I suddenly came to that place. I'm thankful that God opened my eyes to see into others lives and walk in their shoes but it's tough...breaks your heart and puts you on your knees. I know this is the place where God wants us to live into daily. I just haven't been here in a while...been busy trying to run my own city. It's refreshment in the midts of sorrow...not what we would ever expect is it. Got to go...suppost to be reading now for Church History.

Back in the Saddle

Today was my first day back in class...Church History I. After having a good break in June, I was looking forward to getting back at it. Had a great day and I'm really excited about this class, even though most of my buddies at Seminary have said it is pretty tough and a drag. But I really need to know this stuff. I have never been the all that great at knowing our historical background as Christians so I am hoping that this really puts some pieces together for me. Today it was good to get back into the depth of who Jesus was. We spent most of the day examining the religious and political climate that he lived and taught in...it was a real mess. It all just shows how out there Jesus really was...totally counter cultural. But when you learn this stuff it just makes Jesus even more irreristable. It was refreshing today...I have missed this over the last month. That's it...got to get back to reading.

Benjamin Tid Bit: After school today I was out in the yard goofing around with Benjamin. He found the watering can in the garage, then walked up to the flowers in our front yard to water them (no water in the can). He was so proud of himslef...looking at me for a response after each tilt of the can. He went around to almost every flower and shrub in front of the house. He had seen me doing this over the last week or so. Thank you God for this blessing and lesson.

Akward Break

OK, I'm back. It's been a little while since I've left some thoughts here...mostly because I've had a break from school in June and my mind just has not been in writing/blog mode. We spent the first half of June visiting family and friends in Alabama. Since then we have been here in Wilmore just taking care of little errands and having a lot of family time together. But it's been a little akward for me to have this time off. I think a lot of it has to do with the business world I came from and the way I was raised. In the last weeks I have trimmed every bush in my yard and done just about every house project I could come up with. I'ts been a wonderful time with Leslie and Benjamin but at times I've felt a little guilty for having this time off. I recognized this a few weeks back and have been talking it through with Leslie and friends. I know that God is somehow shaping me through this time. Just can't articulate it right now. So no great revelations or conclusions at this time.