Be Refreshed!

I think I apologized to at least 4 people this weekend for not being fully connected late this summer.  I had tried to really enjoy this last summer before the big switch of off to college and some things fell through the cracks.  But now it’s back to work.  Labor Day is next week, the fall ministries kickoff Wednesday, and God’s Kingdom marches on.

The blog has been rather disengaged too.  Part of that was technical (the old laptop is still sketchy) and part was focusing elsewhere.  So hopefully the blog will re-engage here too.  Unfortunately I can’t add pictures presently to the computer so you’re just stuck with my wit and wisdom for a while.  It could be a long fall.

Be Refreshed!

Wow.  It was a wild Sunday.  It was our last day dropping Ethan off at college and the day started with a joint chapel service of new students, faculty, parents and administration.  The first wave hit me of memories of 4 years of chapels there at Central Bible College.  I went there in 1985 as a wet behind the ears 19 year old Southern Baptist boy who had gotten filled with the Holy Spirit late in high school. I had never even visited the campus but just felt God wanted me to go there.  It was in that chapel for 4 years, 5 days a week, that God formed and taught me.  Chapel speakers, weekly Friday night missions services, and the privilege of preaching to the student body in Sr Chapel.  Worshiping there Sunday brought back a flood of memories from those years.

The second wave hit me as I watched Ethan with his hands raised in worship.  Tears ran down my face as I coveted those same memories for him the next four years.  He’s already way ahead of where I was when I first arrived at CBC but I can’t wait to see what God has in store for him.

Then the third wave hit me that life would never be the same again.  That wave first hit me late Wednesday night.  It was about 9:30 and everyone had left church.  I was packing up my laptop and things to head home when suddenly it came.  When we pulled out the next morning life would take one of those radical turns.  Ethan will still be home for Christmas and summers but it will never be quite the same.  We are one of those weird families that eats together, laughs together, and generally likes one another.  A piece of that puzzle isn’t at the table this week.  I think that was the slowest I ever got ready to go home.

The overriding truth is that I’m incredibly proud and happy though.  Hopefully we’ve done a good job by God’s grace and it’s time for the next chapter for Ethan.  So when you think of him this fall say a prayer for him.  (and maybe lift one up for his mom and dad too)

Be Refreshed!

It’s been a while since the last blog.  My laptop is still unstable and I’m limping along in Safe Mode.  I got my hopes up this week when it opened correctly for a few days but it started crashing again yesterday.  Other than that it has been an awesome couple of weeks.  A HUGE thanks to all of our VBS workers last week.  WOW!  I tend to try and look for the good in things, but this was off the charts.  Big crowds, awesome teachers, helpers, crafty ladies, teen workers, and more.  It was a lot of work but they went above and beyond.  It’s OK to work hard for Jesus and go home tired.  Great job everyone!

We’re moving into the countdown for college.  We’ll head out in just 9 days.  I’m trying to cram as much into this week so we can get away a little next week and then hit the road for Springfield MO.   6 meetings, fall newsletter, 4 mailers, and a few odds and ends thrown in.  Maybe it will help keep my mind off the big move.

Thanks to everyone who has prayed and been involved in Ethan’s life.  (Thanks to everyone who prayed for his scholarships too:)  We are excited to see what God has in store for him.  Don’t stop praying either.

Be Refreshed!