Posts Tagged ‘Harding’

This sausage could vote. It could go to war and die for its country.

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

So a couple of months ago I posted about a dire need I was feeling to make some changes. My job was suffocating me, and I was feeling largely useless.

Therefore, last month I took a week off visited a lot of old friends. I spent about 40 hours driving through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee. I saw some of my closest friends and spent some time walking around, in the daylight. It was nice.

As a part of this, I stopped by Harding. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would I be called back to the enthusiasm I felt back then? Or might I feel the remorse of not being where I thought I’d be by now? Perhaps I would be reminded of poor decisions I made? Thankfully, it was a totally positive experience. I talked to some old professors and some old friends. I felt a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to follow that which led me to study Bible in the first place.

So big decision #1: I’ve decided to apply for the Master of Ministry program. I’ve already been in contact with Harding about it and have nearly completed the application. The next step is to find a Church to work with (hopefully full time so I don’t have to get a separate job). Classes for the summer start in June, and I intend to move as soon as I can find a job and get the logistics settled. I solicit your prayers as I work toward getting this together. I prayed about the decision before I made it, and I feel good about it.

Big decision #2: This is more in the long range goal department, but my brother and his wife are planning on going to Japan to do mission work starting sometime in 2010. I plan to be finished with the masters program by then, and I’d like to go with them. This is not concrete yet, but they’re having some preliminary talks with missionaries who are already there and hoping to get a team together at some point. Anyone want to go to Japan?

Big decision #3: I’ve decided to go all hippie and eat like a vegetarian for a couple of months. I’d been considering it for some time, but never made the effort until now. So today was my third totally vegetarian day. Mostly this is just an experiment to see if it is actually as healthy as everyone claims. I feel good so far, and I’ll keep you posted. I’m not going to go totally vegan, but I will be eating no meat (including eggs and fish) for awhile, and very limited dairy.

As a side note, I always secretly disdained the various veggie subs at quiznos, subway, and the like. I always wondered what the point was. Well, today I had a veggie sub at quiznos, and I feel vindicated. A sub without meat is pointless. Get a salad and some garlic bread from Olive Garden, I say!

Big Decision #4: I’m officially a registered voter. I’m a little slow on the uptake, but I will now be able to add to the confusion of the Florida ballot counting. Honestly, I was just feeling left out.

Finally, I have some fantastic news to announce. I’m going to be an uncle!! Sara is pregnant and I’m very excited. I couldn’t be prouder of Leslie and I know he’ll make a great father. I’m so thankful that he married a Christian girl who will make a great mother as well. Of course, I’ve spent the last few weeks plotting ways to spoil my future niece or nephew in the most annoying ways possible. So far I’m thinking a drum set, a pack of kazoos, and a bag of heavily sugar-laden candies. Any suggestions?

this one is for all the old school harding bible majors…

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

Dr. CrenshawplusDr. FortnerequalsRip Torn




Just Think About It.

focused

Tuesday, July 4th, 2006

Sunday afternoon I got back from Focus, and it was really great. For those of you who don’t know, the best way to describe focus is probably Church camp, but it’s much different in many ways. About 200 – 300 teens (middle to high school) come to Faulkner University for a week. Every day, you do a service project, a few worship times, devotionals, or classes, some sports, and some activities just for fun.

This year, one of the main projects was the rolling closet, the backyard Bible school, and general cleanup and help with the Montgomery Inner City Ministry. I ended up being the chaperon who went to that every day, and it was a huge blessing. I got to spend some time every day with Jonathan Moseby, who was an evangelist working with that ministry. I also met some really great teenagers who worked very hard to help out, including my guys, but I already knew they were awesome.

Some of the other projects included visiting with the elderly at a retirement home close to Faulkner’s campus, writing cards to soldiers stationed overseas in Iraq and other combat areas, and cleaning and repairing houses for Montgomery residents.

The keynote speaker this year was a gentleman named Wiley Lowe, who is the youth minister for a congregation in Daytona Beach, FL called Holly Hill Church of Christ. (apparently they used to have a website, but not anymore.) In any case, God has blessed that man with a gift for preaching the good news. The theme this year was “super powers,” and all the speakers touched on that subject. Wiley talked a lot about Satan, and his desire to tear us away from God. Specifically he stressed our ability to choose to stay away from his traps, because God warns us how Satan will attack. In any case, my guys were impressed with his lessons, and so was I. Honestly, he reminds me of Dr. Fortner from Harding University in many ways. I have an immense respect for Fortner, though he may be a bit over the edge at times. If you ever get the chance to hear Wiley speak, I recommend taking it.

Focus also has a lot of fun activities, some of which are not that exciting, but some are great. This year we went to a baseball game, the Montgomery Biscuits vs the Mobile Bay Bears. That’s right folks, they’re called the biscuits. Don’t ask me. There was also a karaoke night, and one night we had the mall to ourselves playing broom hockey (arguably more dangerous than regular hockey… it does not involve skates or pads, but does involve large sticks with plastic on the ends… usually there are minor injuries) and video games. By the way, my new favorite game (i intend to get a pad for home) is Dance Dance Revolution. There was a guy there named Adam who was insanely good. I wanted to tape him, but we ran out of time. In any case, it is mad fun, and I need one to get in shape.

I have some video (and maybe pics, not sure) from Focus. Once I get it captured and edited, I’ll throw it up so you can see some Focus goodness.

God totally took care of me (He always does) with my car this week, too. Three minutes from the Church on the way back (so thankful it wasn’t back in Montgomery), my speedometer stopped working, and then my car stopped shifting out of second. Of course, I was convinced my transmission was shot. But, thanks to God, it was only my “speed sensors”. Short story is, it was an $80 repair vs an $800 repair. Sweet.

Personally, Focus helped me tons this year. It reminded me that I need to be back doing ministry. It also gave me a spiritual boost that I’ve been needing for awhile. And, I got to spend time with the guys in the youth group, and that’s always a great (albeit strange/disturbing) time.

Comment it up, kids.