Lot's of Life Changes...

It's been literally forever since I posted on this blog.  But I'm just in the mood so here goes.  We've made lot's of life changes since I last wrote anything.  Ministry changes, moves, etc.

Have lived in Branson (Hollister), Mo for over a year and a half now.  It's been good, challenging, sometimes difficult, but a season that we'll look back on and know that God had a reason.  We've started a new ministry called "Blessed to Bless" that encourages and hopefully blesses those doing ministry.  We've had nearly 60 different individuals, couples and groups that we've been able to hopefully bless in some way.  Gifts, offerings, entertainment, accomodations, etc.  It's been really rewarding.  We've also helped start a service here in Branson.  And now we travel many weekends preaching in churches that we've always wanted to go to.  (Lot's of friends)  It's been a different way of doing ministry than what we've done the past 30 years, but we've enjoyed it.  The only challenge we've had was working secular jobs to make a living.  But God has helped us with that too.  I'll blog about my three sons and what their lives are about now at a later date.  I'll just end by saying that we're ready for whatever God has ahead for us.  We trust Him and know that He knows what we can't begin too..

A New Post for Nicole

Well Nicole has shamed me into posting a new entry. Though no one reads these I'm sure, I'll go ahead and post a few meaningless thoughts that who knows who will even read. It's been an eventful winter into spring. The big Ice Storm nearly wore us out. Beau and I cut, raked, gathered, and burned tree limbs and debris for nearly two months. NO FUN.... Then just about the time we finished at home we headed to the camp grounds to rake, gather and burn limbs and leaves there. NO FUN... Kind of like painting, if I ever rake again it will be too soon. Camp is indeed coming, in fact in just two short weeks we will have our 40th year of camp at Wyandotte. Just being honest and that's what you want isn't it, honesty.... I have had a really hard time getting excited about camp this year. It's not the hard work that goes into getting everything ready because honestly I probably haven't worked as hard myself this year as I have in the past. Mentally and physically I just haven't had it in me so far this year. Getting older and having such a full plate hasn't helped. Losing both of Lisa's parents has taken a lot more out of us than anyone can realize I guess. We are on the downhill side of taking care of all of their affairs, but it's just been a really emotional and difficult first part of the year on top of what was a REALLY difficult 2006. As a pastor that gives out and gives out sometimes you run up against a wall and don't feel like you have much left. I guess I've hit that wall. And my interest in youth camp is on the short end of the stick.
But we'll have a good camp and lot's of kids will recieve a touch from the Lord and we'll look back and it will have been worth all the time and effort expended. Things are going to be a little different this year. We have someone new leading our worship. And for the first time ever we'll have one speaker during our evening services Senior week. Is will be different but I'm sure it will be really good.. Just a lot of loose ends to tie up before we get started in two weeks. Two weeks... Man... I'll report back after camp. For you Nicole--- a new post....

A New Year & Hopefully A Better One...

I guess I'll start by saying , "It's been awhile..." It's amazing how several months can get by in between posts. But I've noticed that even Nicole hasn't been as consistant in her posting since she and Stan got married so I don't feel too bad. Guess she's found other things to keep herself busy. Ha... Busy, now there's a relevant word. And since I last posted in October we have definintely been busy. Not necessarily in ways that we would have preferred had we had the choice, but busy nevertheless. We lost both of Lisa's parents in the last 8 weeks. Her Dad passed away from a major stroke on November 13th and then 6 weeks to the day her Mom passed away on Christmas Day. To say the least, our holidays were a little different this year. By the time January 1st got here I was just praying we would would survive the year. And what a year it was. We lost good friends Tony Weston & Billy Sparks, my cousin Rachel, my Aunt Pat, of course my in-laws and others that I'm forgetting. Throw in a couple of surgeries for Beau and Blake and we had quite a year.... The term "it's always something" definitely came in to play every time we turned around this past year or so it seemed. This new year which I still have hopes will be better has started about like last year. Another tragedy took the life of our good friend Tammy Davis. Mick & Tammy pastor in Salem, Mo. Met them through Troy & Carla & Jeff & Rhonda. Tammy and her best friend plus another lady from their church were all killed in a headon collision a couple days ago. It's just unbelievable. We got to know Tammy really well back in September when we went to the Virgin Islands with the Harvest Foundation. She was a really wonderful person. I know she will be missed tremendously. It's become very difficult to look too far ahead, constantly wondering what will happen next. But look ahead we do and trust that God has some good things ahead. Our emphasis for the year is "Letting Love Fill Us and Flow From Us..." The challenge is to touch at least one or two people with words or simple acts of love each day in a way that will convey the Love of Christ. I pray that we will all rise to the challenge and start looking for ways to love the world in which we live. The simpliest of acts can change the hardest of hearts. Well I better get on to other things. Let me say whoever you might be, "I love you" and hope you have a great 2007... Now get out there and love someone...

Fall, Family and Friends...

Well it's been another month since I posted and Nicole was on to me when I last saw her about my infrequency of posting, so if only for her, here goes... Busy is a good word to describe the past several weeks. But I love the fall season so I won't even complain. Lot's of transistions coming for people I know. Only a few days until Stan and Nicole's wedding. Having dinner with them at the Davis's tonight to go over the details. Should be wonderful. Lisa's in Dallas with her folks. Willis (father in law) had a slight heart attack last week, but is doing okay. Just getting to be a hard time of life for them. Age brings a lot of new challenges.
The boys are all busy and doing well. Beau who turned 16 last month (Good Lord) has been working his first full time/part time job. Works weekends at the Right Choices Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. I think he really enjoys it and I know he enjoys making the money. So that's good. Blake is doing well back in college for his Senior year. He'll be student coach for the basketball team this year. I know he'll miss playing but this will be the next best thing. Brock is doing well and just had his one year anniversary of the "Jay and Brock Show" on Hotmix 101.9. So all in all with the church doing well and things staying the course, I think I'll praise the Lord and not complain to much. I know that few read these posts, but to those that do I pray that you are doing well and life is good....

Season Changes...

I know that I've been very lazy in keeping my blog updated. No excuses except I just haven't felt like writing lately. So Jerry will have something to read I'll post an update. Thank goodness for cooler weather. I've been waiting all summer for cooler temps. I might even start playing a little more golf. Church has been really good the past month. REALLY GOOD... I'm expecting things too continue in a positive direction through the end of the year and beyond. Blake's back in school at Evangel. He's a SENIOR... Good Lord... He won't finish this year, he'll still have a few hours left and have to do his student teaching next year to finish his degree in Physical Education. As it stands, his playing career is probably over. He's signed on to be Student Assistant on the Basketball team this year, so he'll be just as involved, just not playing. Beau will turn 16 next week. 9/11 to be exact. So the driving journey has begun and he's counting the days until he get's his permanant license. Brock is doing well at his radio gig. Stays busy all the the time. Just moved in to a new house in Rogers. Lisa and I celebrated our 28th Wedding Anniversary last month. Not near as many as Jerry and Twanda's 40 years. Oh and since no one else is posting it, Jerry and Twanda are grandparents again. A little girl this time... Name??? I'm so proud... Aunt Nicole would have normally been all over this announcement, but she's frying bigger fish I guess... Anyway, lot's of things coming up. Should be a busy season. Go CARDINALS.... And since football season does start this week... Go COWBOYS...

Been Awhile

Well it's been over two months since I posted so I guess I'll write down some things and play catch up. Of course June was all about camp. We had two really good weeks, although our regular help (Koolaid girl) was pre-occupied with her new found interest in life (Stan the MAN) and it just didn't seem like things in that area ran very smoothly. Funny how things that were important to you (the traditions etc. of camp) can be laid aside so quickly and easily in light of new interests and pursuits... Ha.... Still had two great weeks all in all. Lot's of kids saved, filled and called, which is what it's still all about.

This month has been about some down time. Something it seems like we haven't had a whole lot of the past couple years. I still am having a really difficult time knowing how to relax. I know most people wouldn't understand this but as a pastor for now over 26 years, I just don't know how to relax. It's that on call 24 hours a day no matter where you are thing that gets so embedded in you that you just can't turn it off. And trust me I've tried. I just can't get my mind to shut off things. Wherever I am I'm thinking about someone or something that's church related. Maybe that's why I stay half worn out most of the time, even on vacation.

We had a good visit in Indiana with some friends. Of course they're pastors so I got backdoored into preaching their midweek service. So much for time off. Ha... But the opportunity and offering were both appreciated very much. Then a few days at the in-laws which is really no vacation, but needful. The last few days have just been here at home and a couple days at a hotel in Joplin with a pool. That was nice. One more trip and we'll call it a month.

Jana, if you happen to read this, I missed your not getting to camp. Looked forward to meeting you. Maybe down the road. Possibly at a wedding or some other occasion like that? Well besides two sons having surgeries during May and a few funerals in between that's been the last two months. Hope everyone is doing well. Jerry, we did good in the kitchen again. Maybe our best effort so far. That Jerry & Mark's (Diner) is looking better all the time. Ha...

An Old Friend, Reconnection and Passing Days...

Have made contact in recent days with an old friend that I grew up with that I haven't seen or even seen pictures of in years. Kent and I went through grade school, junior high and high school together. We played summer baseball together and basketball in Jr. High. We even both liked the same girl, Mindy... Ahhhhhhh.... We recently shared pic's of ourselves and families on ringo.com which is pretty neat for that kind of thing and shared some emails that kind of got us caught up after 30 years. Visiting with Kent made me think about simplier and enjoyable times. When responsibilites were much less stressful and weighty. We use to play kickball by the hour during the day when we were kids and nights were spent playing hide and go seek, four square under the lights and other games that involved girls and kissing that I better not go into. Ha... Memories... Now that I've made contact with Kent there are other old friends I'd like to reconnect with just to see how their lives have turned out. When we were kids we were always told by adults that the older you get the faster time goes by. They were so right. Where have the past 30-4o years gone? Life seems to get away at an alarming speed these days. If you happen to be younger, trust me your days will begin to click along at a break neck speed, so enjoy them while you can and reconnect with people in your life that were once important if you get the chance.