We did something interesting to day. Two associate vice presidents of the company I am working with did the presentation. It was long and boring and repetitive but concluded with something pretty interesting.
They shared the story of John 13, which is definitely a favorite of mine. Jesus was with the disciples in the upper room. And when they had finished eating he got down on his hands and knees and washed the feet of his followers.
Jesus was an incredible leader. Sometimes those under him desired to lead Jesus in new directions but Christ stayed faithful to the course. I heard a cool quote on the West Wing once. What do you call a leader that no one follows? A man taking a walk. Jesus was a leader. I want to lead like Jesus.
I want to be willing to serve those I am working with and under and over. God is powerful enough that he has called me to serve even, "…the least of these…"
We have seen foot washings before. But these two associate vice presidents. Sat us down in chairs by twos. They took our names our soon to be homes, and a prayer request. They prayed over us and instead of washing out feet, they brushed our shoes.
They pulled out a shoe brush for each of us and cleaned our shoes. Then they allowed us to take the brush as a symbol of their commitment to continue to be our servants and prayer advocates as we go out.
Thought it was neat and I would share.
Friday, September 03, 2004
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Africa...
Excitement to get overseas changes almost daily. Many days I am scared to death. I can't believe I have let myself get into this. "This ain't a two month trip overseas!" I tell myself. I am anxious about being so far away from family and friends and all that I know and love.
I got to visit with Mark this past weekend. It was great. His life is right on track with all of his hopes and dreams and I love it. I just want to be here to watch it happen. I shared something with Mark that I had once shared with my mom and am even coming to greater understanding of now.
All the people that work with our group overseas refer to one another as family. They are all uncles and aunts. They begin to treasure the value of community and recognize the need and desire for it in all people's lives.
This realization has helped me clarify my relationships with people in Waco. They were and always will be my family. We laughed together, played together, cried together (sometimes me more than others), prayed together, shared holidays and special events. We traveled together and worked together. We grew closer to Christ together. My relationships with my family in Waco taught me more about what it means to be a child of God. The girls and my boys (who I miss dearly) have changed my life. They have challenged me to be a better follower of Christ and a better family member to my biological family.
However, on days like today I am ready to go. I got to meet a lady from the country I am heading to today. It was exciting. We talked about the city and the people and the food. It left me encouraged and inspired to get there and get to work.
My prayer is that God will grant me community overseas. It may be with nationals or Americans like me. I only hope that I can be blessed by them the same way I have been in the states.
This sounds rather selfish as I read the prayer, but I hope to be the same thing to others. A girl shared something the other day that challenged me. She said, "I'm not going overseas to 'save' anyone. I am going in obedience to God because he wants to work in my life. My belief is that people will see Jesus as I continue to be transformed." What words of wisdom…she's pretty hot too!
I got to visit with Mark this past weekend. It was great. His life is right on track with all of his hopes and dreams and I love it. I just want to be here to watch it happen. I shared something with Mark that I had once shared with my mom and am even coming to greater understanding of now.
All the people that work with our group overseas refer to one another as family. They are all uncles and aunts. They begin to treasure the value of community and recognize the need and desire for it in all people's lives.
This realization has helped me clarify my relationships with people in Waco. They were and always will be my family. We laughed together, played together, cried together (sometimes me more than others), prayed together, shared holidays and special events. We traveled together and worked together. We grew closer to Christ together. My relationships with my family in Waco taught me more about what it means to be a child of God. The girls and my boys (who I miss dearly) have changed my life. They have challenged me to be a better follower of Christ and a better family member to my biological family.
However, on days like today I am ready to go. I got to meet a lady from the country I am heading to today. It was exciting. We talked about the city and the people and the food. It left me encouraged and inspired to get there and get to work.
My prayer is that God will grant me community overseas. It may be with nationals or Americans like me. I only hope that I can be blessed by them the same way I have been in the states.
This sounds rather selfish as I read the prayer, but I hope to be the same thing to others. A girl shared something the other day that challenged me. She said, "I'm not going overseas to 'save' anyone. I am going in obedience to God because he wants to work in my life. My belief is that people will see Jesus as I continue to be transformed." What words of wisdom…she's pretty hot too!
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Patrick...
I was in Georgetown towards the end of my summer. I had gone to visit Falmouth, where I was once and youth pastor, and some college friends at Georgetown. I was sitting in the Lock and Key - this neat new coffee shop with free wireless internet. I called home to see how the family was doing.
I found out Patrick had had a car accident. It was pretty bad and they didn't know if he was going to survive. I didn't know Patrick real well. I remembered him from around church. I had played high school soccer with his older brother Cory. I knew his mom and dad fairly well. Rocky and Terri were divorced…had been for as long as I can remember.
I returned home several days after the wreck had happened and mom and I had planned to go to Nashville to do a few things. We decided to go by Vandy to visit Patrick's family. He was still barely holding on. It was Thursday.
Wednesday the doctors had told his parents to get their family there he was going to make it through the afternoon. He did. We saw them on Thursday. We still couldn't see Patrick…he was in a drug induced coma and was barely getting by. I remember Rocky telling me, "In the morning we just pray for a good morning. At night we only hope for a good night. We look for good news moment by moment that is all we can hope for right now."
I remember giving Terri a hug. We had worked together on some youth events when I was the interim at Lone Oak. I shook Rocky's hand. For some reason I remember his bracelet…that kind they sell on TV that are supposed to help your circulation. Cory gave me a hug. I didn't know Cory real well, but as I went to shake his had he hugged me.
A couple weeks later I preached at church Cory was there. He came and thanked me for visiting. We talked and I found out Patrick was improving daily.
They have moved him to Lexington. He is up and getting around on a walker. His memory is still bad. They didn't think this kid was going to live!
I talked to my mom the other night and she had received word (actually dad had) from Rocky. He wanted me to know something. Patrick was being told what all was happening and needed to happen. He asked his dad to write it down and read it to him again later because he wouldn't be able to remember it. Rocky said he would.
Patrick asked him to give it to the male nurse that was taking care of him, and he would read it to him also. According to Rocky these were Patrick's words. "Give it to ____ (I forgot the nurses name.) he is a good guy. He will read it to me later too. He is a good guy; he reminds me a lot of Chad at church."
There is no reason why anyone would remind him of me. I barely knew the kid. I have tried to remember what I knew him from and all I can think of is he must have been at a D'Now or at children's camp with me. For some reason this 19 year old kid who I have not seen or talked to in years remembers me and remembers me as something good.
Wow! What are we to do with that? I didn't and don't know how to respond. I am humbled. I am shocked. I am scared that the remembrances of many might not be so positive. I am frightened to realize that even when I didn't know Patrick was watching he saw me.
Now I prepare to go to Africa. I will be watched. Others will know I am a follower of Jesus and what will my life speak.
Pray for Patrick. Pray he continues to improve. Pray for me. Pray that I leave others remembering Christ even when I don't know I am leaving them with anything.
I found out Patrick had had a car accident. It was pretty bad and they didn't know if he was going to survive. I didn't know Patrick real well. I remembered him from around church. I had played high school soccer with his older brother Cory. I knew his mom and dad fairly well. Rocky and Terri were divorced…had been for as long as I can remember.
I returned home several days after the wreck had happened and mom and I had planned to go to Nashville to do a few things. We decided to go by Vandy to visit Patrick's family. He was still barely holding on. It was Thursday.
Wednesday the doctors had told his parents to get their family there he was going to make it through the afternoon. He did. We saw them on Thursday. We still couldn't see Patrick…he was in a drug induced coma and was barely getting by. I remember Rocky telling me, "In the morning we just pray for a good morning. At night we only hope for a good night. We look for good news moment by moment that is all we can hope for right now."
I remember giving Terri a hug. We had worked together on some youth events when I was the interim at Lone Oak. I shook Rocky's hand. For some reason I remember his bracelet…that kind they sell on TV that are supposed to help your circulation. Cory gave me a hug. I didn't know Cory real well, but as I went to shake his had he hugged me.
A couple weeks later I preached at church Cory was there. He came and thanked me for visiting. We talked and I found out Patrick was improving daily.
They have moved him to Lexington. He is up and getting around on a walker. His memory is still bad. They didn't think this kid was going to live!
I talked to my mom the other night and she had received word (actually dad had) from Rocky. He wanted me to know something. Patrick was being told what all was happening and needed to happen. He asked his dad to write it down and read it to him again later because he wouldn't be able to remember it. Rocky said he would.
Patrick asked him to give it to the male nurse that was taking care of him, and he would read it to him also. According to Rocky these were Patrick's words. "Give it to ____ (I forgot the nurses name.) he is a good guy. He will read it to me later too. He is a good guy; he reminds me a lot of Chad at church."
There is no reason why anyone would remind him of me. I barely knew the kid. I have tried to remember what I knew him from and all I can think of is he must have been at a D'Now or at children's camp with me. For some reason this 19 year old kid who I have not seen or talked to in years remembers me and remembers me as something good.
Wow! What are we to do with that? I didn't and don't know how to respond. I am humbled. I am shocked. I am scared that the remembrances of many might not be so positive. I am frightened to realize that even when I didn't know Patrick was watching he saw me.
Now I prepare to go to Africa. I will be watched. Others will know I am a follower of Jesus and what will my life speak.
Pray for Patrick. Pray he continues to improve. Pray for me. Pray that I leave others remembering Christ even when I don't know I am leaving them with anything.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Life Goes On...
I'm not sure I am the best at feeling blessed in bad situations. I am not one of those trying to always smile so that I can make the world think things are great when they suck. Rather I desire to see how I am blessed when things are tough.
My parents are at the hospital today. A lady that has worked for them for nearly 20 years found out in the last couple weeks she has colon cancer. Today Shirley is having surgery done. She is terrified and a bit hardheaded. She considered just not having the surgery. Not long ago she got mad at two of her friends because they took off work to go to the doctor with her. A couple years ago Shirley's husband died. I can't imagine finding strength in her situation.
Saturday my mom gave me a newspaper clipping. I went to high school with a girl named Shanna. Not long ago I was home and ran into her parents with her two oldest boys. She was at home with her little girl and was due to have the fourth soon. Saturday I found out the fourth, and infant, died. I imagine I would be devastated. I considered visiting her and her parents. I couldn't. What in the world would I tell them? How could I show them how much I hurt for them?
Monday morning my dad went to the dump to unload a trailer of trash. He fell, landed on the rail of the trailer, and was in such pain he just laid there for several minutes. After spending the afternoon at the doctor we found out he broke a rib. He is in quite a bit of pain and I hate seeing my dad this way.
Tuesday Ryan went to the doctor. Last fall he dropped a 1,000-pound sound cabinet on his foot at work. It crushed it. He has had numerous surgeries, metal plates, pins, and more put in there. At the doctor he found out he will need surgery again. The doctor wants to grind down part of the bone in his third toe. It will leave it immovable. In order to fix this problem, they want to attach it to the second toe. He is pretty disappointed. It will put him out of work for at least a month…again.
In three weeks I begin orientation to go overseas. I am so excited and yet worried. I will spend years away from the friends I have made in the last four years. After graduating we have all moved away from one another. It is hard to handle. I miss my friends. I love my parents; I have had great time with them. But I miss those who have become my other family. My family in Waco only has a few pieces in Waco. We have the ability to simply sit and talk for hours about nothing. We play together, and talk together. We laugh together, and pray together. Now we are all separated. I miss them. I'll miss them and my actual family when I am gone. I'm a bit nervous about the whole ordeal.
Just wanted to share life with those of you who swing by to read. By the way I have sent out an email to numerous people to join a prayer team as I head overseas. I am fully aware that I will need a blanket of prayer over me as I go and do ministry. If you have not heard from me I do not have an email to reach you. Let me know if you are interested in participating: send me an email.
One of the hardest things about leaving is that life still goes on for the rest of the world. My family will still get sick and hurt. Those I love may pass away. Others will get older or married or have kids. I will miss these milestones and I hate that. The last several weeks have been about saying goodbyes. They have been about seeing people I know and/or knew and sharing with them some time and a hug. I have a couple weeks left to do this. It's tough.
My parents are at the hospital today. A lady that has worked for them for nearly 20 years found out in the last couple weeks she has colon cancer. Today Shirley is having surgery done. She is terrified and a bit hardheaded. She considered just not having the surgery. Not long ago she got mad at two of her friends because they took off work to go to the doctor with her. A couple years ago Shirley's husband died. I can't imagine finding strength in her situation.
Saturday my mom gave me a newspaper clipping. I went to high school with a girl named Shanna. Not long ago I was home and ran into her parents with her two oldest boys. She was at home with her little girl and was due to have the fourth soon. Saturday I found out the fourth, and infant, died. I imagine I would be devastated. I considered visiting her and her parents. I couldn't. What in the world would I tell them? How could I show them how much I hurt for them?
Monday morning my dad went to the dump to unload a trailer of trash. He fell, landed on the rail of the trailer, and was in such pain he just laid there for several minutes. After spending the afternoon at the doctor we found out he broke a rib. He is in quite a bit of pain and I hate seeing my dad this way.
Tuesday Ryan went to the doctor. Last fall he dropped a 1,000-pound sound cabinet on his foot at work. It crushed it. He has had numerous surgeries, metal plates, pins, and more put in there. At the doctor he found out he will need surgery again. The doctor wants to grind down part of the bone in his third toe. It will leave it immovable. In order to fix this problem, they want to attach it to the second toe. He is pretty disappointed. It will put him out of work for at least a month…again.
In three weeks I begin orientation to go overseas. I am so excited and yet worried. I will spend years away from the friends I have made in the last four years. After graduating we have all moved away from one another. It is hard to handle. I miss my friends. I love my parents; I have had great time with them. But I miss those who have become my other family. My family in Waco only has a few pieces in Waco. We have the ability to simply sit and talk for hours about nothing. We play together, and talk together. We laugh together, and pray together. Now we are all separated. I miss them. I'll miss them and my actual family when I am gone. I'm a bit nervous about the whole ordeal.
Just wanted to share life with those of you who swing by to read. By the way I have sent out an email to numerous people to join a prayer team as I head overseas. I am fully aware that I will need a blanket of prayer over me as I go and do ministry. If you have not heard from me I do not have an email to reach you. Let me know if you are interested in participating: send me an email.
One of the hardest things about leaving is that life still goes on for the rest of the world. My family will still get sick and hurt. Those I love may pass away. Others will get older or married or have kids. I will miss these milestones and I hate that. The last several weeks have been about saying goodbyes. They have been about seeing people I know and/or knew and sharing with them some time and a hug. I have a couple weeks left to do this. It's tough.
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