updates on life!

Well a lot has happened since my last post,

My dog survived his battle with Totinos pizza and E-coli! He even survived eating a casserole dish but I don't have the time to blog about that. It has been a while since my last blog but hey its the Christmas rush and who has the time? There is shopping to do and Christmas celebrations to go to. However, as busy as it can be I still love this time of year. It is a time to be with family and friends. If you are like me just sitting down to watch Rudolph or the Grinch can almost take you back in time to when life as a kid just seemed easier. But most of all it is about making memories that will last a lifetime.

I don't remember a lot of specific gifts that I got but I clearly remember those who were great influences in my life. My grandpa who passed away this past year was one of those people. I believe he was on some sort of research team because he would always come down to our house to help us test all of our toys. Pap was always there to show us how it worked and make sure we went through all the safety inspections if that was needed. No need to worry about shooting your eye out cause he was there to help prevent that. I now realize that he was there not for the toys but to spend time with us. Toys really are just tools. They Tools to create memories which are what really last forever. I'm sure many doll houses will be built and break and Even the Xbox 360 will be replaced by better system. But I hope that we can all take the time to slow down a little just to create memories that will last forever. What better way to do that by spending time with our kids teaching them about Jesus who came into the world to be with us. To take time for us and eventually give the ultimate gift. My grandpa taught me that, not by words but through his actions and by spending time with us.

Take time for each other and have Merry Christmas!

Extra topping on that pizza?

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It was another one of those nights where I skipped supper due to time constraints. As I got home I noticed Deanna was not home yet, but had made some pizza earlier. Even though I am not usually a cold pizza guy, I was too hungry to care so served cold it was. Deanna and the kids arrived home and we put them to bed and then settled down to a relaxing evening of the News! Then it happened, A PIZZA recall! At that moment Deanna and I looked at each other as they posted the picture of TOTINOS pepperoni. Did I mention that I really don't like Totino's- especially with Pepperoni and E-Coli!

So here I am at 11:30 digging out the old pizza box to try and find the dreaded UPC match of the recall. Sure enough it was a match. So then I call the 1-800 number to find out what the next step is. The answer that the recording gave me was save the UPC number and destroy the pizza. We did! Just so happened we ate the whole thing! That is of course except for the two last bites that I gave to Samson. Please don't turn me into the humane society cause I really do love my dog. I'm not sure about Deanna though because I saw an extra sparkle in her eye when I told her I gave Samson a couple of bites. So what's the next step.

Pray!

Appreciation in the little things

This past week I was thinking about all the Little ways that people say thank you! I just want to say thanks to all who gave the gift this past week for pastors appreciation. I really enjoyed the the mug (though a little small), I was able to have it filled at Starbucks with a double shot espresso that equals four regular cups. Along with the mug my students gave me a card signed by them and filled with encouragement. Those are the gifts that keep you going.

But then there is another way to say thank you that sometimes goes unnoticed, ways to say we like you or appreciate you. You see last week we had the students over to the house after the football game. In the meantime I left my jeep up at the church so that I could drive the van to the game in case students needed a ride. As the night came to a close at around midnight I decided to drive the van back to the church and pick up the jeep. And to my surprise someone had left a little extra appreciation there in the jeep. I believe it was filled with about 4 rolls of toilet paper. I believe they must have cared and watched the weather because they didn't roll it on the outside but on the inside considering it rained that night. I was too tired at that point to take it down at that hour so here I am rolling down the road with a little breeze as toilet paper is blowing in the wind. Thankfully, the top was up considering I passed the local sheriff Just before I got to my street. My thought quickly moved to how would I explain this one to him. "Well officer you see I am a student Minister, Ok Where do you want me to sign?"

Luckily he did not turn around but it was in that moment that though in some strange way it wasn't an act done out of hate (I don't think), but appreciation? In the 10 years of Working with students here at BCC incidents of appreciation such as this is not unique. I have also had my car completely gift wrapped in which my only disappointment was that when I opened it, It was still a Saturn and not a Mustang Cobra. I have also had my car completely plastic wrapped. Let me just say before the parents that read this get too upset, I have my suspicion that this was not an act of teens.

Only God knows, but I only wish I knew so that I could return my token of appreciation to them.

Finally another blog!

I have heard the cries of the people (Clarence), Where is your blog?


Things have been really busy at the church lately but its all been for the good. As you know, we have recently started a new worship service for our students. They are leading worship, which I think is really cool. So many times you hear all the negative things about what kids are doing in the world but I feel that is not always an accurate picture of kids. I see kids who are willing to lead, serve, and grow in the Lord. We have several that help in our worship each week and they constantly amaze me as I watch them grow. Along with the worship, we also have those that are more behind the scenes and help in the technical aspect of worhship as well as preparing the communion.


With that new worship service we have seen new faces almost every week and that is very exciting. There will be many more busy days to come as our teens grow in this ministry as well as days ahead where they are growing to serve the Lord wherever they go!

full of hot air!

I know that a lot of folks say that I'm full of hot air but tonight tops it off! I'm sure if you are like me you are amazed when you see a hot air balloon. This evening as I'm coming out of the new office talking with Frank I noticed a balloon off in the distance. It was awesome to see on a beautiful evening of 100 degrees so I quickly go to get my son so he would not miss out on this as well. As I stood out there looking I noticed it was coming closer, So I called my wife to see if she could see it from where she was. It's obvious that I just didn't want anyone to miss out on this moment. As I am on the phone she concluded that she could see it. It was a wonderful moment that quickly changed! I then proceeded to tell my wife that he was flying very low almost brushing the trees across from the church. I told her that "it looks like he is in distress." At that moment he was almost directly over the church when he yelled from above "GRAB THE BASKET"! His distress quickly became my distress as I said "excuse me, I thought you said grab the basket." He once again yelled grab the basket. Now I don't know about you but that is not a routine thing for me. My thoughts quickly went into "don't mess this up" considering there were plenty of wires to get caught in. Well needles to say we brought it down with my feet only leaving the ground once. Not really but I thought they would. Frank and I became honorary crew members tonight! If the captain only knew who he was counting on maybe he would have gone on, but I'm glad he didn't. The captain said that I was so wide eyed that it made for a good landing spot. I guess if you fly in one of those you have to have a little faith since you're flying hundreds of feet in the air in a WICKER BASKET!

Just a side note to end this story. Apparently I'm not the only one that likes hot air balloons since several cars pulled in to see this. Maybe they were there just to see my feet off the ground but I think it is more likely that most just didn't want to miss the moment.

Wow my very first Blog!

Finally,



I'm Y2K ready, or at least stepping a little closer. I really am excited about this opportunity to tell you what is going on in my life as well as in our student ministry. There are changes coming our way but with those changes come great opportunities. Our students will get to lead their first worship service this week for many years to come. I am so proud of all of the efforts and time that they have put in this summer. They truly have grown in so many ways and I look forward to them leading in their areas of ministry.



I do believe in a student ministry philosophy rather than a youth ministry. Maybe you are thinking to yourself, What's the difference? I believe the difference comes in the mindset that the youth are a vital part of the church today and not just the church of tomorrow! I look forward to them taking part in ministry while at the same time leading their friend to Christ! That is the difference. Every student involved and growing in their relationship with Christ.



stay tuned for more!

Brian