Sad Day!

Hey folks

Today has been a sad day for the White household. Last night my dog Samson's heart gave out. I guess for us it was just such a shock considering he made it through so many other trials as noted before in a previous blog. There was no doubt that he truly was man's best friend since Whenever I came home he was always there to greet me. No matter how bad my day was he never held it against me and only once did he bite the hand that fed him. That was clearly an accident. I knew he was a special dog cause on the day I got him UC beat Duke in the Alaska shootout. I thought it was my lucky dog but then in the later years he just couldn't help the Bearcats ,Bengals or Reds but I guess I was just to attatched to let him go. No doubt animals are hard to let go of. They just become part of the family. While you have them you take them for granted but when you lose them, we miss everything about them (even if they do slobber!)

Throughout the years working in Youth ministry I have heard many prayer request for a family dog cat or maybe even a fish. You pray and hope for the best. But then there is the toughest question "Will my dog go to heaven?" You just smile and do what you can to comfort them. I'm not sure about that but today I have thought about it. I don't think the Lord has a suggestion box for heaven, but if he did "Could I just make one?"

Time to blog

"Be still and know that I am God"

A few weeks ago I got to experience that by visiting Billy Graham's training center located in the Smoky mountains. I don't know about you but some times I have a hard time being still long enough to listen to God. It just so happens that I am one of those gadget guys with an I-pod and a cell phone on me at all times. However as I got to the Cove I quickly realized that I didn't have cell phone service except for one spot on the porch. There was also no sportcenter on the TV since there was not one there. After the first night the shakes went away and I really began to like knowing that I was disconnected for a little while. I really began to like the silence to be able to be more in tune with God. When you think about it these gadgets are supposed to make our life easier and more connected, but do they really? It kind of makes you wonder how many opportunities we miss with the creator. Sure a 42 inch plasma looks good on Super-bowl Sunday, but not as good as a beautiful mountain side view when God wants to connect with you!

"Be Still and know that I am God"

Maybe mom was on to something when she would ask. Can't you JUST SIT STILL?

Look into 2008!

Well 2007 is gone and here we are at 2008!

The years seem to go a little faster as each passes by. 2007 was a great year with several things accomplished.

In our ministry we started a youth band for the youth service. Each week I watch the students grow and be challenged to new levels. They continue to get better as time goes by and I look forward to years from now watching them lead.

We were able to start a Young adults group that Deanna and I lead at our house (I believe we are grandfathered in since we are not young adults!) However its great to get to spend time with them and we are looking forward to 2008 and what God has in store for that ministry.
For me I personally set out to run my first Marathon (Checked it off at a Whopping 5 hours and 28 minutes) I did learn a lot training for it though. First you don't wake up one morning and decide to run one without training. At least I would not recomend it. Our life is like a marathon, Sometimes we want things right now but in reality things we want to accomplish take time and discipline. Each step we take is one closer to our goal. Someday we can look back and say we did accomplish what we sat out to do. However in this life We are not finished.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1 NIV

I hope that God will bless you in 2008! Well gotta Run (really!)