I cannot believe that it is almost November (and as such, the unofficial beginning of the holiday season). This year has flown. It's been a good year. Looks like the end of the year promises to be exciting too.
Today Andy had an unexpected opportunity offered to him. A friend of his called and said that Camp Kirkland needed a 4th trumpet for his jazz band for a mission trip to Guatemala. (Friend is also playing trumpet in the band.) Okay, so that sounds like fun - when is it??? December! I was shocked to learn that we needed to come up with two grand by December 28th and half was due TODAY. Wild. But this is a great opportunity and I am hoping to garner some financial support from our previous churches. Lord knows I wasn't planning on spending that kind of money right now. I am still in "get-out-of-debt-asap" mode. (And it is working!) But this will be great for Andy. For those of you who don't know Camp Kirkland, he is huge in Christian church music circles. He started the instrumental program at First Baptist Jacksonville back in the 70's. Writes a ton of choral literature. Very, very famous in church music. Andy was so excited - he calls me and says, YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHO I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH!! Of course he was speaking of Mr. Kirkland. But he is thrilled and I am thrilled for him. The idea of being able to go on a large-scale mission trip (which he loves) and be able to have the opportunity to observe someone who has spent their lives in church music composition and orchestration is really something. BTW - if anyone wishes to make a tax-deductible donation towards the trip - let me know. ;)
Otherwise, looks like my parents are coming in town this weekend to entertain me while Andy goes to Halloween Horror Night at Universal Studios with Matt. It'll be a great weekend. Last weekend was great too. Andy had a nice visit with his folks (yay! Finally!) I watched the entire Season three of Frasier. I just love that show.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Friday, October 13, 2006
Fun, fun, fun! (imported from Myspace)
Wow. Besides working so much, I have had a VERY fun past week and a half or so!
Last weekend we went to Gulf Shores with my aunt and family. It was beautiful weather and since I haven't ever actually been to Gulf Shores before, it was a neat experience. Overall, I think I still like Destin better - more to do. The condo was great though. Really, really nice. I think Andy and I may rent one sometime again. Since we were so close, we drove over to Mobile and ate at Moe's Southwest Grille (YUM!) and went to the Gulf Coast Exploreum. We watched an awesome show about the Mars Rover, which was just amazing. I can't believe how smart some people are.....The moved showed what the Mars Rover had to do to land - and I guess I had never realized that since it was unmanned, it had to LAND ITSELF!! Wow. So smart. But this was my first IMAX experience, and I just loved it. (Even though I did get seasick a couple of times!)
Last night we went to see the SEACT (Southeast Alabama Community Theater) production of Beauty and the Beast, which was just really great. I enjoyed it so much. Made me miss Jacksonville just a little less, getting to go see a show here! I think we may get on the mailing list for SEACT and start trying to attend their shows. It was well worth it. The costuming was really astounding. They had a wardrobe character, and they had built her a fully functional wardrobe costume with doors and drawer and all. SO COOL. Also, the mop and broom were hilarious (once I figured out what they were)! But the whole thing was just really well done. Andy and I agreed that the guy who played Lafue, Gaston's little henchman, did the best job of all the characters, save Belle (who had a tremendous voice!). Lafue just really sold out to his stupid character and that made it all the more fun.
This weekend I am going to Jacksonville. I am looking forward to it. Haven't been over since July. (Boy it doesn't seem like that long.) I wish I would have more time to spend this weekend with some other friends who will be in town (Vickie, in particular!), but my weekend is so crammed full already that it would be impossible. I am excited about getting to see Carrie though! Haven't seen her in a year now, since I met her in Phenix City. Considering I barely keep up with anyone from high school, it is mucho importante to me to get to see her this weekend! Someday I hope to get to go visit Leah in Cape Canaveral, but boy, that is SUCH a long drive!!
So, all is well here. I am still working through what to do with my girls bible study. I am just not into what we are studying and neither are they. They want to redo a study that I actually wrote and printed up. I don't know if I want to do that or not. Part of me does, but part of me wants to go ahead and write something brand new. We will see. I am really drawn right now to studying the character traits that God hates......lots to learn there....
But I do have a new (for the moment) favorite song - Avalon's version of "In Christ Alone." (The praise song, not the Michael English song.) I think it is a poignant and theologically sound as any hymn. I get so tired of people griping about "new" church music/praise and worship. Oh, shut up about it already. You cannot argue with the lyrics of this song. Love the line that says "No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me. From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny." then goes on...."No power of hell, no scheme of men can ever pluck me from His hand. 'Til he returns or call me home, here in the Power of Christ I'll stand." You know, I think I'll post these lyrics, just like my friend Sarah does. (BTW - you post some great stuff, Sarah!)
Last weekend we went to Gulf Shores with my aunt and family. It was beautiful weather and since I haven't ever actually been to Gulf Shores before, it was a neat experience. Overall, I think I still like Destin better - more to do. The condo was great though. Really, really nice. I think Andy and I may rent one sometime again. Since we were so close, we drove over to Mobile and ate at Moe's Southwest Grille (YUM!) and went to the Gulf Coast Exploreum. We watched an awesome show about the Mars Rover, which was just amazing. I can't believe how smart some people are.....The moved showed what the Mars Rover had to do to land - and I guess I had never realized that since it was unmanned, it had to LAND ITSELF!! Wow. So smart. But this was my first IMAX experience, and I just loved it. (Even though I did get seasick a couple of times!)
Last night we went to see the SEACT (Southeast Alabama Community Theater) production of Beauty and the Beast, which was just really great. I enjoyed it so much. Made me miss Jacksonville just a little less, getting to go see a show here! I think we may get on the mailing list for SEACT and start trying to attend their shows. It was well worth it. The costuming was really astounding. They had a wardrobe character, and they had built her a fully functional wardrobe costume with doors and drawer and all. SO COOL. Also, the mop and broom were hilarious (once I figured out what they were)! But the whole thing was just really well done. Andy and I agreed that the guy who played Lafue, Gaston's little henchman, did the best job of all the characters, save Belle (who had a tremendous voice!). Lafue just really sold out to his stupid character and that made it all the more fun.
This weekend I am going to Jacksonville. I am looking forward to it. Haven't been over since July. (Boy it doesn't seem like that long.) I wish I would have more time to spend this weekend with some other friends who will be in town (Vickie, in particular!), but my weekend is so crammed full already that it would be impossible. I am excited about getting to see Carrie though! Haven't seen her in a year now, since I met her in Phenix City. Considering I barely keep up with anyone from high school, it is mucho importante to me to get to see her this weekend! Someday I hope to get to go visit Leah in Cape Canaveral, but boy, that is SUCH a long drive!!
So, all is well here. I am still working through what to do with my girls bible study. I am just not into what we are studying and neither are they. They want to redo a study that I actually wrote and printed up. I don't know if I want to do that or not. Part of me does, but part of me wants to go ahead and write something brand new. We will see. I am really drawn right now to studying the character traits that God hates......lots to learn there....
But I do have a new (for the moment) favorite song - Avalon's version of "In Christ Alone." (The praise song, not the Michael English song.) I think it is a poignant and theologically sound as any hymn. I get so tired of people griping about "new" church music/praise and worship. Oh, shut up about it already. You cannot argue with the lyrics of this song. Love the line that says "No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me. From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny." then goes on...."No power of hell, no scheme of men can ever pluck me from His hand. 'Til he returns or call me home, here in the Power of Christ I'll stand." You know, I think I'll post these lyrics, just like my friend Sarah does. (BTW - you post some great stuff, Sarah!)
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Being faithful where God has placed me. (imported from Myspace)
I never cease to be amazed at how God works in my life.
This is small, but encouraging to me. Last night we had somewhere around 35 kids in youth. This is GREAT for us! But I find myself disappointed in how severely UNSPIRITUAL some of them are. Not the brand new ones, but ones that have been around and ought to have grown. Then of course, girls seem to think that everytime another girl says something semi-derogatory about our group that I need to know. (Like, what am I going to do about it??) This does little but discourage me. Last night was just one occurrence of this. I was told by a good source that one of our girls was asked by her little visitor friend why she goes to girls bible study and she replied that she didn't know but that it "wasn't a big deal" and she didn't have to come if her little visitor friend didn't want to. I mean, our girl is in 7th grade......she doesn't know which end is up right now and I am not going to put a lot of stock in the offbeat comments she makes to look cool to her (also 7th grade) buddy. But I still get discouraged. I throw my heart and soul into that group and it seems like the fruit isn't there like I would like. Now we have had plenty of growth, but numerical growth has NEVER been my goal.
So, to make a short story longer, I was kind of down, even though our numbers were so good last night. I felt (and still feel) like I'm not having the impact that I want.. I want these kids to really experience God, and I don't know that that is happening. We are doing our best and giving it our all, but sometimes all just doesn't seem to be enough when there is so much pressure on them from the outside.
But this morning, I turned to my devotional and it was titled "Doing what we can." Applicable. It used 1 Corinthians 3:5-15 as the scripture reference ("He who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward.....") But it just encouraged the reader to remember that we cannot look in our limited understanding and see what effect we are or are not having in our ministry. God knows and will work it all out for His glory. There was a quote in the reading that from an unnamed clergyman that read "We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development.....We cannot do everything, and there's a sense of liberation in realizing that."
How great to remind myself that I CAN'T do everything. God is working out HIS plan in each of these teenager's lives. They have a free will at work as well. But God is placing people in their lives, me and Andy, their parents, other mentors and through us working as a team, God will work out His plan for their lives. I can see that in my own life. God placed several people in my life, one after another, to allow me to see God in their lives. Even my youth pastors - their teachings I have long forgotten, but how they conducted themselves and the lives that they lead taught me how to follow Jesus in a very practical way.
The devotion ended with: "You are a succes in God's kingdom if you are faithful where He has placed you."
My prayer of response is that I would TRULY BE faithful in everything that he has entrusted to me and where he has placed me.
This is small, but encouraging to me. Last night we had somewhere around 35 kids in youth. This is GREAT for us! But I find myself disappointed in how severely UNSPIRITUAL some of them are. Not the brand new ones, but ones that have been around and ought to have grown. Then of course, girls seem to think that everytime another girl says something semi-derogatory about our group that I need to know. (Like, what am I going to do about it??) This does little but discourage me. Last night was just one occurrence of this. I was told by a good source that one of our girls was asked by her little visitor friend why she goes to girls bible study and she replied that she didn't know but that it "wasn't a big deal" and she didn't have to come if her little visitor friend didn't want to. I mean, our girl is in 7th grade......she doesn't know which end is up right now and I am not going to put a lot of stock in the offbeat comments she makes to look cool to her (also 7th grade) buddy. But I still get discouraged. I throw my heart and soul into that group and it seems like the fruit isn't there like I would like. Now we have had plenty of growth, but numerical growth has NEVER been my goal.
So, to make a short story longer, I was kind of down, even though our numbers were so good last night. I felt (and still feel) like I'm not having the impact that I want.. I want these kids to really experience God, and I don't know that that is happening. We are doing our best and giving it our all, but sometimes all just doesn't seem to be enough when there is so much pressure on them from the outside.
But this morning, I turned to my devotional and it was titled "Doing what we can." Applicable. It used 1 Corinthians 3:5-15 as the scripture reference ("He who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward.....") But it just encouraged the reader to remember that we cannot look in our limited understanding and see what effect we are or are not having in our ministry. God knows and will work it all out for His glory. There was a quote in the reading that from an unnamed clergyman that read "We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development.....We cannot do everything, and there's a sense of liberation in realizing that."
How great to remind myself that I CAN'T do everything. God is working out HIS plan in each of these teenager's lives. They have a free will at work as well. But God is placing people in their lives, me and Andy, their parents, other mentors and through us working as a team, God will work out His plan for their lives. I can see that in my own life. God placed several people in my life, one after another, to allow me to see God in their lives. Even my youth pastors - their teachings I have long forgotten, but how they conducted themselves and the lives that they lead taught me how to follow Jesus in a very practical way.
The devotion ended with: "You are a succes in God's kingdom if you are faithful where He has placed you."
My prayer of response is that I would TRULY BE faithful in everything that he has entrusted to me and where he has placed me.
Monday, October 2, 2006
I'm going to Gulf Shores!! Yeah!! (imported from Myspace)
Typical Monday morning. Lots to do. And I feel like doing very little. :)
We had a nice weekend - stayed at home nearly all day Saturday, but boy did I work my duff off. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. Then I painted outside for a while. I don't know when I will be able to finish that painting. What a chore. I hate it. But my house is clean now, so I can finally relax since the chaos is gone. I even ironed!! That is major for me......Rhonda DOES NOT iron. (Well, only about twice a year, if that.) We did watch a fantastic movie on Saturday - Glory Road. Really liked it.
Work is work. Nothing new to report here.
My mom is contemplating joining myspace. I have been after her for several months - she needs to hurry up! Everybody's else's mom is on! ;)
We went back to our Sanctuary yesterday. We have been holding church services in our gigantic Family Life Center, but alas, yesterday we returned to "high church." This thrilled some, depressed others, but as for me, the verdict is still out. I cannot stand not to be able to use the gym area at all - limits us greatly, but I really like the casual feel of the gym. I really am anti-dressing up, aren't I? The sanctuary is kind of cramped, but it is a nice Sanctuary. It could be much much worse. I mean, at least we have the projector and screen installed now. That makes a HUGE difference. (thank the Lord for private donors!) But this puts to an end (albeit temporary) to the fussing over being in the family life center. Talk about whining.....we have heard it all. I don't care. I can worship where ever I need to. Just hate to hear people get so bent out of shape over nothing. Makes me ill.
We're going out of town soon! Gulf Shores bound. I cannot wait. I think even Andy is excited. Going to take our bikes and meet my aunt, uncle and family at a condo down there. It should be great.
Otherwise, we are mucho busy-o. Believe it or not, only 90 days until 2007. So hard to believe.......and I will be 26.....AAAHHH!! What happened. I was 22 and blinked! (Watch out guys, blinking will get you every time!) haha.
We had a nice weekend - stayed at home nearly all day Saturday, but boy did I work my duff off. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. Then I painted outside for a while. I don't know when I will be able to finish that painting. What a chore. I hate it. But my house is clean now, so I can finally relax since the chaos is gone. I even ironed!! That is major for me......Rhonda DOES NOT iron. (Well, only about twice a year, if that.) We did watch a fantastic movie on Saturday - Glory Road. Really liked it.
Work is work. Nothing new to report here.
My mom is contemplating joining myspace. I have been after her for several months - she needs to hurry up! Everybody's else's mom is on! ;)
We went back to our Sanctuary yesterday. We have been holding church services in our gigantic Family Life Center, but alas, yesterday we returned to "high church." This thrilled some, depressed others, but as for me, the verdict is still out. I cannot stand not to be able to use the gym area at all - limits us greatly, but I really like the casual feel of the gym. I really am anti-dressing up, aren't I? The sanctuary is kind of cramped, but it is a nice Sanctuary. It could be much much worse. I mean, at least we have the projector and screen installed now. That makes a HUGE difference. (thank the Lord for private donors!) But this puts to an end (albeit temporary) to the fussing over being in the family life center. Talk about whining.....we have heard it all. I don't care. I can worship where ever I need to. Just hate to hear people get so bent out of shape over nothing. Makes me ill.
We're going out of town soon! Gulf Shores bound. I cannot wait. I think even Andy is excited. Going to take our bikes and meet my aunt, uncle and family at a condo down there. It should be great.
Otherwise, we are mucho busy-o. Believe it or not, only 90 days until 2007. So hard to believe.......and I will be 26.....AAAHHH!! What happened. I was 22 and blinked! (Watch out guys, blinking will get you every time!) haha.
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