Simply Follow

It will always be true that the wisest course for the disciple is always to abide solely by the Word of God in all simplicity. D. Boenhoffer

I just rediscovered this quote this week and am reminded that too many times I try to make it to hard. I am pretty troubled over some things happening at church and am really trying to pray, seek God, and not respond like I want to. I know that I could be wrong on a couple things related to this so I am really trying to seek out wisdom and understanding before doing anything.

I want to be honoring in all that I think, say and do and right now that is just praying and asking God to guide my thoughts. I need wisdom and to be filled with grace.

Morgan seems to be getting some better and made another visit to our chiropractor, and in my opinion the best witch doctor, uh, I mean chiropractor in the world. Don is truly one of those guys who loves the Lord and is very good at chiropractic care. Morgan said that today she felt some things move back into place that hurt like crazy, but is finally finding relief. I make my monthly call to the witch doctor today. He is the best. We will be glad when Morgan gives us the thumbs up sign that her head no longer hurts.

The weekend was good. No DCA Wildcats football so a Fri. night at home, Sat. am started at 430 with a 20-miler and then Panera with my bride. I love our time talking at Panera on Sat. mornings. My favorite time of every week just hanging with my beautiful wife.

Shelbi seems to be adjusting as RA there at Union. Sadie, our Westie, continues to be herself. Moody, loves me when it is ball or take a walk time.

A couple of soccer games on tap this week but looks like Morgan may miss at least one of them if not both. We need to get her well so it might be next week before she is back in action.

Going to Update More

I realize that I have not been the most up-to-date blog poster the last couple of months. All kinds of excuses but none of them are very good. Everyone is busy, etc., etc.

I have enjoyed some time at home the last couple of weeks. I love my wife and daughters and even sort of like our Westie, Sadie, now more than I used to. Work has been pretty busy and I have been researching some new things to begin working on some new presentations. I have been doing quite a bit of reading and trying to figure out what youth leader's are asking and what some of the current issues that leaders are dealing with. I will post more on those findings on a new blog that we are going to be starting very soon for LifeWay Student Ministry.

The LifeWay National Youth Worker's Conference is quickly approaching again and I have been trying to make sure all my ducks are in a row for that. We have a great team of folks that I get to work with on that event. You can find out info on the conference here.

Shelbi is in full swing at Union University and she is getting her feet wet as a new RA. I got to spend some time with her on Monday and today on my way thru Jackson. She has 35 young ladies in her dorm that she is responsible for and is also taking 13 hours this semester. She will be stretched. I led a couple of evenings of conferences in West Tennessee this week. Good folks and lots of fun training.

Morgan took a shot after a header in her soccer game last night and got her bell rung. Not fully diagnosed as a concussion and could be whiplash. She is holding her own but has a headache that hopefully will subside soon. She is still pretty much herself and quick with her tongue. I think she will live. Her soccer team plays again tomorrow night but she will not be playing. By the way, they tied Lipscomb 1-1 last night and have Davidson tomorrow. The pic above shows Morgan a little bored.

I have a 20-miler scheduled for Sat. am so I will be pretty worthless Sat. afternoon. I forgot to take socks with me to Memphis and did 7 miles yesterday am with 4x1 mile repeats. My heels got pretty gnarled but it was my own fault. I bought some socks and TJ Maxx yesterday and ran today. Let's just say the socks were pretty bloody. Going to have to work on that before tomorrow's run and especially before Saturday's run.

Committing to update more often and share more than just some family stuff.

You Did What?

Last week was somewhat of a whirlwind even though I was in town. Morgan and I got home late last Sunday night from Orlando and it was good to be home. Monday was a day of catch up and shopping for Sondra and the girls. Morgan had soccer practice and then started school on Tuesday. Her sr. year. Crazy!

Wednesday found us headed to Jackson with a friend's Yukon packed with Shelbi's stuff. She is an RA this year so she needed to move in early. They have been in a retreat and then freshman show up later this week.

Sondra had an endoscopy on Fri. and everything came out good. She has been suffering from anemia so they have checked her out pretty thoroughly in the last month. They have discovered a couple of things that could be the cause and are following up. Thankfully those two things are not major issues.

The weekend was nice. Good to be home. I did an 18-miler on Sat. am in prep for the Detroit Marathon and was blessed to have a good friend, Dan run 14 of them with me. Always helps to have someone else along on those long runs.

Yesterday was church and training for a local church and then our annual church picnic last night at New Hope. Pretty hot and buggy but good to catch up with some folks. Looking forward to a good week in the office with youth ministers we invite her for a conference called Student Beta. Love getting to meet new folks in ministry.

Morgan has her first soccer game of the year tonight. Go Wildcats!

Florida

Morgan and I got the opportunity to come to Orlando for the FL Youth Evangelism Conference and represent LifeWay Student Ministry. It has been a good weekend. We flew over on Fri. and leave out later tonight. We have not done a whole lot but I have really enjoyed just spending time with her. She starts her sr. year on Tues. at DCA and it is pretty hard to believe that time has flown by so quickly.

Building 429 and Tony Nolan were the platform personalities and they did a very good job. There were close to 1oo decisions for Christ on Friday night and then yesterday afternoon students distributed groceries to over 100 families in the Orlando area. I love seeing students in action. I also had many great conversations with youth leaders about how we can more effectively minister to students. I love my job.

Last night we met our friends the Keators for dinner at Pizza Fusion (all organic) and had a great time with them. We have known Patti for close to 25 years. We love the Keators and plan on going over to their house later today to hang out before flying out tonight.

Sondra has enjoyed her time with her mom in Missouri this week. She met up with some college friends, did a little painting at her mom's and got her Skype working again for her.

Shelbi and one of her college roommates, Andi, have been in SC all week with our friends the Carringers and they have had a great time. All of us converge back on the house tonight. Morgan starts back to school on Tues. and we take Shelbi back to Union on Weds. where she starts her 2nd year and will be an RA this year as well. Another summer almost in the books.

Looking forward to the day and the week and thankful for God's blessings on us as a family.

An Interesting Week

This past week seemed to fly by to me. I was on retreat with the LifeWay Student Ministry Team on Weds./Thurs. and we met at Deer Run Retreat where Shelbi has been working all summer. (She finished today by the way.) I discovered a major issue in my left armpit that ended up being an abscess that the dr. lanced and packed. Looks like I will live. It did knock me out of an 18-miler on Sat. though.

Lots has been happening with the Cash for Clunkers stuff in the media. Glad new cars are being sold, old gas hogs are being taken off the road, but not sure how much more I can afford for others to drive new cars and I am more than a little concerned about people making 7 years worth of payments on a new car that many might default on the loans. Didn't we sort of do this already with houses a few years ago which is sort of why we are where we are?

Enjoying being off the road some. Morgan and I do head to Orlando this weekend to participate in the FL Youth Evangelism Conference on Fri/Sat. We are staying over until Sunday to play a little before she starts back to school on Tues.

Sondra heads to her mom's tomorrow to spend some time with her and she will be back on Sun. Shelbi comes home today and leaves tomorrow to go spend some time with our friends The Carringers in Florence, SC. Their place is like a resort with a great pool and wonderful meals. They are very good to take care of us.

Make it a good week!

BTW, Morgan got her sr. pics back and I posted one so you could see it. Hard to believe our youngest is a sr.