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Just north of HOTlanta

06/10/2006 / Blake

And it’s hot here too!

We arrived here in Gainseville Thursday afternoon. After seeing where we sleep, I was amazed. It’s like a huge green Army tent that was about 189 degrees inside. Wood chips on the ground w/ a bit of a tarp to rest our heads on. Good stuff. So we get situated and then throw the frisbee for a while. The actual mission teams aren’t supposed to come til the next day, so we were able to kick back a bit.

Then we took a trip to CiCi’s Pizza. Arguably one of the best pizza buffets around, IMHO. Then a Target run for another frisbee and other necessities (the other one had already broken). Worship that night w/ the team leaders was different but good. But there were some experiential worship stations and some accoustic worship.

Following that was bed time. And we guys were in the big tent that was now cooled off a bit. There actually was a big fan in there, but it seemed to move hot air around. But it was night and cooler so it was bearable. But we had some fun. We call it…Shadow Puppett Theater. We made shadow puppets on the ceiling of the tent for at least 45 minutes. Classic. Then we went to sleep. And we woke up FREEZING. Don’t know why it was so cold. But it was. I mean unbearablly freezing.

Most of the Mississippi team goes to the airport while 3 guys stay behind w/ me and we mow/weedeat/patch tents/shuck corn/fill Tiki torches, fill water, wash dishes, etc. Then missionaries start to arrive. Again, this is a training camp for them before they go out to Kenya, Russia, or Peru. So they’re being trained, we’re serving them a bit and being trained a bit. But it’s a good mix of folks. Basically aged 15-22.

I’ll try to get some pics of where we’re staying and how everything is laid out soon. Camera was out of batteries, but got some new ones. It’s hot. There’s no AC, and I’m going minimal on the showers. Life is good!

Off again…

06/07/2006 / Blake

I’m done packing. Now I need to get to sleeping.

I should pull out of town tomorrow morning to go to Gainesville, GA to participate in an Adventures in Mission training camp. When AIM sends missionaries to diff parts of the country and world, they come for training first. Well, we’re going to be serving the missionaries. Serving food and cleaning after them and various stuff like that. But out group will get to participate in the Mission Trainging as well. So it’s a good deal for us. We get to give AND get!

One thing about Gainesville is that it is 37 miles from Northpoint Community Church. I’ve always wanted to check it out. Never been to a mega church before. And I really dig Andy Stanley. Not saying a megachurch is my thing. But dunno. Never been there.

But we’ll be sleeping in tents, using “home made” showers, and roughing it. Probably a contrast from BigStuf last week. But I should have net access of some sort, so I hope to have some updates and photos!

Back and forth

06/06/2006 / Blake

So last week we were at BigStuf. Fantastic week. This is my 10th summer to go there. I went one summer while in college as a “leader”, and then this was my 9th summer to take a group. So obviously I’m a believer in the quality of this place! BigStuf is always good stuff.

The trip started off w/ a bang…literally. It was only about 30 miles down the road before we had a blowout. But after a fairly quick tire change at a local tire store along the way, we were back on track.

Louie Giglio, Stuart Hall, and Jared Herd were the speakers for the week. Stuart was good, but had a few things in his talk that some of my kids thought were distracting. Some little jokes that probably keep middle school students on track were bumping some of my high school students off track it seemed. And a comment or two was taken wrong. In no way do I think that Stuart’s heart or intent was anything but pure, but it was something worth mentioning.

Jared Herd I’d heard before. In that time I thought he was almost a “Louie-lite” meaning he gave a message very similar to one I’d heard Louie give before and seemed to have a lot of the same mannerism and all. Not that that was a bad thing, but it seemed to be not his own stuff. This time I came away really enjoying Jared’s messages.

And of course Louie was speaking w/ impact again. Talked about being Wired for Worship and being Wired for This World. Pretty convicting stuff when he talked about how we all have responisibilities as Christians to minister to and support and help those in our world who seem hopeless.

Worship was as great as always. Started a little slower for some reason, but as the week went on, it seemed to grab me more. It deff was a production. More on that later, but they can really create an environment that is packed w/ the “Wow factor”.

All in all, it was a fantastic trip. There were no squabbles or fights that I know of between our students. And some funny stories as well. Maybe I’ll get the volleyball tourney story in or the motorcycle gang story up soon. Some are funny at the time, some are funny to look back on.

New Direction for MST?

05/29/2006 / Blake

MissSportsTalk.com has been a hobby of mine that grew from a baby to a vibrant adolescent. After being approached w/ a business opportunity a few months back, I decided to keep it independent and go it on my own. I figured selling advertising and some smart management could cover costs and maybe net a little profit.

But along comes another opportunity. I’m still figuring out details. But I need to continue to seek God for discernment in this. There are sticking points. Some that are not that pleasant. But there is also potential for growth and profit as well. But I’m not really sure where things are right now. I’m waiting to hear back on some questions. But if, and it’s still defiantly an IF right now, it could mean some changes for me. No moves or anything. And no day job changes. But changes, none the less.

Memorial Day

05/29/2006 / Blake

So I’m not writing like I promised myself. But here’s a lazy (so far) Memorial Day for me. Here’s what’s on tap:

Weed Eat: It’s been staring at me for a while. But I need to get on it. I can load up the mp3 player and listen to a podcast. I usually try to listen to the RelevantMag podcast while weedeating. But I have a few LOST ones to catch up on. I need to move some dirt that’s in a pile from where I planted a tree last weekend too.
Work Out: I’ve been neglecting that. And it seems my back is getting more and more stiff. Still to the point of a painful twinge if a bend just right (wrong?)
Dodge storms and grill out: Supposed to grill and swim w/ some friends later this afternoon/evening. But it could be a stormy time. We’ll see. But good times could be had.
Ride Bikes!: Not really me. But Addison has dropped the training wheels. Now she’s a free bird out there on her bike. I might walk w/ her while she rides the neighborhood loop.
I need to read: I need to read a lot. Bible, of course. But a few youth ministry books. Some are re-reads. Some are new reads. And of course there’s a few general reads I want to fit in.

It seems like at the start of my day I can tell you about 28 hours of stuff I think I need to get done. But then I also put in a few hours of stuff that doesn’t really matter much and at the end of the day I’m thinking I still have some of the same stuff to handle.

LOST Season Finale

05/24/2006 / Blake

Tonight is the season finale of LOST. It’s a 2 hour event. So that means that I’ll have to record it from 8 til 10, then stay up until midnight watching it. The Wife will try to convince me to come to bed and finish it tomorrow. But, c’mon, Honey! This is the season finale! And JJ Abrams has promised to blow everyone away.

I think LOST might actually be one of the best television shows ever. There have been a few times I wondered if it was starting to jump the shark. But no jumpage just yet. It has a great team of writers, a phenomenal following with all the online fan sites and theories. And some great Podcasts.

Here’s what I’m hoping to find out tonight:

Is there an underwater hatch?
Is Walt taller?
Will Michael get smacked around some? (I hope he does. Maybe by Hurley. He anoys me. But his son was stolen, so I should be sympathetic, right?)
Where has Desmond been?
Was Desmond married or somehow connected to Libby?
What happens when the button is not pushed?
Was the plane crashed on purpose?
Is Jack a brother to Claire?

Those are just a few.

Talking tomorrow

05/20/2006 / Blake

Tomorrow is the baccalaureate service at church. So as the Director of Youth Ministries, I get to deliever the message at the 10:45 service. Yea me!

I’m going to be sharing some from Phillipians 4:5-9 and Colossians 3:17. It’s about doing whatever you do w/ excellence. Not just half heartedly doing it. Big giving it your all and doing it for the Lord.

I think we lots of times get so caught up in trying to find out exactly what God wants us to do when He’s thinking, “Just go do something and be outstanding at it and bring Me glory through it and your circle of influence!” If it is being a coach or a architech or bus driver or store owner or market advisor or whatever….whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all to the glory of the Lord Jesus!

Now if I’ll just let my life’s walk actually reflect the talk!

Chazown

05/17/2006 / Blake

So I’ve started reading Chazown. If I read this and go through the processes and procedures of the book, I should have a much better idea of my Chazown, or VISION, for my life…at least according to Craig Groeschel. I hope I stick it out. Because I know I need some more focus in my life. I know I need more direction. But more than anything, I think I just need to get out there and take some risks. Just grab some innitiative and ambition and go for it.

I was driving through town the other day and saw a little quote outside of a store. They’re usually VERY cheezy, but this one said, “Opportunity never knocks; it just answers the door when you knock” I thought that was pretty right on! We have to make our opportunity happen. And I think that’s what God wants from us too. Not to just bury our resources and hope they don’t go away, but to be aggressive in investing them and making some of them. Not for ourselves….but for HIM.

Sad thing is…I think sometimes I hear good ole Opportunity knock…and I might even answer the door. But I invite him in to sit down and talk instead of grabbing Opportunity and taking full advantage of it.

Dear God…please break these chains that seem to hold me back. I don’t want to be held back….

The Race…..

05/15/2006 / Blake

This weeekend was Mother’s Day weekend. We went “home”. First to Tupelo to The Wife’s parents. We ended up calling my dad who came down to eat with us, and we all went to Vanelli’s. Of course I got a calzone, the MasterZoni. But it was good times. The only thing was that my throat was killing me.

I’d stayed home from work the day before because I was still feverish. Almost threw up, but didn’t. But by Friday there was no fever, no funny stomach, and no headache…but just an extrememly raw throat. It felt like someone crushed a Coke bottle and ground it into my throat.

The next morning we all went to run in the Gum Tree Race. The Wife ran the 10K while Addie and I ran the 2K. That’s 1.2 miles for you non-metric people. Longer story about that later. But after the race and lunch we headed to Amory to see my mom and grandmother. Nice supper, nice lunch on Sunday (~~raw~~, rare steak!) And then headed back to Clinton to jump back into the swing and go to church.

But on Sunday morning we did go to church at my old church. Saw lots of people that we’d not seen in a while. It was really nice. I miss those people. And I think I miss being around some, and though it’s bittersweet, I don’t regret moving to Clinton at all. Kinda funny like that.

Smart Move Dad!

05/10/2006 / Blake

Well, I know I’ve not been posting much at all the last few days. And they’ve been hectic.

Monday was my Seven Year Wedding Anniversary. I’d planned a night out w/ The Wife. She had to come home from work late, but we were going to head out as soon as she got back and cleaned off. The baby sitters were here. Supper was out of the oven. But all was not well. Addison was cold. She’d been cold since she’d gotten out of the bath tub. But drying off, putting on clothes, drying her hair, and switching to a long sleeve shirt didn’t help. Neither did wrapping up in her favorite snuggly blanket.

So I took her temp. Straight up 100. But a call to the sitter said and she said it was fine for her to keep a “feverish” kid. But Addie didn’t want us to leave. And just as everyone was set, and we were about to leave, (and Addie mewing in the background, “I don’t want you to leave…..”) it happened. She threw up all over herself and the couch.

So an emergency bath, new clothes, and a quick nap happened. We ate our 7th Anniversary dinner with the baby sitters and our 17month old. Fun times. But after we all watched David Blaine get hyped for two hours and then not hold his breath long enough, Addie threw up again. And then 2 more times in the night.

Today, Wednesday, two days after the fact, I think she’s mostly out of the woods. A sore throat. Not really energetic, but in a good mood most of the time. But she’s really only had two pieces of toast and a bowl of oatmeal in the last 55 hours.

But I think a lesson has been learned through all of this. Late Monday night. I was wondering about the accuracy of the handy dandy digital thermometer. He temp was usually 100 or 101 point something. And I figured it could be wrong. So I took my temp. It was only 97.5 or something like that. I guess I really am a cool dude. But The Wife saw me do that and her jaw dropped.

I was putting the same thermometer that had been in my feverish, puking, achey, burning up, unsettled stomach daughter. It had been in her mouth multiple times. Yes, I put it in mine to take my temp.

So now, nearly 48 hours later. My throat is starting to not feel so well, and my temp is rising….. Smart move dad!