Blocked!

I'm blocked. Not in life, not in a job search, but in a sermon. No joke, I have this horrible feeling I'm going to repeat myself if I talk about small people in the Bible. I talked about Jesus this past week, and this week I wanted to Moses, but again, it's so hard not to repeat yourself about how great God is when He takes the small people in life. I don't know!

I think I stretched my brain a little too much today...almost too much on my place for the day. Oh well...in other news I have 3 official students for music lessons and it's been great. I think I'm really going to enjoy this. But it will be some extra driving.

And home was great for all who are interested. It was restful but not too restful. My only question is what is going to develop from that trip home? It's interesting to see people you haven't seen for a while and how they act around you, and how much you truly miss them when you see them. And to share their burdens and their joys if not for just a little while. Distance just takes so much, and complacency sometimes settles in that you sometimes forget about those people. But yet when you see them, you know of your love for that person, because you want to share those burdens as soon as you see them. I love my people at home and I wish I could see them more often to share those burdens, but I know God has me here to share burdens with the people I love here in Kansas City.

Ok...I think that's enough from me...

What a Difference A Week Makes

Well, since I am procrastinating still, I might as well blog...I know this one is long but you should read it all the way through (speaking mainly to J on this!)...

What a difference a week makes. If you would have talked to one of my parental units last week, they would've thought my life was in shambles, leading to a dependence upon some type of drug [well I was on antibiotics last week, but that's besides the point :-)]. With all the work that was upon me, and just a pure unhappiness with my condition, I was buckling, hurting, angry. The difference of moving, the pressure of maintaining holiday events with the youth, the papers, the tests, the amazing pressure from women (oh wait, I don't have that problem, I'm too busy with the prior things) was unheard of. I found myself shaking my fists at God, saying let's do this thing! Of course any fist fight with God would be comical, as I would be punched into oblivion, far worse than being vaporized by a nuclear bomb. And then the weekend happened...And as I was giving a message about peace this past Sunday, God was speaking to me more than anything. And I have been getting to know my new roommate, I have discovered my ability to laugh again. Things have just been falling into place, which attests to the hope sermon I gave the week before.

And now I talked to my paternal unit today, and sure enough he said these words, "Well you sound a lot better than what you were." I realized my voice was calm, relaxed, and purely happy. I wasn't snapping nor clapping...oh wait I meant that in a tonal context with my voice. I wasn't angry, I wasn't rushed, I wasn't dying. It's sort of weird considering the tone of the semester, but here I am, living, breathing...only because of God. He got me through, in a way I could never imagine. He has blessed me with a great life, a great living space, a cool roommate who shares my name (it's confusing when his girlfriend comes over), a great youth group, a great family, and some awesome friends. What a difference a week makes, but God is great, He's awesome, even when I try to disagree...and that is a great thing. If you are in a hard time, know that God will get you through, whether the result is great or not something you wanted (I'm unsure of just one grade this semester), He will get you through, He will keep you, He won't abandon you, He'll shake you up, but that shaking can be awesome for you, for your life, for your character, for the people around you, for your ministry, for your call. Suffering creates character as Pastor Hankins said some odd years ago (the one sermon that has stuck with me for years). Be encouraged for our God is Great!

Every Pastor I Know Knows About This...and I LOVE THIS CONCEPTUAL VIDEO!!!!