A worried, blinded eye

Tonight at choir practice, something Bryan Taylor said really convicted me deeply, though he doesn't even know it. He was talking about different types of sins we all probably commit, and he said, "worrying about your finances" as he spoke. I really don't know what he said after that, because what he said really stood out in my mind.

He's right - that is a sin. Human nature and the flesh cause us to worry, even though we're commanded otherwise. But in our case, if you're being prudent financially, everything's fine, and you're still worried, then you're doubting God's ability to work in your life and essentially making your finances an idol to be worshipped or at least focused upon for an unhealthy, inordinate amount of time.

My current job that I have right now ends in very early January, win, lose or draw. Ideally, another position will appear otherwise, either before or when that one ends. But I'm worried about that not because I want to simply have something to do outside of the house, but because I am worried about how we'll pay our bills once this job is over.

Not often do you sit in choir practice and get cut to the quick with a convicting statement. But it felt good. I've been praying that God would reveal Himself to us, showing us what He wants us doing and where He wants us to do it in the future. He most definitely revealed Himself to me tonight, but not in the manner I expected. But good, bad, or otherwise, feeling His presence in my life and showing me very quickly a point I needed to work on was a welcome moment, fleeting as though it may have been.

Now if I could only stop worrying about the Cards' lack of bullpen pitching...

Silver Dollar City

Well, backtracking to about 6 weeks ago, we never got the chance to tell you about our trip to Branson. I hadn't been there in about 30 years or so - my memories were completely pre-tourism boom - and Tammy & the boys had never been there. So, when we got down there the Thursday of Memorial Day weekend, it was an awesome sight.

We stayed at the Grand Country Inn...not exactly the Plaza Suite, but with the indoor waterpark, the boys were in tall cotton. We barely had time to check in before our show at the Dixie Stampede. Probably anyone who's reading this blog that's been to the show knows it's essentially National Championship Rodeo meets Cirque du Soleil. Although Tammy said quite accurately the Cirque du Soleil folks don't have a 25-foot tall Dolly Parton singing "God Bless America" on a movie screen.

BTW, I finished the whole bird, folks. For those of you who've been there, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

And, to highlight the evening, Jonathan and David were two of the four chicken chasers for the night! Afterward, we headed back and let the boys experience the amazing indoor water park before hitting the sheets. Friday and Saturday we spent the days at Silver Dollar City - and I got sooooo drenched on the water toboggan ride - and the boys just loved "Fire in the Hole". We spent one night mini-golfing and another back at the hotel at the water park. It was here that I noticed the first of my two ear infections over the last month or so.

Yahoo.

Anyway, we shopped a little on Sunday and then headed back north. It was just a great, great time. Plenty of pics that we'll try to get posted soon, too.

More updates on the last few weeks when we get a chance.

Oh, and Brandy, I do remember when we used to blog. It was nice. You're right!

My evening with Michael

Finally, many weeks late & overdue, here's a picture of a balding me and my voice-crush, Michael English, after his May concert in O'Fallon. Just an amazing voice and an amazing testimony of his faith in Christ and true, tangible redemption.

If you've not gotten a chance to read his book, "The Prodigal Comes Home", give it a read. It's just a fantastic book.

Revival in the land

Yes, it's late, but I can't sleep. My ear feels like it's going to come thru the side of my head (this is Scott, btw), so I thought I'd be a bit productive and type an entry from the comfort of my bed.

Just the mental image each of you needed, eh?

I'll wait while you go slaughter some hogs to get the image of me in bed out of your collective minds.

Anyway, I was pretty miserable this morning w/my ear, so I didn't get to listen to Bro. Jeff's sermon in person this morning. From what I hear, like others we've missed because of vacations, I'll want to catch it later this week once it's posted online.

He spoke again on revival...not the normal type of church revival we think of at the first mention of the word. Not a three to five day revival with pot lucks we see at church and that - if we're lucky in modern-day society - 50% of any given church body will attend. No - this was a personal revival. He brought the base of that message last week, and this week he apparently expounded upon it even more in depth.

I want to hear this sermon.

You see, I remember where I was this time last year in my walk. Struggling, confused & conflicted between our desire to really be fed and grow in our walk versus my flesh's desire to not admit defeat, not admit that things weren't hunky-dorie where we were attending at the time, and not admit that - for my family's spiritual health and for mine - we needed to leave where we were attending at the time and go elsewhere.

Flash forward to the first part of July in 2008.

Am I where I need to be spiritually? Not even close. Am I satisfied with my walk with Christ? Not even close. Am I satisfied with my prayer life? Time in His Word?

Not even close. I am, as I have been in the past, a miserable failure to what I should be.

But I sense a closeness with Jesus I've not felt in a great while. We have a great desire to be at church, to fellowship with our fellow believers, to hear Bro. Jeff and to dig deep, deep, deep into the Word to see what truths God is preparing to reveal to each of us. This morning when I couldn't get my ear settled down enough to go, there was a longing in my heart to be there, knowing God's spirit and His truths were being revealed for all those in attendance. Tonight at our small group, we really began to dig in to experiencing God around us in a church fellowship, talking more about the call in 1 Corinthians 12 to rejoice and suffer with others in the church body; not just in a surface, disconnected way, but fully joined as a body of believers should be. I long for these moments - to rejoice, suffer, and share with my brothers and sisters in Christ like never before.

So while I am a miserable failure in what I believe I should be, I can feel revival coming. It's coming indeed. And I'm more excited than I've been in a long, long time.

Now, if I could only find something to ease the swelling in the right side of my head...perhaps Preparation H down my eartube?

Come now. You didn't think I'd just end it on a serious note, did you? :)

We're baaaack!

Our 114th post, and it sure took a while.

The last month and a half has been a whirl, and we apologize for not getting on here sooner to try to explain...why we haven't been on here sooner.

Right after the Michael English concert (and we still owe our faithful readers a photo of Scott with Michael, btw), we had David's kindergarten graduation, followed by a Memorial Day vacation to Branson - more on all of these things later, btw.

Then, ball games for both boys started up, and Scott developed a pretty serious ear infection from allergies. Then...the flood. Scott worked over 21 straight days on the flooding, running from Alexandria to Clarksville and points in between each day to make sure all the towns had enough volunteers, national guard troops, sandbags, pumps, and anything else they might need.

Then...Scott developed (in the last few days) another ear infection in the OTHER ear. He may be heading toward the downward slope on that one.

All this time, Tammy was busy working during her busy period and also getting ready for the Homeschool Co-ops upcoming year. She also organized all the ballgames for Jonathan's team (which Scott was coaching), making sure the parents knew the times, dates, and places for each of the games as well as coordinating snacks & drinks and all the rainout games as well. It's been a busy, busy last 30-45 days.

But, now you get to hear about it in full detail. Things seem to be calming down, and that means you get so much more of us.

Yay for you!

More soon.