After the birthday

Wow, it has been too long since I have written! This past Thursday was my birthday, and it was more celebratin' than I have done in a long time! Wednesday night the students here at LBC shared in "roasting" me, remembering the 3 or so times in almost 8 years here that I "left" someone (for a matter of minutes) on our many adventures. One person (Payne) stood up and said he as my long lost son! On Thursday night in Charlotte, someone of them did an hilarious skit...what my wife did to me to get me out of the meeting room so they could set up almost gave me a heart attack...she called my cell and said Jillian had hurt herself up in the hotel room...anyway, there was also this big cookie cake that Bill C. later told me he had gotten from a girl with an attitude at the cookie store...we were attending a conference for students interested in ministryand THAT really was the greatest present, to be with 30 students and adults who really care about the things of God, that want to pursue God's will for their lives and serve Him. It was a great birthday and I am so thankful to everyone that made it happen, even my admin. asst. Amy who wrote stuff about my age on the church van before we left! Pray for Amy this week, as she is in Biloxi, MS ministering there.
These next few weeks are going to be very busy. Today I am going to a state youth minister's meeting and it will be good to spend some time with other folks who are doing the same thing as I do. God has taught me so much through the study Experiencing God this fall. I have seen the true character of people lately, the good the bad the ugly...God has reminded me that Satan still comes as a deciever, even in the church body...I am thankful for the discernment that God has given to me to be able to see through the junk that people sometimes put before us....I have a devoted co-worker who is going through some tough times, but we know that God is in control, and he has things ahead for us that we cannot even imagine! We are still in the college search, too, so keep that your prayer list. The week after Thanksgiving, Chris Butler and I will be going to the Dominican Republic to meet with Marsha Davidson. If you want to be blessed, read her blog at www.macedoniaproject.blog.com. God is doing some great things there in the DR and I can't wait to go back and plan for our trip there in April with 45 people. As we approach Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for. If you are reading this, I am thankful for you...God gives us so much that we take for granted. Ask Him to give you opportunities today to share His love with others, and he will do it....what you do reveals what you believe about God, regardless of what you say...Lord, today I pray for the people around me who talk a good game, who try to pretend that they love you but fail to give of the great resources that they have, that you will change their hearts as only you can do, and I thank you for the awesome people in my life who really do show their love for you in so many ways. Help me to be real, to share from my heart, to let others see you in my life in all that I do, and help me to trust you more...in Jesus name. AMEN.