Moving Pt. III

Moving Part II

Well, just a quick post while I take a break from packing. I've got two out of four rooms completely finished and packed up. Thankfully, I'm not actually moving anything until after the honeymoon so if anything doesn't get done it's not a huge crisis. I've got some of the students coming over tomorrow to help out, so everything should get done.

Today, Meli went back home so she can teach tomorrow. I just realized that this was the last time that one of us will ever have to get into our car and leave the other to go home. Next week, our home will be together! :)

It's pretty amazing how quickly you can accumulate junk. I'm already over five full bags of stuff out the door and into the trash with probably one or more to go.

I've got a lot left to do, so off to it. I am leaving tomorrow to head up for the final plans and getting the marriage license! Later!

Last Day

Well, today is my last day at First Baptist Church. I have no idea what to expect, or what is going to happen. I trust that God is going to bring about whatever He wills, so it should be an interesting day. I'm really not sure how emotional I'm going to be, or at least how much I will show. On the inside, however, will be an entirely different story. I am truly going to miss this church.

Thank God for Congress!

Finally, the Congress did something right!

Congress bars military funeral protesters

This may not make me into the favorites of certain people, but that's fine. It's a hard thing to believe that people could believe they are following Christ and do things like that. I've read the whole bible (as a youth pastor, I better have) and I have yet to find one time where Jesus either a) carried a picket sign, or b) ever used the word fag (or any other similar form). I believe that love is the better way. Love covers all. The love of Jesus is powerful enough to change anyone. I would rather focus on that. I love that Jesus loves me, and I want to share that with everyone.

Before someone from there comes here and misreads me, let me be clear. Homosexuality is listed as a sin. It is wrong. I will freely say that because it is the biblical truth. However, seriously, how many people do they expect to be bring back to Christ by acting like this?

Dave Burchett in his book "When Bad Christians Happen to Good People" likens things like this to the small percentage of policemen who have done wrong. Although 99% of them are honest, hardworking, wonderful public servants, it's the 1% that get on the news, stir up trouble, and make the job harder for everyone else.

So, for the record

1) I believe that love is the better way because Christ loves us enough to have gone through a horrible, painful death for us.

2) I wish I could have nothing to do with certain groups of people. However, since they have the words "Baptist Church" in their church name, I am going to be lumped in with them sometimes. That's fine. I still believe that love wins.

Moving

10-1

In honor of my last day with the students...
A survey stolen from from Myspace bulletin board.

10 Favorites...
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Band/Singer:U2
Favorite Song: right now, My Jesus by Todd Agnew
Favorite Movie: Airplane
Favorite Sport: Taekwondo
Favorite Season: Spring
Favorite Day Of the Week: Saturday
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookie Dough

9 Currents...
Current Mood: Out there
Current Taste: Pepsi One
Current Clothes: Sleep pants and the same shirt I had on today.
Current Desktop: Matt Hughes, UFC Welterweight Champion
Current Nail Color: clear
Current Time: 1:02 a.m.
Current Surroundings: Boxes for the move
Curent Annoyance(s): The boxes again
Current Thought: I love Meli!

8 Firsts...
First Best Friend: Clint
First Kiss: Amber
First Screen Name: themusicman
First Pet: dog
First Piercing: no thank you.
First Crush: won't say that a week before my wedding :)
First Music: Oldies
First Car: 1984 Ford LTD

7 Lasts...
Last Cigarette: never
Last Drink: The day we got engaged, the manager opened up a $450 bottle of champagne. See My Engagement Story for details
Last Car Ride: To work today
Last Kiss: Saturday
Last Movie Seen: X Men 2
Last Phone Call: Meli
Last CD Played: I listen to XM

6 Have You Evers...
Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Friends: Yes
Have You Ever Broken the Law: only speeding
Have You Ever Been Arrested: No
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: No
Have You Ever Been on TV: Yes
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: No

5 Things youre wearing:
Didn't we cover this?
1. Sleep pants
2. Christian T-shirt
3. Big glasses
4. socks
5. None of your business :)

4 Things You've Done Today:
1. Blogged this
2. Hung out with the youth ministry
3. Packed up my office books
4. Took out the trash

3 Things You Can Hear Right Now:
1. Computer fan
2. TV
3. The air conditioner

2 Things You Can't Live Without:
1. God
2. Meli!

1 Thing You Do When You're Bored:
1. Play video games

Last Night

Well, tonight was the last Wednesday Night service with my youth. It's been an awesome time over the past two years, but today, I had to say goodbye. It was definitely one of the hardest things I've had to do in a long time. It's unfortunate that in order to have a the wonderful marriage God has given me, I have to leave them behind. However, I know that God has an incredible plan for each of them, and for the student ministry we've built together.

The Countdown

Well, as anyone can see, my blogging time has been very limited. I'm coming down to the final days before my wedding. I can't wait, but there is a lot to get done between now and then. I'll try to blog as much as I can, but I can't promise anything. Until then, keep checking by, and be sure to leave some comments!

The Break

So, this past Friday, I tested for the rank of recommended black belt. In the ATA, it's the belt level just before full black belt with your name on it and everything. It's been a long struggle, but in the end, the whole thing will be worth it in two months when I test for the full black belt rank.

The great thing is that during the test, I had to break boards. This has always been my hiccup. Most of the time, they go through, but a while ago, I was having a technique problem and mental block that led to me not breaking. Melissa and I fixed the problem, and this test was the time to prove that it had worked. Well...

First try, buddy! Both boards on the first try!

Perseverence. That's the name of the game in martial arts and in life. I can't wait to pick up the new belt on Thursday.

My Preaching Adventure

This is my first attempt at hosting a video online, so I hope this works. This is the sermon I delivered to the church last Sunday morning. It's a pretty big file, so I would recommend a high speed connection for it. Well... here goes.

AGGHHH

If I didn't know that I already lost my mind years ago, I would think I'm losing it now! :) Just kidding, but I have to say, all these last minute things are starting to really pile on. This wedding is coming really quickly.

Tomorrow, I go to test for recommended black belt. Everything has been working in practice, so really, all I have to do is go there and do it at the test. Even the board breakings are going well. I'll post some results real soon.

Busy Week

What a week this has been already! Now that I'm less than a month away from getting married, it seems like the days are just flying by. Of course, one thing I've noticed is the increase in the number of people who ask this question (or something similar)

Are you ready to get married, yet?

How do you respond to that? The silly side of me wants to come up with a creative, Bill Engvall-esque snappy response. I mean, if I wasn't ready, why would I have asked her? :) So, if anyone has some good comebacks to that, let me know. I'd love to have some fun in these last weeks with that.

I have another shower to go to followed by my final premarital counseling session. It's going to be a good weekend to just spend some time with Meli before it gets really hectic.

I am testing for my recommended black belt one week from today! It's been a long journey, but the trip has been worth it. My flexibility is way up compared to what it was, and I'm consistantly 10 pounds lighter than when I started. Both breaks are going through, so now it's just a matter of doing it!

Then Sunday, I am delivering both the morning and evening sermons to the church. These are some of the last chances I'll get to address the whole church before I leave. The morning sermon is already finished, with just some fine tuning to go. I hope to have it up on Youtube or something like that sometime next week. I can't wait to give this one. I've had so much fun writing it.

Ok, enough rambling. Then again, that is the title of the blog right?

Waking On

I hadn't even heard of Christian Contemporary Music until 1997. While in college, I found the faith that I thought I had lost. When I did, I went full bore into CCM music and the subculture that goes with it.

That is a good thing in a way and a bad thing in a way. (But I talk more about that in my CCM article at YMX).

As I get older and approach my marriage, I have been starting to break out of that mold. Also, I think my year with an XM Satellite Radio attached to my hip has had something to do with that. Sixty-nine music channels lead to a little bit of channel surfing.

Anyway, when I saw this book at the local Christian bookstore, I was intrigued. I knew very little about U2 other than some of the songs that had played on the radio while I was growing up. Then, as I was in the Christian subculture and working in churches, Bono's use of the F-word and their shying away from the Church was something to be avoided.

It only took a couple chapters of this book to see that something was going to be different. Steve Stockman did a wonderful job of chronicling the development of each member of the band, as well as telling their journeys through their faith. I was particularly interested in the story of how their church asked them to quit.

Each album is analyzed like a bible study, with Scripture references and personal stories from the band. Stockman also tells of Bono's almost obsession with using the social standing God gave him for good, like the DATA and One.org projects.

This is a great read for anyone interested in music, or even Christians who want a positive influence in secular music.

Edit 12:46 a.m. 5/3/06 -- If you're here from Bonowatch.com, be sure to comment!

Breaking Power

So, this past weekend was a pretty good one. In class on Saturday morning both of my board breaks went through. If the same thing happens in two weeks, I will have my recommended black belt! Today, a friend of mine will be testing for his black belt.

Then, I rode my first horse. It's amazing, I work at a children's home that was a farm for two years, and never got to get on one of the horses. So, Saturday, I got the opportunity to ride Primera. It's an interesting view of the world to be up that high and let the horse take you where you want to go.

Anyway, it's going to be a busy week. I am speaking in the main church worship service both morning and evening this Sunday. My Sunday morning one is finished, but the Sunday night study still needs a lot of work. Hopefully, I can post either video or audio of my sermon next week.