Tonight we had our first Vocal Majority rehearsal of the year. It went pretty well. We are going to have to set up two more risers starting next week because so many people are showing up for rehearsals.
The Vocal Majority has a rich history in the barbershop society. The biggest contest of the year is the international contest where the best choruses from all over the world come to compete in one big contest. The winning chorus gets gold medals. The catch is that a chorus that wins a gold medal has to sit out the next two years, so a chorus can only compete and win at the most once every 3 years. We call this the contest cycle. The Vocal Majority will be going for its 11th gold medal this July in Indianapolis. Did I mention that this would make the 10th consecutive gold medal?
This of course will be my first gold medal. I'm excited. We just learned the uptune we will be singing in contest tonight. It is a spectacular piece written by Irving Berlin titled "Marching Along with Time."
I'm looking forward to the weekend. There is nothing to do tomorrow which is good. I love Fridays because I can hang with the family and do whatever.
Have a blessed day.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Nathaniel
Nathaniel is a regular to our back door ministry. Our back door ministry has brought many regulars asking mainly for bus passes and a sack lunch. Nathaniel at face value is just like everyone else. He doesn't have a job, has had a tough time in life, and it doesn't seem he has the drive or the skill to get on his feet at the moment.
We helped him several times until a couple of months ago, things became different. There was a funeral for one of our dear ladies at the building one day and he showed up in a neck brace. His story was he got kicked out of church and needed help filling a prescription. Of course, with our policies, unless we know the person extremely well, we can't just help people get pain medication though I felt for him.
A few weeks later he showed up and we talked for a while. I asked if I could pray for him and he gladly accepted. After I prayed, he prayed the most powerful prayer. This man can hardly read or write, but he prayed more Scripture in a prayer than I have ever heard anyone pray. He has also prayed with John our youth minister. Both John and I have been taken back by his prayers and his knowledge of Scriptures. He quotes everything from Jesus to Jeremiah in his prayers.
He came by again today after telling us he was going to Denver and that the Lord was leading him there. He seemed to be a little down. Both John and I went to talk with him today. We got a commitment from him that he would be coming to church on Sunday.
To be honest, I don't know if he will come. But I hope he comes. He needs a church family. If he is ever going to get on his feet, he needs a group of people that can help him. I pray that he will choose to come. I believe that God brings him back to this church. I told him that maybe why God keeps him back to this church is so he might come and be a part of this church.
Maybe he's pulling a good one on us. But you know what? It doesn't matter. Our prayers and bus passes may be the only Jesus he sees in his life. I'm going to keep praying with him and helping him with bus passes as long as there is hope that he can find a community of believers that can help him and minister to him and also a place where he can utter those wonderful prayers to the encouragement of others.
We helped him several times until a couple of months ago, things became different. There was a funeral for one of our dear ladies at the building one day and he showed up in a neck brace. His story was he got kicked out of church and needed help filling a prescription. Of course, with our policies, unless we know the person extremely well, we can't just help people get pain medication though I felt for him.
A few weeks later he showed up and we talked for a while. I asked if I could pray for him and he gladly accepted. After I prayed, he prayed the most powerful prayer. This man can hardly read or write, but he prayed more Scripture in a prayer than I have ever heard anyone pray. He has also prayed with John our youth minister. Both John and I have been taken back by his prayers and his knowledge of Scriptures. He quotes everything from Jesus to Jeremiah in his prayers.
He came by again today after telling us he was going to Denver and that the Lord was leading him there. He seemed to be a little down. Both John and I went to talk with him today. We got a commitment from him that he would be coming to church on Sunday.
To be honest, I don't know if he will come. But I hope he comes. He needs a church family. If he is ever going to get on his feet, he needs a group of people that can help him. I pray that he will choose to come. I believe that God brings him back to this church. I told him that maybe why God keeps him back to this church is so he might come and be a part of this church.
Maybe he's pulling a good one on us. But you know what? It doesn't matter. Our prayers and bus passes may be the only Jesus he sees in his life. I'm going to keep praying with him and helping him with bus passes as long as there is hope that he can find a community of believers that can help him and minister to him and also a place where he can utter those wonderful prayers to the encouragement of others.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Definition of Church
How do you define church. Church in the US has become a place that you go to get your spiritual fix. Sadly, we as church leaders encourage that. We are always trying to make our services more _________ friendly. (put in your favorite word i.e. seeker, post-seeker) When we critique our services we look at things like the timing of the sermon, the transition of the prayers, and the effectiveness of the powerpoint.
The church, though, is not a place, but us. We will quickly say, "yeah, I know, I'm the church," but do we know the implications of that statement. The church is the people of God on mission together to further His kingdom. That alone focuses our attention away from the weekend services or maybe I should say "gatherings."
The worship is not about providing a product that will satisfy the people, but about engaging people in worship to God. The questions we need to ask after our services is, "Did people experience the presence of God today?" "Were lives changed through the worship?" "Did our worship help to send out our church into a world that needs God?"
The questions don't deal with a product that we try to make attractive, but about creating worship experiences for the people of God to engage in.
These thoughts have been mulling over in head today thanks to a great book called, "The Emerging Church" by Dan Kimball. This is a great read. Tomorrow I'm starting on another of his books called, "Emerging Worship."
Have a blessed day.
The church, though, is not a place, but us. We will quickly say, "yeah, I know, I'm the church," but do we know the implications of that statement. The church is the people of God on mission together to further His kingdom. That alone focuses our attention away from the weekend services or maybe I should say "gatherings."
The worship is not about providing a product that will satisfy the people, but about engaging people in worship to God. The questions we need to ask after our services is, "Did people experience the presence of God today?" "Were lives changed through the worship?" "Did our worship help to send out our church into a world that needs God?"
The questions don't deal with a product that we try to make attractive, but about creating worship experiences for the people of God to engage in.
These thoughts have been mulling over in head today thanks to a great book called, "The Emerging Church" by Dan Kimball. This is a great read. Tomorrow I'm starting on another of his books called, "Emerging Worship."
Have a blessed day.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Awesome night
Last night was a homerun. We had 30 people from our worship ministry come to our house. This is the first time that we've had a big group to our house. The night went extremely well. We had a wonderful dinner planned and prepared by my wonderful wife. We reflected on 2005 and dreamed about 2006. After that we spent some time in worship and prayer that was wonderful. Other than my daughter puking as the people left, it went better than I could have hoped.
Anna and Rebekah both have ear infections. Anna has a really bad one. Now we have to get prescriptions and hope they get better soon.
I got an email from my ACU professor this weekend. My internet grad course will be starting next Tuesday. I'm kind of excited about getting my master's finished. It will take me a while, but I enjoy have a class or two a semester to keep me thinking and learning.
My friend Deen will be out of a job on February 7th. He has a marketing degree from ACU and has had experience with the banking industry and also has worked for TXU for several years. Due to outsourcing everything overseas, his whole department has been in the process of being laid off. He will be one of the last ones to be laid off. He would make a great employee for any company. If you know of a position available, please let me know. It has to be around the Dallas area because I refuse to lose him as a tenor. No job offers outside the Dallas area will be relayed on to him. :) Just kidding. I know the Lord will take care of Deen and will always provide.
Our sound job is getting closer to be complete. The speakers and the projector have made an incredible difference in our Sunday services. The next step is to get the booth moved downstairs and to get a new sound board. That should be happening in the next couple of weeks or so.
It also looks like we are going to get a color copier in the office. It is actually going to be cheaper than our current contract and the price per color page is going to be so much cheaper than using a color laser or an inkjet, not to mention we can now do inhouse color brochures instead of taking them to Kinkos which costs a ton. We will have to have policies on using the color part of the copier though as it still cost like $.10 a page which is great, but could be abused if everybody wants to copy color all the time. We will probably be very strict on how much color we end up doing.
Well, we have a staff prayer time in 5 minutes so I need to run. Have a blessed day.
Bret
Anna and Rebekah both have ear infections. Anna has a really bad one. Now we have to get prescriptions and hope they get better soon.
I got an email from my ACU professor this weekend. My internet grad course will be starting next Tuesday. I'm kind of excited about getting my master's finished. It will take me a while, but I enjoy have a class or two a semester to keep me thinking and learning.
My friend Deen will be out of a job on February 7th. He has a marketing degree from ACU and has had experience with the banking industry and also has worked for TXU for several years. Due to outsourcing everything overseas, his whole department has been in the process of being laid off. He will be one of the last ones to be laid off. He would make a great employee for any company. If you know of a position available, please let me know. It has to be around the Dallas area because I refuse to lose him as a tenor. No job offers outside the Dallas area will be relayed on to him. :) Just kidding. I know the Lord will take care of Deen and will always provide.
Our sound job is getting closer to be complete. The speakers and the projector have made an incredible difference in our Sunday services. The next step is to get the booth moved downstairs and to get a new sound board. That should be happening in the next couple of weeks or so.
It also looks like we are going to get a color copier in the office. It is actually going to be cheaper than our current contract and the price per color page is going to be so much cheaper than using a color laser or an inkjet, not to mention we can now do inhouse color brochures instead of taking them to Kinkos which costs a ton. We will have to have policies on using the color part of the copier though as it still cost like $.10 a page which is great, but could be abused if everybody wants to copy color all the time. We will probably be very strict on how much color we end up doing.
Well, we have a staff prayer time in 5 minutes so I need to run. Have a blessed day.
Bret
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Getting ready for Sunday night
Tomorrow night, Summer and I will be hosting the worship team in our home. This is the first time since we've moved in that we've been able to have the worship team over. We are very excited. We just went to Sam's to get the food.
On the way back we saw a big pillar of smoke around the Garland area on Hwy 80. It ended up being a huge field fire that seems out of control. I fear that many homes may be destroyed if they can't get it under control. Summer and I drove past it a couple of times on the highway. It is the biggest fire I've ever seen.
Now we are back home which means it is time to clean once again. It seems there is always something to clean. Oh well. have a great Saturday.
Bret
On the way back we saw a big pillar of smoke around the Garland area on Hwy 80. It ended up being a huge field fire that seems out of control. I fear that many homes may be destroyed if they can't get it under control. Summer and I drove past it a couple of times on the highway. It is the biggest fire I've ever seen.
Now we are back home which means it is time to clean once again. It seems there is always something to clean. Oh well. have a great Saturday.
Bret
Friday, January 06, 2006
My Day Off!!!
Fridays are great because I get to spend them with my family. Looks like today we will continue "spring cleaning." Though it is not technically spring, it sure feels like it in Texas. The first day of January was 81 degrees. What's up with that?
I will also be trying to get our van fixed. I think there is a belt or a belt wheel that is making noise and it needs fixin.
Have a great Friday.
I will also be trying to get our van fixed. I think there is a belt or a belt wheel that is making noise and it needs fixin.
Have a great Friday.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
A New Year, A New Look
Well, here is a different look for my blog and my first post of the year and for a couple of months for that matter. The holidays have been busy and posting on my blog has been the last thing on my mind. Well, just in case some of you occasionally check my blog, surprise!!!!! I posted again.
I feel a little more organized though I'm still trying to catch up from the break at the holidays. I now carry a Franklin Planner. I've tried everything. I've had small calendars, Outlook calendars, PDA calendars, and of course the Franklin Planner. I seem to be the most organized with it, so that is what I'm going with this year.
As I look back to 2005, it was probably one of the most challenging years yet. We had our 3rd child, bought a house, and we found out that Summer has Graves Disease.
Through the challenges though, there have been so many blessings. I feel that I'm settling into my role as a worship minister and I think the church is becoming more aquainted with me as well. The priase team has grown closer over the course of this year and we look for that to continue. Rebekah is a sweet heart and a wonderful baby. We love our house. Summer is being treated for her graves disease and many symptoms that she has had for several years should go away.
I'm looking forward to this year. Things are in place for this to be a great year.
I hope to blog on a more regular basis this year. If you know me, you should know that typing a blog is an extremely difficult task for my personality. I have rarely journaled in my life, but not because I didn't have the desire to.
Some of the worship team met at Paula's house last night to watch the big game between Texas and USC. I have to admit I'm a transplant Texan, so though I'm happy to see Texas pull out a great victory in one of the greatest football games ever, my loyalties are still with the University of Tennessee. (football only of course. Basketball is all UK and will always be UK.)
Now it is time to think about the Super Bowl. I think the Colts are going to win it all. Peyton Manning (a former UT, that's Tennessee, the real UT, for you Texans, quarterback) is going to be if not already one of the greatest quarterbacks in the game. It is exciting to see the Colts play. I'll be rooting for them.
Well, I have lunch plans, so I need to stop. Hopefully you will see another post sooner than later. :)
Have a blessed day.
I feel a little more organized though I'm still trying to catch up from the break at the holidays. I now carry a Franklin Planner. I've tried everything. I've had small calendars, Outlook calendars, PDA calendars, and of course the Franklin Planner. I seem to be the most organized with it, so that is what I'm going with this year.
As I look back to 2005, it was probably one of the most challenging years yet. We had our 3rd child, bought a house, and we found out that Summer has Graves Disease.
Through the challenges though, there have been so many blessings. I feel that I'm settling into my role as a worship minister and I think the church is becoming more aquainted with me as well. The priase team has grown closer over the course of this year and we look for that to continue. Rebekah is a sweet heart and a wonderful baby. We love our house. Summer is being treated for her graves disease and many symptoms that she has had for several years should go away.
I'm looking forward to this year. Things are in place for this to be a great year.
I hope to blog on a more regular basis this year. If you know me, you should know that typing a blog is an extremely difficult task for my personality. I have rarely journaled in my life, but not because I didn't have the desire to.
Some of the worship team met at Paula's house last night to watch the big game between Texas and USC. I have to admit I'm a transplant Texan, so though I'm happy to see Texas pull out a great victory in one of the greatest football games ever, my loyalties are still with the University of Tennessee. (football only of course. Basketball is all UK and will always be UK.)
Now it is time to think about the Super Bowl. I think the Colts are going to win it all. Peyton Manning (a former UT, that's Tennessee, the real UT, for you Texans, quarterback) is going to be if not already one of the greatest quarterbacks in the game. It is exciting to see the Colts play. I'll be rooting for them.
Well, I have lunch plans, so I need to stop. Hopefully you will see another post sooner than later. :)
Have a blessed day.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Happy Turkey Day
Thanksgiving is always a busy time of year. We travel to see our families, we overstuff ourselves with fattening foods, desserts, and grace tea, go shopping all day Friday to get the best deals and then come home in time to get to work Monday morning. Though all of those things are some of the great memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives, we need to stop our business for a while and ponder all the things we are thankful for. We live in such a sarcastic, negative society and there is a lot we can complain about. (i.e. not enough money, can’t find a job, annoying spouse, bad health, too busy, hate my job, I don’t want to travel 12 hours for Thankgiving and turn around 3 days later and make the trip back, kids are hard to handle, I don’t like the songs in worship, etc. etc. etc.)
Ok, so we like to complain. It is time that we be thankful. What good does it do to complain about all these things. It won’t make any of them better. As a matter fact, it might just make most of them worse.
I have been dreading driving 12 hours to Kentucky and Tennessee and then having to make the trip back home 3 days later only to have to do it again at Christmas time as well. My complaints will not help make my trip any better. I want to see my family, but I don’t want to make such a long turn around trip. I’ve decided that it is time to stop complaining and be thankful that I have the ability to make this kind of trip to see my family. As my mind starting thinking of the positives, I also started to think about all the great conversations that come from a long road trip and how good that will be for my family to be able to be together for that long period of time where our relationships can further develop.
I’m now going to list other things I’m thankful for:
God has blessed me beyond my imagination
Beautiful and wonderful wife
Awesome children
Wonderful mom, sisters, and in-laws
Great church, elders, deacons, and staff
Great worship team
I’m thankful God created music
I have a job
If I’m hungry, I have the ability to get something to eat
If I need to go somewhere I have two vehicles to choose from and they both work.
I can afford high gas prices, though I don’t like it.
I have a roof over my head and a comfortable bed to sleep in.
I have money to buy Christmas gifts.
I have a savings account.
I have salvation
God’s Spirit is within me
God loves me
God forgives me
God works through me
I live in a country that allows me to worship freely
I’m thankful to be alive today
The list could go on and on, but the purpose of this list is to get us in the mode of being Thankful for the things we have rather than complain about the things we don’t have or don’t like. May God’s blessings be upon you this Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Sung Out
Well, I just got back from San Antonio last night. We had a great trip. There were alot of good things that the quartet did and figured out at the contest to help us in the future. The cool thing is that the San Antonio main newspaper interviewed our quartet and and article with our picture was plastered on the first page of teh Metro section of Sunday's paper. It's funny that our quartet is from Dallas, but we get featured in San Antonio's newspaper.
We stayed at the St. Anthony in downtown San Antonio. It is more of a historic hotel. It was nice, but the carpets were a little on the dirty side. On the way back, we stayed the night at a Quality Inn for half the price. Sure, the St. Anthony was decorated nice, but the Qaulity Inn was clean, had free high speed internet, and a free breakfast that included good biscuts and gravy. I'd pay half the price anyday for that deal.
Summer and I were able to attend Oak Hills on Sunday morning. Max Lucado wasn't there, so they had David Robinson there sharing the message. My family got to meet him. I guess it goes without saying, but I have to say it. "Man, he was tall."
We went to lunch with Jeff Nelson and enjoyed our time with him. Our kids and his kids played while we talked over lunch.
Well, it is time to get into worship planning mode. Have a great day.
We stayed at the St. Anthony in downtown San Antonio. It is more of a historic hotel. It was nice, but the carpets were a little on the dirty side. On the way back, we stayed the night at a Quality Inn for half the price. Sure, the St. Anthony was decorated nice, but the Qaulity Inn was clean, had free high speed internet, and a free breakfast that included good biscuts and gravy. I'd pay half the price anyday for that deal.
Summer and I were able to attend Oak Hills on Sunday morning. Max Lucado wasn't there, so they had David Robinson there sharing the message. My family got to meet him. I guess it goes without saying, but I have to say it. "Man, he was tall."
We went to lunch with Jeff Nelson and enjoyed our time with him. Our kids and his kids played while we talked over lunch.
Well, it is time to get into worship planning mode. Have a great day.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
San Antonio here we come
Well, tomorrow, Summer and I leave for San Antonio. This trip serves two purposes. The first is why we are going to San Antonio in the first place which is contest. The Vocal Majority and my quartet are competeing this weekend. We are really excited about the contest. Our quartet could get as high as second place. The quartet that will get first place is way above our level. They will most likely win the international contest this year.
After the contest, Summer, the kids, and I are going to hang around San Antoino for a couple of days for some R & R.
After the contest, Summer, the kids, and I are going to hang around San Antoino for a couple of days for some R & R.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
I'm trying this.
Ok, I have a friend who has recently gotten free stuff from a referal offer like the one I'm tryiing. I'm trying to get a free iPOD. I've signed up for the BMG CD club where I get 12 CD's free and I purchase 1 CD at club price and then my commitment is over and I can cancel my account. I was going to do this anyways to keep up on my worship CD's and you end up getting your CDs cheaper than if you go to Walmart. There are other offers out there as well. If 5 of you can sign up for something under the link below, then I can get a free iPOD. It also starts your process in getting a free iPOD as well. If I get 5 people to sign up for something and I recieve the iPOD, I will tell you that it works and you can get an iPOD the same way. I thought it would be worth a try anyways. Here is the link:
Copy this link into your web browser:
http://ipods.freepay.com/?r=23983600
Thanks for participating if you do.
Copy this link into your web browser:
http://ipods.freepay.com/?r=23983600
Thanks for participating if you do.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Zoe was awesome
I attended the worship conference last weekend in Nashville, TN. It rocked. This is probably my 5-6 year to go. It is always good to see all of my friends from around the country that come to the conference. We had around 15 people that came to the conference from our church including 2 elders and their wives. The elders loved it. We have an elders meeting tonight and one of the things on the agenda is for one of our elders to report on the conference. I'm excited.
I'm a little under the weather today. I think there is a stomach bug going around and I have it. I still came to work. My philosophy is if you are going to be a little miserable at home, you might as well be a little miserable at work. Though I probably didn't get as much done as I wish I would have, there were some productive things that came from the days work.
I'm the tech guy around here and it seems that there are some in our office that have the tech curse. It is the curse that I'm convinced plauges much of our nation. Anything a person with this curse toches seems to mess up in some way. I'm glad I don't have the curse, but it can be quite the chore to figure out why everyones computers are going haywire. That happened today to Jim's computer. His computer is in the shop getting a new screen because it went out and today his mouse and keyboard on his loaner laptop (which is better than his old one) went nuts. I was able to decipher the problem, but it took me a little while to figure it out.
Our house is so cool. My family and I are really enjoying having the space. We love the neighborhood, the school and the house. I even like the drive time I have in the morning and afternoon. The only thing I don't like is the extra gas cost.
Here is a deal of all deals. Only nerds like myself will actually get excited about this deal. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament which is a $700 10 volume set normally goes for around $399 on CBD. Right now they have it for $99. I ordered my copy the end of last week. I haven't checked, but it might be gone by now, but I got my order in. I'm so excited about having that in my library, especially because I'm getting ready to start back on my Masters at ACU and that will come in handy.
Well, that's all for now.
I'm a little under the weather today. I think there is a stomach bug going around and I have it. I still came to work. My philosophy is if you are going to be a little miserable at home, you might as well be a little miserable at work. Though I probably didn't get as much done as I wish I would have, there were some productive things that came from the days work.
I'm the tech guy around here and it seems that there are some in our office that have the tech curse. It is the curse that I'm convinced plauges much of our nation. Anything a person with this curse toches seems to mess up in some way. I'm glad I don't have the curse, but it can be quite the chore to figure out why everyones computers are going haywire. That happened today to Jim's computer. His computer is in the shop getting a new screen because it went out and today his mouse and keyboard on his loaner laptop (which is better than his old one) went nuts. I was able to decipher the problem, but it took me a little while to figure it out.
Our house is so cool. My family and I are really enjoying having the space. We love the neighborhood, the school and the house. I even like the drive time I have in the morning and afternoon. The only thing I don't like is the extra gas cost.
Here is a deal of all deals. Only nerds like myself will actually get excited about this deal. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament which is a $700 10 volume set normally goes for around $399 on CBD. Right now they have it for $99. I ordered my copy the end of last week. I haven't checked, but it might be gone by now, but I got my order in. I'm so excited about having that in my library, especially because I'm getting ready to start back on my Masters at ACU and that will come in handy.
Well, that's all for now.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Cooler weather
Last night a big storm front came through and left us with cool temps. It went from the hottest day of the year yesterday at 104 to waking up to 57. Tonight it will get down to 53. That is a 50 degree difference in a hurry.
Last night the power went out at the church right after worship team rehearsal. Several of us stayed there for 15-20 minutes to wait out the storm a little. Anna was definately frightened by all the lightning and darkness. She was ready to go.
Anna has been struggling with her Exima (I don't know how to spell it) She is going to a pediactric dermotologist tomorrow. I hope they can figure out a way that we can control it. She was really bad the other night and had a hard time sleeping.
Well, it's time for me to study some more for my Sunday morning class on Genesis. Have a blessed day.
Last night the power went out at the church right after worship team rehearsal. Several of us stayed there for 15-20 minutes to wait out the storm a little. Anna was definately frightened by all the lightning and darkness. She was ready to go.
Anna has been struggling with her Exima (I don't know how to spell it) She is going to a pediactric dermotologist tomorrow. I hope they can figure out a way that we can control it. She was really bad the other night and had a hard time sleeping.
Well, it's time for me to study some more for my Sunday morning class on Genesis. Have a blessed day.
Monday, September 19, 2005
We are moved
Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I've been in the middle of moving.
Summer, the kids, and I are now residents of Rockwall, Texas. We love our new house. It is the nicest house we have ever lived in. All the kids have a room and there is a 2nd living area for their toys. There is even a room for my recording and Warhammer stuff. The living room is really big so we can have groups of people over and the kitchen is huge as well. Most important is we have a 2 car garage. I love having a garage again.
I now have a commute to work, but I actually love it. It gives me quiet time that I generally don't have. I've already thought of many uses for that time.
The sound system proposal for our church has been approved. I'm so excited about getting a good sound system in our church.
Thursday all the worship ministers are coming to the church for an area wide lunch. I'm excited about being able to host all of them.
My mom and sister came to Dallas to help with the move. It was great to see them. I hope that us putting them to work doesn't keep them from coming back. Of course I know that when I go in to visit, my mom will likely put me to work moving furniture. My mom and my wife are notorious for wanting to move furniture every 2 weeks. I don't know if it is a girl thing or my family thing. If it is a family thing then my wife has been infected. I love you mom and Summer. :)
We had a new members dinner last night. We have some great new members becoming a part of our church. I'm excited to see how their gifts will be used.
Yesterday, the elders presented the plans for a new building. I think the plans look great. I'm excited to see how everyone responds and to see how things continue to develop in this building project.
Well that is just a little of what is going on. I'll post later. Blessings.
Bret
Summer, the kids, and I are now residents of Rockwall, Texas. We love our new house. It is the nicest house we have ever lived in. All the kids have a room and there is a 2nd living area for their toys. There is even a room for my recording and Warhammer stuff. The living room is really big so we can have groups of people over and the kitchen is huge as well. Most important is we have a 2 car garage. I love having a garage again.
I now have a commute to work, but I actually love it. It gives me quiet time that I generally don't have. I've already thought of many uses for that time.
The sound system proposal for our church has been approved. I'm so excited about getting a good sound system in our church.
Thursday all the worship ministers are coming to the church for an area wide lunch. I'm excited about being able to host all of them.
My mom and sister came to Dallas to help with the move. It was great to see them. I hope that us putting them to work doesn't keep them from coming back. Of course I know that when I go in to visit, my mom will likely put me to work moving furniture. My mom and my wife are notorious for wanting to move furniture every 2 weeks. I don't know if it is a girl thing or my family thing. If it is a family thing then my wife has been infected. I love you mom and Summer. :)
We had a new members dinner last night. We have some great new members becoming a part of our church. I'm excited to see how their gifts will be used.
Yesterday, the elders presented the plans for a new building. I think the plans look great. I'm excited to see how everyone responds and to see how things continue to develop in this building project.
Well that is just a little of what is going on. I'll post later. Blessings.
Bret
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
We're moving
Well, we move on Friday. We are so excited. We close on the house on Friday morning and then we will start moving stuff in. I think this will be great for the family. We will finally be settling into a community where the kids will go to school. It is such a neat area in Rockwall.
Things at PRCC are going well. Saturday there were about 20 of us that showed up for breakfast at Barbec's. There beer battered biscuts were awesome.
The Zoe conference is less than a month away. I can't wait. It looks like we have about 17 of us going.
Our church is hosting the worship ministers for lunch towards the end of this month. I can't wait. We haven't had an area wide worship minister lunch in a while.
We have about 32 displaced people from New Orleans that are in our church apartments. There has been so much given to help them and others out. The people are really nice and it is such an honor to be able to serve in this way.
Summer got back from Gatlinburg last night. It is good having them back home after not seeing them from a week. I know that they had a great time with her parents. Rebeckah is now waving and saying "Hi." She is so cute.
Well I guess that is the short of most everything. Have a blessed day.
Bret
Things at PRCC are going well. Saturday there were about 20 of us that showed up for breakfast at Barbec's. There beer battered biscuts were awesome.
The Zoe conference is less than a month away. I can't wait. It looks like we have about 17 of us going.
Our church is hosting the worship ministers for lunch towards the end of this month. I can't wait. We haven't had an area wide worship minister lunch in a while.
We have about 32 displaced people from New Orleans that are in our church apartments. There has been so much given to help them and others out. The people are really nice and it is such an honor to be able to serve in this way.
Summer got back from Gatlinburg last night. It is good having them back home after not seeing them from a week. I know that they had a great time with her parents. Rebeckah is now waving and saying "Hi." She is so cute.
Well I guess that is the short of most everything. Have a blessed day.
Bret
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Phone troubles, hurricanes, holidays, and shaving
The past couple of days, our office has been without phone and internet. I didn't realize how much we rely on technology until a couple of days ago. It was like our office came to a sudden hault. How would we function if we were to lose power for a month like many have from the hurricane? What if we no longer were able to buy gas for our cars, because of world events? What if all electronic devices just stopped working? Our lives and our country would be in real danger. The are such great things about technology, but as soon as you rely on it, it becomes a nightmare to suddenly lose it.
We need to be praying for the hurricane victims. What a terrible tragedy. It is hard to believe that a storm can do that much damage and be so far reaching. I can't imagine not only losing my house, but my job and my city. New Orleans is 80% flooded. That means that just about everything is in some ways is ruined.
Summer has gone to Gatlinburg with her family. What a brave woman to brave a 10-12 hour trip with 3 children in a van, then get up the next day and drive another 4 hours to get to Gatlinburg. I wouldn't want to do it, but I know she will enjoy seeing all 14 of her family that will be there.
My friend Stephen Lamb will be coming in on Friday and we will hanging out for the holidays.
Well, I got up this morning and decided to shave my gotee. It is gone. I wonder how everyone will react. I guess I'll have to give a report on that in the next couple of days.
We are really close to closing on the house. I would say in about a week or so we will be closing. I'm excited to move.
Well that's it for now. Have a blessed day.
We need to be praying for the hurricane victims. What a terrible tragedy. It is hard to believe that a storm can do that much damage and be so far reaching. I can't imagine not only losing my house, but my job and my city. New Orleans is 80% flooded. That means that just about everything is in some ways is ruined.
Summer has gone to Gatlinburg with her family. What a brave woman to brave a 10-12 hour trip with 3 children in a van, then get up the next day and drive another 4 hours to get to Gatlinburg. I wouldn't want to do it, but I know she will enjoy seeing all 14 of her family that will be there.
My friend Stephen Lamb will be coming in on Friday and we will hanging out for the holidays.
Well, I got up this morning and decided to shave my gotee. It is gone. I wonder how everyone will react. I guess I'll have to give a report on that in the next couple of days.
We are really close to closing on the house. I would say in about a week or so we will be closing. I'm excited to move.
Well that's it for now. Have a blessed day.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
House Hunting
Well, we are house hunting. We have officailly put down an offer on a house in Rockwall. We are excited. The house is awesome. It is more of a house than we thought we could afford, but this house is a neat find. It is in a great neighborhood with great schools for the kids. We probably looked at every house in our price range and specs in the area. Rockwall is a smaller community just east of Dallas. One of our other ministers lives in Rockwall as well, so we're excited to be closer to them.
I guess this will be three times we've moved in a year and a half. I think I want to be done moving for a while.
We should hear the counter offer back today. I think we should be able to get the house for what we are wanting it for. Time will tell.
Worship team rehearsals have been going well the past 3 weeks. They have been extra good. I love my worship team. They rock!!!! I couldn't ask for a better group of people. I have to brag a little today. Every Wednesday, they pray over me before rehearsal, they do the same on Sunday morning, and they have individually committed to praying for me everyday. I have just been overwhelmed.
Thank you God, for the worship team. They are a blessing in so many ways.
I guess this will be three times we've moved in a year and a half. I think I want to be done moving for a while.
We should hear the counter offer back today. I think we should be able to get the house for what we are wanting it for. Time will tell.
Worship team rehearsals have been going well the past 3 weeks. They have been extra good. I love my worship team. They rock!!!! I couldn't ask for a better group of people. I have to brag a little today. Every Wednesday, they pray over me before rehearsal, they do the same on Sunday morning, and they have individually committed to praying for me everyday. I have just been overwhelmed.
Thank you God, for the worship team. They are a blessing in so many ways.
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