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We have begun our fall term here at the Sunny Side Up Academy. I have the joy of doing Math-U-See with my boys. They are doing very well and having a good time. It is so good to be more actively involved in the school day. We begin early so I can get off to the office at a respectable time but they are focused and eager when it is time to begin the sessions. At the same time, I have registered to begin Distance Learing classes later in October. Yes, that's right. The social learner in me has recently awakened to the realities of having to be self-motivated and learning outside the context of a classroom with people to enjoy getting to know. I am in trouble. In the meantime my bride is encouraging and has expressed her confidence that I have not in fact made a huge mistake but instead I can and will be a great success. Time will tell. So here in AZ, it is fall but you can't really distinguish it from summer. It was in the nineties today and there is certainly no plant life that indicates seasonal changes. Remind me, why do people choose to life in the desert?!? |
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I am home again, and very glad to be. I enjoy youth camp as much as the next youth pastor but nothing beats being with my own kids and sleeping next to my bride. We had a fun time at the park last night and a wonderful dinner. My wife tried her hand at spaghetti sauce from scratch and it was spot on. The only problem with my wife's cooking is that it tempts me to eat way more than I need to eat (by no means a complaint). We are looking forward to a change in our homeschooling plan this fall but a little stressed about how to fund our new plan. It will work out I have no doubt, God tends to honor the things we have done to honor Him. Sorry I have not posted in months, I have been a little busy and the schedule does not show signs of slowing. I usually end up posting when I log on to read my son's latest posting. So if he will keep the posts coming then maybe there is hope for me. Thanks for reading. |
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I have been busy for the past few weeks and my lovely bride has been encouraging me to post again.
My last post was about sermon prep. I was offered a very good reminder from a fellow blogger not to let my words get in the way of the message. I agree and that is my conviction. And as the great Charlie Peacock has said, "I'd rather say just ten true words (not alliterated) than a hundred (alliterated) words that in the end amount to nothing." Thank you Steve, and thank you Charlie!
My sweetie has been busy. She has made cheese and soap and herbal remedies and that is just in the kitchen. We are going to be parents again :) I am excited about and we are praying for twins, and no, we are not insane. Something about even numbers and protecting any of our children from being the middle child. Shaundra would like girls, and honestly so would I because we really could use a gender balance around here. Our daughter has voted for a girl as well.
Our oldest is reading by choice, our second son trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior and made his public profession of faith in church a couple weeks ago, our youngest son has learned his letters and sounds, our daughter has been sick but she is getting better.
Last weekend I went skiing with some students and parents from our church. I had such a good time, it is only money and distance that keep me from doing that more. It was a beautiful weekend and no one was seriously injured - praise God!
Pastor is back from sabbatical and I don't have to preach any more for a while... I have felt like I don't have anytning to do my workload lightened up so much. But in the news, I will be visiting a church in AR to see if it is an opportunity I need to pursue.
I think that should do it. TTFN |
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i have finished my outline for this week, again pressing the deadline for my ministry assistant and ppt tech. i hate trying to force out an aliterated outline. i know, i know, aliteration is not a requirement. i am called to preach the word and if i reduce the process to coming up with points that all begin with the same letters, i run the risk of betraying the content and neglecting the standards of truth to which i am bound. i get that. i would rather preach using any random combination from the alphabet and have that message change lives including my own, than have perfectly presented outlines that are aliterated and three levels deep, that appear on the surface profound and polished but upon closer examination, mean little in the scope of eternity and what's more have no impact on the lives of the listeners. it has become more challenging to me, instead of easier. it is just not second nature to take a passage of scripture, plumb the depths of the truth, shape a clear message and prepare it for general consumption. i need a nap. |
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so i spend the afternoon with my family scrambling to clean house, fix 12 lbs of buffalo wings, and prepare a Bible study for teenagers. this week we had twenty students in the house. imagine the excitement this generates for my kids who think that teenagers are the coolest thing ever. there is a continuos cycle of costume changes, challenges to catch them, invitations to come see their room, and a variety of other demands for attention. the teenagers all respond with patience and humor so its fun. im glad we have room enough to have the students over for the evening. if my budget could handle it i would do it weekly. now the house is filled with half full soda cups, scattered chunks of raw onion (dont ask) and the faint odor of twenty teenagers all of whom have gone home now and four small sweaty and worn out children tucked in without baths because no one here has the energy or motivation to hose them down. fortunately they have consumed enough concentrated sugar that we will be asleep before them. and even if we manage to sleep soundly through the night - with a head start, they will be up with the sun and halfway through a movie before we roll out of our beds to start the day. |