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| Okay, Okay, so I've not been that good at the 366 entries for this day. In fact, as of today, I've missed 15 days! This is pretty typical for me. I start off strong and set some decent goals. Then, life gets crazy and my schedule and plans spiral out of control. That's what it's been like for the last 15 days! Anyway, I have a minute or two and I'm blogging.
I finally finished the book "3:16" by Max Lucado. A decent, easy read that I highly recommend. It would be an especially good read leading up to Easter this year. Oh, and in addition it includes a 40 day devotional in the back of it as well.
I've also listened to a couple of books - the one I am about to finish right now is called "Going Public With Your Faith". It's a great book about how to be an effective witness without being a jerk or pushing people away. I highly recommend it. In fact, I hope to do an entire series about this very topic either in the fall or next Jan. at Cross Keys.
Since around Christmas, I've listened to the following books: The Case for Christmas, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Jesus Among Other Gods and now Going Public With Your Faith. Tomorrow I hope to start Pimsleur Quick & Easy Chinese.
Believe it or not, the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China is only 199 days away! It all begins on 8/8/08! I've been putting together my support letter. It has to go out this week. It costs me $5000 to participate in the Olympic outreach. Please pray that the remaining funds, $3500, will come in quickly. So far we've been able to raise the first $1500. I know God is faithful and will provide it. I am so excited about this opportunity to share the Gospel with the world. It's going to be great!
We had a great family day today. It's been our tradition for many years now to go to the City Museum on Martin Luther King Day. All three of us have the day off and really enjoy this special time together. For the last few years Bethany's brought a friend. This year it was Anne (see pic). It was a great day!
There's still a ton to catch up on, which I can't do now. I'll try to get back on track with my 366 again tomorrow!
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| I wish all days could be like today.
We had our deacon ordination service this morning and it was a true blessing.
The two men we ordained are wonderful men of the Lord and I look forward to continuing to serve with them.
Switching subjects - I know I have listed that I am currently reading Max Lucado's new book, 3:16 - which I am, but at the same time I have been listening to the audio version of John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. I just finished that "book" today and it was a great reminder of the value and importance of leadership. I learned a lot from it and pray that God will allow me to apply what I've learned as I lead Cross Keys Baptist.
I just downloaded and will begin listening to a new "book". This one is "Jesus Among Other Gods" by Ravi Zacharias. This is a big switch from both the current book I am reading and the previous "book" I have been listening to. Ravi is a fantastic apologetic teacher. That means he is a defender of the Christian faith. I have enjoyed listeing to his sermons and teachings over the years and believe this will be no different. I'll let you know how it goes. It is a total of around 3 hours of listening time. If traffic is anything like I expect, I should be able to finish this up this week in the car with no problems!
By the way, pray for me, again I am dreading the commute beginning tomorrow morning.
But, I know God is in control and that makes it ALL good!
It's an early entry for me today, I might get a chance to blog again later, but I kind of doubt it.
I am preparing to head to a Deacon's meeting this afternoon.
I really enjoy being a Pastor and serving with the great folks at Cross Keys Baptist Church.
I miss my Parkway Baptist Church family (especially "my" kids, the youth) but God is good and I get to see many of them from time to time (like the wedding last week which was such a blessing!) I hope they will continue to let me be a part of their lives as they continue to grow up, go off to college, get married, have children, etc.
I also have a great group of teens here at Cross Keys. I don't know them that well yet but I am tryingt to get to know them and I look forward to seeing all that God does in their lives as well. We have a great youth Pastor in Ken so I am learning what it means to be a Pastor to all the church. I do hope, though, that I can get to know the youth of Cross Keys better, even if I'm "THE" Pastor. 
One more change of topic. I'm not doing real well on my diet or exercise this weekend. Praying this coming week will be better.
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| Note: It's Saturday night, 1/5/08 11:01 PM CST.
It's late, I almost didn't blog as I have had a long day and I am dead tired.
It's been a good day, but a lot of crisis came up and it really drained me.
We did get to visit we our very close friends, the Schleichers.
They have been a real God send, and they are like our family.
They have 3 girls who are like Bethany's sisters.
It is a blessing to have friends like them.
I'm up late as I am a little anxious about tomorrow's service.
God is in control and it's all good, but I am still a little edgy.
It'll be a short night as I will wake up around 4 to review my message and pray about the Sunday service.
God is good.
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| My day "off" is such an interesting day.
I spend no less than 2- 3 hours every Friday working on my sermon. I have to get it done earlier in the week so I can truly have a day "off" to deal with household chores, errands, time with Kristine & Bethany, etc. My goal is to make Monday my sermon day - to review the message given on Sunday as well as accomplish the bulk of the work of the next week's sermon on Mondays. To do that, I will need to make Monday's a study day and not take any appointments.
I had a good workout day. I did an upper body lifting workout and rode my exercise bike for 45 minutes for a total of 8.5 miles. My legs were like jello when I got off the bike.
I weighed in today and was happy to see I have lost 6 pounds - yeah!! Praise the Lord!
I was able to accomplish one important household task today - I got all the Christmas plastic lawn decorations put away for another year. We still have the lights on the house to take down, but we're doing good so far!
So, Hwy. 40 traffic - not bad this week, we'll see what happens Monday when they expect an additional 50% increase in the volume of traffic. This week hasn't been too bad, but put another 50% of vehicles on the already packed roads and I think it's going to get VERY interesting. Again, I will with hold my judgement (and whinning) until I see what happens on Monday.
I am very tired tonight - I didn't sleep well last night and it's catching up with me. I am going to read my book and probably fall asleep before 10 PM.
I was able to share in devotion prayer time with Kristine and Bethany - that's always a blessing!
All in all a good day!
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| EDIT: I typed this at 11:30 PM CST. So while it may show up on the Xanga site as 1/4/08, I actually got it in before 1/3/08 had passed.
I almost let today go by without blogging. That wouldn't be a good way to start off the new year of blogging to get to day 3 and give up!
It's been a long and strained day for me today. Still trying to figure out the traffic flow on the highways and yet trying to make the most of my time.
I had a good day of ministry and felt good about my day overall. I missed devotion time with Kristine and Bethany as I had a school PR committee meeting. I am amazed how quickly and easily I allow myself to get over committed and overburderned with so much. I am praying that God will allow me to release more things as both a Pastor and as a parent who is very involved in his daughter's school. I need to see those around me, recognize their gifts, encourage and empower them to use their gifts for God's glory. I don't have to do it all and it's not about me!
I didn't have a good eating/exercise day. I didn't eat well and I didn't exercise at all. Oh well, tomorrow's a new day and I plan to lift and exercise bike both tomorrow!
I am continuing to read Max Lucado's new book, 3:16 - it's great! In addition, I have committed to using my commute in a more instructive manner. I will spend at least one way (about 40+ minutes) listening to a book on tape (or more accurate, audible.com download to my ipod). I am currently about 2/3 of the way through John Maxwell's classic book on leadership the 21 Laws of Leadership. I've tried to read the book before but didn't finish. I am enjoying the points he is making and believe God will use this in my life to help me become the best leader I can and need to be for His glory.
Kristine is great! I don't think I talked about it before but she totally surprised me at Christmas with a gift that nearly brought me to tears. Years ago she bought me a beautiful black onyx ring that I wore on my right hand. Well, I first cracked the black onyx part a couple of years ago and then at least a year ago the black onyx fell out thus making the ring desttoyed. I saved the parts, put them in a bag and even went to the mall to investigate what it would cost to get it repaired - needless to say it was WAY too much! So, I put the ring in the baggie in our lock box at home and dreamed of one day being able to get the black onyx replaced and wearing it again. Yeap, you guessed it - she had it repaired for me for Christmas! It wasn't in in time to give to me on Christmas day and with her and Bethany's trip to Dallas she didn't get it picked up until yesterday. Needless to say I've been wearing it ever since!!
I am so blessed to be married to the wonderful woman known as Kristine!
Well, here I thought this was going to be a short entry, but it's not so short after all. I am in the middle of a great study "deacons" and their role in the church. We have a deacon ordination this Sunday of two great guys. I'm looking forward to this special time of worship.
Day 3 is in the record books, can't wait to see what Day 4 has in store!
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