Semester ends, Greek begins

We made it through another semester of school. 3 more classes down! I finished my finals last week and start back right away this week with 5 weeks of Greek (I'm calling it death by Greek) - one day off today for Memorial Day then Monday through Friday until July 3rd! After sitting down and looking at the classes I have left I'm pretty sure that I will be finished this time next year (will have to take some heavy class loads) - May 2010 here we come! I'm enjoying being stretched and how the Lord is growing me through this but it kicks my tail! I truly miss serving my King on staff at a local church! I do not doubt that is where He has called us to serve. It's odd here at school. There are so many that have no idea what God wants them to do and finish there degree and do not go to the mission field or to a church or to some other place of service. I dream daily of being back serving in Student Ministry or in the Pulpit. There is nothing greater than serving in that context! A wonderful friend asked me where we will go after we are done and I told him and we truly don't know. Eventhough we have no idea where He will place us after this as long as we are where He wants us we will be ecstatic - in His will no matter circumstance is where we want to be! Keep praying for us and for me as I seek to serve well in the midst of these classes and that I can learn well in Greek!

Weakness and Humility

I recently read this paragraph in Greg Heisler's book "Spirit-Led Preaching" concerning weakness and humility being a help to the Empowerment of the Holy Spirit in the life of a preacher and it really resonated in my heart. It resonated in my heart because it speaks what is on my heart. Here is the paragraph:

"The preacher not only knows he is weak apart from the Holy Spirit; he also knows he has no message apart from God's Word. He never takes the credit or glory becasue he knows it belongs totally to God. The preacher knows he is a servant, not a superstar. You don't preach long before you realize how unworthy you are to be a preacher of God's Word. This is the burdensome angst of preaching, the fact that as preachers we feel so unworthy to preach, yet we are compelled by the Spirit to do so. The thought of preaching repels and compels us at the same time. When we compare our own sinfulness with the sinless one of whom we preach, we are repulsed by a sense of unworthiness. Yet when the Spirit of God takes hold of us and fires us through his Word to a red-hot passion, we are compelled to preach because we see the glory of God, and we cannot keep silent; we cannot hold it in."

Wow! This is the burdensome angst of my heart at this time...so unworthy...yet compelled. Wherever He leads us may I be a weak and humble servant that is moldable in His hands. I love you Lord.

So Beautiful

Over the past seven weekends I have spent four in West Virginia. Normally this would be a great thing but three of the four trips have been of the kind you don't want to make. One was to say goodbye to my Pop Pop, another was for my Pop Pop's funeral, and then I made an emergency trip after my Dad had a heart attack. Throughout this time I have realized even more how beautiful my wife is. She is truly the most amazing woman I've ever met. She consistently models what a mother should be for our children and in her own quirky ways shows her love for me. I could not imagine what my life would be without her because through her in my life God conitnually blows me away daily! I love you Jill! Thank you Lord for placing her in my life!