Four-day weekend.

We spent most of yesterday helping my brother Jeff and his wife Kim move from the bustling metropolis of Mullins, SC, to... well, out in the boonies. They're in Lexington, or meybe Red Bank, or maybe it's just classified "rural" - I'm not really sure. Anyway, I'm not hurting this morning as much as I thought I would, but I'm tired.

Only a day and a half left in the long holiday weekend, though. I need to find some time, probably tonight, to get some work done before Monday. We've got a "re"-wedding this afternoon, witnessing Pastor Carlos and Anabelle renew their vows, followed by a fancy reception (which I'm sure will be over before the Florida/FloridaSt game, right?!?). Tomorrow, the morning's CastTheNet service - an evangelistic outreach to our friends and family, will be followed in the evening at five o'clock with CWO LifeVISION, where we explain a little of what the church is all about.

All that, and a nap, too. This is living.
- posted by Rick @ 13:04

 
For this, we are truly thankful.

What am I thankful for this year? Mostly, my family. Vicki & I had a wonderful weekend at the beach this past weekend in Nanny's condo, but we honestly missed the kids, knowing that we would've had fun with them as much as we had without them. I'm thankful for my kids, and I look forward to today - we're going to see Treasure Planet before dinner at Mom's, followed by a Christmas movie and games. And my wife is the best - not only helping me in making sure the kids grow up right, but helping me grow up, too.

What else am I thankful for? Right now - Christ in me, or at least Christ in pursuit of me. I can't escape the notion that He is wanting more of me, in my relationship with Him. He speaks in the most subtle ways, and I've caught myself ignoring His call, His voice. It's like I can see the seed fall on hard ground, and I feel sorry that there's any of that still left in me. I want to till the soil a little, give His seed a place to take root and bear fruit. I want that to be real, and I'm thankful that He's still in pursuit, still flinging seed, still walking through my fields.


... in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
I am under vows to you, O God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
-- Psalm 56:11-13

Be thankful.
- posted by Rick @ 11:24

 
Comments, anyone?

I just noticed that while I haven't been writing very much lately, neither has anyone else. I mean, there're no comments on any of my posts (no writing *and* no reading? - no, folks are stopping by acording to me sitemeter), and some of the blogs I frequent have been fairly traffic-less, too.

Just curious - anyone home?
- posted by Rick @ 20:54

 
What is "full-time ministry"?

Pastor Mike is back full swing, or at least in semi-full swing, beginning the recovery process from the lymphoma that's been attacking his body. When he got back to the church office, where mail had been piling up for awhile, he read a sermon/newsletter from David Wilkerson of Times Square Church. The title of this sermon, preached back in July 2002, was "Full Time Ministry" (here's the audio). And he thought of me.

So after Pastor called me at work, I found the link and began to listen. The gist is this: that in Revelation 1, John the Apostle is the senior pastor of the "First Church of I, John." It's just him on Patmos, exiled, no agenda, no one to impress or to teach or to lead or to evangelize, really. And in the environment, imposed on him by the powers-that-be, he lived as a minister to God and to God alone. Then, Wilkerson cross referenced Ezekiel 44, where the descendents of Zadok, among all of the Levites, were going to be ministers to the Lord. The other priests would serve in the outer courts where the people were, but only the Zadok priests would be allowed to minister to the Father.

Hmmm... I thought to myself. How does this play out practically in me? How can I self-impose a Patmos mentality onto my current reality, somehow getting my focus and drive to be on ministry to God and God alone? In the midst of "ministry," I'm faced with having to hold down a "real world" job, raise a family with my wife, minister to folks in teaching and leading, etc. Now this... what next?

Ponder that.
- posted by Rick @ 15:37

 
Miss me?

It's been busy, but we've already covered that. Right now, staying home on a Friday night, watching Nicktoons and playing Gamecube with the kids. Now that's living. I'll write more tomorrow. I think "busy" is another term for "writer's block."

Later.
- posted by Rick @ 20:29

 
days turn into weeks...

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. No excuse - sure it's been busy, but it's always busy, isn't it? Just haven't made time more than likely, haven't made things like this prioirty over the past week or so. Let's catch up, shall we?

The '02 elections are over. I voted, and felt kinda muddy afterwards. I mean, I only voted for those folks I felt could do the job, but I left a lot of slots blank because, frankly, I won't just vote for the lesser of two evils. "Political aspirations" has to be one of those shakespearean character flaws we read about in high school. Anyway, the Republicans won control of just about everything, and though I voted that way most of the time, I can't decide if this is a good thing or not...

Long week at work. But I've offset that a little with getting into a good book: SUMMERLAND by Michael Chabon - kiddie fic, reading it with my son, might be good fantasy alternative to Harry Potter. Also re-reading A NEW KIND OF CHRISTIAN by Brian McLaren on our email discussion list.

What else? Just got SUM OF ALL FEARS in from Netflix - saw it this summer, but Vicki didn't see it yet. And SPIDER-MAN should be coming soon, too - while the kids wear out the special features on BARBIE AS RAPUNZEL... woo hoo. I'm looking forward to SPIRIT coming out this month, too - good DVDs for holiday wishlists.

Well, gotta go. It's Saturday morning, and I'm running the wife and kids off so I can work - man, it's been busy, huh? - before the Gamecocks whup up on Arkansas at 12:30est (Leonard picked the Razorbacks to lose). Fixing to eat my bowl of Frosted Flakes with the kids, watching Nickelodeon on CBS, and... well, blogging.

Can you say "naptime," boys & girls?
- posted by Rick @ 08:28