Class meets community

I've been waiting to post this for a week or so until I got the pictures. However, as classes start today with a bunch of snow/ice/slush outside with more on the way, it seems to be an appropriate time to share about my January term class.

I took a course titled "Cross Cultural Discipleship" and I am certain that it will go down as my favorite and most formational class at seminary. Dr. Jay Moon, an adjunct professor, taught the course and he is simply excellent. He and his family lived in northern Ghana for 10 years, which gave me plenty to talk about with him as I could relate to and understand many of his stories and the people and places he would speak about.

Even though this class focused on and was titled "cross cultural" discipleship, it really is just a wonderful overall discipleship course. Regardless of where I wind up in ministry, I will use aspects of what I learned in this course continuously. The class was rather small, only twelve of us, with a great mix of cultures represented. The picture below shows most of us, but not all, as we engaged in discussion one day in class.


Our class met for two weeks, 8am-1pm. The second Monday of the class fell on MLK day, so we had the day off and I suggested we all go eat lunch together at one of my favorite places, a West African restaurant in downtown Lexington called Sav's Grill. For some folks, like myself, Dr. Moon, and one of the students and his family who were from Uganda, the food was a great reminder of their local cuisine. For everyone else, it was a new experience thoroughly enjoyed by all.

In this picture, a Korean, a Ugandan, and a Chinese child all eat together at the restaurant. Just three of the cultures represented in our class.


Our final day of class consisted of all of us presenting our final projects and concluded as we all went to one of the student's homes to eat lunch together and celebrate the end of our class. I have never experienced so much community in a class before and in such a short period of time. The pic below is of some of us left at Gray's house after lunch. Some people had already left.


This had definitely been the highlight of my time back in Kentucky since Christmas break. I am now asking God to both continue bringing forth fruit from this class and give me renewed hope and focus so that each of my classes this semester can be just as transformational and impactful. As difficult as it can be at times, graduate work here at Asbury Seminary truly is a huge blessing.

cloudy month?

Since I've returned to Kentucky from Christmas break, there has been only one day of sunshine here around Wilmore and Lexington. That day was last Monday, and the shock of the sunlight was stunning as it reflected off the blanket of white snow that still covered the ground. I'm sure sales for sunglasses surged on Monday.

However, every other day has either been overcast, raining, or snowing. I have always heard of seasonal depression for people who live somewhere like Alaska and don't get sunlight for extended periods of time. Or perhaps in Seattle where it is always raining and overcast.

Ladies and gentlemen, seasonal depression has set in. Now, I'm not trying to be overly-dramatic or ridiculous, yet it is true. After talking to several friends and folks who have themselves suffered from it I am convinced that I'm dealing with it on a small level.

I realize that many of you are struggling with very difficult situations and that many around the world are still recovering from devastating tragedies. And for each of them, and for each of you who I know is struggling with something, I'm praying.

But I need the sun! I really do. I would pay money to step outside and sweat. And for all of you out there who know that I am just a cold-natured person, it's not just that. Living in a house with the thermostat on 65 to help with the electric bill, snow and/or below freezing temperatures outside constantly, and a perpetual lack of sunlight is stealing away a great deal of my joy, my motivation, and my peace.

So Father, may you send me the sun. May you send me relief from this struggle and restore the joy of my salvation. And Holy Spirit, may you continue to bring peace and restore the beauty of your creation in every friend and family member of mine who is struggling. Bring forth your Kingdom in Haiti as your children try to find hope. Bring freedom to the millions around the world caught in human slavery (trafficking). As you send the sun to me, send a greater revelation of your Son to the world.

excuse me, sir.

If you weren't aware, one of my part-time jobs is working as a janitor at a private school here in Lexington which is run out of a church. I often am working late at night and am often the only person in the building.

On Thursday night, I was working late and was just walking down the hall listening to my ipod. As I came around a corner in the hallway, I was suddenly facing three police officers, one of which had a gun drawn and pointed at me. Needless to say, a gun pointed at your face by a huge police officer is not what I was expecting to see when I turned the corner.

Apparently the cops were doing their patrol and noticed a vehicle at the church late at night. As they drove up to check it out, they were suspicious of a vehicle with a Georgia license plate and noticed that one of the doors to the building was unlocked. I always have to lock myself in the building. However, someone earlier in the day must have left another door unlocked when they left.

After they ran a check on me, my vehicle, and called both my boss and a few other people at the church, I was "cleared" to be in the building. I appreciate the cops doing their job and protecting the community. But really? Three huge cops, standing in the hall of a church, and a gun drawn on me? I didn't realize I was that imposing of a figure. However, I wasn't arrested nor was I shot, so it all just makes for another interesting story.

Unfortunately, one of the classrooms in the school caught on fire Friday afternoon. Not too much damage, but so much cleaning to do. I think I still smell like smoke and ash. (that'll teach them to pull a gun on me in the middle of the night...)

I continue to be thankful for the jobs that God has provided for me. But man, this one sure is crazy and creates a lot of weird and strange stories to share.

Winter strikes

These are just some pics I took last Thursday. It has been snowing off and on since Thursday, so this isn't the extent of the storm. But I had to finally get out of the house (even though I HATE cold weather) and snapped a few photos. Most of these are from the park down the street from my house.

What does not fit in this picture? (GA tag with that much snow...)






The neighbors were sledding down the hill.


This is a picture I took while driving down to GA on Saturday, Dec. 19th. Part of I-75 had just been reopened after the storm, in time for me to get home. And yes, I got sprayed by the snow plow :)

Human Trafficking

Jan. 11, 2010 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Please get informed.
MILLIONS of people are depending on it.
learn more at National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Whether you realize it or not, there are victims all around you.

May freedom be established in our world.

and we're back...

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Elizabeth. My sister celebrates her ___th birthday today (I don't know if she cares, but I don't want to get in trouble). I love you!!!

Ok, so it has been right at a month since my last post. I'll simply say, there's been a lot going on. I will not try to update you on everything that has happened, but here are a few highlights. I hope to be back to regular posting soon.

-First of all I completed my third full semester at seminary. I'm not quite half way yet, but I'll go ahead and state that it is going by fairly quickly. Finals weeks was incredibly intense, but everything was completed and now my Jan.-term class begins in the morning.
-I drove through our first real snow of the winter and headed to Georgia for one of the longest stretches of time that I've been in the state for a while.
-I made it to Thomasville to see so many friendly faces. I got to meet Floyd and Jessica's newest and most adorable addition. She is beautiful.
-I got to catch up with and see so many friends. I only lived there for a total of 17 months, but the place sort of feels like home.
-I unfortunately was there to attend the funeral of a great man. Dr. John Taylor died on a trip with his wife and his funeral was the Monday I was in town. I continue to pray for Raynor and Ethan and Tori, as well as all of his friends and family. He was a great man. For those of you who've ever heard me called or have yourself called me the "young shepherd," that nickname is compliments of Dr. Taylor.
-I made it back to Savannah to see my family for over a week. This was the longest consecutive amount of time I've been home in quite a few years. It was so great to see them all and celebrate Christmas with them. It was just some much needed rest and fellowship. My nephews and my niece are getting so big. I love to see them and play with them. I miss them dearly. (but thanks to my parents' new computer cam, I got to talk to them on skype Friday night :)
-As he had come home to surprise his family, I was able to stop and see Chris Black on my way back to Lexington. I can't believe it had been that long since I had last seen him. I was also able to catch up with Sarah Olds while she was back in the states. They are back to their "homes" now. But it was so great to see them and get a physical hug.
-I made it back to Lexington in time for the arctic blast and snow that continues to fall outside right now. I hope it stops soon. It is soooo cold here.
-I also had to come back to another tragedy. A friend was killed in a car wreck on New Year's Day. His family was home in California. I picked them up at the airport, but he had already past away. I've lost some incredible people throughout my life and it never gets easier. But to pass a message along to a mother and father from their son whom they'll never get to see again was possibly the hardest thing I've ever had to do. They are back in California now and are continuing to grieve. I'm still trying to catch my breath.

On a positive note, I was asked to be a groomsman in Sean's wedding in June. I am so honored and humbled by his request. I still don't know why he wants me in it. However, that means I'll be back in north GA the first week in June. (oh how I long for June weather in GA.)

Grant me a few more words. I'd like to sum up the past month in this way.

Life is so hard. As we struggle through it we often lose focus of the big picture and what is most important to us. But over a break like this, even through dealing with the two funerals, I am so blessed to be challenged to regain focus.
I love my family so much. I miss them terribly. I love my friends more than I can express. They give me life!

May you all have a great week ahead. May you continue to find focus on the "big" picture. May you allow yourselves to be loved. I love you dearly.

Happy New Year.

looking back?

December 10, 2009 = Lucas is 1

It's amazing how quickly that happened. Still, today is Lucas' birthday. I still have a photo on my phone of the first day I ever met him. He was around two weeks old. That picture looks so much different from this:


Today, when I called my sister to tell her Happy Birthday for Lucas, she was quick to inform me that he was now facing forwards. (In my mind..."what is she talking about?") Apparently at year 1, children's car seats can be turned around from rear facing to forward facing. She started laughing and said, "yep, now he can see where we're going instead of only seeing where we've been."

We talked for a few more minutes, and then I had to go. However, the dork in me had been alerted. My mind wrapped around that sentence and I began to ponder it's relevance to life. Not only Lucas' life, but each of our lives as well.

How often do you find your mind consumed with your life that is behind you? Regardless of if it is 2 feet or 2 miles behind you. You are still mad at that person. You are trying to understand where that year went. You are reminiscing with high school or college friends about the "good ole' days." (I can remember so many stories that my grandmother would tell about her childhood and young adulthood. It will be sad to not hear any of those stories again this Christmas.)

Now, I will be the first person to argue the value and significance of remembering and contemplating the past. However, that is not what I am talking about here. I'm talking about being so caught up in the mundane and petty circumstances which trap your gaze and turn your attention to life gone by.

How often do you turn around and consciously look forward to where you are headed? I believe this is one great weakness in our culture. Our ability to envision the future, to dream, to imagine the fullness of what the Lord will take us into is gravely missing. You may have "plans for the future" and even be actively moving toward those goals. Still, I would wager that your gaze is more often than not set on the life you've lived and not on the life that awaits you.

As we celebrate Christmas with friends and family, I challenge you to turn 1! Let your seat be rotated so that you can see where you're going instead of where you've been. Christmas is a celebration of the story of Christ's arrival. Moreover, it is a celebration of the story that is yet to come as He continues to reign over His Kingdom.

May you remember your past. May you remind yourselves of the story of your life and the even larger story to which you belong. Yet, may you set your gaze forward. May you see and believe for the life that lies ahead. May you see the beauty of Him who is leading you onward.