Frustrating Weather...

Have you read the news today? Las Vegas is covered in snow, and even Malibu, CA got enough to shut down roadways. Barbie, you better break out your heavy winter coat. This is incredible. While three-fourths of the entire nation is blanketed by either snow, ice, wintry mixes, or just bitter cold, we here in Alabama are considering reopening the local pools and wearing flip-flops to work. I am starting to hate the weather here. All my life it has been crazy "'round these here parts," but this is getting past the point of ridiculousness. I am seriously reconsidering a move to Montana...

Disappointing Weather...

I was so excited about the possibility of even seeing one or two snowflakes so early in the season here in Alabama yesterday, but to my disappointment, nothing happened. I know they predicted it would be mostly north and east of Birmingham, but I guess I was still hoping for even a little hint of something. Oh well, maybe it will at least stay cold enough to feel like winter this year, instead of waking up to 70 degree days on Christmas and New Year's Day.

Quick Weekend

Well, that weekend just flew by without warning. After getting off work Friday afternoon, it seems as if we are already back into the beginnings of this week with nothing in between. I did get a chance to watch the SEC Championship Game on Saturday. It was an absolute brawl and a fantastic game. Even though Alabama didn't pull out a victory, it was still an excellent game to watch. Congratulations Florida, and I will be pulling for your victory in the BCS Championship Game in a few weeks (after getting screwed on a #2 ranking behind Oklahoma). I really think this nation is prejudice against the SEC...we're constantly getting such a lack of respect.

The youth group meeting on Sunday didn't go so well. I was feeling really out of my element that morning before even going to church, and I know that kids can easily pick up on those things. They did, and it was total chaos. I usually have 7-8 there every week, but yesterday it was only 3...the 3 older ones. I thought it would be good, but they were so juiced up on sugar from Sunday morning candy that they wouldn't shut up long enough for me to get a word in...I would ask a simple question to start the lesson, and 20 minutes later we were off on the most random subject. The problem is, I didn't want to put up a fight. I need some inspiration from others who have done this before, and I am looking forward to getting that tomorrow at a First Priority lunch for North Shelby county. I love working with kids, but I do sometimes have little patience with immaturity. I'm being taught some very valuable things here...

Difficult Decision

For the past year and half, I have slowly been putting together an idea for a company which I would like to start. The business plan is nearly complete, and I have recently begun meeting with people who are COOs and CFOs of companies to get some feedback on what steps to take next. There are still many details to hash out, but I feel as if I am finally making some great headway as I am watching this become a reality. This company will be my passion, and I feel as if I have created a solid business plan that will take an amazing product to an international demand in less than a decade.

Yet, I continue to get conflicting evidence that this may not be the best thing for me to do, and I struggle with the decision of whether or not to go through with it. On one hand, I feel as if the current market situation makes for the perfect climate to introduce this company.

However, I also continue to hear that because of the rate at which we are printing money in this country, we are headed for an economic disaster far greater than what we experienced in the early 1930s. While a lot of people will disagree with that statement, all the signs are pointing to identical cases in history, both in the US and Europe, where the currency became utterly worthless. During the Depression here, our economy suffered greatly. In Europe, their Depression led to the rise of Hitler.

So what to do? I finally have resolved the personal struggle which haunted me for this past year of whether or not this company was a great spiritual investment, only to find myself now struggling with whether or not it will be fruitful to pursue these means as our country runs itself into the ground...decisions decisions. On top of that, as I try and gather my research for the conclusion of my business plan, I am finding a lot of resistance. I actually had someone say to me, "Good luck trying to get people to give you such valuable information..." I'm not asking for any big secrets, just market trends in areas throughout the country. Why is that asking too much? If someone from California asked me to give a quick response on our market here in Birmingham, why would I seek to gain something for that? No wonder our country is headed towards disasters, when all everyone wants is something for nothing...God save us all.

For The Lost

My heart goes out to those that do not yet truly know the Lord. There are several people for whom I have been praying here lately that really need to experience not only His Love, but His unending mercy and grace. I feel as if they are sincere when they say they want a change, that they want to accept and follow Christ. However, the pains of their pasts and the burdens they carry will not fully allow them to step into the light with full confidence and the ability to forgive themselves. For those of you who read this that are active prayer warriors, please lift these people up to the Lord. You may not know them personally, but God will know of whom you speak, and He will answer the pleas of the righteous. Help me to break the strongholds the devil has placed around these people, the very things that hold them to their pasts. Our weapons of prayer and faith are far greater than anything Satan can ever build.

I read yet another article this morning about an atheist group trying to ban a Homeland security law in Kentucky that contains a clause which relates to using God's help to protect the state. Their argument is that it is unconstitutional for the state to recognize God in the government like that, and even go so far as to call the God a "mythological creature." How can referencing God in a law or any other part of government be unconstitutional, when our very Constitution refers to a people "grateful to the almighty God?" Did anyone miss that little statement, or have we just chosen to ignore it to further the selfish interests of a select few. It angers me to hear stories such as these, yet I know that the anger is Satan's way of keeping me from any attempt to reach out to these people who openly profess to disbelieve in God. May we all have the resolve to set our anger aside and pray for those that are lost, and for the opportunities to plant the seeds of truth they so desperately need.

December is Upon Us

Where has this year gone? On one hand, it seems as if it should only be sometime around late summer or early autumn. Yet here we are, on the brink of Christmas vacations and New Year's celebrations. Oh my...On the other hand, it seems as though events which happened earlier this year occurred years ago. A great example is when Jessica's parents lost their home to a fire. It happened in January, yet is seems as if it happened 2 years ago. Is this really what it's like to get older? Although the years slip by faster than we realize, mentally it feels as if certain events are very slow to sink into the history of our lives. That will have its benefits when children and other life-changing events begin to occur, so I'm not complaining. It's just frustrating sometimes trying to keep everything straight. I have a hard time remembering from year-to-year what happened and when. Does Alzheimer's begin to develop early? Anyone.....anyone? Bueller....Bueller? What was I talking about?

I hope and pray that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family. I also hope that you were able to avoid the chaos and selfishness that came from the Black Friday shopping frenzy. What has our world become when we care more about the latest and greatest deal rather than the life of a human being? Will we as a nation ever regress back to the days of family and social values? This nation needs a revolution on so many levels. It's time for the Church and its members to take a stand and fight back for the things in which we hold true. For those that have a problem with our beliefs....take a look at the world that is forming around you and tell me which you would rather have. History repeats itself, so if you would like to see where your views and beliefs are leading this generation and the next, open a history book and look at the years between 1925 and 1945, especially in Europe. If you want to see what kind of a world we as Christians would like to have, open the New Testament...

Happy Thanksgiving

I wanted to quickly wish all of you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving holiday weekend. For those of you traveling to see loved ones, or the few of you lucky (expletive deleted) that get to leave the country --you know who you are -- I hope that your journeys are safe and well. May all of you experience the love of friends and family over the next few days, but let us also keep one thing in mind. As we sit around our dining room tables eating turkey, ham, dressing, and the dozens of other classic Thanksgiving dishes, may we keep close to heart the millions around the world who will go hungry, who will probably not live to see tomorrow, or worse...who have nothing to hope and be thankful for. Let us not make it our mission to feed the world. Let us not focus on ending the sufferings of millions. Instead, let us focus our efforts on introducing the freedom and life-giving nourishment that comes from knowing our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through discipleship and evangelism, we can put an end to the worldly plagues of our day by offering an eternal hope that will rise above every physical thing here on earth. Only then can we overcome hunger, suffering, and hopelessness. Let us give thanks for our freedom through Christ, and may we pray for the opportunities to free others.

Answered Prayers

The Lord is good, isn't He? For weeks I have been feeling led by God to have a heart of prayer for a certain someone, for me to focus my thoughts on him daily. Some of you know to whom I am referring, others do not, but in order to protect his identity, I will refrain from using his name.

Last night, I found out that my prayers have not gone unnoticed, and God has been working hard to shape the heart and soul of this person. He made mention to the fact that he has been visiting a local church, and especially these past two weeks, has sat in the back feeling as if God was directly speaking to him that he was missing something...that something wasn't right. He admitted that he needed to talk with someone about things he was struggling with, and to get some things off his chest that have been holding him back. He has questions that need answering, and he has problems from which he needs to run. He needs support, and he asked that I help him the way I have helped others he has known. My eyes were tear-filled as I heard his account from a loved one, and even though the words were not coming directly from the source, I could hear and feel his pain...I could sense his desperation. God has in the past few months reaffirmed what I have believed for years: His spiritual gift entrusted to me was the gift of Counsel, and I find myself in a place beyond ecstasy as I hope and pray for people the people I love to know the God I worship, and to experience His unending Love. Praise be to the Father forever and ever..Amen!

Needed Prayers

Today, my prayers are with my youth group, and I ask that you join me in lifting them up to God. Things are going well, but I can tell that several of the kids know little to nothing about the Bible. One kid yesterday even made a comment that he did not believe in God, which kind of took me by surprise. I knew I would run across this eventually with someone, but I didn't expect it quite so soon. Another of the boys that has been coming since the beginning said that he didn't like the fact he was in a class with someone who didn't believe in God. I tried to help him understand that we all have to start somewhere, but how much can you say while you are in a group setting like that with no way to pull someone aside in private. I need your prayers, and I need God's help in making me an example by which they can see Christ, and for those that are already believers, that they can see the patience and acceptance of God through my example.

Amidst the Storms

What do you do when your world comes tumbling down around you? Where do you turn when it seems like the path on which you were traveling suddenly disappears beneath your feet? How do you cope with a major and tragic event in your life? Give up? The answer is God. There is the vast majority that will say that was an easy answer, but then why do we seem to take such tragedies and losses--such major shifts in direction with such disappointment, anger, frustration, fear, and hopelessness? The reason is that we say we trust God with our lives, seemingly giving Him the ability to direct and guide our steps as well as to help get us through the tough times. Where we make our mistake, however, is when those tough times do come, we too often try to regain control of our lives and our situations. It is as if we are telling God, "Never mind. You got me in this mess, now I guess it's up to me to get out of it." Blasphemy? How else would you take it if someone treated you the same way? Can we not trust God enough to not only see us to the bad times, but also to see us through? The Bible says that we will endure hardships and troubles as followers of Christ, but that He is the ultimate Comforter and Provider. He will be victorious in every outcome, and He will in the end "lead us beside still waters."

There is a reason for this post. I know of someone very dear to me that is suffering right now. Fear and pain are consuming their very being, and my heart is reaching out to save a soul...maybe even two. May I take a moment to share something that the Lord taught me just recently? I hope so, since this is my blog after all. Throughout our lives, we are given many choices, often multiple choices at one time. When we reach these crossroads in our lives, people will often say things like, "You have so many doors opening right now," or, "When one doors closes, two more open." The problem most people face (and I speak from experience) is that we stand in front of these many open doors leading to our futures with fear and trepidation. It is typically in these times that we like to try and regain control of our lives, even for a moment. "Your destiny is in your hands!" is a very common phrase given to graduates on their big day. But is our destiny really in our hands? Jesus made it very clear in The Gospel of John chapter 14, verse 6 when he said, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." He also touched on this again in The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7 verses 13 and 14, "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

That small road is Jesus, and He is the ONLY way. So when faced with many paths and many open doors, pray diligently that God will show the only one you should be taking. Otherwise, we may end up somewhere we really don't want to be. Then we are left with an accusing attitude towards God that He led us to this awful place we don't want to be. Focus your thoughts and prayers on the only thing in this world and the next that is an everlasting constant. That way, when the storms of life come, your world shifts and shakes around you, and everything seems to come tumbling down before your feet, you will find that you are not rattled, and you remain in the presence of the Eternal One, the unchanging Father. Then you will find you are unshaken and undisturbed amidst the storms.

The Wright Family is Growing?

No, it's not what you think...we are growing, but in a spiritual context. These past few months have been eyeopening for both Jessica and me, and we have begun to see God's glory in ways we never have. Our passions for spiritual growth have been a major part of this, fulfilling the promise of God that He will transform us from the inside-out. Our thanks go out to all of our friends and family that have been diligent prayer warriors on our behalf. What God has next for us, who knows. Hopefully the next time I write that we are growing, we will be in the literal sense :)

We have begun to search out different options concerning adoption, not allowing our dreams of having a large family to be restrained by any one methodology. The Lord is teaching us many things right now in preparation of having a family, some of which can be tough at times. I am finally an active Realtor again after nearly 4 weeks of taking my continuing education classes (yes, I know I'm a procrastinator). Already the Lord has allowed me to cross paths with old and new friends that need someone they can trust as they look to move their families, and I am remaining prayerful that the first offer I wrote the other day for one couple will be the first paycheck I receive after re-activating my license. If all goes well, that may even come much sooner than expected...

A New Day Begins

So it seems we have a new president...I can hardly say I am excited, because we still know next to nothing about this man we have chosen to lead our country. So many will hail him as a hero and an agent for change. But I ask, who is he? It looks as if we will find out soon enough.

Things are going very well on other fronts. The youth group continues to grow, and I now have 4 new regulars attending, making it eight total that come each week. Please continue to pray hard over those that do come, and those that may be out there seeking a place to find refuge. I have a lot in place to make this an exciting thing at the church for the youth, as well as the rest of the church body, and I hope to begin introducing those things within the coming weeks. I am starting a new curriculum this coming Sunday, one from the Student Life Bible Study series. Hopefully having a more definitive structure will help them grasp the information I bring to the table.

I finally finished my real estate continuing education classes. Yeah, it only took me 4 weeks, but hey, that's how long it would have been had I actually sat in a classroom on the weekends. Now I am eagerly waiting on the Alabama Real Estate Commission to receive all my info and credits so that they may reactivate my license. I have people who need my help, and I need to get going!

Major Catch-Up

Wow, it's amazing how much time I can let slip by between my posts. Sorry about that. So much has happened over the past few weeks, and I don't have long to cover it all. The youth group at the church is growing steadily, and I think the kids are finally getting into coming each week. It's tough so far, but the Lord is carrying me through on His shoulders for sure. I'm just trying to get some ideas together to really do a "break-out" event in order to draw a lot of curiosity to the group. Let me know if you have any.

I am not even going to cover the Auburn Tigers, because they aren't even worth my time. So moving on...My sister-in-law, Cindy, had her baby nearly 2 weeks ago. Both mommy and new baby Aubrey are doing well, both trying to adjust to their new situations. We are praying for them though, and we are faithful that the Lord is doing some awesome things there no matter how it seems to be going.

My small group is going very well, too, and I'm glad that we have expanded our group to four prayerful, Christian men. Thanks for joining, Matt. We are so thankful you have made the commitment, and it's great to see you on a weekly basis as we come together in Christian brotherhood. Our group has several prayer requests that need the fervent prayers of other warriors out there. So if you are reading this, just pray for the members of our group, and that God will see to it their concerns and desires both are met with His glory revealing itself.

What's next? Oh, Jessica and I are "officially" trying to start a family, although we haven't exactly been trying to prevent it either for almost a year. We are faithful in God's timing and know that all our other blessings--past and current--are the result of His knowing what is best for us. However, we are also feeling drawn to the prospect of adoption, even as we are trying to have our own child. We want a big family, and we are not against having 2-3 of our own children, and then adopting several along the way. Again, we will leave this decision up to God's will, but we are feeling drawn to sharing the reflection of Christ's love within us to children who may have given up in the belief of love after being abandoned in this world. If anyone reading this knows or hears of someone getting pregnant, maybe by accident or carelessness, and is considering the worst choice of action by not having the baby, please let them know there are caring people in this world who will gladly accept the child, and desire very much to take the responsibility from them. Just a shameless plug for adoption from some very willing servants of Christ :)

Getting Older

I was invited to come and sub for a flag football team that several of the guys from Student Life play on. As I was warming up and running around the field, I began to realize my legs were struggling to keep up with the speed my mind was pushing them to run, my arm was a little lazy on nearly every throw, and I seemed to be out of breath just a little sooner than I'm used to. I've always heard that age has a way of sneaking up on you, but I'm only 27. I mean, come on!! I'm supposed to be in my prime, but I'm acting like an old man. After today, I'm dead set on getting back into shape for real. This is pitiful and ridiculous...

Pitiful Tigers...

Tonight we saw yet another pitiful performance from the Auburn Tigers. What the crap are they thinking? It looks more like a bunch of Jr. High kids out there play touch in the backyard than a ranked NCAA team. But all-in-all, congratulations to Vanderbuilt for an exciting and well-deserved victory. It would be great to see them play for the SEC Championship.

Off the negativity for a moment. Tomorrow will be my first official day at church as the new youth minister. I'm nervous, and because of everything we have had going this week, feeling a bit unprepared. In fact, I really need to be trying to put something together right now, but I have no idea what the makeup of the youth group will be. This first Sunday may just be a chance for me to get to know those who show up, and try to lay out a little about myself and what I want them to get out of coming each week. Then next week I will have a better idea of how to plan.

Jessica and I finished painting our bathroom this week, and it looks great. I will post pictures soon. I wonder what the next project for our home will be...

Here We Go....Again

What drives us to this madness? Yes, we are repainting some rooms in our home, again. After only a few short months living there, we began to rethink our initial color concepts in our master bedroom and bathroom. Both colors we chose just had too much gray, and we were very limited to what type of furniture and accessories would coordinate with our color scheme. So, we went back to the drawing board and are adding a splash of color. Our bathroom will be a really beautiful and slightly darker than normal, terra cotta red. We are still deciding what to do in our bedroom, but we are leaning towards a color slightly closer to a sandstone than the current grayish something-or-other we have now. Jessica is already talking about painting the guest bath as well, since that was the only room (other than the laundry) not painted in our original campaign. HELP!!!

After today, my real estate license will have officially expired...for now at least. For so long I have thought about leaving the business altogether, so I was expecting to just let my license lapse during this renewal period. I did not take any continuing eductation (CE) classes, and I was not prepared to continue working. However, God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams this month, and I feel as if by leaving the business, I would be turning down those opportunities for future blessings. Brock said it best when he said, "if it didn't cost me anything, and I didn't have to take those classes, would I stay in the business?" My answer is yes, which he helped me to realize that in reality, it is my own unwillingness to put forth an effort which is driving me away, not my desire to be doing real estate. Good point! So starting within the coming weeks, I will complete those CE classes, and place my license with another company that won't cost me nearly $1000 a month just to be able to say I still sell real estate...brutal, I know.

Short Weekend

Well, I was really looking forward to this past weekend, and it did have it's ups and a couple of downs. I enjoyed watching Alabama open a can on Georgia, although I did hate the loss for such an admirable football team at home during a "blackout." Growing up an Alabama fan, and then going to school in Auburn, I always had a rivalry with Georgia. They were, however, always the team to respect. But when they hired Mark Richt to be their coach, my entire view of them changed. The team changed, and my respect for them became even greater. Every team should wish for a coach with as much character and integrity as that man.

A bid down for the weekend was watching yet another pitiful Auburn performance. Although it is another "W" in the overall picture, I still can't help but think that were it not for our defense, we would not even be ranked right now, and maybe sitting with a 1-4 record; 2-3 at best. Things really need to shape up down there, and fast.

My weekend did end well, however, in that Jessica made it home safely yesterday. I missed her over the past couple of days, and it was nice to see her pull in the driveway. While I was at church yesterday (the church where I will be helping with the youth program), I was officially introduced to the congregation...all 15 of them. There are still a lot of people who normally attend church absent due to health or family problems, and I look forward to meeting them in due time. I am very excited to see this church grow, because as I saw yesterday, they are just one big happy family. Everyone greeted me and remembered my name, gave me a big hug, and then asked about Jessica. It was nice to come to church and feel like a part of the family instead of just getting lost in the crowd. Every size church has its pros and cons, but for now God has truly opened an incredible door of opportunity here, and I am happy.

A Dream Come True

First, my thanks go out to all my prayer warriors out there who have been wholeheartedly praying for Jessica and me. The Lord has heard your prayers, and he has been so good to us. Tonight, I was honored with the offering of a position as a youth minister at a local baptist church here in Calera. The church is really small, but they have a strong desire to grow within the community. The only problem is that they neither have had, nor currently had any kind of youth program for visitors with teenagers. Their funds are low, but their passion for the Lord is gigantic. I am so excited to have this opportunity, and I am so honored that God has shown His favor towards me by entrusting me with this next generation of youth.

There is a lot to do since there is no existing program. My main focus in the beginning with consist mainly of outreach as I try to grow the familiarity of the church and the new program. I will need a lot of support, specifically in the area of prayer. Pray that the Lord will grant me courage to put my all into the outreach of the community; strength to stand before a group of middle and high school students with passion and conviction; wisdom to speak with the Lord's words and not my own; and compassion for those that do come to see what all the hype is about. Please also pray for the youth of the community, and for the church. Much of what happens will be as a result of the acceptance of this program, and I pray for those divine appointments that are just around the corner.

A Gift of Love

Jessica and I have recently become a sponsor of a little girl in Peru through an organization called Compassion International. Student Life does a lot of work with them, and after hearing their name spoken so positively for over a year, we finally decided to check into it and find a child to sponsor. Her name is Leidy, and she is 3 years old. Jessica fell in love with her the moment she saw her picture. It didn't take much before I was in love too, and we are so excited about being a part of this little girl's life. It may not be more than giving a monthly monetary gift, or daily prayer on our part, but in the end it is so rewarding to know that this little girl can now live her life knowing there is someone out there in the world who thinks about her and prays for her every single day, even if they are halfway across the world.

New Beginnings!

Well, I know it has been a long time, but in all honesty until recently I have just not felt like blogging. Isn’t it weird how it is so easy to write deep poetic pieces when we are feeling down-and-out, but so difficult to put our emotions and thoughts into a blog unless we are doing really well? Maybe it’s because deep-down, we don’t others to read about the negativity we are feeling, instead trying to stay hidden behind the mask with which we so often cover ourselves when in the public eye.

Anyway, so here I am again. Much has happened since the last time I wrote, and I will make the best attempt possible to catch everyone up on what has been going on with us. Jessica finally received full-time status at Student Life, which means she is now a permanent fixture at the office instead of working a part-time shift of 40 hours a week. This is great for two reasons. First, she finally feels as if she belongs somewhere, and working for the future instead of just the here and now. Second, with both of us being full-time, our office now covers 100% of our monthly health insurance costs. This will saving us a lot of money every month, in addition to the slight raise in salary that she received after the promotion.

Financially this has been a great month. Real estate was very good these past few weeks, and I have had several closings back-to-back. For the first time in 4 years, I had a very successful month in real estate. We are going to pay off a lot of debt as well as put a little money into savings for the first time since we have been married. The Lord has truly been good to us, and we are seeing his grace and mercy more clearly now than ever before. Not just because of the financial blessings, but because we are finally able to see how our faith in Him always leads to greater things than we could have hoped for no matter how tough the road was along the way. It is obvious to us that His timing is always perfect, and we can see all the little pieces falling into place so as to make the next steps of life come just a little easier. To Him be the glory!

Hot & Cold

Hot & Cold. That is probably the best way to describe the majority of my life right now, including how I am keeping up with this blog. In nearly every area of my daily routine, I am either really hot or really cold. When a new idea comes to mind, a new solution to an existing problem presents itself, or a new door of opportunity opens, I am burning with passion and intensity. But I must have adult A.D.D. It never takes long before something else catches my interests or steals my attention, and that which I abandoned is left to simmer until I decide to pick it back up again. That usually takes quite some time, and by then, whatever I was previously doing has grown cold. This is true with my spiritual walk as well. It doesn't take long before the daily "routine" sets in, and douses the flames of passion and intensity. Satan does a devilish job (no pun intended) of stealing away what God gives us. So what is the answer to keeping the fires burning? Prayer. Then again, how do I remember to take the time to pray without it become just another "routine" thus losing all meaning? Accountability. By surrounding oneself with Christian friends who care about not just your physical life, but your eternal life, it is easy to stay focused on our targeted goals. Our salvation depends on these friends for support and accountability, and I thank those of you who hold this position in my life. Please, more than anything I could ever wish for, do not forget me in my day-to-day. Without you, I may fall victim to yet another scheme that douses the fires which have been ignited by God. Don't forget, however, that I am here serving the same purpose for you. Lean on me, as I lean on you. Together, we will never fall.

Quote of the Day:

"Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is far more interested in building your character than he is anything else...God is far more interested in who you are than in what you do." --Rick Warren

The Final Quest

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have been reading this book called "The Final Quest" by Rick Joyner. He is a pastor in South Carolina, and is was a noteworthy author before penning his vision into this series. The book is part one of a series that documents Rick's visions which were given to him by God, and he explains in the introduction that these visions were much more powerful than just dreams. He mentions several times that during these visions, the experience was so powerful, and so real that he would have to force himself out of them, and return to his daily routine in order to rest and recover. Most of them occurred during the day while he was awake, and came more as a trance-like state rather than what most would think of as day-dreaming.

The book is an account of the final battle between the "hordes of hell" and God's army. It is a battle for salvation, and each part of the armies are different areas of life that are affected by or can have an affect on our salvation. There are many moments throughout the book which he explains are merely his impressions, or interpretations rather, of what he saw, since often the dreams were so vivid and real that it became all-encompassing, and the details were lost in the grand design of his overall vision.

While I would love to write an entire post on nothing more than this book, I encourage everyone to go and purchase it and read it for yourself. However, if you would like to sample it before buying it, please visit the link below. It contains the entire book on a webpage, and even offers the script in a downloadable PDF, and a streaming MP3 format. But please, don't read the entire book online. First, staring at a computer screen is not good for your eyes. Second, you miss a special and intimate aspect that makes this book so special, which is the ability to separate yourself for a moment and enter Rick's vision first-hand. This is much harder to do if you are siting in front of a computer screen. But here it is...if there is any violation of copyright laws, I am not aware, so again I encourage you to go and purchase the book for yourself. Enjoy it, and may God touch your heart and inspire you to climb the mountain!

http://74.208.102.153/FQ-Protestant/TFQ-en.html

Looking Back...The Proposal

For those of you who never heard the full story, here it is:

2005 was a very rough year for me. I had started a new career in real estate and was learning to adjust to the demands of a busy schedule, and trying to establish a plan and a set of goals for myself since I was my own boss. Things had gotten off to a slow start, but I was making it. Jessica and I had been dating for several months, and had known each other for a little more than a year when summer finally arrived. We were already talking about our plans for the future, and we wanted nothing more than to get married and begin our lives together. The last thing I needed, was a car wreck.

It happened on June 3rd, and it was a complete crush to everything that had been going on with me at the time. My car was in the shop, money was tightening up quickly, and worst of all, my insurance had lapsed. The next several weeks were really hard, and seeing how stressed I was at trying to do everything, Jessica decided to use some of her extra money to plan us a trip to the beach. What she didn't know was that I had already purchased her engagement ring, and that I had been trying to plan the perfect proposal. With no money, and now a wreck to douse any fickle flame of an idea that sprang to mind, the beach was the perfect opportunity to take her completely by surprise, and to make something really special.

We went to Panama City Beach and stayed in a nice hotel overlooking the water. I was a total mess the entire first night, which she easily picked up and questioned me about. With my incredible diversion skills :) I passed it off as nothing more than being overwhelmed since it was the first vacation I had ever had where I was the one making all the decisions and overseeing that everything got done. The second night we were there, July 1st, I wanted to take her to a wonderfully romantic dinner at the Pirate Ship, and then back to the hotel for a photo shoot on the beach with us being all dressed in our Sunday best. We had a great time, and on several occasions as we were dancing under the moonlight on the beach, she nearly discovered the ring box in my pocket. My heart was pounding, and I knew that I couldn't get away with the secrecy any longer. Stepping back and looking into her eyes, I dropped to one knee in the surf and ask her to marry me. She was so surprised that when she saw the ring, she actually grabbed it and started to run away towards the hotel so she could better see it in the light...leaving me waiting on one knee for her response. It was great though, and we couldn't stop laughing about how funny it was. She of course said yes, and we proceeded to dance the night away under the beautiful moonlit night. To make things even more perfect, some kids down the beach began shooting fireworks in honor of the 4th of July, just seconds after the proposal. It was a moment we will never forget :)

A Week in Review

The past 10 days have been quite active, and I have been keeping very busy juggling the demands of Student Life, working several leads in Real Estate, and enjoying time with friends and family for special events and occasions. A week ago today was the 3 year anniversary of the day that I proposed to Jessica. The setting was perfect, and for those of you who do not know the story, I promise I will re-post it again later today. For now, however, my time is short. It's amazing to think how far we have come, and through how much we have come in just 3 years. In a way, it seems as if those 3 years have been nothing more than a day, while at the same time seeming as if it has lasted a lifetime. I truly love and adore Jessica, and I can see now how couples enjoy each other as they celebrate their 25th, 50th, and even the very rare 75th wedding anniversaries. God-willing that we make it that long, I look forward to those special dates as well.

The July 4th weekend was a blast, and we enjoyed having some time to simply relax on the water and enjoy the company of friends. Jessica battled a sinus infection and the medicine that is supposed to be helping nearly all weekend, which really rained on her fun. Luckily the over-the-counter medicine we bought on the way home Sunday is doing more than the doctor prescribed stuff, and she is feeling better each day. Over the weekend I began a new book that has already had major changes in my attitudes and personality. The book is called, The Final Quest by Rick Joyner, which I borrowed from Brock, who was given the book from Matt. So to both of you, as you read this, thank you for introducing me to this incredible novel. I look forward to the next two books in the series already. I will write an entire post on my readings of this book in another post.

It's time for me to get to work, seeing that it is now 9:00 am. I will be updating more, but Jessica and I do have a busy week as we prepare for some of her family to come and visit this weekend. Grass needs to be cut, house needs to be cleaned, and groceries need to be purchased. Ah, the joys of it all :)

A Glimpse Into the Future

I heard yet again today of someone else who needed some answered prayers, and who was struggling to find some relief from what I am sure has seemed like unending stress and grief. As I was receiving an update from my friend, I began to once more hear that little phrase, "believe a miracle...expect a miracle (see my previous post)." It has been several days now, and I have heard that phrase many times. I have also been a lot more diligent in reading and comprehending the daily devotionals that I receive from Brock. I have begun to experience a new sense of peace throughout my day, and more than ever these feelings have reminded me of when I first discovered Christ and who He really was on that mountainside under that North Carolina moon so many years ago. Why have I so easily abandoned something that brings such joy and peace? Why do I constantly listen and believe the lies that living in the pits of my sin will bring me happiness? No more...and it is with this decision that I am writing this blog.

For the first time in a long time, I am slowly beginning to realize my purpose here in life. I have had glimpses of different purposes before, but now things are becoming a little more clear. Most often they are slivers of images or feelings, barely recognizable as anything profound or life-changing. But they are peace-giving images, and if saying that for the first time in my life, I am on the right track, and I am walking the right path. The only thing that is lacking now, is my daily obedience to the personal relationship for which Christ longs from me. I am horrible at beginning new habits, but it is a matter of realizing that it is not so much forming a new habit, as it is entering a new love. I should desire my time spent with God, and I should be excited about learning and reading from His Word. Too often, however, I let my flesh control my desires, and I put off those things that I truly wish to do. "Old habits are hard to break," is the famous saying. I look forward to my wife and my future children seeing some "old habits" in me and my relationship with Christ. It all begins with a simple step...

The Way, The Truth, & The Life

In John 14:6 Jesus says this phrase, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

A very powerful statement, and one that is often overlooked by so many people seeking to get into Heaven. This verse is also the theme for Student Life's 2008 camp season. As we reach out to those that are lost, as well as those "misguided Christians," we must remember above all else to teach them that there is no other way into Heaven aside from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This country was founded on Christian principles, and if I remember this correctly, a study conducted just a year or two ago found that over 90% of Americans considered themselves to be Christians. But ask yourself, if this were true, why are things going downhill so rapidly? Why is the news filled with so much evil, so much hate, so much destruction? What have we missed?

A new article that came out today on Fox News, in my opinion, helps to answer these questions. Read it and think to yourself, how much are we as Christians needed in the world today? Are we really doing all we can do? If it is our mission as believers to be evangelical, to spread God's Word to those who are lost, then why aren't we making more of a difference? Why isn't the news filled with selfless deeds, acts of kindness, and God's miracles? They surround us everyday. May we no longer be blinded to them...

Fox News Story

Believe A Miracle...Expect A Miracle

Well, I had this long drawn out blog post that I was ready to sit down and write today, but something has come up to put that on hold. There is something more prevalent and a lot more meaningful than my sometimes chaotic ramblings.

Jessica and I made it to church yesterday morning for the first time since we moved into our new home. Not the best record, I know, but we have come up with some great excuses not to go, the most common being that it is now a 30 minute drive one way. However, we were excited to go back, and made ourselves get there on time. The message of the week was not delivered in what I would consider the best fashion, but the message was phenomenal. Speaking on obedience, the message talked about how sometimes we will follow the "rules" set forth by Christ rather reluctantly, but ultimately we do it "because he said so." This really hit home for me, and it was a message that I really needed to hear, as you would agree if you have been reading my previous posts.

Today, after feeling as if I have drawn closer to God within the past 24 hours, I have had a new experience that I have only felt a few times in my life. That moment of truth when you undoubtedly know that God is real and very near to you. We got word today that a member of Jessica's family went into intensive care last night due to a diabetic coma. The staff at the hospital gave the news that they did not expect her to make it through the night. She has made it through so far, but the family is still worried. She has 3 children, and unfortunately isn't really "close" to any of them. They are being raised by their grandmother (Jessica's grandmother), and see their mom every once in a while. Though not the best of situations and circumstances, ultimately she is still their mother. I was asked, after receiving word of the situation from Jessica's grandmother, to pray for the mother of her grandchildren that she may be ok. I hung up the phone, and took a minute to think about everything before lifting up my prayers to God. It was in that moment of silence that I heard the words, "believe a miracle...expect a miracle." It is not enough to 'hope' for a miracle, you have to believe it. But it is never certain that it will result in that for which we have prayed. So I started thinking about one of the first messages we ever heard after we began to attend Church of the Highlands. It is not simply enough to "hope" for a miracle. You have to believe that God will grant us His miracles, and that is enough. However, it is sometimes unwise for us to pray for certain, very specific things such as someone recovering from an illness, or in this case, waking up from a coma. That may be His miracle. It may not be. Either way, it is not for us to decide. By praying for His will to be done and nothing more, we can thank Him and praise Him no matter the outcome of the situation with which we are faced.

So I prayed for those children. No child should ever have to live without the love of their mother. No child should ever feel unwanted by their own mother. There are times where my heart has broken over the thought that these kids might just be feeling those pains. So I prayed for them; for their comfort; for their future and well-being. I prayed that they would have the Christian mother they so desperately need and deserve. And again I heard the words, "believe a miracle...expect a miracle." Maybe this miracle will come today, maybe tomorrow, a week from now, or a year.That is not for us to know. Maybe she will come out of this coma with a renewed spirit, and will be filled with a new compassion for her family, and an appreciation for her new life. Maybe she won't wake up at all. That is not for us to decide. Either way, no matter how God chooses to use this situation, we WILL praise Him for His promises, and we WILL be faithful that He knows far more than we can ever imagine.

"Our Father, Who Art in Heav'n, Hallowed Be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom Come, THY WILL BE DONE, On Earth as it is in Heav'n."

Friday...Already?

I know that is a very weird title, since most of us seem to have the attitude that it is "finally Friday," but for some reason this week has gone by really fast. It seems like 2 weeks ago that we went to the lake, and nearly a month ago since Jessica's family had their reunion. It must be true that as you get older, time goes by faster and faster.

So our house continues to feel more and more like home every day. This week has consisted of a lot of yard work so that our outside can begin to look as inviting as the inside. It is amazing what a little bit of effort can do to change a home. I know I have said that over and over so far in this blog, but since this is the first time in a looong time that I have lived in my own home, it all seems so new to me, and is very exciting. We have some living room furniture being delivered tomorrow, and we are excited to have a more comfortable and inviting look as you walk into our home. We still need a few pieces, but those will come later.

I never thought I would purchase anything from Rooms-to-Go, but this time around, it seemed worth the cause. I don't know how many of you out there watched the TV show "Friends," but it is one of our favorites. There was one episode in like the 6th or 7th season where Phoebe has this whole thing against Pottery Barn, because she said that nothing is original, and everyone winds up having the same thing. Eventually, however, she grows to like it, and her entire apartment is decked out like the catalogue (thanks mostly to Rachel who was her roommate at the time). Well, my feelings towards Rooms-to-Go fall along similar lines. My worst fear is that one day someone would walk into my home and say either "Oh, I love your furniture, we have friends that have the same thing," or, "Oh, we have the same thing at home." That would be the death of me...

Our kittens have grown so much lately. It doesn't seem like it since we see them every day, but looking at pictures of them from just a couple of weeks ago shows the amazing growth stages they are currently going through. So this is what parents must feel like with their own children...

On another random note, thank you for those who stepped up and said something regarding the struggles with my spiritual life. Every day I am in this job reminds me of how lucky I am, and that nothing is worth more than the relationship I have with my Savior and Redeemer. Even walking the walk begins with a single step...

"Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Two weeks...

Wow, I can't believe it has already been over two weeks since my last post. I sincerely apologize to all of you, and I will get better. Things have been going well, and I am loving my job here at Student Life. I had really missed everyone here even though I was only away for a couple of weeks, and everyone is glad to see me back. Things are crazy right now since our camp season is in full swing, and I stay busy every day trying to keep up with all of the demands this job has. My days fly by, and since I don't really get started until 9:00, they seem to go even faster.

Most of you don't know this, but I have really been struggling in my spiritual walk these last few months. Jessica and I were re-baptized earlier this year, which was an incredible experience for both us, since we did it together. You may be thinking that it is kind of pointless to be "re-baptized," but let me explain. We were both originally baptized as kids, mainly because that was how we were raised, and it was--for both of us--nothing more than a ritualistic right-of-passage in the southern Christian community. However, both of us have experienced some pretty amazing things since joining Church of the Highlands last spring, and after both reaching a new level of intimacy in our relationships with Christ, decided that being baptized again, this time with the understanding that came with such a symbolic event, was the right thing for us. Strangely enough, we both made the decision individually at the same time, and told each other much to our surprise. But I digress. Since making that decision, I have seen Jessica grow in her prayer time and her commitment to being faithful to God's will. I, on the other hand, have been brutally attacked by the forces of evil to try and pull me away from where my heart desires to be. Much of this is because I am too analytical and stubborn, but mostly it is because I am still secretly carrying demons of my past and have struggled with wanting to let go, even though they plague my new spiritual life. I can only ask for your thoughts and prayers in hopes that I will be committed to the decision I made just a few short months ago to follow the examples of Christ throughout each and every day of my life. Walk the walk, not just talk the talk as some might say. I want to thank my friends Matt and Brock, however, because it is by them that I have realized I am farther from my Father now that I would care to be, and I am longing to get close to Him again.

A little update on our house. We have still been cleaning and working little-by-little to make it more of a home for us. Yesterday we purchased a weed-eater and a blower so that I can finally start maintaining our yard so that we are not the eyesore of the street and neighborhood. We actually received a letter in the mail saying our yard had gotten too out-of-control and that we needed to take care of it ASAP. LOL...too funny. We are hopefully getting some new furniture here very soon (thanks to Rooms-to-Go) which will be wonderful. We went to Home Depot last week and bought some beautiful crown molding, spray painted it black, and glued it to our mirror in the master bedroom (you know those huge 6 ft. mirrors that span the length of the double vanity). It looks so much better, and it is amazing how something so cheap and easy can drastically change a room. Jessica is not quite happy with our bathroom color, so I may be painting again in the near future...we'll see :)

Quote of the Day:

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it. "

Down Time

So I have spent my first weekend with Jessica in nearly a month, and I must say that is has been wonderful. Even though we spent Friday night apart, we have had such a great time just relaxing around the house and really doing a bunch of nothing.

My first week in my new job was wonderful, and I look forward to being busy over the next several days as we prepare to reload our camp teams coming in from the road. There are so many things to learn, but it will definitely be a trial-by-fire type of job, where I learn what to do as things present themselves.

Jessica and I sat down last night, and for the first time since we have been married, came up with a monthly budget for ourselves. We tried several times before to accomplish the task, but while being in a commission only business like Real Estate can be lucrative, it definitely is not consistent. This posed many problems when it came to "budgeting" a monthly income. Now, however, we will have two steady paychecks, and after coming up with our budget, we noticed that we will for the first time have money leftover at the end of the month, even after paying all of our bills, and making attempts to pay off our debts. It is a very liberating feeling, and we are excited to see where this will take us. Financial freedom is finally within sight...

Our First Video Blog

Wow, is all I can say...LOL :) Enjoy!

Before & After

So I mentioned that Jessica and I wanted to do some updates and remodeling projects around the house to truly give it our own unique touch. Well, the first of those major changes occured the weekend after we purchased the home, when we painted nearly 95% of the entire interior. The change was amazing, and we have since been searching for our "next project." Tonight, we took on and completed just such a task. The interesting coincidence is that we actually got the idea when Jessica was playing around with a picture that she had taken here in the house. Using some very basic picture editing techniques, we realized how awesome our fireplace would look if it were painted a dark brown instead of the stark white that was currently there. So, we went to The Home Depot, got a few cans of Expresso colored spray paint, and went to work. The results are below, and I hope that you can appreciate the drastic difference it has made in our living room as much as we do.

BEFORE

AFTER

We have some other projects lined up in the future, but they will all be much more extensive. We plan on ripping up the patio in our backyard and creating an extension of our dining room in a way by making a whole new patio area with a place for the grill, a water feature, and lots of space for tables and chairs, maybe even a firepit.

In the kitchen, we are wanting to lay some slate or tile on the floors, install new granite countertops with a new deep sink, add in a backsplash above the countertop, and maybe even add some different types of moulding to the cabinets that are already there. It will be beautiful when it is finished, and if we keep our heads below the clouds, we can actually accomplish the entire project for less than a couple thousand dollars. Not bad for a complete transformation!

In the main living areas of the home, we are wanting to install hardwood floors and crown moulding, giving our home a very luxurious feel.

In our master suite, we are going to install crown moulding, new tile floors in the bathroom, a new granite countertop with the sinks that pearch atop the counter, new mirrors, tiled surround on the garden tub, and a brand new tiled shower. That will be a major renovation by itself, so we save that one for last. In the end, however, our home will look completely different that it currently does, and we will hopefully be able to accomplish our goals with a minor monetary investment.

I will post more pictures as we continue to improve our home, and we hope to have many more parties and cookouts in the very near future so we may share our blessings with those that we know and love.

Rested Ramblings

I am sleeping so well now, thanks to the new mattress that we had delivered last Saturday. For the first time in months, possibly even years, I can wake up each morning and actually feel as if I have had a great night's sleep. Our old mattress was just that...OLD. I am almost certain that Jessica came by it more than 14 years ago, and it has seen some rough times along the way. Since we have been married, I would wake up in the middle of the night only to find Jessica lying almost on top of me due to the large slump created in the middle of the mattress. I don't like to be hot when I sleep, and I need my own sleeping space, so naturally I was not happy by these discoveries at 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. Our new mattress is amazing, however, and even sits on an adjustable base. You could never imagine how amazing it feels to sleep with your head and feet just slightly inclined so as to get them about 30 degrees above you heart for maximum blood flow and limited air passage restriction. Sorry, now I'm getting into the specs, but I won't bore you with those.

Keeping with the theme of new things, we are slowly trying to improve our new home a little at a time. We have been there 3 months now, and although it still has not completely set in with me that this is our "home," I do enjoy returning every evening from work and knowing that I have a beautiful place to live. We are going to attempt to paint/stain the fascade around our fireplace, which is currently just white. Who knows exactly how this will go, or what the outcome will look like, but in our minds it is already beautiful. Now we just need to start looking for some furniture to replace our "ecclectic" pieces that just don't seem to be fitting of their new surroundings. Little-by-little I know, because that is probably one of the more expensive aspects of owning a home. We have a lot of other big projects in mind, but I will go over those in another post.

New Beginnings

Well, this is my first time in many years to actually write something in a blog. Hopefully this time around, I will be a lot more diligent in keeping this thing updated, and actually attempt to get some use out of it.

There are no words to exactly describe how I am feeling right now, but I will make the effort to relate to you my life as it stands today. I have finally begun my full-time position at Student Life as Inventory and Facilities Specialist. Basically I am in charge of the entire Student Life inventory located in the warehouse, and making sure that our camp teams are equipped with everything they need to do their jobs out on the road over the summer. In addition to that monumental task, I am also asked to be the contact person for any vendors that we at Student Life use when it comes to maintaing the building and the grounds. If something breaks or needs replacing, it is my job to see it done. This will be a very integral position within the company, and I excitedly look to the future and what doors this will potenially open in other areas of ministry.

I will continue to do Real Estate part time, mainly because I still have a passion for the business, and also because the extra money will definitely be a boon to our financial situation at home. I can only hope that things will continue to improve in the market, and that I am able to do my absolute best for my clients, who will now consist mainly of friends and referrals only. It will be nice to no longer have to live strictly on commissions, and having the paid benefits from Student Life will put even more money every month into our pockets at home.

Jessica and I have not been disciplined at all in attending church since we purchased our home in late February. We miss our friends that we had made there, but more importantly we miss the weekly interaction and spiritual renewal that can only come through devoted worship among other believers. Chris's messages were always inspiring, and although we can always watch them online, so much of the impact his words have come from the conviction of the moment as you sit before the presence of the Lord. What an amazing experience. It is shameful that we have neglected our priorities as easily as we have.

It is late, and although I would love to continue to write, it is best saved for another day when I have the time to really think on my words, and deliver my thoughts to you properly. It is good to be back on the virtual platform, and I look forward to sharing many things with you.

Blessings,

J. Tyler