Checking In

I haven't been able to post lately because I'm busier at work right now (thats the only place I use the internet) and my grandpa is not doing to well. They put him in the nursing home a couple of days ago. The first 10-15 minutes are rough on me while I visit. I cant help but question why people have to suffer in these ways, I asked the same when my son was being medivaced up to St Louis a few years ago. It really makes you see what faith means, I take it for granted. I'm also ashamed that now that he's been sick, I've visited him everyday, but all this time he was at home and probobly would have appreciated my company, I didnt go.
I'm reading the Boenhoffer book now as a devotional, it has small,but numerous chapters which makes it nice to plod through. I picked up Walden, so far the beginning is kinda dry, but I hope to get through it. I've always wanted to read it, not sure why, but I'm going to get it done. Hopefully my posts will be a little more frequent.

Blessed Are The Meek

I teach the teens in my church in Sunday School and we started this quarter with Matthew. It started right off the bat with The Beatitudes. They are some the most powerful words to me in the Bible. I've read books that were written about them specifically, but I still find myself reading the verses again and try to understand them. I really think my hang up is that I know what they mean, I just don't want to heed them. On the verse Blessed are the meek, I like the way my study guide decribed meekness. I asked my class what they thought of when they heard meek and the first response was "weakness". That was my first thought when I read it. But as I've grown in my walk I've realized that it actually means the opposite. The guide described it as being like a horse when it is bridled. Enormously powerful, but controlled. I thought of when Jesus was in the garden and He asked the priests whom did they seek, when He said "I am He" and they drew back and fell to the ground, I see that as a proof of meekness.
I love how Jesus started the Sermon on the Mount with these words, I wonder what the people thought when he said them. If it comforted them or if it offended them, they certainly make me uncomfortable. But I'm finding that when I find scripture "uncomfortable", I dig deeper into that part because I know its hitting something that needs attended to. I love the Word and hope to never lose the desire to keep it a part of my daily living.

Tournament Bound

It was a great weekend of basketball in So. Il. That was pretty much all I did all weekend aside from working was watch the tourney and a couple of other games. I was glad the Salukis won so we wont have to worry about being picked as an at large. The Duke-NC game lived up to its billing as well. This makes 5 years straight to the NCAA's for the Salukis!

SHLOG

I've added a link to the the side bar for Shaun Groves blog. His blog and a few others are what caused me to start my own

TGIF

Its friday afternoon and heading home. Not a whole lot happeing today, fridays are usually slow and boring here (which can be a good thing in the trucking business). Lately Ive been listening to Wilco a lot. I can't quite put my finger on what draws me so much to these guys but they're good. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot hooked me, then I listened to Kickin' Television, now I'm into a ghost is born. My oldest son doesnt like the singer, says he cant sing too well. His favorite group is Jars of Clay which I have to agree they are awesome. We went to see them back in November, they're worth seeing if you never have. Anyway, if you havent ever heard Wilco, give 'em a shot. Most of their stuff I dont understand, maybe thats why I'm drawn to them.

Hands on the plough

As I was reading this book last night, I was hung up at the point in the book when F.B. discusses where Jesus is talking with the ones that want to follow but have other things to do before they go. It was convicting to me because I find myself relating to them. I want to do His will but on my terms, so I'm stuck in confusion on what I think. I feel that I get too pushy with myself in serving, wanting to pick and choose where,when and how I want to. I pray for patience in just letting God be God. I'm afraid I'm letting opportunities and blessings pass me by because I'm worried too much about how I want to please God.

Back to Normal

I havent posted in a while due to a neck pain since last Wednesday. Because of medication its taken all I can do just to do my work on the computer. Saturday we went to SIU to their last game, it was great! They won with a few seconds left. We went with the scouts, my boys have been in cub scouts for 4-5 years. My oldest crossed over on Sunday to Boy Scouts. Scouting has been fun for my wife and I most of time. I'm looking forward to Boy Scouts though, I enjoy camping and the troop we're in is very active in that. There's a whole lot I could say about scouting but I hope to do that in little bits and pieces through out the year. I've had to put down the Tolstoy book, it was slow reading, so I started on Frederick Bonhoffer book. Its an easier read so far, my next book will either be another fictional type book or Donald Millers new one. I'm in Numbers and Mark in the Bible, and we're starting Matthew in Sunday School.