faithrunner

Day Two at the farm was a morning of being outside . It was about 38 degrees F, a bit cloudy, and a light breeze: perfect fall weather. Madison decided to get a drink in the tank by the windmill while we were out . I kept telling her all week she was going to "heaven" this week, and it has been that for her. Too bad she returns to the cement pond and couches this afternoon. Maybe she'll dream of what being a real dog is all about. We fed the cows from the pens rather than feeding them in the fields , which meant filling the troughs and cafe feeders and getting out of the way when we left and the cows rushed the food. The feed bag had the motto " A steak in the future " on it...pretty goofy, but I got it. We also got the Model T Touring (1926) out of the barn . Here's Summer, my sister, Barbara, and Dad headed out for the ride. They picked up my brother-in-law, Rodney, along the way, but about 200 yrds from the barn, here's what they were doing... They fi...

Thanksgiving 2007 started Wednesday afternoon going to my parent's farm. That evening we shelled pecans. That's Dad and I using the "Texas Native Inertia Nutcracker" and Summer and Kim dodging the flying shells when they slipped through the "shield." Here's the end result! Along with the pumpkin and chocolate pies, the deserts were complete. Yes, Summer and Kim helped with the broccoli and cheese casserole, which turned out quite tasty. I forgot the Cheeze Whiz, but the Velveeta Cheese Mom had in the frig worked just fine. (Notice the Detroit game in the background. Cowboys after lunch!) This is the scouting team earlier in the morning planning our next trip around the property. Here are my girls and me at the farm . (Storey and Graham were with his family this year.) Here's Mom, Dad and my oldest sister, LaVona , at the gate to the property. I am a blessed man, whom God has favored for no reason I can think of. Family, friends, and my church famil...

Saturday, I joined my fellow trail runners for the 12th annual Rockledge Rumble , which is sponsored by the North Texas Trail Runners . One of my off-line passions is trail running, and this group is one of the best in the nation. I'm privileged to be part of them. I was honored to say the prayer for the runners before we all took off on the trails. It began as a foggy, cool morning, but progressed to a warm, humid day by the end of my 50k run . I don't know why, but every year it seems to "warm up" for the rumble, which makes the trail run more difficult than the Northshore trail, Lake Grapevine can deliver on its own. This was the first time I had run on the trail since the floods in the spring, and I liked the new sections of the trail DORBA and the Corp of Engineers had added. That's me in the middle of the pack at the start (blue shirt, white hat). I wish I had ended up there, but I got overheated and basically stumbled in the last 5 miles. I don't k...

As part of an all-day pastoral staff planning session, we took in the new movie, Bella this afternoon . A great story of true love that demonstrates how our mis-takes and accidents can be redeemed by greater acts of love . I highly recommend it! Two thumbs up and all that. Check out the website and make plans to go . Yes, guys, the plot will call you to be a real man; and, women, you'll need tissue. Pass the word. This is a good story for everyone.

As some of you know, we held Kidzapoloosa at Legacy as part of our celebration of 40 Days of Community. It was a great day of worship and opening our campus to the community. We had every kind of blow up game known, a climbing wall, concession booths, and we topped it all off with Chagy the Clown . To promo the event in the morning service, Markus Lloyd offered me a part in the video. Of course, I accepted given my dance skills. Here it is. (It's only a minute long. The rest are out takes.) Yes, I am the white man...I took one for the team on this one .

Yep! The picture says, "I love my Nana and Pop!" Storey is a little over six weeks pregnant, and the Wilkes family is floating on clouds! Looks like the baby will be born at the end of May or first of June--just in time for Nana to get out of teaching and head to Waco to help with the newborn. We are so proud of Graham and Storey and can't wait to have him or her for a night, weekend, or week! Okay, we won't get too carried away. I hear the best part of being grandparents is getting to give the child back to Mom and Dad when you are finished spoiling him. Thanks for your prayers as we wait to greet this new one into our lives!

Certain days exemplify what I envision Legacy to be. Yesterday was one of those days. Our community project for 40 Days of Community was a church-wide baby shower for the Student Age Parent Program of the PISD . As usual, Legacy blew away all expectations with all the items they brought for the students. (The picture is one half of what was on stage!) The Director of the program, Wanda Pieterz , was present, and she, too, was amazed at Legacy's generosity and service to the students in the program. Legacy has always stepped up when asked to respond to a need, and I am humbled to be part of such a group. The other part of the morning was Bruce Walpole's FaithStory of how God led him to start hockey chapels with the team he coached, the Aces , and how that has connected with a larger group, Hockey Ministries International . He struggled as a Legacy Church Leadership Team member whether or not he should give up coaching to be "in church" every Sunday until someone rem...