faithrunner

Summer is camp time for most church ministries. A week ago, I spent Monday afternoon and evening at Camp GAP with our LegacyKids . Here are some pictures from the week on Markus and Lisa's personal blog. I had a blast hanging with the students , going down the zip line, chowing down on "whatever meat that is," and celebrating with and hearing and seeing Keith Coast that evening. Check out his promo video . Our FLOOD students were at StudentLife Beach Camp at South Padre about the same time. I wish I could have made that trip, too. Okay, not the 12-hour bus ride, but the beach and happenings would have been fun. If you have a My Space account , you can check out some of their pictures. Two students from our group were baptized in the Gulf . Very nice. Troy and the team had a great experience, and I look forward to seeing the impact on our students' lives. Kim and I spent the Fourth in Waco with Cambell Grace , seen here at 2 months old! We kept her while Storey an...

Sunday we had baptism at Legacy. These are the days that become "altars in the sand" for me because they remind me God is alive and well among us and the stories of the people are why we do what we do. Three children and two adults publicly confessed their trust in Jesus as their Rescuer and Leader. Here is the story of Rob Daffin, an adult who's two-year journey to Christ has inspired me to stay on the Path. My Journey: Points on a Graph (used by permission) Youth Cultural guilt - white Alabama childhood in the 60’s. Watched Roots on TV, don’t want to be one of the bad guys. Stale taste of small-town Methodism Spiritual disenchantment. Young Man Lost in the wilderness of my own ego Self-gratifying, self-destructive Hopeless spiritual vacuum Maturity Search for meaning; a way home looking east; those bald guys on KungFu seem to have it figured out. Wisdom of the Dalai Lama, points me back. The quiet faith of my father, the death of my father God’s war of attrition, hi...

Kim and I traveled to Las Vegas last week to attend the wedding of the woman who shared cheerleader coaching at PSHS for the last four years. Leah and Jeremy got married at The Wynn Casino and Hotel wedding chapel on Friday night. She is pictured with Kim and another teacher friend, Marcie who came to be part of the experience. Leah's parents were married in Vegas 32 years ago, and Leah wanted the wedding there. Kim suggested that since our 33rd wedding anniversary was June 28 , we should go early and enjoy the sights, which meant seeing EVERY casino on the strip. We got there on Wednesday and stayed at New York New York . As you can see by the website, the casino was not for children! It was hot 107F on Thursday, but it was a "dry heat." Right. It was still hot, but the casinos work hard to keep you inside. Here's a look at the outside of NYNY, and a peak at one of the street scapes on the inside. It was nice, and I enjoyed the food and hanging with Kim. Kim inves...

Saturday was a full day! I ran to the North Texas Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure where over 25 Legacy people ran in honor and/or in memorial for friends and family . It was a warm and humid day, but the crowd was huge and the excitement of running for others was bigger! Way to go, Legacy . I appreciate being part of a church who is literally "in the streets" for others. I then ran from the EDS to Legacy Church (Jackie Henson felt sorry for me, and I hitched a ride from Preston to the church) to join the Fight Club guys on their "serve" day at the church. ( The Legacy Kids team was here, too.) The guys did everything from re-mulch the children's playground ( picture below , How 'bout that race outfit?), to spray wash the parking lot ( picture above ), trim trees, clean out closets, offices, and attics. I was there from 9:30 to 4:30, and they were there before and after me . Fight Club is a great group of men and young men who are on a program to kno...

I have found that sports does two things for me: First, it provides a group of people I most likely would never meet with whom I can exercise and in the middle of all the activity, we get to know each other and we find community together . Second, it gives me a reason to do something for more than my own health or ego. When I began running for causes greater than myself ten years ago I found more energy and endurance than when it was just about me. I find I finish more often and work harder when I know someone I am riding or running for than when I am working on a PR or to build my distance resume. This Saturday, June 7, o ver 25 Legacy Church walkers/runners will participate in the Susan G. Komen North Texas Affiliate's Race for the cure . My sister is a breast cancer survivor, so, the event is close to my family and me. We also have several survivors as part of Legacy, and we currently have two of us who are in the middle of treatments for the disease. Please remember the team...

Read 1 Samuel 1 and 2 Hannah was a woman of faithfulness. She longed for a child, and she prayed diligently for one. Her prayers were filled with “ bitterness of soul ” and " weeping .” ( 1 Samuel 1:10 ) Read the first chapter and listen to the prayers of Hannah. What was her vow to God? What are you facing in your life that you are wrestling with God about? From May 7 to May 17 , Kim and I saw our first grandchild and our youngest daughter graduated from college. Those were emotion-filled times. We now face an epic of our lives we have not yet known. Some of my prayers recently have been about how to be a grandfather and nurture two daughters who are on their own.There has been some "wrestling" going on about this... Make your heart’s desires known to God. Know that He will hear as you pour out your soul, and trust He will answer with a deeper love and power than we can ever comprehend ( Ephesians 3: 14-21 ). After God was true to His word through Eli, Han...

Read Joshua 1:1-9 Joshua did not stop to pray and ask God for help. God came to him to assure His servant leader of His presence and power. What was God’s promise to Joshua in verses 1 – 5 ? How can you apply God’s words to your life today ? God continued to encourage Joshua on his mission. Read verses 6-9 . How many times did God tell Joshua to be "strong and courageous?" Read the verses first as God’s promise to Joshua and then read them as God’s word to you in whatever you do for Him today. Meditate on these words of promise as God’s word to you today. Take a walk or drive around your neighborhood or place of work as you pray for God to reign “every place where you set your foot” ( v. 3 ). I always need to hear God's words to "be strong and courageous. " Like most people I befriend comfort over discipline and the easy way rather than the hard way. But God's call never leaves me comfortable or at ease , so I need to hear His words for me. By ...