Sydney Smartt is doing well!

Sydney Smartt is doing well. I got the chance to go to the hospital tonight and she was doing well. We visited and she got to talk to people who could not make it to the hospital. I love seeing people smile and laugh. I believe that is truly my ministry. I am very happy when I can do that with people. I believe that is a major draw in my family. When we get together we just take turns ribbing each other and laughing. I love seeing my mom laugh. Keep my family in prayer, I love them sooo much and sometimes I still feel far away although I am closer. I stopped by tonight and had some of my mom's cooking. I know she likes to cook for people. Her children likes eating it, too.

Volleyball starts on Friday. ( 2 hours of practice)

Texas and Oklahoma here I come. You will probably not see me. In Houston, I will be leading worship at an area-wide for teens. I really enjoy leading people in worship. It is fun and easy for me. I enjoy reconnecting with old friends as well. I don't know which church, but it is the area-wide for Monday night. Tuesday I will be joining others( Gen. Tommy Franks) speaking to a group of teenager's assembled on the campus of Oklahoma Christian. I know I know, I can't believe it either. I have enjoyed speaking some this summer. Both of these trips are in late afternoon and speak in the evening, early morning flight, and hopefully back to work by lunch time Wednesday. I am missing most of our in-service training. I do lead worship before I leave for Houston. We as a staff and faculty begin the new school year focusing on our spiritual side as we lead this school. I will have my camera with me that I bought this summer in the great state of Arkansas.

Orientations is what I have been doing this week. I love them! Taking a group of people who do not know each other well, and bringing them together before school starts. My boss, I think today finally realized that I love orientation. I used to do it at Harding. Some of you may remember that, but I am in a zone of getting the people socially in shape. I have another one tomorrow. I look forward to it!

Pray for Sydney Smartt

A former student of mine here at GAC was in a bad car accident in Alabama. She was driving and her father died. She will be a freshmen this upcoming school year. The smartt family really needs your prayers right now. Sydney is doing better. We have been lifting prayers and it appears that she will make it. They also have a 3rd grader who is being told today that her father passed away. Please keep them in your prayers. The funeral will be Saturday for Steve the father.

Sunday was good!

Sermon went alright! I wished I had more time to prepare. This will always be the case when it comes to preaching for me. I am feeling comfortable doing it these days. I remember there was a time I could not put two words together when speaking in front of a crowd. Understand when I say, leading worship is a lot easier because the crowd is doing the same thing you are compared to preaching where all they are doing is listening.

JV Volleyball camp this week. I am looking over my coaching volleyball book tonight. Getting back into the coaching arena. It is fun! I will be busy for the next 12 weeks with volleyball. I will update you on our games. I know many of you are shocked that I am coaching. I did it in Dallas, and it was a lot of fun. Who knows, I might want to get back into choral directing after this experience here in Georgia.

Later on this week, I will take a few days of rest. I know I need it. School is right around the corner. Where does all the time go in the summer!

Great Class last night!

We had a great bible class last night. I shared the top ten benefits of praise. Given the church some insights as to what I am thinking about when we are worshipping. Many did encourage me and said that I made them think. This is my goal. I don't think we think enough.

Preaching this Sunday! I am excited about this as well. I always like to encourage people. I want you to leave better than you came. Romans 12: 11 will be my text.

Have a great day!

Pedicure,Travel, and Camp Oh My!

Yes, my sister surprised me yesterday after lunch. She took me to a salon to get a pedicure. I can't believe how many men were there. I told her I was not going to do it until I saw the number of men there. The experience was different. A little pain here and there, but my sister said I needed it. This all began because I don't wear open toe sandals. I have on sandals today. The chair I sat in at this salon was a massage chair. I would go back just for the chair experience. I thank my baby sister for pointing me in this direction. Why are there so many men doing this is still a mystery to me.

I have accepted the JV Volleyball Coach position at GAC. I am excited about getting back into coaching. I like it alot. Last night, it came back so easy as I was at volleyball practice last night. I keep you posted. Next week we go to camp for 3 days.

Tech Camp is still going well. I am enjoying it more than my Leadership camp from last month.

I am searching for a quick vacation spot for next week Wednesday through Saturday. Last chance before I start back at school. Any ideas

Fun Week last week and hopefully this one!

Well, I did have fun last weekend going to Dallas for the wedding of a good friend of mine's daughter. She was a beautiful bride. I got to see many old friends that I have not seen in awhile. I did not get to eat at Red Hot and Blue one of my favorite rib place. It was ok because on Sunday I was invited to eat over another friend's house for ribs and BBQ. It was good right here in Georgia. A great quick weekend, I did not get to see all I wanted to while there. Another trip soon I hope.

Tech camp this week! It is going good so far. I love being around kids.

Dating time before school starts back. I need to make a trip to Nashville soon.

Worship was awesome yesterday. I am glad to be back at East Cobb.

I am preaching this coming Sunday and teaching an adult bible class on Wednesday. What would you like to study or hear preached if you were in charge of speaking? I have ideas, but was wondering what would you say!

Have a great week!

Leadership

It is time for leadership to stand up to those who can not handle a different point of view. One of my college professors and colleague when I worked there has made his public blog private. I am tired of the few always winning it seems. I have been in many worship wars where the few dictate what the majority has to put up with. I am tire of it. I am tired of the status quo. Mark Elrod's blog I find very refreshing and it challenges me to think about what is happening in this country. Do I agree 100 % of what is on his blog? No! I come to it everyday to challenge my thinking. I did not see his post change my middle name to Hussein on his blog. My prayer is that this has nothing to do with why he is making his blog private. Church people- Get over yourself! If you don't like what is found on his blog, then don't go over and read it.

This is also a generational thing I believe. I am not a letter writer if you can't tell on this blog. I like going to the person that I have conflict with. Many people have misunderstood me, until they have sat down and we talk about their issues. Why can't older people do this? I find this to be cowardice done by the greatest generation. I am one that is sick of it! Elrod going private won't stop these people. I used to be a part of the establishment, and defended on many fronts. I'm 37, and I am sick of it.

Let me make myself very clear: Dissenting point of view is not a bad thing. I want to hear from a racist in order that I can understand his perspective and hope that he/she can understand mine one day. If he does great, and if he doesn't also great. I am not for abortion, but I can have lunch with someone that is. I am the only Christian in my family, and I have made a lot of mistakes trying to share the gospel with them. I feel guilty today thinking I may be the cause for them not to believe. Hearing the other side is a good thing. I did not do this earlier. I attend and minister at a Church of Christ. I have been to all kind of churches. I am not afraid nor do I think this will shake my belief in Jesus. Mark's blog was also very entertaining as well. No more!

Leadership- It is time to lead. Stop listening only to the few and look at the bigger picture. This was a great day for me until I went to view my normal blogs. What do you think?

4th July time with my family

My sister Tamiko and her step daughter Mikki

Nephew that helped me move last week!

My sister Latonya and her kids

Fun time with my nieces and nephews

Mom and sisters

Searcy

It has been great to be in searcy, Arkansas for the last three weeks. I have caught up with many, but still have not seen quite a few. I made the decision to rejoined Harding's President Council. Mainly, I wanted to give back to a place that gave me sooo much. Many of you were quite surprised that I would leave. It has been a good thing in me leaving. I still have a love for this great University. Those reading, I would encourage you to give back whether small or big. When and if you come back to campus, it has changed in many ways. But the spirit and memories that you have will come back. I want you to then decide to give back so others can have or make some of the same memories. I know for some these are bad economic times. I know that I have been blessed by God now and all of my life. When you look at the buildings at Harding immediately you might think that "Oh, they got plenty of money, they wont miss mine". I gave for scholarships which Mike Williams ( a good friend) tells me that Harding continues having a need to offer scholarship. People will give to a building and we need those people to do that. We also need you and I to help those attend the same place we had so many life changing memories. Just consider it! Those who teach and preach, I believe they still have a special way for you to join the President Council cheaper. Anyway, It has been good to be in Searcy!