It is summer!

I have had a pretty busy summer sort of. I have spent a lot of time with my mom and family. I continue to be amazed at how my family see me differently than I see myself. We have had to spend so quality time together. I am getting to know them better as they are getting to know me. When I left for college, I left. It was a major goal of mine to change the pattern history of my family. My family background is well grounded in poverty. I did not want that for myself. My change really occurred during high school when I started working. I got to see how much more there was to life when you could afford to do the things most people got to do.

I have been back in Georgia for 3 years now. I am learning more about my aroma with family. Every time I go to a movie I reflect on it as it deals with my family. The movie "The Proposal" Sandra Bullock had a moment in that movie that almost made me cry. I do have a family, but almost have operated as though I did not have one. I am praying to God for me to find the balance to reengaged without enabling. This is very hard thing to do. I love my mom more than anyone on this earth. Sometimes I do treat her with the respect that I think I do. I try to be the best son ever, and at times I can be the worst.

I am a Christian. I true follower of Jesus Christ. This is a conflicting issue for my family. Although there is a belief in God, following God daily would be a struggle. I want my family to know that we will struggle together. Spending more quality time is my attempt to make this happen. I take my stand, but do not put my belief on them. No one can smoke or drink in my car or house. I do draw the line there.

Perfect! I could only wish. I am working on my walk with God this summer. I am serving him, but want to continue my journey of trusting him with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I am working on loving others more than myself. Patrick Meade spoke recently at Lipscomb saying that we have to Love the Nobodies. It is easy to love the somebodies, but work on loving the nobodies. Please pray that my journey this summer will be a good one, so I can share it even more with my students this fall, and my Church.

Hey There!

It has been awhile again. I am getting ready for the summer. I have been asked to teach the summer class on Wednesday night at church. I guess no one else would do it. I look forward to sharing stories about Daniel. It looks like it will be Daniel and me this summer.

I'm ready for school to end. It has been a wild year on one hand. Another hand it has been a very rewarding year with two mission trips with teenagers. I look forward to next year adding another one. I don't think the kids understand fully what has taken place. My prayer is that this will be the beginning of life ministry for these kids.

My mom continues to lose weight. People have commented to me that i have lost some as well. I'll take it. It was not on purpose. You know I love to eat. I wondered if I "live to eat" or "eat to live". How would you answer that question. I know how I would. I'm not telling.

Rubber band leadership is a book I am currently reading. Getting ready for my summer camp that I lead at school during the summer. Only two weeks this year, I hope that I don't get bored.

This summer, I also want to do something to my condo. I am not sure what. I'll keep you posted.

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!

Week 3 of my summer

I have packed almost everything up for my move except for everything I need this week to live on. I will be helping with our youth group in the inner city of Atlanta on Wednesday and Thursday this week. I will be traveling to Harding on Friday for Uplift. A very busy week, but exciting because of all of the service opportunities this week. I do love to serve. It takes my mind off of weird things. I have been thinking a lot which can be scary. I will picking up my reading for the rest of this week. More papers to signed as we move to the closing date! Bye!

Looking forward to July

This summer, I am helping with a day camp that has served me in a way to outreach to the community around the school I teach. This has been exhausting(physically)which is alright since I need the exercise, but has been very rewarding. In July, I will be taking a month off from my worship leading duties to reflect, pray, vacation, and whatever God takes me to on Sunday. I am a person who loves to travel and experience new things. I am 36, and sometimes feel like I am 66, tied to all of my different responsiblities. Tim Spivey said it well in his blog listed here http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2068372/19030256. I am looking forward to July.

Update on Randy tonight: He presented the story on the prodigal son. Again, an excellent lesson presented like we had never heard it before. I feel like Randy, that I am like the older brother in the story, who has done all the things right and tended to those who were hurt, and then this punk comes and we throw a party for him. Randy is good! I felt very convicted tonight to give up control and see what God has planned for me. Everything I get to do is great! I wondered if I am prepared to receive the people Randy talked about tonight in the service. He mentioned worship wars of the future being more about Punk rock, rap, and etc. Are we ready for this? As a worship leader, I was challenged tonight. I was thinking tonight how nondiverse the worship team was tonight. Here is a church wanting to embrace the community but have a very lily white praise team. They have a Korean ministry, Hispanic ministry, and a meals-on-wheel for people staying in extended stay hotels- and no diversity on the praise team. This is not a cut on this church or the worship leader who I believe is awesome. He along with his team will be coming to East Cobb sunday night. So, I mentioned it here as an observation and a direct call to put up or shut up as I continue to digust Randy's lesson tonight. Randy encouraged them to go for it. Don't be afraid. Please join me in prayer not only for this church, but all christians as we think about our responsiblity and respond to Luke 15. It was a great evening. Terry