BLOGDEN

OK - Go!!

Nah, I'm not talking about the band.  Talking about my Summer so far.  Busy.  Just got back from camp on Friday.  It was a pretty good week all things considered.  I feel like I need to apologize to somebody for the way registration went...but there are way too many.  So forgive me...us...anyway.  As far as the students view point the week seemed to be great.  That the point!  For them to have a good week and an experience with God.  I am really proud of some of the student that went with our church.  They don't just buy everything they are told.  They process the information through their understanding of God and church. They ask really good questions and I feel they are searching out their faith in a real way...regardless of the immaturity that is displayed on occasion.  I mean really, who isn't immature at times during this stage of life?  This week I am back to pastoring for the next 2 weeks before I head back to youth camp for the last week. 

Yesterday New Point celebrated 3 years of ... churchhood...is that a word?  Anyway it was 3 years ago that we charted New Point through the Church of God.  Started with 19 people now we have close to 100 connect with our church.  God is faithful...even when we aren't as faithful...thank you Jesus!!!!!

Privileged

I don't count myself to be rich.  Although in reality we live in the wealthiest country in the world and our income would probably put us in the top 5% of the richest people in the world.  Want to see where you rank check out Global Rich List.  It amazes me how much we take for granted, and complain of how bad things can get.  Father's Day is tomorrow and I have been blessed with 2 handsome boys.  I remember the thought of becoming a father was one of the most exciting, and scariest times EVER!!!  Exciting to have this new little life...scary because it was up to me to provide for him.  Well I am privileged to have the opportunity.  Sometimes all the minutia of parenthood seems a drag, but for those who want to be parents and can't...our minutia is a privilege.

• I am privileged to wipe snotty noses
• I am privileged to get up at the butt crack of dawn to giggles and smiles
• I am privileged wipe away dirt and blood when they have fallen
• I am privileged to clean the vomit from their mouth when they are sick
• I am privileged to clean the toilet when their aim is not so good
• I am privileged to get soaking wet when they want to play with the water hose
• I am privileged to repair and repaint the things they have broken or scuffed
• I am privileged to clean out the cars and find toys and food remnants in every nook and cranny
• I am privileged to put them to bed and read them a story
• I am privileged to be scared for their safety when they try new and dangerous things
• I am privileged to watch them grow from being babies to boys to men

I am privileged.

34574829 & 34012067

They're not phone numbers.  They're not social security numbers.  They are the ID numbers for 2 brothers killed in the invasion of Normandy.  They were my great uncles.  Jessie & Leroy Ring.  Jessie was killed June 11, 1944.  His brother Leroy was killed only a few days later on July 16.  I spoke with my mother this morning, and asked just a few questions about them.  She told me that losing 2 sons so close completely devastated her grandmother.  I can only imagine the immense loss they must have felt.  As I type this I have 2 little boys running around playing. What if it was me sending my boys?  They were all somebodies little boys.  Today is the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the invasion of Normandy.  I hope that we understand the freedom we enjoy today was purchased by blood.  The blood of someones son, husband, and father.

  

Pro-Choice

First let me start by saying I am totally against abortion. When comes to abortion I am pro-life. But when it comes to a bad day I am pro-choice. I got up this morning feeling pretty good until the ridiculously high pollen count kicked in. I started sneezing my head off. Next I was hurrying trying to get my boys ready for school...they are NEVER in a hurry! Running a little late for school we hope in the truck and head out across town. I have a meeting today in tifton, so I dressed a little nicer than normal. Driving across town I look down and notice a combination of cookie and dirt that one of the boys wiped on my pants leg. All the small stuff starts to add up. I kinda breathe out a mumbled..."its gonna be one of those days huh?" Then God seems to smack me in the back of the head with...I have a choice of what type of day this is. I may not have a choice with what happens to me, but I have a choice in how I respond. So when it comes to what kind of day I am going to have I am pro-choice. This is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it. :) Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Watching cars

Heading to savannah

Labels

Coming back to the office/garage :) I got behind a student driver. It was pretty obvious they were a student driver with the bright yellow car and the big bumper sticker that says "Student Driver". I went by and looked over to see the kid with his hands on the wheel at 10 and 2. I immediately made some assumptions about this driver and the people riding with him. I wonder what my labels say about me...and I wonder what assumptions people make based on that?

Mommy and Coby

Daddy and Canon

Have you ever...

• Have you jumped from a moving car?
• Have you watched a movie and its was so sad it depressed you for several days?
• Have you ever eaten dog food thinking it was cereal?
• Have you ever leaped from a 50ft high cliff into an ice cold river?
• Have you ever spent the night in a cave?
• Have you ever had someone drive their car through the side of your house?
• Have you ever felt so much joy that you cried like a baby?
• Have you ever been hit in the mouth with a baseball bat?
• Have you ever slipped in the rain and slid under a car?
• Have you ever done anything truly selfless?