Brennan's first dental cleaning

Our little 3 year old, Brennan, is quite a handsome young man. He is also adorable like a little teddy bear...i can write that since he's still 3!!! But today, we took him for his first dental cleaning. I could not believe how well he did. He sat in the chair by himself while i watched from the sidelines. The little, wild warrior actually sat still for 15 minutes...can you believe it??? So, had a great, first visit.

Extreme Cabin Makeover

the cabin at the ranch has been undergoing some pretty big rennovations. sometimes, when you only see the "present-tense" pic, you forget how far we've come. the pics below are good reminders of the change that has been happening..

FYI...the ranch and cabin are available for retreats, men's outings, hunting, fishing, canoeing, etc. If you have an interest, let me know. The Ranch has been committed to the Father as a "refuge" and place of ministry. For more info, check out www.rockingrranch.net and click on "the ranch".

Before...














After...with more to come...

A soldier speaks...

Poem written by an unknown confederate soldier...

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked God for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might endure all things.

I got nothing I asked for
But everything I had hoped for...

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.

Update from marriage weekend

Wow, what a weekend. Allies, thanks for your prayers and support. The weekend was deeply opposed by the enemy. The attacks were real and the opposition was great. Yet the enemy was defeated as couples opened up and let down the walls. These 7 couples, who form a small group at a local church, went from being a "sunday school class" to a "heart-fellowship, an outpost". What an amazing Encounter weekend!!!

a new table

As you know, we've been working to develop a place called Rocking R Ranch. It is a place for men/boys to gather and find their hearts. It is a place to take in beauty and the outdoors. God has entrusted this land (2500 acres) to our friend and brother Allen Russell. A lot of our time has been spent on the rennovating of a cabin on the property. Check out an earlier blog that has pics of that.

But we really needed a table for the cabin. So, this last week, God put the vision for this on Doug Bastian's heart...part of our men's community in Birmingham. And within a few days, the table was built. Doug is a man who is a carpenter-ragamuffin. He is a man of the earth who has come to understand the beauty and strength of God's grace. Doug is a living testimony of a man-being set-free. And he can do wonders with wood. So, this table was made from scraps in his workshop. But look at it. Amazing huh? It will fit perfectly at the cabin.

I especially like the checkerboard on top!!!!

Battle is a joyous thing

Spoken in 1465 by a French knight named Jean de Brueil...

"Battle is a joyous thing. We love each other so much in battle. If we see that our cause is just and our kinsmen fight boldly, tears come to our eyes. A sweet joy rises in our hearts, in the feeling of our honest loyalty to each other; and seeing our friend so bravely exposing his body to danger in order to fulfill the commandment of our Creator, we resolve to go forward and die or live with him on account of love. This brings such delight that anyone who has not felt it cannot say how wonderful it is. Do you think someone who feels this is afraid of death? Not in the least! He is so strengthened, so delighted, that he does not know where he is. Truly, he fears nothing in the world!"

No More Shame

Isaiah 54:4...
"Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood." (NIV)

"Don't be afraid—you're not going to be embarrassed. Don't hold back—you're not going to come up short.You'll forget all about the humiliations of your youth, and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory." (The Message)

“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood." (New Living Translation)

I have realized over the years that shame is an overarching theme in my story. From childhood years, I began to fear what people thought of me and desired their approval. My poser/false self was developed out of a need to please. So, this sort-of dual life was developed. Go to church and do the religious thing while feeling lost on the inside. Because my dad was a pastor, i learned the religious lingo pretty fast. I knew what 'church' people were looking for and not looking for. So, the culture i grew up in fed this life. It was much more about "not doing" certain things. There was always this unspoken shame on people who messed up. Even to this day, I grieve as I watch churches push people to the curb who don't have it together. They hear the words..."shame on you."

Today, i am reminded of the truth in Isaiah that I no longer have to live in shame. I am free to be me in Christ. Jesus Christ came to bring salvation, deliverance, freedom, and life. The disasters and sins of my youth that continue to this day are redeemed through the life of Jesus. No more embarassment. No more denial. No more lying. Let the truth be known today...i am a ragamuffin, redeemed by the daily grace of our God. I am a new creation of infinite worth. I am fully pleasing to my God because of the work of Jesus on my behalf.

I have a choice today...revisit shame or receive the life that already is mine. Thank you Jesus for delivering me to LIFE.

Wait Eagerly

Romans 8:25
"If we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it."

"God prepares his servants most often through extended periods of waiting, designed to hone skills and break wills, to shape character and give depth. While He works, we wait."
-from Swindoll's book, Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit

Any time God puts a word before me, on multiple occasions, I tend to turn an ear toward it. I can sometimes be stubborn in my listening. So, God will place something in my path over and over. I have recently been hearing the word "wait" a whole lot. And based out of Romans 8, it is pointing more toward "waiting eagerly".

Waiting has never been associated with eagerness much in my life. Typically waiting has to do with stewing, impatience, self-pity, etc. You get the picture. So, to consider waiting with eagerness...now, that puts a new spin on things. In this book I'm reading on the life of Paul, Chuck Swindoll pictures this type of waiting as a mother who is expecting a child. She waits, knowing that hope and life will soon be birthed. The waiting is not without hope. There is a certainty of life to come. So, the waiting is a time of preparation and hope-fullness.

So, as I approach this new year of 2009, I am hearing the word "wait eagerly". What would typically take the wind out of my sails is actually helping me "to sail". To look forward with hopefulness that more life is to come. God must have some incredible experiences ahead this year. There is more shaping and breaking that He wants to do. But I know my Father's heart toward me is good. I know He is initiating more of Christ in me. So, through it all, I wait eagerly for what is to come.