Marriage Renewal

I had an interesting experience this past Saturday. One that I am sure does not happen to most people. I had the opportunity to attend a wedding in the morning and in the afternoon I attended a marriage renewal of vows for a couple that had been married for twenty years.

First of all the morning wedding was pretty much boring, with little excitement. Even the bride and groom did not appear to be enjoying themselves that much. Here was a couple who were getting ready to spend the rest of their lives together, not really knowing what they were getting into, and they didn't seem very happy.

The afternoon renewal of vows was really cool. Here is a couple who have lived their lives together for over twenty years through the good and the bad. The joy that filled the grooms smile was evident to all as his bride walked down the isle. There was excitement, joy, and love throughout.

It was just a great day to see the contrast in the two events and to be reminded that true love grows from having lived beside one another and remaining faithful to a commitment made years before.

Bob and Phil

I just finished reading a really good book written by Phil Vischer entitled Me, Myself, & Bob. Most of you would know Phil as the creator of VeggieTales. The book goes into great detail about the rise and fall of Big Idea Productions, the company that created all of the wonderful VeggieTale products we have come to know and love. The book was an interesting read. Since I am in the film/video production business, it was all the more interesting to me.

The part I enjoyed most was his final thoughts on lessons learned from his experiences. As I read through this part of the book I began to realize just how much like Phil I am. I too have live by the philosophy of "God can't steer a parked car". I am simply the type of person that must remain busy. Usually it involves something that I feel will be of service to God and the world around me. Not bad things, just sometimes things to keep me occupied. Like Phil, as I look back now, perhaps a good number of these things are my "vision" and not God's "revelation". Again like Phil, perhaps it is because I am too busy to listen to what God has for me to do. By my doing, I find my self telling God what his will for me is.

Lessons learned for me:

Live in the moment.

Continually, allow God to reveal his desire for me and move in that direction.

God is not as concerned with results as he is obedience.

Thanks, Phil.

Storm Basketball League

Lakeland Storm Basketball League Championship Game

I enjoyed a good part of my day this past Saturday watching some youth basketball games at our church gym. Through a cooperative effort with the Lakeland Storm Youth Sports program and our church, our gym has been full of young people (over a 100 registered in the league) and their families every Saturday for the past couple of months. Sitting there I thought how wonderful it is to have the opportunity to provide a great place for young people to come and enjoy themselves by doing something they really like. It has been a great way for church to serve the community.

Florida Music Insititue

Me with some boys from my Bible class at FMI

Evening Vespers service at FMI

Burn Band at FMI

I just got back from a wonderful week at the Florida Music Institute (FMI). FMI is a week long music camp for youth held at The Salvation Army's Camp Keystone near Keystone Heights, Florida. Elyshia and I were both on the faculty for the week. I had the opportunity to teach a Bible class for 10 year old boys. I also taught a video elective class. It was a great week, as Elyshia and I got to meet youth from all over the state, as well as get to better know some of the other faculty. Below is a short film the video class produced.

Family Visit

Gavin and Drew in the water at Barnett Park.

Heather, Chris, and Gavin arrived this past Friday evening, to visit us for a week. It has been great having them here. Heather is doing great with her job in the accounting department of a very large construction firm in Savannah. Chris continues to do well as an Assistant Manager of Home Depot. Gavin is getting bigger and much smarter, as he has recently turned 5 years of age and is ready to begin Kindergarten in the fall. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family around me.