Happy New Year! (Almost)

Well it is almost time for 2008! My how fast this past year has gone by. We have had a lot of challenges this year but at the end of it we are feeling really good about the coming new year. We will probably do the usual tonight. Fall asleep around 10:30 PM, wake up an hour later, watch the ball drop, kiss each other good night, and go back to sleep. Here's to everyone out there in blog land, hope you all have a safe, blessed and happy new year!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than to see 179 people come to Christ @ Southbrook in ONE NIGHT. (and almost 1100 for the year) Praise His Holy Name! Merry CHRISTmas everyone and a big shout out to Rob. You and the whole mighty Southbrook staff, lay leaders, and volunteers ROCK!


I know 2008 is gonna be a great year and my family and I are so excited to be witnesses to what God has in store for us.

Holiday Greetings for All!

Although both political parties are equally represented in our household we agreed that this is pretty funny.

To All My Democrat Friends: Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To My Republican Friends: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

One Week 2 Go!

PRAISE HIM!! PRAISE HIM!! PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!

Most of you know that Matthew and I have been going through a bit of a stretching period over the past four months. We have been blessed with so much growth over this period of time it is PHENOMINAL!!! I can’t praise God enough for allowing us to draw close to him over this time. We have been given so much peace and love this “dry” period has just allowed us to see how wonderful God is!

I, of course, have had my moments of stress where I wanted to take back the problem instead of letting Him handle it but overall I tried my best to give it all to Him. I know, I know as Matthew and Yoda says “Do or Do not, there is no Try”. Or we have heard trying is just failing with honor!

As we come into this season of remembering God I wanted everyone to praise Him with me. Oh! I guess I didn’t say. MATTHEW GOT HIRED ON WITH PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS!!!

PLEASE Help me to Praise our Heavenly Father for being the wonderful Father that he is!

The day after Matt got his job offer we read in our daily bible time this scripture;

Psalm 126:4-6

“Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they got to plant their seed, but they will sing as they return with the harvest.”

Please sing with me, Give shouts of joy with me as Matthew and I begin our harvest!

Thank you Father for your son! Thank you for Southbrook! Thank you for loving us!

Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah? (Repost)

The term"Chrismahanukwanzakah" was first used in a commercial by Virgin mobile in 2004, but I just heard it last year. My wife and I have always used it jokingly, but this year I decided to not take it so lightly. It is sad that we have to "tone down" our celebration of Christ's birth just to make everyone happy. I am not saying to outlaw the other celebrations but that we, the 80-90 percent of Americans who profess to be Christians, need to bring the focus back onto Christ this time of year. (and throughout the year as well) I went to Wikipedia and found this interesting snippet on their website:

"Virgin Mobile has been criticized for removing the "t" in Christmas, yet including the subsequent "m" (i.e. spelling Chrismas). Some believe this to be a conscious attempt by Virgin at ensuring the word "Christ" not be spelled out in its advertising. Some believe Virgin Mobile would not want the term "Christ" in its advertising for secular reasons, while others assert that Virgin Mobile is avoiding criticism from Christian organizations for including "Christ" in the mish-mash holiday."

Looks like another prime example of the secular community wanting to suppress the "reason for the season". Now, again, I am not saying that we need to pull out the tinfoil hats and scream conspiracy but we do need to really look at how we are celebrating Christmas as well as where our hearts and minds are during the most wonderful time of the year.

Confused? If I Was I Am Not Anymore

Great message from Pastor Paul @ Southbrook last night, the worship was awsome too! I came away from both without any confusion as to who is King, Hosanna in the highest. Oh, and we missed you too Rob. Hope you had the opportunity to chill and spend time with loved ones.