Father's Day is just around the corner. This year's holiday is extra special because not only is it Father's Day, but on that day 12 years ago, I married my best friend in the whole world. Since that day God had really carried us on a magnificent journey. That journey that began in June 2001 has lead us now to June 2013. As I reflect back on where all God has lead us to get to this point, I can't help but be extremely thankful. He has blessed us with wonderful jobs, a roof over our heads, two beautiful little girls and so much more.
I never thought that I could love anyone more than I do Mollie, Kaylin and Makenzie. This past week leading up to Father's Day I have heard many teachings and read many blogs regarding the responsibilities of men to their families. All of them have caused me to stop and ask myself what I want for my family. What do I want my family to be? What kind of women do I want Kaylin and Makenzie to grow up to be? Am I helping Mollie to be the mother and wife that God has called her to be? To be quite honest, I find it all to be a bit overwhelming.
God had called me to be the spiritual head of the family. In today's culture, that isn't the status quo. Our society teaches that men and women are equal. In a way, they are but they are different too. That is they way God designed it, but have you ever noticed how our differences complement each other. Men and women are uniquely different and our differences do indeed complement each other. That is why God defines marriage to be between one man and one woman. It works best that way. God knows what He is doing. Trust me. One of our differences is that God has ordained man to be the head of the family. It is his job and is not to be shared with his wife.
So what does it mean to be the head of the family? It means that it is my job to guide and direct my family. Among many things, it means that I am to be a helper to my wife and a leader of my children. Most importantly, it means that I am to be the spiritual leader of my family. It is my responsibility to point my family to Jesus. It is my responsibility to see to it that what my family does as a whole is honors God. It is my responsibility to teach my girls scripture. It is my responsibility to encourage, instruct and guide my family in the ways of the Lord our God. That is a HUGE responsibility and, quite frankly, one that scares me to death. I am thankful though, that I don't have to go at it alone. I serve a God that has promised me that He will never leave me nor forsake me. He is always there and if I will seek His help, I know that He is faithful to do just that.
I think that it is extremely vital that all leaders have a plan. They have to know where you are going. Once they know where they want to go, they have to have a road map to get there. Without this vision, you will just wonder around. The same to applies to leading a family. So as we approach Father's Day 2013, I asked myself what I want for my family?
First and foremost, I want Mollie, Kaylin and Makenzie to love God with all of their hearts, souls, minds and strengths. I want them to trust God in all areas of their lives. I want them to have an unbridled desire for Him and His word. I want them to have strong prayer lives. I want them to serve Him in all areas of their lives. I want them to place Him first and everything else second. I want them to be able to unashamedly and boldly proclaim the Gospel to anyone and everyone regardless. It is my prayer for them that God would do these things in their lives. That He would empower them through the power of the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit to do these things. That He would protect them and keep them close to Him at all times.
On a physical level, I want both Kaylin and Makenzie to treat others not just like they want to be treated, but better than they want to be treated. I want them to work hard in everything that they do. I want them to put others' needs ahead of their own. I want them to be successful in school and get good and Godly educations. I want them to be successful at whatever their calling may be. My hope is that they will each some day find a man to be their husband who loves God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength that will love them and cherish them. I pray that they will love him and be the kind of wives that God had called them to be. I hope they have as many children as they feel God wants them to have and that they will be at least half of the type of mother that their mom was to them. Despite all of this, I want them to always feel as if they need their daddy. I know that sounds cliche. What I mean is that I want them to always have a need deep down for their dad. Let me put it this way, I want Kaylin and Makenzie to always feel they can come to me about anything at any time. I don't want them to be afraid of me. If they have a struggle, I want to be the one they come to. If they are scared, I want to be their refuge. I want them to respect me and put me on a pedestal. I want them to trust me. I want them to have the same type of relationship with me that they do with God and vice versa.
Well, what about Mollie? I want Mollie to be a loving wife and mother. I want her to keep being Mollie. She is exactly who I want her to be. I guess my biggest hope is that I will be the husband she needs. I want to make sure that I am loving, encouraging, supportive. I want to make sure that I am meeting her needs. I want to make sure I am pointing her to Jesus. I want to make sure that I am loving her just as Christ loves the church. I know that if I do this, then she will have no problem loving me and following my lead. If I love her like God has called to love her, it will make it easier for her to be the woman, wife and mother that God has called her to be. I don't want to be a stumbling block for her.
So there you have it. That, in a nutshell, is what I want for my family. I realize that I have a HUGE responsibility. Lord, help me to be the husband, father and man you have called me to be. Help me to lead my family in a way that is holy and pleasing to you. Help me to love like you love. Help me to be forgiving as you are forgiving. Help me to model for my family what I expect from them. I know that with you all things are possible. Help me to NEVER forget that no matter how hard things may get. Help me to lean on you. Thank you for giving me this responsibility and forgive me when I blow it. I ask this in the name of Jesus, the name above all names. -AMEN
Friday, June 14, 2013
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Happy Birthday Mollie Kay!!
Today is a very special day in the Davis family. I am not going to say how long ago, but on this day back in the late 1900's my precious wife was born. I have been fortunate to have spent the last 17 birthdays with her. As a matter of fact, Mollie' mom likes to tell people that they hardly remember life before me. I just tell her that it probably wasn't worth remembering. HA!!
I would like to take a few minutes to brag on my sweetie in honor of her special day. I met Mollie when she was 16. (Oops!! So much for not revealing her age.) We started dating each other in February 1996 and got married on June 16, 2001. Since then she has given me two beautiful daughters. I am so thankful that God blessed me with this amazing woman. I am proud to say that I have watched her blossom from a teenager to a outstanding and successful woman.
There are so many things that I love about Mollie. I love her bright blue eyes. She has the prettiest blue eyes I have ever seen. I can see straight into her heart through those eyes. I love her heart. Mollie will bend over backwards to do for others. She always places herself behind the wants and needs of others. I have seen her taken advantage of, walked over and hung out to dry by people. If it were me, I would be done with those people, but not Mollie. She just picks herself up, dusts herself off and would do it all again if she saw they were in need. Mollie is a fantastic mother. She is so good with our kids. Her patience level is so high. I don't see how she does it, but she does. She is a fantastic wife. I can't begin to describe how good Mollie is too me. She encourages me. She supports me. She stands up for me. She makes me laugh. She keeps me in line. Most of all, she loves me. Last but not least, she is, without a doubt, a Proverbs 31 woman.
Mollie Kay, as you turn another year older, there are a couple of things I want you to know. I have told you all of this before, but I want the whole world to know it. I am so proud of you. I have seen you grow into a very successful woman. You are one of the most determined people I know. You have accomplished so much since those Calvary Christian days when we first fell in love. Thank you for never leaving my side. Thank you for always loving me. Thank you for never giving up on me. You have followed me through thick and thin. Thank you for giving me the sweetest two girls a daddy could ask for and thank you for making all my dreams come true. I will never be able to repay you for all you have done for me. All I can give you is my love. Just as I promised 11 years ago when we married, I will always love you and support you. In the good times and the bad times, I will be there. I love you with all of my heart. Happy Birthday sweetheart!! I look forward to celebrating many more of them with you!!
I would like to take a few minutes to brag on my sweetie in honor of her special day. I met Mollie when she was 16. (Oops!! So much for not revealing her age.) We started dating each other in February 1996 and got married on June 16, 2001. Since then she has given me two beautiful daughters. I am so thankful that God blessed me with this amazing woman. I am proud to say that I have watched her blossom from a teenager to a outstanding and successful woman.
There are so many things that I love about Mollie. I love her bright blue eyes. She has the prettiest blue eyes I have ever seen. I can see straight into her heart through those eyes. I love her heart. Mollie will bend over backwards to do for others. She always places herself behind the wants and needs of others. I have seen her taken advantage of, walked over and hung out to dry by people. If it were me, I would be done with those people, but not Mollie. She just picks herself up, dusts herself off and would do it all again if she saw they were in need. Mollie is a fantastic mother. She is so good with our kids. Her patience level is so high. I don't see how she does it, but she does. She is a fantastic wife. I can't begin to describe how good Mollie is too me. She encourages me. She supports me. She stands up for me. She makes me laugh. She keeps me in line. Most of all, she loves me. Last but not least, she is, without a doubt, a Proverbs 31 woman.
Mollie Kay, as you turn another year older, there are a couple of things I want you to know. I have told you all of this before, but I want the whole world to know it. I am so proud of you. I have seen you grow into a very successful woman. You are one of the most determined people I know. You have accomplished so much since those Calvary Christian days when we first fell in love. Thank you for never leaving my side. Thank you for always loving me. Thank you for never giving up on me. You have followed me through thick and thin. Thank you for giving me the sweetest two girls a daddy could ask for and thank you for making all my dreams come true. I will never be able to repay you for all you have done for me. All I can give you is my love. Just as I promised 11 years ago when we married, I will always love you and support you. In the good times and the bad times, I will be there. I love you with all of my heart. Happy Birthday sweetheart!! I look forward to celebrating many more of them with you!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Taking Comfort in Hate
During the summer our church, in lieu of Wednesday night activities, has small group gatherings called 242: Sharing Life Together groups. Each week these small groups meet and discuss the sermon from the previous Sunday morning. The basis for these groups is found in Acts 2:42, "And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." The Bible goes on to say that as a result of the church's actions the Lord came upon them and united them and grew their numbers. I can't stress enough how great these small groups have been. In a church the size of ours, it is impossible to get to know everyone. Small groups give you the chance to get to know other members of the church body on a personal basis. They also provide a means of spiritual growth and accountability.
Last week in our 242 group, we were discussing how Jesus said that the world will hate us because of our following Him. We discussed why this happens and how Jesus says that we are to be comforted in the fact that this hatred has come upon us because He was hated too. I have always wondered why it is that Christ is so controversial. It never fails, any time the church, God or Christ is mentioned the world shuns it. How can it be that the world would hate someone and something so loving and gracious as Christ? That has always blown my mind. Bro. Jeff explained it perfectly in his sermon we were discussing. He said that Christ is the light of the world. What does light do? It exposes the darkness. Christ exposes the darkness in our lives resulting in conviction. That makes us uncomfortable and therefore, we react one of two ways. We acknowledge this darkness, or sin, confess it and repent or we do nothing. Doing nothing just causes us to become bitter and angry and drives us further and further from God. As a result, we become overtaken by our sin and turn from from God and live accordingly. This is where our world is. Christ convicts and makes us feel uncomfortable and when we don't embrace Him, we reject him.
Following Christ is no easy task. It never has been and never will be, but it is something I will do. The fact of the matter is that Christians are under attack. Satan is out to destroy anything that glorifies God. That includes us. It happens to all of us who follow Christ. We all have the same struggles and are under the same attack. This was reaffirmed to me last week during our 242 group. In our discussion time a couple talked about how Satan has attacked them because of their decision to follow Christ by adopting a child of another race from another country. They truly feel it is God's calling on their lives to adopt this child. God has opened and closed doors in this process, but they have resolved that this is indeed God's will for their lives. It hasn't been easy on them. Satan has attacked them on so many levels. He has attacked them with their friends, their community, and even their families, but they press on towards the calling God has laid before them. It was in that moment that I realized that we all have struggles like this, they are just from different perspectives.
Five years ago Mollie and I got involved with the creation of a Christian school. We believed and still believe it is God's will for us to be involved with it. This, just like anything else you do for Christ, hasn't been easy. Just like our friends, Satan has attacked us with everything he could possibly use. It seems as if the world is against us and truthfully, according to Christ, it is. A lot of our friends don't support us. Most of our family members don't support us. Our church doesn't support us. Satan has even led employees to attack us. The evil one has used all of this to discourage us from following Christ, but we press on because that is what Christ commands us to do.
My point is this, as Christians or Christ followers, the world will HATE us. They won't approve of what we do and what we stand for. Christ tells us that the world hated him first and we can take comfort in that. He goes on to say that we are called out of the world to follow Him and so the world will hate us too. That is OK. We can take comfort in this because we know that in the end GOD WINS. We will constantly be on the attack. Satan will stop at nothing to destroy anything that glorifies God, including us. That must not keep us from obeying and following Christ. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. That will happen. Until that time comes, we must press on and keep fighting the good fight. Christ is worth it!!
Last week in our 242 group, we were discussing how Jesus said that the world will hate us because of our following Him. We discussed why this happens and how Jesus says that we are to be comforted in the fact that this hatred has come upon us because He was hated too. I have always wondered why it is that Christ is so controversial. It never fails, any time the church, God or Christ is mentioned the world shuns it. How can it be that the world would hate someone and something so loving and gracious as Christ? That has always blown my mind. Bro. Jeff explained it perfectly in his sermon we were discussing. He said that Christ is the light of the world. What does light do? It exposes the darkness. Christ exposes the darkness in our lives resulting in conviction. That makes us uncomfortable and therefore, we react one of two ways. We acknowledge this darkness, or sin, confess it and repent or we do nothing. Doing nothing just causes us to become bitter and angry and drives us further and further from God. As a result, we become overtaken by our sin and turn from from God and live accordingly. This is where our world is. Christ convicts and makes us feel uncomfortable and when we don't embrace Him, we reject him.
Following Christ is no easy task. It never has been and never will be, but it is something I will do. The fact of the matter is that Christians are under attack. Satan is out to destroy anything that glorifies God. That includes us. It happens to all of us who follow Christ. We all have the same struggles and are under the same attack. This was reaffirmed to me last week during our 242 group. In our discussion time a couple talked about how Satan has attacked them because of their decision to follow Christ by adopting a child of another race from another country. They truly feel it is God's calling on their lives to adopt this child. God has opened and closed doors in this process, but they have resolved that this is indeed God's will for their lives. It hasn't been easy on them. Satan has attacked them on so many levels. He has attacked them with their friends, their community, and even their families, but they press on towards the calling God has laid before them. It was in that moment that I realized that we all have struggles like this, they are just from different perspectives.
Five years ago Mollie and I got involved with the creation of a Christian school. We believed and still believe it is God's will for us to be involved with it. This, just like anything else you do for Christ, hasn't been easy. Just like our friends, Satan has attacked us with everything he could possibly use. It seems as if the world is against us and truthfully, according to Christ, it is. A lot of our friends don't support us. Most of our family members don't support us. Our church doesn't support us. Satan has even led employees to attack us. The evil one has used all of this to discourage us from following Christ, but we press on because that is what Christ commands us to do.
My point is this, as Christians or Christ followers, the world will HATE us. They won't approve of what we do and what we stand for. Christ tells us that the world hated him first and we can take comfort in that. He goes on to say that we are called out of the world to follow Him and so the world will hate us too. That is OK. We can take comfort in this because we know that in the end GOD WINS. We will constantly be on the attack. Satan will stop at nothing to destroy anything that glorifies God, including us. That must not keep us from obeying and following Christ. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. That will happen. Until that time comes, we must press on and keep fighting the good fight. Christ is worth it!!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Our God Reigns
The Supreme Court of the United States handed down a landmark ruling today on the fate of the Health Care Reform Bill. The court ruled by a 5-4 margin to uphold a majority of the bill, including the portion that will require all Americans to purchase health insurance. I will admit, this isn't the ruling I thought would come down and not one I am happy with, but it is what it is. I don't want to go into all of the politics of it. After all, what is the point of that? What I do want to say is this: God is sovereign. He reigned yesterday. He reigns today. He will reign tomorrow. Nothing happens by mistake when it comes to God. He knew how the court would rule. He knows everything. It is easy to worry about this ole' world, but as Christians we need to take comfort in the fact that our hope isn't in this ole' world. Our hope is in the King of Kings; the Lord of Lords; the Beginning and the End; the One who is and is to come.
We are going to be ok. God has promised to never leave or forsake us. He will carry us through all things. No court, no president, no ruling body can take that from us. Our King reigns!!
We are going to be ok. God has promised to never leave or forsake us. He will carry us through all things. No court, no president, no ruling body can take that from us. Our King reigns!!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Change
In just under a week Mollie and I will welcome our second child, Makenzie Reagan, to our family. Needless to say we are anxious, excited and a little nervous about her impending birth. Next to giving my life to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, becoming a parent has been the most rewarding part of my life. It has been hard, but it has been rewarding.
Emotions are running high as we begin to prepare for this change to our family. In addition to the emotion of having a new child, I have also had to deal with the emotions of losing a friend. Now I am not talking about a death, but a move. Three weeks ago I got word that our pastor, Dr. Matt Pearson, and his family would be moving to El Dorado, Arkansas where he would be serving as pastor of First Baptist Church El Dorado. This was confirmed the following Sunday when Matt announced to the church what I had heard earlier in the week. This past Sunday was Matt's last as our pastor. I have spent a lot of time thinking about what I would like to say to Matt on his last day with us. When the time came, I just clammed up and was able to say nothing more than "thank you." Well, I decided that I would just post my thoughts about my former pastor here.
Seven years ago our church was at a crossroad. We were in search of a pastor. We were looking for someone to fill some mighty big shoes. After a diligent search our search committee returned a recommendation of a 28 year old in Louisiana by the name of Matt Pearson. Matt was voted in as our next pastor and I, along with most everyone else was excited. This was special to me because he and I were only two years apart in age. I had never before had a pastor so close in age to me. Most of them were old enough to be my dad. I knew this was special and I intentionally set out to get to know Matt on a personal level. Matt and I met for lunch one day and I used this as an opportunity to tell him a little about myself and find out a little about me. I would encourage every church member to reach out to their pastor this way. I know I am glad that I did.
God used Matt in a tremendous way in my life. I learned a lot from him. Matt provided me with discipleship in my life that I had never had before. He encouraged me to not only read God's word, but to meditate on it. He encouraged me to hide God's word in my heart. Matt showed me how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how to make the most of Jesus. Matt also encouraged me to be radically intentional about taking the gospel to others and not just keep it to myself. Last, Matt showed me how to disciple others by the example he set for me.
I can honestly say that I have never had a pastor like Matt Pearson. Matt's door was always open. I felt I could go to him with any issue I may be struggling with and he would always be there to help or pray over me. Matt was the first pastor I could honestly call my friend. His door was also always open just to chat and hang out. I think that it is important that you can call your pastor your friend. Lots of church members see thier pastor as just the guy who they see once a week; the guy who preaches on Sunday. I feel you benefit more when you can see your pastor as more than that. When I looked at Matt, I saw more than just my pastor. Matt was just like me. He was human. He was one of the guys. He struggled just like I did in my walk with Christ. He was a sinner just like me. He was real. Matt was the type of pastor who I felt I could talk to about anything, not just "church talk."
Now, let me stop here and say something. I told Matt a while ago that no matter how much I thought of him, no matter how wise I thought he was or how great of a pastor I thought he was, I couldn't allow myself to put more emphasis on him instead of Christ. You see, we church members tend to put a lot into our pastors. We put them up on a pedestal instead of Christ. The problem with this is that they are sinful creatures just like us. They are human and they will fail us. When this happens, and we have elevated them to such a level, we tend to become upset with the church and some end up leaving the church. I told Matt that I had to be very careful to not put more emphasis on him and less on Christ, because there will come a time when he will fail me. He and I are humans. It is inevitable. That is and was very hard to do. Most of the time, I failed at this.
In closing I want to say one more thing. Matt Pearson was an outstanding pastor. He is very wise beyond his years. There are very few people who can preach and teach the word like Matt Pearson. FBC El Dorado, you better be good to him or there will be a contingency from Wynne, Arkansas that you will have to deal with! LOL!! Seriously though, I don't want this to sound like I am making a god of Matt Pearson. Wynne Baptist Church has been extremely blessed by God to get the opportunity to have Matt as our pastor. Matt would want to make it very clear that is all about God and not about Matt. God has blessed Matt with an incredible talent and it is by His grace alone that Matt was able to share that talent with us for the past seven years. It is now time for God to share that talent with FBC El Dorado. While we are sad to see Matt and Katie go, we are collectively excited to see how God uses the Pearson family in El Dorado. Ultimately all of this is for God's glory and He is soveriegn to see it through.
Matt, I want you to know how much I appreciate you serving God as my pastor. You have been such a Godly influence and inspiration to me. You are one of my heroes of the faith. You have set a Godly example for me of a pastor, teacher, husband, father and friend. You have showed me how to love God and live my life for His glory. You have taught me to be radically intentional in my walk with Christ. Thank you so much for being a friend to me. That in and of itself is a blessing and an honor I don't take for granted. I wish you, Katie, Luke, Seth and Birti nothing but the best. My prayer for you and your family is that you will remain strong in the Lord and that you will allow Him to continue to mold and shape you into the people and family that he intends for you to be. Thank you again for your obedience to God. To Him be the glory, great things He has done and will do!
Emotions are running high as we begin to prepare for this change to our family. In addition to the emotion of having a new child, I have also had to deal with the emotions of losing a friend. Now I am not talking about a death, but a move. Three weeks ago I got word that our pastor, Dr. Matt Pearson, and his family would be moving to El Dorado, Arkansas where he would be serving as pastor of First Baptist Church El Dorado. This was confirmed the following Sunday when Matt announced to the church what I had heard earlier in the week. This past Sunday was Matt's last as our pastor. I have spent a lot of time thinking about what I would like to say to Matt on his last day with us. When the time came, I just clammed up and was able to say nothing more than "thank you." Well, I decided that I would just post my thoughts about my former pastor here.
Seven years ago our church was at a crossroad. We were in search of a pastor. We were looking for someone to fill some mighty big shoes. After a diligent search our search committee returned a recommendation of a 28 year old in Louisiana by the name of Matt Pearson. Matt was voted in as our next pastor and I, along with most everyone else was excited. This was special to me because he and I were only two years apart in age. I had never before had a pastor so close in age to me. Most of them were old enough to be my dad. I knew this was special and I intentionally set out to get to know Matt on a personal level. Matt and I met for lunch one day and I used this as an opportunity to tell him a little about myself and find out a little about me. I would encourage every church member to reach out to their pastor this way. I know I am glad that I did.
God used Matt in a tremendous way in my life. I learned a lot from him. Matt provided me with discipleship in my life that I had never had before. He encouraged me to not only read God's word, but to meditate on it. He encouraged me to hide God's word in my heart. Matt showed me how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how to make the most of Jesus. Matt also encouraged me to be radically intentional about taking the gospel to others and not just keep it to myself. Last, Matt showed me how to disciple others by the example he set for me.
I can honestly say that I have never had a pastor like Matt Pearson. Matt's door was always open. I felt I could go to him with any issue I may be struggling with and he would always be there to help or pray over me. Matt was the first pastor I could honestly call my friend. His door was also always open just to chat and hang out. I think that it is important that you can call your pastor your friend. Lots of church members see thier pastor as just the guy who they see once a week; the guy who preaches on Sunday. I feel you benefit more when you can see your pastor as more than that. When I looked at Matt, I saw more than just my pastor. Matt was just like me. He was human. He was one of the guys. He struggled just like I did in my walk with Christ. He was a sinner just like me. He was real. Matt was the type of pastor who I felt I could talk to about anything, not just "church talk."
Now, let me stop here and say something. I told Matt a while ago that no matter how much I thought of him, no matter how wise I thought he was or how great of a pastor I thought he was, I couldn't allow myself to put more emphasis on him instead of Christ. You see, we church members tend to put a lot into our pastors. We put them up on a pedestal instead of Christ. The problem with this is that they are sinful creatures just like us. They are human and they will fail us. When this happens, and we have elevated them to such a level, we tend to become upset with the church and some end up leaving the church. I told Matt that I had to be very careful to not put more emphasis on him and less on Christ, because there will come a time when he will fail me. He and I are humans. It is inevitable. That is and was very hard to do. Most of the time, I failed at this.
In closing I want to say one more thing. Matt Pearson was an outstanding pastor. He is very wise beyond his years. There are very few people who can preach and teach the word like Matt Pearson. FBC El Dorado, you better be good to him or there will be a contingency from Wynne, Arkansas that you will have to deal with! LOL!! Seriously though, I don't want this to sound like I am making a god of Matt Pearson. Wynne Baptist Church has been extremely blessed by God to get the opportunity to have Matt as our pastor. Matt would want to make it very clear that is all about God and not about Matt. God has blessed Matt with an incredible talent and it is by His grace alone that Matt was able to share that talent with us for the past seven years. It is now time for God to share that talent with FBC El Dorado. While we are sad to see Matt and Katie go, we are collectively excited to see how God uses the Pearson family in El Dorado. Ultimately all of this is for God's glory and He is soveriegn to see it through.
Matt, I want you to know how much I appreciate you serving God as my pastor. You have been such a Godly influence and inspiration to me. You are one of my heroes of the faith. You have set a Godly example for me of a pastor, teacher, husband, father and friend. You have showed me how to love God and live my life for His glory. You have taught me to be radically intentional in my walk with Christ. Thank you so much for being a friend to me. That in and of itself is a blessing and an honor I don't take for granted. I wish you, Katie, Luke, Seth and Birti nothing but the best. My prayer for you and your family is that you will remain strong in the Lord and that you will allow Him to continue to mold and shape you into the people and family that he intends for you to be. Thank you again for your obedience to God. To Him be the glory, great things He has done and will do!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Morning After
The mark of a good leader is how they respond when the tough decision has to be made. Can they sort through the good and the bad and make a call that could end in disaster even though it is ultimately good for the the group they represent? That is what University of Arkansas Athletic Director and Vice Chancellor Jeff Long was up against. He had arguably the 2nd best football coach in the country. A coach that had made the program nationally relevant again. A coach who led a struggling Razorback football program to a 22-5 record over the last two seasons. Two seasons that included a BCS Bowl game, a first for the U of A. A team that many say is set to make a run at the BCS National Championship in 2012. There was just one problem. This coach was caught in an "inappropriate relationship" with a 25 year old former volleyball player. He went on to hire this lady to fill a position on his administrative staff. This is what Long had before him. He willingly stepped up to the plate and hit a home run. He dismissed the coach. A bold move by a great leader.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the Razorbacks. I really wanted to keep our coach. Since the decision to not retain our football coach was made, I have had mixed emotions. Our program had reached a height it hasn't seen in nearly 30 years. We are on the cusp of a national championship only to see it seem to be jerked away. That is tough to swallow, but I will. I don't fault Jeff Long. I fault Bobby Petrino. I think Petrino is an excellent coach. He made a bad decision. It could have happened to any of us. That doesn't excuse what he did and I truly feel sorry for him and his family. As a fan, I am extremely disappointed. I feel betrayed and let down. There is one shining light though and it is Jeff Long. After listening to him last night I am confident in his leadership. He did what he had to do and I commend him for it. He demonstrated courage to its highest degree. He made a courageous move, but one he felt was necessary to the success of the program. While I will miss the coach and the success he brought, I know that we are in good hands. I am confident that Jeff Long will find the right man to pick up the reigns and continue to the drive started by Petrino.
Hang in there Hog fans. It is ok to be upset, angry and confused. The Razorback Nation is strong and will pull through. It is easy to lose sight of what it is all about and that is those student athletes who lay it all on the line week in and week out for our enjoyment. They are hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. They need our support. The spring game is next weekend. We need to show up and support these guys. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. Kudos to Jeff Long. You got guts and courage. I admire that. You are a great leader. GO HOGS!!
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the Razorbacks. I really wanted to keep our coach. Since the decision to not retain our football coach was made, I have had mixed emotions. Our program had reached a height it hasn't seen in nearly 30 years. We are on the cusp of a national championship only to see it seem to be jerked away. That is tough to swallow, but I will. I don't fault Jeff Long. I fault Bobby Petrino. I think Petrino is an excellent coach. He made a bad decision. It could have happened to any of us. That doesn't excuse what he did and I truly feel sorry for him and his family. As a fan, I am extremely disappointed. I feel betrayed and let down. There is one shining light though and it is Jeff Long. After listening to him last night I am confident in his leadership. He did what he had to do and I commend him for it. He demonstrated courage to its highest degree. He made a courageous move, but one he felt was necessary to the success of the program. While I will miss the coach and the success he brought, I know that we are in good hands. I am confident that Jeff Long will find the right man to pick up the reigns and continue to the drive started by Petrino.
Hang in there Hog fans. It is ok to be upset, angry and confused. The Razorback Nation is strong and will pull through. It is easy to lose sight of what it is all about and that is those student athletes who lay it all on the line week in and week out for our enjoyment. They are hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. They need our support. The spring game is next weekend. We need to show up and support these guys. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. Kudos to Jeff Long. You got guts and courage. I admire that. You are a great leader. GO HOGS!!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Lots of Things Going on.....
I am sitting here with so many things going through my mind. I thought I would share some of them with you. So have a seat and enjoy.
These last few weeks have become more and more busy with each passing week. I am hopeful that in about a month, things will slow down a bit, but I don't think that will happen. Most folks are real aware that tax day is looming. Two weeks from today the 2012 tax season will come to a close for many taxpayers, unless you are one those who filed an extension. If you are one of those extenders, don't forget that you are getting an extension of time to file your return, not an extension of time to pay you taxes. Taxes are due on April 16. That is one of the most misunderstood parts of the tax code. Don't forget to PAY your taxes by April 16 regardless of whether you filed an extension or not.
Anyway, like I was saying tax day is rapidly approaching. That means tax preparers like me are in full stride and eagerly anticipating crossing that finish line on April 16. Like most years, most people are finally deciding that they should probably get their stuff together and get those taxes filed. That just means that the stack on my desk, (or should I say dining room table?) Is just getting taller and taller. Hey, what can I say? I just decided a week or so ago to do my own. While this time of year is very stressful for me and many of my fellow tax preparers, the feeling on tax day of knowing you made it once again is very rewarding.
This past Sunday night, our church worship ministry, of which I am a member, presented "Jesus Saves: Live," a worshipful collection of songs arranged by Travis Cottrell. I was extremely blessed to be a part of such a program. The whole experience was amazing. There was no doubt about it, the Spirit of God was there. It was a very moving evening and I am thankful that the good Lord saw fit for me to be a part of it. Now we are preparing to present, "This is Your House" which is a collection of Brooklyn Tabernacle songs. The date for this program is May 20th. Mark your calendar!
I am sure that Hog fans are well aware that Head Coach Bobby Petrino crashed his motorcycle on Sunday evening. He broke some ribs, sprained his neck, and has some scrapes and bruises, but is expected to be ok and will make a full recovery. Coach Petrino insists on attending the remainder of spring pracice. My question is this, who wants to be the one to tell him no, you can't go? My vote is Mrs. Petrino. She is probably the ONLY one who can give Bobby orders and get away with it. I also saw where a writer/reporter for CBS Sports by the name of Brett McMurphy commented on twitter just before halftime of the Men's NCAA Championship Basketball game, "Stay tuned at halftime as Bobby Petrino will jump his motorcycle over the fountains of Caesar's Palace." This was a classless move by Mr. Murphy if you ask me. There is nothing funny about Coach Petrino's accident. He wasn't out being stupid. Accidents happen. Yes, motorcycle riding is dangerous, but when a guy is injured and still in the hospital, it is no time for joking. Mr. Murphy should be relieved of his duties at CBS in my opinion. I would encourage you to visit http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php and voice your opinion of Mr. Murphy's actions. I wish Coach Petrino well and can't wait to see him back on the field.
Moving on to the dreaded Health Care Reform Law, or Obamacare, as it so rightly called, the Supreme Court heard arguments last week regarding the legality of the this law. Now, I am not trying to get into a political argument. If you are easily offended when it comes to political opinions, then please quit reading here. Seriously, stop.... Ok. I am not a supporter of Obamacare. Let me be more specific, I am not a in favor of any law telling me I HAVE to buy something whether it be insurance or vegetables. I think everyone should be able to purchase health insurance, but I don't think they are entitled to it. Insurance is a privledge not a right. If you can afford it, then great. If not, then I am sorry. I don't mean to sound as if I don't care. I do. I am truly sorry that insurance is so high. Maybe we should investigate why it has gotten so high and correct that. Instead, we are just going to require you to buy it and then if you don't you will be penalized. If you can't afford it, then the you can buy it from the government. Hmmm.....BRILLIANT!!! What is next? You HAVE to buy phone. You HAVE to buy a car. You HAVE to buy a home. Where do we draw the line? Anyway, I could ramble on and on about this. My point is that we, as Americans, should not be told we HAVE to purchase ANYTHING! It is called a free market for a reason. I hope that the Supreme Court strikes down this part of the law if nothing else.
Last, but certainly not least, it won't be long before our family welcomes Makenzie Reagan to the world. Mollie is just over 26 weeks into this pregnancy. There is so much to do as we anticipate her birth. We haven't even started. I know it will get done though. Regardless, Makenzie will be here in July. I guess we better get started!
Until next time!!
These last few weeks have become more and more busy with each passing week. I am hopeful that in about a month, things will slow down a bit, but I don't think that will happen. Most folks are real aware that tax day is looming. Two weeks from today the 2012 tax season will come to a close for many taxpayers, unless you are one those who filed an extension. If you are one of those extenders, don't forget that you are getting an extension of time to file your return, not an extension of time to pay you taxes. Taxes are due on April 16. That is one of the most misunderstood parts of the tax code. Don't forget to PAY your taxes by April 16 regardless of whether you filed an extension or not.
Anyway, like I was saying tax day is rapidly approaching. That means tax preparers like me are in full stride and eagerly anticipating crossing that finish line on April 16. Like most years, most people are finally deciding that they should probably get their stuff together and get those taxes filed. That just means that the stack on my desk, (or should I say dining room table?) Is just getting taller and taller. Hey, what can I say? I just decided a week or so ago to do my own. While this time of year is very stressful for me and many of my fellow tax preparers, the feeling on tax day of knowing you made it once again is very rewarding.
This past Sunday night, our church worship ministry, of which I am a member, presented "Jesus Saves: Live," a worshipful collection of songs arranged by Travis Cottrell. I was extremely blessed to be a part of such a program. The whole experience was amazing. There was no doubt about it, the Spirit of God was there. It was a very moving evening and I am thankful that the good Lord saw fit for me to be a part of it. Now we are preparing to present, "This is Your House" which is a collection of Brooklyn Tabernacle songs. The date for this program is May 20th. Mark your calendar!
I am sure that Hog fans are well aware that Head Coach Bobby Petrino crashed his motorcycle on Sunday evening. He broke some ribs, sprained his neck, and has some scrapes and bruises, but is expected to be ok and will make a full recovery. Coach Petrino insists on attending the remainder of spring pracice. My question is this, who wants to be the one to tell him no, you can't go? My vote is Mrs. Petrino. She is probably the ONLY one who can give Bobby orders and get away with it. I also saw where a writer/reporter for CBS Sports by the name of Brett McMurphy commented on twitter just before halftime of the Men's NCAA Championship Basketball game, "Stay tuned at halftime as Bobby Petrino will jump his motorcycle over the fountains of Caesar's Palace." This was a classless move by Mr. Murphy if you ask me. There is nothing funny about Coach Petrino's accident. He wasn't out being stupid. Accidents happen. Yes, motorcycle riding is dangerous, but when a guy is injured and still in the hospital, it is no time for joking. Mr. Murphy should be relieved of his duties at CBS in my opinion. I would encourage you to visit http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php and voice your opinion of Mr. Murphy's actions. I wish Coach Petrino well and can't wait to see him back on the field.
Moving on to the dreaded Health Care Reform Law, or Obamacare, as it so rightly called, the Supreme Court heard arguments last week regarding the legality of the this law. Now, I am not trying to get into a political argument. If you are easily offended when it comes to political opinions, then please quit reading here. Seriously, stop.... Ok. I am not a supporter of Obamacare. Let me be more specific, I am not a in favor of any law telling me I HAVE to buy something whether it be insurance or vegetables. I think everyone should be able to purchase health insurance, but I don't think they are entitled to it. Insurance is a privledge not a right. If you can afford it, then great. If not, then I am sorry. I don't mean to sound as if I don't care. I do. I am truly sorry that insurance is so high. Maybe we should investigate why it has gotten so high and correct that. Instead, we are just going to require you to buy it and then if you don't you will be penalized. If you can't afford it, then the you can buy it from the government. Hmmm.....BRILLIANT!!! What is next? You HAVE to buy phone. You HAVE to buy a car. You HAVE to buy a home. Where do we draw the line? Anyway, I could ramble on and on about this. My point is that we, as Americans, should not be told we HAVE to purchase ANYTHING! It is called a free market for a reason. I hope that the Supreme Court strikes down this part of the law if nothing else.
Last, but certainly not least, it won't be long before our family welcomes Makenzie Reagan to the world. Mollie is just over 26 weeks into this pregnancy. There is so much to do as we anticipate her birth. We haven't even started. I know it will get done though. Regardless, Makenzie will be here in July. I guess we better get started!
Until next time!!
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