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I had the privelege of being part of See You At The Pole (SYATP) this morning.  It was a small group, but a committed group of Middle Schoolers.  One of the boys hit the nail on the head when he prayed not just for fellow Christians, but that he could be used to reach those who don’t know Christ.  Such a good kid.  Loads of energy, on fire for God.

As other kids not participating in SYATP passed by I was hopeful they saw us and would ask the youth later what was going on.  It would be a good conversation starter about Jesus.

As I head to Middle School youth group tonight, I hope to continue to encourage the boys in my small group to be open about their faith in a loving, caring way to all the kids they come into contact with.  Tonight’s topic is on being a good friend, picking good friends, and being a good influence to those around you, in the name of Christ.  It will relate well to SYATP and continue to remind the kids that their faith is to be shared with others.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

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Just wanted to share today a picture of the kids.  We love them so much.  It doesn’t mean it is always easy being their parents, but it is always worth it.

Being home the past year while going to school has allowed me to see a different side of what it takes to take care of the kids on a day to day basis.  It is physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, hard.  It is much easier going to work than being a good parent.  Many days I don’t feel like I was a “good” parent.  I know I have worked at it and grown in the past year and have learned so much being home that will apply in ministry as well as working with people and situations in general.  Mostly, my patience level has increased.  Sometimes things have to happen at “kid speed” which may not be the speed I wanted to go.  What is important is to step back and just watch and absorb the growning that is happening right in front of my eyes!  I love it!

Brian

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I squint so much I now have a permanent crease that looks like a vertical wrinkle between my eyes.  Just goes to show Mom was right when she said “if you keep doing that, your face is going to stick that way forever.”  Mom, you were right.

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Aren’t we all waiting for the Tigers to collapse?  Why should we be?  This year can be different.  This year is different!  The Tigers are running away with the Central.

Things can be different from the past.  We don’t have to expect things to always turn out the same.  The Tigers are proof that new chapters can be written.  Normally they would be losing ground to Chicago and Cleveland.  This years Tigers stand by themselves and are not affected by their past collapses.  This is so true in life as well.  When we can realize that we can put the past behind us and be who we are meant to be in Christ today, we can do great things.

Go Tigers!

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I picked up running just about a year ago.  I never thought I would do it.  I never thought I could do it.  It used to be hard for me to run 100 yards.  Now, running 10 miles in the morning is not that big of a deal.  I don’t do it every day, but the days that I do get to run, whether for 3 miles or 10, are so much more positive feeling days.  Usually I listen to podcasts from sermons to leadership to “stuff you should know” to skepitcality. (New one I am trying out.)  It is amazing.  I am so thankful for my friends who have given me motivation (KMM) (SCM) (ASM) to run.

This morning on the way to my first running partner I felt like I was flying.  It could have been I was feeling nervous of the dark, or it could have been a little chilly, whatever it was, I was in race form this morning.  What a great feeling!

I hope that this running thing continues because I truly can feel myself being more productive, loving people more, more energetic, wanting to read the Bible more, when I run in the morning.  It is what gets me going for the day.

This morning Mark Driscoll was preaching on Jesus and the evidence of Him.  It was great as usual.  Mark is a gifted teacher.  He gave me something new to think about today.  Jesus, as a prophet, did predict the temple being destroyed.  Jesus not only fulfilled prophecy, he also made prophecy.  I had never thought about Jesus that way.  I had always thought about Jesus fulfiling prophecy, but He did make prophecy as well.  Well done teacher.

Hope to see you on the trails!  Come run with me!
Brian

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Thought I would post a draft message I created ~ 2 years ago.  A cute picture of Anna sometime before she was 1.  Love her!

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Anna, Cuteness

A while back I saw a guy staring up at a power pole on the way into work(you know it was a while ago since I have been in school the past year!) with a clipboard and was examining the situation.  To me it looked like just a big mess of wires.  I am sure to the guy, probably an electric company expert, he knew exactly what he was looking at.

I think this is how God sees us.  We can look at something, an issue, a situation we get ourselves into, a difficult friend, a death, a celebration, and not understand really why or what is going on.  But we are not the experts.  We don’t know what God knows.  He has everything under control.  He knows what He is looking at.  He knows what He has gotten into.

I started this post over a year ago.  How true it is today.  I don’t know what God’s plan is for my work life, but He has a plan.  He knows what He is looking at and what He has asked me to do.

We just need to remember to have faith and patient endurance in His plan.  This is God’s world.  He does with it as He does.  He does it in His timing, not ours.

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Last week the 9 mile bridge over I-75 was blown up to to a tanker crash.  This meant we were blessed with being diverted off I-75 at about 8 mile.  The same 8 Mile that Eminem made famous.

I sat on the off ramp behind a Chrysler Sebring Convertible.  It was a beautifully sunny 72 degree day.  As I sat there I watched the lady in the convertible put the top up.  Made me chuckle.   I guess she was a little nervous riding down 8 mile with her top down….

B+

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Working on this and thinking more and more about it.  The more we can close our mouths, the more our hearts will be able to be open to others.  I am a “little” critical and want to learn to be more loving with my heart and less critical with my mouth.  Through God’s will it can happen!

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