I'm With the Band

Because my roommate is super cool and talented and recording her first album, and I get to help with the album art, I thought I'd play around and see what I could get while she was actually singing/leading worship. Just a little of what I was able to catch. . .


strumming her guitar


Kellan practicing


singing and playing the tambourine


the setup

More Beach Pics

Group at the Gigglin' Grouper


Molly and Lindsay and their Tootsie Roll Pops


hmmm. . . really?!


Patrick, Lewis, and Terrence

Be Like Christ. . .

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 2.1-18

Words

I'm going to try and put into words what I've been learning.
I guess to make it easy I'll start with our retreat this past weekend.
First, we learned the true meaning of love and hate. (Love=to choose and Hate=to reject.) So that we could see ourselves as we truly are. I remember sitting in my prayer group and the ladies talking about how they were having such a hard time with the concept that they HATE God. And it hit me-I don't have a hard time with that at all. I can look at my life over the past few months and that's really what I see more than anything else.
Then we talked about idols and asked ourselves a lot of questions to help us find the idols in our lives. It was really eye opening. There are things that I never would have realized I counted as an idol in my life until I was asked the question, "What do you fear most?". What a scary question. The answer of my heart shocked me.
Ask yourself and see what you come up with.
So, the last several days I've been dealing with all that was revealed to me this weekend.
And last night Amy and I were talking about different things that have been going on. And I just started crying. All this stuff is a result of our insecurities. And our insecurities are a result of the fact that we aren't filled with Him. And He's way more than enough to fill us. We just don't allow Him to.
That's only the beginning of all the stuff going through my mind right now as the Lord draws me back to Himself and revives me.

"Come, let us return to the LORD;
for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6.1-3

Consumed

We had our Beach Retreat this weekend. I was kinda skeptical about going. But it turned out to be an amazing weekend of confession and renewal. What a blessing.

Just a few of the highlights. . .


The band-Terrence, Kellan, Amy, and Lewis-being the band!


The girls-Molly, Amber, Lindsay, and Amy


Amy and I at the Shrimp Basket


Action shots


The whole gang

More info and pics to come. . .

Class of '96

We had the Hoover High Reunion this weekend. It was a lot like walking into the cafeteria, but everyone just looks a little older. I'm glad I went, but. . .
I didn't do well with taking pics, but here are a couple they took for us.


Me and Melissa, the BFF from High School


Me and Richard, having a friend from my life now with me definitely made the evening more bearable.

And yep, that was all the excitement.

better

Psalm 118
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, His steadfast love endures forever. Let the house of Aaron say, His steadfast love endures forever. Let those who fear the Lord say, His steadfast love endures forever. Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of the Lorddoes valiantly, the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lorddoes 18 The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

I was 24 when I went to Africa. . .

In the last 4 years (really the 2 since I've been home) I've asked myself several times, "What am I doing here (in America)?"  I've asked the Lord the same question.  
And others have asked me.
My reply. . . "Jesus won't let me go."
I've been so unsure of why.  
But tonight He reminded me.  
Here (in America) I can encourage others walking along the same path I've been down.  I can remind them that He'll be faithful-He always is.  That they'll be effective and that they'll be changed.  
My heart weeps for my Africa, but for now the Lord is using my tears right here.

Back to Africa

It's 95 degrees outside. . .

Our airconditioner is broken.

It's a little. . . ummmm. . . TROPICAL in here!

It's a bird, it's a plane. . .

It's SUPERMAN. . .

We celebrated Patrick's birthday, Superman style. After Superman cake we headed off to catch the movie. I have to say I wasn't as confused as I normally get during superhero movies. Pretty good actually.

A few of the night's highlights. . .


Patrick with his birthday cake


and Patrick with his birthday POTATO!?


the gang