Challenged

I am definitely challenged by being in charge of a ministry. While I have a lot of challenges, I would say that there's one area that probably makes things a little more interesting than at most churches. In most, from my limited experience, usually have youth that come since their parent(s) come. The youth that come to my church come because they get picked up. The advantage of this is that they want to be there...the disadvantage is that no one is "encouraging" them to come. It makes it tough to develop any type of consistency.

Last night we must have gone through the story of Abram about 15 times....however, the kids seemed resilient and it was encouraging to see them grasp something that they were not familiar with. I kept them late accidentally...

How do I develop consistency with this group? I am definitely challenged...

Whiney dawg..

My whole family and 2 dawgs are at the park, everyone went geocaching 'cept me and this whiney dawg. I am about to kill it....

Breakfast with the birthday boy!

Lunch with 2 bee-u-ties

Lucky me!!

Dancing bezekers!

Watch out dancing with the stars!

Habits

I read an article since I was curious to know how long it took to form a habit. It referenced the myth of 21 days that a plastic surgeon surmised when he observed how long it took an amputee to learn to do without a limb as true if you've lost a limb. But, for things like drinking a glass of water everyday or hard things like sit ups before breakfast, that number may not work. The article referenced at term - automaticity. As you can guess, as did I, it appears to refer to that which becomes automatic in your life. Things which you no longer have to put out energy to decide if youre going to do something...but just do it. Automatically.

The psychologist drew a chart of his findings and the average was 66 days. Now, I don't put a lot of stock in psychobabble, but I thought that this might be a great thing to challenge us with. 66 days.

66 days to form a habit? Well, I know when it comes to forming a bad habit that number is more like 66 seconds. But, to paraphrase a great quote, anything worth having is worth working hard for. Wow, I butchered that and to top it off I ended my sentence with a preposition. Definitely a bad habit that took 66 seconds and living in Arkansas to burn in my brain.

Now, 66 days...to what?

Hooray for me

Got to have lunch with this young pretty lady!!

Hard times for folks

We know these folks that have lost their baby less than a month from the due date. S.A.D. I can't fathom the loss and while we've lost babies by way of miscarriage, this seems miles different. It was the Saturday before the horrible news, they were at church with more than 50 giddy, giggly, oogling women celebrating this baby. Monday...my wife and I are about to leave for birthday shopping and we get a call from the pastor of our church telling us that the doctors couldn't find our friends baby's heart beat. What?!!?

Things and news like this that hits close to home hurts. It's times like this when you understand a little better what it means by "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another" ..

But, the question I have is why is it so much easier to get closer to someone and have perspectives become so clear when it is mourning instead of rejoicing? At least, it seems that way to me. Here's a little of my research for what it's worth.

Ecclesiastes says, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart."

The reformation Bible says it this way - "A funeral provides an indispensable perspective on the universally terminal condition."

Matthew Henry further comments on the Ecclesiastical passage - "It will do us more good, and make better impressions upon us. We may lawfully go to both, as there is occasion. Our Saviour both feasted at the wedding of his friend in Cana and wept at the grave of his friend in Bethany; and we may possibly glorify God, and do good, and get good, in the house of feasting; but, considering how apt we are to be vain and frothy, proud and secure, and indulgent of the flesh, it is better for us to go to the house of mourning, not to see the pomp of the funeral, but to share in the sorrow of it, and to learn good lessons, both from the dead, who is going thence to his long home, and from the mourners, who go about the streets."

Ecclesiastes also has this to say -
"Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth."

Why is it that the hard things are what's best? Why can't we be in better physical condition from sitting on the couch watching football than playing it? Why do the foods that taste the "worst" typically offer more nutritional value? Why is it that working hard at something is more rewarding than if something falls in your lap? Why is sorrow better than laughter?

Booker T. Washington said, “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.”

Being sad is hard work..

Good article I found that I wanted to remember...

50 Questions to Ask your Spouse on a Date Night
By Zach Terry

Today I met at Starbucks with a few guys to discuss how what we have been studying on Sunday mornings at Capshaw practically applies to our lives. One of the big things we discovered was the need for very open communication and date nights with our spouses. To help with that I want to share this list of 50 questions that are to be discussed with your spouse while the two of you are alone. Don’t try to tackle too many in one setting. It’s actually best if you just get through a few but really talk in detail. Let me warn you that a couple of the questions are specifically only for married couples.


1. What are your 5 favorite foods, with the most favorite first?

2. What are your 5 favorite kinds of meals, with the most favorite first?

3. What are your 5 favorite desserts, with the most favorite first?

4. What are your 5 favorite restaurants, with the most favorite first?

5. What is your favorite color?

6. What are your 5 favorite hobbies, with the most favorite first?

7. What are your 5 favorite recreations, with the most favorite first?

8. What are your 5 favorite sources of reading, with the most favorite first?

9. What gifts do you like?

10. What is your favorite books(s) of the Bible? Why?

11. What is your favorite verse(s) of the Bible? Why?

12. What is your favorite song?

13. What makes you the most fulfilled or happiest as a woman/man?

14. What makes you the most fulfilled or happiest as a wife/husband?

15. What makes you the most fulfilled or happiest as a mother/father?

16. What makes you saddest as a woman/man?

17. What makes you saddest as a wife/husband?

18. What makes you saddest as a mother/father?

19. What do you fear the most?

20. What other fears do you have?

21. What do you look forward to the most?

22. How much sleep do you need?

23. What do you consider to be your skills?

24. What do you believe to be your spiritual gifts?

25. What are your weaknesses?

26. To ask wife: What things (personal, home, car, etc.) need repairing?

To ask husband: What things around the home need to be cleaned?

27. To ask wife: With what chores and responsibilities do you like my help?

To ask husband: How can I make it easier for you to lead our family?

28. What caresses do you enjoy the most?

29. What caresses do you enjoy the least?

30. What action of mine provides you the greatest sexual pleasure?

31. What other things stimulate you sexually?

32. At what times do you need assurance of my love the most?

33. How can that love be shown?

34. What can I do that will make it easier to discuss and work on areas or problems that are uncomfortable to you?

35. What concerns do you have that I do not seem interested in?

36. What things do I do that irritate you?

37. What desires do you have that we haven’t discussed?

38. What do you enjoy doing with me, with the most enjoyable first?

39. What things can I do that show my appreciation of you?

40. What varying desires (spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, social, worth,

appreciations, recreational, security, etc.) would you like me to provide?

41. To ask wife: In what ways would you like me to protect you (physically, spiritually, socially, emotionally)?

To ask husband: In what ways would you like me to respect and reverence you?

42. In what ways would you like me to sacrifice for you?

43. What things do you see by my actions that I place first in my life?

44. What implied or unspoken desires and wishes of yours would you like for me to

fulfill?

45. What concerns and interests of yours would you like me to support?

46. How much time would be good for us to spend together each day?

47. In helping family members to use their skills and develop their abilities, what

motivating factors would be helpful for me to use?

48. What can I do that provides the greatest comfort and encouragement for you when

you are hurt, fearful, anxious or worried?

49. What personal habits do I have that you would like changed?

50. What ways demonstrate to you that you are a very important person who is as important or more important than I am?

Pastor Zach Terry and his wife Julie have taught marriage conferences and seminars for more over 10 years. Combining Biblical accuracy with a down home southern wit, they bring a fresh perspective to marriage and relationships that is profound yet simple. To bring them to your church or conference call 256-232-7763 or email – zach@zachterry.org.
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Fun with friends

Those racquets are what they were using hunting wasps...ahhhh, good times.