Uhg

Not much to say right now. I've been sick at home for 3 days and just keep feeling worse! Oh joy!

Emily's folks are getting here tomorrow, which is awesome.

Ernesto is passing over us as well starting pretty much right now. Hopefully it won't be too bad!

Later

Hollowness and Victory

I've had this post in mind for a long time, but haven't really had time to post it.

Our church has had some awesome news lately. Last Wed. my youth group had 27 kids....the most ever. It was awesome. We had a water night and played with water balloons and did some squirt gunning. Then in church that Sunday before we had 247 people! If we make our goal of 300 by Christmas the church will have doubled since Em and I came down here! How cool is that! Or is it?

Sometimes the numbers game just seems so hollow. I know it's cool, but unless we really are changing the youth and adults that are coming, do the numbers really matter? The victory just seems hollow.

And then yesterday I had another 27 youth come! It was our regular youth night and even though the numbers were there, if there had been one other person in that room, I think it was a true victory. I felt a power in the Spirit that I had never attained before. I imagine it was like going from the minors to the big leagues and finally reaching that level of, "Oh, I can play at this level!" It was an exciting night for me! My hope is - even though I was "feeling it" - that the Spirit was moving in the hearts of the youth. It was very encouraging!

As per my wife's request here are some more pictures of our Bingley from today!

I hope you enjoy them!

Friends and such

I am just blown away by all the people from college that are still out there kickin' it in the world. Cheers to Jack and Jas, Ethan and Laurel (garage bands rule - now you know), Ethan (fight the good and Godly fight), Josh (God will show you where to go), Pas (good to hear from you), Andrew (I love your whytt), Marcus (tell me how Western is), MikE (mmm...banannas), Myronius, Wes, Dane, Jon, Beth, Adam, and all the other people out there that take the time to let us know what's happening in their lives. Just know how much I appreciate each and every post! Being in Florida tends to make Em and I feel like we're in a wasteland...thanks for making it feel not quite so lonley!

2 Insights

Well, I always seem to start off my posts with "well" so I thought I would do it again. I have been going through one of those God-molding, pain in the butt, "break you down and build you back up again" experiences over the last few weeks. Some of you know what I'm talking about, some don't - but the point is that I have made a realization. I am no longer going to be afraid. I fear everything. I'm really quite the coward. I fear getting out of bed and telling my neighbors to turn the music down. I fear small talk and strangers. I fear correcting people that aren't living the Christ-following life. I fear my mother-in-law! (just kidding Mom)

God has shown me the uselessness of living a life of fear. I need to suck it up and charge down that battle line toward the enemy! In the immortal words of the then sober Mel Gibson, "FREEEEDOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!" (Insert flying sword scene here)

Life is too short, and people are too valuable to live in fear. Just a walk across the room could result in the greatest gift ever given - I don't want to be stuck in my chair because of a little fear!

Well - I guess that might have only been one insight but between Jack and I we'll call it 2!

Well - Great 24 hours on thou!

Jimmy

"Quite sitting one your butts, listening to what I say - Go DO something."
James 1:22 (Ian On-the-fly Translation or the "I Ought")

The past 2 days I have been priveledge to be able to attend the conference on Leadership put on by Willow Creek. Bottom line - it's good stuff. I'm not gonna sit here preaching to you what they said. Instead I am telling you, (no nice "urging" or "asking") insisting that you get off your butt and do something to live your Christian walk.

All you have to do is click on this link. Nuff Said.

www.one.org

If this doesn't pull at your heart strings, you aren't human. Do something. It doesn't have to be this - but DO something.

Addictiion and Shotgun...

So I am getting a little addicted to this whole blogging thing. It's a great way to keep in touch with so many and now even the g-rents are figuring this whole thing out!

The thing I wanted to post today is for your enjoyment. It's a bit of an inside thing so hopefully you can appreciate it with a little background info. In high school I went out to lunch every day with the same group of 4-5 guys. Every day we vied for shotgun and everyday I somehow managed to steal it away from my Best-man, Matt. What follows is an accurate account of:

The Shotgun Chronicles of FHS
Presented by: Virgil

Day 1: Approaching Car

Ian yells, "Shotgun"
Ian gets shotgun.

Day 2: Stepping Outside

Matt yells, "Shotgun"
Ian says, "You have to be in sight of car!"
Argument ensues
Ian gets shotgun

Day 3: Stepping Outside
Ian yells, "Shotgun"
Matt says, "You have to be in sight of car!"
Argument ensues.
Ian gets shotgun.

Day 4: Still Inside on Way to Car
Mat yells, "Shotgun"
Ian says, "You have to be outside!"
Argument ensues.
Ian gets shotgun.

Day 5: Still Inside on Way to Car
Ian yells, "Shotgun"
Matt says, "You have to be outside!"
Argument ensues.
Ian gets shotgun.

Day 6: 2nd Period Theatre as Lit.
Matt yells, "Shotty"
Ian says, "You have to be on the way to the car!"
Argument ensues.
Ian gets shotty.

Day 7: 2nd Period Theatre as Lit.
Ian yells, "Shotgun"
Matt says, "You have to be on the way to the car!"
Argument ensues.
Ian gets shotty.

Day 8: Stepping Ouside on Way to Car.
Matt yells, "Shotgun"
Ian says, "You have to be the first to touch the car!"
Ian runs to car and yells, "Shotgun"
Argument ensues.
Ian gets shotgun.

Day 9: Stepping Outside on Way to Car
Matt runs to car and yells, "Shotgun"
Ian yells, "Shotty" before Matt reaches car.
Matt says, "You have to be the first to touch the car!"
Argument ensues.
Ian gets shotgun.

Day 10: On Way to Car
Ian yells, "Shotgun!"
Matt says, Does it really !*$%ing matter?"
Argument ensures
Ian gets shotty.

Day 11:On Way Out the Door.
Dinosaurs and aliens begin chasing them to the car.
Matt (as they are running to car for their lives) yells, Shotgun!"
Ian smirks. Trips Matt.
Dinosaurs eat Matt and stop chasing them to car.
Ian smirks, but feels bad
A little.
Not much.
Maybe not that bad.
Ian gets shotgun.

Shotgun

!

This has been a Virgil Studios Production

I just wanted to give everyone a taste of what Em and I are missing right about now. This is our favorite spot up in Glacier National Park, near our home town of Kalispell, Montana. This is Avalanche lake as stiched together by my brother Paul. Beautfiul huh?

This One is for Ethan and Laurel

This is our kitty, Taylor just after we got him. Click over to Ethan and Laurel's blog to see theirs. They could be twins!









http://ethanandlaurel.blogspot.com/

Bingley and Sleeping and Leading and Politics

Here's our boy Bingley and what he thinks is another Old English Sheepdog puppy (our cat Glacier).

Just wanted you to get another look at him.

Thanks for the collar and leash Gramdma and Grandpa!







I was looking today and saw the last time I posted was Saturday. It just doesn't feel like enough happens some days to interest anyone. Em and I have been so busy with Bingley we haven't had much time for new and exciting stuff. We are playing pinochle lately (which the in-laws will be proud of - no one table talks like your daughter!).

This coming week is thick with stuff. Wednesday we have a parent /youth meeting at church that should be "busy" and Thursday-Saturday our staff is going to the Willow Creek leadership confernce. That'll be fun! Leading is so difficult out in the "real" world. College affords such a different spin on things. Out here leading isn't near as easy and I find the most difficult thing is that in some cases you have to cause tension to relieve a situation. Weird.

Tuesday mornings me and several men from church do a prayer breakfast. A retired pastor comes and this morning was ribbing me for not knowing what voting district I am in! Crap. Since when did I become that uninformed. I pride myself on knowing the issues, the candidates, and their failings! I need to get on the ball. Florida is such a different animal than Montana or Iowa. Everyone make sure you know your stuff come October.

That's all for now!

Here's our new boy! Isn't he cute? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. (Quit Ian, you're making me sick)

Bingley:

Bingley, our new Old English Sheepdog has arrived! We went down to pick him up yesterday and after a whiny, but uneventful drive back he's settled right into the house! Even the 2 cats tollerate him! He is the cutest little guy that ever was and is getting more and more comfortable here. He enjoys sleeping, eating, going to the bathroom, and on occasion chasing after my head and hair. Emily is so pleased with him that today was in her words the best day of her life! I'm just glad I could make her childhood dream come true.

Thanks to all for praying for Emily and I. THe situation has abated somewhat in the past few days and everything seems semi-back to normal.

I should have some pictures of Bingley up soon!