Sunday, November 16, 2008

I Surrender


I Surrender

Lord I know You see this fear in my heart what my future holds
I feel you softly ask if I can trust You more and give you control,
so I kneel before you now and I offer everything
Come and be the Lord of all, all I am or ever hope to be
I've been living for myself, and now I want to live for You alone
Come and help me when I'm weak, and when my path seems so unknown
You will be beside me still, I know You want what's best for me
So when I want to take control, Lord please come and help my unbelief

I surrender, I surrender to the One Who loves me more than life
I surrender, I surrender here is my heart,
I open it wide- to the One Who cannot be unfaithful
I now offer You all that I am

I surrender, I surrender from this day on I'll be in Your hands.

Lyrics by Leslie Ludy

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Fall Break

I went home to Greeneville TN for Fall Break. It was wonderful to see the mountains again.


Margie and I had a wonderful break and the following pictures show some of our home-made edible masterpieces we made in our spare time.

These delicious looking apples became...

...A most delicious pie!

Likewise, this dough became...

...those wonderful looking bagels! I had never made any before. Margie was a good teacher and I had a blast boiling them! :)

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Colossians 3:1-3

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:1-3

This verse means so much to me. Think about what it means to you.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Minks and Muscles



Dissecting has never been my first love. My first experience back in 8th grade of slicing and diceing a frog saturated in fowl smelling "apple juice looking stuff" convinced me I never wanted to do anything like that ever again! Little did I know...I'm glad I couldn't see the many well-preserved dead animals that awaited me in the future. In the years that have passed since then I have had the privilege of dissecting sheep kidneys, cow eyes, fetal pigs and many other parts of dead animals. Thankfully it has gotten a little easier for me to stomach.
For those who don't know I work as a Teacher's Assistant in an A&P I Lab. It is a very fun job! I never tire of answering question (or telling them I don't have a clue :) and seeing the look of recognition on their face when they finally understand. Well, in this past week's Lab the students were learning about muscles. Enter the Minks. Because of recent protests against the use of cats for dissecting purposes minks have become the replacement. Lucky kitties...poor minks.
The students main task was to find and label muscles on the minks. No easy task I'll assure you. As I circulated among the groups of poor "gross-out" students I learned a few things. First I discovered that mink muscle are very different from human muscle - big shocker I know. Second I learned that it doesn't take much to break a minks legs. While attempting to spread one minks arms apart in order to make dissecting his pectoralis major muscle a bit easier his little arm went "SNAP"! This is when I discovered something else - the sound of breaking bones really freaks students out! Although I apologized profusely I still think they were scarred for life, poor people.
Over-all, it was a good experience and everyone gained something. I have a greater appreciation for a minks muscle structure and the students have some fun A&P horror stories to tell.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Never Satisfied

There isn't much contentment in this world. People are forever trying to change their looks, find the more exciting job or get enough money to buy the latest and greatest new product or fashion. They are never satisfied...always grasping.

As Christian we are to be content in all things (phillipians 4:11) ...except one. God never wants us to be content with just maintaining our current level of spirituality. He wants us to grow. He wants us to strive for and chase after a closer walk with Him.

Never be satified...seek to grow.


"You will ask me, are you satisfied? Have you got all you want?
God forbid. With the deepest feeling of my soul I can say that I am satisfied with Jesus now; but there is also the consciousness of how much fuller the revelation can be of the exceeding abundance of His grace. Let us never hesitate to say, this is only the beginning."

Andrew Murray - scottish missonary to South Africa

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Church at Patton Towers


This Sabbath afternoon I had my first experience at Patton Towers in downtown Chattanooga. For those who aren't acquainted with this outreach project Patton Towers is an old hotel that has been converted into an apartment building for those on disability or that have other problems with addictions etc.
I was standing in the back of the GYC main auditorium last year when I first watched the video about the project. On that video they related the people of Patton Towers to a dollar bill that never loses its value even after being crumpled and dragged through the mud. That analogy hit home and I felt impressed that this was the kind of ministry God had in store for me one day. So it was with great anticipation that I walked up to the run down brick building and entered the smoky-smelling lobby.
Dingy would be the best word I can come up with to describe the interior of the building. The stairwells aren't the cleanest and there aren't many windows if any in most of the main areas. Then there were the people, precious people. People in wheelchairs. People in ragged clothes. People with empty looks in their eyes. After taking one look at them I no longer noticed the filth or the cobwebs. We came for the people, not to inspect the building or judge their clothing.
First we paired up and knocked on doors to invite them to a Taco Salad supper and the church service we were holding in the building. Knocking on doors in a strange building I've never been in before with a guy I had just met definitely tested my bravery, but the Lord was good and provided the boldness I needed. He always does! I think the only time I felt afraid was when a ferocious sounding canine began barking and banging against one of the doors. Dog or no dog the invitation to the feast (both literal and spiritual) had to be given.
Singing, praying and sharing a Bible with the people during the church service blessed me so much. When Jeff opened up the floor for testimonies most of the people who stood up and shared were people from Patton instead of the impressively large SAU group. It really showed me that the Spirit of God is moving on these peoples hearts! One large lady wearing an oxygen mask was sitting behind me. Whenever we prayed she always reached for my hand. It was so beautiful to just be there for her as we talked with our Heavenly Father.
The whole process of feeding a huge group of people was a juggling act but was of course extremely rewarding. Pouring juice for the man with the cane or helping someone carry a plate of food becomes the most exciting, joyful thing in the world when done for the Savior! Even cleaning up the mess that was left when all of them had gone back to their rooms was a blessing. I loved it all! It wasn't work, it was service yielding for the One who first loved me!
Nothing makes me want to laugh, sing, and dance for joy all at once more than being used by Christ to touch peoples life's! The wonderful thing is that I can take no credit! Without Christ I am selfish, fearful and lazy, but in Christ I am a new creation!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

When Spring Comes Again...


Truly spring has come again to my corner of the world. Blooming lilacs are scenting the air with their soft fragrance. The trees become greener every day and there is once again a forest canopy of lush, new leaves. When such beauty and newness of life is springing up all around you how can you keep from singing?
Spring is a wonderful time of year and one which I cherish deeply, but there is a Spring which is ever so much more enthralling: Spring time of the soul. As incredible as it may seem, every morning can be a season of new life . The moment you awaken there is a Savior waiting to meet with you. Pour out your heart to Him, revel in His presence and you can face the day as a new creation in Christ.
This spring, as you witness the world coming back to life, take time to meditate on the incredible miracle of every new leaf. Bend down to see a flower about to unfold its delicate petals and know that you can bloom for Him today.

Just as the flowers turn their heads to the sun, look full into the face of the Son of God and be radiant!