TrailDad.org

Simple Man

2012-01-09T17:53:00.004-05:00

Men are not men because they are old enough and they are not men because they produce children. Men are men when their relationships cost them more than their selfishness. I don't believe I was a man when I got married or when I had my first child, I was operating in my responsibilities for sure but it was what I was supposed to do. I was just comparing myself to other lost boys living out 'fake it, 'til you make it' theology.

I became aware I was becoming a man when surrendering to Christ was my only option...when I asked God to father me for the first time. By that time 3 of my 4 children were born and I was jobless and just settling into a home we couldn't afford even before I lost my job. That was the toughest most humbling and empowering year of my life. I spoke to God and he answered. He gave me a vision for my life, he invited me in and did what I asked, he began to father me.

I began to see that the selfishness of my heart was dulling my masculine growth. It sounds like a contradiction for sure. But what if your penis size did not have power over you...what if your check book didn't give you a name? I began to think of becoming a man and that that is exactly what God wanted me to become. How do you set out in becoming a man, isn't it just supposed to happen? Well, sure I didn't follow a formula or take a class, but the first step for me was to stop trying to be the strongest man in my life. I had to leave room for at least one more, they call him Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father (Is 9:6). Becoming the man God wanted me to be was more about my surrender to His fatherhood than my ability to just be tougher. I needed to be teachable.

If you know me at all, you know I don't lack confidence. Some may even confess that I never have, but that confidence doesn't come from my own strength but from my interaction with the one who holds my heart in his hands.

I'm boasting...a little. But ultimately I boast in the transforming power of Christ in my life. I could fake it like the rest of the world and maybe my personality is not a whole lot different than it was 6 years ago, but I know this. The story God has written of my life over the last 6 years is much greater and amazing that I could ever have asked for and the relief I now have in knowing that its not all up to me, has allowed me to lead my family courageously.

New

2012-01-06T19:40:00.002-05:00

I am going to resist the temptation to overstate my intentions and get sucked into the "New Year resolution" bubble. Emotions and my internal competition tend to overreach and dream about what this year will become. I reason...I serve a big God who has big plans for my life...SO, I am going to accomplish this and that. But as I am beginning to learn, God's big plans for my life take a life to accomplish and the journey IS the destination not the destination itself.

So, here is what I am praying about this year. God has put a missionary heart within Cessie and I and we want to discover what that looks like this next year. Not ready to pack for Africa yet, but we want to understand this call clearer.

KingMaker Ministries is still going and I am waiting..err...God is waiting on me to get the first edition of my book/ guide finished...this is the year to go public, to use the message of Family Discipleship to help Dads lead their children to spiritual maturity.

This summer I will begin to use my outdoor skills to teach teens and families Leave-No-Trace techniques and the use of 10 essentials for survival...I have a hunch on how its going to workout but following Jesus you never know for sure. Which makes following Christ so fun!

Will you pray with us?

Screwtape and Wormwood

2011-08-23T18:19:00.002-04:00

I had over 32 hours of driving this past weekend and instead of hitting the shuffle button on my iPod as I usually do I was inspired to attempt the Audiobook button on my itunes...

I was on a mission to find a very compelling set of resources that would hold my attention as well as urge me on from glory to glory. Since this was a new endeavor I first began looking online and found some great self/spiritual help style books like "The Principle Of The Path" by Andy Stanley and "Radical" by David Platt...great reads..err hears. Very inspiring.

However the Christian Book store provided my best resource, C.S Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters" in dramatic audio. What a life changing compilation! It was perfect timing too. I was entering a weekend of spiritual warfare as the Wild At Heart conferences purport to be. The parallels draw from the book and the conference where eriely familiar.

What if you had a backrow seat into the schemes of your enemy? What if you knew his plan of attack and your own weakenesses from your enemy's perspective? I felt more prepared for the enemy's attacks and had my defences ready.

"The story of your life is the long sustained assault of your heart by the one who knows who you could be...and fears you."

The fact is there is an Enemy and he hates your guts! His greatest attack is to convince you that he doesn't exist all the while keeping your head in a fog about spirital things.

"All sophisticated people are persuaded that there is no hell or that other place" CS Lewis

Men's Retreat Colorado

2011-08-21T15:12:00.003-04:00

God speaks. He fights. He is dangerous. After encountering God in this way, my heart is sad for it to come to an end. Then God speaks again..."this is only the beginning, son." Hope rises and my courage returns.

This weekend was full of healing and restoration. God refined and cleared the vision he has for my life...but his greatest gift this weekend was to hear his voice. And what he said about me, my heart, my manhood...it just slayed me.

I am just too emotional to unpack all that God said in this post and I am still on the road on my way back to California, but know this there is a love story God is telling and it is set in a world at war. God said "pick up your sword, mighty warrior and pierce the darkness. Start with the dark parts of your heart and fight like hell for yourself and your family." That's what I intend to do...Want to join the fray?

Our Adventure

2011-04-11T17:35:00.006-04:00

Kingmaker Ministries is now ONLINE! http://www.traildad.org/ Check out the site and give some feedback. How does it look? Is it missing anything? Is everything clear and understandable?

My son, Caleb and I got back from the bluffs just outside of Bakersfield, Ca. We scrambled up a class 3 mountain side and perched ourselves on top of the highest ridge just west of the Kern River. From a distance the mountains have a greenish brown hue, but up close the hills sang with purple tall grass highlighted by wildflowers. The huge Sierra Nevada mountains were the back drop of this excursion and no car, no plane, or voice could be heard for miles. Just open country as far as the eye could see.

I shared with Caleb that its not everyday that a dad and son can get out like this. Many dads, in fact don't have time for such an excursion. However, I chose to be there right then. Yes, I had to keep stopping so he could get stuff out of his shoe and I had to carry his Batman backpack part of the way because it was too heavy. He wanted to go back a few times as he saw how high we were and how far the truck was, but we pressed on. We got to a place of quietness and closeness, he rarely stopped talking but the low hum of his 6 year old voice was over shadowed by wisping wind over the ridges. I could feel the pleasure of God at that moment when I crouched down to take a picture with my son. He is so curious, so imaginative, so unaware of an absent love. I am so grateful that I get to share a father's love with my son. I am so grateful that he will never have to question if he matters to anyone. He gets to walk through this life knowing his father loves him and that love is close, affectionate, and generous.

King David's Training

2010-02-22T10:27:00.004-05:00

David grew up in a classic Jewish home; Kind of like guys who have been going to church their whole life. David couldn’t remember a time when God was not a big part of his family and his life.

He was the youngest son of 8 boys and God had an extraordinary plan for his life. He was going to be King! OK, this kid is like 11-13 years old, he was a sheepherder and was destined to stay a sheepherder the rest of his life. But God looked past the outside and into the heart of David. There was something about him that no one else saw except God.

So from the day he was chosen (secretly) to become the next king, God began to prepare him. God first got him a gig working under the current king. He was the king’s armor carrier and part-time guitarist (while still taking care of his dad’s Sheep). God’s Spirit was with David guiding him the whole way.

What is the best way to learn how to be a king? Hang out with kings! That is exactly the preparation he needed for the plans God had for him. Being an Armor Carrier and guitarist, he had access to military and Government strategies.

He learned by listening and watching. David spent long hours nurturing his relationship with God (in the fields with the sheep) and gaining wisdom behind the scenes in the King’s court. Remember he was barely a teenager and had a firm grasp on his future and worked hard taking care of his responsibilities.

After a few years of training God had a test for him. He had to face a Giant, Goliath. You probably know the story. The greatest moment in the battle was when Goliath basically called God a “Punk” and told the Israelites that he and his people were going to enslave all of the Jews and wipe out any belief in God. The people of Israel were terrified, including the king. When David arrived to see everyone so afraid he was actually confused. David took his relationship with God seriously and during those training years God showed him that the promises of the Bible were true and for him, especially when someone calls God a punk and tries to invade.

How could this now 15-18 year old be so sure that God would give him victory over the Giant? Because God prepared him for the battle by facing Bears and Lions while he was a Sheepherder. David faced this Giant, Goliath, alone and he defeated him without getting a scratch. He even cut the Giants head off and brought it to the King!

This victory was the catalyst for a long and successful reign as King of the most powerful kingdom on earth. His preparation, as a Shepherd and in the king’s court, set the stage for his success. He had many obstacles to overcome after this: dodging spears, watching his best friend die so he could live, being chased by armies, living in caves and many other exploits, but one thing never changed...HIS HEART TO FOLLOW GOD. God is preparing the same heart in you!

Attack of the Karate Kitten

2009-12-09T13:42:00.002-05:00

Daddy's doing school...we came up with a tongue twister with the letter K

A kangaroo kisses a karate kitten. The kitten kicks the kangaroo.

Say that 10 times fast.

The Discovery Pen Adventure

2009-09-09T18:45:00.011-04:00

I am not much of a conspiritor but I believe with my whole heart that the Discovery Church pen is actually alive. The thought crossed my mind when it would show up in random places around the house like the basket in the bathroom (hiding in the Sudoku Puzzle book), or in the car, in all of my Bibles (it seems to jump from one to another), or what about swimming in the washing machine (WITHOUT Floaties, dangerous!)

Well my suspicions were confirmed when this seemingly innocent pen stowed away into one of our backpacks. See, some friends and I decided to go to the Shining Rock Wilderness in western NC. Over 5 hours away from home and over 1 mile above sea level this little bugger showed its purple little head. It decided to trapes across 15 miles of rugged wilderness and snuggle up with us in our tents at night.

We were a little freaked out at first but because of our Christian faith and compassionate hearts we decided to welcome this stranger as part of the crew. Now that the weekend is over we just can't imagine the adventure without our precious little purple pen.

Here are some of our most special moments...

The Cowboy

2009-07-29T16:55:00.003-04:00

Do you ever think about death? I don't normally, mostly because I'm so ADD that I cant finish anything I start so finishing life seems to be off the table, too. Anyway, death has made its way to my mind. Mostly because I have a grandpa (Grandpa Rice) who has been in and out of the hospital for a year or so and barring any unfortunate accidents will be the next family member to leave us. (hopefully its 10 years from know!)
My ministry is built on capturing moments and speaking into the lives of those who mean the most to you. Typically I would focus on teens and kids here because we have a responsibility to lead them and bless the goodness that we see in them. But there are end moments that deserve a measure of closure and kind of a last word. That end moment/last word has been haunting me when I think about my grandpa and what I'll say at his funeral.
Why is there a sense of urgency to fit-in a life's worth of meaning into the last few interactions with people? Because we missed so many along the way? or we think that we'll have another time, or plenty of time to address it? Sometimes i'm just afraid to speak to others when there are other people around, as if it is too uncomfortable for grandma to hear what I think grandpa's life meant to me.

I didn't intend for this post to be an obituary, or to even suggest that Grandpa is on his death bed cuz he is doing good. But now that the can is open...

Things I hope to tell my Grandpa Rice one day but to scared to say today...
You are one of the most positive influences in my life.
I learned about a hard days work from you.
I learned plenty of dirty jokes...some real humdingers too!
I heard you when you talked about how much of a hard worker I was to other men.
You never let a moment get too serious
You never let another man get the better of you.
You're a cowboy. Always had a gun and a dog by your side.
You have a steel will, to quit alcohol and cigarettes 'cold turkey' is amazing.
You let me work on your crane and the summers we spent together were the most amazing adventures of my young life. I cant thank you enough for bringing me along to share in your story.
I loved sharing "a grease burger" with you at Steak and Shake after a long days work at the yard.
You have the best, most contagious smile.
I love how you tell stories and the great experiences you've had. From small town country living, to working on the Alaskan pipeline to building and walking the steel on the skyscrapers of Michigan's grandest buildings, I love hearing about the pink Cadillac and seeing all of the pictures of you with your cowboy hat tilted a little to the side.

I hope one day my grandchildren will be as proud of me as I am proud of you. I couldn't be the man I am today without some credit going your way. Some guys called you the Marlboro Man, and others called you Ray-mo, I will always call you Grandpaw. And one day my grankids will hear about your great adventures and know the story of "The Cowboy".

Camping Trip

2009-05-13T23:06:00.014-04:00

We are ready for our trip

On the trail

Reached the Summit...900 feet above sea level...we hiked 5 miles and well over 600ft elevation gain. I only had to carry Caleb 2wice

notice: "Created By God" and State Park on the same plaque...

The only thing between us and the Black Bear that night

Conquerers of the Wilderness....Wild Men!

Caleb setting up Camp: Nite 2

Mmmmm....Chili Mac and Hot Cocoa

Good Ole' Sleepin Buddies

Pic just before the huge mess of Mallow.

They weren't bears this time.

Happy Birthday Caleb!!!

I know...no excuses...I gotta post more and that is that!

2009-05-11T11:24:00.002-04:00

6 weeks is just too much time not to post. God is doing things and I just have to hatchet out the time to update this page. You can help...you have full permission to email me a scathing rebuke. I am getting more discipline about these things, just not 'this' thing.

Examples if self discipline recently:

1.I recently lost more than 20 pounds...down to a slim 215. No fad diets just eating right.

2.While as a 'stay at home' dad, I did all the house chores, dinner, laundry, kid taxi service...etc. (knowing me, this is a big deal...typically the longer i stay somewhere the messier things get...to have a clean house on my watch is kind of a breakthrough...just ask my wife after I cook a big meal.)

3.Consistency with the kids...Cessie tells me that I am good at this, so you will have to ask her...I think that I am just a meanie sometimes but Cessie likes my style...hopefully the kids will turn out OK.

Where I need improvement...

1. My regular DAILY devotion time...I want to do better. Maybe I am lazy or maybe I am still dealing with some rebellion issues associated with "a certain denomination" that made daily devotion equal to 'true' salvation.
I am not where I want to be (MY responsibility)and I miss time with God that I can never get back...like those great conversations on the boat with grandpa.

2. My Administration and paperwork skills...I am a very focused person, the trouble is that I never focus long enough on this area. I admittedly live moment to moment and am great at capitalizing on opportunities. Its those daily, consistant, administrative exercises (logging payments, filing paperwork, tracking numbers and trends) I get distracted and just need to focus more on the weekly duties. Like it or not, I am the president of a company, I got to get on the ball and stop working from behind and get ahead of the paperwork and stay there.

3. My wife and date nights...we used to have one every friday (rain or shine)...since moving to Greenville we have not had one for 4 months. Mostly because I wont call others and ask for Babysitting... partly because I dont know people that well around here to inconvenience them with our kids and the other part is it takes planning, 2 weeks to be nice and at least 1 week notice to be fair. I certainly love my wife and she deserves it and as the husband I must take the initiative on this.

4.Updating my blog, facebook, and newsletter....it is a shame that God is doing so many cool things and you don't get the privilege of celebrating them/Him with us.

If you want to help in any of these areas...well, I probably won't call you back anyway ;) Just Kidding! Any tips, techniques?

Wow, this post was kind of therapeutic!

What is the definition of Love?

2009-03-31T10:26:00.003-04:00

God calls us to love our enemies. He expects us to forgive those who hurt us. It is certainly difficult to even comprehend love but is it natural? Is love a human tendency? Is it enough to model love? Can love be taught?

The bible talks about love and even gives examples, but what is the definition of Love?

Small Groups vs House Churches

2009-03-16T15:34:00.003-04:00

I recently got a letter in the mail from a ministry that I respect and follow regularly. This was a monthly update that answers a longtime question "what kind of church do you go to?" Being that they are not a denominational ministry that was a fair question based on the success they have experienced in the last 5 years.

The ministry leader supports the idea of "big church" but said what works for him and his family is having a 'house church'. A house church is a group of believers who meet in someones house at least once a week for a bible study and other religious exercises as opposed to going to a church building and plugging into religious denomination or organization.

As I understand it, it is very organized and you can join "house church" non-profits for tax exempt purposes and to get ideas of how to function effectively. This sounds very appealing to me and it certainly has biblical roots since houses where the first places people met as Christianity was building it's foundation.

The people that I know who participate in house churches have been hurt by "big church" or that they have seen so much corruption in the 'church' that they would rather see their money used on feeding people than on paying salaries, rent, lights, carpet,...etc. (I am not saying all house groups Christians are like this, these are just the opinions of people who I know participate. And this Christian leader in the above paragraphs certainly advocated for house groups as an option.)

I like the idea of house churches. But maybe you can help me answer some questions about it. Like, why not just join a church and participate in a small group? Or What is wrong with having a church building? Or what happens if the house group gets too big for the house, do you by a bigger house? "Big Church" is messy because people are messy, relationships are complicated and not everyone is pleased all the time, Is that enough justification to disassociate with a large group of believers?

Whatcha think?

Afternoon Worship

2009-02-25T11:59:00.003-05:00

I love computers and the Internet. As I write this I am listening AND WATCHING Live Worship at The Crossing Church in Tampa. This is the ultimate lunch break!

http://www.crossingonline.org/crossing-live

Check- it out. It is on 11:30am - 1pm every wednesday afternoon.

IT IS Freezing...

2009-02-20T16:03:00.002-05:00

I am wearing long sleeves, gloves and sometimes jackets, INSIDE my house! This is crazy and it is 40 degrees outside...what is the deal?

Another God Story

2009-02-18T18:50:00.002-05:00

If you have not read "the Magic Pliers" post scroll down a bit and a enjoy. This goes right along with the amazing stories God is telling through our lives.

So Cessie has not felt good since we moved here 12 days ago. She just was not feeling right and had really nagging crumby sick days...12 in a row. It culminated Monday morning with an excruciating tooth ache...like the side of her head/jaw was going to throb out of her skull. We both were thinking, "great, here comes the laundry list of dental bills, that we cant afford right now." But, there was no avoiding it, the pain was too great so we had to 'bite the bullet' (excuse the pun) and send Cessie to the dentist.

Cessie does her best to find a reasonably inexpensive dentist that will cut us a break on the initial exam(remember, just moved from another state, no insurance)cuz its all going on credit at this point. Meanwhile I am at home, jobless preparing for the worst.

The Diagnosis was that she had an infected tooth, an infected cavity in one of her wisdom teeth. She needed some antibiotics and to remove the tooth. The catch is that you can't just remove one wisdom tooth, you have to at least remove the top and bottom of that side, better yet remove them all.

We heard this all before cuz a year ago it was going to be over $1100 to get them removed on top of the other work she had done. (curse calcium sucking pregnancies, it is war on the teeth!) Well at this point we could only remove one set and it was going to cost $700, ouch!

There was really no other option at this point, so we scheduled it the next day...today at 11am. ....So here is where it gets good.... We prayed last night and this morning that God would watch over all of this from the finances to the surgery, all the kids prayed and we went forward believing that I would get a job and things would be fine.

Cessie gets in the chair and proceeds to get her 2 wisdom teeth pulled on the left side of her mouth and as they finished one of the dentists came into the room and said that they talked about it and decided to do a SPECIAL TODAY ONLY, GET 2 WISDOM TEETH PULLED GET THE OTHER 2 PULLED FOR FREE! The special only applied to Pregnant women who had an 11am apointment. They totally blessed us and saved us several hundred dollars...We didn't offer a sob story to manipulate the situation, they just decided that we deserved a huge discount. On top of that Cessie said (almost in tear at this point) that they were the nicest, most helpful, most accomidating group of professionals she had ever experienced.

So God keeps amazing us with His favor and Greenville, NC keeps impressing us with the great people here.

Grace = getting what you don't deserve...we are soaked in grace, praise God!

My First official Sunday @ Discovery

2009-02-10T22:05:00.002-05:00

Jason is the lead pastor here and a long time friend...almost 10 years...wait I think it has been 10 years this year...yikes. Well he gave me a chance 10 years ago to minister to students in his student ministry at KABC. I was a goofball, 19-20 year old who was very green and unfamiliar with church life and how to "do" ministry. Jason took me under his wing..errr...put up with me because I wouldn't stop showing up Wednesdays at around 2pm and leave for home around 10.

I dont know what got into him lately, but he heard my ideas and read my ministry plan over a year ago and felt like God has something instore for our ministries...TOGETHER. Old friends reunited? or maybe a green 29-30 year old tagging along to learn a thing or two about building ministry from the ground-up. I'd like to think both...I think he agrees too...I definitly know Lora (his wife) loves me around, being a bad influence on her kids and teaching them lots of sneaky annoying tricks (Luv ya Lora!:))

Jason gave us the week off, since we moved in Thurs, and where frazzled and the kids were sick...actually he is awesome and said that he just wanted me to attend for a few weeks and not feel pressure to jump right in and start running things (I tend to do that).

Jason had a tough week and Sunday service was a doozy, he said the word "Homo-sexual" a number of times. That word and others tend to raise the stress level and make Sundays hard...spiritually and emotionally. My first order of business and as the new tag-a-long from Florida (yes there have been others before me...many others...if you are missing a friend they probably moved here to Greenville and go to Discovery) I plan to pray. I want to pray on Sunday mornings and get as many people (especially men) to join me. Simple but not easy, Powerful but extremly mysterious. I would love to raise the level of anticipation people feel as they enter our service, like they expect to meet with God and offer their very best to Him.

It felt like I was sprinting a marathon...

2009-02-07T19:43:00.003-05:00

So much goes into an out-of-state move! I didn't realize this because this is the first time we've moved out of state. There is still so much to do and everything that was last minute yesterday is even later today...but our lights are on and the rooms are starting to look a little more normal as we clear the boxes and bags out. I am very beat, yet there is a sense of adrenaline, excitement still keeping me going, but the tank is getting low. It is like the last turn in a track race; you know, when you sprint to the finish, trying to beat your old record...yeah well no one told me it was NOT the last lap, I got a couple more to go!

I am definitely not complaining. God has been leading this whole thing (see The Magic Pliers post) and people from Discovery have already planned on bringing some meals by next week. I still have to find some part-time or full-time work, follow-up with a couple of partners who committed to support us here, write a newsletter for February, and help Cessie get the house organized...so just keep us in your prayers. We need more energy and to work efficiently, and of course to keep our eyes on Jesus!

I think it's sinking in...

2009-02-01T20:45:00.002-05:00

We had an awesome time this weekend. Saturday we had family pictures with my parents, my sister (her boyfriend Brad and their daughter Leah) and of course our little rascals...we had a photographer come to the house and setup a mini backdrop in the living room and we just had a circus in there. This is the best deal for a family picture, I will never go to a mall studio again, it was great.

Saturday night we had a little party with our boardgame friends. They gave us a great night of laughs and a very touching wall hanging thingy...they prayed for us and encouraged us. Cessie lost it...like crying and stuff lost it....it hit her that we are really doing this.

I was feeling pretty confident, until....Sunday at church. Then it hit me that we are really doing this. I cried, but not too blubbery. I think it's sinking in...we are moving to North Carolina and it is awesome

Notable Quotables

2009-01-23T14:43:00.003-05:00

In light of the new series at Discovery "(6? )things people hate about Christians".

One thing I hate about Christians is that they are so cliche', the same canned answers that they stole from someone else...(I am so guilty of this). Like "if you dont stand for something, you will fall for anything" or "Dear Jesus, thank you for this day...and please be with..." (guilty again daily) or "people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care". I need some more examples...

I am not opposed to the truth behind these statements but regurgitating old quips and sermon titles to give someone counsel or help someone hurting, just doesn't cut it. Many times it shows a lack of individual thought and caring. People want to see authenticity and they want to know you are listening.

I know that I use cliche's because I feel like I have to give an answer, I mean God has all the answers, I am a child of God, so I must have something to offer. What I end up doing is frustrating people with hollow advice and reinforcing bad stereotypes, like being quick to judge.

However if you must be Cliche then...come up with your own fun ones. My closest friends hear these all the time and can even finish my sentences like...
"Thursday" if you ask me when something is going to happen expect it to happen on a Thursday.
"Change your life" is something I use when trying new foods, if you have yet to taste a grand recipe from the Rice household it will "change your life".
My newest patented phrase is "Pork and Beans" in an effort not to use potty language around my kids (cuz they are catching on) I choose the phrase "pork and beans" when i am frustrated, frazzled, or freaked out...or if I smash my thumb with a hammer.

Alright you gotta share with me your favorite expressions...

Stop the Presses!!! Who ordered Snow??

2009-01-20T07:33:00.003-05:00

(thanks for the pic, Jon)

Winter Stormwarning

Local Weather > LOCAL WEATHER ALERT for Winterville, NC (28590)

.Issued by The National Weather ServiceNewport, NC 3:40 am EST, Tue., Jan. 20, 2009
... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING...
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING.
LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING OFF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST THIS MORNING WILL INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN... OR A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW WILL DEVELOP EARLY THIS MORNING THEN GRADUALLY CHANGE TO SNOW BY LATE MORNING. THE SNOW WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 2 TO 5 INCHES... WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED... THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS.

I might be rethinking heading north after all...no one said anything about SNOW! I wont know what to do, I have only seen snow fall from the sky once in my life and now I'll be living in 2 to 5 inches! Please tell me it's dehydrated instant potatoe flakes, right?! Snow bunnies set my heart at ease!

House Hunters. Attack!

2009-01-09T16:03:00.005-05:00

We searched high and low...from safaris in the wilderness to expeditions across the prairies, we found the lost treasure of Lake Titicaca (I love that lake..it makes me giggle) within the firy depths of the Urban Jungle called Ayden, NC...(dundunduuun).

God once again amazed us by getting us a house in North Carolina. We were blessed beyond our imagination the first Sunday. A newlywed couple had 2 houses, they have been trying to sell one since they got married in the spring. The market has been as bad there as it has been in Tampa and they couldn't sell it. So when we came into town, they were excited to show it to us and we were excited to see it.

It is a 1900 farmhouse in downtown Ayden, it has 22oo+ sqft, with all of the retro carpentry of an old home, but it has been completely updated. They are even leaving us their Foosball Table...and washer and dryer. When we talked about our max rent, which wasn't much, they actually beat it by 50 bucks per month! "

We left there optimistic but we still wanted to look around to see about other opportunities, that turned out to be a waste of time, because they were 200 dollars per month cheaper and 1000 square feet larger than the next best deal. I cant tell you how blessed and releaved we are, this is just more confirmation that we are on the right track. (as if we needed more).

The Magic Pliers

2009-01-05T15:58:00.007-05:00

We were blessed with an extra large trailer to carry some of our house stuff to Greenville N.C. We are officially moving there to partner with Discovery Church and figured if we were driving all the way up there (12 hr drive) we might as well bring some stuff with us.

So here we are in north Florida driving down I-10, only 3 hrs into our trip when, POP!, Thud, Thud, Thud...we get a flat tire on the trailer. I see rubber pieces flying from the wheel well, so I decide to pull over right away, in the middle of nowhere.

I thought to myself that this is fairly routine, I have fixed a million tires in my day and we should be back on the road in 15 minutes. That was until I discovered the spare tire was secured to the trailer by a homemade bracket with 2 little nuts and washers. At that point I got a little frustrated because I knew that I forgot my tools at home and it would be 2 hours before AAA could help us (thanks grandpa) and at least that much time for Cessie to go to the local parts store to get me a wrench or pliers and to return safely to the middle of nowhere. I didn't want to get a ticket for abandoning the trailer so I decided to unlatch the hitch and send the wifey on a tool-searching adventure while I waited with the trailer.

Just as I had the SUV unhitched, I noticed some men on the other side of the 6 lane interstate trying to cross and coming right towards us. I was a little concerned because they looked homeless and dirty, so I told Cessie to get behind the wheel and take off if they attacked me or tried to get into the car. I was not scared but very leary and guarded.

The first man greeted me with a smile and asked if I needed some help. I told him of my tool-less dilemma and basically tried to send them on their way. Here is where the story gets interesting...After explaining my situation the guy looked puzzled and he kind of smirked. He said "That is a funny coincidence. I was walking along the side of the interstate and stumble upon these PLIERS, they were just on the side of the road. I didn't need them and really didn't want to carry them but something told me they would be useful. So here you go, these must be yours."

WHAT?! God sent a homeless, hitchhiker with black teeth and stinky clothes to give me a pair of pliers to fix my flat tire! Better yet, they helped change the tire and did most of the work to get me back on the road.

I only boast in Christ because God has done this throughout our life. We are so blessed to follow Jesus. He is interested in the seemingly little aspects of our lives. God is big, but He is oh so close.

What happened to fall?

2008-12-05T14:56:00.011-05:00

As an anti-global warming guy, I have to laugh at the freezing temps we are experiencing this year. It seems like we skipped fall and have been ushered quickly into winter. I want to hold onto fall as long as I can, so here are some pics to keep you thinking about Autumn.

Headin' for the Hills

2008-11-05T09:46:00.003-05:00

Well tonight I leave for the mountains of North Carolina. We have been planning this trip since this summer. Everything is coming together, gas is cheaper and I got some cool gear that will make packing much lighter than last year. We will be hiking over 30 miles in 3 days carring about 25-30lbs on our backs. The total elevation gain as we go from peak to peak is over 5000 feet.
This is the perfect time of year because of all the autumn leaves and the cool weather. We will have a little rain Friday but overall it will be in the 20s in the evenings at the higher levels and low 60s during the day...so refreshing!
The only problem is that I am sick; I got hit by the bug last night and have less than 24hours before we hit the trail...I got a sore throat and the chills..so pray for my health to come back. Sickness won't stop me but it will make it a lot easier to be well.
The exciting part is that this weekend, I will be able to use the program material I developed. The guys agreed to be my guinea pigs and I am grateful for their feed back...so here we go, on another adventure!

I know I know...

2008-10-18T12:11:00.003-04:00

It has been a while...to say I have been in a funk is an understatement. So much so that I boycotted 2 months of blogging. Ok, that is not true...but it is interesting how people deal with adversity.

Some people just get busier and stay distracted by the 'stuff' of their lives. Workaholics and the like...

Well, that is not me. I am a pouter, and so is Cessie, so we just "take our toys and go home," suck our thumbs and sit in the corner. It is weird because I would have argued with anyone that my spiritual gifting was FAITH. But in the last year or so it has not been.

I don't like a pity party and I hate making excuses...they are so cliche'. So I just stay quiet and withdraw. I can fake it pretty good on the surface and I am talented enough in church life to still be effective, but I am not happy or fulfilled in where we are or see a lot of hope in the near future. Though it is hopeful, it take lots of energy to live in that hope at this point.

Forgive my ranting but this is kind of therapeutic. I am fine and God is still in control. I know all the promises God has for me and He still speaks. It's one of those seasons where things don't "feel" right. Relationships are strained, finances are limited, and the Ministry is just there. No movement on any front and sometimes it just all hits you at once. Ya know what I mean?

Keep praying for us, and don't take this post for more than it is. Just 'words for the wind" (the book of Job).

First Day of School

2008-08-20T12:35:00.007-04:00

Well I am getting old...of course I dont know it yet, but the fact that my first born son has started kindergarten must mean I am entering into the realm of the elderly. Teehee :).

All joking aside, this day was about Nathan. He has an awesome Christian teacher in the public school (Summerfield Elementary). Her name is Mrs Rutherford and her husband is lead pastor at The View Church ( a church plant in Riverview). He was super excited to start school and in typical Rice fashion he was the loud, social one in the class, asking the other kids their names as they sat sheepishly in their seats.

Nathan is ahead in letters, numbers, and time. We thought that if Mommy was going to be in school, so should Nathan. So here he goes, growing up right before our eyes!

What a Gift!

2008-08-15T17:14:00.006-04:00

God is so good! I got to do a baptism at camp this year. This was such a God thing and it was totally dropped right on my lap.

I got to meet a new friend in the process. His name is Forest and he was a former staffer here at Camp Baldwin. As most of out lives go, especially after high school, Forest was not satisfied with the choices he made in the last few years and months and really felt that their were some unanswered questions about his relationship with God.

Forest was excited to have me at camp and about Wednesday he pulled me aside to share his story with me and to get my perspective. I share with him God's love and God's desire to be his Father and for Forest to be adopted as God's Son. We made the connection with Jesus that that was who Jesus was (Son) because that is what God wants of us, sons and daughters.

So Wednesday night after some thought and prayer Forest sought out the "way" to nail down this relationship, and he believed and confessed his desired relationship with God through Christ. I baptised him Thursday night August 14th at the Lake Hanel waterfront of the Camp Baldwin Boy Scout Reservation.

What an honor it was to share this time with Forest and to be used by God in a powerful way. Thanks Forest for seeking out answers, being a 20 something and wrestling with your faith is not an easy thing to do. Please pray for Forest as he returns to Oregon State University this fall and that he would find a good church and jump head first into God's Word.

We also took advantage of the LARGE group of friends that Forest had supporting him and had the Lord's Supper (communion) directly following the Baptism. 20+ staffers joined us for the Lords Supper and I got again to share the Gospel as we walked through the elements and took it together. What a victorious night!

Extreme....yeah right!

2008-08-07T19:44:00.004-04:00

Yeah, I just jumped off the side of a cliff. What a rush!

This was tame compared to the stuff that the climing guy Josh has done. One step at a time I guess. i am really digging this rappeling stuff. And If I can find a mountain in florida I am totally going to climb it! HA HA

I am back

2008-08-03T18:32:00.005-04:00

Yes I am back...back online (blogging) and back at Camp Baldwin. I spent the last week here and missed the opportunities to update my blog. But I am here, alone.

No kids, no wife. Please pray for me! I got 2 more weeks and a total of 21 days away from my family. This is a great time to focus (me and Jesus time) but it is lonely too.

I had lots of participants this week in my program. But only 1 actually completed all the requirements. I made some great headway with some of the Staffers and I hung out with some old friends from last years camp that visited this year.

Elizabeth "Betty" Hazelhurst

2008-07-24T10:28:00.005-04:00

10/26/ 1933-7/18/2008

Known as 'Grandma' around these parts. Betty was the ultimate cheerleader and a great encourager. We loved her so much; she will be missed greatly.

Many people wear thier religion as a trophy to be paraded around for all to see. Betty simply loved, just as Jesus commanded, "to love one another". She never wanted to be the center of attention or to make too much fuss about life's problems, she knew that as long as we stuck together and loved one another, everything would be alright.

We don't have to say 'good-bye' to this great woman, just "see you later". She left this earth in peace, and will meet us again in heaven.

LDS Week

2008-07-15T17:45:00.004-04:00

So it is not offically called LDS week by Boy Scouts, but 1 week a per summer all the Northwest camps have a "monday start week". This is to accomidate those troops who want to worship Sunday and begin camp on Monday. Many LDS church troops sign-up a year in advance to secure this week. So out of 28 troops, 4 are non-LDS.

All that to say is, that it has been difficult to get participation from Scoutmasters. They take care of all of their spiritual formation 'in house' so they need little imput from the outside. For example I had 20+ scouts interested in my Chaplain's Aid program...this week I have 2. My interaction with scouts and leaders has been positive, just not as many opportunities as in the past weeks. I am trying to be intentional without chasing people off.

Keep the prayer coming!

Pics Galore

2008-07-14T18:19:00.015-04:00

Twice in a week

2008-07-09T19:12:00.002-04:00

I just had my 1st 'Christian' chapel Service. It went really well. I had about 25 kids and adults which is 10% of the total camp. That was my average last summer, so its good to see. The sad thing is as I go from camp to camp, talking about godly things the older (15+) scouts are not interested at all. At one campsite I was ignored, by all 25 scouts and leaders except 4 and not one of them was an adult. I got a little emotional leaving that campsite, I just saw in action the disconnection MY generation and the 'boomer' generation has had with God and their children. In my humble opinion, having 'faith' in Scouts seems to be an inconvenience for many. Now I'd like to add their are some great Christians here too, there is a very obvious line between the two. In some sites God is embraced and in others God is treated with mild neglect. Keep praying for these scouts.

Got to swim this week, and shoot guns! The water was a glacial 65 degrees, with a 60 degree wind chill. Once you get wet you can't escape the cold! Caleb was shivering!

I know i promised pics...next time...

We all made it safely

2008-07-07T14:19:00.002-04:00

I promised myself that I would blog more while I am here and keep you all informed more than once a week...like twice a week. So....I am not as on top of it as I had hoped,but it is not because of laziness, I just run out of time. The day starts at 6am and I get to shower and bed around 10:30-11:00pm. I will do better this week.

Camp details:
We are at a Boy Scout Camp near Dufur, Oregon. We expect about 2,000 campers this summer. This week we have over 300 including staff. I just had my chapel service last night and it went great, except I forgot the second verse to 'Blessed Be The Name', but I challenged the Scouts to pray. I cannot mention or teach about Jesus specifically here but I am believing that the power of the Holy Spirit will convict these kids and adults to a deeper relationship with Christ. The simplest way would be for them to simply pray and allow God to do his work, and if God is who he says he is and can do what he says he can do; then prayer is enough. Cessie said that I balanced that line well and maintained my Christian integrity, and REALLY put God on the line to show up. So pray that those who take up this challenge will see some fruit early and often.

The kids are doing great, of course. They are picking up where they left off; playing with sticks and singing all the camper's songs. Plus, their is a lake for swimming and about 50 horses we get to ride. This is gonna be a great summer!

I'll post some pics later this week.

Today it begins!

2008-06-26T09:35:00.005-04:00

Ok this is last years picture, but today I am leaving for Oregon. This time I will be flying into Seattle to visit family for a couple of days and pick up a vehicle that my uncle has graciously allowed us to borrow. (Thanks Uncle Scott!)

I will be ministering to thousands of Boy Scouts at a Camp just 10 mile east of Mt. Hood. We will enjoy an awesome staff of teenagers and scouts age 12-18. This is an equestrian facility, so horse back riding and gun shooting will be a normal part of our schedule. Oh yeah, and a huge lake is on the property with 60 degree water. Brrrrr!

Getting here was amazing, as usual. 4 weeks ago we bought our plane tickets on faith, without knowing where the money was coming from. Well through 6 or 7 crazy circumstances, (not one circumstance was linked with another) sums of money began to arrive from various places. Someone sold some furniture, people sent checks from out of state, even some classmates from my High School reunion gave an awesome gift. All in all the tickets are covered. Thanks everyone!

Oh, by the way, our house got rented for the next 2 years also. 10 months into this process, God brought the perfect family to use our house. What a relief!

Can you feel the momentum picking up? I certainly can. Some big things are on the horizon.

KingMaker Update

2008-06-16T00:04:00.000-04:00

Oregon Trip

God gave me the opportunity to go back to Oregon this summer. If you are not sure what I am talking about, I will be a Chaplain for the Boy Scouts of America again this summer. I will be ministering to about 3000 scouts and scoutmasters at a Camp at the base of Mount Hood, Oregon. The Pacific Northwest is in desperate need for Godly leadership, so much so that they are flying me in from Florida. It was an awesome Adventure last year, so when they called this year I had to say yes.

I don't know what I was thinking, but I actually began planning like I was going by myself for the 7 weeks. Yeah, thinking about being away from the family for that long was a little nerve wracking but because of Cessie's school test in July and the cost of tickets, it just didn't look possible for us to go together. Well...

Cessie was able to take her Elementary Education test early (and passed, yeah!) and some very unexpected money has come our way to buy one of the 3 plane tickets we need to get the rest of the family to Oregon. We are only 2 tickets short, about $1000 for both. Someone has graciously let us borrow their truck while we are there, so everything is coming together.

We are asking for some huge prayer support while we're gone. and if God moves in your heart to give to offset the cost of these tickets, please obey him. We are going in faith, and i have been working some side jobs to help us get through the summer.

Send tax free gifts to our Address: 716 Caliente Dr. Brandon, FL 33511

Make checks payable to: Global Reach Foundation

Keep praying:
For our house to sell or get rented...had some great contacts lately
Travel safety, We leave June 26th and return early August.
2Tickets and travel expenses totalling $1500.

Computer Geek

2008-06-15T23:45:00.003-04:00

Yeah it has been a little while...It is all because of Claude Cannon and his Assembly business. I worked with him while in college, 8 years ago. I put gas grills and wheelbarrows together, it is something that makes some money but I hate it. I am not cut-out for that kind of work. Needless to say it has kept me off-line for awhile. But this is my last week...yeah!

OK now that that its off my chest the real blog follows:
I really gotta pat myself on the back for my internet page editing prowess. I am not as computer savy as Jason or Claude, but I just successfully linked my (this) blog to my Kingmaker website.

I used Iframe, which I had no idea existed until about an hour ago. It essenitally opens a window on my website to peer through and control the blog site. A pretty nifty thing if I say so myself.

Check it out (here).

My next project is to learn how to copy and post a screenshot onto my blog. Any hints?

View from St Louis

2008-05-27T08:07:00.003-04:00

Great stuff!

Telling Lewis of 'Lewis and Clark' not to mess around and get scalped.

Wow look at that!

View from the Arch. Our hotel was the cylindrical tower in front of Busch Stadium.

630 feet! We took a tiny cable car constructed inside the Arch in the 1960s

The View Straight Down!

The View from our Hotel Room downtown.

I will be your tootsie wootsie

2008-05-25T11:38:00.004-04:00

We are in St Louis, MO. this weekend for a wedding. We took the opportunity to make it a weekend getaway for just Cessie and I. This is just in time for our 7 year anniversary, which is this week...yeah 7 years married!

St Louis is a very large and old city with mostly brick buildings and an industrial flair downtown, but the community parks and the country side are beautiful, lush and green. Lots of runners and bikers to dodge. With cool mornings and mild afternoons it has been a great escape from Florida's humidity.

Well we are off to the Art Museum in Forest Park...Check back for pics later

The Chapman Family

2008-05-22T09:22:00.003-04:00

MARIA SUE CHAPMAN, DAUGHTER OF STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, DIES IN ACCIDENT AT FAMILY HOME

NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08... At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife MaryBeth founded The Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Chapman is a five-time GRAMMY ® winner and 54-time Dove Award winning artist who has sold over 10 million albums and garnered 44 No. 1 singles.

We pray for their family and their son in this tragic time. Their concert and testimony sealed the deal for us to begin taking seriously the adoption process. So as soon as we get settled in Greenville we will pursue adoption.

Thank you Chapman family for sharing your love with Maria while she was here; God knew that she would receive the love and care she needed in her short life. You were a blessing to her and her to you.

Zoo

2008-05-20T10:01:00.007-04:00

So we played hooky from church this Sunday and went to the Zoo. It was $5 day and we were at my parents housesitting, so church was too far anyway. It was super busy at the zoo, but now that gas is so high and ticket prices are in the $20 range, it was an awesome value.

Damage Control

2008-05-11T12:41:00.003-04:00

So we have had a week to stew on the disappointing results of our contract falling through. I wish I had a more victorious story about how God has brought us through unscathed. That is definitely not the case.

We just, as in this morning at church, reconciled our hearts to God about the situation we are in. I began to entertain the thoughts of life without 'Discovery Church', asking myself what I missed, and what was the purpose of this failure? Why does God not want us to go and what else is out there? We were stressed, confused, conflicted, convicted, pouty, angry, (did I say confused...?) and other emotions.

We were exercising our minds, trying to figure out God, and not liking the options we were coming up with. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and early this Sunday morning we, honestly, were unsure what God was doing. We were making contingency plans and searching for other jobs on the internet. Conflicted in our hearts, we were "grasping for straws" for any ray of hope. Anyone ever felt this way about God? Anyone ever given or been given any good advice about how to deal with it?

This morning God whispered to me while in church, "Why are you treating me like an adversary?"...and that was it. I realized that in our search for clarity and direction, we were distancing ourselves from God. Adversary is the literal definition for Satan. So I know that what draws me away from peace with God is the "adversary" working to create disunity. I am not a "devil behind every corner" kind of guy, but like in the garden, with Adam and Eve, I was listening to reasoning that was in direct contrast to what we heard just a few weeks ago.

Just weeks ago we were celebrating with friends that God confirmed His call in us to N.C. and that we just needed to be patient and persevere. We knew then that God was writing an amazing story about us to lead and encourage others. It is not a funny thing to know that the next opportunity to show perseverance, we (I) failed miserably.

Thank You God, that You are patient with me. Help me to be patient with my kids and family. You give me what I don't deserve, and You don't give me what I do deserve...like a lightning bolt up my......;)

Rewind- House NOT under contract

2008-05-02T13:06:00.002-04:00

Not sure what is going on but the brakes have been hit on this moving process. The potential buyers are military and have had a change of plans, not their fault but a change all the same. So we are scrambling to get some work lined up for the indefinite future but are confident that we are on our way.

The buyers are still interested and might lease purchase this property but it will take them at least 2 months to figure this all out, we would love to still help them. Until then we will get the house back on the market and use this time to sell the house.

God is still in control and it is just a matter of time before we see this transition completed.

National Day of Prayer

2008-05-01T19:54:00.002-04:00

I started the day off right by co-leading a worship and prayer service at Onething Prayer Center from 12 midnight to 2am. It was an amazing time and I really enjoyed worshiping without an agenda or a church program. We just worshiped and prayed what ever God led us to. It was refreshing to just rest and hear from the Father.

So by the time it was finished I didn't get home 'til 4am, so I am a bit off kilter. But it sure was worth it.

Contract Day

2008-04-30T07:15:00.005-04:00

Today is the day. We make it official tonight; the house will be under contract and we will move out June 1st. Things are moving very fast right now and I am getting a little apprehensive.

One thing I did not expect is my emotions. I never would have guessed I would be sad to leave this house. But there are moments of grief when I think about leaving. This was our first house, so maybe the sentiment still needs to wear off. Mostly the sadness is for my Mom...she loves me! what can I say?.... and she loves my kids just as much. Pray for her; this will be a big transition for her.

Those feelings are nothing compared to the excitement and joy and relief and encouragement and other 'good words' I can't think of right now. This has completely been a God whirlwind. I cannot sing a worship song without getting all choked up about how God has been so good to us. If I start to sing 'Mighty To Save' by Hillsong, I lose it. God has been so intentional about the happenings in our life, I am proud to call myself a follower of Christ and these moments validate that God's primary relationship with Believers is his Fatherhood. He is the best kind of father to have. Thanks Dad!

Carolina on my Mind

2008-04-24T12:27:00.004-04:00

HE DID IT! HE DID IT! God brought a family to buy our house! We had a great meal with the Vasil family and they loved the house the moment that they saw it. They will be signing a lease-to-purchase contract and will buy the house in a year.

So we are on our way, Greenville! We move out of here June 1st and finish raising support. We are hoping to be in Greenville by late August or September. This has been an amazing roller coaster ride but we are so happy that it worked out this way. We get to use our house as a ministry, and God took this extra time to draw me closer to Him. Things really begin to move fast now.

Thanks for all of your prayers. Continue praying for our support and transition decisions. We need wisdom more than ever.

Concert Tonight!

2008-04-18T07:59:00.004-04:00

Our small group is going on a road trip to Victory Church in Lakeland to see Steven Curtis Chapman. Live in concert tonight! Cessie and I are so excited and know that we will "get our praise on." We need this time with God, not to mourn but to celebrate his goodness. He is Good and His mercy endures forever!

Don't Worry Be Happy...d ddd d dddd Don't Worry

2008-04-14T22:05:00.007-04:00

I can choose to complain or I can choose to comply. It is up to me how I deal with our current housing circumstances. Comply is just another optimistic term I am using for perseverance in our time of trouble. But, these 'sucky' circumstances have caused me to revisit a long pondered biblical issue.

What is Good?

Typically I would define good as something that produces a positive result or consequence. Like selling our house to get money to get out of debt and finally get us to where God has called us, namely, Greenville! Or to win a law suit over the mortgage company, who has strung us along for the past 4 months promising relief from our HIGH mortgage payment, only to find out, from a lawyer, that we have no case!...breathe...breathe...Okay, so I am a little miffed about the mortgage situation.

Nonetheless, we are where we are. The house is now off the market so we can refinance and access some cash to upgrade the kitchen and master bath, making the house more marketable. Again, so what is Good? What good can this situation possibly produce...and in my typical fake Christian, plastic smile, gritting my teeth...I would say "God is good." All the while, discouraged, dejected and spiritually dead.

But that is not where I am. I know so many Pastors who fake their way through pain and frustration in their faith, so they can lOOk like they've got it all together, and if you know me, you know that is not me.

I am truly hopeful. God is clear about what is good. "Good is to be defined in relationship to the will and being of God. Good is what glorifies Him, fulfills His will, and conforms to His nature." (pg.450 Erikkson)

Romans 8:28-29
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

I know, cliche' verse...but it is true, especially when you understand that this is not a guarantee to have everything easy but to have God's perspective of the whole story of your life, not just the here and now.

God works out good for those who are using their circumstances to draw closer to, and become like, His Son. Good results/consequences (especially temporary ones)don't define God's will or nature, but can be a positive result of His will and nature working. The cross is a perfect example of momentary suffering for the overall welfare of mankind. Though it is heart wrenching to remember "The Lord's Supper" or images of "The Passion" movie, Christ's crucifixion was very necessary.

So I lean on this verse time and time again..."For our LIGHT and MOMENTARY troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" 2Cor. 4:17 (The eternal glory is deepening your relationship with The Father God).

People have been praying.

2008-04-09T20:52:00.002-04:00

You've been praying for us. I know. I just know it. The wheels are starting to turn, small things are beginning to happen. I have 3 legitimate, financial opportunities in front of me right now, and none are linked so I could do all 3 very easily and dig us out of this house mess at least temporarily.

I am also working on a deal that could get us a buyer. They dont know it yet, and the circumstances are so crazily coincidental that it has to be a God thing. So keep praying!

I try not to over think things and plan beyond God's Will, but it is not easy. I just need to stay on my knees and take things for what they are. Cautious but Confident. God will be victorious!

Stop the bleeding!

2008-04-04T08:02:00.004-04:00

As most of you know, we've been trying to sell our house for many months. Many of you also know that part of the reason for that is because our mortgage adjusted back in September and we've been making almost double the payment since then, causing much grief as we have saved our credit, yet put ourselves in some depressing credit card debt.

Anyway, back in December, we were able to begin the process of readjusting our mortgage and we were so thankful because it was going to bring the payment back down to the original price. Well, it's been several months and we got a call yesterday that the process is complete and that it was not going to be at all what they told us back in December; instead they are only reducing our current payment about $50!!! We're so upset and disappointed and kinda don't know what to do from here. It is currently $1034 and we were told it would be $595, now they are offering $959. What a ripoff!

We prayed out of desperation, asking God to somehow do a miracle, because we cannot continue to afford this home at that price. Just after we prayed, our realtor called us to let us know some people who'd seen the house before wanted to come back today (fri) morning to see it again. We NEED them to buy the house! Please pray that they are the ones we've been praying for, the ones we know God already has picked out to make our house their new home. They'll be walking through at 10am....if you remember at that time, can you please pray for everything to work out? Thanks so much!!!!

Squinty and Sweet

2008-03-31T07:34:00.004-04:00

For the past 2 years we have taken pictures on Easter. The weather was great again. And very sunny. (Notice the squinty eyes). Plus, we all look different from last year. My head shrunk....a little. And Cessie lost at least 20lbs since then (sexy!) Of course all the kids are getting BIGGER!

Men and Church

2008-03-26T08:43:00.006-04:00

Why don't Men go to church?

Send me your comments.

We just completed yet another round of Christmas and Easter Holidays where the 'once a year' Christians make plans in their "busy" (insert sarcasm) schedules to make a cameo appearance at their local place of worship.

I love to people watch on these Sundays, especially the men. There are obvious signs that certain men have been 'hamstrung' into getting a dress shirt on and for the sake of their marriage they had to show-up to this house of hypocrites. You know the guy, he walks slower than the rest of his family with a Lurch style limp (b/c of the dress shoes). He has a long somber face on, a mix between a pouty kid and a defiant teen. His spiritual walls are well established, evidenced by his crossed arms the entire service. He is uncomfortable and does not want to be there. He would rather be at the dentist, or in marriage counseling than at church. Then with little more than a half smile, he shakes the pastor's hand at the end of the service. An awkward pause at the door, as if silently saying to each other 'see ya next year!'

I am having some fun with this, and have been a little dramatic with my language, but the real issue is, what is it about Church that men are so, opposed too? What are we communicating that causes such opposition?

Is it their Spiritual condition? No, because women are also sinners and they seem to flock to churches. They are the ones who "make" these men show-up, for their own good. So what do the females get that the men don't?

What about Personality? One might argue, that men are more cerebral, analytical, reasonable...etc. Women are more emotional, relational...etc. But these are the same men who yell and scream at their sports venues and get emotional at the mushy parts of a chick flick. They are humbled by the birth of their children, and when the lights are out, they have the most transparent conversations with their wives.

So why the wall at church? Why the Lurch? Why don't men go to church?

Post a comment. How do you see it?

Kingdom Effort

2008-03-24T12:24:00.003-04:00

We are really being challenged by God to make our house available for his purposes. We are not really sure what that means. God might have a specific family in mind or even a ministry who needs a house. We are not sure, but we know that it will be clear when he moves. Our house is God's and he can do what he wants with it.

Close But No Cigar

2008-03-20T08:23:00.002-04:00

I dont know how close I was to getting it. All I know is that I did NOT get the Fatherhood Grant. Check out the link for the list of those who did. Congratulations to the winners. I'll shoot for it next year.

www.fatherhood.org/grant/

It is kind of a blessing, because it allows me to go my own direction and not feel pressured by $25,000 over my head....did I just write that?...who am I kidding I would love $25,000. The most encouraging part is that 25 more ministries and non-profits are promoting good fatherhood principles in America.

Join me in prayer, to reclaim fatherhood in America and that men would embrace God's Fatherhood over them.

Welcome to Earth

2008-03-17T21:42:00.002-04:00

.......Breaking News.........
Aron Rice has not fallen from the face of the earth!

It really is not breaking news b/c the only person that reads this blog is my wife, and she always unpacks my suitcase, when I return from Uranus. (Oooooh that reads worse that it did in my head , but I am keeping it.)

But really, a week away from blog world, me and Jesus had a "Come to Je....um...Him party". I got my heart restored back to a better place. I was in a funk since the first of the year, but now I have a fresh perspective. Why? you might ask. I heard from my Father God, and he gave me a swift kick in the pants....And that is a BIG FOOT!

It is too late to get into it now but maybe tomorrow, I will give you the juicy details.

Someone is coming!

2008-03-11T11:01:00.003-04:00

I got a meeting and Cessie has a meeting so....McCayla is coming over with her Mommy (Cassie)! The boys cant wait! Watch out it is a jungle over here!

5 Rock Ranch Video

2008-03-08T17:46:00.002-05:00

As promised the 5 Rock Ranch Video is here.

Check it out!

If you have no idea what I am talking about scroll down and read my 5 Rock Ranch post.

Very touching and they do great work.

Working on my paper

2008-03-08T17:38:00.002-05:00

Some of you may know that I am just inches away from getting my diploma. Some of you may have though I already got it. Well I am almost there. I have but 5 or so more pages to write of my FINAL research paper. It has only taken 3 1/2 years to complete...and it is not done yet!

In my defense ....ok...anything I say to defend why it has take almost 4 years to type a 30 page paper would sound very silly right now ( I should know, because I just erased it and replaced it with this text). The great thing is that my diploma was already printed out in 04 and this is the LAST, LAST thing....PBJ! (Praise Be to Jesus!)

Men Who Do Housework May Get More Sex

2008-03-06T09:15:00.003-05:00

Now this is not a full proof study. Believe me I know..wink, wink. But hey anything is worth a shot. Men get to work around the house and you may...just may, get lucky ;)

Read the full article HERE

Beowulf

2008-03-04T08:56:00.004-05:00

Remember this story from middle school? I was intrigued by it but I didnt understand it back then. Well apparently the writers of this animated feature didn't get the poem either, but they where able to close the gaps in the story and made a very good animated feature.

The Story...It reminds me of a man's struggle with sin and the curse of the flesh plaguing men from the time of Adam. A hero comes to vanquish evil, and is successful for a time but a greater evil attacks from a different angle, not in gross violence but it wants to make a deal. All power is at the hero's disposal but at great cost to his spirit. When the day for reckoning comes, those close to the hero witness the agreement for what it really is and are devastated by the results of his bargain.

The Technology...This animated feature used real actors for the movements on the screen. The real movements were shot in an infrared studio and the actors wore these suits with dots on them, kind of like those EA sports commercials when they simulate the athletes' slam dunks and signature moves for a video game. Really cool.

Overall I liked the storyline the best. The animation was the best I have ever seen but it was still animation and would have loved to see this with real actors. There are some good quotes and scenes dealing with Christian themes like sin, temptation, and thirst for glory. Very usable in my ministry with men. I liked it but did not love it.

Rating *** out of 5 stars Parental Advisory: one seductive scene, no nudity but close enough to be warned about.

Church is Gay

2008-03-03T07:58:00.006-05:00

Church is gay...well...it used to be.

I just had a great experience on Saturday night and it was great thanks to a man who used to be a homosexual. His name is Sy Rogers and he was the key speaker at the Crossing Church this weekend. He spent and hour talking about his story; which included assault, abandonment, sexual addiction, potential sex-change operations and cross dressing.

Some where surprised to hear that a man with that past (gay), would be given an audience of over 3000 people plus live web casting. Sy was awesome and has been delivered from that lifestyle for 30 years and in full time ministry for 20. He used a blend of humor and a compelling story to cut me to the quick. The funny part is that he still has some of the mannerisms and theatrical style of his homosexual past and he did not apologize for it but he used it to break through stereotypes and really minister to others.

Here are some of my notes from the session
"God looks beyond the sin, to the need"

We do not come to God for his power, strength, or might but we come to him for his mercy, and compassion.

We were created with a need for intimacy. You will satisfy that intimacy need rightly or wrongly. If you don't get your heart needs met by going to God, you will find it somewhere. Why? Because, your heart will not stop craving satisfaction.

People doubt the character of God.

When you are hungry you are easily misdirected.

'I was made this way by mother nature' argument-
It does not matter how or where you were born....GET BORN AGAIN!
Mother nature also produces deformities, cancer, and chemical imbalances. While we have empathy for struggle with these things we don't feed the weakness that they cause.

God will take away your guilt but not your humanity.

God's pleasure is my loyalty. Think about that the next time you are tempted on the computer.

You dont have to experience sex to experience love.

Great stuff!

Visit his site: www.syrogers.com/

5 Rock Ranch

2008-02-28T14:28:00.013-05:00

So while our family was in Oregon this summer. I was a chaplain for the Boy Scouts...in case you didn't know. Cessie met a young lady who, in hearing our story about the ministry plans we have, said we had to meet a couple who where like parents to her. They just opened this ranch, through some amazing God circumstances and we just had to go a see them and share our hearts for fatherhood together. So she set it all up for us to visit the ranch during our off time one weekend.

Well getting there was going to be a challenge. You see, we had no car, and the little town of Tillamook, Oregon had only one car rental shop. The prices where good locally but you could only travel 150 miles total before they started to charge $0.35 per mile overage. So I ran a scenario of traveling to Seattle where we have family and we discovered it would cost $735 in mileage not including gas! We had low hopes of pulling this little getaway off; well, I plotted the course to McMinnville, Oregon and it was only 68 miles away, and the ranch was officially 73 miles from door to door. We took that as a God sign, since we could only travel 75 miles each way.

So I show up at the car rental place to sign everything, estimating around $125 cost to get to the ranch and back, but apparently as long as we took the car after 4pm and got it back by 8am we would not be charged for 2days. So we left on Friday and returned on Sunday only paid for 1 day of car rental and total cost with gas for the weekend was less than $75.

The Bradleys where so hospitable that they let us stay in one of their AMAZING cottages free of charge, in real beds...yeah we had been sleeping in a pop-up camper for 4 weeks at that point. They took care of all our meals, lodging, and got to do a little square-dancin' in the evening. The FOOD...don't get me started. I was reunited with an old friend, THE BLUEBERRY, I had never had naturally sweet blueberries before...shakes and IHOP don't count. We had cowboy burgers and fries and even an sundae party on a Saturday night even.

The most amazing part of the trip was just hearing the story of how 5 Rock came to be and the God moments they had experienced in stepping out on faith to affect a fatherless generation. We were truly inspired by their work, and the heart of the staffers to serve others. God has got his hand on that place.

Video Coming Soon

Aint they Cute?

2008-02-26T19:16:00.009-05:00

The flower of my eye

Yeah that is Caleb and He caught that bass all by himself...for real he is a true fisherman!

Pretty Little Lady

Thanks for the blog advice Strickland!

Random Thought

2008-02-25T14:21:00.002-05:00

Have you ever noticed...

During a season of rest we are looking to get busy, and in a season of busyness we are looking for rest.

Officially Domesticated!

2008-02-25T14:12:00.002-05:00

So I just got done scolding my wife for making a mess. I warned her before I complained, that I was not sure where this was coming from but I said, "Cessie, for my sanity's sake could you please clean up after you are done with something." The moment it left my mouth, God flashed back all of the times that I left an irresponsible mess and all of the dumb ideas that failed and she had to clean up. I am not ashamed to be a stay at home dad, but I am realizing how inconsiderate I have been over that last 6 years. I hesitate to make any vows about how things will be different once I am "back to work", knowing myself that is when things come back to bite me. But I have noticed I am more aware of the neat and tidiness of my home and I hope I can do a better job of taking care of my messes in the future.

Open House

2008-02-22T07:49:00.003-05:00

So, we really felt like God was telling us to change the price of our house 2 or 3 months ago. but, what he was asking us to change it to, was pretty steep. I hemmed and hawed over the last few months, with no action on the house...not even a sniff from a potential buyer. Well we pulled the trigger and lowered the price to a ridiculous $199,900. We got a call on it that day even before the price change was published. We can 'see the writing on the wall' and have scheduled an Open House this weekend. It feels good to be obedient and just ask for you to pray for this huge faith step to work soon.

Cool Homes

2008-02-19T13:01:00.003-05:00

The best thing about moving is house hunting. I am a bit of a dreamer, ok lets not kid ourselves, I am a big dreamer, visionary, optimist, and all that positive outlook stuff. So when I start looking at houses they kind of fit that mold. Now, I am realistic too; I only dream slightly beyond our abilities in the realm of "possibility". So here it is a house just beyond our reach but full of potentials, even possibly a possibility, of improbable possibles...yeah you got it, it just might happen...maybe (wheeooh, my brain hurts!)

So, this is a small house 1450 sqft but it has a 2130 Barn/Man Palace plus 13 secluded acres. I am talking skeet shooting, paintball, fishing pond, horse back riding filled acres. Yup, the house is small enough to keep us outside but still livable. This would be an awesome place for the boys and men's ministry.

I am Trying Part 2

2008-02-18T08:52:00.005-05:00

So we established that I am a self proclaimed movie buff. So it is not surprising that I got part of the question "what gives God?" answered from a movie. It has been a growing frustration that we are not where we are supposed to be, in Greenville, support raised...yada, yada, yada. Well, along come a little movie called Facing The Giants, and I know what you are thinking, "no not the sappy Christian, low budget flick. How cliche'! " But I have to say the movie was good, and I waited to watch it for that "cliche'" reason. I was afraid it was a church jargon fest, with a classic southern church feel. Honestly, it had its moments, especially when they won the big game, and they wanted to celebrate by praising God. So their best offering was to kneel and silence the room. What about celebration songs together? What about press conferences, declaring the favor of the Lord? Maybe I am not spiritual enough, or too much but I would be up, standing, praising, singing!...Whoo hoo!

Alright back to the "I am Trying part." The one line that got me was, when the old man who had been praying for revival in the school for the last 20 years came to the coach's office with a "word from the Lord." He gave the "open door" speech, very moving, and left with a short parable.

Two farmers where praying for rain during a drought. One man prayed and did nothing and the other farmer prayed and began to prepare his field to receive the rain. Which one do you think got the rain?

Well it got me thinking, I have been the one waiting and not preparing. I heard God, but have not prepared my fields. Now, I have done the minimum requirements, getting my house on the market...etc. But, I haven't been "preparing my field" by being aggressive in my prayerful preparation, creating lesson plans and family bible studies, on top of pushing in harder to raise support and finish my ministry vision, mission, purpose on the Fatherhood of God. We spent most of last year not knowing what was in store for our family, so I kept pressing in, opening all the doors God would open. Now that we have the answer, everything has slowed down.

So the question is, "Is it laziness, lack of faith, or some other personality quirk?". Maybe it is God's sovereign will working itself out, and I am over thinking the process and just need to wait on the Lord's timing. All I know is that when I ask God specifically if it is His will for us to go to Greenville, He says "I don't have to answer you anymore; I have spoken."

We are going; when and how remains to be seen.

Comments? Questions? Insights?

I'm Trying Part 1

2008-02-13T08:06:00.000-05:00

So September 07 we get the call...God made it clear that he wants us to move to Greenville, North Carolina and partner with Discovery Church to influence the families of the town for Jesus. It was unmistakable, glorious, and an answer to prayer. Cessie and I knew that something big was about to happen, we just were not sure what. So we began making preparations to move, starting with raising support and selling our house. It started out as a whirlwind, I went to training on raising support and began that process plus the first day we put our BY OWNER sign out someone wanted to see it that weekend. To be honest we were not surprised at all, because so many times in our life we dreamed big and stepped out in faith and God came through in amazing ways. It looked as if that was the case again. Our plan was coming together and we would be out in a very conservative 3 months. Fast forward 6 months, no sold house, not enough support, and a weekly sometimes daily faith crisis, battling second guessing, depression, bickering between spouses, financial problems. What gives, God?
Post a comment, give me some fresh perspective.

Nanny Diaries

2008-02-11T11:13:00.000-05:00

Those close to me know that I am a movie buff. I love movies and I thought that I would use this media outlet to give some perspective and insight to our movie culture. That being said I never thought that my first movie post would be a "Chick Flick" called Nanny Diaries. The movie was billed as a comedy but Cessie and I were appalled at the dark nature of the rich white folks. The most disturbing was the constant desire of the nanny to keep the kids quiet and out of the way. The crazy irony is that the mothers had no job or responsibilities except to manage their households, the women just could not find time for themselves so they hired nanny's to cook, clean, teach and love their children. The rich dad's where completely disconnected, worked too much and had mistresses on the side. It was an eye opening view into the world of the rich and it reinforces that money does not buy love.

Rating *** stars out of 5 stars

Testing Testing 1..2..3?

2008-02-09T16:31:00.000-05:00

This is a test, only a test....so make a comment and test the test and I'll take care of the rest;)