It is hard to believe that November is already upon us. As the year comes to an end and we prepare to celebrate the wonderful season of Thanksgiving and then Christmas, it causes me to reflect on the incredible progression that takes place when pain gives way through progress to bring promise!
In the last few weeks we have been blessed to witness the miracle of life in the arrival of Eleana Gorman to Keith and Nicole Gorman and Sophia Porterfield to Charlie and Crystal Porterfield. Their births are the culmination of much preparation, necessary pain, and ultimately the beautiful fulfillment of promise. I never cease to be amazed at the process of how such difficulty, can ultimately bring such beauty and joy.
Even as we celebrate Thanksgiving it is a time to remember the trials and hardships of our earliest American pioneers who came to a new land to be able to worship as they pleased. It was a difficult and deadly journey and the life they came to know in this new land was inhospitable and cost many of them their lives. And yet, in the midst of the pain and the hopelessness that must have been there, the light of hope and the promise of a better tomorrow caused them to be able to gather together, and share in that first Thanksgiving feast. Yes, America went through the trials and pains of the birthing process to bring forth new life and freedom to all.
Our church has been going through the pains of progression and change as well. We have experienced the difficulty of saying goodbye to some of the wonderful saints who faithfully served here for so long. We have experienced the pains of adapting and changing our ways of thinking and serving in order to present the never changing but life giving Gospel message to a new but equally deserving generation! Yes it has been difficult, but through it all I am reminded of the promises of God! There is a season for all things! He has not forgotten His promises!
As you begin to plan for this season of Thanksgiving I want you to remember the promises of God. Remember the joy of our salvation that comes through the sacrificial life of Jesus and the resurrection promise that was fulfilled! Remember that God has blessed Life Tabernacle with New Life, new families, new babies, new vision, and a new hope for tomorrow and lets give thanks with a grateful heart!
I dearly love and appreciate each of you and I am honored to serve as your Pastor. I believe that our best days are yet to come and that we are going to see supernatural things!
In His Service,
Pastor Eugene
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Banjo's and Bad Days
The other day I received an offer in the mail to try Sirrus XM Radio free for 3 months in my new truck. Well to say the least I was thrilled! I mean come on... its free! Who is going to turn down something that is free! Well actually I can think of a few times I wish I had said no to a "free" offer! I think I only have 11 years left to pay for the "free" subscription to Cluck.... the publication for all things pertaining to Chicken Lovers.
Anyway, as I browsed through the various channels available on XM Satellite Radio...I was thrilled to find the Bluegrass network! Now everyone knows that I love a little banjo picking and have tried to pick the old 5 string myself! As I listened intently to song after song of fabulous banjo and bluegrass music, I was in hillbilly heaven!
After awhile I switched over and listened to some great worship music, and then some talk radio. Truth is most of the time I am in my truck driving I do not listen to anything... but I just had to get my value out of this great "free" offer. The one thing that struck me today as I was driving was that no matter what bad things may be going in my day or at work or in life... every time I find the Bluegrass channel... and those banjo's go to rolling..... I find myself with a smile on my face and a skip in my step. I realized today that you cannot be sad.... and listen to the banjo!
The same is true as a born again child of the One true God! I cannot think of Him, His love for me, His grace, His mercy, or His Word... without finding myself smiling and finding joy! It was David in Psalms 51 that in the depth of his despair reminds us that our joy is found in our salvation! I am not going to ignore the fact that life is hard. Everyday we are all faced with many things that seek to steal our joy. Financial pressures, family issues, and a thousand other things can send us into the dumps of despair! It is in these times that we may find it hard to remember the joy that is supposed to be ours!
We need to remember that just like you cant listen to the banjo and be sad.... we can't remember the great things that God has done for us... and remain sad! Wow.. I get happy just thinking about it! And better than the "3 free months from XM Satellite Radio".... the joy that God gives to us is free... eternally free! So let me encourage you today. No matter what you are going through. Now matter what difficulties you may be facing.... tune into God and find the joy of your salvation!
Praying for all of you today! Love, Honor, and Service.
Pastor Eugene
Anyway, as I browsed through the various channels available on XM Satellite Radio...I was thrilled to find the Bluegrass network! Now everyone knows that I love a little banjo picking and have tried to pick the old 5 string myself! As I listened intently to song after song of fabulous banjo and bluegrass music, I was in hillbilly heaven!
After awhile I switched over and listened to some great worship music, and then some talk radio. Truth is most of the time I am in my truck driving I do not listen to anything... but I just had to get my value out of this great "free" offer. The one thing that struck me today as I was driving was that no matter what bad things may be going in my day or at work or in life... every time I find the Bluegrass channel... and those banjo's go to rolling..... I find myself with a smile on my face and a skip in my step. I realized today that you cannot be sad.... and listen to the banjo!
The same is true as a born again child of the One true God! I cannot think of Him, His love for me, His grace, His mercy, or His Word... without finding myself smiling and finding joy! It was David in Psalms 51 that in the depth of his despair reminds us that our joy is found in our salvation! I am not going to ignore the fact that life is hard. Everyday we are all faced with many things that seek to steal our joy. Financial pressures, family issues, and a thousand other things can send us into the dumps of despair! It is in these times that we may find it hard to remember the joy that is supposed to be ours!
We need to remember that just like you cant listen to the banjo and be sad.... we can't remember the great things that God has done for us... and remain sad! Wow.. I get happy just thinking about it! And better than the "3 free months from XM Satellite Radio".... the joy that God gives to us is free... eternally free! So let me encourage you today. No matter what you are going through. Now matter what difficulties you may be facing.... tune into God and find the joy of your salvation!
Praying for all of you today! Love, Honor, and Service.
Pastor Eugene
Monday, June 27, 2011
I AM Number 1!
This past Sunday night I had the honor and privilege to be asked to speak to a Men's fellowship at a church in Marshall Texas. I took a few of my closest friends with me for the short 30 minute drive. Nothing like a little fellowship with Godly men!
Anyway, as we were driving on I-20 headed West, a white Toyota Corolla pulled up behind me and was determined to save gas by drafting me. Being the considerate driver that I am, I pulled into the next lane to allow him to pass. Apparently, unknown to me, pulling into the adjacent lane to allow someone to speed past you qualifies you for a special award. As the Toyota Corolla sped on past me, a white Ford Ranger whips out past me, and then darts in front of me so close that a seasoned Nascar driver would have flinched at the wheel! I turn to my traveling companions and they are as amazed as I was at the fact that he was so close to us that we could see the settings on his radio dial!
It was at this moment that I realized I was special. The Nascar wannabe driver in the Ford Ranger rolled down his window, stuck out his hand and began to signal very urgently that I was well... No 1! Now it is not the first time in my life that I have been awarded the "No. 1" waver, and I am sure it will not be the last! Over and over he waved that I was number one and even as he exited the interstate ahead of me, he was signaling my praises in his single finger salute!
Now any other man would have been inclined to want to return the honor of signaling that he too was a Number 1 driver but I refrained from exhibiting such behavior. I am sure it did not hurt that I was with fellow church members and as such felt the responsibility of setting a good example. We all laughed and continued on our journey to Marshall. What struck me the most was the overwhelming anger of my newest admirer.
Anger is a funny thing. I really do not believe that anyone wakes up with a goal to see how angry they can become today... or how many times can they blow up or throw a fit. Anger does not work like that. Instead, anger does not generally grow or increase because of careful planning or preparation. On the contrary, anger is one of those things that comes out of nowhere, totally ruining a day, a moment, a relationship, a life, a church, a family, or countless other things.
Anger. Rage. The fury of uncontrolled emotion exhibited in numerous situations every day and usually without any warning. Where does such emotion begin? It begins in the heart. Now you may find it hard to accept but the truth about anger is that is generally lies dormant in the base of a persons heart until just the right trigger is pulled then BAM! "Out of the abundance of the heart... the mouth speaks... the body exhibits... the destruction begins." Knowing that anger is a heart issues demands the best of "heart surgeons"... and that is Jesus! Jesus can change the very DNA of your heart! It does not matter if you were raised in an angry house, by angry parents! You can take on the nature of your heavenly father which is anything but angry!
" But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such there is no law!" Galatians 5:22 So the next time you find yourself receiving the "Number 1" award, remember that Christ is working in you a new way of living... and just smile and speak blessing!
Pastor Eugene
1 Peter 2:17
Anyway, as we were driving on I-20 headed West, a white Toyota Corolla pulled up behind me and was determined to save gas by drafting me. Being the considerate driver that I am, I pulled into the next lane to allow him to pass. Apparently, unknown to me, pulling into the adjacent lane to allow someone to speed past you qualifies you for a special award. As the Toyota Corolla sped on past me, a white Ford Ranger whips out past me, and then darts in front of me so close that a seasoned Nascar driver would have flinched at the wheel! I turn to my traveling companions and they are as amazed as I was at the fact that he was so close to us that we could see the settings on his radio dial!
It was at this moment that I realized I was special. The Nascar wannabe driver in the Ford Ranger rolled down his window, stuck out his hand and began to signal very urgently that I was well... No 1! Now it is not the first time in my life that I have been awarded the "No. 1" waver, and I am sure it will not be the last! Over and over he waved that I was number one and even as he exited the interstate ahead of me, he was signaling my praises in his single finger salute!
Now any other man would have been inclined to want to return the honor of signaling that he too was a Number 1 driver but I refrained from exhibiting such behavior. I am sure it did not hurt that I was with fellow church members and as such felt the responsibility of setting a good example. We all laughed and continued on our journey to Marshall. What struck me the most was the overwhelming anger of my newest admirer.
Anger is a funny thing. I really do not believe that anyone wakes up with a goal to see how angry they can become today... or how many times can they blow up or throw a fit. Anger does not work like that. Instead, anger does not generally grow or increase because of careful planning or preparation. On the contrary, anger is one of those things that comes out of nowhere, totally ruining a day, a moment, a relationship, a life, a church, a family, or countless other things.
Anger. Rage. The fury of uncontrolled emotion exhibited in numerous situations every day and usually without any warning. Where does such emotion begin? It begins in the heart. Now you may find it hard to accept but the truth about anger is that is generally lies dormant in the base of a persons heart until just the right trigger is pulled then BAM! "Out of the abundance of the heart... the mouth speaks... the body exhibits... the destruction begins." Knowing that anger is a heart issues demands the best of "heart surgeons"... and that is Jesus! Jesus can change the very DNA of your heart! It does not matter if you were raised in an angry house, by angry parents! You can take on the nature of your heavenly father which is anything but angry!
" But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such there is no law!" Galatians 5:22 So the next time you find yourself receiving the "Number 1" award, remember that Christ is working in you a new way of living... and just smile and speak blessing!
Pastor Eugene
1 Peter 2:17
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Overtime
It was Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals with Dallas leading the Oklahoma Thunder 2 games to 1. Game 4 was in Oklahoma City and Dallas fell behind immediately after the Thunder hits on their first 9 baskets! But despite the great shooting of Oklahoma and the numerous turnovers by the Mavericks, Dallas goes into the locker room at half time only down by 5 points.
The second half proves to be more of the same but Dallas eventually finds themselves outplayed and down by 15 points with only 5 minutes to play. Now I am not sure if it was the cummulative effect of an exceptionally hard day at work or the satisfying carbo load of fully loaded chili dogs or a combination of both, but I decided it was time to give up on Dallas! Down by 15! Go to sleep! It is hopeless!
Oh how many times in my life I have felt that way. Overwhelmed by the obvious obstacles in front of me or the enormous odds against me, I have wanted to give up and many times did. Hopelessness is a helpless feeling. Everything inside of you crying out for some kind of break, or change, or at least a glimmer of hope. You too may have been in that place of utter despair or worse yet, you may be faced with seemingly insurmountable odds even now. But let me remind you of this; with God as our source, we are never without hope! Paul reminds us in Romans that we may be pressed on every side, but we are not crushed, struck down but not destroyed! There is hope!
Yes, I gave up on any chance of Dallas winning and I went to bed. But today I am reminded... there is always hope and just like Dallas fighting back to win the game in overtime, we too must not give up the fight!
Living Supernaturally!
Pastor Eugene
The second half proves to be more of the same but Dallas eventually finds themselves outplayed and down by 15 points with only 5 minutes to play. Now I am not sure if it was the cummulative effect of an exceptionally hard day at work or the satisfying carbo load of fully loaded chili dogs or a combination of both, but I decided it was time to give up on Dallas! Down by 15! Go to sleep! It is hopeless!
Oh how many times in my life I have felt that way. Overwhelmed by the obvious obstacles in front of me or the enormous odds against me, I have wanted to give up and many times did. Hopelessness is a helpless feeling. Everything inside of you crying out for some kind of break, or change, or at least a glimmer of hope. You too may have been in that place of utter despair or worse yet, you may be faced with seemingly insurmountable odds even now. But let me remind you of this; with God as our source, we are never without hope! Paul reminds us in Romans that we may be pressed on every side, but we are not crushed, struck down but not destroyed! There is hope!
Yes, I gave up on any chance of Dallas winning and I went to bed. But today I am reminded... there is always hope and just like Dallas fighting back to win the game in overtime, we too must not give up the fight!
Living Supernaturally!
Pastor Eugene
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Change
I never cease to be amazed at the way things are constantly in a state of change. It does not take a lot of effort to look back and on the last ten years and see the blur like change in so many areas! To many these changes fall into the context of progress or an improvement in the quality of life, and no doubt that would be true. In areas such as medicine and health care we have advanced to the point of finding remedies for so many things that were considered fatal only a few years ago.
Some of the greatest changes have been in the area of electronics. I can still remember the black and white television we had growing up. The turn dial on it went to 13 channels and if you wanted to watch a different channel you had to actually get up, walk over to the TV and change the channel! Today we have HDTV's in 3-D with theater quality sound systems with over 200 channels, blu-ray disc players and of course the 3 remotes it takes to control them all! Many call these advantages great progress but I see us progressing more and more to becoming lazy couch potatoes!
Where will all of this change take us? How much further can we advance in medicine, electronics and numerous other areas of constant change? In the midst of this culture of constant change, the church as we know it is also changing, and that is not all bad! Many churches have embraced the digital revolution and become effective at using the technology to communicate and minister to highly connected but busy audience. I believe that we as the church should use every tool within our ability to reach the lost!
But in some ways, change has invaded the church in areas that God never intended! There are many churches that are abandoning the power of the gospel and compromising the message to foster acceptance in a more liberal society. The end result is a church that really looks more like the world than a place of spiritual refuge. But in spite of this changing face of the church, we must remember that not all things change. Malachi 3:6 the Lord reminds us that He does not change!
God is the same yesterday, today and forever will be! In a world that changes its wants, desires and direction more times that a preteen girl changes clothes in a day, I am thankful to know that my God remains the same. No matter how much my world changes, no matter how much this society changes, no matter how much everything else changes... God remains ever faithful, ever present, ever loving, every merciful.
Love, Honor, Service,
Pastor Eugene
Some of the greatest changes have been in the area of electronics. I can still remember the black and white television we had growing up. The turn dial on it went to 13 channels and if you wanted to watch a different channel you had to actually get up, walk over to the TV and change the channel! Today we have HDTV's in 3-D with theater quality sound systems with over 200 channels, blu-ray disc players and of course the 3 remotes it takes to control them all! Many call these advantages great progress but I see us progressing more and more to becoming lazy couch potatoes!
Where will all of this change take us? How much further can we advance in medicine, electronics and numerous other areas of constant change? In the midst of this culture of constant change, the church as we know it is also changing, and that is not all bad! Many churches have embraced the digital revolution and become effective at using the technology to communicate and minister to highly connected but busy audience. I believe that we as the church should use every tool within our ability to reach the lost!
But in some ways, change has invaded the church in areas that God never intended! There are many churches that are abandoning the power of the gospel and compromising the message to foster acceptance in a more liberal society. The end result is a church that really looks more like the world than a place of spiritual refuge. But in spite of this changing face of the church, we must remember that not all things change. Malachi 3:6 the Lord reminds us that He does not change!
God is the same yesterday, today and forever will be! In a world that changes its wants, desires and direction more times that a preteen girl changes clothes in a day, I am thankful to know that my God remains the same. No matter how much my world changes, no matter how much this society changes, no matter how much everything else changes... God remains ever faithful, ever present, ever loving, every merciful.
Love, Honor, Service,
Pastor Eugene
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Chinese Valentine!
When it comes to love, and the many ways that it can be expressed I have never been known as a the Casa Nova of relationships! But not to be deterred by my many futile attempts at true, heart felt expression of my undying devotion to the woman of my dreams... I became inspired yesterday to pen my innermost thoughts, revealing the depth of my dreams and love for her. And so It was, I sat down and the words began to flow! WARNING! The following may bring you to tears! When I think of how much I love this woman... well it just gets me right in my ole pumper! I wrote this poem and shared it with her at the Life Tabernacles Valentines Banquet last night!
A College professor of words I am not,
But I must share my love before I just pop!
Love so profound, feeling so deep,
I can't begin to express them without starting to weep!
So bear with me baby, as I espouse my true heart,
and reveal my profundity of verbage, so I start....
Here is the best I can do, you know I'm quite slow...
Ok get ready my love... here we go...
Roses are Red, Violets are blue
Chrisite I love you, more than Chinese food,
Spicy orange chicken, and peking duck,
Compared to you baby, they all taste like yuck,
Chicken chow mein, pepper steak too,
All made with love, by Peterlinlu,
Bust as much as I long for an MSG diet,
I give it all up, just to be with you here... tonight.
Dogs and cats around here now hard to find,
Not like the many thoughts of your running through my mind.
From early each morning, til well after dark,
You totally occupy my innermost thoughts.
Like Sushi and egg rolls, and shrimp fried rice,
you light up my life, like Vietnamese coffee on ice!
The buffet so lard, its offerings devine,
completely overwhelming, it will blow your mind,
One plate, two, sometimes even three,
But will never fill me up, like your love does to me.
This night so special, I don't want it to end,
The banquet soon over, the night still so young,
And so I am blessed, you as my valentine,
Let me take you to Ming Garden, they are open til nine!
In all sincereity, where would I be without this most incredible woman. She is the mother of my children and the love of my life. Over and over she has shown unconditional love for me. I am forever grateful to God for bringing her into my life. Happy Valentines Day baby!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Coffee Pots and Rocket Engineers
Good evening my friends. Just sitting here in my living room listening to my 3rd grade daughter Lizzie complain about math homework. I cant really say I blame her too much. Growing up, I was never really much on school. For the most part I have no memories to speak of before my 6th grade year. And the 7th grade... well that was the 3 worst years of my life!
But I overcame my dislike of all things intellectual and crammed a 4 year degree into 7 years and I can honestly say that I am now officially educated beyond my level of intelligence. Like many young men, I found the best part of college to be the pool table in the Community buidling! And now, I sit here with my BS Degree from the Huston Tillotson School of Law and Sheet Metal work, listening to the endless whine of homework drudgery and constant questioning of why one needs so much education anyway.
The best that I can offer to encourage the reticent offspring of my youth is that failure to apply oneself to the completion of math homework will ultimately result in a worldwide shortage of rocket scientest.
Now before you begin to ponder on why we would need a interminable supply of rocket scientest please stop to consider the invaluable inventions that we now enjoy that could only have come from such educated minds. Things such as braile on the numbers of the drive up atm.... now there is a driver you better keep your eye on! Or how about the genius who genetically engineered boneless chicken, just cant picture them flopping all over the yard.
Then of course my favorite is the guy who labeled the iron we bought... Caution... do not iron clothes while on body... DUH! And I was so hoping to save some time here! Or of course my favorite is the Braniac who invented string cheese........ is it a dairy product or what?!
Of course we all know that the greatest demand for rocket scientist today is found in the laboratories of any company that manufactures coffee pots. It takes incredible intellect to create a pot that will NOT pour a cup of coffee without also pouring water or coffee all over the bar, the floor, the cabinets and your pants. Pour it slow.... you get wet. Pour it fast... you get wet.... faster. Pour it from the side of the pot.... well.. you get the picture.! That is why most coffee pots today come with a 12 cup pot... so that you can get a good 4 cups of coffee out of it while you mop up the other 8 cups of water that escaped from the pot in the transfer!
Yes I remain cynical when it comes to the reasoning and intellectual levels of our "elite rocket scientist". As for me, I think I will stick to my degree from the school of hard knocks! So come on kids... get out there and learn something! I am going to go fix me another cup of coffee and mop the kitchen one more time tonight!
But I overcame my dislike of all things intellectual and crammed a 4 year degree into 7 years and I can honestly say that I am now officially educated beyond my level of intelligence. Like many young men, I found the best part of college to be the pool table in the Community buidling! And now, I sit here with my BS Degree from the Huston Tillotson School of Law and Sheet Metal work, listening to the endless whine of homework drudgery and constant questioning of why one needs so much education anyway.
The best that I can offer to encourage the reticent offspring of my youth is that failure to apply oneself to the completion of math homework will ultimately result in a worldwide shortage of rocket scientest.
Now before you begin to ponder on why we would need a interminable supply of rocket scientest please stop to consider the invaluable inventions that we now enjoy that could only have come from such educated minds. Things such as braile on the numbers of the drive up atm.... now there is a driver you better keep your eye on! Or how about the genius who genetically engineered boneless chicken, just cant picture them flopping all over the yard.
Then of course my favorite is the guy who labeled the iron we bought... Caution... do not iron clothes while on body... DUH! And I was so hoping to save some time here! Or of course my favorite is the Braniac who invented string cheese........ is it a dairy product or what?!
Of course we all know that the greatest demand for rocket scientist today is found in the laboratories of any company that manufactures coffee pots. It takes incredible intellect to create a pot that will NOT pour a cup of coffee without also pouring water or coffee all over the bar, the floor, the cabinets and your pants. Pour it slow.... you get wet. Pour it fast... you get wet.... faster. Pour it from the side of the pot.... well.. you get the picture.! That is why most coffee pots today come with a 12 cup pot... so that you can get a good 4 cups of coffee out of it while you mop up the other 8 cups of water that escaped from the pot in the transfer!
Yes I remain cynical when it comes to the reasoning and intellectual levels of our "elite rocket scientist". As for me, I think I will stick to my degree from the school of hard knocks! So come on kids... get out there and learn something! I am going to go fix me another cup of coffee and mop the kitchen one more time tonight!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Randomness, Ronnie, and Pretty Pink Pants
Well to say it has been awhile since I blogged would be a serious mistatement of an obvious fact! Like telling a Cowboy's fan that his team did not make the superbowl... well some things are just hard to admit! But the truth is I have not written in a few months! Several reasons really, incredibly busy being a good one... but also just felt I needed to step back a little.
I sit here in my living room. The only visible light is my computer screen and the girls night light on the dresser in our living room. Jack is snoring at my feet, and Reagan and Lizzie have for some reason chosen to sleep on the two couches tonight.
Outside is the steady dripping of rain as it falls from our roof to meet the ever increasing puddles of water in our yard. Although rain is a sign of blessing I am quickly reaching the point of "abundance" in this area!
Those who know me best know that I can be quite spontaneous and often quite random in my thoughts and my actions. I have spent the last few weeks finishing up a project that occupied way too much of my time. If there is a bright side to it.... I got to really know someone... no longer an aquaintence, no longer just a fellow member of the church... now no less than a treasured friend.
Over the course of the last few weeks we have learned much about ourselves. I will do my best to share some of our discoveries! First it goes without saying that we are definitely men. We act like men, we talk like men, we think like men..... and in the many hours of blood sweat and very strong dark coffe... I am sure we smell like men! The project that we men have worked on is a cabinet project for a business here in Shreveport! Biggest cabinet project I have evern undertaken.. and I am pleased with the results for the most part.
But back to my friend.... he is faithful. Wow... when I needed someone more than I thought... he was there. And after I worked us both til we could not stand up... he came back for more. Funny how faithfulness these days is so rare! He is skilled. He brought many years of experience to this project and challenged me to a higher level of professionalism and quality. He is flawed. He has walked through more than a fair share of failures, difficulties and shame.... just like me. He is tender. On the outside he has every appearance of a seasoned UFC cage fighter... but in reality he has a heart the size of a Buick Roadmaster!
We have had our share of laughs in the shop... looking for the tape measures that are always disappearing... and the 37 pencils that walked away... and the 2 sanders, 1 staple gun, 1 finish nailer, and 1 table saw that we wore out and tore up that had to be replaced. We also got a pretty good laugh out of the pretty pink pants that Aaron Money plays football in.... yes... I said pretty pink pants... and no I did not get a picture. Things like that you just cant put in a picture.
But of all the things I have come to learn about my friend.... is this.... he is changed. When he turned his heart to God, the change was radical! He loves the Lord... and in the last few weeks I have come to love our late nights sawing and sanding, and painting... and sharing about the goodness of God. Taking turns making the black coffee... extra strong! And he has even learned to drink it like a man... not like Aaron with all of the fancy creams, and 8 teaspoons of sugar! Strong.... and black.... and hot! Ooops... sorry I digress.
Friendships are often fleeting... and many people go through life without ever really having a true friend. I am blessed to have so many that I can call friend.... and now... thank the Lord... I have another. Ronnie... you are one of a kind. Thanks for all of your help... and I could not have done it without you!
I sit here in my living room. The only visible light is my computer screen and the girls night light on the dresser in our living room. Jack is snoring at my feet, and Reagan and Lizzie have for some reason chosen to sleep on the two couches tonight.
Outside is the steady dripping of rain as it falls from our roof to meet the ever increasing puddles of water in our yard. Although rain is a sign of blessing I am quickly reaching the point of "abundance" in this area!
Those who know me best know that I can be quite spontaneous and often quite random in my thoughts and my actions. I have spent the last few weeks finishing up a project that occupied way too much of my time. If there is a bright side to it.... I got to really know someone... no longer an aquaintence, no longer just a fellow member of the church... now no less than a treasured friend.
Over the course of the last few weeks we have learned much about ourselves. I will do my best to share some of our discoveries! First it goes without saying that we are definitely men. We act like men, we talk like men, we think like men..... and in the many hours of blood sweat and very strong dark coffe... I am sure we smell like men! The project that we men have worked on is a cabinet project for a business here in Shreveport! Biggest cabinet project I have evern undertaken.. and I am pleased with the results for the most part.
But back to my friend.... he is faithful. Wow... when I needed someone more than I thought... he was there. And after I worked us both til we could not stand up... he came back for more. Funny how faithfulness these days is so rare! He is skilled. He brought many years of experience to this project and challenged me to a higher level of professionalism and quality. He is flawed. He has walked through more than a fair share of failures, difficulties and shame.... just like me. He is tender. On the outside he has every appearance of a seasoned UFC cage fighter... but in reality he has a heart the size of a Buick Roadmaster!
We have had our share of laughs in the shop... looking for the tape measures that are always disappearing... and the 37 pencils that walked away... and the 2 sanders, 1 staple gun, 1 finish nailer, and 1 table saw that we wore out and tore up that had to be replaced. We also got a pretty good laugh out of the pretty pink pants that Aaron Money plays football in.... yes... I said pretty pink pants... and no I did not get a picture. Things like that you just cant put in a picture.
But of all the things I have come to learn about my friend.... is this.... he is changed. When he turned his heart to God, the change was radical! He loves the Lord... and in the last few weeks I have come to love our late nights sawing and sanding, and painting... and sharing about the goodness of God. Taking turns making the black coffee... extra strong! And he has even learned to drink it like a man... not like Aaron with all of the fancy creams, and 8 teaspoons of sugar! Strong.... and black.... and hot! Ooops... sorry I digress.
Friendships are often fleeting... and many people go through life without ever really having a true friend. I am blessed to have so many that I can call friend.... and now... thank the Lord... I have another. Ronnie... you are one of a kind. Thanks for all of your help... and I could not have done it without you!
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