Birthday Celebration!

Awesome week after returning from a long stretch on the road.  Got up around 5 am Tuesday and got home around 12:30 pm.  Went into the office and took care of business.  Got out around 1:30 pm and just plain vegetated! 

Wednesday had to got to a meeting for the AiG Speakers and get educated on Presuppositional Apologetics!  If you've never had the opportunity to speak with or watch Dr. Jason Lisle, who did the training, I'd strongly suggest that you do it.  He's an amazing mind that the Lord has greatly blessed with the ability to communicate.  I just wish I understood half of what he does.  His new book, Ultimate Proof of Creation, has been going like gangbusters and will reach those folks who love logic.  He's also got a 4 DVD set entitled Ultimate Apologetics out that deal with this issue that are a must watch.

Thursday I took the day off to catch up on all the 'honey do's' around the house.  Mowed the lawn, mulched etc.  I really do enjoy doing this.  After all of this though I "vegetated" again.  I'm still struggling to get my feet underneath me so to speak.

Friday I HAD to go to King's Island with my son's school as a chaperone.  Tough job, but someone has to do it!  I mean, I actually had to ride the Diamondback Rollercoaster four times!  What a sacrifice!  It was awesome to be with these young men and women and hopefully encourage them in their walk with Jesus.  I'm looking very seriously at teaching at the school on my day off next year.  I've been feeling for a while now that I need what I'm calling, for lack of a better term, "Timothy Time"!  It is so important that we're investing in the lives of others, raising them up to take over when we're gone.  Don't misunderstand, I love what I do, sincerely.  It's just because of encounters that I've had over the last 8 - 10 months it's become a burden to invest in some specific people as well as to bounce around from town to town.

I travel too much to try and teach Sunday School so I'm thinking that by teaching a couple of days a month when I'm in town at the school will help accomplish what I'm feeling called to do.  I'd appreciate your prayers in this.

Saturday, vegetated again!  That night though I went to my daughter in laws dance recital.  Yes, she's 7 months pregnant and still doing ballet etc.!  She did an awesome job.  There's no way I could ever do what she did.  It was nice to be there and hopefully encourage her.  I just don't get to do that very often.

Sunday, WOW!  My pastor stepped all over my toes!  He preached a message that really challenged me.  If you want your feeling hurt, in a good way, take a listen to his Mother's Day Sermon.  This is a man who speaks the truth straight forwardly for sure.  I truly love him and his challenges in such a wishy-washy culture.

Sunday afternoon we got the family together and went to one of our favorite places, Korean BBQ, for a birthday/Mother's Day dinner.  My son-in-law and I were both born in May so we combined all these special things and enjoyed each others company.  We are truly blessed!  What a great family we have.

After dinner my son and I went to watch Iron Man 2.  Interesting movie.  Amazing graphics for sure.

Monday, back in the office.  Took care of almost everything that I've fallen behind on while being gone for 2 weeks.  42 messages on my voicemail that I'm still working on!  Hopefully I'll have them done by the end of the day.  Please pray for my dear friend Jim.  He used to travel with me but has moved up in the world.  While he was away his home was broken into and a lot of very important things were stolen.  Please pray these sentimental things will be recovered somehow.

Got a couple of emails that really encouraged me.  Thought that I'd share them with you.

I would like to respond to Mr. Kerby's article Science Fiction: Not just Entertainment from the December 2007 Astronomy issue of Answers Magazine that was just featured in your electronic newsletter.

I have been a follower of AiG for many years, and, as a sci-fi/fantasy lover, I couldn't agree with Mr. Kerby more. In fact, I have been inspired by AiG and my love for Sci-fi to become an author that presents arguments that support the Christian faith in action/adventure, science fiction stories! I have even teamed up with other like-minded authors to start a new genre of Christian fiction called Apologetics Fiction. My 2nd novel was just released a few weeks ago, and I'm currently working on the third book to my Origins trilogy. The books have been published by Anomalos Publishing and their daughter company, Defender Publishing (www.anomalospublishing.com).

You can learn more about my novels at my website, www.apologeticsfiction.com.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Keith R.

Dear Carl,
  Your devotion to Christ and leadership on this trip were inspiring, particularly you burden for reaching young people.  I share that burden.  We have already asked one waitress in a local Northern Virginia restaurant if we could pray for her.  Thank you for your willingness to let us get to know you so well.  I was a trip of a lifetime.

In Christ,

Ron R.

My favorite for this past week came from a pastor at a church that I spoke at recently.  Very encouraging.  Check it out: