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Saturday, June 30, 2007

Just a Short Break

As everyone has probably noticed (if you are still checking), I haven't been blogging much lately. Well, I have a bit of a break today, so I thought I would take advantage of the time:

It has been a whirlwind several months. As you may know, I started my EMT training in late February. Great news! I finished with my EMT-I two weeks ago, and am now working with a local private ambulance service called ProCare EMS. In fact, I'm at Starbucks right now waiting on a patient pick-up appointment. Not a bad deal, huh. There's a bit of a catch. Because of school, I can only work certain days. So, since my schedule is so weird, I am working two 16 hour shifts on consecutive days. It's not as bad as it sounds! I just think of all those mission trips I led and slept minimally for 10 days or more. Two days is a breeze.

My pre-med program is going well so far. I just finished my first class (Chemistry I) on Thursday, and found out last night that I received and A on both the class and the lab!! Thank the Lord! Monday, we start Chem II. I suppose it is a good thing that I always enjoyed chemistry, for some crazy reason. It's surprising how much I remembered after almost 20 years! Oh, I have to tell you a funny story.

On the first day of class, my professor had us all introduce ourselves and give our ages. He was obviously going to use the data to illustrate a point, so we all played along. He asked for a volunteer to start, and of course I was more than happy to go first. After 14 other classmates told their stories in the nutshell, I realized (as I figured would be the case) that I was the oldest in the class by about 7 years. It would have been more like 17 years had there not been another couple of "older" non-traditional pre-meds in the class! That was funny enough to me, but the clincher was when I asked the professor later how old he was: 32! Remember, I'm 38. I just had to snicker to myself. The great thing is, my classmates are cool, and the incoming pre-med folks that I will be in the progam with for the next year are a lot of fun. To top it all off, our professor is not only an excellent teacher, but he is also quite a nice guy. Not a bad start.

Jamie and the kids are doing well. They are on their way back from Florida on what was going to be our family vacation this year. For obvious reasons, I wasn't able to go. Not to worry, I have a break in August, and we are going to take full advantage of it. They have been gone all week, so I am excited to see them. I had forgotten what it was like to be a bachelor. It has it's advantages, I suppose, but I wouldn't want to go there again!! I have missed my wife and kids.

That's about it for now. I'll update again as I can. Many blessings to all!

Friday, June 15, 2007

Ya'll Shore Will Luv This 'Un

I couldn't resist. I wish I had thought of this. Larry the Cable Guy would be proud.

The Hillbilly's Ten Commandments (posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro, TN.)

(1) Just one God
(2) Put nothin' before God
(3) Watch yer mouth
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin'
(5) Honor yer Ma & Pa
(6) No killin'
(7) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal
(8) Don' t take what ain't yers
(9) No tellin' tales or gossipin'
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Now that's kinda plain an' simple, don't ya think? Y'all have a nice day.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Humility

Sometimes you just get a lesson in humility. The Bible says:

"First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall." (Pr. 16:18, MSG)

Just when you think you know all there is to know; just when you think you are a peg above others around you -- that's when you feel the full force of this verse. Sometimes it can be devastating, others it is just a lesson learned after which you become a far better person. I always prefer the latter. Either way, being humbled by the Lord is painful. Fortunately, our Lord's correction is because he dearly cares for us.

I have four children, and they are precious to me. One thing that I absolutely despise is having to discipline them. It hurts me to see them hurt, and when I am punishing them I am the source of their pain. The old cliche is absolutely true, "This hurts me more than it hurts you." As a child, you have no comprehension of that statement, and you scoff at every word. Scoff all you want, it doesn't make it less true.

As a Dad, I comprehend a very tiny sample of what God feels like when He has to chastise me. He's NOT some big tyrant sitting up in Heaven just looking for a reason to blast you with the biggest lightning bolt He can muster. He is a God who hurts when He has to correct us. He would much rather take us in His arms and say, "I'm so pleased with you my child."

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. (Pr. 3:11-12, NLT)