Early on in our marriage, Angela said I should keep a journal.  (Blogs are basically an online public journal so to speak.) She said I would help me express myself better.  That I could sort through my thoughts, look back at my stories, relieve the thing I forgot that I want to remember, and tear out the pages of the things I do not.  10 years, no journal.  10 years, and maybe 25 blog entries total.

Really I lack the creative ability to write about something new or something inspiring. My pastor challenges me often to read through books he recommends.  I am not much of a reader, and usually a book needs to be VERY good in order to catch my attention.  (Reading Organic Church by Neil Cole right now… it is very good.) A writer I am not.  Angela and I are working on writing a book on dating.  We have been on it for a couple of months now.  She write most of it.  I have ideas, but she makes it sound pretty.

I preach, but even that I would not claim as my best form of communication.  I stutter alot.  And often loose track of time and topic.  But God is good to me hear and allows me to continue and be blessed by lives being changed.

Nope.  I am a one on one relationship guy.  I communicate best when you are right in front of me, or on the phone.  My drama teacher in high school, when performing she said, “Think of one person in the audience (in the back row of course, as to be heard properly), and talk to them.  Make your story reach that one person.”

Now I am all growed up, I haven’t performed in a play since I was 19. So why does this still affect me?

Because I am performing still.  Ouch.  I look at my day to day interactions, and see where I am still “on stage telling my story.”  I love telling stories.  Mostly true ones, but every once in a while, I like to make one up too.

As Waters Edge Youth Group gets ready to disciple in a new and awesome way, I look at this short coming of mine as a major problem. When I have to communicate the word of God, will I be able to speak the truth, instead of perform?  Will I be able to approach the tough situation with the seriousness that it deserves, or will I just launch into another funny story?

And then I remember, God can use this, God can make this “problem” his.  He used Peter’s stubborness, Paul’s passion, Timothy’s youth, he can use me.  He can use you…

I want to write more and hope to more often as God works in me.  Pray for me, pray for the staff of Waters Edge as we follow God’s calling.  And pray that I will find more stuff to write (Blog) about.

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During the weekend we had 3 youth come to know Christ as there personal Lord and Saviour. But more importantly, God worked in the hearts of our youth, and instilled within them a passion to have faith and serve the Lord fully.

It is my challenge over the next month to set up a small group / discipleship program that will Equip these youth, Encourage them to continue and Execute the Gospel message to there peers, family and neighbors.

Take a look at 1 Timothy 6:11-16

Oh… and here is a link to all the pictures.

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I am not upset or depressed because I am older.  I just wish I had the physical endurance and flexibility I once had when I was 16.  Last Saturday I went to Water Country in New Hampshire with my youth group.  And while all the kids just hustled around and played the day away, I attempted to keep up. 

I think I did a good job, and we all had a great day.  Got home and feel asleep almost right away. It was 7:30 pm….

8:00 am rolls around Sunday morning.  I am laying in bed, I can’t move.  My entire body was sore.  Even my little pinkie toes hurt.  During the next 48 hours, I took 25 Aleve. Disclaimer: This is not a plug for the pain reliever Aleve.  Disclaimer #2: I really didn’t take 25, and don’t recommend that you do either.

Still recovering 5 days later…

Tags: watercountry, birthday, sore, aleve, pain, sore

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Top Ten Reasons Coming Back from 2 Weeks Vacation is Bad:
10. You hear “Welcome Back” 100 times a day for the next month.
9. Reason number ten forces you to sing the theme to “Welcome Back, Kotter” all day long.
8. Your once beautiful desk plants have not be watered and now resemble a desert scene from Star Wars.
7. Your co-workers are bitter… and you still haven’t figured out why, it not like you came back with a tan or anything.
6. The pile of mail that they left on your desk must have your paycheck in there somewhere, right?
5. All the calendars in your office are still on July and it is confusing the heck out of you… it is August now, right?
4. Vogue business styles have changed and so now all your clothes are out of date and considered un-professional.
3. Apparently there was a purchase policy change of some sort while you were gone, so now all your office supplies are missing. I still cannot find a pen.
2. All your passwords expired.
1. Your email inbox shows 2,782 new emails…

Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back!

Tags: vaction, work, welcomeback, email, topten

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updated 7:29 p.m. ET, Mon., July. 21, 2008

WASHINGTON - Government inspectors finally have a big clue in the nationwide salmonella outbreak: They found the same bacteria strain on a single Mexican-grown jalapeno pepper handled in Texas — and issued a stronger warning for consumers to avoid fresh jalapenos.

This news put a little damper on my whole “I am a Chili Pepper” motto. All the sudden, it’s “I am a killer Chili Pepper”…. bummer.

Oh well… avoid Jalapeños for now I guess. I am sure in a week they will blame it on something else.

Tags: killerchili peppers

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I really don’t have any major spiritual message to go along with this post.  Just that I thank God daily for Peanuts and the Cocoa bean.  Without either of these magnificent creations, the perfect candy would never have existed.

One more reason to praise God…

Tags: peanutbutter, chocolate, reese’s

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Have I ever told you about my fear of snakes. Did you see this story yet in the news?

Gorham Woman Finds Snake In Washing Machine - Portland News Story - WMTW Portland

Yeah, basically I am freaking out. Reminds me of another verse: Isaiah 41:10

This was my brother, Trevor’s, favorite verse growing up. And I know why. Fear is powerful. It can make you do something you don’t want, or keep you from doing something you should.

But fear can also bring you closer to God, so that when we are afraid, he takes over and calms our fears. I think God allowed us to feel fear so that we would want to be with him, rather then in hell. I don’t know about you, but I fear hell. I fear the truth that many are going there. But I fear most that I have not done enough to help keep people from going there.

In less then 8 days now, I will be bring a team of 28 people to Raleigh, NC to work in the projects with Mission Raleigh. This is my fourth year leading a team. I am excited… so much so I can barely sleep at nights.

Each year I find a new challenge, and new way God wants to use me. And I expect this year to be no different. Pray for me, my wife and my team as we minister in Raleigh. Also pray that we would be challenged to continue this work back in Maine, too.

Tags: snakes, fear, hell, isiah41:10

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What moved me the most on Sunday was the passion behind each and every act.  They inspired me to move foward, to be full of the flavor God has called us to have.  Look at this passage: Philippians 3:14

Also here: 1 Corinthians 9:24

God wants Us to WIN!   Do you see that?  Do you beleive that? 

So what are you doing today to run the race?  Leave a comment, let us know.

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