Fresh Start!

Most of the time it seems as if we wait till the New Year to begin new things or to rehash old things, but I am going to start today! I have been waiting for the right time, but now have found the urge to begin writing again in my blog. I am not sure if anyone will find what I write interesting, but I want to give those who are interested a look at what it is like to live in my world.
So...I begin...again.
I started this blog many years back. Let me just bring you up to date on my life.
My wife, Carrie and I are expecting our fifth child. As I am writing this she is now less than two hours from being a week overdue. We have a glimpse at a name for the baby, however we have not arrived on the perfect name for this young one. We also are in limbo as to whether this baby is a boy or a girl. This is our first home birth so we are experiencing a little bit of anxiety, but we understand that God is in control and He is perfect to accomplish His will.
Christian my oldest son is now eight, followed by Caden, he is six. Charis is my only girl, so far, and she is three. Cai who will be the one who will see my hair turn completely white because of his tenacity is 2. He is the first child we have had to actually embrace the terrible two's. For some reason the others skipped it and went into the three's before this phenomenon hit!
I am an associate pastor of Worship/Families and Students at FBC Battlefield, MO. I love it! God has richly blessed us as we are seeing people come to Christ and lives being changed.
I am working with some really wonderful people and they have embraced me and my family with open arms.
I am coming to see ministry in a different way. I have always been so outwardly focused that I have many times neglected my family. I am still working on this believe me it is still a struggle, but I am find myself more and more concerned with raising my children to love and serve Jesus.
I have not always had the right priorities in ministry and now I am realizing that God has placed me in a responsible role as husband, then father, and finally pastor in this order.
I ask for God's grace in this area everyday.
I hope to blog more about what I am learning through God's word, what He is teaching me as I lovingly guide my home. I want to share more about myself. If you find this blog to be helpful in your pursuit of life, I am grateful, but if not...well then it is just for me. I hope you do find a nugget of truth in here, I will keep blogging so that whoever might read this might know the truth I have found. Christ alone is my salvation. He is the only one who has rescued me and for this I am forever grateful!
See you soon,
Poet

No Time to Waste!

Ok...so I don't really have time to post, but I wanted to say something quickly.
It is almost three weeks until the church will be performing its Christmas musical "Four Tickets to Christmas" and we are about half ready. Ok...maybe only a fourth ready. We have so much to do it is making my head spin. I will have to let others help or I will go insane.
I keep praying that God will send me workers. I still have only seen a few, but I know that God is faithful to deliver me.
I can't believe how much work we have done in preparation for this performance. I hope all will be fine.
Next, ...build the set!
I will keep you posted.
In Him,
Me

C.J. Mahaney's visit!

I was blessed this last week by a visit to our Seminary Campus by C.J. Mahaney and his worship leader Bob Kauphlin.
Here are the links to the two Chapel services. I was only able to attend a brief session on leadership and then Chapel on Thursday when he spoke on conflicts. They were both excellent times and well worth listening to.
"Cravings and Conflicts"
"Leadership in the Local Church"

I hope that he will be invited again.
God uses us when we least expect it.

After the Bon-Fire

Ok, so the day after the Bon-Fire Christian wanted to help me clean up and get all the thrown pumpkin bits out of the field. So we worked on it together. He is really a good helper when he wants to be!
Caden didn't really want anything to do with picking up pumpkins, however he was all interested in the hay bales! I don't know how many times I told him, not to pull them apart. The survived and will be used for Trunk-or-Treat.
Trunk-or-Treat is tommorow night. Instead of Halloween the church has become a popular sight to pick up candy and to present the message of Christ. We, my wife, boys, and I have been hard at work getting things prepared. I have helped make a video presentation that we will show in the church garage. The hostess team will hand out hot apple-cider. There will be hayrides and plenty of church members handing out candy like my wife, at their trunks in the church parking lot.
Lots of details to make something like this happen effectively. But I believe this year, we might have got things at least in some order.
My friend and partner in crime, Jill, has worked hard as well. I mean both Jills have worked hard, but I have to say that there is a lot more to all this than I thought.
We pray that lives will be touch and people will see Christ in us and be drawn to Him.
In all of these let Christ be glorified.

Life as of late

I can't say that I have been busy every moment of every day. I can say however that time has a way of standing still and moving past me as fast as the cartoon character "Hammy" on "Over the Hedge"....which by the way if you have not seen this movie it is hilarious.
So...I thought I might clue everyone in on what I have been thinking and doing and such.
First, let me say that I love youth ministry. Every time I see the lights go on inside the heads and hearts of the young people I am working with I get so excited. God is truly doing great things. Our youth nights, Wednesdays and Sundays have been averaging around 16-19 youth. They seem to be tuning in to what is being shared with them through the presentations and discussion. I really have been praying that God will prepare these young people to see Him at work and join Him.
We had a Bon-Fire at our house on the 20th. It was a good time. We had over 30 people show up! This is counting everyone of course including adults, however, it was a good time just to chill around the fire and have fun with some games, and invite some friends.
We will be doing more activities in the future, however there are a few activities that we will embark on soon that I want everyone to be in prayer about. We will be going on a ski-retreat in January at PerfectNorth in Ohio. It is going to be centered around the "Five Love Languages of Teenagers." Parents and youth will all be aboard as we will travel together to gain insight and understanding on how we can love each other more. The family unit will be ephasized and hopefully there will be a time of parental bonding that will ensue. Of course, I have read that you plan and event like this and then it flops and then you plan it again and it flops and then after flopping again on the third try you begin to finally see fruit. So...I will wait patiently as God works in the lives of His children.
My life does seem to be hectic, but not untolerably hectic.
I know that without my wife it would be literally impossible. I just don't know how to show her that she means the world to me. Pray that I will be the husband she needs. I want to be that man, a Godly man.

I've been thinking...

Really, I have been thinking. I have thought about so many things lately it kind of hurts my mind to think of all the things. But let me at least divulge some of my pains...
First, let me say that by no means do I have the corner of the market on what true worship is, but I am pretty sure that I have come to understand what it is not.
Worship is not self-centered or self-focused. I am sure that when God invented worship He even thought you know in English it looks as if it contains an i but really the i should be not even thought of! It really should be spelled Worshp. I think it totally could be spelled that way and no one would ever even miss a beat.
I guess this comes up because of late I have found that many define worshp at least within the singing part of a worshp service as being something that really is meant for them to "experience" but not really to glorify God. Yes, I have a big problem with this....
We should experience the awesomeness of the presence of God as we commune with Him in worshp, but just as I spelled it...it should not contain an "i" Worshp should focus on the One and Only True and Living God...and nothing else...if we are "experiencing" God at that time it should be only because at that very moment God has lavished His Spirit on us in a way that we might enjoy His presence. We are not to be seeking a "feeling" or an it, but rather a Him! We should be seeking to please Him.
I have heard it said so many times that God is our audience of One...this is true to a point, but it really almost gives us to much credit... as if we have anything that might amuse God. Like a Jester before the royal court, we are fools to think that we have anything but foolishness to show before the King. However, as we offer up our filthy rags in obedience, He quickly turns them in to beautiful garbs of righteousness fit for His glory and splendor. We are to be instruments of praise to the one who created us, not self-righteous, self-seeking fools.
God forgive me for being the fool so many times before You, make me into your very image that I might be an instrument of Your Glory.

poets-pen #2

Gabcast! poets-pen #2

Me, Christian and a Bisquit

Gabcast! poets-pen #1

Brainwashing and Heart Training

I loved this article at credenda.org!
My wife and I are currently teaching our two boys the Westminster Shorter Catechism for boys and girls. When asked "Why did God create you?" my two year old replies, "Fwor His own Gwory!"
How awesome to see them catching true doctrine. Do they understand? Do we understand? Maybe not now but I know that just as in this article there will come a time for the "Ahha!" moment.
God will illuminate His truth to all of us in His own time! It is our responsibility to continually feast on His Word so that He can provide the nutrients we need from it!
As I say to my youth, "Have you had your God flakes today?"
Some...who evidentally don't get it would say this is brainwashing our children. I prefer to call it heart training!

Been a while!

Well it has been a while since you have heard from me. Although, I have been busy on my other blog for the church. www.journey-ministries.blogspot.com
I have been posting like crazy and the youth are really loving it. I have been called to full time ministry at FBC C harlestown and now I am ministering to both the youth and the music aspects of the congregation. Busy....yes, however I am still going to school and I am continuing to further myself toward graduation.
I really enjoy FBC Charlestown. I don't know what God is going to do there with me, but it is exciting to see so many people support and encourage the ministries I am involved with there.
I miss Anchor Baptist Church many times, and even though I only served there for such a short time, I still look at my photos of the people there and I keep in touch as best I can. God is definitely growing their congregation. I am encouraged everytime I recieve an e-mail from Paul.
School has been difficult, however I am keeping my head above water. The challenge this semester is Elem. Greek.
I have no idea, but I am trying. God will have to show me the way.
Oh, my friend and predesessor and his family are now in Africa. They have a blog. www.tanzaniatermitemound.blogspot.com It is fun to read of their adventures over another world away. Jimmy is hilarious and in good spirits. Please pray from them!

Am I really doing this?

Am I really doing this? Sometimes it is almost as if I am not really me and I am not really doing this. It is not that I am not enjoying what I am doing it is really more surreal than I can explain. I have to admit this is probably one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced in all my life. I mean it is really easy to juggle all this....haha
Juggle is that really the analogy that I should use, to say that I am juggling this life would mean that I have a sort of control over it and I am calling the shots, sending the objects in my way in the appropriate direction so that I can catch them later and give them another toss.
I would like to compare it more to creative falling. I really don't know how it is going to turn out, but I have set it in motion. I tripped myself and now the rest is up to chance.
Of course, I really don't believe that my life is in any way a ball of chance or a trip that I am not clear of the end...at least not with Christ as my Savior. However, it is a creative trip...I mean juggle...I mean it is a slow dance in fast motion....you know what I mean.
I am doing my best, reading like a maniac, and falling behind more and more everyday. I can't keep up the pace, but I will do my best. It is not that any one thing is so overwhelming that I can' t handle it, it is really just that the time that I have doing whatever it is in my way for the day distracts somehow from what I will be doing later...or need to do.
I am ranting I realize that but it is somewhat theraputic...I must do it to keep sane!
Am I really doing this? It feels as if I am falling down and up at the same time.
Love....me

Finally a moment for comment!

Well,
I have been waiting to post forever. However, with school and kids and work and wife and what ever else there is in life, I have been extremely busy.
God has blessed so far this semester and I see His hand in many things. Carrie and I are getting well settled at our new church. Christian and Caden have made many new friends and love them very much.
The challenges that come with going to school and raising children are numerous, however, I seem to find energy when I need it the most. I have been rising early in the morning to study. This seems to be best since other times can be very noisy.
Carrie and I are taking a Spanish class that is offered through one of the local retired professors and sponsored by the bank in the area we are ministering. This is an excellent opportunity for us to learn a language that will come in handy not only here in America but in many other countries as well.
I am taking three classes this semester. Missiology, Epistomology, and Theology...I thought that I would keep with classes that end in ology! This keeps me on track in some way or the other.
Just let me stay awake and do my best! This is my prayer.

Why?

I am relatively a simple man. I don't reach for things that shine or things that are unattainable. For instance, I am not the type to stare for hours at a piece of metal that they call a sports car and lick my lips to keep the saliva from dripping off my chin. I mean I find my pleasure in simple things.
For instance, I like being comfortable. I like air conditioning. It is a what I would consider to be a gift from God. It makes life pleasing. Can I do without it? .....Yes. Would I like to if asked? probably not. However, I will to make someone else more comfortable give up my air. I would be happy just to see someone else happy. That is what I call. Simple. I don't ask for much. I do ask for a little time with my family. I don't need many outside things, but I do love being with my family.
I can honestly say that somethings are not my cup of tea, but I will take an unpleasant and make it ok out of respect for others. I am not saying by far that I am the most loving and kind person ever I just try to think of others first.
Why? Why then do others, not think of me first. Maybe they do and I am just to me focused to think and see that it is me that I am thinking of first. However, I wonder when people make comments about me do they realize that I try very diligently to be giving. I really don't try to ask for much, just comfort every once in a while and the love of my family. Time with God is important to me to, however I believe that I can have that time anywhere at anytime so you really can't get in my way as far as time with my Lord.
I wonder if people realize that it hurts me when I am talked about and then someone has to say something to me, to keep me in check, but it is of course never the person that said it first that will come to me. If they have a problem, then they should come to me. Not to someone else about me.
Why? Why then do others think what they have to say about me is important enough to say, but not important enough to bring to me face to face.
I don't like ghosts! Ghosts are people that say things to other people that I will never see. It is as if they must use a medium to communicate. However these so called "ghosts" are alive and have the ability to speak to me personally, but they won't they will just shout from a far to the person that will speak the loudest. This person will become their medium and I will become frustrated because the voice I hear doesn't have a face to it.
How? How can I ever resolve a conflict or a infraction if I do not have the ability to confront it face to face. I am a gentle spirit, a sensitive person, however, no one else seems to care. I am growing thicker skin and I am also realizing that God has not called me to listen to "ghosts" but to the sound of his voice and to dive into the direction that He has purposed for me! I will dive it deep!
Why? Because He says so and that makes all the difference. Not because I have seen, but because I have not seen, yet I believe for He is my savior and my King!!
Why? I will not ask, I will not do, unless He directs my path!
Freedom is my cry!

Morning

Morning is always a blast at this house. It starts with a cry heard either in one room or the other. Many times it is the cry of Christian, my son, my three year old son, who is completely upset by the fact that he has to actually get up to go to the bathroom. I totally understand. Many times I have thought I wish I didn't have to get out of bed for nature's call. Oh well, I am up and so is the family. Now the fun begins! Hopefully we start out right, that means give my wonderful wife just a little more time to nap. She never gets any sleep at night, between me snoring and Caden, my youngest, my one and a half year old, nursing, we make it a challenge to get some shut-eye. She puts up with us, I guess she must love us. I know she does. Even if she wakes up grouchy, she still loves us.
Breakfast is sparce many times, but not this morning. This morning it is biscuits and gravy and sausage. Yum! Christian and my favorite meal is being served.
Gather round the breakfast table and feast!
Great breakfast, but now dishes!
I hate dishes, I like them to eat off of, but I hate to clean them. I think I am not alone. At least I know that my wife hates it too.
Morning, is never boring, however it is definitely a start to whatever will take place today.
Now for noon!

Poet's Pen!

Well...first let me introduce myself, I am Devin, my name means poet, therefore I decided to call my Blog...Poet's Pen because although it is not my pen but my keyboard, I don't want to call the site Poet's keyboard so I kept it a little more coffeehousish and penned it pen. So, if you din't catch all that, my name mean's poet and this is my Blog about nothing whatsoever. Well I am sure that it will be about something. Mainly me, I don't obsece about me, but I will let you know what is going on in Devinworld. Right now, lack of sleep. Goodnight!