Goodbye to the blog...for now.

Well, after a little over a year and 80 something posts, it is time for me to step away from the blog. I find myself struggling to write, because I'm not really a writer, and with the addition of some new ministries and responsibilities, something has to go. And that something is the blog. I appreciate everyone who has taken time to stop by and read what I've written, and maybe somewhere down the road I will find the need to start blogging again.

As for now I encourage you to go back and maybe reread the 3 or 4 that really made any sense, and just forget that I even wrote the rest.

Cody

Back again

I know the last post said that I was back from vacation, but I'm back again. This time from preaching in Arizona. Shawna, the girls, and I spent last week in the mountains of Arizona for the White Mountains Ranchmen's Camp Meeting. We had a wonderful time and met some really great people.

I was the speaker for the camp, which meant I gave 6 sermons over 4 days, and I'm completely exhausted. I am also amazed at God's faithfulness. This is nothing new, because every Sunday I'm amazed that God gives me a word to speak and that His presence is always there. But I was even more amazed at how He spoke in Arizona. Without fail He poured Himself into each service, and spoke in ways that I never could. It was great!

Back from vacation

Well as the title suggest, we are finally back from vacation. We had a great time in Pennsylvania with Shawna's family, and we are looking forward to getting back to some kind of normal routine. However, that will not be coming anytime soon. We head out again next week to Arizona, where I have been asked to speak at the White Mountains Ranchmen's Camp Meeting. I'm very excited about this opportunity, and would appreciate your prayers that God would be glorified during our time in Arizona.

So, I just wanted to "check-in" if you will, and I hope to get back to more consistent blogging when we return from Arizona.

John Piper and the Prosperity Gospel

I'm drained

For those of you who haven't already heard, camp was amazing. The music, the teaching, the setting were all wonderful. God spoke and now I'm drained. It's a very exhausting, yet inspiring time when God speaks like He did at Glorieta. I can't imagine what Moses must have felt like coming down from that mountain, or Paul after the Damascus road experience. They probably felt like sleeping for about a month afterwards.

So thankfully my family and I will be headed out on vacation starting next week. I hope it will be a great time for us to see family, and just relax, because when we get back life will be at a full sprint. After vacation I will be speaking in Arizona at the White Mountain Ranchmen's camp meeting, and then we will be off to the races with new ministries beginning in September. My hopes are to have a young adult's Bible study in town, monthly service projects, and some kind of outreach to the dorms at ENMU.

Please keep us in your prayers as we enjoy our time off and get your rest, because if God does even half of what I think He will, we are all going to need it. (and I mean that in a good way)

Camp

On Monday, myself and 3 other brave souls will be headed off for church camp in Glorieta, NM. As most of you know, Glorieta is probably my most favorite place on this planet, and I'm looking forward to getting to spend the week there. I'm also looking forward to what God will reveal to me during the week. That's why it is such a wonderful place to me, not because it is the most scenic, but because it is a place where God seems to be ever present and very chatty. God speaks there. I know God doesn't just speak at Glorieta, but it often seems in my life that is where He speaks the loudest.

I'm also excited to see how God uses the week in the lives of the 3 young men who will be going with me. This could be a very important time in their lives and their walk with Christ. I hope you will pray for us this week, but even more so I hope you will continue to pray for us when we return. Going to camp can be a great time of learning, but I think it's when you return that the growing part begins.

Sabbatical

This week I well be going on my first sabbatical ever. I believe sabbatical is French for "spend a lot of money", in case you were wondering. I'm planning on heading up to Denver to hang out with a couple of my life long friends for a few days. We are planning on playing golf (the too much money part), worshiping at a church that I have no responsibility at whatsoever, and recalling stories from the past. The great thing about spending time with these guys is they already know everything about me, and I can be honest with them and they can be real with me. I'm looking forward to it all.

Cardboard Testimonies

Ramblings

Every time I take the last trash bag out of the trash bag box, it makes me pause. The box that used to hold the bags, will now go in the bag it use to hold. That weirds me out.

T-ball games are an hour of hilarious entertainment.

God still amazes me

Wind......ugh

My oldest daughter made up a new word the other day. The word is "privateness". I like it and I'm determined to work it into everyday conversation.

"House number 3 on House Hunters, offers so much privateness." or "Privateness is overrated."

I'm working on it.

Another link

This is a story about what's happening in Burma(Myanmar).

Link

This is a link to a Rick Reilly story about his father. Rick is one of my favorite sports writers, and I think some of you might enjoy this story.

sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3422420

I was going to..

I was going to do a post on poverty this week, but I think I will talk about it on Sunday instead. I do, however, want to post this picture. I hope it stirs your soul.

This photo was taken by Kevin Carter in 1994. www.huaren.com/UnitedNations/photo-1.htm

Link

I have this site mentioned on the side of my blog, put I wanted to call your attention to it. It's called "Stuff Christians Like" and it is a funny and sometimes serious look at all thinks that Christians do. It is meant to be funny, so please take it that way. Be sure to check out all the topics on the sidebar.

Ramblings

Last week I turned 33, so to celebrate I'm posting a "retro" version of ramblings. However, before I get started I wanted to ask if you would keep Charlie Crane in your prayers. Charlie is receiving a new heart today, so please take a moment to pray for him, his family, and the doctors.

Thanks.

now on to the rambling...


I remember when we didn't just rent movies, but we also rented VCRs. We would call down to the video store and ask if they had any VCRs left, and if they did we would reserve one. Then we would trek down to the store to pick out a few videos like Superman, Rocky II, or Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Now you can get a movie from a vending machine.


What ever happened to teen NBC? I used to spend my Saturday mornings watching shows like Saved By the Bell, California Dreams, Hang Time, City Guys, etc.. I loved those shows.


Just because: Roxette


It's seems like just yesterday when I was playing Little League baseball, and now I'm a Little League parent. How did this happen? I don't think you are officially a parent until you have attended Little League opening ceremonies.


Finally... parachute pants.

John Brennan:

Check this out

Check out this post and the comments that follow.

www.flowerdust.net/2008/05/05/keeping-your-mouth-shut/#comments

Psalm

In keeping with the Psalm theme from Sunday mornings in April, I thought I would share with you a psalm I wrote as a junior in high school. circa 1992 (this will also appear in the newsletter)


I love You Lord.
I know I don't always show it.
I may never show it.
I know I hurt You when I have impure thoughts.
I know I hurt You when I talk back to my parents.
I don't want to hurt You Lord, but I always manage too.

You always give me another chance, but each time I usually end up asking for another.
I'm tired of that.
I want to use the chance as if it is my last.
I know I may stumble, but failure is half of trying.
I know I can depend on You to pick me back up.
But I just haven't been able to put all my trust in You.

I say I want You to have my life, but for some reason I always seem to take it back thinking I can do better by myself.
I know I can't, but I always try.
Why?
Why can't I let You lead me?
You are the greatest!
But still I insist on doing it myself.

No more.
I want You to have everything.
Each day when I wake, I want to give my life to You.
So You may use me as a witness.
I want to give You my problems, so I won't have to worry anymore.
I want to be so close to You Lord that I can feel Your breath on my face as You whisper Your will for me into my ear.

I love You Lord!
My heart is for You!
Not the Christian girl I hope to someday meet.
Not basketball.
And especially not Satan!
I want to protect it, because it is Yours.
My life is the most I can give You, but it will still never repay what You have given me!

Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

I hope to preach on this someday. Better yet I hope to pray and live it...someday.

Friday Video

Video done by Tripp Crosby and Prodigal John

Thanks

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped out with last nights association meeting. Everything went really well, and it was a good night.


Last night also inspired me to do something. I have been feeling very "blah" and uninspired for the last 6 weeks or so, and I just can't seem to shake this feeling. So, I am going to begin praying everyday for the next 40 days, that I will see the opportunities God puts in front of me to love someone. I figure a lot of my "blahness" comes from the fact that I am spending to much time worrying and thinking about Cody, and not enough looking outside of myself. I also figure asking God to show me the opportunities to love others will open doors with believers and unbelievers alike. Why 40 days, I don't know, it just sounds good.

So, I hope between now and May 18th I will have plenty of stories to share about how God has opened my eyes and my heart to loving others.

Ramblings

I love British humor

Apple computers are the best

I like the new New Balance commercials about having a relationship with running

However, I do not like running. I might like it if I was in shape, but getting in shape would involve running. It's a vicious cycle.

Am I waisting my youth?

Greatest game I've seen in person: ENMU 34 New Mexico Highlands 31, Sept. 13, 1997

If everyone lived each day like it where their last, no one would ever go to work

Faithfulness of God

"if we are faithless he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. " 2 Tim. 2:13

Every time I preach, this verse screams out to me. Why? Because there are times when I preach and I just don't "feel" it. I've either had a bad week "spiritually" or I've just struggled with what I think God wants to say. It can get pretty tough coming up with a message every week, and even when I think I have a great message prepared, it is only great if God, not Cody, is the one who speaks.

This past Sunday was a tough one for me. (and I feel like I'm on the same track this week) I wasn't sure what God wanted me to say, and after I said it, I wasn't sure it had spoken to anyone. But as it says in the verse above, God is always faithful. One of the youth in our church came up to me after the service and told me he really liked the way I preach, and I was really blown away by that. I mean, I felt like I just totally blew it that morning, and here he was telling me how much he liked it. That was only because God was faithful to speak on Sunday, not because I had been His faithful follower. God amazes me in that fact.

March Madness

Sunday, March 16th, marks a great day in the Brown household. It's the day the NCAA tournament brackets are revealed. It is tradition in our house for everyone, even Abby and Jenna, to fill out a bracket and the winner gets their pick of dinner and a movie. This will be Jenna's first year to participate, while Abby has a few years already under her belt. She usually likes the underdogs. Shawna is starting to put more effort in her choices and I believe she even won last year by a large margin. I inevitably pick Duke to go all the way. I just don't like rooting against my favorite team, so they automatically get sent to the championship on my bracket.

I don't think there is a better time in sports than the first four days of the NCAA tournament. I can't wait!

Do you have any March Madness traditions?

Nothing to say

I wanted to write something, but the longer I sit here trying to think of something to say, the more I draw a blank. I guess I'm just at one of those quiet times of my life. Feel free to share anything on your mind and heart in the comment section, but for me, I guess I'll just enjoy the quiet.

Uganda

I want to share with you a link to a blog written by Anne Jackson. I have linked to Anne's blog before, and I want to do so again so you can read about her trip to Uganda. Anne is currently in Uganda and is writing while she is there. Go down a couple of posts and start reading at the beginning of her journey. I think you will be moved.

www.flowerdust.net

Ramblings

Whoever put chocolate and strawberries together is pure genius.

October Sky: If you haven't seen it, watch it. If you have seen it 20 times, watch it again.

Junie B. Jones books are hilarious.

I still pick cereal based on the prizes.

Whoever put peanut butter and chocolate together is also pure genius.

I get way to serious about which house I think the people will choose on House Hunters.

At best I will always be a "medium level" video game player.

Same Kind of Different as Me

Last week I finished reading Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, and it was a fantastic book. I just bought it by chance because it was on the 50% off rack at the bookstore, but after reading it I would have definitely given full price. It is the true story about a rich art dealer (Ron Hall) and a homeless man (Denver Moore) and a woman who brought them together. The chapters go back and forth, one written by Ron and the other by Denver, each recounting how they ended up where they are today. It is an amazing tell of love, life, death, and the God who holds it all together.

How Great is Our God

This Sunday I will be showing a video by Louie Giglio called "How Great is Our God". The video will be the launching point for a new sermon series appropriately entitled "How Great is Our God". (I'm not good at sermon series stuff, especially titles, so it's much easier to steal the title from someone else) I think you will really enjoy the video on Sunday, and I encourage you to invite someone new to come and watch it as well.

I hope you will begin to pray that God will open your heart to see more of who He is, and just how great He is!

Music memories

I'm always amazed at what memories can come flooding through my mind when I hear certain songs and artist. Music has an unbelievable way of taking me back in time to a specific year and situation. Allow me to share.

Late elementary school: Anything from Phil Collins and I'm immediately taken back to 5th and 6th grade. Just hearing any part of "We Built this City" by Starship and I'm back in the Portales skating rink that use to sit where Town and Country now stands. "It's a couples only skate, couples only" That's good stuff.

Junior High: The awkward years are immediately relived with the sounds of Poison, Whitney Houston (before she went crazy), Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Def Leppard, or Debbie Gibson. It seems like it was just yesterday when my mom was dropping me off at the Memorial Building for one of many junior high dances. What a scary thought, me dancing at the age of 12. It wasn't pretty.

High School: High school was my first exposure to Christian music, so Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant ( who I had a major crush on) fit in to this time period, however, nothing takes me back like Garth Brooks. The Dance, Unanswered Prayers, and Shameless are just the tip of the iceberg, or better yet, glacier of Garth Brooks songs that take me back to high school. Good times, really good times.

College: I immediately think of sitting in my dorm room at Texas Tech and listening to Blackhawk and Clay Walker over and over again. The Blackhawk song, "Every Once in a While", is a classic. College was also the time when Christian music became more than Sandy Patty and started to become more mainstream. Groups like Jars of Clay and Third Day became regular staples on my brand new portable CD player. (that's right I put "brand new portable" in bold, because that was a big deal then.)

I love music. I love the memories it can bring, good or bad.

Ramblings

Golf is the hardest game ever, but yet I love to play.

American Idol cracks me up.

Spiritual warfare is real.

I like the green kind of Tabasco sauce.

Did I mention golf is hard?

I love the movie "That thing you do".

We are like orange juice from concentrate.

Happy New Year and What do You Think?

Happy New Year everyone!

Now that that's done(I'm not good with the holiday greetings), I wanted to ask you what you thought about Sunday and the idea of serving on the last Sunday of every month. We wouldn't have church in our usually way, but instead would have church by meeting up somewhere and serving on Sunday morning. I know this is out of the norm and you probably have some questions, so feel free to voice your concerns, questions, and even your enthusiasm.

This cannot just be my desire, but instead needs to be the heart of the congregation if it's going to work. I look forward to hearing from you.


Some ideas for this are:
1. Putting carts away at Wal-mart (you knew that was coming)
2. Visiting the nursing home
3. Doing yard work for someone in need
4. Visiting shut-ins
5. Cleaning up a park
6. fixing a meal for people in need
7. Free car wash (no donations)
8. Free breakfast/brunch for one floor at the dorms at ENMU

Part of serving is that we may have to actually open up ourselves to places of need we have never seen or known of before. Also, this is not about getting people to come to Arch, but rather giving the people of Arch Baptist the chance to humble ourselves and see God in new and different ways.