Update...

Sorry for such a long delay in blogging. The semester was coming to a close which meant I had to finish up all my papers, and study for finals. I ended up doing well last semester. I had a chance for straight A's, but managed to pull out two B's. Oh well. Another semester in the books. I only have 8 classes left until I am done with my undergrad. HALLELUJAH! I am taking 5 classes this Fall, and then 3 classes next Spring. I am also planning on taking an online class next Spring at DTS. Anyone know if that will make me a full-time student? I have student loans, and really don't want to start paying on them now. Hopefully in order to be considered a full-time student it is only 12 hours, and not 12 hours at one institution.
I have just completed my application for DTS. Now I just need to mail my previous schools and get them to send my transcripts on their way. I am very excited to be heading to Dallas. I know that I will learn so much while attending there, and I know that it will bring me closer to God during my time there. I am very afraid at the same time though. One of my major fears is for Wendi. She is definitely a Home-body. I'm not sure how she will take the distance between her family. Keep her in your prayers please. I am also afraid of the financial situation it will put us in. DTS is twice as much as I am currently paying. They say they offer quite a few scholarships though. Hopefully Wendi will find another great job, and I will be able to find another great part-time job, and somehow we will be able to squeeze the pennies tight enough to make it.
I have also made another huge step in my life. Wendi and I completed our first budget on Thursday. Thanks Dave Ramsey! It only took us about 2 hours, and no punches were thrown. I understood before the budget that as a woman, Wendi needed security. I saw this put into action when we finished up our budget. As soon as we balanced everything out, and every dollar was spent on paper before we were paid, a burden seemed to be lifted from her, and I saw joy in her face. If nothing else, the budget was worth it to see that. Dave Ramsey hosted an event called "Town Hall for Hope" on May 2nd this year. I watched it yesterday while at work. It is superb!! If you have any questions about the economy, or are just curious like I was then watch it. It is almost 2 hours long, but well worth it!

Click here to watch it on HULU

I was left with a little bit of hope for our current situation in this economy. He makes some great points and really gets you thinking.
Alright, well that is the current update of my life. Hopefully I will be back on here soon, but I can't guarantee anything.

I'm a SuperModel

I was listening to an Ed Young sermon on my iPod while at work. He brought up a great point that I wanted to share. Everyone is a supermodel. Every day when we wake up we make a decision of what to wear. We go into our closets and pull out that outfit of the day. We walk outside of our house and model these clothes. Are you clothed in the righteousness of Jesus, or you clothed in money, clothed in stuff, clothed in sin? Do you only have one outfit? Is your closet empty? Is it time to come face to face with Jesus Christ, and let him fill your closet? Every day I am a supermodel to people around me. When I am walking the red carpet and they ask, "Who are you wearing?", what will my response be?

DTS Bound

I have finally come to a decision. Wendi and I will be moving next year to Dallas so that I can attend Dallas Theological Seminary. I feel at ease about this decision now. I have been constantly in prayer over this decision. I am very excited and scared at the same time. I know that my education there will be superb. I know that DTS will test me quite a bit. I have a feeling that when I am 80, and looking back on my life that DTS will be a major decision that changed things. I am scared financially. DTS is a lot more expensive than my other options. I believe that I will get what I am paying for though. I also have the faith that God is leading me to DTS, and that he already has it all taken care of. I am also afraid of how it will effect Wendi. She is very close to her family, and DTS is not close at all. I am guessing that it is going to be very difficult for us as a couple, but I also think that this will grow our marriage even closer than before. Now onto the application process. Time to convince some people to write some references. Bueller......Buelller......

Dave Ramsey

Wendi and I began our first week of Financial Peace University from Dave Ramsey. I am very excited to go through this course. I have read a few of his books, and heard most of his lessons already. What will be different is the support of my wife, as well as the accountability that comes with it. The people in the group are going to help out quite a bit with the accountability part. I am hoping that we can become debt free, and gain some money. I would love to be able to graduate from college, and be able to pay out of my own pocket for my Masters degree. I already owe enough as it is in student loans.

I am beginning to go through the entire Bible in a year tomorrow. I have been skipping around quite a bit throughout scripture. I am going to read part of the OT and part of the NT each day. I think it will be a great experience. To often I miss so much by skipping around scripture. Quite a few of my professors here at school suggest preaching expositionally instead of topically. I am starting to understand why. Topical sermons have their place, but it seems that expositional preaching is the way that makes more sense to me. For instance: If I were to preach through the book of Romans, I would cover an array of topics from gay marriage to predestination. It is the way that the scriptures were written.

God has been setting me on fire lately. He has renewed a fire within my soul. I am hungry for His word. It is a great place to be in.

Giving our best

The general theme from the book of Malachi is to be sure and give our best to the Father. Have I been giving my best? Not only to God, but in general. I am a serious procrastinator! I wait until the last available time to get things done. This usually means that things are done at a level that is less then what I am fully capable of. Have I been giving my best in my marriage?

End of the semester

The semester is finally coming to a close. I have one more full week of classes, and then finals. I only have one more paper to write. Praise the Lord!! This semester has seemed very long. Looking back on this semester, things have gone very well for Wendi and I. We finally found a Church that we can call home. We have begun to really get sown into the fabric at FOG. We have made some really great friends there over this last semester. This past semester i have also gained a great love for the Minor Prophets throughout Scripture. One reason being that they were minor, which means shorter books. It was nice to be able to sit down and read the entire book in one sitting. I didn't find myself searching for the end of the book and counting how many pages I had left.

One thing that I have learned from this Prophets is that no matter the circumstances, we are to preach the Word. In many of the books the Prophets come against quite a bit of opposition, but they are still diligent in proclaiming what God has placed upon their hearts. This was a gut-check for me. Am I that diligent? Has God placed something on my heart, and I am failing to preach it? Has God placed prophets around me, and I am failing to heed their words? I have also learned that no matter how many times Israel or Judah messes up, God is still there telling them to repent, and come back to him. No other book portrayed this better to me than Hosea. What I got out of that book is that I am a prostitute. Gomer and I are very similar. I have not fully devoted myself to the covenant I have with God, just as she was not devoted to the covenant with Hosea. But what does Hosea do? He pays a literal price for he, and takes her back. Just as God paid the price of His Son for me. Wow. We are so unworthy...

As this semester ends I am only 24 hours from graduating. This leaves some questions for me of where to continue my education. I would love some prayer in this situation. My two current options are to stay at MBTS and earn an M.Div. or travel down to Dallas, TX to DTS (dts.edu) and my TH.M. Both schools have their pros and cons. If I were single it would be an easier decision, but since I am married this decision not only effects me, but also Wendi. We are also planning on have children in the next few years, so this decision will effect them as well. I am waiting for God to give me a clear sign of where He is calling me. I feel like Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-QExE_gcm4
Have I just missed the signs?

I am an official blogger

I finally decided to join the masses and create my own Blog. I had some trouble coming up with a name for this blog. I decided that this blog should be an overflow of what is written on the tablet of my heart. In Luke 6:45 it says,

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

I am wanting this blog to be a place where I am able to relay some of my thoughts, emotions, and feelings of the happenings around me. I am wanting to keep this blog going as long as people continue to read it, so any comments are much appreciated. I will also be the first person to mention that I don't have everything figured out, so feel free to correct, instruct, and encourage. Don't forget to Bookmark this page or add it to your favorites. And it begins...