[OiBoyz]

Isa 61:10

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
NKJV

[OiBoyz]

Have I mentioned how much I love Friday night Worship and Bible Study? I'm sure I have. We had a really powerful time of prayer before the main group came in. We play music while we're praying and fellowshipping in the hour before the group actually starts. Tonight I brought my new album with me. It's kind of blue grassy. But "Andy" wasn't diggin' it. So later during worship time it came to me to ask "Andy" to provide the music next week. I told him I could deal with anything he brought in as long as it glorified Jesus. He was surprised I asked him, but he's going to bring in something. Should be good.

I had a really interesting talk with one of the guys tonight, that actually started last night after the movie. The last two movies I've shown have been about Fatherhood, and relationships between fathers and sons. This guy ("Gary") was moved to tears by it. He told me how he is just torn up by not being able to be there for his sons. He's shared a bit of his history with me, and though he's still married, they are estranged.

I thought about him a lot today as I was going about my day, and when I got back out there, I was able to share with him a little of what was on my heart. To make it short, my father left when I was very young, around 6 or so. I never saw him again. His abandonment, more than his absence, is what hurt me the most. I have scars that I'll probably always carry thanks to him. So I was telling "Gary" that even though he can't be there physically, he can be there for them in other important ways and not to underestimate that stuff.

[bravesfan007]

I suppose since you did me the honor of posting in my blog I should return the favor.

Post.

[OiBoyz]

Originally Posted by bravesfan007

Post.

Thanks. You honor me.

[OiBoyz]

I had a wonderful, restful Sabbath. The hot weather broke, so it was clear, cool and sunny. Got to read some of the Word. Job. It's a tough read for me. Read some CS Lewis (Mere Christianity) and practiced my guitar enough that my fingers are sore. I wonder when that's going to be a thing of the past?

Oh, and got in a nice long nap.

[OiBoyz]

This conversation happened at work yesterday.

Me: (looking at a vase of nasty flowers that were wilting last week) Can we throw these away yet? They're dead.

Heather: They're not all dead. Look there's one left.

Me: Ok, they're only mostly dead. If they were all dead, all we could do is go through their pockets and look for loose change.

Heather and Jody: Blank looks.

Me: It's a movie quote.

Heather and Jody: Blank looks.

Me: Oh come on! What movie is it?

Heather and Jody: Blank looks.

Me: The Princess Bride!

Heather: I don't know that movie.

Jody: Oh, it's that old funny movie.

Me: Old? It's not old.

Jody: Yes it is.

Me: I don't think I can be friends with you people anymore.

[bravesfan007]

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

Thanks. You honor me.

You should feel blessed that I decided to visit your journal. It's a rare occasion that I will visit someone's that I've not already posted in.

[OiBoyz]

How do you post without actually visiting the blog?

[MtlMom]

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

This conversation happened at work yesterday.

Me: (looking at a vase of nasty flowers that were wilting last week) Can we throw these away yet? They're dead.

Heather: They're not all dead. Look there's one left.

Me: Ok, they're only mostly dead. If they were all dead, all we could do is go through their pockets and look for loose change.

Heather and Jody: Blank looks.

Me: It's a movie quote.

Heather and Jody: Blank looks.

Me: Oh come on! What movie is it?

Heather and Jody: Blank looks.

Me: The Princess Bride!

Heather: I don't know that movie.

Jody: Oh, it's that old funny movie.

Me: Old? It's not old.

Jody: Yes it is.

Me: I don't think I can be friends with you people anymore.

That's a very sad story. Anyone who can't quote Miracle Max is only living half a life.

[bravesfan007]

I'm just good like that.

In all seriousness though, I usually just post in people's that I have visited before. I decided to stop in here and then proceeded to make a post. Hence, the reason I've been posting. Otherwise, had I not ventured in, I may not have ever posted in. I'm sorry if this doesn't make an ounce of sense. I'm beat.

[OiBoyz]

Originally Posted by bravesfan007

I'm just good like that.

In all seriousness though, I usually just post in people's that I have visited before. I decided to stop in here and then proceeded to make a post. Hence, the reason I've been posting. Otherwise, had I not ventured in, I may not have ever posted in. I'm sorry if this doesn't make an ounce of sense. I'm beat.

I like you. You've got an interesting sense of humor.

[OiBoyz]

I was talking to the guys at prison on Friday night, and one of them mentioned in passing that he was on the waiting list for the non-denominational Sunday service.

Wait. What?? Waiting list? For church? What's that about?

Turns out... they're limited by the room size and so can only have 50 guys at a time. They need another service time. I asked them what was needed to make that happen? Someone to come supervise it.

So I'm pondering.... do I add another day to my time out there? I could easily go out Saturday nights. I could less easily, but still manage, to go out for Sunday morning. Either way, the guys would probably have to provide the teaching/preaching. If I was the only one willing to go out, I could supervise at least 25 by myself. Security gets a little ouchie if there are more inmates than that per one volunteer. Though I'm not worried, what Security wants, Security gets. Which is as it should be. But I digress...

The other thing I'm wondering is... should I really step in and do it? Or should I present the need to the Body in my town and let them step up - which they should already be doing but are not?

Here's my frustration: I live in a town that has a lot of churches. We're a small town of about 2,000. But there are probably 15 churches. If the Body was being obedient, we should be standing in line to go out there for ministry. But instead, there are about 11 religious service volunteers that go out there. And five of those are Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. Hey, they may be mislead, but at least they're going. Which is more than I can say for the other 12 churches.

I actually would love to do this, but I'm wondering if it isn't someone else's turn to step up? And we desperately need a hispanic ministry.

[bravesfan007]

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

I like you. You've got an interesting sense of humor.

I'm not sure whether or not to take that as a compliment or an insult. I'll take the former. I don't think I have an unusual sense of humor, but if you say so.


As to the thing with the prison, I would say present it to the local churches and see. It's always good to have more people involved, especially in something like that. If they are not open to the idea, then ask around and see if someone you know would be willing to help. Unless of course, you feel the sincere desire that you should do it.

[OiBoyz]

Unless of course, you feel the sincere desire that you should do it.

I don't know if I "should" as much as I'd like to. I really do enjoy the time I spend out there, so apart from rearranging my schedule and a little extra traveling, it's no hardship for me.

But, yeah... I'm leaning towards this is something the Body should be doing. These guys are the Macedonians saying "come over and help us." The Body should be responding. And not just the same six or so of us. But in truth, if they don't know the need, how can they respond? I've been there for almost four years, and I'm just now learning about it.

Acts 16:9-10
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia , concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

[OiBoyz]

Heh... I'm thinking of challenging my guys to do this.