[Singin4Him82]

Awesome stuff Stephen! Good to hear you're doing well in your new home!

[Singin4Him82]

O yeah Stephen one more thing.......

Gig'em Aggies & Go Sooners!!

That's the one and ONLY time you'll probably every see me mention both teams in one sentence. I mean after my Aggies beat the unholy cookies out of the Bears and those dagum Sooners humiliated....no, destroyed those Longhorns how could I not say the above .

[SCCdcTFreak]

Alright now -- let your team win their own battles -- you can rag me all you want when A&M ends their OWN losing streak to us. I'll even be nice and not say anything about Tech lighting you guys up -- although not to say we wouldn't have a hard time with them, 'cuz I don't really know WHO we can beat right now.

By the way, were you at the Dallas Stars game tonight? They showed a crowd reaction shot after Bill Guerin's goal late in the second period and showed someone that looked EXACTLY like you clapping her hands and looking up at the JumboTron. I was curious if that actually was you. If so, you were a star at the Stars game!

Well, that's all I've got to say right now (I had to come in and "play defense" for my Horns, 'cuz as we all know -- they aren't capable of it) -- I'll probably be on later to recap my week.

In Him,
† <>< Stephen

[Singin4Him82]

Originally Posted by SCCdcTFreak

Alright now -- let your team win their own battles -- you can rag me all you want when A&M ends their OWN losing streak to us. I'll even be nice and not say anything about Tech lighting you guys up -- although not to say we wouldn't have a hard time with them, 'cuz I don't really know WHO we can beat right now.

By the way, were you at the Dallas Stars game tonight? They showed a crowd reaction shot after Bill Guerin's goal late in the second period and showed someone that looked EXACTLY like you clapping her hands and looking up at the JumboTron. I was curious if that actually was you. If so, you were a star at the Stars game!

Well, that's all I've got to say right now (I had to come in and "play defense" for my Horns, 'cuz as we all know -- they aren't capable of it) -- I'll probably be on later to recap my week.

In Him,
† <>< Stephen

Yeah you gotta stay true to the team . Nope I wasn't at the Star's Game, I've been out at DBU all weekend for the Gospel Music Assosiation on campus thing they've held here. What have you been up to lately?

[SCCdcTFreak]

Back at the beginning of the year, life dealt me a very devastating blow, that at the time I thought would just plow me over. I found out that FamilyNet needed to cut my hours in half and the most hours they could only give me about 16 hours a week. I had a hard time handling that, just because I had just gotten my new car and I depend very heavily on my money I make outside the church. As a bi-vocational minister, I simply cannot live on what the church pays me alone. (I do not mean to complain about that, I planned my budget that way on purpose) It also hurt that I had come up to work only to get sent right back home because they could not give me the hours. (the drive takes me twenty minutes, so I felt I had wasted a lot of time) However, I had no idea what God had up His sleeve.

I immediately went to the computer and started job searching. Right around that time, I met this wonderful young woman at my church that also just happens to live in the same apartment complex I do, and only two buildings away from mine. I had only seen her a little at church, because she works overnight as a nurse and works Saturday nights a lot, so she usually catches up on her sleep on Sunday mornings in order to stay fresh to work again Sunday night. I have worked similar schedules to that before, so I totally sympathize with that.

The day we first really met and talked to each other, I had an interview that morning and thought for sure that I would take the job. Although, I later found out the job would require way to much of my time from me to stay an effective minister for the youth, so I had to decline the job. I hated to turn down a job offer, but I did not think too much about it and went on with life. During the next couple of weeks, I started seeing her quite frequently while out walking my dog, Baylee. We talked a good ten to fifteen minutes every time we saw each other, and I definitely wanted to know her more. After Blake, my room-mate and Terry, my pastor both kind of pushed and prodded me, I decided to ask her out the next time I saw her. I saw her again a few days later. I will never forget that day, because I actually asked her out while she had just woken up, wearing pj's, slippers, no makeup and hair that had not been done. I didn't care -- I thought it was cute. She acted shocked, however, that I had asked her out despite that.

We exchanged phone numbers and have talked a lot in the last week and a half, with many times where I called her, but she also likes to call me and see how my day is going. That turns out for me as something that really brightens my day, especially during difficult times of job searching and hearing nothing back from the 70-something places I have applied to by now.

We continue to talk and have been on two dates together. Our first, I saved up some money for to take her to a really nice place, because I felt she needed at least one day where I treat her like a princess. So, I took her to Olive Garden last Sunday after church, and we had a wonderful time. She then promptly had to go home to sleep because she had the wonderful privilege of the Sunday night shift. More phone calls and more getting to know each other filled the next couple of days, and on Wednesday night, I went the much cheaper route of paying for Taco Bell (yeah, I know, sweeping her off her feet, right? Well, it's one of her favorite fast food places) while she paid for a rental at Blockbuster. We just cuddled up on the couch and watched a movie -- and in my opinion, I enjoyed that date even more than taking her to Olive Garden, although both dates definitely have their own unique "specialness" in my heart.

I sat and thought just a while ago to myself, "what if I had taken that first job offer?" I for one, would not get to spend near as much time with the students as I do now. I probably would have gotten stressed out a lot more, too. And of course, I would have missed out on an easy opportunity to get to know someone that quickly grows in my heart every day. (We have no official title as a "couple" yet, but that could happen soon. I do not know yet -- we will see) I also received an offer for a job from a VERY good company yesterday, and I have accepted that job. From everyone I have talked to, this seems like an excellent opportunity for me.

I do not know God's overall plan for my life right now, but I love the work He has done in the last couple of weeks in my life. I have never considered myself good at saying goodbye, but I have to do that today. Today marks the final page in a chapter that took up three years of my life here at FamilyNet. God has blessed my time here. He has used some awesome and wonderful people for me here, but now comes the time that I have to let go and not look back wondering what could have happened. God has placed a new path in front of me. I anticipate great things for me on that path. What started out as a seemingly tough week for me, because I had heard nothing as far as the job front, turned into one of my most wonderful weeks I've ever lived. Thank you God, for allowing something that seemed so horrible into a new and beautiful set of opportunities.

In Him,
† <>< Stephen

[Jo Mo]

Hey Steve, I beleive God does have something for you. Let prayer be your connection, let the Holy Spirit be your guide. Let Jesus be your shepherd. And let God be your Father. Strive to know Him more. Look not to the left nor to the right, but look straight on. Let peace be your comfort. And let Joy be your strength. Remember to whose you belong. You have been bought with a price.

That was something the Lord placed in my heart to tell you. Life is full of decisions. But we must remember who it is that leads us during those times, as Proverbs 3:5 says so well. Trust the Lord in all your ways and acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. That was only part of it. Read it all when you get a chance. Especially verses 6 and 7. God bless you brother.

[SCCdcTFreak]

Oh, totally, man! I'm definitely not doubting that God is up to something, but thank you for the reminder, and for taking the time to read my blog. Please also just pray that Jenn and I would stay focused on God, 'cuz well, it's easy not to sometimes, and that no matter what, we glorify God in our relationship. That's my biggest prayer request.

Like I said -- thank you very much for the verses and the encouragement. You rock!

In Him,
† <>< Stephen

[Singin4Him82]

Hey Stephen! I'm so excited for you and how God is blessing you right now. You really deserve it! I think it's awesome how you're relying on him, continue to do that and he will continue to be so faithful to you. I'll keep you and your new relationship and job in my prayers! Have a great week!

[swim2112]

Hi friend... long time no talk.

How are you?

[Singin4Him82]

yeah, he doesn't come here anymore. Being a youth pastor will do that to ya, no time for anything haha .

[swim2112]

Well... I can still dream

[backupguitar]

hi. My Name is Emily!! Yeah Someone told me that if i want people to post in my blog then i need to start making friends so yeah here i am!

[Becky]

i'm asking people the question of the month

What are you doing to bring hope to someone this month?

[SCCdcTFreak]

. . . in two years and twelve days? A lot!!!

It's been quite the ride -- leading me from Youth Ministry, to being a full-fledged corporate man for a major corporation, to car sales, to retail, and back to television/radio . . . which is where it all really started for me. Yes, for anyone that has followed this dead blog, FamilyNet television is where I last left you guys. And yet, here I am again. They say history has a way of repeating itself. So how did this happen oh wise and mighty Steve, you ask? Well, let's look at the way back machine . . .

. . . dateline, 2004. Stephen finds himself in new surroundings. He's a business man, no time to talk . . . oh whoops, beejees moment there. So, he's working for a biggo' company and meets this wonderful young woman. (I know, you're thinking "here goes Stephen talking about his love life again," but this one is different.) We met in April '04 and by March 5, 2005 we became a happily married couple. Shortly thereafter, God tugged at me and made me realize He didn't make me to be a business man, a ladies man, no time . . . whoops almost did it again. He had a bigger and better plan in mind for me. God began to call me back to broadcasting that time, but I needed some schooling first if I wanted to pursue it any further. I've had a life-long dream to be on the radio, and when we were on our honeymoon, Heather (yeah, that's my wife's name) said she'd seen it before I even talked to her. We toured the studios at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs during the vacation. She said she could tell by the questions I asked and the way my eyes lit up that I needed to make a triumphant return to the broadcast world. That, and the fact that I could have a meaningful conversation with a brick wall . . .

So, God led us away from the giant company to a month without a job. Luckily -- no, not really, but by God's grace, I had a month's pay stocked away in my 401(k) so we lived off that during that time. I then got a job selling cars, which is a job I wish on NOBODY. It's not that I couldn't sell -- it's that I didn't want to -- the hours are terrible, and I missed my newlywed wife DEARLY during that time. But, God led me away from there once I started asking management of the possibility of re-arranging my schedule to fit school. Yeah, I don't advise that to a car salesman. They aren't very cool on that. Apparently furthering your education is the furthest thing from a car lot manager's mind. So, by God's grace, the state of Texas saw it as "undue termination" allowing me to receive unemployment while I searched for a new job. Two part-time jobs later, here I am, along with enrollment at the very fine American Broadcasting School.

So here I am. Oh, and not to mention that we found out we're expecting. Somewhere around August 26, I'm gonna be a daddy. Of course that scares the ever-loving snot out of me. It was one thing being responsible for myself . . . "oh, so that's how I tie my shoes . . . what? what do you mean these socks don't go together? balance my checkbook? Yeah, check this out -- on my pinkie -- how's that for balance?" And then not to mention getting married after having grown up with no sisters and three brothers. "Crying? What's that? And why are your eyes all wet all of a sudden?"

They say that the first year of marriage is the most difficult. I hope so, because if it gets much harder than this, I'm not sure what that would look like. Communication is the key. We try, but sometimes it's just not happening. Sometimes my wife is the one thinking meaningful conversation with the wall sounds good. I guess it goes back to my "hero" complex I wrote about 2 years ago-ish. Satan traps me with that mentality that I'm invincible and the greatest thing since sliced bread. And when I come in to save the day, I realize that's simply not the case. So then I'm hurt and she's hurt, because I went about things totally wrong. And my pride just simply gets hurt by it all. I guess that's my prayer, actually. That I would be a better listener and not just a hearer. I need to actually take inventory of the words Heather tells me and find out what her expectations are. As I've learned most of the time, she's just wanting to know I'm there and that I'm spiritually guiding this ship. (as long as God's the Captain of course) And then there's the dilemma of balancing having enough hours at work to keep the bank account happy and being at home with my wife enough to give her what she needs. That's the hardest part of it all.

I've been humbled, though. God has taught me that it's not me running this show, and the harder I try to take care of Heather and I, the worse I will do. It's simply not my job. Matthew 6:30-32 says "But if God so clothes the grass of the field which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!" Do not worry, then saying "what will we eat?" or "what will we drink?" or "what will we wear for clothing?" For the Gentiles eagerly seek these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. I'm reminded of the Brad Paisley song "The Best Thing That I Had Goin'." For those not familiar with it, the song tells the story of this guy looking back at his marriage and realizing he would have given up all of his business success just to go back and hold his wife, which it turns out is all she really wanted/needed. I'm learning that lesson now, and I'm just glad I'm not learning it too late. With my focus on God and with His awesome Grace, this is possible. I just need to give it over to Him and let Him worry about it.

Thanks for letting me rant,
† <>< Stephen

[SccHarpGirl]

Wow. Just Wow. It's so good to see you on here again!!

Congratulations on your marriage and upcoming bundle of joy! I'm so happy for you!

It's interesting how God works, eh? I will be praying for both you and your wife!

Take care,
Noelle