in da hood...

Back from Houston....I was there talking about next summer's camp. We're going to be going to Lake Tomahawk with a few other churches so I was meeting with a couple of them to get some things planned.

As I was heading back to the airport today to come back home I drove through my old hood. So many memories.....It has changed so much. I saw the house I lived in when I was in junior high and drove by my old friend's houses. Some of their families still live there. I stopped and talked to Mr. Briscoe. He was old when I was there, so I can't imagine how old he is now. He still sits on his porch with a guitar and accordion. That's where I found him today. We used to have some fun playing George Jones, some Haggard, and some Hank Williams. Along with cajun songs, and songs that, to this day, I think ol' man Briscoe made up as we went along. Good times...

Then on the flight home I sat by Allie. She is a freshman in college at St. Thomas University in Houston. We had a great conversation about how God speaks to us, her struggles to lead in very tough environment, the state of the church, and stuff like that. She was not even supposed to be on the flight and felt that God had reminded her of just how he does speak by putting her there instead of her planned flight. I was also thankful because it wasn't the elderly lady that fell asleep on my arm on the flight to Houston. My arm smelled like moth balls and old lady perfume for hours. Thanks for the company and conversation Allie.

Glad to be back and glad to have some vacation this week. Oh yeah.....HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS?!!! 1st place baby.......

I'm out..

rollin' dirty in the ATL....

Back in A-town.....

Flew into Atlanta today with Bob, Gerry, Ray, and Harp for the Northpoint Drive Conference. Bob and I are just hangin' out. The other guys went to eat, but I wasn't hungry. No, that is not a misprint and I am not sick....I'm just not hungry. Reason being.....a return trip to Daddy D'z Barbeque Joynt. Ribs, red beans and rice, fried okra, and cornbread. Not to mention their very unique appetizer, Que Wraps (barbequed pork, wrapped and deep fried).

Toured the CNN center this afternoon. Very cool. Saw a live newscast being sent right to your living room. No pictures allowed though....

Conference starts tonight....updates later. Here's a picture of me and Susanna, aka "the mean island woman" and Daddy D'z best waitress and inside CNN.

I'm out....

pics...

here are some pics from the fall retreat....

I'm out...

lo siento

That's I'm sorry for those of you who don't speak the language of our neighbors to the south. I was called out by a faithful reader for not including news of our incredible fall retreat and halloween party this past weekend.

We took our sr. high to Mt. Lebanon Baptist Camp Friday and Saturday. It was great. We had some good hang time and really concentrated on building relationships. Carlos Montoya was our retreat pastor and did a great job of putting our various relationships into perspective. He's right.....people have to trust you before they trust your God. Good stuff. Movie night Friday night was fun....hangin' out, watchin' "Nacho Libre." Es fantastic!

Sunday night was our visit to the Dallas Scaregrounds. Fun stuff. 57 kids, 3 haunted houses, various creatures and monsters roaming around outside and a big dance circle. Entertainment definitely worth the $12 ticket.

Well....I left my laptop at work tonight so that I wouldn't be tempted to work at home. I need to sleep. I say that because I have some good pictures of the retreat that I will post tomorrow.

Tonight was our 1st Wednesday communion service. I emceed the night while Pastors Bob and Ray answered various questions pertaining to God's will in our lives. It was great. Afterward I met with a few of the students that I'm getting the chance to mentor and we had some good discussion. They are some awesome kids! I love 'em.

Well.....I'm taking tomorrow off from working out in the morning. I'm up to 24 lbs. lost...feeling good. I'm out........

Falling Back...

Things are slowing down finally. The Cryin' Eagles finished up 1-7. There was another 1-7 team, and one 0-8 team, so not a complete loss. I must say....having Tuesday and Thursday nights back will be nice, not to mention Saturdays.

Big Cowboys win last night over the Panthers. Still not convinced that Romo is the best man for the job, but he did well last night. How 'bout them Cowboys?!

Our GPS series is going well. Keith and Scott are deep in Africa right now and from what we've heard...it's pretty awesome! I can't wait to hear and see the work being accomplished there and how Springcreek can have a global impact on the kingdom of God. Exciting stuff!

I love it when we fall back an hour..........i think i'm going to set my clock back again tonight. I'm out....

glad to be back...

Catalyst was pretty stinkin' awesome! Lots of great stuff on what it looks like to "be" the church in our community. I'm pretty pumped about the stuff I heard. I picked up a few books that I'm actually pretty excited about reading. They had a real good lineup of speakers. Leaders from many different cultures, backgrounds, etc....I was very impressed and would love to make this trip again next year.

I am glad to be home though...........there's just something about your own shower, bed, couch and everything when you've been gone for a little bit.

The Eagles' 1 game winning streak came to an end tonight at the hands of the Bison....19-0. Ugly! It was as if we had a team of swinging doors on the offensive line.

I'll upload some pictures from Atlanta tomorrow..........Cowboys v. Eagles tomorrow...I hate the Eagles (Philadelphia that is..). I'm out...

"A-Town"

Just hangin' out in Atlanta for a few days. We're at the Catalyst Conference. It's going great. Heard some great stuff today from Mike Foster, Chris Seay, and Rick McKinley on what doing ministry, and showing the love Christ should look like in today's churches. McKinley had some great stuff to say about how to "be the church" as opposed to "building the church." It was awesome. I'm a big fan of Chris Seay, so it's always good to hangout with him. We've worked together several times over the years at various conferences and stuff, and he always has good stuff to say.

Jay and I went into downtown Atlanta tonight for dinner. We walked around Olympic Park, CNN Center, The Georgia Dome, Philips Arena, etc... It was very cool. My son was pumped that I was actually at the home of Cartoon Network and Boomerang.

We topped the night off by finding the best barbeque place I have ever been in my life. It was just a little shack on Martin Luther King Blvd. in Atlanta. Daddy D'z Barbeque Joint. Unbelievable pork ribs, red beans and rice, cornbread. Our waitress, Suzanne, was awesome! She sat down and talked with us and just hungout.

It kind of made me think about what the church would look like if we just slowed down our lives and schedules to sit down with people and just hangout and form relationships. It could be that we keep ourselves so busy that we miss out on some real opportunities to reach people and form some great relationships that lead to God moments. Just being the church instead of concentrating on building the church.

All that from a great waitress in a little shack of a barbeque place in Atlanta. I'm coming back to Atlanta soon and I'll be heading back to Daddy D'z......

More from the ATL tomorrow.....peace out, A-town down. I'm out...

V is for Victory

Well.....the nation's longest scoreless, pee-wee football streak is over. As is the 4 game losing streak of the mighty Garland Eagles. We are in the win column with a dominant 14-6 victory over the Falcons. There was no whining and crying in the Eagle camp Saturday........nothing but the sweet sound of victory. How 'bout them Eagles?!!

Huge Cowboys win today............45-14. It has been a long time since the 'boys have put those kind of numbers on somebody.

What a great weekend. I gave the kids permission to celebrate until tomorrow.......then it's back to the grind of preparing for next week's battle against the might Bison. I'm going to watch some game film with my son..............okay so we're watching Spongebob, but it's back to work tomorrow. We have a win streak to protect.

I'm out.....

under the skin.....

There are some things that just bug me. You know.......why the Taco Bell by my house cannot get a drive thru order correct...that bugs me. Parents that can't get their kid to practice, but then want to know why I don't play them the whole game......bugs me. But I think the one thing that bugs me most is whining. Granted....kids are going to whine and that's is somewhat acceptable, but adult whining is the worst.

This morning I was reading through some blogs that I occasionally follow and I came across one that just really has a tendency to irk me sometimes. The self-professed "church planter" blogger continually whines about "hypocrisy in church leadership," sermons and series being preached at other churches, dismissal of staff members at other churches, etc......Comparing the ministry of his church and others he has emulated to what he deems to be failing, or not doing things the "right way."

Most of the time the opinions stated on this blog come across as the bitter, whinings of a small individual with an extreme case of tunnel vision and "me"itis.

I have a tendency sometimes.....okay a lot.....to open my mouth for no other reason but to switch feet, but I do try to have facts to substantiate what I am saying. Most of the time I try to keep the writings on this blog light, funny, somewhat encouraging, sometimes reflective...but I try to not run down the ministry someone else is doing.

Different churches approach things in different ways for many different reasons. Staff members change for many reasons. Philosophies are adjusted and teams work together for the good of the church. I'm not seminary educated (some would say I should be thankful for that), but I think there are some things that I can see without that clouding my vision.

I am a church plant. I was planted here to do what God called me to do in the ways that he provides and directs. As churches grow, changes of many kinds occur. But I believe that if you're not changing, you're falling behind. I would never preach that a church should throw biblical teaching to the wind for the sake of not offending, nor would I defend a friend, belittle former employers, cut other pastors, or do anything that may damage ministry being done somewhere that I am not. There is a difference in holding someone accountable for wrong doings, and calling someone out because their way of doing ministry does not match up to yours or your opinion of how things should be done.

I am so happy to be a part of this team at Springcreek. Sure we have disagreements or whatever, but at the end of the day we're honestly searching for what God wants done in the life of his people in our little corner of ministry. Work where God has placed you to reach the people he has put you in contact with, and be thankful that there are others reaching those you cannot.............

I'm out...

New Things....

New restaurant.......J's Catfish....cajun catfish and huge shrimp. done right! plus the hushpuppies and fries. Yes!

Also.....Firewheel Mall added a dine-in Sonic complete with HDTV big screen with Sportcenter. On top of that...it's right next door to the Nestle's Toll-House place. WHAT?!! I hate malls, but this one is on it's way up. I may even go out there at Christmas.................maybe

New cd review......Chris Tomlin's "See The Morning." It's great! I've been a fan of Tomlin's for a long time. The songs are hooky, with simple, but great melodies. I just feel good after I listen to his stuff. This one is definitely worth the money. Get it.

New T.V. season......The Office is sheer GREATNESS! Hilarious. Grey's Anatomy....more greatness.

I love football..........just thought I'd throw that in. The Eagles, and yes I left out "cryin'" on purpose, had the best two practices we've had all year. I'm feeling real good about this weekend, and I can't even be there. High school game tomorrow night, college gameday saturday morning, and the Cowboys v. Titans Sunday.......how 'bout them Cowboys?!! T.O. is not even worth mentioning.

I'm out......

A step ahead...

I love this weather. It's just great outside.

The Cryin' Eagles are now 0-4. It's been a tough season so far, but the boys are learning and getting better. I'm not gonna lie though.....it's tough to take a beating every week. I just keep telling myself.....they're 9. It's fun though.....they crack me up.

The ID series is off to a great start. We're working through the connection group material with our students and it started off great last night. There are a lot of things about identity that teenagers deal with, but one of the things that surprises me is the fact that many of them are oblivious to the other students around them. As we looked at the times we have simply tried to "survive," the times we were "striving," and the times we "thrived," many of our students obviously didn't have a lot to draw from over their brief 15 or so years. However, what surprised me was how many of them couldn't recognize the kids around them that are surviving and striving every day just to make it.

Much of Christ's ministry was spent reaching out to those who were striving to live, and/or just trying to survive. He came to "give life to it's fullest." Look for those around you that don't know what that looks like or how to get it. You only have to be one step ahead of someone to lead them..............look for those who are one step behind you. I'm out.....

"What Car Does He Drive?"

Every once in a while I find myself eating lunch by myself at some fast food place. Tuesday was one of those days. I was at Wendy's......

When I'm by myself at one of these places, I play a little game while I eat my lunch. I like to call it "What Car Does He/She Drive?" Make sure you sit by a window to play. The rules are simple:

1. When someone gets up to leave, you must guess which car they are in before they walk out
of the door.
2. The contestants must already be in the restaurant before you get there. You cannot use
people that pull up while you're sitting there.

I had a great game Tuesday. I batted .700! Yes 7 out of 10 I guessed correctly. .300 is about average, but .700 is unheard of in this growing sport. I had some guesses that were just unbelievable. There was the couple that came in separate cars and I got both of them. There was the young lady that drove a truck. They are sometimes easy to spot, but can fool you if you're not careful. And there was the teenager driving his mom's mini-van. Got that one too.

The three I missed were tough.
1. an older lady (60's).........driving a bug
2. a painter that was not in the work truck that was parked outside of my window, but in a
Kia Sportage
3. and the toughest one of all was the guy I thought was a pastor (had a bible reference book
and his bible with him at the table). I matched him with the rather large car next to my
truck that had the "My boss is a Jewish carpenter" bumper sticker and the "I'm watching
you......GOD" sticker on the other side. He was in the work truck........and another teenager
was in the big car.

Crazy.....but those things happen when you're playing "What Car Does He/She Drive?" Try it out......

I'm going to lunch.......I'm playing doubles today. I'm out....

'86 Kicks......

The class of 1986 20-year reunion......yes, 20 years since high school graduation. The finest group of graduates that Ross S. Sterling High School of Baytown, TX has ever seen are creeping up on 40 years old and we got together last weekend to celebrate oldness.

It was fun. I had not seen most of those people at all over the last 20 years, and it was fun seeing the changes people had gone through........good and bad. Our name tags had our senior picture on it so we would recognize those that had changed the most. There are several that I live within 20 minutes of right now and did not even know it. I'm looking forward to the 25th.

I am so excited about our student ministry. We are seeing new kids every week. Our students are reaching out to their friends and God is proving his faithfulness as they learn to serve and minister to those they come in contact with daily. AWESOME!

Garland Pee-Wee Eagle update:

This week we snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory and lost 6-0 to the Owlets. We looked so much better than last week though........there is hope. If I can just get some of them to stop crying.

I am so pumped about football season. I love high school football and while I was at my reunion I went to a game at Baytown's Stallworth Stadium (The House that Doug built). I had not been in that stadium since I graduated, so that was kind of cool. College ball on Saturdays and all kinds of pro action Sunday.

Of course the Cowboys broke my heart as they too snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. But it is a long season. Tonight may be one of the greatest nights in recent memory..........2 Monday Night Football games. Hold on..........I had to wipe the tears out of my eyes so I could finish this.

Here's a few pics of the 4th Grade Eagles in action.....kind of.....

movin' and groovin'...

so much in so little time. it is crazy around this house. kelly and i said hi to each other yesterday as we passed each other in the hallway. she's doin' good she said.

ashli is busy with drill team.....brooke with cheerleading....and beaux and i with pee wee football.

yes...the pee wee Garland Eagles got off to a rough start saturday afternoon. we got on the wrong end of a 21-0 battle. two punt returns for touchdowns and we were done. we had a good time though...........i hate to lose.

tomorrow morning is the big garland labor day parade. labor day and we have to be in downtown garland at 7:30 a.m. WHAT?

man.......bob did a great job with a tough topic today. the second installment of our "dirty little secrets" series was on abortion and bob did a great job with it. great biblical perspective on dealing with the pain and shame of abortion.

so this coming weekend is my 20th high school reunion. wow....i'm looking foward to seeing some old friends and catching up over some dinner and Lionel Richie songs.

i'm tired and going to bed...........i've got to make a couple of posts this week to make up for the two week hiatus. i'm out.......

It's on.....

School is in session.....that phrase really has a double meaning in my house today.

First and foremost......school started back up for the Schmidt kids today. One in elementary, one in jr. high, and one in high school. CRAZY!! Not to mention the fact that my wife, who is a teacher, went back today too.

Then, they come home with the "additional supplies needed" lists for each teacher. In my 15 years of teaching I never once asked my students to buy red pens, kleenex, hand sanitizer, or any other item that I felt I should probably buy myself. If every kid actually buys and brings that stuff to class, that teacher should have a supply for the next 4 years. I don't understand. For one thing, I know the district supplies copy paper, so why do I need to send a ream of paper. If every student brings one ream, that teacher will have apprx. 120 reams of paper. WHAT? I'm sorry....I just don't get it. Well, that's my soap box right now.

The second meaning of "it's on........"

Our 4th grade Garland Eagles football juggernaut had their first scrimmage tonight. IT IS ON! sort of.........I'm not sure how on, but it was kind of on. We scrimmaged the Sharks and they were huge. It took about one series before we had kids looking for reasons to pull themselves out of the game. We had more phantom injuries than 10,000 dead pirates. I have no idea what that means, but I liked it when Bob said it, so I've been trying to work it in ever since. One kid looks at me 5 plays....5 PLAYS.....into the scrimmage, with tears streaming down his face and said "ty woot huts tus laloose shafight." After taking his mouthpiece out for him, albeit tears still streaming down his face, I clearly understood him to say "my foot hurts cuz my shoe's too tight." When using the Message translation of the football bible that means....that huge kid on the other team just killed me and I need to go sit down now. I've never seen more 10 year old boy crying in all my life. Pray for me.

I'm kiddin'....sort of. It was a lot of fun. We have a practice tomorrow night. I told them to wear shorts, shoulder pads, and helmets and it totally blew their mind. For the life of them, they couldn't figure out why they were not going to wear their pants tomorrow night. I think they think I'm going to make them play without pads in their pants as some sort of punishment. They don't know it's just to give them a little break and work out some of the soreness that you get when "laloose shafight." Sometimes you just have to say bless their hearts.

Well...bedtime. If I'm gonna ride this pee wee train to the Turkey Bowl, coach needs his rest. 2nd day of school tomorrow which means I'll have to go out tomorrow night and get a box of plastic forks and a family size Mac-n-Cheese dinner for my daughter's Geography teacher.

I'm out...........

Getting into a routine....

Well...summer is winding down and things are beginning to head back to normal. There's been quite a few things going on the last week or so....

We took a group of sr. high students to New Braunfels last Wednesday and Thursday. Two days of the Schlitterbahn, floating the Comal River, and eating some awesome barbeque. Since I was in jr. high The Gristmill has been my favorite New Braunfels restaurant. Well...Rudy's Country Store and Barbeque may have made it's way to the top of the list. We also listened to a really good singer/songwriter while we were there.....Dan McCoy. There's nothing like jumping into the Comal River at about 8 in the morning to wake you up and start your day. Stinkin' cold water!

This weekend was the second week of our "Drive" series at church. We found some great new additions to the worship team that joined us this week. James and Angela Dildine did a great job singing this weekend and I am real excited about their involvement in our worship team.

Yesterday, Kelly and I went to see Talledega Nights with our friends Clay and Raelyn. It was our second time to see it, but they had not seen it yet......so we went. So funny! I caught some things that I missed the first time around. There was a small problem. Since we went after church I still had my NASCAR shirt on that we've been wearing as part of the "Drive" series. I was walking across the parking lot with Clay when I realized that I was going to Talledega Nights wearing a NASCAR shirt. I called Kelly since she had to take the kids home first and then meet us at the movie. Fortunately I caught her and she brought me a t-shirt. I did have to wear the NASCAR shirt into the theatre and stand in the concession line wearing a Kevin Harvick 29 shirt. Embarrassing.

The pee-wee Garland Eagles football juggernaut is prepared to blast off. We have our first scrimmage this weekend. Practice tonight. So the Cowboys started the pre-season off the right way. 13-3 over the Seahawks.....but it is pre-season. Madden '07 comes out next week. Good stuff....

Here are some pics from New Braufels........Abracadabra Homes.....

catchin' up....

Well, it was 18 years ago yesterday that Kelly and I were married. It's hard to believe that we've been together for 19 years (dating and marriage). We were so poor in college and then finding out she was pregnant right before college graduation.........man. I've been with her for half of my life........and I can truly say that she's made it the best half.

Now....there were some other cool things that happened this weekend.

1. Wendy's introduced vanilla Frosty's. YES! Chick-fil-A shakes and vanilla Frosty's all in the
same month......hold on and let me go wipe the tears of my cheeks.

2. Pee-wee football has begun and I am the head coach of the Garland Eagles 4th grade
juggernaut. First day of pads tomorrow.........

3. We went over to some friends house tonight. Julie makes awesome meatball sandwiches,
and the two I had were great.

4. Talledega Nights is the funniest movie I've seen in a while. If you ain't first, you're last.

5. 6 days until the Cowboys pre-season opener....how 'bout them Cowboys?!

Here are some pics from the mission trip a couple of weeks ago.....I'm out

It's About Time....

I know....it's about stinkin' time I post something. Bob's threatening to delink me from his blog, both people that read this are getting on to me, it's crazy. It would take forever to catch you up on everything, so I'll try to hit the highlights.

Surely the highlight of the last week was the work we did at Mission Arlington last week. We took 25 high school students to Mission Arlington for 3 days. Lamar Baptist Church was nice enough to allow us to stay in their youth room and use their annex house while we were there. It was a great trip in so many ways. They had us doing work at several of their apartment sights for most of the week. We also had the opportunity to help a young, single mom whose house had burned down get things cleaned up, and salvage whatever she could from the fire.

The big news from home that week was my two daughters finding out that Lance Bass, of NSTINK fame, announced his gayness. They were shocked! They called me with the news. I was not shocked. I couldn't believe there was actually a news conference to give us that news. My buddy Scott likened it to a news conference to announce that he had been breathing oxygen for the last 35 years. Or let's have a news conference that every once in while, I have to eat food.

This weekend Springcreek had Sarah Kelly as a guest worship leader. It was a good weekend. She led a worship seminar on Saturday night after our service which went well also. We had some people that attended that are going to be great additions to our worship team at SCC.

After the seminar I had to hustle over to Smirnoff Ampitheatre for a night with Journey and Def Leppard. I missed Journey, but I just saw them in November at Nokia. My wife and kids were out there and said that it was good, but not as good as the show in November. I got there as they were setting up Def Leppard's stage, so I caught that whole set. I have never seen a crowd that big at that venue. Completely sold out. I haven't seen Def Leppard since I was 14 years old. It was great! My kids loved it.

Well.....lots of stuff to do. I'm preaching our Wednesday night service this week and doing the music.....perhaps a little awkward, but I've had to do it before. Worship team auditions tonight and tomorrow night. My son's first football practice tomorrow. And, it's our 18th anniversary this Saturday.

This blog sight is being stupid right now and won't let me upload pics so I'll try to post some mission trip pics later.....I'm out....

A living sacrifice...

Well...back home. The week at Howard Payne with FBC Richardson's kids was great. But it is nice to be back home and in my own bed.

You know....I was thinking on a verse today. Romans 12:1 speaks about offering our bodies as a living sacrifice as our spiritual act of worship. You know....when we do that, everything else seems to fall right into place.

I look at the times I try to control things and the times I allow God to control....and there is a world of difference in the way things go down.

Worship is truly setting our minds attention and our heart's affection on God for who he is and what he has done. When we make that a daily practice.......what peace and order.

I'm out....

A week at HPU....

I know...it's been a week. A very busy one at that, so forgive me.

I'm at Howard Payne University right now leading worship for a youth camp. The first night was great. I'll have some pics up tomorrow. I do need to talk to their youth pastor though. Their rally each morning is at 8:30. WHAT? 8:30? We have to play songs at 8:30? Camp rallies should never start before 10:00. Oh well.....

I talked to Beaux tonight. He asked when he could have a brother. He's sick of sisters. Too bad it's not gonna happen for him.

I don't know why I'm sitting here when we play at 8:30 tomorrow morning. I'll be back tomorrow but for now....I'm out....