So...My dad is a Doctor...

These past few years, about 6, my dad has been working on finishing his Doctorate from Southern Seminary. He finally fnished everything this semester and finished his paper, project, and examinations. So him, my mom, and I traveled up to Louisville, KY for the weekend to take part in the festivities of graduation! My aunt, uncle, cousin, and momaw made the journey as well. So it made for a great time of reunion and celebration for the Smith family, usually trouble! We got to see a little of Louisville and the beautiful history of the city! There were so many places that had been restored and rebuilt to original looks and it was amazing! The town was a very urban area with nice places to eat and chill and read, we just didn't have the time to actually enjoy them. We had to go to a lot of receptions and congratulatory gatherings for all the seminary grads, regardless it was still lots of fun to hang with the fam. Hopefully this Christmas will have many more good times and laugh filled evenings!

Is The End In Sight

Is the end in sight? I find myself asking that, among many other things, here lately. My mind wanders between the events of here and now to times of the past and the possibilities of the future. So things bring a smile while others bring forth a never ending stream of tears. Possibilities of the future seem all to overwhelming at times. Some days my soul feels like a vessel in the vast ocean waters with no coordinates or stars for navigation. I simply float along with whatever direction the waves desire to take me. So are gentle and refreshing and others are giant and overpowering, each with thier own characteristics and purpose.

I am not at all where I thought I would be 3 months ago. After losing an important part of my life things have been different. Day after day I wake only by the Grace of God and by taking joy in the God of my Salvation. If it were not for the sovereignty of God the waves would be without purpose or reason. By God seeking Himself and by humbly submitting to that sovereignty each toss and turn offers a glimpse and the Glory of God.

The Mountain Top Experience has been an amazing blessing to take part in and experience. To sit in a great cloud of witnesses of such people as Linda, Rita, Shine, and Linda, and John has brought me to the point of realization that I am called to be a washer of feet.

While mentoring at Anna K. Davies Elementary my mind has been opened to the vast amounts of suffering among young children in our world. Children live without the warmth of heat and the comfort of food and water. During the cold bite of winter some children walk to school without a jacket or coat. These are the children that are the victims of drug abuse, violence, a culture that offers no alternatives, and an apathetic generation of Jesus admirers. The little boy I meet with feels as if he is alone in his world and struggles to experience the love from God.

The death of a friend never seems to get easier. Miss Alford passed away last week. I did not know because I was sick last week and missed visiting her. Her roommate talked with me for a little while and we prayed and I left the room. I had only spoken with Miss Alford a few times and each time her smile touched my spirit. Her laughter pierced the toughest of skin. My heart was broken at the hearing of her passing. But I am thankful for our short time together and pray that her spirit was as encouraged as mine during our conversations.

God is good. The Father always has His wings open wide. His words of instruction and rebuke are comforting. Jesus the Christ is the manifestation of the person of God to me. He is a true High Priest that allows for communion with God. I pray that I may be counted as a follower and disciple of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is empowering, comforting, convicting. Each day the leading of the Spirit is my prayer and desire. To experience the power of the Holy Spirit and sense the comfort provided is indeed a blessing from God. God is great.

Dangerous Roads

I have been cycling for awhile and I seem to be enjoying it. There is a special sense of peace when riding down roads with mountains and valleys and the rest of God's creation. In Floyd county there are some amazing roads that wind through some steep mountains and they provide an excellent view of creation. The same is true in Bartow county, though not as many mountains at all. I absolutely love a long climb with a breathtaking view at the top. Then the descent is also an adrenaline rush, sometimes I can get up to around 50mph. Very fast and fun. But these roads are dangerous.

This summer I was hit by a driver in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. Thankfully there were no serious injuries, just bruises and a little emotional trauma. I got back on the bike the next week and rode like nothing happened, I was still a little sore though.

Thankfully I have had no accidents like this summer, I really haven't had any at all. But I have had a lot of close calls. So drivers simply forget or don't look when they turn or come around a curve. I have had to hit the brakes a few times to avoid breaking my face on the side of a car. There are also plenty of idiots that seem to make it their goal to get as close as possible and lay on the horn. I rode today and had a few of those on the same road! It is very dangerous and ticks me off unbelievably. Even when there is room in another lane, some people just do not move. I usually offer them some fine Christian words and a wave and get over it. Remember, grace, for those that might judge.

But people need to slow down and simply watch what is around them. I did not realize the beauty surrounding me until I started walking and biking to places. People can experience the same if only they would slow down. So world, slow down please.

Intensity in Ten Cities

I'm not the one that you want, I'll only let you down.
And I'm pretty sure that you've caught on.
And you can say that 'Oh, I'm just feeling sorry for myself.'

I think it's every time I walk into a room
a silence so sudden that I seem to hear it
Smiles turn to frowns
Contact saying that you are the rain on their parade.

And how long could you hang on to a word?
Tell me, how long could you hang on to a word?

I'm not the one that you want, I'll only let you down.
And I'm pretty sure that you've caught on.
And you can say that 'Oh, I'm just feeling sorry for myself'

Or maybe it's all eyes on him
in love with ego and intention
the eyes that are just begging me for more.
This is gone and I can see it
your head is full of words,
full of words that don't mean anything.

And how long could you hang on to a word?
Tell me, how long could you hang on to a word?

I'm not the one that you want, I'll always let you down.
And I'm pretty sure that you've caught on.
And you can say that 'Oh, I'm just feeling sorry for myself'

I'm not the one that you want, I'll always let you down.
And I'm pretty sure that you've caught on.
And you can say that 'Oh, I'm just feeling sorry for myself'

If that's how you feel, then what's there to do?
I'll keep this feeling in my heart
but when you look in my eyes, you will know the truth.

Pretty much this is how my heart feels at the moment. It's tough sure, but it's just an accurate description of what I am incapable of expressing. I read a decent article dealing with loneliness today. It said that many many people experience loneliness. The thing is that they do not tell anyone about it. So, I'm telling people how I feel. If you find that you feel the same way then you are certainly not alone in your struggle. Crazy how people write exactly how you feel sometimes. Many thanks to Chiodos for their wonderful gift of writing. Enjoy.

Shot to The Soul

So, I've been taking part of a bible study here at Shorter these past few weeks. It's called T-Cell. Short for Transformation Cell. Also, T-Cells are in our body and they fight diseases and other things that destroy our bodies. It's a really cool biology/spiritual thing that worked out.

Anyway, tonight we met for 2 hours and only covered 4 verses. Not much progress. But it was some Holy Spirit led studying of the Word. It was, as the title suggests, a shot to the soul. We began looking at the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 tonight. And it cut deep, very deep. I will be chewing on everything that was said for a good while. But it was some good stuff. So I challenge you all, whoever you may be, to go and read the beginning of Matt. 5. Allow the Spirit to lead you and teach you and meditate on the words of Jesus. Let me know what happens. Seriously.

Peace.

Abingdon, VA

This weekend I will be spending the weekend in Abingdon, Virginia. The Cross team is up here and we are spending the weekend hanging out and training. It's been a lot of fun so far. The drive up was pretty bad because it was so stinking hot in the van. But we are able to run on one of the most beautiful trails in the Southeast. It's called the Creeper Trail and it used to be a railroad track that ran across the state and now it's a 33 mile cinder track across the southern part of the state. It is absolutely beautiful with trees and fields and all kinds of wildlife. Tonight we had some amazing Bar-B-Q chicken and everything that should go with it. We as seniors got together and got the food and cooked it all together and then got some "gifts" for the rest of the team. It's been a lot of fun just spending time with my teammates away from school and people and just in nature, it's almost like a short camp of sorts. We've got a workout in the morning that going to be great and then we're just hanging out for the rest of the day and spending time with each other. And then we will be heading back to Rome and I will spend the rest of the weekend reading and studying...lots of fun.

North Avenue Community

The Spirit of God is moving in the city of Rome, Ga. Many things are happening that are bringing the Kingdom of God down to earth just as Jesus did. Things are by no means perfect and there is no secret or revelation specifically here. Just the Word of God and a community of FOLLOWERS of Jesus. That's all. There is an amazing woman of God, a prophetess, working in South Rome. Her ministry is called the Mountain Top Experience. I have never before experienced the Spirit of God at work within a persons life. Miss Linda is truly a woman of God that is following wherever Jesus leads her. Through her the community of South Rome is being transformed by the power of God. It is a blessing to be able to take part in God's work in South Rome.

A few of my friends are also working in North Rome, hence the title. They have started a community house that is committed to enacting the Kingdom of God as best they can. Lives are lived simply and the people of North Rome are loved as Jesus would love them. I believe that it is the manifestation of the Church that was mentioned in Acts. They are the Body and the Bride of Christ. A beautiful picture is what it is. They have started a blog to allow those that are not here to take part in their ministry. So I put the link on my page so go check it out and see what God is doing. Hopefully He will speak to each and everyone of us through His work in North Rome and South Rome.