Leaving For Winterfest

Just to let everyone know, we are heading to Winterfest in Gatlinburg, TN this weekend. We are leaving on Friday at 7:00am and will return Sunday night. This is the first time in a long time that Ellen and I have led a youth group on an event. It will seem like old times. We are looking forward to getting out of town for a couple of days as well. It has been a rough few weeks for our family in lots of ways. Things are looking up though.

I pray that this trip be a "fire up" for our group and a spiritual uplift to us all. I have never been to Winterfest. Jeff Walling is the keynote so I know what the speaking is going to be like. The worship will be led by Watershed Worship. Those guys are awesome! The Tate Band will perform Friday night. I have never heard them before.

It sounds like a great line up that will pump us up for Jesus! Pray for us for our safety and growth in Him.

I look forward to "seeing" you all in blogland on Sunday or Monday night. God bless every one of you!

Snow In Alabama

It was beautiful falling down yesterday! Snow is something that we haven't seen in any significance in many years. The weather predictors will forcast it somtimes just to get everyone excited. I think they get a kickback from the grocery people because even if the sun is shining and it 60 degrees, if they say it's coming, people run out and buy their milk and bread (two items that if stranded they would be the first thing to ruin). The kids love it too because I have seen the schools shut down on the threat of 1 inch of snow. Those folks in the north just love to make fun of us I know. I guess it does look funny to them.

It was a treat though to watch the reaction of my four teens. They were like little children, running and playing in the stuff. They would run to the room and yell, "Dad, it's doing it again!"

Seeing them so excited about it reminded me again about how excited I need to be when I encounter God in any setting. How I long to worship Him! How I love to be free to be a kid again in His presence. I think it is that childlike spirit that Jesus was talking about when He said, "Except you become as a little child...." God help me to be a kid again in your presence. Help me to put all of the world's cares away as I step into your presence and show my childlike faith to you!