To The Hub

That's Lubbock's nickname . . . . We're off to West Texas today to be with Cindy's family . . . and to see some old friends . . . It's awesome to have Emily with us and be traveling again with all 6 of us! The things we so easily take for granted . . .

Have a blessed Christmas!

Planes, Trains and Trials

Trials don't just carve out character . . . they also reveal character.

Sometimes they occur over long seasons, sometimes in an instant.

Today I flew into Lubbock for a good friend's father's funeral. As my first flight got to Houston I noticed that we started to go towards, and then went by, the airport. Different.
Shortly there after the flight attendant came on and told us that there was a 'problem.' The flaps on the wings were not working and we couldn't land right now. . . It got quiet. REAL quiet.

"Consider it all joy when you encounter various (read: about to die in an airplane crash!) trials . . ."

The lady next to me was shaken. I just let her talk . . . and prayed. I asked her if she knew Jesus. I'm not sure what her faith was before then, but at the time she was an enthusiastic follower.

I'm thankful that I've been dwelling on the verses about trials. God was gracious. Yes, I had a few heart palpitations, but I knew that it was OK. No matter what, God was in control. What an encouragement . . . I fail so much of the time, but how encouraging to be able to focus on eternity in the midst of the problem.

If we hadn't known anything . . . you would have never thought anything was wrong from the landing. OK, except for the firetrucks and ambulances and police cars that were all streaking out towards our runway. [I took this pic is the few emergency vehicles remaining about 15 minutes after we landed and were finally able to exit on the tarmac.]

Whether it's exciting airplane rides or daily life, God wants to draw us closer to Himself and make us more like Jesus.

What's God revealing about your character? Where is He renewing you?

Energy Opportunity!

OK, gas prices are getting stupid silly! Filled up the Trailblazer three times on our trip to Lubbock last week and had to take out a second mortgage!

It can be discouraging to be spending $300 on gas for what just a couple of years ago was a $100 trip . . . BUT . . . it's not gonna do anybody any good for me to sit around and whine!
[And you can see on this pic Cindy took on our trip that folks in West Texas aren't just sitting around - between Abilene and Snyder there are 'fields' with hundreds of these!]

What are you doing about it? And like Mark so awesomely talked about on Sunday, how do we turn this test into an opportunity?

And yes, we should be thinking of ways to level off our expenses (I've just been driving less!).
But how can this be an opportunity to more fully trust God . . . and not our resources?

And how can we serve others around us who are in incredible financial binds because of increasing costs? Who is somebody around you who needs to be blessed? Needs to see the love of Jesus in action? Maybe you're well enough off that you could buy them a gas card, or help them through another simple act of kindness.

What ideas do you have for the 'energy opportunity' that we're in?

Taco Villa!

OK, I talked about Taco Villa in a past post being my favorite TexMex fastfood joint . . . and here it is!
And yes, I've had a Taco Villa Combination Burrito!

It was a beautiful day in Lubbock . . . 60 degrees this morning and blue (not red) skies! Played golf with my father-in-law and Luke this morning and had a great time!

Lubbock!

We blew into Lubbock yesterday afternoon . . . 102 degrees . . . wind blowing 50 mph . . . just a good ole' West Texas spring day!

Then I went for a run when I got here . . . fun!


My pics aren't the greatest, but if you click on them you'll notice that the sky is red . . . that's dirt!

Abilene . . .

Made it to Abilene last night . . . 6 hour drive . . . pretty peaceful.
Always great to see old friends -- we are staying with Mike & Donna Walls in Abilene -- great friends from our Lubbock days.

And I slept 10 hours last night!!! Worn out from the last week of excitement . . .

Today we drop Laura off at soccer camp at HSU and then it's off to Lubbock . . .

Road Trip

This afternoon we are headed to Abilene to take Laura to a soccer camp and then on to Lubbock for a couple of days before we pick Laura back up on Saturday.

Always fun to go back to the old stomping grounds in Lubbock . . . to see Cindy's Dad and some friends . . . and to eat at my favorite - Taco Villa!