The Best Marriage Proposal Video Ever
And so the antey has been upped for all future wedding proposals!
Kingdom Series Sermon Notes & Bumper
Thankful to have the opportunity to preach at Foothills Church for the next 2 weeks. Today we talked about the Kingdom of God being an already but not yet reality. When we look at the New Testament, we see the Kingdom as both a future hope and a present reality. This has great implications for how we live our life and how we view certain things, such as our attitude toward culture, our understanding of suffering, our view of our own self-worth and identity, as well as our involvement in mercy ministries. The big idea today was that there is only one real, present, and powerful Kingdom and it is not yours.
Here are my sermon notes in case you missed anything: KINGDOM: A Present and Powerful Kingdom (Sermon Notes)
For All My Fellow Parks & Recreation Fans
UPDATE: 100 Burpees for 100 Days Challenge
So, 22 days have passed since I began my 100 burpees for 100 days challenge. I’m not joking when I say this, but this challenge was WAYYYY HARDER than I thought it was going to be. I started with a group of 10-12 people or so. My amazing sister-in-law actually threw out this challenge, and as of today, I haven’t heard from over half of them on how they are doing and the other half has backed out completely.
I’m telling you with all seriousness in my tone — this challenge sucks.
As of today, I have completed 1,400 burpees, which, if you can do basic math, adds up to me having completed 14/22-days thus far.
I’m still attempting to go strong with the challenge. In fact, I haven’t felt this in shape since playing college basketball. My cardio is way better already compared to if I went out and ran for 14 out of 22-days. What’s more, my body strength is improving drastically alongside of my cardio. My first time over 3-weeks ago was 15:43 seconds. My time now is consistently in the upper 11 minute range.
And probably my favorite part about Crossfit (and ultimately this burpee challenge) is the fact that I can work my tail off for 12 minutes and fill like I am about to throw up in the floor. In the words of Chris Traeger from Parks and Recreation, one my favorite television characters to date, “It is literally that hard.”
If you’re wondering what a burpee actually is then check out the video below. I’ll give another update in a few weeks.
Greg VS Wild
Oh, about 6 years ago, Tim Wadsworth and I created a mini-series for the student ministry of 1st Baptist Concord in Knoxville, TN called Greg VS Wild. All I have to say is, “ENJOY!”
Cora’s First (and maybe last) Finger Painting
Pictures taken on the iPhone 4 w/ no lenses attached, as you can tell!
Lebron VS MJ at Age 27
Could Lebron be the best ever when it’s all said and done?
I thought this was fascinating!
Photo Essay: Mother’s Day at Foothills Church
(All photos taken from the iPhone 4. No instagram lenses attached.)
Baby dedication during the first service.
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View from the back of the auditorium during the first service.
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Pastor Trent preaching from Deuteronomy 6 today during the first service.
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Baptizing Justin, one of my students at Doxa, during the second service.
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View from the Loft during the second service.
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Pastor James and the worship team leading during the first service.
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Giving away Foothills Church Mother’s Day t-shirts.
I Think of the Mama’s Hearts Who… By Grace Gibson
My wife, Grace, wrote this last night before she went to sleep. It was penned out of a heavy and compassionate heart for those who long to be called Mamas, and this day is yet another painful reminder of their longing, for whatever reason, not being fulfilled. It is beautifully said. Thank you my sweet wife!
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I Think of the Mama’s Hearts Who…
By Grace Gibson
With Mother’s Day only a few short hours away, my mind wanders this evening to all the Mama’s hearts out there.
I think of the Mama’s hearts who have not yet been blessed with a baby. Who have endured many rounds of blood testing, of being questioned and prodded by doctors only to be given unexplained answers that pregnancy may not happen.
I think of the Mama’s hearts who have had to walk shyly to the pharmacy counter to get yet another round of fertility medication, hoping that this time it might work.
I think of the Mama’s hearts who a new month brought yet another painful reminder of a baby that is not in their belly.
I think of the Mama’s hearts that have held their breath to look at the hundredth pregnancy test only to see yet another negative.
I think of the Mama’s hearts out there who lovingly hold their precious little one and wonder if it will take more medicine and more years to have another.
I think of the Mama’s hearts who look to heaven and think of their dearest little one who is there.
I think of the Mama’s hearts who are separated by an ocean from their little one.
I think of the Mama’s hearts that are longing for a good man to marry so that a family may be started.
I think of all the Mama’s hearts that dread another Mother’s Day because it is another sharp reminder of what has been lost, what has been hoped for, what has not yet been brought home.
And it is these hearts that I praise my heavenly Father for. If ever there was love, compassion, tenderness, vulnerability, nurturing, humility, suffering, joy, honesty, kindness, pain, and beauty in a heart, it is in a Mama’s heart. May God bless these beautiful hearts, drawing them close this very day, and may the desires of these precious hearts be met with much joy as our good and perfect Father chooses.
