A Short Story

Its 1:09 am and I just got home......in the past say 10 years ago I'm sure your imagination could tell you why someone would just be getting home at 1:00 am.but tonight the story is different. I woke up this morning an ordinary Saturday, no big plans maybe go to Hamlin for the Pritchard reunion or maybe stay home and enjoy the first rain since Easter...but then the phone rang. It was John, a high school buddy asking me if I had heard about Lee's mom, Lee is another old friend. John and Lee were the first  two people I met In High School when I moved here to Abilene. Lee's mom had passed away last week and the funeral was today in Strawn.Again...... in the past I can hear myself saying...".man if I had only known before the day of I could have made plans to go," or some kind of excuse. Not today...I got ready and went.It was refreshing to be able to just go and be selfless to show up for a friend. Not to go preach or try to counsel but just to be there for someone if they needed me. God blesses us when we are unselfish. The funeral was well....a funeral. I spoke to Lee and some others and they thanked me for coming and as I was leaving I thought I am almost to Fort Worth I will go see David. It was just like an hour or so to Weatherford and David was int Ft. Worth..So as I'm driving I decide to call Juan and ask what room David was in now.....he is now at Baylor in downtown Dallas !!!! That's another 2-3 hours both ways of driving....but no excuses I kept going. It was good for my soul to see David...He is awake and alive and being David. The last time I saw him he was still in a medically induced coma. I am at a peace I have not known for a while.....God is faithful to grant us His peace when we get out of ourselves and do for others.....I'm excited about STV and everything else we have happening at church.. Chad blogged about a big happening, but is going to wait for KRBC and KTAB to air the news......maybe I can get it out of him tomorrow......I'm a little curious who it is...Its a good day to be sober
Peace and Love
Jeff.

The Past and It's Influence

Seems to be a trend here.....Chad and I both have spoke on this recently.....Our past does not define us but it does shape us. My past actually helps me in our ministry." Be transformed by the renewing of your mind"....it helps to know how others think now in order to walk with them through renewal. It's what we do...so I'm OK with my past but more importantly excited about our future !!!!!

100% vs 100

If I could get 100 people to join me in what I believe and what I am going to do the impact would be 99 times greater than what I could do alone !!! Even more than that...those people would impact others as well and so on and so on........Look what Jesus started with twelve.......imagine what we should be doing !!!!
Peace and Love
Jeff

If I Had Listened !!!

What a statement.....what if we all listened. I have heard it said Intelligence is learning from our mistakes...but true wisdom learns from others....If I had listened I would be financially secure, already owned a payed off home, had a degree or possibly a Doctorate by now ??? Who knows...what I do know is my story is my story and it allows me to do what I do now.......If I could only get my kids to listen!!!!!!!
Peace and Love
Jeff

Everyday Hero

My first thought on this one was my sponsor....In A.A.we have what we call sponsors. They are really spiritual mentors if you want to get real with it. Barry B. Has been my sponsor since 2003. Not only does he sponsor me but several others. Its a selfless act that requires a lot of time. There is no pay for being an A.A. sponsor, no frills or benefits only the God given Joy of watching Him change the lives of others through the program. The trickle affect of how it works is amazing. Someone helped and still helps him...he helps me...I help others..they help more and so on and so on...you get the picture. It's discipleship at its finest.....and it works....So Barry B. is my everyday hero...Thanks brother for all you do.......
Peace and Love
Jeff

Recovery Sunday 6/5/2011

WOW !!! What a day....Those of you who know about what we do and why we do it can feel blessed with us. Our vision is becoming reality.....Sunday morning a local treatment facility actually brought their clients to church and let them stay not only for our meeting but for the service as well. Even though they left early to get back for lunch this was HUGE.....To my knowledge a Drug and Alcohol facility has never allowed their clients to attend a church service....also that evening more than 50 clients came to our Recovery themed church on the street. It was incredible...we saw rehab clients with no more than a few days clean and sober serving food in a line over 100 people long. People getting out of themselves to serve others while still in rehab....God never stops amazing me with what He can do.....I think the bridge is well on its way.......the gap is narrowing !!!!
Peace and Love
Jeff

One Thing

Define Irony....The week we get the blog assignment about one thing we want to do this summer....fun thing...I come across tickets to The Byron Nelson Golf Tournament..How cool was that. I have never been to a PGA event and this year I have been blessed to be able to play more golf than ever before. It really is a blessing due to the fact I was not sure I was ever going to play after my last hip surgery.
So instead of blogging about it...I actually got to go do it !!!!!
Peace and Love
P.S. Those guys really are good !!!!!