Sweet 17

Today is my daughter's 17th birthday. I remember going to the hospital seventeen years ago around eight in the morning. Katie was two weeks late (an issue she is still trying to remedy today). Kim and I had been married for five years, and I had just graduated college. I was about to take my first pastoral job, and we were all excited about the new baby coming soon. But the time had come, no more waiting. As they gave Kim the epidural, I watched her fade into lala land. This was the only time I have ever seen my wife on drugs.

Everything started happening rather quickly about 12:00. And a little after 12:30, Katie Kathlynn Sizemore was crying on the seen. She was supposed to be a boy. My dad had four boys. But God had other plans for us. I had already raised my brothers. I knew about boys. What was I going to do with this sweet little girl. I called my mother to find her overjoyed with the news. Mom had never had a girl that she could dress up and go shopping, so Katie was doomed right from the start. Not only was she the first grandbaby but a granddaughter as well.

Some of my fondest memories are laying in the floor of her room playing with her toys as we pretended to be all kinds of things. When she was five, we had just moved to Borger and that is where she started school. We would go to her plays and eventually go to all her sporting events. We are the proud parents in the stands cheering for every shot or run she was in.

She's getting older now. We had our first serious talk about college, dreams, and life for my not so little girl. These are such exciting times and scary times. I want to let her go as I pull her close. (If your a parent you'll understand.) There are so many things I want to teach her; so many things she needs to know. Sometimes she calls me Dad and something she calls me Pops, but when she calls I am here, ready to love, ready to encourage, instruct, guide, or just listen. Katie deserves that. She's my daughter, my first born, my pain in the butt, and my pride and joy all wrapped up in one very special person.

Happy birthday Katie!
Love, Dad

The Tuesday Grind

With all the activity at the Center on Monday I wasn't in the office at all.  I normally use Monday's as my catch all day.  I try and get all the things out of my way that would take away from the ministry of loving and helping people. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  Needless to say, I had all of Monday's and Tuesday's junk to take care of.  Like for example, I install our new credit / debit card reader at the Church so that we can use debit cards for payments of workbooks and even tithe if someone so desires.  In the age in which we live very few people use checks or even checkbooks to keep their finances.  It's all done electronically.  I've gotten to the point that I use mint.com for all my finances and don't even need to balance my checkbook anymore.  Everything is done in real time or maybe a day behind.  We live in an amazing time. 

If you missed Sunday's message you can catch it online (click here).  I was explaining the gap and restoration process that is found in Genesis 1:1-2.  There have been many questions coming across my desk, which I love.  Anytime I can get people excited about studying God's Word, I'm a happy camper. For those of you that are in my D2 class tonight.  I will take some time and answer any and all questions you have on the subject (to the best of my abilities).  It does make for so interesting conversation.  This would be a great time for you to come and visit the Church as Genesis establishes all the truths in the Bible (shameless plug :). 

I had a wonder conversation with a pastor friend of mine in Central Ukraine.  Kim and I will be traveling over to teach and preach in a family camp, as well as, helping with an ESL class in a town close by.  I believe we will impact some lives while we are there. This trip is in August and it will be the first time Kim has been to Ukraine.  I'm so excited to introduce her to the friends that I have made in my travels over there.  I know that the ladies will love to meet her. 

God is opening up so many doors for the recovery ministry here in Borger.  I found out yesterday that we don't have to rezone the church building that was donated to us for phase 2 of our recovery ministry.  That means we will be able to use the building as soon as we take ownership of it.  Please continue to pray about the recovery ministry as this is a major leap of faith.

North Dakota University Rocks

I can't believe it's the middle of March already.  I was looking at my blog activity and realized that I haven't posted since before Christmas.  Wow!!  Then I looked at the activity and noticed that many of you are visiting my blog.  Well, I'm not dead.  All is well in Borger.  God has been doing some amazing (I mean miraculous) things in the Church and with our new Recovery Center.

For those of you that don't know, last November we purchased a building and began to renovate it to become the first Recovery Center in Borger for Drug and Alcohol addition.  The whole town has been excited to see the progress of the center. Let me share one of the miracles that I am talking about.  A few months ago out of the blue, I received a call from a college student from North Dakota University.  He began to share with me opportunity for some 40 college students to come and work on the Recovery Center as a spring break project.  I was beside myself. He explained how they were taking a tour to "pay it forward" and was going to be passing through Borger.  He had called the Chamber of Commerce and asked if there were any worthy projects in Borger of which they could be a part.  The Chamber told them about the Center and gave them the Church's number and we began to make plans for them to come.

On Sunday (March 11th) a big tour bus rolls up to the Church and 40 eager college students exit the bus with smiles on their faces ready to work.  After sleeping on the floor in the basement of the Church they got up on Monday morning and took the Recovery Center by storm.  by 9:30 they had almost the entire center painted.  They then began to cut in all the walls and trim, as well as, clean up all the outside.  They cleaned dishes and installed appliances; all with love and care as if it were their own center. I was so proud of them.

By the time they left at 12:30, I felt as if I had gained some new friends and advocates for the work we are doing here in Borger.  They loaded up and headed for their next job and blessing in Roswell, New Mexico.  God speed and thank you North Dakota University.  May we learn from their example of what it means to give of ourselves for the betterment of others, and may we also "pay it forward."

Is it Christmas Yet

Thursday morning was the first morning that I got to relax and do nothing.  That was nice Kim fixed a good breakfast and I messed around on the computer, blogging and what not.  By the Time lunch time roled around I was full force again with phone call and meetings.  I had the opportunty to be with Jay Grimwood the missions Director for Graceway as we enjoyed a conference call together for the BKA.  Jeff Adams popped into Jays office long enough for me a share a Christmas greeting with him and then he was off doing Jeff stuff. 

After spending some good fellowship time with him I headed back home to pick up the girls and we turned right around and headed over to Chris and Jennifer Rozicha's house.  Kent and Kim Liles were there.  Many of you will meet Kent when he comes to preach the Youth conference in a few weeks.  Chris had also invited Jim and Kelly Lee and there boys over so we had the old gang back together again.  I love those guys so much.  They are all sold out to the mission of helping and training people for the work of the ministry and building the kingdom of God.  It was a great night of cashue chicken, stupid (funny) youtube videos, and some great conversation.  I even was able to pick Jim's brain a bit on the restructuring of our Discipleship process at Fellowship.  It good to have friends on the same mission as you are. 

We ended the night by swinging by Wendy's to pic up some late night frostys.  Not a bad ending to a pretty exciting day.

Merry Oil Change

Kim and I were out yesterday monring getting breakfast a Panera Bread.  It was so good and the coffee was right on time.  After breakfast I noticed that Jiffy Lube was running an early bird special: if you came in before ten it was $10 off.  so I took Kim home and went back to the store.  as I was waiting I checked my android to see if the books I bought from amazon would be on my phone and my tablet and they were.  I had purchased the book "Heaven is for Real" before I left just because I was afraid someone would ask me about it and I want to be able to talk inteligently.  So I started reading and I quickly realized that most of the book is a setup for meat of the Story.  I've read to the 10th chapter and none of it has been about his experience in heaven, but more about the stuggle of the parents through the sickness of their little boy.  That isn't bad I just feel like the book is alittle deceptive in its concept.  I am hoping the book changes course shortly.  I'll keep you informed.  So, the guys at Jiffy Lube saw that my running lights were burned out on the Yukon and wanted to change them for me for $12.50 a piece.  I declined and they dropped it to half price so I agreed.  This meant more time to read. Once they got the lights changed I paid and was ready to go, but they had left the lights on the entire time they were changing the lights and ran the battery down and had to give me a jump. Last night we had a great time celebrating my nephew Nathan's 13th birthday. After we made him walk through the ring of fire we welcomed him into manhood. (that was a reference to the movie, "Finding Nemo" for those of you that missed it.) We had pizza and one of the best Ice cream cakes I have ever had.

Christmas Vacation

When we were planning our vacation we always take into consideration the girls and what they have going on at the time.  We were going to take the girls out of school on Monday and head up to Kanas City but Katie had a basketball game on Monday night and so we were going to delay leaving until Tuesday morning.  Then the rumor of the storm was coming on Monday night and Katie decided it was best for the family if we headed out on Monday morning and off we went (she made a good choice because the game was canceled anyway).  It was raining when we left and it rained the entire 8 1/2 hour trip.  It was crazy!! there were times when visibility was almost none.  There were a few times I wanted to pull over because I could barley see the car in front of me, but we pressed on.  We made it without event which is always good.  If you prayed, Thanks, we needed it.

We got to KC at about 5:30 p.m. and spent the rest of the evening catching up and getting ready for bed.  I was so tired that I went to bed at about 9 and didn't wake up until 8:00 a.m.  If you know me that is crazy.  I never sleep 11 hours, but I guess that is what vacation is for.  We got up Tuesday and pittled around until we were ready to run errands.  So, I put on my drivers cap and started getting instruction on where to go and what was next.  I did have an opportunity to sneak into Bed Bath and Beyound and buy a few last minute things for Kim.  (She has no idea what they are).  I spent the rest of the afternoon tieing up the last few loose ends from the ministry and tasting some of the wonderful goodies that everyone gave us for the trip.  And to top off Tuesday I went to see Sherlock Holmes.  This theater was amazing, the screen was one of the clearest that I had ever seen.  We went with my brother in-law and nephews and they sat at the very top seats and I am more of a middle type guy, but I wanted us all to be together so I headed to the top.  Man, did they get it right.  We had the best seats in the house.  As for the movie, it was OK. 

Snow Angels

Well, we woke up yesturday to the first snow of the season here in the Panhandle.  It was cold outside and the snow began to fall about midday and didn't stop until almost dark.  We ended up with about 3" or so.  Well, enough about the weather.

Last week I started meeting with the various ministries of the Church to discuss the new changes that are coming in January.  Everyone is so excited about the new structure and ready to contribute to the work.  It makes me proud to be their pastor.  In the midst of all the excitement there is also a darkness.  Obviously the devil is not going to be happy with the new structure or the excitement of the Church.  So we are fighting spiritual battles along the way.  That's what happens when you go to war.

I have also been counselling many of my leaders that have fallen into a state of anxioty for a lack of a better word; depression would be to strong a word.  They are feeling the preasure of growth from the Lord and are being stretched in their faith and in thier walk for the Lord.  The flesh is a curious animal.  There are times when we want to grow with the Lord and so we make the changes that are necessary to get what we want.  But, there are time when the Lord wants us to change or demands that we grow and change for the task in which he has called us, and our flesh is not ready or doesn't want to make these changes.  So we fight it.  We don't know why we are fighting it, but we do.  Sometime even when we know and are excited about the changes that are coming.  The difference is it wasn't our decision to make the change.  Change was thrust upon us, and we don't like being told what to do, so, we fight it.  What I have learned is that it is better to trust the Lord and allow him to make the changes and bring the direction that he wants for our lives no matter how painful and unwanted the changes might be.  The bottom line is simple: we don't have a clue what we need or when we need it. We must learn to trust the Lord and let him mold us into the image of his dear Son.  In doing so, we can accomplish the task that has been set before us and run the race for the glory of God. 

Naturally when God is doing things that we have never done before reality begins to set in, and we start feeling overwhelmed with the responsibility.  It reminds me of Moses as God came to him on the backside of the desert and told him to He was going to deliver His people and he was sending Moses to Pharoh to demand the relese of his people.  Moses' response was much like ours.  Who am I that I should go before Pharoh and deliver this people.  We want to take on the job of the supernatural and that is overwhelming everytime, because that is impossible for us to do.  We must remember that God does the impossible and uses his people to do it.  There is a big difference between the two.  God is doing the Work, and I am just along for the ride.