Please pray!!!

************************UPDATE************************

#2. My mom just called and told us that my grandmother is in the hospital again for a second bout with pancreatitis. She undergoes a second procedure tomorrow (Thursday). I will keep you updated.

#1. I just got off the phone with Tonya as I am sitting here at the airport in Kansas City. My grandmother is in surgery and has been for about an hour and a half.

I will update again later tonight.

As I type this, there is a beautiful youg woman laying in the ER in Sherman, Texas. She has no one around her other than ER staff and other patients. She is awaiting transport to ICU as they try to get her into good enough shape to handle surgery. They have to thicken her blood and get the infection down so they can go in to deal with her pancreatitis.

This young woman I am referring to is my 78 year old grandmother. She is alone because they have no room for her in ICU. They are keeping her in the ER so she has constant supervision. There is no family there with her because the ER is so full that there is nowhere for my grandfather, aunt and uncle to stay. So the staff asked them to go home. They said they will call as soon as they know something.

There are so many things that are going on here, I don't know what to specifically ask prayer for. But as it says in Romans 8:26-27: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what to we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."

Verse 28 offers us this promise.

"And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Thanks in advance for your prayers.

In His awesome name,

Red River Rivalry

As most of you know, I had an opportunity to join my brothers at the Texas/Oklahoma game at the Cotton Bowl. #1 vs. #5.


I was like a kid in a candy store, taking in the sights, sounds, atmposphere and environment. Obviously, it didn't hurt that the Longhorns won. But regardless of who won...it was such an amazing game. It was back and forth, it was high-scoring...it was endless excitement.


But in all of that...God was evident all around. There was the wind. It was a very cool breeze that helped bring comfort on a hot and humid Texas day. There was the beauty of the sun shining from behind gray clouds. There were the 22 people on the field on every play that did things that were possible only by God-given ability.


Everywhere you looked, there was evidence of God at work.


It isn't very often that you would hear something like this: but I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this.


And again...it doesn't hurt that the Longhorns beat the 'hated' rivals from up north.

Tagged...

I have been tagged by Tonya...thanks sweetheart. So apparently I am going to share some interesting things about myself...7 to be exact. Then I am supposed to tag 7 people who also blog...but all the people I know already blog...so here is what there is to know about me.

1. My favorite junk food is chocolate chip cookies. But as much as I like ccc's...I prefer ccc dough even more. I could eat an entire bowl all by myself...all I need is a spoon and a glass of milk.

2. It took me 35 1/2 years to do it...but I finally got to see a Longhorns game in person. I cannot imagine a better first game to go to.

3. My favorite movie of all time is 'Facing The Giants.'

4. My dream car is a Ford Mustang. But not just any Mustang. It has to be a '64 1/2 - 66 Convertible, a '93 GT Convertible or the elusive mint condition '67 Shelby.

5. When I was a kid, all I wanted to be when I grew up was a Major League baseball player. There is still a part of me that thinks I can bring the 'heat!'

6. With all respect due to Lou Gherig...I consider myself to be the luckiest man on the face of the planet. I happen to be married to my best friend. I know I don't always show it, but I can't think of any other person that I would rather share life's joys with. I am grateful that Tonya is by my side.

7. My dream is to one day give Tonya the honeymoon of her dreams. Venice, Rome, Paris, Switzerland and Australia.

Stained Glass Masquerade

Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

The lyrics above are from Casting Crowns' Stained Glass Masquerade!

But it raises a question for all of us as Christians, especially the men.

Are we simply hiding behind something? Are there things in our lives that we are masking and hiding from even those closest to us?

Or are we truly broken, vulnerable and transparent? Only you and God can answer that question...but I challenge you to answer it for your self, then decide where you need to be if you aren't already there.

So...

I am currently sitting in a hotel room in Houston watching Madden Nation. This is a reality game show in which 10 guys travel on a luxury bus and play Madden 2009.

This is where it gets crazy.

Each one of these guys has a nickname. They all have attitudes. They all speak in ebonics. They are playing each other for the title of best Madden 2009 player. That's it...just the title. They are saying things like "this could change my life" and "this is the break I was waiting for."
They all act as though the action on the screen is real life.

All I can think is how sad this is. I love playing video games as much as anyone. But there is so much more to life. Some of these guys are in their 30's and 40's.

It made me think of other things in life that are similiar.

So many people are just looking to fill the void in their lives with work, exercise, partying and many other things that could take up a lot of space to mention...

But in reality, they are just looking for something to allow them to have a sense of fulfillment.
The only place to find fulfillment and purpose is in Christ alone. In Him we find our sense of purpose.

We all have a hole in our hearts. But unlike that toddler toy where there were many holes of various shapes, and pieces that would fit each one, our hearts only have one hole and it is Jesus-shaped.

Madden 2009 is cool and entertaining, but life with Jesus is complete.