Southeast Young Adults - Friendswood, Texas

Schlitterbahn plans

2007-08-17T13:42:00.000-05:00

The end of the summer party is finally upon us, and barring any tropical storms, we should be good to go for this Sunday. Here are the final details you need to know:

We will still meet at the church and leave by 9:15 AM. We can carpool as much as possible, and people can leave the park when they are ready, but it closes at 6:00. Please bring $30 cash per person, a sack lunch or cooler with food/drinks, towel if you need it, and sunscreen.

We will rent a locker there for everyone's keys and wallets and everything, and we will leave the food together so we can have a lunch and short devo at about 12:30 or so. If you were not able to sign up the past two Sundays or you did not get to talk to me, email me at ryankirksey@yahoo.com and let me know you are coming. If it should rain on Sunday at times throughout the day, I think we will survive. That will just mean it is not 118 degrees all day long.

We will not plan anything the next two Sundays to let people enjoy the rest of their summer and the Labor Day weekend, but be on the lookout for new Life Group plans for the fall starting in September.

Sunday, August 12 plans

2007-08-10T12:46:00.000-05:00

Hey gang, quite a bit going on the next two Sundays, so I will get right to it. This Sunday night at 5:30 we are going to be at Terry Alsdorf's house again. On the menu are his fabulous burgers and shrimp. Look in class for directions and a phone number if you need it.

Also in class, besides an outstanding lesson from moi, we will still be signing up for the Schlitterbahn trip on August 19. Remember, we will carpool from the church at 9:15 AM and you can feel free to leave whenever you are ready. Be sure to bring a cooler with some drinks and a lunch and we will rent a locker for your wallets, keys, etc. David will lead us in a short devo that day as well.

It will be $30 to attend as long as we all show up together and we have at least 15 people. We do have a couple of volunteers to babysit if that is an issue, so let me know Sunday morning and we will sort it all out.

We won't schedule anything for August 26 as everyone recovers from the end of the summer and gets back into everything.

Sunday, July 29 plans

2007-07-27T13:21:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone - Life Group this Sunday night will be at Jeremy and Mandy's house, which is located at 17107 Grey Mist in Heritage Park. We should meet sometime around 5:30 or so and dinner and discussion will be brought to you by the new married couple, Tim and Ashley Miller.

More details and directions will be available Sunday morning in class at 10:30.

Also, congratulations to Jared and Jana Benge. Ezekiel "Zeke" Franklin Benge was born at 6:47 AM on Wednesday, July 25. He weighed 9lbs 8oz and was 21.75 inches long. Jared and Jana hope to come home this weekend, but ask that we not visit them until they get back to their house so that Jana can recover.

Sunday, July 15 plans

2007-07-11T14:01:00.001-05:00

Life Group this Sunday night will be at Steven and Natalie Gardner's house, probably sometime around 5:30 or so.

Steven and Natalie have a new house in Pearland, and their address is:
1826 High Falls Lane
Pearland, TX 77581

This link will take you to directions for their house.

Directions

A lot of people will not be in class this Sunday morning, so if you have any questions about group, call me or email Steven (Steven.Gardner@bakerhughes.com) this weekend.

See you then!

Sunday, July 8 plans

2007-07-06T09:11:00.000-05:00

Life Groups are in for a special treat this Sunday night as we will be meeting at Terry Alsdorf's house for a special dinner and time to hang out.

We will be meeting at 5:30 and Terry will be making deep-fried turkey for everyone that night. We will have directions and phone number for you Sunday morning. I hope everyone can make it that night and we will fill you in with more details in class at 10:30 on Sunday morning.

Have a great weekend!

RK

Of Mentors and Men

2007-06-25T14:40:00.000-05:00

There is an interesting philosophy that exists in different organizations such as businesses, churches, sports teams, etc., and that is of mentors. Mentors tend to serve different functions for different organizations: In business, they help their pupils learn the ins and outs of the company, help them understand proper practices, appropriate use of money, etc. In church, you would typically think of a mentor being someone who is older and takes someone younger under their wing and, by sharing their experience and wisdom, help take that person to a closer relationship with God. In sports, the veterans would be the mentors and they would take the rookies and show them the ropes, how to act on the road, how to handle the media, and other things.

Two separate things got me thinking about this idea of mentorship and how it relates to our relationship with Christ. One of which is the video/chapter of Velvet Elvis called Dust, by Rob Bell. The second was a chapter on discipleship and mentorship in a book called Metamorpha by Kyle Strobel (son of Lee Strobel of The Case For...fame).

These two writers/speakers both have very strong, opinionated stances on mentorship and discipleship. I will quickly and effectively try to summarize their viewpoints:

In Dust, Bell focuses on the relationship Jews in the first century were familiar with between Rabbis and students. A student would study with a Rabbi for years, learning the things they know, acting the way they act, literally trying to be this Rabbi. These students were the best of the best when it came to their studies and they were considered gifted, privileged to be able to become like these great Rabbis. Well while Jesus chose his own group to mentor and teach, they were not the best at anything. They were fishermen, tax collectors, poor people, outcasts. In short, they were just like you and me. They would spend more than two years learning to be like Jesus, following him, trying to understand His message; and then becoming his mouthpiece after his resurrection for the good news of the present kingdom.

In the chapter Discipleship: At the Foot of the Master, Strobel takes a more cautionary approach. While he agrees that the perfect model is to have Jesus be our mentor and Great Teacher, he warns that as imperfect humans, we too often look to be mentored by the next best thing, the most attractive and successful, or the most dynamic of speakers. The danger becomes that we often become students or pupils of only that person, rather than of Jesus. We fall in love with and emulate the mannerisms, ideals, and characteristics of our mentor, rather than those that are the embodiment of Jesus. Strobel uses the example of a great preacher he used to listen to. He was from out of town, so he would request all of the preachers lessons on CD. One day a friend encouraged Strobel to listen to a sermon, he did, and while the message was nothing exciting, he could tell it was the same preacher he had always listened to. His friend had to tell him it actually wasn't the same preacher, but a younger man the preacher was discipling. This younger man had picked up all of the same language, inflection, and tone of his mentor, but how had he really grown to be more like Jesus?

The perfect example of a mentor/student relationship here on earth, as pointed out by Strobel, is of Paul. He would say in his letters to do what I do, but only because I am trying to do as Christ would have done.

Strobel says that the danger comes when we sit at the feet of someone or some group and pour ourselves into them, heart and soul, giving them everything we have, and saving none for Jesus - the true mentor. And that is why he says, "we may learn from our fellow sisters and brothers who also sit at Jesus' feet, but we are never followers of them."

For me, I feel that the challenge comes down to what WE were challenged to do; and that is to make disciples and be mentors in this world:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
-Matthew 28:18-20

So our mission seems to be two-fold, and it coincides with the two chapters pointed out in the first couple of paragraphs above.

While we are not anyone special to begin with, sitting at the feet of Jesus, the ultimate Rabbi, draws us into a relationship with him, and urges us to not just do things Jesus would want us to do, but to do them in the way Jesus would have done it. We could spend a lifetime learning from Jesus, trying to perfectly imitate him, striving to know what he knows. Following Jesus so closely that the dust he kicks up is all over our clothes is God's desire for us.

We are then called to bring others to Christ through mentorship and disciple-making. But our desires must not be to make people just like us, but rather like Christ; does our mentorship to others focus on the skills or programs they need to develop or rather the relationship that Christ desires with them? Not creating clones of ourselves, but rather clones of Christ is God's mission for us.

Therefore, Jesus becomes the ultimate desire, not only in what we try to know, but also in what we try to teach. It is never about ourselves, but always about God's kingdom here on earth.

Strobel sums it up quite well:

"The idea that we are Jesus's apprentices....puts the focus on us, even if we say we are learning to be like Jesus. The goal of an apprenticeship is to develop certain abilities so that we're able to function apart from our master; apprentices are meant to move on to independence at some point. The focus becomes our skill and ability to function and adapt. The most fundamental reason why creating disciples has proven to be so elusive for the North American church is that all of our....methods for discipleship put ourselves at the end rather than Jesus. The goal of discipleship should always be Jesus and never spiritual skill."

-RK

June 17 plans

2007-06-14T15:33:00.001-05:00

Life Group this Sunday is scheduled to be at the Crain's house, probably around 5:30 PM. If you see anyone in our group this weekend or Sunday morning, please be sure to pass the word around that it is at their house this week.

Also, Jeremy will be trying to find some helpers for a project to assist Karis with VBS for Sunday afternoon. Find Jeremy on Sunday morning or call him at 832-428-3191 to find out more details. It is some decorating work up at the church and should not take very long at all.

Life Group on June 24 is tentatively scheduled to be at the Boudra's house. More details will come later to confirm that.

June 10 plans

2007-06-05T15:44:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: I should have said Life Group will begin this Sunday at 5:30 PM. We will change the time, and no longer meet at 6.
_________________________

I forgot how difficult it would be in June to get the word out to everyone about plans for June with events and Life Groups, so I plan to post some information here as well as send out emails as we go through the month.

This Sunday, Dave and Karen will host our group for a brunch at their house beginning at about 10:20 or 10:30. Anyone is welcome to attend. Their address is 16923 Serenity Cove Circle in Friendswood. Also, for anyone who cannot make this week's brunch, there will be a second on Sunday, June 24 at the same house at the same time. Hope you can make one of them!

Life Group this Sunday night is at our house (Ryan and Allison Kirksey), and our address is 2402 Leading Edge Dr. in Friendswood. We will begin at 6:00 PM and food will be served.

If there is anything I left out, please let me know!

RK

Time to go back to boot camp?

2007-05-07T10:52:00.000-05:00

Dusty said something yesterday that hit home with me. In his sermon to the seniors, he quoted Will Rogers and said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." That's a good enough quote as it is without any explanation or example, but it reminded me of something I read over the weekend.

In this article by the AP, you can read about a group of court judges from throughout the Southeastern United States who attended a crash course in modern science and scientific developments at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The conference was titled "The Southeast Regional Science and Technology Boot Camp," and covered such current scientific issues such as gene therapy, genetic discrimination, genetically modified foods, human cloning, and stem cell research.

You see, the judges attending this three-day session have noticed that issues and controversies are appearing in their courtrooms that deal with emerging technology and sciences that they are all too unfamiliar with. This makes it difficult for these judges to make proper, fair and impartial decisions when they are not familiar with all sides of an issue and when the two disputing sides fail to adequately explain them.

I was especially drawn to a quote by one judge, the Honorable Jose Rodriguez, a circuit court judge in Florida. When talking about the importance of developing a knowledge and understanding of different subjects, he said:

"...the greater our ability to understand different disciplines the better it makes us."

So that got me thinking, does that apply to me as well in my walk with Christ? And I think the answer is a resounding YES!

Am I continuing to learn, to grow, to question, and to doubt? Am I stuck, perhaps on the right track, but not moving anywhere, not searching for truth, for stability, and for answers to my questions?

I find it extremely dangerous if we as young adults attempt to sit in our comfortable church pews and classroom seats and claim that we know what we need to be truly righteous. Jesus speaks about this and about knowing truth when we proclaim to live by His name:

"But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." - John 3:21

What this says to me is that if we are actively and constantly searching for the truth and for knowledge in different arenas, people will know that our lives are a reflection of what we have searched for and what we believe, and not just what we were taught and accepted.

Like these judges, are we searching for truth in situations and in topics where we lack the knowledge necessary to understand the issues in 2007? Is it really okay for us as believers to hold on to every aspect of a faith that was established at an early age and expect it to last us through changing cultures, changing technologies, and changing economic landscapes?

I think it's okay to challenge yourself on something you think you believe, but really know nothing about. It's okay to change your convictions after knowing the facts instead of basing your beliefs on conjecture. Right now I am reading a book that discusses current scientific findings in the macro-evolution vs. intelligent design debate, because I could not contribute much to a conversation that came up at work on the topic. Sure, I learned when I was two that God created the world in six days, but does that mean I can't learn what the science tells us today?

This summer, whether in class or at Life Groups, there may be a couple of things that make you a little uncomfortable, some things that challenge you, and some things that make you think. I hope they do, because they are designed that way. But then again, God is designed that way too. His desire is for us to seek Him, to study Him, and to find Him.

So my challenge to you is this: Find one topic or one subject you are unfamiliar with, but are interested in. Read everything you can about it. Whether it is stem cell research, evolution, healthcare reform, genocide in Darfur, corporal punishment....whatever. Weigh all of the facts and seek for truth.

If these 60 men who have been charged to create and maintain the laws of our country can use a refresher course here and there, I am sure we could, too.

-Ryan

May 5 update

2007-05-04T16:48:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder today of some of the things for this weekend and also things upcoming:

This Sunday, Senior Sunday, we will not have an official Life Group planned since a number of you will be at the church that evening. We will begin our Summer Life Group on May 13 at about 6:00.

There will also not be any basketball this Sunday as the gym will be taken over by the Youth Group for the day.

I will have with me Sunday morning the sign-up list that started going around so people who were not able to sign up to host or bring food the first go-around can do so now. We have plenty of houses these days so we should be able to fill up the list with very few people having to repeat. I will also remind everyone what the plans are Sunday morning for the night of the 13th so you have plenty of time to prepare.

Let me know if you have any questions, and have a great weekend!

If someone wanted to tell your story

2007-04-30T14:04:00.000-05:00

Last week, a great literary hero of mine, David Halberstam, was killed in a car accident in the San Francisco area. He was being driven by a journalism student at the time and was on his way to deliver a speech to students. Undoubtedly in the car on the way over, he was already sharing wisdom, listening intently, and telling stories. Just things he was always famous for doing.

Halberstam, a Pulitzer Prize winner for his work covering Vietnam, also had a passion for sports and chose to write about them later in his career. He wrote books about football, basketball, and also three of the finest baseball books ever written. His book The Teammates: A Portrait of Friendship is one of my favorite books I have ever read, and I have had countless conversations about this book with friends, family, colleagues, and strangers. I stayed up until one in the morning one night watching a documentary about this book on ESPN Classic. I love discussing it's powerful story and the journey it takes the reader on and the humbleness with which it is written. Let me give you a brief and hopefully adequate explanation of the book.

It is October 2001, and, amidst everything that is going on in the country, old friends got in the car together to make a 1,300 mile trip to Florida to see their mutual friend who is slowly dying.

Dom Dimaggio, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and Ted Williams were all teammates for 10 years on some great Boston Red Sox teams in the 1940's. In that time, they came to be the closest of friends, learning from each other and sharing with each other their thoughts on hitting, fishing, girls, the future, or anything else an old ballplayer talks about. Years down the road, Williams inevitably became very ill, and it was clear he would not make it much longer. So the other guys piled in the car to go see him for what, they knew, would be the last time.

Their short journey in the car became a metaphor for the journey they had taken the last 60 years of their lives. They had grown together, lived together, traveled together, won together, and lost together. But in all those times and over 60 years, their friendship never changed. And now they were losing one of their own.

For many people in the public eye, we have authors like Halberstam to record their stories, and they do it with eloquence and grace that few of us can match. But what about your life? What about my life? How would it read if someone were to write your story near the end of your life?

Would you be seen as a great friend? Someone who was compassionate? Someone who people desperately wanted to be around because of the comfort you gave to everyone: the accepted and the marginalized?

Truthfully, your story is being written every day of your life. In your conversations, in your actions, in your reactions to struggles, pages upon pages are being written on the hearts of everyone around you. They are learning about your past, witnessing your present, and predicting your future.

Does your story reflect a life you want them to have? Does your story portray the great freedom that we can offer people through Christ?

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 says:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord.....

Our lives, unveiled and stripped down for all to see, just a like a great book would be, are on display for everyone. When we are living a story pleasing to God, we reflect Him and His freedom.

And, just like the four teammates were transformed over 60 years from rough-edged young ballplayers to loyal, honest men, so we too are being transformed with God and in God.

So, may the story you are writing be one of excitement, intrigue and happiness. But, more importantly, may it be a great novel that others study and investigate and wonder how so much meaning and fulfillment can fit in just a few short pages of life. God is co-authoring with you, and with you, he wants to write a masterpiece. A story that will reflect you, and one that will reflect Him.

Ryan

Summer plans

2007-04-23T11:42:00.000-05:00

Last night, at the Gibson's house, we talked ever-so-briefly about some of our summer plans and how we want to have our groups look over the next three or four months.

Essentially, we are going to combine groups for the summer and involve as many people as possible in the planning and participation. Here are the details:

A sign-up sheet went around last night with blanks on each Sunday night beginning May 13. Each Sunday night thru August 12, we are asking two people to host the group (and facilitate the God time), and two different people to arrange the food. With the two groups combined, we have plenty of houses and apartments to go around, and plenty of people who will lead a discussion, a prayer time, singing, or whatever. Last night, we took care of the first five weeks of summer, but we will keep passing the list around until we fill up July and August.

If you are hosting the group one week, you won't be responsible for arranging food unless you absolutely want to; two other people will be in charge of that. All we ask is that you arrange for whatever we will be discussing/doing that evening that is substantive. Plenty of us are available to help, so just ask if you are unsure what to do.

The following weeks will not be at people's homes because of different conflicts or other events:
May 6 - Senior Sunday at Southeast
May 27 - Memorial Day Weekend
August 19 - End of summer party

So look for the list to be passed around in class and group the next couple of weeks and be thinking about when you might be able to host/provide food for everyone. Some people will have to go twice, but we will limit that as much as possible.

Now, on to another project we announced:

Last night, I mentioned an idea some of us have been thinking about since we had a Life Group about poverty not too long ago. We have a tremendous opportunity in this city to give of our time and resources to the thousands who don't have what we do. We obviously can't do it for everyone, but we can for some. That being said, the idea was proposed to adopt a little league team or youth baseball team in an underpriveleged area and provide the uniforms, the equipment, the coaching, the fans, the practice, and anything else they need for games. This would give kids a chance to play who never have been able to before, and give parents the opportunity to watch their children having so much fun, without worry about costs. I am doing some research on this this week and will then be asking for volunteers in the days to come. Unfortunately, the official Little League organization in America (the one out of Williamsport) started their season at the end of March, so we might have to get a but creative. But I will let you know....

Also, this Sunday night, April 29, we will have a game night at Ben and Rachel Crain's house for all that can attend. More information will come this week in class.

-Ryan

Wait a minute, I didn't park over here...

2007-04-11T12:18:00.000-05:00

One of the things I have had the great fortune to be able to do in my life is experience wonderful church and worship services all over this country and the world. Last weekend in Chicago, I was able to attend a Saturday night Easter service at Willow Creek Community Church outside the city. The campus is a beautiful building with seats for thousands surrounded by fountains and greenery and water falling down rocks. Inside, there is a restaurant, bookstore, children's center, and coffee shop. The senior pastor is named Bill Hybels (or at Wiki) and he delivered a wonderful message about life transformation and the power of the resurrection. It was your typical Easter lesson that did not include much substance or controversey, but with the theater-style videos and the worship band, it was truly a great and inspirational service.

One of the things he mentioned stuck with me, and I think it was because it was something I had never thought of before. If you're like me, you have read the bible through on one of those yearly plans once or twice. Through a lot of the old testament, I would find myself reading just to finish and not appreciating the meaning behind the stories and the laws and the examples. Well, one of those was pointed out to me on Saturday night. Hybels briefly referenced Ezekiel 46:9. Here is what it says:

"When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate."

Hybels asked why we thought God would set up this rule for His people? What difference does it make? Isn't it more inconvenient to do it that way?

Well, the previous eight verses discuss how God's people should enter the temple, what days it will be accessible, how the prince should act, what sacrifices to bring, etc. But in all of these things, God's chosen flock too often missed the point, and he begins to point it out to them in Isaiah 1:11 and elsewhere:

"The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?" says the LORD. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats."

In all of their attempts to get it right and present their burnt offering for sin atonement, they completely missed the point. The point of this ritual, of the ceremony, is to be in the presence of God and be changed by His power. And that's the point of Ezekiel 46:9. It is a metaphor for them. God basically says, "When you are in my presence, I don't want you leaving the same way that you came in. I want you to be a changed person."

So he created an example for them to follow so they could literally not leave the same way that they came.

God tries to pass on a message to them and to us as well through this scripture. The way I read this, I can see how it directly applies to me today. Our church services and worship and bible studies have too often become ritualistic and structured and "by the book." Too much of the time, I find myself going through the motions, doing what God "wants," and then getting back to my real life. But Ezekiel 46 reminds me that whenever I enter into God's presence, whenever he is around, wherever he works in my life, I can't help but leave a changed person.

In your lifetime, people will come and go, but there are inevitably some that stick out in my mind as ones that have impacted my life to the point where I am a better person because of them. My wife and my parents, obviously; Daddy Jack, Bryan Mason, Adam Gray, David Gibson, Cliff Fridge, and on and on.

I am sure you have a list as well.

But imagine a person like that who was always with you, always encouraging you, always carrying you when you needed it. Could such a thing happen? It does happen. You can't help but be changed when God works, and when He empowers you.

One of the things Hybels kept mentioning Saturday night was, "why can't you leave tonight changed by God? Does it seem so hard to believe? Can you not imagine being a different person tonight?"

Admittedly, sometimes it is hard. Sometimes it does seem impossible. I'm beyond change.

But God's answer is always the same: "Bigger miracles have happened before. Why not come in the north gate and exit through the south. Let's just see what happens."

I don't know about you, but I am excited to see.

-Ryan

"I've toured around the world, from London to the Bay..."

2007-03-15T13:47:00.000-05:00

Truthfully, I have always wanted to write something where I could incorporate lyrics from an M.C. Hammer song in the title, so that is all this post is about.

OK, not really.

Last week, I was really thinking about something and I thought I would put it on cyber-paper to let you guys read, and I would be happy to know if you feel the same or can share any similar stories.

On March 13, I returned home from a trip I took to Dubai (located in the United Arab Emirates). It was a trip that my job allowed me to take and I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to travel there (for essentially free) and see a part of the world I had never been to before.

It is a truly amazing, over-the-top place. I heard someone say over there that if you put Las Vegas at the nicest beach you could imagine and took away the gambling, that would be Dubai. That's a pretty good description if I do say so myself. Everything there caters to tourists from around the world, the resorts, the restaurants, the shopping....everything.

But despite how great all of the man-made structures and sites are, they pale in comparison to the natural beauty of the beaches and scenery and sunsets that I saw. As you can see, I took plenty of pictures so I could remember all of it.

All of this beauty got me thinking about something. In Don Miller's book Blue Like Jazz, he talks extensively about how one of the most powerful ways we can worship God is through awe and wonder for what He has done, what He has given us, and who He is.

I have had the amazing fortune to travel all over the world in my short 27-and-something years on earth, and one of my goals for the future is to be able to travel places I have never been before; see continents that I have not yet had the opportunity to see. In my travels, I have witnessed unbelievable man-made artistic masterpieces, colossal buildings, and magnificent monuments. But, just like in Dubai, none of them can hold a candle to the beauty God gave us with this earth and it's splendor.

Consider these words from Psalm 115:15-16.

"May you be blessed by the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man."

I absolutely love the imagery that the earth is a gift that God has given us all. He created it, shaped it, delicately formed it, spent time adding details to it, and just went above and beyond making it a testament to His power and His love for man.

Do we need beautiful sunsets or mountains that go on for days or waterfalls? No, I really don't think so, but God freely gives them to us. He gives them to us not just to show He can create something beautiful, but to remind us of His glory, His power, and how awesome He is. To me, it's about being able to see just a little bit of what God has in store for us.

That is worth worshiping. That is what worship is all about. That deserves our praise.

But, if you're like me, too often you get caught thinking, "we have to go halfway around the world to see some of these things! Houston isn't really a place that shows off God's handiwork on this earth." To that I have to say, "au contraire, mon frere!"

You don't have to go to Dubai or other far-away lands to see some of the most beautiful things God has given us. Here's proof: The pictures you see throughout this post are actually not of Dubai or any other country for that matter. All of the sites in these pictures are less than a 3-hour drive from Houston along the Texas Coast.

So no matter where you are, God is still daily presenting you with the gift of his creation. And no matter where we are, God deserves all of the wonder and amazement and worship we can offer.

All of the beauty He has created is for us to have. It's His gift to us.

Where do you see God's beauty everyday?

-Ryan

New updates to this site

2007-03-02T10:16:00.000-06:00

I am going to make a better attempt this year at keeping this site updated: more posts, more information, better features, etc.

I have added a few things in the past couple of days that might be interesting (or at least I hope they are).

First of all, I have added a guestbook link to the right. I would love it if anyone who visits this site could sign it and let me know where you are or how you came across this site or what you think of it, etc. It would really help me understand better what you want. If you have your own website you would like me to check out, there is a space for that as well.

Also to the right, I have added a photo album that I can keep up-to-date with all of the photos you guys have. If you have any digtal photos lying around and would like me to post them, I would be happy to do so. Please be sure they are your property, though. They can be of you, of our group, of something at church, anything really!

And third, for all of my fellow nerds out there, further down the page there is a "This day in history" box with some interesting facts. Really, it's just a shameless attempt to try and drive up web traffic, but who cares, right?

Also, for all of my boys out there and anyone else who is a baseball fan, I have started a different blog on a different site. Check out http://somebaseballnotes.com for a new site to discuss baseball in every sense possible: fantasy, hall of fame, stats, teams, etc. The first post is up today. Let me know your ideas and thoughts.

Any other suggestions for this site or for anything else is certainly appreciated. I would love to have the content here you all want to see, so just let me know.

Love you one and all.

Ryan

You can come and join our group; you're just like us...

2007-02-26T12:16:00.000-06:00

Going to a school like Harding University (or better yet, HU), I tried to get involved with social clubs as best I could (a private school's answer to the Greek system). It's funny though, whenever I tell someone at work or an acquaintance from a state school what it was like to pledge and be a part of that group, I always feel like Baby Emile hearing it from Rick Latimer in The Principal.

"You're a wuss."

See, I never had to endure beatings or much verbal or emotional abuse. We never demeaned our fellow members or anyone that was pledging. And we certainly never did anything like what I heard about happening at a sorority at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Read the NY Times article here.

Basically, the sorority chapter of Delta Zeta, who has their national recognition of their 100-year anniversary in 2009, decided to do a little bit of reorganization at DePauw. Apparently, DZ has a reputation for having some of the smarter girls in their fold, such as some of the math and science majors (and if you were in class Sunday morning, you all saw my smart/nerdy correlation graph). Well, in simple terms, the vast majority of the "overweight," those that were not "conventionally pretty women," and the minorities were asked to leave the sorority and move out of the house.

It was covered up by interviewing the women and informing them that they were asked to leave because they were not fully committed to the sorority. Only 12 were asked to stay. Predictably, they were the slender, pretty, blonde girls.

Honestly, I have to ask myself, "How the heck does something like this happen in two-thousand-freaking-seven?!" Are we as a culture and a society still so preoccupied with things like someone's weight, their ethnicity or their appearance that we sacrifice our own dignity and destroy another's sense of self-worth for something as ephemeral and preposterous as a sorority? This story is just beyond belief to me.

So I have something to say to those girls who were labeled and evicted: Come stay with us. You're just like us. Some of you are smart, some are not so smart. Some are in shape, some have work to do. Some are from this country, some are not. Some are outgoing, some like to keep it in. Again, you're just like us.

And let me speak to anyone who is reading this who may have had doubts about themselves or their appearance or how they are perceived and accepted.

First of all, it is hard. It's hard to ignore all of that stuff, isn't it? It's hard to not feel wanted or accepted or loved. It's tough to face people when you have been labeled that way, especially by your friends or your "sisters."

Second, you are NOT defined by what anyone you ever meet says about you. You are wonderfully and beautifully made (Psalm 139:13-15), you are made in God's own image (Genesis 1:26-28) and, if you finish the chapter, God decided immediately that what he made was very good.

Lastly, it is because of who you are and your uniqueness and your undeniably personal qualities that God loves you just the way you are. He doesn't ask you to be someone you're not. If you're shy, He is OK with that; He has other plans for you. If you can't stand your appearance, don't think about it - when He looks at you, God sees the most beautiful thing He has ever created.

If you were put in a situation like these young girls, I am so sorry that it happened. If people can not see what you are worth and instead base their opinions of you on peripheral, foolish things, I can not apologize enough.

So if you want a place where someone will love you and accept you, find us; come hang out with us. I hope we can make it our business to show you how incredible you are.

Ryan

The definition of irony is I promised this post would be done four weeks ago

2007-02-19T11:48:00.001-06:00

I really love a lot of different kinds of music for a lot of different reasons. Before I wrote this, I went and looked at the eclectic and unusual mix of music I have at home. Within a few inches of each other, I have Buddy: The Buddy Holly Musical, Wolfmother, Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits, and Norah Jones.

But one of my favorite all-time bands is Third Day; just a good, old-fashioned, Christian, southern rock band who just happen to write incredible rock and worship songs. And one of my favorite songs from Third Day is Love Song. If you don't know it, the lyrics go like this:

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done.
I've never climbed the highest mountain
But I walked the hill of calvary

Just to be with you, I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you, I'd give anything
I would give my life away.

I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
How may times has he broken that promise
It can never be done
I've never swam the deepest ocean
But I walked upon the raging sea
          
I know that you don't understand
the fullness of My love
How I died upon the cross for your sins
And I know that you don't realize
how much that I gave you
But I promise, I would do it all again.

Just to be with you, I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay
Just to be with you, I gave everything
Yes, I gave my life away.

To me, the lyrics in this song are so moving and true, I sometimes tear up when I listen to it. The message about sacrifice and what Jesus did and and will do for us is amazing, not just in the words, but to actually think about it, reflecting on the story, and how it affects me and you not just on a page or in a song, but personally.

But what I love most about this song is not the part proclaiming Jesus' sacrifice, but rather how He has never failed and never will fail in his promises; a striking dichotomy to how we as humans normally act. My all-time favorite Ryan-to-Allison promises that I break are:

5. I promise I will make the bed before I leave
4. I promise I will go see that scary movie with you
3. I promise I will do the laundry tonight before bed
2. I promise I will go to the gym with you when I get home
1. I promise I will stop looking at Fantasy Baseball in 5 minutes

We as humans, I believe, always have good intentions. We try desperately to put other people in front of ourselves whenever we can. But let's face facts: we're fallen, we're broken, and we have a hard time keeping the simplest of commitments.

For me, an expert on breaking even the simplest of promises, I have seen that one of the most devestating ways to hurt a person is to answer them with the word "no." This couldn't be more true when we pledge something to someone.

"Were you able to pick up some food like you said you would?"

No.

"Are we going to be able to go on that vacation you promised us?"

No.

"You said mommy would be alright, is she going to be alright?"

No.

We wish for the best and always promise the best, but sometimes life just doesn't let us deliver. Fortunately, the exact opposite is true with Jesus. Look at these words from 2 Corinthians:

"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not 'Yes' and 'No,' but in him it has always been 'Yes.' For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ."

To know that for every promise God has made to me, through his son, the answer is "yes," it touches me immeasurably more than a Third Day song. All that he has offered, all that he has prepared, all the grace that I don't deserve; it is still possible through Jesus.

I hope the pledge and commitment God has made to us is not easily forgotten. But more importantly, I pray that we remember His answer will never fail to be yes. His promises will never go unbroken.

-Ryan

(Hopefully I can keep up with this thing better these days and, as always, I appreciate your feeback. Yes, even yours, Regan)

Trying not to turn around Thomas Grey's words

2006-12-08T16:04:00.000-06:00

Two quick stories and then I promise I will tie them together with a point:

1. I just read a great little piece of writing on Scott Allen's blog a few days ago. Scott writes about something he read in C.S. Lewis' book, The Great Divorce, about men who hate goodness actually being closer to it than men who claim to have goodness, but instead know nothing about it. What Scott talks about in his short piece is arrogance; the attitude of "I'm right and you're not and never will be." You know people like that, right? You're not one of those people, right? Well Scott adequately and eloquently points out that not once in Jesus' teaching did he practice this attitude or encourage others to do the same. Jesus' prayer was that others would learn and know goodness by His example, not through the practice of condemning others or belittling their opinions (although, ironically, he is the only who could have been arrogant, and it actually have been OK).

2. Until recently, I carried around a little piece of paper in my wallet that was titled: What Should Change about Southeast's Worship Service. On this scrap paper, I had a list of eight things that I thought should change about the service on Sundays that would make it more fulfilling, more meaningful, more inspiring, and would cause less problems. I had suggestions for the Praise Team, for Michael, for the AV crew, etc. I thought these ideas were flawless, of course, because of all of the worship services I have planned in my life and all the people I have made happy doing it (of course, I have planned exactly zero in my lifetime). I don't carry around that list anymore....just don't see the point in it. But I sure see the point in why I was convinced it would all work: arrogance.

So my question is this: When did we start adopting the phrase "arrogance is bliss?" Thomas Grey must be rolling over in his grave at the thought. When did it become OK for me to start thinking, "well I know what our church should be like, I know how we should worship, I know what traditions we should do away with, I know what God really wants!"

Well I have news for myself. I love and serve a God who has called murderers and adulterers men after his own heart and who called the "religious elite" of his time a group of snakes. Who am I to denounce the beliefs, the practices, the traditions practiced by those who love the same God I do. The same worn-out tradition that I think is disfunctional could be the same pragmatic necessity to my brother or sister when feeling closest to God.

And it's that brother/sister distinction where I find myself so often getting in trouble. In my personal situation, I so often find myself thinking that all of you in the "young adults" demographic are my brothers and sisters and the other folks at Southeast or at other churches or other denominations are just church-goers or people with whom I am friends. But it's funny, because, while I have such a heart for people our age, as much as I try, they are not the only people who desperately need God. We think all the time that because we are younger and more in tune with pop-culture and ground-breaking technology that we know the way to reach people's hearts. Well, for some, we do.....but for so many more, we don't. Do you think my 70-year old Hispanic neighbor in Heritage Park gives one flying flip about blogging and viral marketing? I doubt it.

And it's laughable to think that we will all be different than previous generations and that we will actually change with the times. When we are blogging on this old decrepit thing called the internet in 50 years, our grandkids will be beaming virtual messages into memory chips implanted in their brains and saying the exact same things about all of us.

So to me, the lesson here is simple. If this was a world of 18-35 year olds, we would all be right most of the time. Worship would be geared towards them, outreach would directly affect them, technology would influence them, etc. But obviously, it's not. There are a lot of people in this world who don't care about our World Wide Interwebnet and our 7-11 songs (the same 7 words sung 11 times). What they desire is a little personal door-to-door conversation and some good old-fashioned When the Roll is Called up Yonder.

So can we agree we're not right all the time? Can we agree that cell phones and Powerpoint songs and Nooma videos are not what make us brother and sister? Can we agree that sometimes we just have to realize that God works in ways we can not see or understand, but he loves the 27- and the 87-year-old just the same?

Thank God for that.

I'll end with one of my favorite quotes from author Bernard Bailey. It seems quite fitting:

"When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it."

RK

__________

When I sent out my email last week, I accidentally put a wrong link to this website instead of the actual URL. I apologize for this, because it apparently takes you to a completely different site that has nothing to do with me or us or Southeast, and it was not my intention for that to happen.

December Calendar

2006-11-28T15:46:00.000-06:00

From what we discussed this past Sunday, here is all that is going on over the next month or so. Mark everything on your calendars and have a happy holiday!

Saturday, Dec. 2:
9:00 - 3:00 PM - Babysitting at Southeast
We still need a couple of people to work the afternoon shift (12-3), so if you have not had a chance to sign up yet, please email me back and let me know if you can help (ryankirksey@yahoo.com).

Sunday, Dec. 3:
10:30 AM - Class meets
2:30 PM - Baby Shower for Maren Boudra
6:15 PM - Life Groups meet

Sunday, Dec. 10:
10:30 AM - Christmas brunch at Dave and Karen Gibson's house
2:30 PM - Baby Shower for Mandy Gibson
6:15 PM - Life Groups meet

Wednesday, Dec. 13:
7:00 PM - Southeast Children's Christmas Musical

Sunday, December 17:
NO CLASS - combined worship service
2:30 PM - Baby Shower for Dawn Spence
6:00 PM - Young Adults 4th Annual Christmas Party at Jared and Jana Benge's house

Sunday, December 24:
NO CLASS - combined worship service
7:00 PM - Christmas Eve Service

Sunday, December 31:
NO CLASS - combined worship service

More than a little nervous to write about this

2006-11-13T17:09:00.000-06:00

You know, I have a lot of opinions about a lot of different things. Sometimes, my opinions on different things frustrate people......heck, my own opinions frustrate me every once in a while. But for a while now, I have written or talked about a number of things that I am passionate about or am interested in. However, there has been one thing I have avoided writing or talking about completely because of the sensitivity of the issue and all of the negative directions it can turn when it is discussed.

My opinions on this particular subject started more than a year ago as my wife and I were sitting in Johnny Tamales eating enchiladas and enjoying some good conversation. We were talking about how a lot of different states had recently been involved in the same-sex marriage debate and what individual states were doing with their own marriage laws. Inevitably, the discussion came to what the "typical" evangelical or Religious Right response is on the issue, which is to do everything they can to ban the same-sex union and keep marriage sacred (no commentary here on how Christians have some of the highest divorce rates in the country). What struck me that night was not what states are or are not trying to pass this legislature or what Christians' responses usually are to this, but rather something else. I found myself thinking: "Is allowing or banning same-sex marriage what really matters in that whole debate?"

And I decided it's not. In my opinion, here is why:

How have we as Christians been labeled in this whole debate by the media, by critics, and by the homosexual population? As a group of fundamentalists that hate gays and wish they did not exist, that's how. And that's just wrong; dead wrong.

There are plenty of examples floating around out there that fuel the fire to this theory. Check out this article which quotes the Prime Minister of the Caribbean country of Dominica as he speaks out against gay cruises coming to his country and how he does not want them coming "to the island to conduct themselves in any immoral way."

Or what about the members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas protesting at a fallen soldier's funeral because they believe God is punishing this country for its tolerance of homosexuality.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see Jesus as a man who would stand in picket lines condemning homosexuals. But again, maybe it's just me.

Or what about countless churches who refuse to let homosexuals "place membership." Sorry, you can't be on our role because of your sins and lifestyle. Maybe they should kick out the liars, the gossipers and the greedy, too. Oh, wait a minute.....we can hide those sins, so never mind.

It gets to be so rampant and so anti-Christ that you have celebrities like Elton John saying that we should ban religion because it "promotes hatred and spite against gays." It's not that his opinion that religous people hate gays that bothers me. That view is so overstated, worn out and uninteresting anyway. It's the word "promote" that gets me; that he thinks Christians make it a point to push an agenda of hate onto others.

We have too quickly become anti-gay, anti-same-sex marriage, anti-equality. We are anti-so many things these days, that I have started to wonder; what are we FOR?

Well, I will tell you what I am for. I am for anyone who accepts homosexuals as a fellow son or daughter of God. I am for anyone who believes this hate and injustice should stop immediately. I am for anyone who is friends with homosexuals and treats them like Jesus would. I am for anyone who remembers that Jesus, more often than not, would rather be at the houses of the "sinners" than with the religious elite of His time.

If you are one of those who believes we should hate homosexuals and we should do what we can to make life for them miserable, then please come find me. I will debate you until I am blue in the face for the other side. Remember, there is a HUGE difference between hating homosexuality and hating homosexuals.

We've all talked a lot lately about changing hearts, and not just behavior or actions. Our response too often to the debate has been "you need to stop being gay because it is wrong and you are wrong," when it should be, "Jesus loves you endlessly and completely. You and I are exactly alike in that we will always fall short of what He wants. But as best as I can, I will love you endlessly and completely, too."

What a different world it would be if we were perceived like that. What a difference it would make if celebrities in interviews said something like, "everyone could learn a thing or two from Christians because they love and care about the weak and the sick, the unlovely and the unlovable, the unappreciated and the underrepresented."

Hate is ugly, it is pathetic, and it is wrong. We as Christians should have no part of it. So who cares if the agenda being pushed is whether or not to allow gay marriage? It's irrelevant. Let's think above that issue and more about the person, the individual with a soul, the child of God. It's a much better way to live.

-Ryan

Actual real information you can use

2006-11-10T15:35:00.000-06:00

Here is all of the information from this week's update email. Look for a new post by Monday.

1. Life Groups: This week (November 12), the Boudra/Gibson group will be meeting at Jeremy and Mandy's house at 6:15 PM Sunday night. The Kirksey/Day group will meet at Robby and Kami's at 6:15 as well. We will be starting the study on Christians and Politics and looking at the first chapter of Myth of a Christian Nation by Gregory Boyd.

2. Yes, babysitting is still on for Dec. 2 at the building. We are looking at a timeframe of 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Starting next week, we will have signups for the whole block and for 2-hour shifts that day. We would love to have as many of you out there (even you, gentlemen) and give these moms a shopping break for a day.

3. The Young Adults Christmas Party is scheduled forJared and Jana Benge's house in the first two weeks of December (date still up in the air). More info on time, what to bring, what to buy, etc. will be available in a week or two.

4. Regan and Maren suggested something to me that was pretty interesting. They suggested that sometime this fall or early winter, we all take a trip out to a place called The Maze in Angelton. Every year, this place creates a huge maze out of cornstalks and groups can come out, go through the maze, have hayrides, eat, etc. We'll talk about dates soon - but in the meantime, more info can be found at www.mannafieldsfarm.com.

RK

One nation under God?

2006-10-19T16:36:00.000-05:00

Recently, our group decided to start a study on the role Christians should (or should not) play in the political arena. What to do about voting, should they be in office, what should they do if they ARE in office, is America a Christian nation, are we a "nation under God," etc. Very interesting stuff to me, if I do say so myself. That was before I read this article.

Now, I am even more intrigued.

Hopefully, that is a good teaser to read the article, but if you don't have the time, "let me esplain....no, there is too much....let me sum up" (as Inigo Montoya once said).

A new book is coming out by Mr. David Kuo, former second-in-command of President Bush's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, which provides an under-the-covers look at Bush's promises to faith-based programs, his attitude toward them and evangelicals, the ways they found loopholes to deceive them, and also ways they used them for votes. The article contains a portion of the book which chronicles one instance of meetings between Bush, advisor Karl Rove and prominent African-American ministers. The main point of these ministers coming: "Where is the $8 billion you promised faith-based organizations in 2000?" Bush's instructions to his advisors on how to answer this question: "It's coming, I promise."

The only problem was it never did.

Now, obviously, I don't know David Kuo, I don't know President Bush, I don't know his staff or the people who met with him at all. If you asked 1,000 people their opinions about Bush and how religion and powerful evangelicals play a role in his administration, you would get 1,000 different answers. His family would answer one way, his staff would answer in another, and his critics would provide yet another. I am not one of the many who know him, so I am not writing to judge Mr. Bush's ethics or his actions or even if he is sincere. I frequently read that he is a very devout and spiritual man.

What I do want to call to your attention, however, is the faith and hope many of us (including myself) put in politics and leaders, who so often promise one thing, but deliver another. Especially when it comes to religion and beliefs. In the past, I have found myself thinking something like "well, Candidate X seems to be more in line with the beliefs or convictions I have, so I think I will vote for him." I now have come to realize we tread on very shaky ground when we do this.

One thing I have read recently talks about how, no matter how great the moral conviction of the country or its leaders, a government or nation can not truly be "under God" because of the fundamental function that government must serve and the role it must play. Our great country has never had to worry about dictatorships or genocide or a loss of peronsal freedoms. Our country has a distinct moral fiber running through it and does not tolerate law-breakers, but this does not make it a "Christian" nation.

Whether peacefully or violently, governments seek to have control over a number of different things; its citizens, other hostile countries, the laws that are created or revoked, etc. This is in stark contrast to what Jesus implicitly and repeatedly taught when he said to turn the other cheek and to walk the extra mile or love your enemy. Governments can not afford to do it that way. Governments can not survive doing it that way.

So when you hear Christians or churches championing Bush or the Religious Right or you hear them insisting you must support one party or you must vote for a particular person, just be careful and think for yourself. In my opinion, at least, the goal of governments (no matter how moral they seem) is control, the goals of (most) politicians are votes and dollars. On the other hand, the goal of Jesus is love and sacrifice......two things governments and politicians just can't afford to give.

Ryan
_____________

For some good viewing sometime on a related subject, see if you can find a copy of Paul Stekler's documentary Last Man Standing: Politics - Texas Style. It documents two state representative candidates in small-town Texas and the lengths they will go to to win their respective race and how the Texas political landscape is changing. It's interesting to see how each one of them in their debates or speeches start off with, "First of all, I'm a God-fearing, Christian man...," and then what they will do to win and what they have been accused of. Try www.realfilms.org for info about the movie.

Some good reads when you have the time

2006-10-05T13:48:00.000-05:00

For all of you netziens out there like me, here is a list of some pretty good things to read from time to time if you ever have a free moment or want to kill some time. I enjoy reading all of these so I though I would give them a plug:

http://emergenthouston.blogspot.com - Bart Roberts and others run this web site and it is a great resource and inspiration to see some of the great conversations that are going around in our city right now.

http://harbourlight.blogspot.com - Michael Harbour's blog. I wish this one were updated more frequently, but Michael is always very insightful.

http://tscottallen.blogspot.com - Scott Allen's blog. The stuff on C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce is especially good.

http://tysonkirksey.com - Tyson Kirksey's blog. Not only a great cousin, but really interesting posts on politics, music, theology, technology, etc.

http://gregtaylor.wordpress.com - Remember him? Our old youth minister has a good site with funny and informational posts and links to good books and other blogs.

http://meflippin.blogspot.com - I am sure she doesn't mind me giving this out, but Marla's Morris' blog is always funny and an easy read. And every once in a while she throws in some of her work that she does.

http://consumingfire424.blogspot.com - Matt Semanek's blog. Matt regularly updates on here with spiritually-based thought-provoking posts.

http://donmillerfans.net - Fan site for the author of Blue Like Jazz, Through Painted Deserts, Searching for God Knows What, and To Own a Dragon. You can send in questions, read Don's posts and chat with other users.

http://preachermike.com - Mike Cope's blog. Mike is the preacher at Highland Church of Christ in Abilene. A lot of spiritual stuff mixed in with some pop culture, sports and other items, but all tied into the message of Jesus.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/ - Richard Justice's sports blog on the Chronicle website. If you are interested in local sports and a humorous, objective opinion of them, this is the blog for you.

So boost up these site's hit counts if you have a minute. Know of any other good ones we could all check out? Leave a comment and let us know.

Ryan

For you baseball fans

2006-09-21T13:25:00.000-05:00

Bekki Kearns sent me a link for a really cool article about Cecil Cooper of the Astros and a little bit about his background. The article is from the Christian Chronicle website.

The last part of the article especially interests me when it talks about how, on the road, a church came to the team at a hotel to have church. Interesting idea, frankly, not just for a baseball team, but for anyone who can't be a part of services like they want to. Maybe it's something we could think about...

Ryan

Here is the article

The proverbial papal foot in the mouth

2006-09-18T16:52:00.000-05:00

Do you like keeping up with current events? I do, to a certain extent. Some I really don't care about or, frankly, know much about. Like with oil prices: I don't care if oil is $50 a barrel, or $850 a barrel, just let me know when gas is going to drop back below $2 a gallon. All I know is that there are people in the Middle East and Venezuela and Alaska who are a lot smarter than I making those decisions.

But the other day I came across a story online that peaked my interest, and I imagine many of you have heard about this or saw it on the news or something. It involves Pope Benedict XVI and some comments he made in his home country of Germany on Sept. 12 about the religion of Islam. I will provide a link to a story later, but basically he was speaking about Muslims and quoted a Byzantine book written in the 14th century. In this book, there is a conversation between Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and a Persian scholar where they are discussing the "truths" of Christianity and Islam.

Benedict's direct quote from the book was:

"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, or holy war. He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'"

These remarks came the day after Sept. 11 and seven months after Danish cartoons were published that depicted ridiculous charicatures of Muhammad, so the timing is obviously and ostensibly horrible.

The story I read from the AP said that "the pope did not intend the remarks...to be offensive...Benedict did not explicitly agree with the statement or repudiate it." He later apologized for the remarks. So, it is my belief that at least some of this is being taken out of context as I have not seen the entire transcript of the speech. However, the question I have is not was he intentionally offensive (you and I both know how many advisors and speech writers the pope must have, and they are not idiots), but why? Why say this and why use that exact quote? Is it just poor planning, an error no one caught, or is there another reason?

While I do not believe that Benedict feels that all Muslims follow this path, the motivation behind quoting it is what baffles me. That is what got me thinking - this story and about a hundred other conversations that I have had where people asked things like;

"How do you know your religion/God is right?"

"Why do you believe that all other religions are wrong?"

"Why do Christians have no tolerance for other belief systems?"

So, last month I asked the question about the situation with the homeless and poor in Houston and got your feedback. This month, I have a different question. Basically, it is this: how are we as Christ-followers to respond to people who implicity ask us questions like these? What should we say when we are given the opportunity to speak about the beliefs of others like Benedict was?

Should we take the route of "Well, yes we are the only ones who are right and it's just too bad if you don't believe what I do?" Should we be more politically correct and respond with "well I believe any religion is fine for a person and as long as they live a moral life, it's OK?"

1 Peter 3:15 says that we should "set apart Christ as Lord," and "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." Now we have all heard that before, but it opens up a couple of cans of worms in this situation.

First, we are to proclaim that Christ is our Lord. So, by definition, no one else can be our lord. What do we say in repsonse to those questions, then? Telling people straight out of the chute that following Jehovah God is the only way to go will offend the majority of people you are talking to, won't it?

Second, we are to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope we have. Well the reasons I have hope and where that hope comes from may not be good enough for the agnostic or atheist who want to know why we Christians always think we are better than everyone else.

You see my point? It's a hard line to walk.

Basically, I just want to hear from you. When you have been asked these questions, what has worked? What hasn't worked? How did you respond? How should we respond? When you have been asked not just to give an answer for your hope, but how you can sit back and "know" you are right, what did you say?

Leave a comment for all to read and I look forward to hearing from you.

(A link to a good story about the incident with the pope can be found here)

Ryan

---------------

There is still a new Wednesday night class that will begin shortly at 7:00 PM. Keep an eye and ear out for Mr. Gibson as he can give more information about this and all the details.

Appreciation ideas for Matt Laas

2006-09-12T13:10:00.000-05:00

Like I mentioned on Sunday, Matt is coming home soon from his second tour in Iraq. Steven Gardner had a great idea to not let this go unnoticed and that we should do something to show our appreciation for him. So here is where all of you can give us your ideas. Should we buy something for him? Get him some sort of award? A bible with something in it? Let me know what you think and we can all chip in and get it done before he is back. Post a comment by this weekend and we will discuss.

We can also do this for Jacob Mobley when he returns as well.

Ryan

Brother, can you spare a dime?

2006-08-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

So an interesting thing is happening in our city right now. Perhaps you have read the paper or heard the radio announcements by Mayor Bill White that announce his new initiative to deter people from donating money or giving spare change to the homeless on street corners or panhandlers under the overpasses around town. Instead, he wants Houstonians to donate money to organizations that help turn around lives of the homeless or disable or poor. They site specific examples of organizations like Coalition for the Homeless of Houston or United Way or the Salvation Army. This is officially called the "Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness," and I am not sure how I feel about it.

I understand the feeling of not giving a few dollars to a homeless man on the street because he could just use it to feed his alcohol or substance-abuse problem. He may not use it to feed himself or his kids, or to buy medicine; he could use to further harm himself. But I also am aware that for any money I donate to an organization like those mentioned above, a percentage of that (sometimes small, sometimes big) ALWAYS goes into things like salaries, overhead, and supplies that these non-profit organizations have to have to stay in business.

So I am torn. What do we do? What do we as Christ-followers do about this? We know that we have been commisioned to reach out and touch those who are in these most unfortunate circumstances. Do we continue to touch people as individuals or give to organizations that do it professionally? I would love to hear your comments on this and how you feel about it. What would you do? Which side are you on? What is best for these people we are talking about? What are some alternative solutions to the problem.

The full article talking about this can be found here.

-----------------

Other things going on:

Talk to Robby about the Labor Day float trip if you are signed up to go. The website and all of the information can be found in his post a couple below this one - or talk to him on Sunday. Also, his email is robby.day@sbcglobal.net.

Life groups are at the normal time this Sunday night (8/27). Gibson/Boudra will be at Jeremy and Mandy's house and Kirksey/Day will be at Robby and Kami's house - both at 6:15.

See Tara if you haven't yet put your information in the new contact list sheet. I think she is almost done compiling it.

Ryan

I get all the answers I need from Yahoo!

2006-08-18T15:42:00.000-05:00

You know what's fun to do, at least for a nerd like me? Go to Yahoo! and click on the link for Yahoo! Answers just below the search bar. It's a place where anyone can go and post questions for things like "How do you change a flat tire?" or "What are the best places to see in Germany?" or anything else at all. Anyone can answer your question and the asker can pick the best answers and rank them and so on and so forth.

Well there is also a section of questions for Religion and Spirituality. When you have a free minute, go browse through those questions and answers and see what you find. Sometimes, it can be very entertaining, but disturbing. Here are some good examples I have found:

Q: "What opinion do you have of Jehovah's Witnesses?"
A: "Those poor people, they have no hope. Only the best ones will go to heaven, at least real Christians KNOW they will go to heaven!"

Q: "Should a true Christian vote Republican in good conscience?"
A: " A true Christian MUST vote Republican because Republicans are anti-baby killing (anti abortion)."

Q: "Which religion is the main threat to Christianity in spreading their religion?"
A: " This is too easy; Islam."

Q: "Does the Bible teach that the world was created in six days?"
A: " Yes... and on the Eighth day God created..... BEYONCE!!"

OK, I threw that last one in because it's just really funny. But you get the point, don't you?

Last time I was on that Religion & Spirituality site, before I got too tired, I scrolled through 50 pages worth of questions - and that was what had been posted in the last 11 hours. Simply put, there are a lot of questions out there in the world. And there are a lot of crazy answers begin given in response.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about our faith and what is truth. Recently, I was reading a book about the rise of the religious Right in America and it had a short note about something that happened in Alabama in 1963. That year, at the height of the civil rights movement, the federal government commanded schools to desegregate and instructed business owners they were no longer allowed to refuse service to anyone. There was a famous incident where the Governor of Alabama, George Wallace, opposed this legislation by delivering his "stand in the schoolhouse door" speech where he tried to physically block black children from entering public schools.

That same year, the Christian Crusade, a popular fundamentalist Christian magazine named Wallace their "Christian Patriot of the Year."*

Is that truth? Seekers and searchers are being fed too much false information all the time these days. It used to be that we blamed people's false sense of the mission of Christianity to things like the Crusades, the Salem Witch Trials, slavery, and the Inquisition. All of these things are tragic examples of historical events that occured "in the name of Jesus."

But realistically, it still happens today. I have been given the truth but too often I am afraid to go out and share what it really is. I have the answers that so many are looking for, but I fear so many things: rejection, ridicule, or embarrassment. I can't blame it anymore on the historically awful things people have done under Jesus' name. I can only blame it on myelf.

Look at what Jesus said in His prayer in John 17 the night before he was crucified:

"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."

The word that Jesus gave us is truth. And He obviously is not talking about the Bible because the disciples did not have copies of the New Testament. Rather, He gave them His example, His mission, His life.

So I hope we can all use the life and example of Jesus to be the truth. Don't let seekers get their truth from crazy answers on a website or from an incompetent magazine.

Let them get their truth from Jesus.

Ryan

*With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America by Dr. William Martin.

Doing Project - Week 3

2006-08-16T16:17:00.001-05:00

A good post with a lot of information from Robby below this one. Check it out and talk to Robby if you need anymore information.

I wanted to add one more thing to the list for this weekend. As you may or may not know, the church set aside this Saturday, August 19, as a work day for anyone who can help get some projects done at the buidling. Our group has agreed to take on one of those projects. Don't freak out about having to be there at 7:00 AM - we really need to show up around 8:30 AM for ours. We will be washing windows throughout the building, so you can wear normal, comfortable clothes and you don't have to worry about them being ruined.

We need about 15 people to get this job done quickly and efficiently, so please come at 8:30 Saturday morning if you can. For the Kirksey/Day Life Group, this is going to take the place of the Sunday night get-together, so if you are a regular life group attender, please come on out. It should only take a couple of hours.

Email or call me with any questions (ryankirksey@yahoo.com) and I will be happy to help.

Also, I wanted to plug the Fall Kick-off happening this Sunday night at the church at 5:00. If you are working with the Youth Group or have ties to Kingdom Kids or the Youth Group, come on out and enjoy this beginning-of-the-year event. Let Dusty know if you have any questions.

Ryan

Doing Project - Week 3

2006-08-16T16:17:00.000-05:00

Activities Update

2006-08-15T19:00:00.000-05:00

It's been brought to my attention anonymously by the Gibsons that there is far too much "jibber-jabber" at the beginning of Sunday morning class. It's no secret that I'm partly to blame for this. In an effort to more effectively convey information pertaining to young professionals/adults/married's/singles/college age people I'll make an effort to give weekly updates on the blog. By the way, we're calling our group the ypamscap's for short (see previous sentence).

The YPAMSCAP's Labor Day River Adventure: I've made reservations at the "Lazy L&L Campground" for Labor Day weekend. We were unfortunately required to book the entire weekend. Originally we had planned to travel to the Guadalupe on Saturday morning; we will now depart on Friday afternoon around 4:30 PM. It's OK to come up on Saturday, but you'll have to pay the full price regardless. The price of the trip is $30/person and will cover all meals, refreshments, and camping costs. Our campground is going to be S-W-E-E-T; we're right on the river and 30 yards from a pretty cool set of rapids called "Devil's pass." We'll have outlets for limited electronic devices as well as running water, a fully stocked general store, nice bathrooms, and 6-minute showers for $1. We've got about 12 people signed up and can host up to 20. The campground is massive, so it will be no problem to add additional campsites if necessary. Feel free to invite a friend. If you have any questions please call me at 832-221-8171. Lazy L&L

Fantasy Football: It is, in fact, the most wonderful time of the year. Thats right, it's football time. Our league has 6 slots still available. Contact me ASAP if you are interested.

Mission Trip: Angela Gardner and I are in the process of planning a foreign mission trip for the summer of 2007. More information is on the way soon.

Wednesday Class: Plans for a YPAMSCAP focused Wednesday evening class are being finalized; stay tuned.

"Doing" Project - week 2

2006-08-11T14:32:00.000-05:00

This week, if you are interested, our project is going to be based more on encouragement and support for people who need it and may rarely receive it. The Kirksey/Day group will be meeting at the church around 6:00 or so in room 304. Bring your own dinner and we will hang out for a bit, eat some dinner and then get into some writing. Dusty is providing for us a list of staff, elders and those in the hospital, those confined to their home, etc. and we will spend some time writing encouraging letters, cards or notes to them. Cristen and Jason will give us details on what to bring, but all you need to bring right now is yourself, your dinner and a pen. If you are part of the Gibson/Boudra life group and want to write some notes or get some names/addresses from us, please let me, Dusty, Cristen or Jason know. We will be happy to help.

I forgot who, but someone brought up a great point that the elders and staff get so many complaints and concerns sent their way and probably rarely receive encouragement. For those who have been sick or are stuck at home, many of them rarely see family or friends and nothing more than a short note or a kind word can do wonders for them. This small thing we can do over the course of an hour might just be the best thing someone receives all week.

Also, be thinking about what we can tackle next. Bekki Kearns has already done a great job planning some long-term projects like baby-sitting for new mothers and lunches at Impact.

Ryan

The "Doing" Project

2006-08-08T11:17:00.000-05:00

In my last email and in class on Sunday, I mentioned something our Life Group is starting and will be working on for the next few months. Our group talked about how for so long we have been talking and discussing and communing and thinking about so many different spiritual disciplines. We have talked about community and the story of Jesus and God's love for everyone until we are blue in the face. But maybe it's time for something different. Maybe actions speak louder than words. Maybe it's time to start doing.

A couple of weeks ago, I challenged our group to come up with ideas on the spot; they had no prior knowledge, no planning and no help from anyone else. In an hour, they came up with more than 30 ideas for service projects, fundraisers, donation ideas, community service, and other missional work that involves time, planning and a general sense of sacrifice. But all of them are imminently doable.

Every Sunday (normally), three people will be heading up a specific project we decide to take on for the week. This past week, our first project was to provide school supplies for kids at Pasadena, Deer Park and Galena Park ISDs who could not otherwise afford them. The response was incredible. The floor in the Benge's living room was filled with spirals and crayons and pencils and glue. We boxed it all up and Angela, Natalie and Kami will be distributing them at their schools over the next few days.

This week, we will be meeting at the church on Sunday night, we'll bring our own dinners and will write letters, notes of encouragement, and cards to the church staff, our elders and to a list of members who have been suffering or who have been sick. If you know anyone who should be on that list, contact Dusty, Cristen or Jason and let them know. These three are putting the lists and supplies together and will handle mailing them out for us.

By no means do I want to limit this project to one Life Group or to one specific group of people. I had people ask me on Sunday "can I donate some supplies?" or "will you take some money and get some more supplies?" Of course. This is for everyone and anyone. If you have a letter or a note you want mailed, give it to one of those three or to me. If you are interested in helping with any of our projects or participating in any of the events (babysitting for young moms, meals at Impact, donations to battered women's shelters, etc.), please let me know. All of your help in this is invaluable and irreplacable.

Hopefully, I can use this blog and the weekly email to keep everyone up-to-date with what we are working on and what specifically we need for that week. Also, you can always ask me and I will be happy to fill you in or point you in the right direction.

You know, ever since this thought came in my head that we should try this, I have wondered why. Why is this being put on my heart? Why is it important to do all of these things?

Is it because we should help others, or because we were instructed to? Well, actually....no.

There are so many examples that can be made out of the analogy of a couple who are romantically, passionately in love (see the last chapter of Don Miller's book, Searching for God Knows What, for a good example). I would like to add one to the list.

I don't have a checklist or rulebook I have to follow to understand how to love my wife. You could never write out any instructions on how I can love her more, or what I should do to make her believe that I love her. She knows it by my life, she knows it by how I treat her, she knows it by what I say, and (most significantly) she knows it by what I do.

I can tell her I love her ten thousand times a day, but it is my actions that back it up. How much I tell her I love her is nothing compared to how much I show her I love her.

If the story of God's love for fallen humans culminated with four gospels worth of God saying over and over again how much he loved us, it would miss the point. Instead, God displayed His love by sacrificing His only Son. He showed us what true love really means.

That is why we do this. We can talk all we want about the things we believe and the people we should be and how much we love the people in the world, but until we show them love, we've done nothing. Jesus said that is how people will know we follow Him (John 13:35).

So, we don't do it because we have to or because we should or because we were told to. We do it because we love.

Ryan

Habitat for Humanity Home Dedication

2006-07-20T11:53:00.000-05:00

Below is all the information for any of you who helped with the building of Tycie Moore's home when we volunteered with Habitat for Humanity a couple of months ago or anyone who is interested in Habitat's ministry. In the email tomorrow morning, I will also attach the program for the event this Saturday. Here is the email:

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Dear Habitat Church Partners,

Bay Area Habitat has completed the work on Tycie Moore's home that your churches partnered with us to build during the Spring. We invite all of you and your churches to join Bay Area Habitat for Humanity at the home dedication ceremony to honor and bless the Moore family home on Saturday, July 22 at 1 p.m. at our Dickinson worksite. This ceremony is very moving and we would love to have as many people as possible at this dedication.

Tycee is a single mom, and she and her 7 year old daughter. Marquita, have spent the last 4 years living with Tycee's parents. Tycee's father has had 2 very serious bouts of cancer and Tycee has not only worked full time, but has also been a caregiver for her father. Her family has worked over 350 hours of sweat equity over the past year and they are very excited to be moving into their new homes.

The service will last approximately 30 minutes and we will have a cake and gifts to present to the families as well as the keys to their homes. Dress is very casual (volunteer workers at the site that day will be there) Again, please forward this invitation to all of your church members and pastors who either worked on the homes or have an interest in the ministry of Habitat for Humanity.

Bay Area Habitat for Humanity cannot thank you all enough for all your hard work and dedication to our ministry to build homes for God's people in need. We look forward to seeing you all at the home dedication service on July 22.

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If you are interested in working with Humanity again, you can always contact Wendy Gorie at wgorie@houston.rr.com. Let me know if you need any more info and I will see what I can dig up.

RK

Jesus vs. the walk-off home run

2006-07-11T09:19:00.000-05:00

I love baseball.

Of course, everyone knows that already, it's not really a surprise to anyone. If you were there on Sunday night, you know how passionate my friends and I can get. My wife knows it all too well. Does it officially become an addiction when I wait until Allison falls asleep and stay up way too late to watch highlights every night, and in the process ruin my next day at work because I am so tired?

Oh well, Web Gems are more important than work productivity anyway.

Recently, I was reading an article online by a great baseball columnist, Jayson Stark. In that article, he wrote about the appeal of baseball to Americans everywhere, how it spreads across generations, how it is a continuing story that great-grandfathers and great-grandsons, the old and the young can all relate to. It's a game where you can see David Ortiz face Derek Jeter on the same field where Ted Williams battled Joe Dimaggio.

While the entire column was excellent, the first part of it particularly drew me in. It described a scene from September 6, 1995. That day would have otherwise been a typical game between the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels, but one number made that night special: 2,131.

On that night, Cal Ripken, Jr. surpassed Lou Gehrig's "unbreakable" record of playing in more than 2,130 straight games. It was a night of celebration and gifts and standing ovations and laps around the stadium thanking the fans.

The crowd applauded him for what seemed like forever. Everyone was chanting his name. Grown men stood and cried for half an hour.

Closer to home, we have our own examples of passion in the game. Every time I see a replay of Chris Burke's famous 18th-inning homer from last year's playoffs or hear Milo Hamilton's famous radio call of that play, ("swinging... lining it to left... iiiit's GONE, it's gone, it's gone, Chris Burke. Holy Toledo, what a way to finish... Chris Burke just punched a ticket to St. Louis!") I get goosebumps.

I think the reason I feel that way when I see the replay is because I was there to witness it. I could feel the tension in the game, I could see the passion in fans jumping up and down and in my brother and I when we were hugging complete strangers. Grown adults were acting like kids, yelling for their heroes. I had never seen such emotion in people.

I had never seen such emotion in me.

What is it like for you when you encounter God? For some, it's like watching Cal Ripken back in 1995. They stand in awe and amazement, their eyes blurry from the tears welling up and seeing the culmination of so much that someone has accomplished. For others, it's like the Burke home run. God does something so powerful and amazing that you can't help but let your emotions and joy pour out.

Every time I go to the ballpark, I notice something different and I learn something new. The experience of being at the game and hearing the sounds and watching the players' actions and reactions further my understanding of the game and help me to appreciate it more than I ever have.

I wish it was always that way for me when I experience God and His kingdom. Sometimes, when I go to games, I take for granted the sound of the crack of the bat, the smell of the grass, and the legends that are being born right in front of me. Too often, I do this with God as well. I take for granted that He molds me, He changes me and He protects me. When I see God work in amazing ways and display His power, I frequently dismiss it like everything is the same, like it is just any other game.

And that bothers me.

Chris Burke can excite me, Albert Pujols can amaze me, Roger Clemens can sometimes even inspire me. And then there's God; changing my life and turning me into the person He has called me to be. But I dismiss it because I have seen it all before.

Do we take our encounters with God for granted? I hope not. A playoff home run can never compare to Jesus on the cross or my Father working in my life.

May you see God every time he reveals Himself to you, and may your encounters with Him be extraordinary.

RK

Rob Bell - SOLD OUT

2006-06-29T11:29:00.000-05:00

Hey folks. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a single ticket for the Rob Bell talk on July 12. I went online and the venue is completely sold out. Also, it mentioned they will not be releasing any more tickets in case we wanted to check closer to the show.

So, if you signed up to go to the Astros game and Rob Bell, I only need your $10 per ticket for the game. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news here. I thought buying tickets 2 weeks out would be fine, but next time we will do it sooner.

An email is coming to you either today or tomorrow with more information. Don't forget about the combined cookout this Sunday night at the Gibson's house at 6:00. We'll let you know Sunday morning what you can bring.

RK

Two guys, a girl and one missed opportunity

2006-06-21T16:08:00.000-05:00

Something has been bothering me for a few days now and I want to share it with all of you and get some feedback. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things ("....compared to, like, earthquakes in the far east or testicular cancer..." - sorry, a quote from Notting Hill), but it has irked me ever since.

On Sunday morning at church, I got there a few minutes late and sat near my usual spot and everything was the same as it always is. After the service had been going on for a few minutes, two guys and a girl came in and sat directly across the aisle from me. They were obviously about my age and, though a bit unsure of the songs and the unusual programming, they seemed quite confident this is where they wanted to be on a Sunday morning.

As service ended, I watched them get up, slowly look around, smile at a few people, and then turn around to leave. As they left, I witnessed Michael Harbour reach out and talk to them, Cliff Fridge started a conversation with them, and a few other people said hello. But did I do anything? No.

Now, they know nothing about our group, about what we do or who we are or what we believe. But worst of all, I know nothing about them.

Recently, I have had quite a few conversations with people about summer and how it becomes a weird time for our group. We all have shifting schedules, travel plans, college students come home, people are moving, and on and on and on. In fact, a friend and I were just talking a week or so ago about how summer is a great time just to be lazy and be a slacker.

Well, I have decided to change that attitude for a number of reasons. During the summer, I think we are given a tremendous opportunity to share life with others. There are always so many people visiting; a lot of those who have moved into the area. We have opportunites to talk to kids home from college who might be discouraged, frustrated, or searching for truth in a world that doesn't offer it. In the free time many of us have, we have more opportunities to start and continue meaningful conversations.

As always, I want to bring up the example of Jesus. How did he get to know people? Specifically, people who weren't like him, people who weren't part of his crowd?

In John 4:1-26 we see the story of the Samaritan woman. Jesus knows she is an outsider, someone who doesn't fit in. But he doesn't go into all that right away, his first words aren't condemning her for having all those husbands. All he says is "Hey, can I have a drink of water?"

In Luke 19:1-10 Jesus meets Zacchaeus, a horrible, ruthless guy. Jesus doesn't demand he pay back those he has cheated, or repent for his sins. He asks him, "Why don't we eat together over at your place?"

I guess the point in all of this is not to underestimate the impact of genuine, authentic, meaningful conversations. And don't be afraid of them - or the people with which you might have them.

One thing Bart Roberts wrote recently directed me to a part of the book "A New Kind of Christian" by Brian McLaren. A part of that book talks about the power of having conversations and building relationships with others. Here is a short passage:

"I would say to stop counting conversions, because our whole approach to conversions is so, I don't know, mechanistic and consumeristic and individualistic and controlling. Instead, I'd encourage us to count conversations, because conversation implies a real relationship, and if we make our goal to establish relationships and engage in authentic conversations, I know that conversions will happen."

While we all agree a relationship with Christ is the ultimate goal, relationships with those people are the path to achieving that goal, not the other way around.

So I desperately hope those three come back sometime soon. I want to talk to them, I want to get to know them, I want to be a part of their lives.

Thanks again for reading, and sorry for the long delay this time in writing.

RK

Computer Nerd

2006-06-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

OK, I admit - I am really becoming a nerd with all this website stuff. I am constantly wanting to update this site and download new HTML code (and I have no idea what that even stands for) and make constant improvements.

Basically, I would love to see this site be a place where we can all come and find anything we need. Everybody has that home page they love to see first everyday. Maybe this site can be a home page for some of you. But to do that, I need some help.

I have made some changes and improvements recently, but what would you like to see? What would make this site more useful for you? Short of being able to access your email from here, what information is helpful everyday? I will let you know if there are limitations or restrictions, but I promise to research it as extensively as I can. Leave a comment and let me know.

Look forward to hearing from you soon...

RK

A lot of stuff going on...

2006-05-30T10:32:00.000-05:00

Call me crazy, but it seems to me like the beginning of summer is usually a time to slow down a little bit, rest, take some time off - but this year there is so much going on! I want to make sure everyone is up-to-date with it all. Here goes:

Most important things first: Rachel Semanek emailed me that her father is doing much better and that she and Matt truly appreciate all of the prayers and support during his surgery.

Now, onto things upcoming. Don't forget to check out the Young Adults Calendar and the weekly email for this information as well.

1. Brian McLaren - author of A New Kind of Christian and the new book The Secret Message of Jesus is speaking at Ecclesia this Friday night at 7:00. I know some of you are really interested in attending so here are the details. First of all, it is free. We will meet at the church at about 6:00 this Friday and drive over together. If you want to make it on your own, the address is:

Ecclesia (Taft Street Coffee House)
2115 Taft Street
Houston, Texas 77006
713.622.1846

More information about McLaren and his books can be found at the link to the right. If you want to go this Friday, call me (832-247-0124) or email me (ryankirksey@yahoo.com).

2. Brunch at the Gibson's house - This Sunday, June 4, Dave and Karen Gibson have invited all of us over to their house for brunch. We will start at about 10:15-10:30 right after first service. The menu will be eggs, bacon, waffles, cinnamon rolls, bagels, coffee, milk, juice, and anything else that we decide will be good comfort breakfast food. (Suggestions are welcome)
Directions:
Turn right leaving the church parking lot on to Bay Area Blvd.
Turn right at the second light, Friendswood Link road. Stay on Friendswood Link . After stopping go straight at the stop sign The street turns into Signal Hill.
Turn left on Lighthouse View.
Turn left on Rolling Fog.
Turn right on Serenity Cove Circle. Their address is 16923 Serenity Cove Circle (at the end of the block in the cul de sac). 281-648-0062

IMPORTANT: Please RSVP to Karen at kagibson30@yahoo.com so they can know how many to plan for. If you don't know right now, come anyway as we will have plenty of food.

3. Rob Bell - The author of Velvet Elvis and star of the Nooma videos will be speaking in Houston on Wednesday, July 12 as part of the Everything is Spiritual Tour. There will be a group of us going that night and tickets are $12.50. Doors open at 7:00 and the show begins at 8:00, so we will probably leave from the church at about 6:45. He is speaking at Numbers on Westheimer.

More information about this can be found at www.Nooma.com. If you plan to go, please let me know by Sunday, June 18 so we can get tickets ahead of time.

4. Wednesday night programs - As most of you know, Summer has different programming for Wednesday night events. In a week or two, Soul Survivor will start up again with dinner at the building for everyone at 6:00 PM and then a combined service at 7:00. One Wednesday night, our group will volunteer to help with the meal and the clean up afterwards.

I also received a message from Matt Semanek saying that the Wellspring will be dismissed until August and will resume then, perhaps with a different format and a few changes. Suggestions are welcome for this praise/devotional time (aliveinchrist1010@hotmail.com).

Beyond these things, a ton more is being planned for the next three months. There are parties, baseball games, worship times, and - of course - weddings.

As you can tell, so much goes on, that is almost too much for one person to manage. I am currently looking for someone to help out and be a "social coordinator" of sorts. Primarily, it would be a job of reasearching and planning all of these things that we do, figuring out new and creative things for the group to participate in, keeping the calendar up-to-date, etc. Pretty much you would have free reign to plan and suggest things for us to do, as well as looking at everything our group suggests. Let me know if you are interested - (ryankirksey@yahoo.com).

RK

A little walk through history

2006-05-22T13:37:00.000-05:00

Some of you have seen this, but I'm posting it because I die laughing every time I watch it. Watch this somewhere you can have the volume up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg&eurl

Thanks, Billy for sending it to us...

Yes, you can all feel a little more important because we have a Gmail account and a Google Calendar

2006-05-19T15:23:00.000-05:00

So after navigating through the mess of having to be invited to have a Gmail account with Google and the corresponding Google Calendar, I am proud to announce that the Young Adults Calendar and Young Adults Email is up and running! Maybe I am the only one who thinks that this cartoon is funny - who sets up an email system where you have to be invited to use it anyway?

Moving on. You can now keep up with everything that is going on with our group and at Southeast by going to:

www.google.com/calendar

To login to the calendar, the username is seyoungadults and the password is southeast. When you log in, you will see something similar to this. Feel free to navigate it, explore it and see what needs to be added. My hope is that this calendar can be regularly updated by me, by you, or whomever wants to add something. We will put specific events up that are happening, mark people's birthdays for everyone to see, and tentatively hold things that might be of interest to everyone. All at one place. You can add it to your favorites and check back from time to time to see any updates and what is upcoming.

The email address that has been set up is seyoungadults@gmail.com. If you have any ideas of things we should do, you run across anything that would be fun or want to make any suggestions, feel free to email and we will mark it on the calendar. Besides emailing me ideas, email me your birthdays as well. I will put them up on the site.

This will not in any way take the place of the weekly email (that all of you eagerly anticipate) or announcements, but is just one more place where you can keep up with everything. My hope in all of this is to make things easier on everyone and have avenues where we can all be connected. If you have suggestions, or criticism, please let me know and I will be happy to consider anything.

Summer is here and a lot is going to be happening. Things already in the works are baseball games, a summer kick off party, a crawfish boil, guest speakers in class, and others. The most recent news is that Rob Bell (of the Nooma videos) will be speaking at Numbers on Wednesday, July 12 and we will be taking a big group there.

I hope you are all excited about the next few months to come - I sure am.

I promise early next week to write something of substance again. Any suggestions? Leave a comment and let me know.

RK

....And thanks to Katie Hamilton at work for inviting me to Gmail

Dinner 4 Four and Don Miller

2006-05-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

No, Don Miller is not coming to Dinner 4 Four this Saturday. I will get to him in a minute.

First - Dinner 4 Four is this Saturday night at 6:00 PM at the church. We will all meet as a group there first and then divide up into our groups of four to eat. What I have found is this is a great time to bring people who may not be comfortable coming to our church or Life Groups, but you want to introduce them to our group and get to know them better. If you bring a friend, we'll make sure you stay with them.

Afterwards, we always meet back up at the church and do something together. Hopefully, when I send out the email on Friday, I will have a better idea of what that will be. Any suggestions on what to do? Leave a comment and let me know.

Now, on to Don Miller. David Cady and I are working on a proposal that would bring Miller to Southeast to come speak sometime in summer or early fall. To do this, I would like to get some feedback from you guys. So, if you have ever read Blue Like Jazz, Searching for God Knows What, or any of Miller's books, leave me a comment or send me an email (ryankirksey@yahoo.com) telling me what you like about them, what those books mean to you, how you relate to them, how they speak to you, etc. Just let me know your thoughts and I will incorporate them into the proposal.

So if you have any questions, about any of this stuff, be sure and let me know. I will do what I can to help you out.

Have a great rest of the week.....

RK

Church of Christ

2006-04-22T17:04:00.000-05:00

By now, I know all of you have heard about the wife who confessed to murdering her husband who was a Church of Christ minister in Selmer, Tennessee. I am not sure, however, if you all saw or read about what happened on the Nancy Grace show on CNN not long after this murder took place.

Basically, Nancy Grace, who hosts a news talk show on CNN at 7:00PM CT, had a gentleman on her show on March 27 to talk about exactly what the Church of Christ is. The man's name was Tom Rukala and he is a Baptist missionary. Why this man was chosen and not a "member" of the Church of Christ or an expert on religions, I do not know. I will let you read the unedited transcript below of what happened when Nancy Grace and Tom Rukala began discussing the Church of Christ.

"NANCY GRACE: I want to go to pastor Tom Rukala, joining us tonight, a special guest, a Baptist minister. I've been researching the Church of Christ. I don't know that much about it. What can you tell me?

PASTOR TOM RUKALA, BAPTIST PASTOR: Well, the Church of Christ is a relatively new church. It was started about 150 years ago by Alexander Campbell (ph). And it's, unfortunately, a very legalistic sect, and they tend to use methods of intimidation and pressure tactics. They claim that they are the only ones going to heaven, and all other people are condemned to hell. So in case...

GRACE: Uh-oh, I'm in trouble. But I already knew that.

(LAUGHTER)

GRACE: Now, wait a minute. What more can you tell me?

RUKALA: Well, they claim that if you're not baptized by one of their ministers, that you're doomed to hell, even if you're a believer in Jesus Christ, which, of course, breaks completely from the traditional Christian view that all those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved because we're saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again. For the Church of Christ folks, that's not enough. You have to be a member of their narrow sect. It's a very exclusive group. And if you're not a member of their sect, you're condemned.

GRACE: You know, Pastor, you keep saying "sect." "Sect." You make it sound like a cult.

RUKALA: It kind of is a borderline cult, unfortunately. I don't want to make it out to be some kind of Hare Krishna group, but it has cult-like characteristics and...

GRACE: In what sense?

RUKALA: Well, in the sense of the exclusivism, the attitude that they are the only ones who know the truth. The tactics that they use are sometimes just -- not only un-biblical but unethical, and they can be very ungracious, unfortunately."

Pretty shocking isn't it? I am guessing you disagree with just about everything that is said above. I hope you do.

Well, what I could write about is the whole unity amongst believers thing, I could write about John 17 (one of the coolest books in the Bible) and how Jesus wanted all believers to be as one, I could write about how strange it is that a Baptist called our denomination unfortunately legalistic when Baptists themselves have several bodies of governance such as the Southern Baptist Convention or the National Baptist Convention. I could write about any of those things. But I'm not.

What I want to write about has been on my heart for a long time. I think I'll start with a question. Are you tired of people out there speaking for you as a Christian and telling the "truth" when it is so far from what you really believe? I am.

I am tired of Tom Rukala telling the world through CNN that church of christ is a sect and that we think that we are the only ones going to heaven.

I am tired of Pat Robertson saying things to America like, "You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist. I can love the people who hold false opinions but I don't have to be nice to them."

I am tired of the Reverand Jerry Falwell saying things to America like, "If you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being."

If you've seen the Rob Bell video "Bullhorn," I am tired of the man on the street with the bullhorn yelling to everyone who walks by that they are condemned to hell if they don't accept Jesus today.

But what can I do about it? I don't have a TV show. I don't have a ton of money or funding by Christian organizations. I don't even own a bullhorn.

The conclusion I have come to is pretty simple. If I am tired of everyone else speaking for me, then it's time for me to speak; and speak boldly.

If you look through just the book of Acts, it mentions Paul speaking or having spoke boldy about the message of Christ seven times. Seems like a lot of times to use that phrase in just 28 chapters. That is an example I need to follow. Will I ever be on TV? Probably not. Will I ever make enough money that I become important enough that people want to listen to me? Probably not. But I sure know people that are searching for the truth. So do you.

So I challenge myself and I challenge you to speak. Don't let voices of false teachers be wrongly portrayed across this country as the truth. It has happened for too long and it's time for a change.

At the Line of Departure seminar we went to in February, Brian Mashburn said something I will never forget. He said that the sign that is outside our church building is an incredibly bold one. It says "Church of Christ." Is that who we are? Is it false advertising? Do we live and speak what that sign says?

Speak love -- boldly.

Speak Jesus -- boldly.

Speak truth -- boldly.

RK

Sources: www.cnn.com, http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/foulwell.htm, http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/7027/patrobertson.html, www.biblegateway.com

Wellspring suggestions

2006-04-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Mandy had a great idea yesterday to set up a specific post where you all can come in and suggest songs that you want to sing or things you would like to do at the Wellspring (Wednesday nights at 7:45 PM in the portable building). So, if you want to comment to this post and suggest some songs or other ideas, simply click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of this post and leave your ideas. Some people have said they can't leave a comment because you have to sign in. All you have to do is either click on "Other" or "Anonymous" and you can leave a comment without having a Blogger sign-in.

Every couple of weeks, I will repost this so you can make new suggestions, and I will send them to Matt and Mark every week.

Have a great week!

RK

I am also working on getting a calendar on this site that can be updated with our events, birthdays, etc. If anyone knows where I can find this online, please let me know by leaving a comment or emailing me: ryankirksey@yahoo.com.

Highlights

2006-04-14T14:14:00.000-05:00

Here are the highlights from this week's email. Let me know if you have any questions or ideas/suggestions about any of these. Remember this old school kids' magazine?

1. Both Life Groups are dismissing this Sunday night for Easter, but will resume next Sunday night with the normal schedule. More information will be available next week as to where we will be having groups.

2. The Good Friday service at First Colony that Bekki Kearns mentioned to us is tonight. For more information about it, visit http://www.firstcolonychurch.org/detail.asp?xt=calendar&id=527.

3. We are only two weeks away from the next Habitat for Humanity on April 29. More info will be available next Sunday, but it will be a similar plan to last time with everyone trying to meet at the church beforehand. Kami will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe each person has to bring a lunch this time. But I have been wrong before...

4. Also, Dinner 4 Four is May 6. A lot of you have not been able to come to one of these in the past. It really is a great way to get to know people and have people see the real you (just ask Terry). We hope everyone can join us that night at the church.

5. We are still planning on an Astros game either Sunday May 14 or Sunday May 21. We will let you know soon when the best day is.

Good luck egg hunting....

RK

A jury of your peers

2006-04-09T21:53:00.000-05:00

Last week, I was called to jury duty downtown. While a bit hard on my schedule, I never doubted going to jury duty (we live in a county where only 20% of people show up for jury dury!), but hoped I would not be selected as I had a very busy week and had things that needed to be done at work and home. I had been called once before but was not selected, and found myself hoping that would be my fate this time.

Sure enough, I was selected to be on a jury. And this was not your run-of-the-mill civil suit or contract dispute. This was a criminal case; an aggravated robbery charge. As the guilt/innocence part of the trial went on all day Tuesday, it became evident that this 36 year old man was guilty of holding a 21-year old girl up with a gun. During the punishment hearing, we learned about this man's history and his three prior felonies and other misdemeanors thrown in. With that many felonies, the bookends of time served in jail are from 25 to 99 years. We ended up giving him 45 years after the State had asked for 60.

As I left after it was all over on Wednesday and was thinking about how I just took 45 years of a man's life away, I began to think about the obvious analogies to God not ever judging us that way, and how he never says to us, "well, that's four lies, ten homeless people you ignored and twice you got drunk - sorry, it's eternal gnashing of teeth for you." I thanked God for how He treats me so differently than that and for His unfailing grace.

But then I began to think about something else. When I first walked into the courtroom, I already knew it was an aggravated robbery case. When I saw the guy sitting across from us, noticed his expression, and looked at his dress, my first thought was: "guilty."

Thinking about this first, yet unfounded, impression, I began to wonder, "do we do that same thing spiritually?" Think about it. How many people do you know or see all the time where you think, "there is no reason for me to even try to share Jesus with them. It's hopeless. I might as well focus my energy somewhere else." We judge people spiritually all the time, don't we? I do. I size them up, look at their past, disect their attitude, and decide whether or not to share my knowledge of Christ with them.

Don't we drift towards those that we feel we could effectively persuade? The lovable, the kind, even the popular. Is this the example of Jesus? Let's look:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:37-38 NIV

or...

"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving--large or small--it will be used to measure what is given back to you." - Luke 6:37-38 NLT

The part that strikes me the most is where He says "give, and it will be given to you." If we give Christ, and give Him freely, without judging, we will receive Him in return. And verse 38 tells me that the gift of Christ will be so big and so unbelievable that it will have to be pressed down and smashed together to have enough room for it all. What an incredible thing to have too much of!

While it was stressful and a struggle for me to fulfill my civic duty, and judge a fellow man for his actions, I just have to hope the right thing was done. As for my spiritual duty? The example of Jesus is enough for me.

RK

As always, I appreciate you reading and appreciate your feedback just the same. I look forward to seeing everyone again real soon.

I didn't forget about you...

2006-04-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

Apologies for the lack of updates and lack of email this week. I was selected for jury duty this week and served three days downtown - an experience that I will write about within a day or two. I just wanted to give everyone a quick run-down of the info I know for this weekend:

1. We WILL be moving to room 212 for class this week after all. We will have signs up and everything, but the room is just off of the welcome center across from the bathrooms.

2. Life Groups resume to normal schedule this week. More info about locations will be available Sunday morning.

Dates for upcoming events:
April 21-22 - youth group small group leaders' retreat
April 29 - Habitat for Humanity
May 6 - Dinner 4 Four
May 14 or May 21 - Young Adults trip to Astros game

And in case anyone is interested, current fantasy baseball standings have Jason and Steven pulling up the rear.

See you all Sunday,
RK

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead this weekend....

2006-03-31T15:03:00.000-06:00

....or else you will be an hour late to church. And we know you don't want that to happen. Here is a quick update with everything going on:

1. Don't go to room 212 this Sunday, we are still in 105 for the time being. Kingdom Kids beat us to it.

2. Life Group details will come this Sunday morning. Stay tuned...

3. Kids' LTC performance is this Sunday night at 5:00 at Southeast. Come and check it out if you can.

4. Astros game on April 9 has been postponed because tickets were not available. New dates will be either May 14 or May 21.

5. We are good to go with Dinner 4 Four on Saturday, May 6.

RK

A thank you note

2006-03-30T12:54:00.000-06:00

A couple of people sent me this thank you note from Habitat for Humanity, so I wanted to post it for all to read. Don't forget about our next Saturday to help on April 29. More details will come later. And is it just me or does Jason look like he has no idea what he is doing......

Dear Southeast Church of Christ Habitat Participants,

Just a quick note to say a huge thank you to all of you for the incredible work that y'all did on Saturday for Bay Area Habitat for Humanity. You all were such great workers and you all did a wonderful job framing and putting up the joists!! Another huge thank you goes out to the lunch crew from St. Christopher who provided such a delicious lunch - everyone worked so hard on Saturday and the food was really tasty!!

For those of you who took the time to come over to the 2 home dedications, I can't thank you enough. The families really appreciated all of you being there for their special moment. I'm not sure if you all know it or not, but the Padilla family (the 1st house we dedicated) has 5 children and they were living in a 2 bedroom trailer before they moved in to their home. Since the parents don't speak English, it was very difficult for them to articulate their feelings of joy. LaToya Barnes (the 2nd family) has been a single mom of 2 boys for most of her life and she never imagined being able to own a home before Saturday. Thank you all so much.

I've attached just a few pictures for you all to see - I can't send the entire file because it's huge!!

Finally, if any of you are interested in volunteering with Bay Area Habitat on a more regular basis, please email me - we have a variety of opportunities in construction, administrative, and counseling, and fundraising areas. It's a fabulous ministry and God can use it can change your life!!

Thanks again for putting your faith into action and supporting the ministry of Habitat for Humanity!
God's Peace,

Wendy Gorie
Church Relations Liaison
Bay Area Habitat for Humanity
281-286-1587

Also, we talked about the group Soulforce visiting the ACU campus this past Monday. Go to the link below to read about that day and how it all went. Thanks to Bekki for the link.

http://www.acu.edu/events/news/archives2006/060328_soulforcefollow.html

Check back tomorrow when I will have updated information for everything happening this weekend and in the weeks to come.

RK

This Sunday

2006-03-24T13:23:00.000-06:00

Life Groups this Sunday are at the following locations:

Kirksey/Day
Ryan and Allison's house 6:15 PM
14803 Tumbling Falls
281-286-0563
Bring your bible

Gibson/Boudra
Group is meeting at the beach
more details available Sunday morning

Also, for those of you who know Brian Walton, who now lives in Orlando, there is a bridal shower this Sunday afternoon at 2:30 for his fiance Amy Harvey. All are welcome to attend.

Trying to understand

2006-03-21T22:02:00.000-06:00

Is it just me or does it seem like Satan is really attacking our group lately? I don't mean like causing divisions or making people dislike one another or temptation. I am thinking more along the lines of giving us anguish in our lives, giving us grief, making us wonder why and how so many bad things can happen at one time.

Jack Baten
Maren & Regan
Jim Petty's cancer
The Irvines
Brian & Chelce Day
Dave Gibson's dad
Don Roberts
Claudia Hobbs

I really could go on a lot longer....

In our grief, in our trying to understand, do we doubt? I do. Do you ever wonder and cry out to God, "Why, God?! Why now, why so much? Don't you know how hard it is for us? Can't you see what me and my family are going through?" I've done that. I've done it recently.

You know, Michael Harbour always quotes John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble." Well, I'm sure glad I know that it will come, but nothing can prepare me and us for how hard the trials are; how difficult life becomes. Personally, all I can manage to say is "God, why didn't you give me a few more days with my grandfather? Is that too much to ask?"

As you know, I am a big proponent of the fact that there are a whole lot of people out there a lot smarter than I who can't explain God and His nature, so I don't even try. I take comfort in the fact that you don't have to have a Ph.D. or a 180 IQ to follow God and trust His glory and His plan. If we did understood God and why he allows us to go through trials, would we need Him? If we had His knowledge, would we rely on Him?

So how do we deal with these struggles? How do we handle this grief and pain? Is there an answer or a guide we can go to? Well, maybe not a guide, but an example.

Look at Jesus for a minute. How did he handle pain and loss and fear? When he lost his closest friend, Lazurus, he didn't just cry, he wept (John 11:34-35). When he was facing torture and death, he doubted, questioned and cried out for help (Matthew 26:39).

When Jesus faced grief and loss, he ran the gambit of emotions over and over again. And you know what? We can too. Cry out to God, search for Him, beg Him to show Himself to you, let Him hold you, let Him speak to you. If we ask him why He allows this world to give us so much pain, I think eventually we'll hear His answer:

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world."

Sometimes I forget about the last part of that verse.

Love you all,
RK

Thanks for reading today. Have feedback or a question or an idea? Please leave a comment. We would love to have your feedback. Also, if you ever want to post to this site, let me know. I will give you everything you need.

Habitat for Humanity info

2006-03-16T08:13:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone who signed up is still planning to attend this Saturday morning to help with the house we will be working on. Here is all of the info we have so far from Kami:

1. Meet at the church building at 7:15 am sharp! We will be leaving at 7:30 am regardless of who is not there. A map will be attached to the email that goes out today.
2. This Saturday, we will finish framing the house and begin to put the top-plate on as well as begin putting up the roof trusses. We also will finish finish roofing and siding 2 sheds so there will be plenty of work for the groups. We will also be present for a house dedication at noon that day! What an awesome thing to witness...
3. We will probably finish around 2 pm, but we may work longer depending on how tired work teams are.
4. If there is severe inclimate weather, we will not work on Saturday.
5. Work clothes are as follows - long pants, closed toed shoes (preferably work boots), baseball cap or hard hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, sunglasses or goggles (if handling power tools), hammer, measuring tape, work gloves. Please know that other people may use your personal tools. Habitat has a few tool belts, hard hats, and goggles on site, but if you have your own we ask that you bring them. We might be painting, so please wear clothes that you don't mind getting paint on.
6. Habitat has a large cooler of water on site and water bottles on site. LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED.
7. Before you begin work, you must sign the volunteer labor sheet and the insurance waiver form. If your crew members have worked at the site previously, they do not have to resign the waiver form.

The picture you see is of the lady whose house we are building. Her name is Tycie Moore and she is a single mother of a 7 year old girl. She has been living with her parents trying to support them as her father has had cancer two separate times. She, unfortunately, does not receive any child support or food stamps, so this house will be an incredible gift to help improve their life.

Any other questions - call Kami at 832-221-8172.

rk

Important dates to keep in mind

2006-03-03T17:44:00.000-06:00

March 4 - Broussard's moving date, 10:00 AM
March 18 - Habitat for Humanity, 7:45 AM @ Southeast
April 29 - Habitat for Humanity, 7:45 AM @ Southeast

Also, don't forget about our new Wednesday worship hour. The new time is 7:45-8:45 PM. The temporary room is in the portable building. You can get in touch with Mark Pape, Matt Semanek or Jeremy Gibson for more info.

RK

What to have...

2006-02-27T09:55:00.000-06:00

So we introdcued this thing yesterday so I hope everyone has a chance now and again to check it out. Check it on the weekends, post something if we forget it, let me know if you want to add something to the site. It's completely up to you.

Now that this blog is up and you can see how little we have on here, the question I have for all of you is about content. What should we post on here? How can this site be helpful to you? How can it be helpful to someone who is looking for a group like ours? What can we do to make it user-friendly? Give me your ideas, your opinions and your complaints.

Hope to hear from some of you soon. And, yes, Beaker and Ribbie miss you guys when you're not around.

RK

Where to start...

2005-12-19T14:14:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Southeast Young Adults blog. I thought our group could use an avenue like this to do a lot of different things. You can use it to comment on things you have been thinking about our group or about Southeast. Ask questions about anything from scripture to upcoming events to Life Group or anything. I see this taking a lot of different shapes:

It could be a place where people offer up prayer requests (with your name or anonymously)
It could be a place where group members write words of encouragement or support
It could be a place just to jot down questions or doubts you may have
It could be a place to make suggestions about our group; events, study topics, class, etc.
It could be a place to vent concerns about Southeast, Church of Christ, religion as a whole, etc.
Most of all, it could be a place where we share the one thing we all have in common: Jesus

I encourage all of us to be active in this. Read all the posts, post something yourself, write comments, post pictures. You be in charge.

There are no wrong answers here, no wrong opinions and no enemies. It's just us friends.

-Ryan