I've been tagged! Part II

In case you missed it... Part 1 containing 1-3 is below!

Get comfortable… this is a long one!

4) I like to read books and write about stuff. There are few things in life that I enjoy more than sitting down and reading a good book. I especially like to put on some music that matches the mood of the story and just sit and read. I have to confess that I seldom do this anymore. It seems there is always something on TV to watch, something to look up on the internet or a game to play on the XBOX. I do still occasionally have moments when a book will just consume me and I sit and read. Now that I think about it, I wonder why I don’t do that more often. My life is so full of confusion and distractions that it seems that I never have any peace. When I allow myself to be taken off to some far away world filled with heroes and heroines, elves and dwarves or just ordinary people on a journey through life, my life becomes peaceful. I also find the same peace when I sit down to write. I’m sitting in the same coffee shop where I wrote part one of “been tagged”, I have my headphones on listening to some praise and worship while life goes on outside the glass window. I feel peaceful in my spirit and life is good. One of my favorite things to write is poetry. I’m really bad at it but that doesn’t stop me from liking to write it. I’ve not written a whole lot of poems in my life but when I have, it has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. You can check out my latest poem at the end of the post below called “Disturbed”. It’s not very good, it doesn’t even rhyme, but I loved writing it!
It’s amazing how God works… My first grade teachers discovered that I had a reading problem so they assigned me to a special reading teacher name Mrs. Robbins. I spent about an hour a day working with Mrs. Robbins on my reading skills. My school library had this program where if you read 100 or more books, you got a tee-shirt. By the end of the first grade I had so many tee-shirts that I didn’t even bother keeping a list of the books that I read anymore. I wonder what Mrs. Robbins would think if she were to read this? Praise God for my reading problem that allowed Mrs. Robbins to come into my life and help me discover one of the greatest joys in my life.

5) God has blessed me with the spiritual gift of intercession. Many times it is difficult to discover our spiritual gifts or have confidence in the knowledge of the gifts that God has given us. I have a couple gifts that are scary andexciting to me that I sometimes find myself questioning whether I’m really called to that gift or where I can use that gift in a way to glorify God. The gift that God has given me of prayer isn’t like that for me. Like reading and writing, I love to pray. Even now, writing about this gift brings tears to my eyes. I still remember the first time I was asked to pray in front of a group of people. It was a thanksgiving meal at the home of my wife’s relatives. I had never prayed in front of a group of any size before but I bowed my head and opened myself up to God and asked him to use me. I don’t remember that prayer but I remember that feeling of praying to Him and how fulfilling it made me feel. Since that moment several years ago, I’ve had the opportunity to pray in front of many crowds, some large and some small and it’s been an incredible blessing.
I went through a period shortly after discovering this gift where my pride caused the “well to dry up”. I found myself stumbling through prayers by myself and seeking praise for each prayer as I tried to make each prayer more eloquent than the last. It wasn’t long before I found that I was by myself in my prayers and God was no longer in them. I went through a period of time where I would avoid being asked to prayer or I would position myself so that I could ask someone else to pray. I’ve had many struggles during my spiritual growth but that was one of the most hurtful times I can remember. I had been given a gift by God and instead of using it for His glory; I abused it to bring myself glory so God took it away. I’m thankful that we serve a loving God of second chances and because of His greatness, I now enjoy many moments of fellowship through prayer with my Father. There is something amazing that takes place inside me when I open my heart and let God speak through me. I know this is going a little long for a “random” thing but I have a funny story about prayer that I want to share.

Incase you haven’t noticed already, I can be a little long winded especially when I pray. Well, I was playing softball the other weekend in a tournament with a mixed group of guys, some believers some not and I was given the opportunity to prayer before ever game. We were about to play our 5th and final game of the day when someone called for the “prayer man” to lead the team in prayer. As we gathered in a circle, one of the guys, a pretty big jokester, said “maybe this time he’ll make it into the New Testament.” We all laughed pretty hard, and I proceeded to begin my prayer by asking God to help these guys get into a comfortable position incase I got carried away again. 

What a joy it has been to discover this gift and use it for the glory of His Kingdom. Once again, Thank you Father!

Col. 1:9,10 - For this reason we have always prayed for you, ever since we heard about you. We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will, with all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives..


6) I’m a little bit of a non-conformist (see Romans 12:2) so for this last random thing, I thought I would end with a barrage of random things that have happened to me in my life. Here is my list of random things: I have pitched a no hitter in a ball game… in little league. I almost pitched a “perfect” game (look it up). Speaking of almost, I was once about 3 strikes and a 7 pin away from bowling a 300 game… I ended up with a 266. I was kicked out of high school in the 3rd semester of my senior year for missing too many days in my first period class. The class was English. I got my HS diploma by going to an “extended day” school. The principal there called me an idiot and said he couldn’t believe someone with my grade point average would be there. One of my greatest regrets is not playing football my junior or senior year. I once broke a teammates arm in practice… in the elementary school. If I could go back and play football again, it would be one of the most difficult choices I’ve ever had to make. A couple years ago, I went to a NASCAR race and became so intoxicated that I fell and broke a guys arm. I never got to apologize.  During my pitching debut as a freshman in HS I allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 1 strike out in 3 innings. The same guy I struck out in the first inning hit one of the longest homeruns I’ve ever seen hit at North Davidson in his next at bat. I was nicknamed “Smiley” by my HS baseball coach but if you talk to my immediate family, they will only know me as “Bubba” or as my two nieces affectionately know me “Uncle Bubba”. I’ve never been in a serious fight, I’ve always backed down, unless it was my younger brother. I have two brothers, I’m the middle child. If you have a middle child, they need special attention! ;) I love to sing at the top of my lungs sometimes. I can’t sing worth a hoot! I’m very emotional (soft?). I cry at almost anything. I once cried during the movie “Snoopy come home.” I used to take tap and ballet when I was younger. I still love to watch a good drama or dance. I also like to shop! I probably like to shop more than my wife does! My most recent exciting random thing is that I had the actual author of a book that I wrote about on my blog stop by and leave a comment! Check it out below!

Well… I could go on and on today but I just hit page 3 so I believe I’ll stop. My wife told me that these were supposed to be 6 random short things about myself but I looked in the rules and didn’t see anywhere where it said these had to be short!

I would love to tag some other people but unfortunately I don’t really know any other bloggers to tag. I’m more of a lurker than a blogger. I do have a couple places that I visit regularly so I’ll just link them here and hope that is good enough for the game to continue.

Lysa Terkeurst – This is one of my favorite places to visit. I feel a little weird because it’s really geared for women but I’ve found that her biblical principals go beyond the boundaries of gender.

Greg Laurie - Greg’s ministry has played a big role in my spiritual growth. His biblical teaching and books have helped build a foundation of God’s truth in my life. If you do nothing else, take a moment and go to Greg’s blog and watch the video message concerning his son’s death. While there is great sadness there, I guarantee that the faith and inspiration you gain will be worth the amount of time it takes out of your day.

Denise Hildreth – Where living and life meet: Denise is the author of several books including the “Will of Wisteria” which I just recently read and wrote about on this blog. I look forward to reading more of her books while continuing to read her blog filled daily with biblical principles.

www.lifechurch.tv – While this is not a blog, it’s one of the greatest church websites I’ve ever been to. You can watch messages, download tons of resources (FREE) and even attend live internet church! Craig Groeschel is one of the greatest speakers/preachers I’ve ever heard.

Eric Bryant – Eric is the author of Peppermint Filled Piñatas. This book and video series is a phenomenal tool for learning more about building relationships. Eric’s sense of humor should remind us all that our lives are meant to be lived in constant joy and praise and not in judgment and condemnation.

Before I sign off I would like to thank Natalie for the push to get back into writing. I had forgotten how enjoyable writing can be and how beneficial it is to my personal relationship with my Lord and Savior. Love you guys and thanks again.

To my wife… I know the last couple months have been difficult for you but I know that God has something in store for you and me. I’m sorry that my couchpotatoidess has side effects in your life but I know that somewhere out there, there is a cure! I might need to spend more time on the internet, playing xbox and watching TV to find it! Just kidding! Thank you for you support, your inspiration, your faith in who God has called me to be and your love. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love you!

Finally (Whew!)… I love reading, writing and prayer… now if I could just find a job that would pay me to do these things! Is that thought scary to anyone else but me????

Thank you for reading (hopefully).