The Smiths

I'm home

2008-09-11T23:29:00.002-04:00

Flew back into the country on Friday (5 Sept), and Jen picked me up at the airport. We spent the night at the Omni Interlochen Resort Hotel in Denver, and then got home on Saturday. It's great to be home, although my senses are somewhat overloaded with the sudden influx of green, terrain, cool weather, etc.

Final Out

2008-04-20T22:15:00.003-04:00

Well, I'm finished out-processing for my upcoming deployment (a.k.a. "vacation"). I'm excited about going, although not necessarily ready to leave my fam. Nevertheless, I was able to attend F. E. Warren's 2nd Annual Father-Daughter Banquet last night, where we played, feasted, and danced (interesting for a Southern Baptist, huh?). Here's our picture therefrom . . .

My deployed e-mail is kasjen@gimail.af.mil (note that it is NOT gmail, but gImail!). My address is . . .

Rank/Name
379 AEW/HC
APO AE 09309.

Blessings to your and yours!

Time out!

2008-04-03T21:04:00.002-04:00

Spring Break this year was spent at Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Resort near Altus, OK, with my Mom, my brother and nephew, my sister and brother-in-law, and, of course, my three girls. It's the first time in a very long time that I've needed a vacation from the job and not the people! It was great. We geocached, played games, swam, hiked, golfed (83 for nine holes; 165 for 18--not too bad for my first game and a half of golf!), ate, rested, played, read, etc. There is a little "amusement park" nearby. It's safety (or, at least, its string of luck) was demonstrated when a group of 100 school kids took the day off to enjoy it. Nobody died, so it was apparently safer than it looked! At any rate, we did the go-karts and the bumper cars, and had a blast with the kids. You can see the photos, if you wish, at flickr.com under "The World of SMITH." After that, we spent some time with Mom at her house, and had all-in-all a wonderful time.

Yesterday was our 14th wedding anniversary. We did not mean to, but Jen got a very large present . . .

I hit the sandbox at the end of this month for fourish months. Please keep my family in your prayers.

Blessings!

Update!

2008-03-11T01:04:00.003-04:00

So, yes, we all survived the "Great Smith Ski Trip" of 2008. There were no broken bones, jammed fingers, fractured limbs, or any other gruesome ski injuries--simply sore bodies. The two girls did a WONDERFUL job of skiing for their first full weekend, and we have, as a matter of fact, been back!! The worst part of the trip was the one hour trip to Denver which, due to traffic, turned into four hours!!! Otherwise, it was a great weekend. Thanks to all who expressed concern.

Other news? We are getting ready for my "Summer Vacation." In fact, the base is helping out by mock deploying me this week (as if I had nothing else to do). The other three are making plans for the summer, which I'm pretty sure involve grandparents and horses. Hopefully, they'll let you know how that works out this summer--otherwise, be prepared for a long blogging hiatus! I have been requested to arrive six days early, so that puts me in-country a week earlier than originally planned. Of course, there's always the possibility of leaving even earlier than that!!! I've started my shots (anthrax, smallpox, and other deadly diseases); we've started making a list (and checking it twice); the countdown begins soon. By the way, we heard the youngest moaning in her sleep last night. When da whiff asked her about it, she said she had been dreaming that sun spiders, camel spiders, and other assorted desert baddies were biting her!! She said, "It was not a very nice dream."

Otherwise, the girls are all doing well. We are attempting to change our eldest's schooling, but that's been an exercise in frustration thus far. The whiff has been feeling very good lately. The dog is doing well. Really, I think all is well on the home front. How are you and yours doing?

Where I'll be this weekend!

2008-01-24T14:00:00.001-05:00

Where I'll be this weekend!

2008-01-24T14:00:00.000-05:00

Mousetraps and Moves

2008-01-19T15:44:00.000-05:00

Before Christmas Break, our eldest was tasked with powering a car with a mousetrap! My wife and I thought about this for a little bit, wondering how on earth we were supposed to do that, when I had an epiphany!!!! My father-in-law, Mr. "I can make anything work" was coming!!!! Especially as he lives in MI, and doesn't often have a chance to "create" with his granddaughter, we thought this would be a great opportunity for him and her to do something together. Of course, he agreed, and he and K worked all during the break on her Mousetrap Car (which ran a fast 3.6 seconds, but did not win the race!!!). I now present to you pictures of K's Mousetrap Car . . . . . . . .

Just by the way, in about 3.5 months I'll be taking a vacation to Southwest Asia for four months. We knew this was coming, but we look forward it it with some trepidation. Please keep my family in your prayers.

Thanks!

Hornet's Nest--continued

2008-01-11T18:25:00.001-05:00

Well, it's been a while since my last blog, and I have enjoyed the comments. Thanks to all engaged in this conversation. Let me start by saying this:

1) Homeschooling is a GREAT idea for some. I wish we were in the position to homeschool. I am in NO WAY opposed to homeschooling. However, being in favor of something does not negate one's ability to criticize.

2) I need to elaborate on my starting point, so everyone is on the same page. I began this conversation because I had some HS kids visit our base youth group; their dad then told me that they did not enjoy it because the "speaker" (not myself) didn't know what he was talking about. This is, in a word, untrue. I don't have speakers who don't know what they are talking about. It is this kind of attitude that I have seen in other HS, in Christian school proponents, and in public school proponents--I can't learn from people who don't meet my expectations exactly.

3) My goal here is NOT to bash HS, or public schoolers, or . . . . . ., but to learn how to meet the needs of HS in my youth group(s) and to learn how to engage them in the church's conversation as well.

Now, how do I answer all of the posts? That's a great question, and I'm to which I'm unsure of the answer. I'll do it like this--I'll post the name of the commenter, and then my comments to the commenter, and we'll go from there! Sound complicated? Good!

Chickadee--In my opinion, we ALWAYS swing too far, thus the constant reminder for humility in Scripture (something all Christians are generally short of).

EEEEMommy--You're welcome to come out ANY TIME, and we'll have this conversation over cinnamon rolls and cappucinos. Just don't laugh at me in uniform! Now, for your post . . . 1) "Socialization" a la public schoolers is not all bad. 2) I would define "socially mature" as able to relate to peers. Personally, it took me forever to get to that point. It's hard enough, but not learning to engage with one's peers socially makes it harder. Does it matter? I believe so, but mainly because I know it has to happen at some point in time, and it should happen under a parent's guidance, not when they go to college! We don't want to be in danger of raising culturally-irrelevant children, do we? So how do we "socialize" in good ways, and not in the bad? 3) As for not wanting to talk about boys, etc., Kayla is the same way. She's simply not interested. We have some HS friends (another Chaplain) whose girls feel the same way. However, can't we learn to change the conversation, or even learn how to engage appropriately? As for HS "kissing dating goodbye," my question is this--do they understand why they are kissing dating goodbye, or is it because it's the "Christian" thing to do. Knowing why allows them to engage and to keep it up (which I'm in favor of). Not knowing why causes too many kids (HS or otherwise) to go too far when "released" from their parent's protection. 4) There's a danger in saying that the culture is in all ways BAD. It's the same danger as saying all Christian music is good. Both statements are untrue. High School Musical? My kids can watch it. The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman? My eldest could read it. Am I going to allow either without supervision and trying to think it through? I hope not. Am I a horrible Christian because I would allow it? There are those who would say so, but again, I'm in favor of teaching my children discernment by practicing it. Does everyone have to agree with me?! I wish!!! Are people horrible Christians if they don't? No. 5) As for HS not being used to being in a classroom environment, they need to learn to be. Almost every training I go to is classroom-based. Are you "complaining" about the classroom, or about the lack of relevance of the material? Two different things here. If you're talking about the lack of relevance of the material, then you should be talking to the Youth Minister and helping him find examples, etc., which ARE relevant. I know you know this, EEEEMommy, but engage with the Youth Minister.

Conservachick--A prideful attitude is already present in our sinful nature, and parents should be on the lookout for it. Unfortunately, it's usually more "caught" than "taught," and is certainly not relegated to HS alone. One question I have is this--are HS considered "spiritually elite?" I hope not.

Shindigs--You might know me too well! 1) I'm taking issue with the snobbery that I have seen in HS (as well as Christian schoolers, just by the way). 2) As HS parents are human just like the rest of us, then yes, I doubt any parent can raise balanced kids! We try . . . . 3) Who has the responsibility to train our kids? Why, the State, of course!!!!!

Just kidding. Naturally, parents do, as do the elders in a church, as does the church, as does the Family of God. As a former full-time Youth Minister, I both understand and take issue with the comment of "Young-Inexperience Youth Ministers." Are you saying that they have NOTHING to teach your children? I hope not. As a matter of fact, why do Christian parents have more issue with "Young-Inexperienced Youth Ministers" than they do with Senior Pastors who are blatantly sinning? God puts people in our lives from whom we can learn, and we do our children a disservice by not teaching them that principle. 4) Speaking at different levels is a part of the process. I see too many Christian parents telling their children, in words and actions, NOT to learn to speak on different levels. "Only those just like us have something to teach us" (James 2, anyone?) 5) A child may well be "socially-immature" when unable to relate to peers. As for having "fun," I'm speaking of the ability to enjoy fellowship without having to have a dissertation every time. Sometimes, we just need to enjoy being a Christian and enjoy being with our "brethren."

Anonymous--Relevance is important. Reaching out to the "sick" is important. Bearing fruit and NOT hiding our lamp is important. "Dumbing down" was nowhere implied. Higher standards are certainly called for. Pride is not. Favoritism is not. "Middle ground" does not imply compromised beliefs. It does, however, imply engaging in the conversation. Jesus may not have come to the middle, but He certainly came to Earth (much beyond the middle, wouldn't you agree?!). Jesus reached people where they are. Standing on an ivory tower and saying, "I can't learn from you; I can't talk with you; etc," is also not what Jesus did. It's great to stand aside and snub our noses at others who don't think like us, but I don't have time for that. I'd much rather teach my kids to learn to love others. PLEASE HEAR ME--homeschooling parents are not the only ones guilty of this, nor are ALL homeschooling families guilty of this, but I hear these same arguments from Christian School Educators, Homeschoolers, etc.

Taralynn819--Great comments! I wish I had written this in the first place!!! Let me point out just one comment: "The goal is finding common ground without compromising my faith in order to encourage other believers and to share Chris with the lost . . . if parents give their kids the tools, they have to entrust the outcome to the lord and not shelter them from the world." Thanks for sharing.

KYTransplants--I like stirring up trouble--it's a gift of mine!!! :) I don't actually feel "beat up," but engaged in great conversation.

Let me close with these questions--
1) How do I, as a minister, help homeschoolers (parents and students) to relate to other kids and other teachers and to the life of the Church as a whole?
2) How do we use the gifts of homeschoolers and their families in our groups?
3) Is there a way to "cross the divide" between HS and "others"?
4) How do I help HS learn to engage and relate without being dragged down?
5) How can YOU, as HS parents, help the rest of us to welcome your kids into our groups without a sigh and a worry that you will stand back and judge, not come alongside and help (which I have seen as well)?

Thanks for engaging in the conversation. If I have offended, I do apologize and ask for your forgiveness.

Peace and greetings,
Kraig

Hornets Nest

2007-12-19T23:29:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking out loud here, so don't shoot me. Having run youth groups for the last seven years, I've noticed several interesting dynamics, but the most recent involves homeschoolers. In fact, at a recent Youth Specialties Conference I attended, there were a couple of seminars on how to deal with homeschoolers in your youth group. What's the problem? Here's what I see with homeschoolers (and I welcome feedback and input).

1. They have learned so much more Bible and theology than other kids their age that they don't seem to know how to relate to those kids who are "Christian," but aren't as deep. At least, they can't relate on a spiritual level without being scornful.
2. Church groups are very educational for them. Learning is great, but education is best tempered by rubbing shoulders with others not the same.
3. Grace is often lacking towards others not on the same spiritual path.
4. They don't know how to speak spiritually to different levels.
5. Pride? Hubris?
6. Very spiritually mature, but not socially mature when it comes to other Christians.
7. Have difficulty having fun spiritually.

I don't see these in all homeschoolers (especially my friends who homeschool!), nor am I against homeschooling. Nonetheless, I see it enough that it worries me. As humans, we can never come to the middle, but always seem to swing too far to the opposite side. I wonder if the homeschooler characteristics I've described here aren't a symptom of that very thing.

I hate conferences!

2007-11-17T23:39:00.000-05:00

It never fails--I go to some faith-based conference and the following happens:
1. I go somewhat "crazy" for two days;
2. I start returning to Kraig-normal and begin to experience some spiritual crisis;
3. God deals with me in a very meaningful way;
4. I go home a very different person.

It is, quite honestly, a truly painful experience for me! This has been no exception. I am currently attending the Youth Specialties National Youth Worker Conference in Atlanta, GA. I arrived on Wednesday, and I go home on Monday. True to my normal experience, I went "crazy" Wednesday night and Thursday night; Friday was a very down day for me--I mean that intensely. I sat in worship and felt nothing. I sat in conferences and felt . . . . nothing. Honestly, I have noticed, at least twice in the last year, times when I have actually experienced spiritual depression, which is unusual for me. I came home last night asking God to reveal to me the root of my "issue" (one of many, I know). When I finally arose this morning, I felt some better, but I still have been praying today for God to show me what's going on.

For tonight's "General Session," I made sure to get a seat closer to the front. Louie Giglio spoke and Chris Tomlin played afterwards. Just by the way, if you've never heard Louie Giglio speak, stop what you are doing (like reading this blog), and look him up. He is phenomenal, not because he has great words of wisdom, but because he is always pointing to the very basics of Christ and, in this case, the cross. His whole 'talk' tonight was how we MUST go to the cross when the bottom drops out beneath us. The cross shows us God's love for us; it shows us God's empathy with us; it shows us God's victory for us; it shows God's control over life and man's freedom for us; it shows God's plan for us. As a "side benefit," I can see times when I have failed, in my AF ministry, to point people to the cross of Christ and God's plan in the world as the answer for injustice. Anyway, as Louie prays, and Chris Tomlin begins to play, God just reveals the root of my struggle. He gives me a word for the struggle and a picture of His healing in my life. Chris Tomlin ends with "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" tonight. As he did, I could see and feel the chains drop off. It was amazing. It was freeing. It was totally God at work.

Please pray for me these two things:
1. God's healing of reconciliation in my life;
2. That I can get into the practice of pointing people to the cross, especially as they share with me their struggles, questions, and hurts.

God Bless.

It's really . . .

2007-10-24T22:39:00.000-04:00

fantastic weather today. It snowed for the second time on Sunday, but today was in the 80's. It's amazing how the air and the light is so . . . different here in the West. Perfectly clear; ethereal light; everything in the sharpest of detail; sunshine causing the yellow leaves to glow; the prairie alight--I don't think you can really understand it until you live out here. Absolutely amazing!!!!!

Happy Birthday to the Smith Girls

2007-10-20T12:08:00.001-04:00

It's birthday month once again in the Smith family household. Mom, Sierra, and I, Kayla, are now one year older. Sierra is now 8 and I am now 12.
Sierra wants to type something now. Here it is: I was sick yesterday. It was a very unpleasant experience.
Other than our birthdays and the little event yesterday there really hasn't been anything interesting going on around here. so we'll talk to you later.
Sincerely,
The Smiths

Apparently, their father says, going out to eat at a fondue restaurant in Manitou Springs, CO; having homemade bread and potato soup or sloppy joes for their birthday suppers (they got the meal of their choice); being able to take homemade sugar cookies to share at school; and receiving gifts don't rate as very interesting to the girls. Hmmmmmmmmmmm--will their father remember this?! I wonder.

I am an American Airman . . .

2007-10-04T22:22:00.000-04:00

http://www.aetc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070914-043.wmv

First Family Camping Trip!

2007-10-01T22:04:00.001-04:00

Despite being told that one does not do youth work in the Air Force, I am the Director of The YG at F. E. Warren AFB. We took our first youth trip this last weekend, to go camping! There is a spot not too far from here called Vedauwoo (look it up) that is truly amazing. Anyway, after I took the youth home on Saturday, we Smiths stayed and had our FFCT (see title). We did some geocaching, grilled some steaks, and the girls got to experience an outhouse in 30 degree weather at 0200!!! It was a great trip. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment . . .

A grand total of 60 years!

2007-09-17T16:54:00.000-04:00

Need a laugh? Here you go!

2007-09-06T22:45:00.000-04:00

I grew up going to a traditional Southern Baptist Church. What does that mean? We almost always sang "Just As I Am" for the invitation (which we had at every service). We always sang verses 1, 3, and 4 of every song, for which we had to stand. For every service, the order was exactly the same. I could hardly WAIT to get to a church service that was different. I finally had that opportunity, some, at my last place of employment with the Contemporary Service. Then, after leaving there, we attended a bonafide Contemporary Service that was WONDERFUL!!! Jen and I thought we were on the way OUT of traditional.

I joined the AF. I was put in charge of the . . . Traditional Service. Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhh! Not only that, but my new boss wants an even more traditional format!!!! It's killer. But wait--it gets even better!

I have been put in charge of the Liturgical Service at F. E. Warren AFB. What's liturgical? Liturgical, technically, is to have a set order of worship. Indeed, that is the AF definition--we will have a set order of worship. Feel free to look it up in Wikipedia. For those of you aware of what it is, and who know me, I can't imagine a more antithetical service for me to run, can you?

Peace be with you . . . .

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-09-04T21:28:00.001-04:00

On Top of Mount Belford

2007-09-04T20:46:00.000-04:00

Well, I promised an update about a hike and pictures. It's late because we can't find the cord for downloading the pics from the camera!!! However, my brother sent some pics, so I'm using those!!! The story of this hike starts in 1994. Jen and I, having married during Easter Break, took an extended honeymoon over Summer Break to Colorado, where my sister, in the early stages of becoming an avid Fourteener, asked if we wanted to hike up Pike's Peak. Sounded fun--Jen and I both love the mountains (actually, it was Jen's first time ever in CO)--sure! Never mind that we came from 100 ft above sea level or that we had not, in any way, trained for the hike. Mel said it would be easy and fun, so we went for it. Needless to say, we did not fare so well on the 12 hour hike up 5000 feet! If you really want to know how it ended up, give us a call.

Fast forward 13 years . . . I am now acclimated to 6000+ ft above sea level and in considerably better shape than before. Consequently, when my sister and my brother (the one in San Francisco) suggested climbing another Fourteener, I said, "Yes." I did, after all, have something to prove! We actually started up Missouri Mountain, but decided on Mount Belford due to the distance being a mile shorter. My ten year old nephew and my dog both accompanied us.

Climbing in the Rockies is an exercise in humility. Being that near majesty is a faint, although awe-inspiring, echo of what it will be like to be in the majestic presence of God Himself! It was a beautiful day. The meadows were green; the mountain stream was full; the sky was crystal clear; it was amazing. It was hard (very), and I hurt for the next week, but it was a great trip. My dog and my sister both did considerably better than I did, but I did better than my brother and his son. I'm happy with myself.

All of these pictures were taken at the summit of Mount Belford. Enjoy the view. If you want to try this yourself, start training, and then let me know when you want to join the Fourteeners!!!

Update!

2007-08-26T20:28:00.000-04:00

This summer has been uber-busy! We've had visits to make, funerals to attend, and visitors to receive. The largest and longest-staying group of visitors was my sister-in-law and her family from the mighty Mitten State! Her husband could only stand us for a week, but she and her two boys stuck it out for around four weeks!!!! Brave woman . . . . . What could cousins possibly do for four weeks? Hmmmmmmmmmm, let me count the ways--
1. See the USAF Thunderbirds;

2. Buy cowboy hats;

3. Make cookies;

4. Sightsee--
a. Cheyenne Frontier Days--

b. Estes Park, CO--

5. Bowl--

6. Get in LOTS of trouble!

So, stay tuned--I plan to blog what I did this weekend, and it's a doozy!!! I'm sore, tired, and NOT cranky!!!! For more information, check out this website--http://www.14ers.org/page.php?pname=peaks/sawatch/belford/standard. Also, not that I know how to put a video on, but my input for the whole music thing is Jimmy Needham's "Lost at Sea."

Indomitable

2007-08-05T22:21:00.001-04:00

It's the end of an era. Born in the 19 teens, Bunah May Klingman Heston had designs of being a teacher. However, the Great Depression intervened. She also had designs of marrying another man, but a move and her father intervened (interestingly enough, she was written to by two men, but only received letters from the one her father deemed "the lesser of two evils"). She ended up married to a farmer in Southwest Oklahoma. This is the same man she "forced" to buy a car because riding on a horse would cause runs in her hose! A diminuitive woman, Grandma loved kids, chickens, colors, new foods, stuff galore, teddy bears, knick-knacks, gossip, games, hot pink, and helping other people. She did NOT, however, love my attempt at positive thinking while riding in the back seat as Granddad drove her to the hospital for a broken arm. "Just try not to think about it, Grandma" went over like a Yankee carpetbagger in Louisiana. That's the same summer I used a lawn mower to run over her cherry trees she was trying to grow. Grandma was blunt beyond belief, having no problem asking very personal questions of my girlfriend at the time the very first time they met. Jennifer married me anyway!

Some of my favorite memories are . . . gathering eggs with/for her from the chicken coop; eating her country-fried steak; seeing my 80+ year old grandmother walk around in a hot pink sweatsuit; the box of sermon illustrations she clipped out of newspapers, newsletters, etc, and gave me for Christmas one year; the child's toy she gave me when I was a teen because she thought we could play with it together!; the too-small backpack I took to Germany with me and have since passed down to my children (far outlasting any of the "real" backpacks I used in college); her cheating at every game we played (much like her father did in dominoes); working in the garden with her, especially the summer we gathered potato bugs and talked about making a pizza with them (you had to be there); her pride at my being a minister and her love of Jesus Christ; driving her around the countryside just last month as she enjoyed the green grass, colorful flowers, and livestock . . . .

Driving down to Colorado Springs Friday night, preparing to go to a family reunion in Texas, Mom called me and told me that Grandma was gone. It was the weirdest trip down, as I alternately cried in mourning and laughed at the prospect of Grandma in heaven, face to face with Jesus Christ. I listened to an old song--"Ain't No Grave"--by Russ Taff all the way. Sorry--I'm not proficient enough to place it on here, but it's worth listening to. Saturday night, I fixed Country-fried Steak a la Grandma, and we toasted her as we ate. I think she would have appreciated it. It's really strange to me. On the one hand, Granddad was always the one we talked about--Grandma was a little strange to us. On the other hand, what an indomitable person she proved to be, and one who just grew better with age. Thank you, Jesus, for the wonderful opportunity to have Bunah Heston in my life.

Cheyenne Frontier Days!

2007-07-22T20:18:00.000-04:00

Yep, for those in the know, it's that time of year in Cheyenne again! I won't post all of the pictures, but here's a few for you to enjoy.

First, we have the 500 head of cattle drive down the ride (we could see it from our house, but chose to get a closer view!).

Our youngest took the pics, so you must accept them for as they are! Yesterday was the first Cheyenne Frontier Days parade (with Gen. T. Michael Moseley as the Grand Marshall). There's just a few pics from that.

Lastly, I had to have new "official photos" taken, so here's my best shot. I'd really like to know your opinion of this one!!!

What a year!

2007-07-07T00:16:00.000-04:00

So, today I pinned on Captain (that means I promoted to the rank of Captain). It's been exactly one year since I went to Andrews AFB, and some young Captain swore me in as an Air Force officer. I wasn't, at first, all that impressed with putting on Captain. For Chaplains, it's kind of automatic. But then I thought--I went through 3.5 years of seminary and 6 full years of ministry and 1 year as a 1st Lt to get these, and I'll be in these for 8+ years. Maybe I should treat it as a bigger deal than I have been! Besides, just working with Mark Garrett is enough to have made me a Colonel!!! With all of that in mind, Ch Breig (our Wing Chaplain) read the orders and swore me in. Jen had made homemade cinnamon rolls (excellent, as usual), and I had brought orange juice, so we sat down afterwards and had breakfast together. Actually, it's pretty meaningful to take the Officer's Oath. Check it out at http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj02/win02/keskel.html.

What makes this really important is thinking about where I was last year (it's been a pretty sweet year) and the year before (that was a pretty crappy year). God has certainly blessed us in this last year. I've had the chance in the last year to get a job that I enjoy very much; I spent time with my dying grandfather and ailing grandmother that has been very meaningful to me. I am closer to my sister than I ever have been, and I've seen more of Mom than I have for a long, long time. Jen's happy; the girls are happy; my promotion today simply marks a God-blessed year. May He get all of the glory!

James 1:2-4

2007-07-03T17:10:00.000-04:00

I'm preaching through the Book of James in my church, and this week, I'm preaching on James 1:2-4. Studying for it, I did some word studies, and wrote my own "translation" of the passage. I am particularly impressed by the definition of "perseverance" being "characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith by even the greatest trials and sufferings," as well as the idea of perseverance becoming mature within us. Anyway, here it is--let me know what you think.

"See it as a matter of pure joy, my fellow believers, when you are utterly drowning in those experiences sent by God and designed to test your faith, holiness, or character, because--knowing the person, character, mind, and plans of God--you know that the testing of your strong convictions about Jesus as the Messiah will result in you having the characteristic of one who does not waver from his deliberate loyalty and faith--even when crushed! Allow that characteristic of unwavering loyalty and faith to Jesus to become full-grown and mature in you with the end in mind of you yourself becoming a spiritual adult--ethically free from sin and lacking no spiritual grace."

I am constantly amazed that God redeems EVERYTHING in our lives. Everything we experience (kids, marriage, bosses, friends, family, jobs, etc.) is PURPOSEFUL in the hands of God. What a cool concept that is!

Family Time

2007-06-30T15:05:00.000-04:00

This last week was a really neat week. It started on Saturday with the girls, Jen, and my sister experiencing (very mildly) a "deployment." They went through a deployment line; they toured a C-130 and a Blackhawk Medivac Helicopter. They came back to Base X, where they tried MRE's, ate lunch, put on chem gear, and more. My sister's favorite experience was driving the bomb robot! It was really well-done. If you'll go to www.warren.af.mil next week, you had ought to be able to see a pic or two. I'll try to post some next week here as well.
We left on Sunday for Oklahoma to visit my mom. It was a horrible, wicked, no good, very bad day! I was cranky; Jen was cranky; we hit a concrete abutment and flattened a tire (Thank you, Lord, for safety!); we hit at least one bird, and a doe walked up to the edge of the road. It's already a 13-hour drive, which didn't help at all! However, we did eventually make it to a very green and wet Oklahoma--most unusual for late June!!! In fact, not many people could remember this wet of an OK summer. Be praying for them--wet ground makes harvesting difficult, if not impossible! We stayed in OK until Jen and I left on Thursday. My Grandmother is 92, and suffers from dementia. She is skin and bones, and often refuses to get out of bed. We had a great time with her! She enjoyed going on rides around the country; she did puzzles with our youngest; she was cracking us up. She told me she was going to cry when I left. I did indeed almost cry, because I don't think I'll ever see her on this side of heaven again. However, I'm really grateful that I was able to spend some time with her. She has always been very proud of me for being a pastor--in fact, one year for Christmas, she gave me a box of clippings to use for sermon illustrations! She loves bright colors (finding the flowering shrubs, etc., while we were riding around was always a plus), so Jen bought her two yard ornaments--the spinny kind. I grew in appreciation of this wonderful woman this week, and the wonderful woman--Mom--who honors the Scriptural mandate of taking care of one's family. It was a bittersweet week. My Dad is buried there, Mom's gravestone is also there. My uncle is buried there, as are my great-grandparents. When Grandma dies (she thought I called her "granny" this last week and got hot!) and Mom leaves, my family will be out of a town lived in for many years. Nevertheless, what a great opportunity to be with family we had! The girls remained, giving Mom much-needed "Mimi" time and help, so Jen and I are enjoying our time alone.
Tomorrow's sermon begins a series on the Book of James. It's titled "Revolutionary Living." May your lives be filled with the revolution of the love of Jesus Christ, and may you revolutionize the world around you! Happy Independence Day (such a misnomer for Christians)!

Yikes! I'm in 7th-grade!!!

2007-06-16T14:04:00.000-04:00

Hi! This is Kayla. I'm in 7th-grade now, and I'm a little nervous. I've visited my school with the rest of my class, and I should get my schedule soon. They showed us a play (a la Cinderella) that I really liked. We got to ask questions. I don't like that we MUST dissect a frog (Dad thinks it's cool--ugh!!!).

Saturday, sister and I are going to "deploy." It's called S.P.A.C.E. Jr Deployer. We get to experience what Dad does when he deploys. It's not exactly the same, but it's pretty close. I think it's going to be cool. We've received our orders already. We get ID's (even though I have a real one) and dogtags. We get to wear Daddy's clothes, if we want to (just the shirt and hat). It's gonna be cool.

Friday, June 8th, multiple things happened. 1) We got out of school. 2) The Father-Daughter Banquet happened. It was AWESOME!!! We danced with Dad, and ate supper, and had dessert, and had our pics taken, and all sorts of stuff. I loved it!

In case any of you don't know, my Aunt's horse (Expresso) had a baby (DoubleShot). She was really stubborn about having it, though. We kept waiting and waiting and waiting, and she waited another week to have it! I can't wait to see her. Here's a picture of her:

That's all for this week. Come back next week for MORE!

Sincerely,
The Smiths