Author: Erik

slumber party

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they may hide the remote from each other, talk in their sleep, and have a messy room, with clothes scattered everywhere, but they’re my girls.  here in the stillness of five in the morning, the family is out of town and two of my younger sisters are having a slumber party in my room — still sleeping as i type — simple, yet profoundly beautiful to me.

last night, as little eyes were peaking out from their comforters, they both watched as I told stories of how i put them to sleep when they were babies (i walked them to sleep).  they both laughed and giggled as i told the stories, because obviously they were the prime subject of the stories, i couldn’t help but simply be fascinated at the treasure of responsibility the Lord has blessed me with.

last night, we went for bar-b-que in the little town of Newberry, Florida and shared cheese sticks, root bear floats and of course… bar-b-que.  we even told silly stories of an imaginary guy named fred, played some cheesy games and made a mess of crayons, sweet tea, and french fries at the table.  later this morning — waffles.

the point is this — if i love my girls like this in this stillness of this moment, while they are in the middle of their fourth or fifth dream… how much more is the Lord loving me right now, despite all of my imperfections.  how He sings little lullabies in my ear when i sleep, shares stories of His love, stories of adventure — yet all the while, anxiously awaits to spend more time with me when i awake.  my love for these girls may be profound, but His love for you and me doesn’t even compare.  mmm — you know something — that’s the real treasure.


…ok, back to bed

Brother Married

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this past weekend — my little brother got married
and just like a latin brother, i gave him a little tip — “bobby, now listen… tonight, before you get into that bed… kneel together by the side of it, and in your own way thank the Lord for the beautiful journey and ask for His incredible blessing for the rest of the evening and all days to come — bobby, believe me… it will be a blessing you will forever treasure.”  he agreed.

i’m so proud of him.

aren’t my sisters absolutely beautiful?

Dream with me…

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just imagine — the people of guatemala, spain, columbia, cuba and other spanish speaking countries — beginining to love the Lord in a way that explodes through the borders and becomes alive in the hearts of men, women and children all throughout the countries of latin america, spain, cuba, etc… and abroad.friends, this is what’s been stirring in my heart lately, and while i could write paragraphs, perhaps even volumes on specifically what the Lord has recently been putting on my heart regarding this vision, I do know this — i’m liking it.

to love, write, disciple, build and maybe even preach some — yes, i’m liking it indeed.

oh and a side note — money is no object to the Lord, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean that i’ll be showered in financial security throughout this ride, it does mean that He will certainly provide every step of the way.  i’m continuing to work on my writing and yes — still in the process of working on a book — but slowly and surely, the Lord is revealing the rest of His plan for me. I’m working on some computer certifications right now that i’ll finish by the summer that will easily insure that I can fall back and “make a living” with perhaps 100k a year, but man — to have a life not surrounded not by money but by loving people — that’s so sweet to me.  I’m currently under the leadership of an old mentor of mine working full time and being trained as a carpenter, while also learning all the small details of how to build a house (which is indeed, priceless) — and perhaps all leading up to something greater… can you see it?

and while i could go on and on, the Lord continues to open the veils of my heart and show me His vision hidden within me… not just some distant dream, within ME — mmm… so sweet.  and it all started by asking the very question I left you all last week — somehow, it breaks down the limitations society has placed on us and allows us to dream the way God dreams — seriously, Who do you think put those desires deep in Your heart? — look deep enough… it’s all really a gift to you.  🙂

oh, and by the way — i really enjoyed reading your answers.  🙂

question for you — if i offered you a free mission trip to anywhere in the world — anywhere — where would you go? 

?

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if money were no object
and you could go / do anything in the world –
what would you spend the rest of your life doing

acquire the fire

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Went to sold-out ATF of 14,000 in tampa this weekend as one of the leaders of a youth group called “S.W.E.A.T.”  I must say that it’s a little wild being on the other end, watching how it impacts such a fire-ball group (no kidding).  So beautiful to me.  Of course, Hilly came along too, and she was hooked up with a group of ladies, including a familiar face, who helped plug her in for me. 

Then there was this guy (you can call him gibby)…

A junior in high school and one of the three guys I was responsible for this weekend.  Such a seeking heart and more importantly, open to teaching (which inspired me).  I was also slightly surprised when he told me that he thought hilly was my girlfriend — ha, perhaps i should have introduced her as “MY SISTER” (silly me).  “Yeah, i thought she was a little young, but wasn’t sure,” came his reply.  More details on his xanga (he cracks me up).

All in all — it was a great weekend.  🙂  Thanks to everyone who kept my sister in prayer — it’s all a matter of time now.
ps — leigh-anne… i decided earlier tonight that i’m coming to your wedding in april.  it’s houston, right?

Sister Date

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took hilly on a date

(that’s my sister)

and i took pictures

(lots of them)

but none of them came out

(except one…)

(update: …and the one she took of me above)

 

 

i’m taking her to ATF this weekend

(it’s her first one)

evangelism

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It was late, I was tired, not to mention a little behind schedule, a little hungry, and err — a little lost.  Pulling over to get a map, I noticed a homeless man in the shadows.  Although a little nervous, I didn’t feel a nudge from God, nor see some divine flame in a bush, but instead just asked if he was hungry.  I then picked up some fast food and had dinner with him right there in the shadows.  I had his attention. 

The folks who’ve always held my attention have been those who’ve also inviting me to dinner or even as simple as baking me a batch of cookies.  Something creative yet showing care.  It’s simply human nature to be indebted to someone who blesses you through their love language.  A friend of mine operates a ministry in where they fix up donated cars and give them away to families in need.  But when that family sits in his office, trust me… he has their attention.  Break it down a bit and you’ll find that it’s really just salt.

People who followed Jesus weren’t primarily impressed by all the things He could do, but rather all the things that He did for them to show that He cared.  And then from there, he spoke His truth.  Feeding them, helping them, healing them.  Remeber the woman at the well?  He had their attention each time.  Not by works, but — gasp — by love.  It suddenly makes sense when Jesus said that we are the salt of the world (matthew 5:13)  This is why our evangelism often doesn’t go very far…. not because we’re not effective in our witness, but because we’re not showing them that we care enough to go the extra mile and love them beyond the casual.  Take someone’s trash out, wash a car, watch someone’s kids… You may not be able to bring a horse to water, but add a little salt to his oats, and sooner or later… he’ll be thirsty.

“whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two”
(Jesus — Matt 5:41)
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intermission (and a futon)


alas… march first is upon teen mania — sheesh, i’m not even there and i can feel it — for those who don’t know what that means, its sort of like Y2K (lots of hype, but nothing really happens).

in garage sailing news.. i bought a $400 futon and had him lower the $100 price to $75.  seriously, is it just me that finds these great deals? 

 

oh, and in other news… i had an incredible, somewhat “duh” revelation the other day that I’ll be posting shortly.  trust me, you want to hear this.  stay tuned, it’s coming up next.  🙂


ps: in regards to my last post… i like water.


pps: … but on special occasions, a coke is my cup of cola — in a cup, without the straw