The Piper on the Berm

Life has been pretty intense lately. Stress has been following me around like one of David Letterman's stalkers. The primary stressor has been Greek. Missing one day of work means losing a week. My schedule breaks down like this.

School, 15 hours a week, not counting homework time.

Work, 35 to 40 hours a week, all nights primarily.

Family, and life in general, Full time.

Like one of the Flying Wallendas, one little gust of wind can push me over the edge, and into the abyss. If crisis occurs it completely throws me off. Weekend before last I broke a rib. Down time? A day in a half. Therefore, I have been playing Greek catch up for a week. Three am has been my bed time.

Today, I finished catching up, and walked over to my Greek professor's office. On the way I discovered the piper playing on the berm. One could almost imagine the clans gathering for battle on the Scottish moor. I love bagpipes. In fact, when I die, my only last wish is to have them played at my funeral. (morbid I know) I want Amazing Grace piped when they lower me into the ground. Oops, I'm digressing.

I never have time to stop and just be. Today, when I heard the piper, I stopped, plopped down on the grass like a hippy at Woodstock, and was still. The sun warmed my face, the grass was semi-green, and in that moment, all was right with the world.

The Dry Place

Life is amazing, and so hard to figure out at times.
Grace is a mystery and hard to accept.

The last two years or so have been so interestingly hard. Like driving on a road in the desert and occasionally stopping at a rest area in an oasis. Its a nice break but once you have visited the bathroom and seen what the vending machines have to offer, it is time to move on to finish your journey.

When Lisa and I took the plunge and moved to East Texas so I could go to school, we had no Idea what was in store for us.

The desert can be beautiful for its scenery but hey, people get heatstroke.

Times have been hard, and I'm not talking about the current "economic crisis". It is difficult to make a living, raise a family, and take 16 hours full time at school. We have been in survival mode, and when you are in survival mode in the desert the only thing you worry about is getting to the next water hole.

However, God has been using this time to prune us. To strip off the things that weigh us down so we can run the race faster and with more endurance. And as a former pastor of mine once said, pruning hurts.

Lately things have been changing. We are now living on campus in a married student apartment. Rent is so cheap with all bills paid. I scaled back a bit on my hours at school, and I'm not having to work so much. God has clicked everthing into place like a budding engineer makes a Lincoln Log House.

I've been looking over my shoulder so long that its kind of freaking me out.

But thats a good thing

O' God you are my God,

Earnestly I seek you;

My soul thirsts for you,

my body longs for you,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

Psalm 63-V1

It makes the rest stop so much sweeter.

Larry

Back to Campus!

I cannot believe it is that time again. Back to the campus I go for year two of school.

Next week I'll be back to learning. Last year by the Grace of God and some awesome professors I made it through Algebra, and English; luckily I didn't have to diagram any sentences. (whew!)

This year I have new challenges.

Elementary Greek (reading the bible in the raw)

Romans

Intro to Philosophy

Current Issues in Youth Ministry

Physical Science

Pretty cool huh?

I am excited about each class. Monday I have to drive over and pick up my books.

Keep me in your prayers

Please also pray for some of my coworkers: All are lost and need hope.

Lisa, Joe, Gina, Matt, and Nathanial.

May the Grace of God be with you all.

Larry

Long Week's Journey Into Next Week

It is official, I am a college student at 38 years old.

No biggie, lots of people older than me go back to their education.

For some reason this has been a dream. I have been waiting for the rug to jerked out from under me. Sorry no financial aid. You can't come here, go home.

When signed for my books I totally knew it was going to happen. Can you believe $607 dollars for books?

Thursday I signed into the school and got my time for picking my classes the next year.

Let me tell you I felt like I was in a sea of twelve year olds. No disrespect intended. They seemed so young! I did not see anyone enrolling that looked have my age. Not that I'm really old but wow, I managed to be just a tad self concious.

Friday was better. I met my academic advisor he helped me to decide which classes to take. I'm doing 15 hours. Schedule is as follows.

Intro to Phychology (Getting to know why I am taking crazy pills.)

Foundation to Christian Ministry (My adviser teaches this class. I like him, score!)

English Comp 1 (I actually get to learn how to write properly. My blogging should improve.)

Intermediate Algebra (My kid brings fractions home and my brain melts.)

Biblical Literature. (Learning how to really really study the bible.)

I go Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. Not bad eh?

I think I got a hernia carring my books home from the store. You would'nt believe the calculator they tried to sell me. You have to go to MIT just to learn how to work it. I went with ole trusty. (The one where you actually understand the symbols on it?)

I am nothing but praising God for this opportunity. I have a part time job working at a church, I actually get paid to do what I love!! How cool is that?

Everything is a blessing for me now. The shadow of the last two years seem to finally be fading.

How Great Is Our God indeed!

Larry

Amazing Grace

I love to be able to come here and post about Amazing Grace. It is odd how somethings just, I don't know, come together throughout the day?

Chris Tomlin's latest album See the Morning has an awsome version of Amazing Grace. I love this song it never fails to move me. This version is called Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone). Wow, talk about moving. He reinserted the original last verse of the song and threw in an extra chorus.

My Chains are gone I've been set free

My God my savior

Has ransomed me

And like a flood

His mercy reigns

Unending Love, Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace is never far from my mind. I know exactly where I come from and How God saved me. Especially today. Today is the four year anniversery of the last day I used drugs and alchohol. He broke my chains and set me free from the slavery of addiction. Valentine's day will always be emancipation day for me.

Amazing Grace the Movie! Yes the movie and it looks really good. I am not going into a lot of detail you can check it out yourself. The movie is about antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce. He was one of the primary agitators in England striving and succeeding to have the slave trade abolished in the British Isles. Wilberforce actually met with John Newton the saved wretch who wrote Amazing Grace!

See how this stuff runs together?

Is it coincidence beloved? Or something deeper?

This is the original as written version of Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound!

That sav'd a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears reliev'd;

How precious did that grace appear,

The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snare,

I have already come;

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall profess, within the vail,

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call'd me here below,

Will be for ever mine.

I love the last verse.

Blessings!

Larry