Sometimes it Stinks

I'm back in Oklahoma City for the weekend.  The closing on my house is a week and a half away.  Tomorrow I'm having a garage sale since I still have quite a few household items and don't have the space to take anything else to Dallas.  So, the house is about 70% cleared out and I'll be honest, this stinks!  It doesn't feel like home anymore.  It's just a property that's about to change hands.  I'm having a tough time with it.  I guess I'm being too sentimental, but I have a lot of great memories here.  I like my house.  It's spacious.  It's comfortable.  Darn, there's that word again.  Comfortable.  "God, why did you have to call me out of my comfort zone??"

I just got back from a walk on this beautiful fall-like night and I did some talking to God.  I told him how difficult this transition was for me.  (Of course He already knows, but I wanted to make sure).  I found myself asking, "Lord, is it going to be worth it?  Leaving this good life, my friends, my security?"  He responded with silence.  He knows I already know the answer.  Yes... (sigh for now) it will be worth it.  It's just difficult right now.  (I think He understands).  

So yes, it's a pity-party and I'm the only one invited!  I know it will get easier and I know it will be worth it.  But sometimes it just stinks.  And that's okay.  As Christians we know to expect difficult times along the way.  James 1:2 says to "consider it pure joy when you face trials."  Joy is the deep down soulful bliss that surpasses temporary happiness.  Am I happy?  Not at the moment.  Am I joyful?  Yes.

I am thankful I have the joy.  I am thankful God knows what He's up to, especially when I don't.  :)  

GrantJ

 

First Day of School

Today was my first day of school (other than online) at DTS! The day started with chapel and then some afternoon classes. Today's classes were Intro to Theology and World Missions. I think I'm going to enjoy them. In particular, I think World Missions will be a real eye opener for me. Admittedly, as a Midwesterner all my life I haven't been exposed to much cultural diversity. I am looking forward to expanding my views, learning how Christianity is viewed around the world, and learning more about our call to spread the gospel.

I was particularly moved in class when my professor talked about the cost of Christian missions: The same thing that it cost Jesus - CRUCIFIXION. For us, it's going to hurt. It’s not easy. It’s a challenge. The cost is high. He also expounded on the fact that it's a RISK. Too many churches stray from the fact that missions (and ministry in general) can be a risky endeavor. Nothing is more exciting than taking a risk for Christ! Sign me up!

What do you think? Do you associate risk-taking with being a Christian? A great book I read on risk taking for men is called, "Risk" by Kenny Luck. Check it out, fellas. GrantJ

Coming Out of Retirement

Well, my three week stint out of TV is about to come to an end Sunday night.  I have agreed to help KFOR with a few weekend shifts while they continue searching for my replacement.  In the meantime this will give the guys a bit of a break and allow me to make some extra cash for school.  I'm looking forward to saddling up again.  (Too bad I gave away most of my schnazzy ties!  -Don't need 'em in seminary :)  It'll be kinda weird since I treated my last show as my "last show."  Never say never I guess.

Bottom line is that God is in control.  I had considered the possibility of working some weekends a while back way before KFOR contacted me.  However, I dismissed the idea thinking it wouldn't work out.  Well, God has worked it out!  No worries.  In fact, He's got every single minute detail worked out.  God is good...all the time!

GrantJ

Orientation

You ever wake up at a hotel or a new place and have no idea where you are?  That was me this morning :)

Today started at 8AM with DTS Orientation.  About 150 of us new students gathered for breakfast in Campbell Hall.  Coffee and name tags were a life saver for me!  (I think everyone should wear name tags all the time.  Think how friendly it would be).  I met some really nice people today.  Michael, Dylan (who lives in 714), Philip (from OKC), Bryan (from Dallas), Dr Waters (a Philippines missionary), Isaac (from Brazil), Trevor (who beat me at ping-pong),  Drew (from Georgia), and James just to name a few.  We heard from several speakers throughout the morning including DTS President, Dr Mark Bailey.  The highlight of the day was spent in the chapel orientation.  We sang some hymns including "He is Exulted" and non-hymns including "Deep in the Heart of Texas".  A touching moment was when distinguished professor and former president Dr Campbell got up to talk.  This gentleman has such a heart for the Lord.  He's in his 80s and has the onset of Parkinson's.  Nonetheless, his message was poignant, profound, and Spirit-supplied.  He quoted from Oswald Chambers (I believe), "never doubt in the dark what God has said in the light."  Also, "it's always too soon to quit."  

Throughout the day there were just too many "golden nuggets" of wisdom to count from the faculty.  I feel so encouraged that I have made the right choice here.  It's going to be a treat to learn under these servant leaders.   Speaking of servant leaders, a special moment was when we were singing a hymn in chapel and ALL of the faculty members walked in.  It was such a neat picture of humility and leadership.  It's evident that they genuinely care and take interest in us as students.  They introduced themselves and spent time at lunch interacting with us and asking questions about us.  Pretty cool.

Overall, orientation was a pleasant experience today.  It reminded me why I am here.  I'm looking forward to starting class next week.  I'm not looking forward to some entrance exams tomorrow :-0

GrantJ

Big City...Small Room

Today was move-in day at my apartment/dorm in Dallas.  It's just past midnight and I have to be up at 7AM...I'm beat.  Look for more soon.

GrantJ

Post Seminary Ideas

I'm not exactly sure what direction I will take post-seminary.  I do have some indicators though that give me a hint of the future at least.  These are just some of the things I am passionate about: leadership and media. 

I am passionate about leadership.  Specifically about leading men.  Perhaps this could lead to a further interest in becoming an Army Chaplain?  My grandfather was a chaplain and I do have a desire to serve my country.  I also enjoy the rigor of staying physically fit.  

I am also quite interested in the media.  Specifically, I get fired up at all the filth on prime-time TV.  Such a travesty that people choose to "check-out" mentally and settle for such debase entertainment.  I remember the good ole days with family sit-coms like Family Ties, The Cosby Show, and The Wonder Years.  The very few family sit-coms on now usually make the dad out to be a crass, passive buffoon (hardly a role model) while the mom usually takes the leadership role and frequently belittles her husband.  Of course most of the shows aren't sit-coms.  They are mostly CSI/Law and Order type shows.  I can't stand these shows either.  There's so much violence and sexual content throughout.  Absolute junk-food for the brain!  

I think I get so fired up because I spent the past ten years working in TV and know just how powerful a medium it is.  It is very powerful.  It is a tool that can be used for good or bad.  Unfortunately most of Hollywood has lost its moral compass.  I am convinced that prime-time programming (on the major networks) is the primary driving force behind our country's moral decline.  It is that powerful!  

Perhaps post-seminary I will be doing something to effectively influence mainstream media for Christ.  Now that's exciting!  

Bare Walls

The walls are getting bare at my house!  It's kinda a yucky feeling for me as things begin to get cleared out.  I'm quickly remembering how much I dislike moving!  But you know what?  Our stay here on Earth is so temporary.  How quickly we forget that.  In fact, the Bible says we are strangers or aliens in this world (Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 2:11) and this is not our permanent home as Believers.  -A good reminder not to get too attached to our stuff here in this life.

GrantJ

Squirming In Our Seats

This weekend my pastor had us squirming in our seats.  A difficult message for some, but undoubtedly the truth.  He said, "It's my job to tell the truth.  The Spirit will do the convicting."  What more could you ask for?  I believe one of our greatest desires as humans is to know the truth.  It's what we're after.  Just think how much it drives you crazy when a friend starts out saying, "I've got something to tell you...oh nevermind."  It drives us crazy!  We want to know.

Furthermore, the last thing we need in church is another watered-down, feel-good message.  That's what you expect at a motivational seminar, not church.  Dr Hannah, seminary professor, once said, "Don't preach to me the 7 ways to better love my wife.  Preach Christ and then I will better love my wife."  Amen.  Let's hear it for more Christ and less fluff!

GrantJ

Praying Profs

Today one of my soon-to-be professors sent out an email to the class.  Part of it said, "I count it a privilege to be your professor and I ask you to please pray with me that our time together will be challenging, rewarding, and honoring to the Lord."  What a display of humility and leadership.  He even included his home phone number.  

I found this email to be so refreshing.  From my B.S. days of science and mathematics I am not used to profs praying in class.  It is a breath of fresh air and a wonderful reminder of Who we are serving.

GrantJ

Electricity!

KA-BOOM!

I LOVE weather photography but have never been very good at it...until last night!  Lightning photography is always tricky and has been especially difficult for me.  I borrowed a camera last night and was really encouraged by the results!  These were taken at about 11PM last night at Lake Hefner.  The only price I paid was a dozen mosquito bites!

It was such a nice change of pace to be able to enjoy a thunderstorm and not have to worry about covering it!  Any lightning photography tips out there?  I must confess that I enhanced the pics ever so slightly on my computer to bring out a little more contrast and pizzaz.  What do you think?  Is digital enhancement cheating with weather photography? :)  

 

Signing Off

Here was my last show at KFOR.  It aired last night at 10:00PM.  

2:00am Email

Wow, what a day!  I just got home from my last day at KFOR.  I'm still trying to process it.  Wouldn't you know it, on my last day I ended up staying late because of late night "surprise" thunderstorms.  I did my very last broadcast at 10PM telling everyone it wouldn't rain tonight when low and behold a tiny blip on the radar blossomed into a big 'ole sucker.  Yes-sir-eee, weather forecasting keeps you humble!  So anyway, I ended up staying late until David Payne called around 3AM saying he was on his way in.

Staying late gave me a chance to tidy up some things in the office and send out some emails.  I also had tremendous peace when the following email came floating in at 2:00AM.  It was the last email I received on my work account:

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT   --   http://www.heartlight.org/

VERSE:
   What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us,
who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave
him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously
give us all things?
    -- Romans 8:31-32

It was God's way of telling me everything is going according to plan (His plan).  It was just what I needed.  It was like God was putting His seal on my last few minutes at the station and encouraging me on.  Normally I read the Heartlight email later in the day, not at 2AM.  But tonight God would have me actually looking at the screen when it dropped in, as if to say "I've got you covered."

God is Good.

GrantJ