**Mustard Seed Distributed**

So today, I got the word that 'we are moving forward' with this plan-that being me working in nyc next school year. It looks like I will help open a school with a principal that I have gotten to know over the last four months, and help her in any way that I can. I will get to be in the school for the first year as it opens, and potentially open my own school in the fall of 2010 in Brooklyn. Only God could come up with something this creative and this perfect. So today, as I sat in a parking lot in Brighton after processing all of this information, I found myself unabashedly praising God for this glorious gift. For the first time in my life, I truly gave up my career and sincerely asked God to put me where He wanted me, not where I wanted to be, or the job I wanted. After a year and a half of good times and bad, it is a go. Reality hits me hard with love reigning over me, and tears of joy realizing reality is today and here and now. As I explored that emotionally, I wrote in my ...

So I get an email on Tuesday from recruiter lady, who I haven't heard from in a while. See, she works for the company I work for on an ongoing basis, not just a one time deal. She says something in her email like: "I want to talk to you about getting you out to nyc this year, and what that might look like. Give me a call if you have a chance." So I call her to talk about it. She asks me about how things are going, etc., and then she says that they indeed want to move me to nyc for the fall. This has been a long journey, and there have definitely been some ups, particularly once I finally obtained my current position. There is nothing that I ever could have dreamed up like what I am doing right now, or the job God clearly was holding specifically for me in this company. It is clear to me now that this was His plan all along, and He waited for me to give Him some big things in my life before He opened the doors. So back to the story. Recruiter lady tells me of the ...

Early this week, I was thinking about how I was feeling about being at home without the girls. For a minute, it’s kind of exciting to be able to do whatever you want however you want whenever you want. But then you still have the responsibilities of life. So I was contemplating how much I miss the girls being home, and the fact that I will have the next weeks without them. Suddenly, I have dinner with Hammy, tonight I was given tickets to the Pistons game, and pastor is in town, so we will enjoy the evening there, next week I’m having dinner with menzl which I am looking forward to, and I am out of town for three days for work next week. After I do all that, the girls will be back. And so I sense that God has created community opportunity for me while they are gone. And I am so thankful that He cares so much about my needs for community. What a blessing to know that God gives me exactly what I need when I need it how I need it at the place I need it. That is pretty cool. Than...

I miss my girls, and it has only been a weekend. What joy all three of them bring to my heart, my mind, and my soul. I know they are having a great time, and that alone brings me much joy. And I certainly enjoyed the kickoff to the NASCAR season yesterday with family and friends. But I look forward to giving my superstar and kids a big kiss and a hug when they return. Until then... That is not all I am missing. This weekend, my uncle died in a car accident. I will miss him, even though we only would see each other on holidays and such. But superstar and I bought our first house down the street from he and my aunt, and we never would have found/bought that house if it wasn't for him. He always treated me well. Never judged. Always joking. I remember going up north to their cabin to help him do work on the addition. We are very much alike in that we are not so much for the talking if there is not a point to the words coming out of your mouth. So we would get up early, d...

At a principal's meeting a couple of weeks ago, the CEO and president said something that was really powerful to me. He was speaking of our work in our schools and our efforts to educate every child with excellence. He said we need to go into the O.R.... What is the first thing that pops into your mind's eye? Masks? Doctors with scrubs? Lights? Clean tile walls? Big lights? Blip blip blip. He was speaking figuratively about our work. O.R. didn't stand for operating room-he spoke of how it stands for Opportunity and Responsibility. What an incredible opportunity we have to make a difference in the lives of children, a lot of whom would never have the opportunity in their environments for an excellent education. This is indeed an incredible opportunity to serve others in a way that they have never experienced before in their world of schooling. But with this opportunity comes an incredible responsibility. I formerly had a phrase taped on my computer screen when ...

Education is King. I learned everything. Flying high on a wing. Learning is my thing. I read, I see, I learn. Something new at every turn. For wisdom, I yearn. Thoughts and processes cordially churn. I've learned lots in my life. Particularly from my wife. Without learning full of strife. Learning parade, playing the fife. The knowledge tree. Makes me fill with glee. Unintelligence I flee. I need a learning spree. Now boarding the wisdom flight. Sometimes up all night. Needing to learn; uptight. Humbly listening; contrite. Wisdom, knowledge, teach me more. Tired now, hit the floor. Pursue it through each door. What is next? What's in store?

At times over the last year and half, I have seriously felt the weightiness of other people on our nyc team. Job searches coming up empty. Houses not selling, or renting, or both. Discouragement in the workplace, in relationships, in life. The uncertainty of all aspects of being a part of this team, that is such a difficult thing to explain. That weight from myself, my wife, my children alone is tough to take. We get so caught up in this world and the standards of living here, and the expectations of our society, our families, our peers. Which, by the by, are meaningless according to Paul, and I agree that he is spot on. So as I see my friends suffer from discouragement, loss, uncertainty, and financial crises, I feel a bit of that weight for them. And so this leads me to a powerful recognition. All of this weight is simply for the ones I am close to in this process, or even expanded to my friends, family, and coworkers. Even spread out to the woman I stopped for 'along m...

Well, I have certainly had a hard time completing week whatever in my quest for a 5k. This week is supposed to be three runs of 2.5 miles. Well, it has been a few weeks, and I did complete it twice now, but I can't seem to string three in a row. Which is kind of enlightening if you will bear with me for a moment. As I tried to run today the 2.5, I could only get over a mile in before I throttled down on the dreadmill and walked. Clearly, I was in a position of more than half way, and I quit. Which is kind of how I have felt this past week. Not ignoring God, but kind of saying to Him, 'Well, if you want this to happen then show me and I need x, y, and z to happen.' **Suggestion to all-try not to tell the God of the universe that you'll do something IF.....** So as I ran the second leg of my run that should have been part of the first leg, I repented for a few items. Personal things. Pride things. Inappropriate thoughts. I'm better than others things. And ...