**Mustard Seed Distributed**

Are you prepared, because as I sit and know I have some things to blog about, I already know that this is going to be a LONG post. So grab a cup of coffee, a beer, snacks, your snuggie, and whatever you need to get comfortable. This is going to take a while. Or if you thought to yourself, 'self, I'm just going to check T$'s blog right quick because I have a minute', today is not that day. Go on, get your things and it'll be right here when you come back. Ready now? Onward then: -First up for bids. I know if you read this that you have heard me talk of my mother's death. I do want to say that my father continues to teach me, even as I am a full grown (not in my maturiry) adult. I have been frightened to the bones and the corpuscles by the thought of losing my wife at any point in time. Save the thought of losing her after 40 some years of life together. I know by his own admission that he has had some tough days, and that is to be expected. But he conti...

This weekend was a time to spend on LBI with other men, where we spent some great times 'Treasure Hunting'. Although you may be thinking in your feeble little mind about risk and danger and great sail boats and vixens and maps and all kinds of booty (yeah, I just said booty), that's not the kind of treasure we were hunting. In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about seeking treasure that is not destroyed by moth or rust, and laying up treasures in heaven and not here in this kingdom. It was an incredible time to me to be with some of the men that continue to become my dearest friends and encourage me to seek His treasure. LBI is much different in January temperature wise, but still just as beautiful as ever to spend time on. Props to the ben-was for allowing us to use the beach house for a place to escape the city and press into some tough issues. Thanks to the pastor and kallen for all their work in preparation of helping guide each other and the men that spent the weekend tryi...

Today I am emboldened by the perspecitve reminder that I get from pastor here . It is just a reminder to me that we are running a race, and it takes 'home training' to win at this race. Along the course are obstacles and hurdles. Some of them jump up and grab you and throw you to the ground. But we must get up. Continue. Strive to win the race before us. This weekend, 12 brave men will journey to LBI, where the photo on this blog heading was taken. I think I might need warmer clothes than there are in the picture. My perspecive on these men continues to evolve as I push forward. I 'treasure' this weekend as a time to push into following the course of this race we are running. If you had told me five years ago that I would be living in NYC, starting a church, and leading a men's retreat on the island, I may have laughed at you. Now, I am honored and humbled to be in His presence. Pray for these men this weekend as we push into the treasure chest and see w...

This simple phrase 'it is finished' continues to come to me in my quiet time regularly as of late. Sometimes, I feel like God gives me a phrase like this to teach me something, and this one has certainly been going on for a while in the stretch of many months. Today I think I figured out what exactly God has been trying to teach me through this phrase. My last post mentioned Moons over my Hammy, and today I got to spend some time with him in his home talking about life, the loss of his mother, his children, eternity, and a few other things. (Pretty light, right?) The refreshed thinking of losing a parent, in particular your mother, was not what I would call easy, but it was an enjoyable conversation with someone I consider to be one of my best friends. Even though we live 650 some miles away, I came to the realization of how much love I have for this man that I have really engaged in life with over the last ten years (I am counting having his older daughter in my school wh...

Today I got a call from my dear friend that I truly miss, and have become even more fond of our friendship since moving here to BKLY. Last night, his mother completed her battle with cancer which lasted a long time. I truly didn't believe that his mom would outlive mine, but I am glad that he got to spend time with her and that he had such a great mother like I did. When he called me today, it was hard to not be overwhelmed with emotions and I knew it was coming soon. I have been praying for him and his mother daily (almost) for months. The fact remains that we are all going to end up in a cemetary, or in an urn, or some other form of culturally relevant end of life ritual. So in praying for my friend hammy today, God reminded me of some verses he clearly gave to me the week my mom died as I sat in her room reading the bible and being with my brother and my dad and my mom as she finished her battle: Isaiah 30:19- 19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more...

2010 is down the tubes as far as everyone is concerned. Over Rover. It's the end, friend. Already two days into 2011. Hard to believe that is the year - 20 11. Twenty eleven. (Let's stop with the two thousand thing already.) Last year brought much humility to me again as I continue to try my best to 'follow' as Jesus has asked me to do. I have come to the foregone conclusion that doing so is certainly hard to do - challenging, disruptive, even painful at times, difficult, includes suffering, and at times makes you think you just might have lost your mind, or you are about to because the world likes to punch you in the face - or worse, in other parts of your body. As I went for a run today in the park, (yes, it was at least 49 degrees here today, and running with snow surrounding you is quite a joy) I was encouraged by the words God gave me as I ran. Often, running is a time for me to spend in prayer and listen to God, and today here are the things I heard: A ...