Life in the Big Potato

I've never made many New Year's resolutions.  Fear of commitment I guess.  Or fear of failure.  This year I think I have come up with a good one: one push-up everyday. Before you scoff please consider the following reasons for this resolution. 1.  It is attainable.  I am very good at doing push ups.  I can easily do 2 sets of 20 within 5 minutes, no problem.  So one push up doesn't bother me in the least.  2.  It is flexible.  I can do one push up without sweating.  That way I can do it any time of day without worrying about taking an extra shower or changing clothes.  If I lay down and remember that I haven't done my OPUAD (One Push Up A Day) then I can quickly get it done without threatening my sleep pattern. 3.  It is extensible . If I decide I want to add more to the workout then I can certainly do so.  In fact I know I should do more exercise, so having the opuad in place will lay the foundation for an expanded routine. 4.  It is active.  This is not a resolution w...

With it being our first Christmas outside of Dixie, we were really hoping for a white Christmas like the ones Bing Crosby used to know when he went to Gonzaga University nearby. However, it looks like we may have gotten all the snow we are going to get for 2009. Which, after the last two years, no one seems to be upset about. We haven't posted much about the ministry that's going on in North Idaho recently, so I wanted to give an update. Our pastor is still working on getting settled in, finishing his new house, arranging things for his wife to join him here, etc. We've seen several people visiting the church checking things out. Please pray that the right ones will stick around and commit to being a part of God's work here. I (Bennett) have been meeting with some other pastors in town about how we can work together to impact the college campus. There's three of us (more to come maybe) that plan on simply meeting up at the campus week to week to pray meet stud...

Turning 30 wasn't so bad after all. Bennett did a great job of making sure I felt loved and appreciated ALL day long! And my friend Amy reminded me that it wasn't until Jesus turned 30 that He entered into ministry. Thanks Mike and Mindy for entertaining L Saturday night so we could have an amazing dinner at the Melting Pot!

Last Friday night we were invited to take part in the Silver Lakes Baptist Association Pastors' and Wives' Christmas Party. The party was hosted by FBC Bonners Ferry and held at the pastors home which is about an hour and a half travel from our house. The food was great at this party last year, so we did not want to miss out. Pastor Dugger lives up on a hill (in Mississippi we would call it a mountain) overlooking the town. So driving to his house takes you just out of town. As we passed through and were just leaving town our daughter let out a sigh from the back seat and said, "baby Jesus". Jana and I were very much entertained by this and laughed as I sped up the hill into the darkness. When I turned off the highway I saw what every driver hates to see most. Blue lights. I won't extend this post by telling you everything that went through my mind. Its enough to say that I wasn't sure why I had been pulled over. When the officer walked up the first th...

http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/blog/hvpastor/?p=363 I'm re-posting this link, because I just think a lot of people need to see it.  There is explanation on the website.

We are back from Mississippi, and it was a great trip. L had a blast with her cousins and meeting all kinds of new people. She also experienced some southern traditions like fudge, sweet tea, and cracking pecans on Nana and Grandpa's farm! While we were home Bennett was able to share with FBC Houston, our supporting church, "Life in the Big Potato" from L's perspective. It was such an encouraging and emotional time as we were able to thank them for their amazing support over the past 3 1/2 years. This will be our first Christmas in Idaho, and Bennett's first Christmas away from his family. We decided since baby boy is coming soon it would be wiser to stay close to home. We're praying for a white Christmas centered on our Savior spent with close friends and our NorthStar Family. and some other things we're looking forward to this month: Christmas dinner with other churches in our association turning the big "30" this month seeing th...