Winston-Salem, NC

So tonight I'm in Winston-Salem, Nc with Olshine (aka my Rabbi). I traveled with him tonight in a pimpin' Jeep Laredo rental car for an Understanding Your Teenager Seminar. It actually was a very eventful evening, including... lasagna, as many cookies as I can eat, did I say pimpin' jeep?... Courtyard Marriott... near Gamecock win... great people and church... and of course... pastacsio nuts. This seminar is a good thing, a very good thing. It is so great to help these parents learn how to better raise and encourage their students. I believe this aids in youth ministry in the local church. After all, the goal of youth ministry is not to take place of parents... but instead to partner with the parents to raise the child. Olshine did an awesome job communicating new ideas and new goals for these parents to try. It truly was an honor to be a part of. It made me thank God tonight for the great parents I have. I couldn't have asked for better.

Peace out.

Trevor

E.T.revor phone home.

So I actually had contact with L-town tonight. Lafayette, IN that is. A friend of mine from the corn covered state named Brittany called me tonight and it was a very welcomed surprise. The skinny is that in a mere 2 weeks she and I... along with a few other people will be leading worship at my home church for a mission conference. This is the background of her call. It was nice to hear a familiar voice when it seems I go days and days without much contact with the place I used to call home. It was fun to laugh and joke for a bit and kinda forget about the many responsibilities and things I have to do here. I believe you would be hard pressed to find a family like the Davis'... in fact I would say you would be "pressed to a pulp!"... go ahead quote me. Well my bed is calling me after an hour and a half of gruelling North/South game practice... I never got to touch the ball tonight... I really was an athlete though... I swear.

Adios... Buenos Noches!

Trev... or

I once was an athlete... I swear

You ever just get to that point when you wake up and you're like... whoa... How did I get here? You maybe thought you had a certain identity and all at once you no can be identified by that. Kinda like milk that has been in the fridge too long... It's no longer milk... more cottage cheese. Or how 'bout cottage cheese that has been in the fridge too long? IT becomes... you know I don't really know what that becomes... I'll think I'll remove it from my cooler (you think I'm joking).

But anyway, back to me having a different identity... like cheese and milk... I'm sick.

I once was an athlete. I really was. I played sports for a few years before I went into youth ministry and then graduated and got a job. Even while at CIU I played intramural sports and the occasional North vs. South game. So it really was no surprise when I got a call to come and play for the North team again this year... my initial reaction... ANYTHING I CAN DO TO STAY ON THE FIELD. My second reaction... I don't even have cleats. My I have fallen from my athleticism.

So today with much sorrow I scour the countryside for a pair of cheap cleats. Growing old is a bummer...

Catch ya later (unless your too fast).
Trevor

Look out greasers here we come...

Tonight at small group we had another man event. Each time we meet we do something out of the ordinary and refer to it as a man event. Tonight was an old school rumble in the yard... straight out of "The Outsiders". So picture this... 6 middle school boys (Zach, Mack, Addison, Conner, Colin and Emory) plus Nick and myself in the front yard of 282 Roberts street wrestling one another outside of a circle in the grass. It was at night so it was completely dark besides the lights of our two trucks shinning to illuminate the battle. this only backed our greaser image.

I think tonight was a very positive small group night. Being able to just be boys and wrestle around without being yelled at for being crazy allows guys to be guys. We talked afterward about the event being part of our fellowship... guys connecting with other guys just by doing things together... experiencing life together. I so want these guys to grow not only in their relationship with God, but also in their relationship with each other.

In Matt. 22 Jesus tells us it is the most important thing in life... might even say it as our purpose to love God with ALL we have "our heart, soul and mind" and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The goal of small group is this... to connect with God and make Him priority to where EVERYTHING else lines itself to this fact and to love others just like that. I pray for these guys that God would make them change not because they are weird, out of control, ADD, wrong or annoying... but instead change because God wants us each to look like Jesus. And I can garauntee not one of us is there yet.

So let us strive to look more like the savior. Sometimes it is 5 steps forward, 3 steps back... but that is a 2 step progress.

TTYL

T

"How about a bumper sandwich booger lips"

Oh, Ernest P. Whorel (sp) how I appreciate all of your many movies. Each one a classic in my eyes. But, my friends there is one that stands out head and shoulders above the rest. "Ernest Scared Stupid"... it changed my life. Each year I watch it with friends and each year I laugh my butt off. Well not off... but you get the idea. Oh and tonight I carved a pumpkin.


Over and Out... (kkkkuuuhhh)
T

Fatigue is more than just physical

My best friend Nick and I went to the gym here in Lexington tonight. Due to many different circumstances... not because I don't want to... I haven't stepped foot into the Golds gym that we are members at for weeks. Let me first say gyms are so funny to. Everyone is trying so hard to look huge, cut, ripped, fit or massive. You can just sit and watch guys looking out of the side of their eyes to make sure "she" is looking while they try their "NEW MAX... RAH!" Whatever... I just think it's funny because I do the same thing when I go in... try to be cool. Anyway, Because of my 3 week hiatus my muslces have decreased considerable and as I noticed tonight... are not used to pushing weight yet. Each time I pushed they would scream at me and tell me... "I'm not ready!". But how am I ever going to get back into shape if I listen to those pesky muscle fibers? So, NO... I put my head down and push on. The harder I pushed the harder it was to focus my eyes and keep my food down (sorry, gross I know). What happened to me? Why am I so weak?

I got out of rhythm. I fell off the bandwagon. I quite my routine. I got out of step with my previous way of living. But today my thoughts were not confined to physical fatigue from my whimpy muscles. Tonight I was consumed thinking about how often I let my spiritual life become fatigued and out of shape. I can got for weeks spending time with Jesus and focusing on Him and then ONE week will effectively take away precious momentum. It's true that this life we live as Christians... as Jesus followers... is a journey. Journeys aren't easy. Some days you can travels miles and miles and never feel the strain. Others you can actually go backward or get lost or simply refuse to leave from your present location. Staying in Rhythm with Jesus is THE hardest endeavor I have ever undertaken. Because He demands so much you may ask? Because Jesus isn't fair? Because He never really talks back when I pray? No... No... and a hearty No. It's hard because I am inconsistent. If I don't stay in the gym I get weak and pathetic and it is near impossible to get back into the routine. If I don't stay connect with my Savior I do the same. I get weak and suddenly make decisions and do thing I immediately regret. It become snear impossible to sit down and start a daily practice of connect with God. Is it important?

Like BREATHING.

I want to train my muscles to be huge, fit, ripped, massive because my body will be healthy... and not to mention maybe a female might notice. I want to train my soul to be healthy, alive, connected, right, good because my very being will be healthy. So God would you give me the desire to connect with you daily and to be spiritually pumping iron!

Stay Classy San Diego!

Cookies in the sanctuary...

So this sunday I get to do something I love to do. I get to play guitar! It's true... occasionally I have the oportunity to help lead worship at the 9:00 contemporary service and I'm stoked. We practiced last night at 9:0opm... it was a bit of a late start and Tim provided some killer cookies. I think that guy could make a living bringing around the the sweet morsels he offers. STINKIN' YUM! There is a new addition to our sanctuary as well that ups my intrest in this venture... real drums. Even as I say it my legs grow weak and mouth begins to water. We have had one service with the new toys and I really believe it has and will enrich our worship services. Do I think worship is about real drums?? NO! I think worship is about a REAL Jesus, but there is something to be said about music being louder than I can sing... As David Crowder reminds us in his song "Sing Like the Saved", the King James Version calls us to make a "loud noise". Even last night playing guitar with the band I felt refreshed and alive again. When I truly enter into worship... which doesn't always happen... and often I have to work for, God does great things inside me. I miss passionate worship. I miss experiencing Jesus' presence during the week. So if I want passionate worship it has to start with me. So this sunday I am praying for God to touch our hearts and allow us to experience a healthy dose of the Almighty! May the force be with you...

In the Beginning...

So I have decided after seeing one of my colleagues and heroes (Wade Joye) begin to blog (wadejoye.typepad.com) I will take on the same task. For me this venture will be to allow students in the Fuse ministry and folks at Mt. Horeb to get glimpse into my life. I hope to share where God is taking me and growing me to encourage anyone that may choose to read. I believe we are all on this journey with Jesus as He makes and molds us and I simply want to put part of my story on display to give glory to Jesus and His work. My hope is that as people look at my life... Dirt and all they see a signature of Jesus. So some of these postings may be random... some may be mountain tops... some may be valleys, but all will be a twist or turn in the journey. Today has been another day where despite where I have been the past few months... I give my life to Jesus again.

Trevor