Winterfest '06

Just wanted to put up a little post here and let everyone (about 15 people a day) that checks my blog know that i am taking about 50 students to Lynchburg, VA in the morning for the Winterfest conference. There are gonna be tons of bands, but most importantly David Crowder to usher us into the New Year, plus speakers, and ice skating(i'm sure there will be pictures or a cast on my arm to follow!!) I can't believe that we are entering 2007! who'd a thunk it!! Well, i'm sure i'll have plenty to post after Monday, so until then....have a happy new year and don't forget to kiss the one you love!!!

Keepin' it real,
Bholda

The Beautiful World Of QVC

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Santa brought you everything you desired!! I know I had a great day and got many things I had asked for, and even received a few "surprises" if you will. Let me explain... You see, my mom enjoys, wait a minute...LOVES shopping on QVC. If you don't know what QVC is, it stands for, well, I really don't know what it stands for, but I do know that you can buy ALL kinds of things, and not necessarily very high quality things. For various reasons, my mom really loves buying me things from QVC, even though I have tried to make it clear that I don't need anything from there, she still insists on buying stuff. For instance, a couple of years ago she bought this hose pipe that was designed to roll up after you used it, so on the surface it looked really nice, but after taking a couple of days just trying to get it to actually work, I finally stuffed it back in the box and threw it in my closet!! Well, this year was no different and for you viewing pleasure, I have added a picture of her most recent purchases from QVC. So, as you can see I have a hat with a flashlight in it and a fishing vest with several pockets for various fishing tackle!! The incredible thing about the vest is that it is actually endorsed by Chuck Woolery!! That's right, the dude from the Love Connection!!, no kidding!!! So once again, I will give the items their due time, and try them out, but I have a feeling that they may end up in the back of the closet with the amazing hose pipe!!

I Love You Mom!!!

Bryan

Christmas and Such

Well, i've been thinking a lot lately (no, it's not that unusual!) Mostly about the holidays and Christmas. I can't help but remember what Christmas was like when i was growing up. Lots of presents, i mean LOTS (yes, i was spoiled, don't hate..congratulate!!) family get-togethers, tons of food and the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoons. I can remember the huge black trash bags full of wrapping paper and shirt boxes and how we used to start a huge fire in the field and burn all that stuff. It was probably one of my favorite things on Christmas!!! Can you say pyromaniac? But anyway, it seems that the older i get, the more the whole getting gifts thing becomes so much less important. I still enjoy the giving part, as much as the starving wallet will allow me to give anyway!! I guess i'm just getting older and things change. I'm beginning to realize that the older i get the most important thing about Christmas is finally becoming the most important thing to me. That "thing" is the birth of Jesus. All the other stuff, as fun and exciting as it was when i was a child is...well, gone! I can't go back and relive those moments, but i can choose to focus on the greatest gift i have ever been given-SALVATION!!! It is a gift that never has to be "upgraded", it never breaks, or becomes inferior. My challenge to you is to start now making the most important thing about Christmas the most important thing to you.

Merry Christmas!!

Bryan

The Face Of God

So, the past few days have been incredible!! Crystal and I had the priviledge of hanging with coolest kid I know. His name is Isaac Clary and he is an unbelievable human being. Isaac and his parents have been up in Cincinnati since last Nov. because of some health problems Isaac has. (For more on that check out www.caringbridge.org/sc/isaacsjournal) If I tried to explain it, I would really mess it up, but his website explains it all and plus it's just a cool site. What made the last few days incredible you ask?, well let me proceed. Isaac has had to spend a lot of time in the childrens hospital in Cincy, and while in there he would always want to make cards and stuff for the other children in the hospital. Well, he came up with a big idea, a REALLY BIG idea!! He wanted to give gifts to the children on his hall, which in the end turned into all the kids on his hall, and every hall in the Cincy children's hospital, plus kids in the Shriners hospital, PLUS an entire 1/2 truckload went to the Ronald McDonald House next to the hospital!!! We estimated that he gave away between 1500-2000 gifts!!!! Which probably equals $15,000-$20,000 worth of stuff!!!
It was an amazing thing to watch an 8, soon to be 9 year old boy be so unselfish and selfless!! The children and the families of those children were so blown away at this tremendous act of giving. Isaac had simply asked people to send in gifts so that these children would be able to have a few Christmas presents while they were in the hospital. But it turned out to be so much more than just toys and games and coloring books and crayons. Isaac has impacted so many people because of his sensitivity and concern for others. You see, Isaac has to wear a mask that covers his nose and mouth because of germs. As I spent time with him, I watched and listened to him and NEVER, not even 1 time did he complain or whine about the mask. I tried to put myself in his shoes and I know that if I were his age, that would really bother and frustrate me, but not Isaac!!! I wish everyone could have had the opportunity to spend the amount of time we had with him. It would surely change your life, because I know it changed mine!!
I have done a pretty stinky job writing about Isaac and his project, so I apologize, but I want to encourage you to try to learn something from this young MAN, because what I saw and experienced was truly the Face of God. We should never take life or the opportunities to help others for granted. Please check out Isaac's dad's blog because he has pictures and tons more details about Isaac and the project, plus he has pictures. The link to his page is on the upper right hand side of my page.
Please don't forget that you and I have been given the greatest gift of all, a relationship with Jesus Christ, and all we have to do is accept it!!!!

Running the Race,
Bryan

Hangin with rock stars

So, this is my first blog and I am really not feeling creative so I'm just gonna tell what's goin on right now. I have 3 of the 4 members of the band Chasen(Chase, Wil, and Evan) in my office, just listening to them talk about their new haircuts and the various hair products they use in those new haircuts. I have learned alot about each of these guys in the last few minutes; for instance, Chase is wearing like 4 shirts 1 of which is an undershirt that is way too small, Wil went to Old Navy and bought a bunch of button up shirts for like 6 bucks each, and Evan doesn't care too much for the music of Mark Broussard (whoever that is?). It has been an incredible few minutes, you know, just getting to experience a small glimpse into the world of rock stars and all. But seroiusly, if you haven't heard these guys, they love God and they play some rockin' music, so you should go to chasenmusic.com and check them out!!! I guess that's it for now, i'll try to post something new a least once or twice a week, but at this point I can't promise much.

Keepin' it real,
Bholda