Sermons

So I'm slowly getting use to this sermon giving thing. Last Sunday (the 20th) I gave my 4th ever sermon (I don't count two of them though, so I feel this was only my 2nd) and I'm slowly getting better...however I am still trying to figure out my "thang" (if you will).

My first "sermon" was rough. I spoke about the Adulterous Woman (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208:1-11&version=31) and how we are truly each person in this account (outside of Jesus). I had about 2+ months to prepare for it...and I think it was too much time, for I changed my path on it numerous times. Everyone said it was a great sermon, and that it was "authentic" and "informative"...but there is nothing like claiming adultery....not once, not even twice, but THREE times throughout the sermon! Thankfully this church is encouraging and forgiving....and they just laughed it off each time when I caught my blunder (at one point one of the congregation members raised his hand and shouted out that I could "crash" at his place on his couch if I needed to tonight). All in all it was a good time.

Sermon number 2 was done this past Sunday and I changed a couple of things from my previous one. This time I didn't "dress" up. I was REALLY uncomfortable the first time (dress shirt and slacks), so I just wore shorts and a t-shirt...and felt really good. I also added PowerPoint to this sermon and tried to make it more of "me" than the last one (also video taped it so that I could watch and learn). Again, I'm using this time to truly figure out my style of sermons. Thankfully I didn't claim to have committed adultery this time.

The topic of sermon 2? Well, since it was the start of passover week (the night before actually), we looked at why the Jews don't use leavening agents in their bread during this week....and what we could learn from it. That is, we need to remove OUR "leavening" agents in our lives (arrogance and pride). It was good...but reflecting back (and watching it), there was definitely some things I could have done differently. But that's what this is all about...right? Learning.

What to say.......?

So I'm new to this, and doing it for Dan (since this is like the 3rd or 4th time he's told me to "blog") and I have no clue what to expect.

I guess I can kick this off with some information about me. I am 30 years old and have been married to a wonderful lady since March '03, and we have a wonderful son who is just a smidge over 3 years old. My day consists of getting up at 4:30am with Samson (our 1 year old 100lb yellow lab), grabbing a coffee and breakfast, and then hitting the books for whatever Seminary course I am taking (I usually have 2-3 classes in a quarter).

Around 5:45am I set aside my school work and spend that last 15 minutes, before everyone gets up, reading the Bible (I'm going cover to cover, and am at the tail end of Psalms).

Around 6am I crawl back into bed with my wife and watch a little news while we wait for the boy to wake up and join us in the bed. The boy and I goof off and act like dorks for the next 20-30 minutes (or until 6:30am hits) at which point we get him dressed and then myself. The next 20 minutes are a slurry of food prepration for our son and getting myself out the door....along with good-bye kisses and tickles. Man I love being a husband and father!

The commute to Seattle is not bad (45 mins), thanks to a friend of my wife's who lives down the road and works in Seattle too...so we get the carpool lane!

Then comes the next 9 hours of my day...work. My job? I sit at a computer and enter orders and help out sales reps. Sometimes I get to go on appointments and what not...but most of my time is spent trying to come up with something to do. Fun. The "highlight" of my day is during my lunch break when I can get out of the office. Most of the time I eat and work so that I can take advantage of my hour...which usually consists of me going running (I'm running roughly 5.7 miles during my lunch break. Not winning any marathons, but feels good).

5pm hits and depending on the day, it's time to head home. On class days I'll get home between 9pm and 10pm, and on non-class days (depending on traffic), I usually walk in the door around 5:45pm.

Then we eat...play...do homework....play with Samson...and then go to bed around 9 to 9:30pm. Then...sleep and start all over again.

Boring? Yup. But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Wow, that wasn't hard. This actually gives me something to "do" during my work day. :)