blog
20061228
getting away from a lot of it
My last day at work is the 31st. ahhhhhhh. (notice how there are more H's in ahhhhhhh than in aaaaaaaaah, meaning that the feeling I'm having is not one of panic, but rather of relief) I don't want people to think that working at KPC is a terrible thing, but as a lot of my close friends know, I was more than a little frustrated there. Now, who knows what's next?Heather, chunk and I are going to kick off this new adventure with a road trip/anniversary getaway right after the new year. I'm hoping to have the exaust put on the Bimmer and we'll take that out for a spin. We don't have any money, but hey, we'll make it work. :)
So, Merry Christmas eh? I like Christmas, but it's still only one day. It's not a month long consumer spending frenzy extravaganza that Best Buy would have you believe. Every year people ask what Christmas is really about, and every year someone answers, but then they ask the same question next year. Oh well. I would really like to celebrate Groundhogs Day with as much ferver and pomp as Christmas. So join me on January 2nd as we kick-off the month long Groundhog Party. Woot.
My wife is amazing. I love her. She turned 22 yesterday.
I miss Fort Mill. Maybe we should go down there sometime.
I miss backdrop and CrossFire and Frisbee, Ukraine, Youth Weekend, Amishman, videos with Isaac, walks with Mary, pictures with Natanya, camping trips, slip and slide, dancing with Megan, singing with Dani, Kate, Lydia and Laci, lifegroup, slim jims with Paul, driving with Leslie, parties at Barrett's, and all the memories I've had to take off of my office wall. Good times yo. Thanks for all that and more.
Labels: christmas, chunk, fort mill, job
20061222
old car, new car
Yesterday I bought a 1989 BMW 325i. This is a car I've always wanted, but could either never afford, or I didn't have enough money. Can I just say, I love craigslist? Thanks, "I love craigslist". So now we just need a buyer for the 4Runner... or anyone who is willing to give us $6,500 to pay it off. But hey, if you want, you can just give us $6,500 and take the car with you. I dare you. e-mail me if you're interested, or if you know of anyone that might be interested. We want to sell it before we go down to South Carolina some time in January.Anyway, we have a BMW now; it has almost 200k miles on it, but it's in good running condition. IT HAS A SUNROOF. Oh man, how I've missed sunroofs. Zay likes it, and Heather looks great in it, and I want to name it.
Merry Christmas Everybody!
Labels: 325, bmw, craigslist
20061217
Christmas Traditions
My mom has written, directed and produced a Christmas play every year that I can remember. And I'm very good at remembering things that happened in the womb; I might share those memories later, but that's not what this is about. Tonight, after the play that involved about 30 people(most of which were under age 10 and under 4 feet), she told me that she realized she never had time to make any family Christmas traditions because she was so busy with these church plays. But what she understands now is that the Christmas plays are the family tradition. She started about 20 years ago, and has used the same costumes, same props, and pretty much the same script. The script has of course gone through different renditions, but how far can you stray from the Christmas story? I remember all the lines I've said as a shepard, wiseman, Joseph, Gabriel, probably sheep and livestock as well. I have so many memories of the costumes, rehearsals, songs, the several churches we've been at and produced this gem at. Today, my mother's little church play tradition spanned three generations of the Bethune family. Isaiah played baby Jesus, while Jared, playing Joseph, sang and held him. Alec played a shepard, Chloe was an angel(naturally), my dad ran the sound and lights and my mom directed. What a legacy. Every member of my family has been in this play, all different parts, every year. So thanks for the traditions mom, most other families watch a movie or look at lights, I prefer being on stage. So does Isaiah.Labels: christmas, play, theater, traditions
20061213
this is no fund at all
Heather and I are excited about moving. We are exciting about whatever God has for us. Levi is not excited about STILL not having any money. I want to sell the truck, but in order to get it down to a price where someone will buy it, I have to put more money into it. We want to get a cheaper cell phone plan, but we don't want to pay the early termination fee. Life costs money, and ministry life costs even more money. I still don't own a camera, a decent hard-drive, lighting equipment, or a trailer. KPC was sort of close to buying a camera for my department, but after 3 years, it still hasn't happened.But God... has lead us to this place. This is the instant that we are living in, and the joy is that we are living in Him. I have breath, I have life, I have a wife, I have a beautiful child, I have friends, I have family, I have a vision, I have a goal, I have a future, I have talent, I have gifts, I have the grace of God.
And I have sunflower seeds.
Does anyone want to buy a 4Runner?
Labels: fort mill, God, job, money
20061210
Rhonda Pants
my toes are froze and my nose is froze...Heather, Zay and I are visiting Fort Mill this weekend. We came down yesterday to surprise Katie and Mel, as well as everyone else on the base. When we turned into the road that leads to the Bound4Life Headquarters, we saw two girls crossing the street. As we got closer, we noticed that the look on the face of one of the girls was shock; It was Katie. Her and Anna were walking back from getting coffee, so we gave them a ride. Mel was out with people, and we got to see her during dinner. She walked in and was confused. "Wait, it's you. What are you doing here?" Heather and I don't actually stand out that much here, so it took a little while for everyone on the base to recognize us.
At the rumble last night Lou had me stand up and share about what Kate called and told me about that afternoon. Last Saturday at Hillcrest Clinic in Norfolk, about 40 KPC members and employees of Life Ministries stood outside the Abortion Clinic and prayed. Since then, the regular Life Ministries mode of interception has changed. Aside from holding signs and calling out to the mothers and fathers as the enter the clinic, there is at least one person dedicated to praying and interceding. With red tape over their mouth and the word LIFE written boldly in black against the crimson, these warriors do battle in the spiritual. As Lou said last night, "Our prayers rise to Heaven as a memorial." The fruit of putting an emphasis on prayer at two separate clinics? 13 babies' lives have been spared. 13 children who would have been murdered in one week's time have been saved by God's grace. Our prayers are rising to Heaven as a memorial. Last night, we prayed over the 13 babies; that God would raise them up as a memorial, an icon, and that they would use their testimony to turn the heart of America.
God, give us the quick burn of revival, and the slow burn of discipleship.
We still don't know our place here. I haven't gotten any word back about video production, and Heather found out that the bunk houses that we would have been staying in when we moved here aren't going to be available after January 10th. So, we will have to find a place to live. And I may have to find a (real) job to pay for that place to live. I'm not opposed to finding a job down here, in fact, I'm not opposed to anything God would have us do, I just don't know what that is yet. I love the way that God outthinks me. He sets up stuff in my life so that I can't possibly get out of it. We have had plenty of opportunities to quit KPC and move, or join another ministry, but it wasn't right at the time. I'm not saying that God just made it really easy, because it's anything but simple, but He arranged our circumstances and our breaking points so that it was just right for His plan. Sneaky.
We might take the girls into Charlotte and have adventures today. Hooray! Please pray for us that doors will open... or even that we will see where the doors are. Oh and snow. Pray for snow. :)
Labels: clinic, fort mill, job, pants, prayer, Pro-Life, Rhonda
20061206
A New Adventure
In November of 2006, our family was brought down to Fort Mill, South Carolina to visit what we believe is the next step in our ministry and calling for our family.In their own words, "The Cause Fort Mill is the first of a network of bases under the banner of the Cause USA. Our mandate and mission continues to be raising up a generation of young people that are equipped to advance a movement of prayer and fasting that will bring revival and release justice and mercy over America and across the globe."
We are willing to sacrifice the comfort of our job, home, and locale in order to see this vision brought forward. We understand the importance and weight of the spiritual health of our culture, and how it effects our country and our world. God has made it heavy on our hearts to continue the spiritual battle over abortion, and to join in the fight to tear down the strongholds on this nation.
With the birth of Isaiah in October, we realize that he is the future church, and his generation will lead this country. Our eyes are open like never before to the spiritual inheritance that is worth fighting for. Please look with us toward that bright future, taking the big picture and putting God at the center.
Our goal as a family, as we run with this exciting opportunity, is to intercede for our generation by prayer, worship, and fasting. Levi's goal is to re-claim media and the arts for Christ by producing excellence through passion with a purpose. Heather will live out her desire as a mother by raising Isaiah in a community of truth and justice, revealing to him what the core of the church is.
Please support us in prayer and finances as we bring our gifts to the body of Christ as full-time ministry servants who are seeking to further the kingdom and shape our nation for the church of the next generation.
Labels: family, fort mill, heather, isaiah, Levi, Thecall, thecause
Archives
200502 | 200503 | 200504 | 200505 | 200506 | 200507 | 200508 | 200509 | 200510 | 200511 | 200512 | 200601 | 200602 | 200604 | 200609 | 200612 | 200701 | 200702 | 200703 | 200704 | 200705 | 200706 | 200709 | 200710 | 200711 | 200712 | 200801 | 200802 | 200803 | 200804 | 200805 | 200806 | 200807 | 200808 | 200809 |
