Celebrating the Glorious Revolution from England

About half of our guys small group – along with wives/girlfriends, gathered together on July 3rd to celebrate the Glorious Revolution from England with hot dogs, chips, beans, beer, rum, paint-by-water gun fights, master pyrotechnics provided by Chris the Exploder, and the general defilement of the British flag.  Here is a small taste of the celebration:

For more of the fun, more of the defilement, and more of the general joy we experienced at the memory of our forefathers battling it out with the Queen’s men over 200 years ago, you can check out even more pictures by going to this Picture Trail album link:

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/slideshow/22256996

Good Stuff

A few good things to share…

About 3 weeks ago we visited Athens, TN for their annual Moo-Fest – a day long downtown festival sponsored by Mayfield Dairy Farms.  Food, games, animals, lots of cheese and milk, and a tour of the Mayfield plant are all part of the festivities.  It was pretty fun.  We had a hard time pulling Eli away from the hoola hoop area:

And, best of all, I snapped a picture of a redneck guy with plumber pants getting a $10.00 chair massage from a street vendor!

Two Sundays ago, I was honored to be able to speak for about 15 minutes during the two Sunday services at Crossings, as part of a mini-series called MMIQ – My Most Important Question.  We did this last summer as well, with 6 different people sharing over two weeks.  Same this year.  It was very tough, very emotional, but I’m so thankful to have been able to share openly with our community.  It was really the first time ever since my legal problems started 9 years ago that I’ve given any sort of public testimony of any kind.  I didn’t go into a lot of detail about the things I did, but really talked more about how the Crossings community has truly changed my life and made it possible for me & my family to experience true community, when I had thought that might not ever be possible again.

I want to say thank you to so many people who hugged me, cried with me, and encouraged me after each service (many of you are readers, so thank you, thank you, thank you).  I was a little scared to share some of my experiences, and was not sure what to expect in response.  I couldn’t have been more blessed, encouraged, and loved.  It simply reinforced what this community is all about.  Amazing.

Finally, this past weekend, I had the opportunity to see my college roomate for the first time in over 8 years!  Andy (I’ve called him Buddha since our freshman year – long story – but that’s what all our friends called him all through college), his wife Jen, and their oldest daughter Oliviah were in Florida on vacation this past week, and were driving back through Knoxville on their way back home.  They stopped by Saturday afternoon, spent the night with us, came to Crossings, and headed back out Sunday afternoon for a drive home to Indiana.  It was so incredible to see my friend again after so long.  We were roomates for 3 1/2 of our 4 years of school and recounted so many great times, stories, and pictures.  He’s now the father of 4 great kids, and is a riot squad leader at a maximum security prison in Indiana.  I’m thrilled they are doing well, and can’t wait til we get together again….hopefully sooner than 8 years from now.

first ever suprise party

You expect a surprise birthday party when your 40, maybe 50.  That’s why getting a surprise birthday party at 33 is that much more suprising….because it’s such a boring age!  I was truly honored and thrilled to be welcomed by many of my closest friends last Friday night for such a party.  Erin worked so hard for many weeks to get this ready, going to great lengths to secretly get me out of a work trip, since I was actually supposed to be out of town last weekend.   Scott & Leigh were great hosts, and I’m so thankful to those who came.

It was a blast.  “The Office” was the overall theme of the party…there were Dunder Mifflin memos posted on the wall, dozens of hilarious quotes from show all over the house, The Office board game (which, without going into too much detail, basically evolved into a group game of “that’s what she said” jokes….i laughed so hard my whole body was hurting), and more.  We also had some great Mexican food and drinks!

I drank two very large pina coladas in a short time frame, which made me more sick than inebriated – which really blew, because inebriated was the goal.  But I guess that’s what happens when you drink more in one hour that you have in the last 6 months.  I also swatted a pinata from a tree for the first time in my life.  Very fun.  No “funniest home video” getting-racked-in-the-nads moment though.  Still fun.

Eli & Angela

We’re reluctant to admit this, but for the last year or so, Eli has had a girlfriend at preschool. Her name is Angela, and she’s crazy about him. Seriously. Ask Eli who his girlfriend at school is, and he’ll tell you it’s Angela.

Her parents are aware of this connection as well, and for a while we’ve talked with them about getting together sometime so they can hang out. We were finally able to this past weekend as they met us at the Oaks Farm for a hay ride, snacks, pumpkin picking, and other fun stuff.

Because I’m unable to get Picture Trail to work on this blog, for some reason that’s making me crazy mad right now, you’ll have to go to the link I’m attaching to see the photo show of Eli & Angela at the Oaks Farm. Sorry about that, I should be more technologically adept, but I just can’t get it to embed right. So, anyway, go here for a photo recap of Eli’s first date. Oh boy.

http://www.picturetrail.com/flicks/5742673/preview

BVD Tour Stop XVI

After a LONG event (Thursday – Sunday) in Georgia, a five hour drive back Sunday night, and a good night of sleep, it was nice to be able to enjoy a fun and relaxing Memorial Day.  Eli and I went to Krystal’s for breakfast.  Then, later in the afternoon, we got together with some friends from Crossings for a cookout.  The kids had fun playing in the sprinkler and on the water slide, Lisa grilled some awesome food, and the weather was awesome.  Here is a BVD photo from the cookout, along with a couple of water slide pics! 

(Pictured in the BVD photo.  Front row, left to right:  Eli, Emma, Abby.  Back row, left to right:  Lisa, Erin, Me, and Carrie, who is a former BVD winner)

BVD Tour Stop X

Ok, I have to admit, this is one of my favorites stops on the BVD Tour so far.  Cory & Heather Mounce are good friends of mine from Crossings.  Heather mentioned that they were participating in a 5K Walk for Juvenile Diabetes this past weekend, which starts at World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, and thought it might be neat to do a Tour shot there.  World’s Fair Park is a pretty neat place….open fields for play, walking areas, huge water spouts that kids enjoy during the summer, and (as you can see) it’s the location of the world renown Sunsphere. 

Heather is a teacher.  A student in her class has juvenile diabetes, and so I was very honored to get to meet Kelsey, along with “Team Kelsey”, and take this BVD photo about 30 minutes before the start of the 5k event.

Pictured, left to right:  don’t know his name, Preston Mounce, Heather Mounce, Cory Mounce, don’t know, don’t know, Kelsey (go Team Kelsey!), don’t know, don’t know, don’t know, don’t know, don’t know, me, don’t know, don’t know, don’t know.  Sorry, I didn’t actually meet everyone, and I was only there for about 5 minutes.  My thanks to another (don’t know his name) member of Team Kelsey who took the photo.

Ironman

My small group went to see Ironman last night, 9:30pm, at Regal Pinnacle in Turkey Creek.  Believe me, we debated long and hard….study chapters 13 & 14 of Zechariah, or go see Ironman?  Our leader dutifully tried to steer us toward the study, but the movie prevailed.  John had to work late – until 9:00pm – so we determined we could all get there early, buy tickets, and have one ready for him when he got there from work. 

Very entertaining movie.  I know nothing about Ironman, the comic character.  Nothing.  And had absolutely no idea what to expect from the movie.  Probably would not have gone to see it if we weren’t going as a group.  But it was pretty sweet.  Robert Downy, Jr pulled off a comic hero role quite impressively, the special effects were really really good, and the story line was pretty creative.  Actually, I’d put it right behind Batman (Christian Bale or Michael Keaton Batmen only – none of that Val Kilmer or George Clooney crap) as my favorite comic movies.  A very close third would be X-Men…then Spiderman…then falling pretty far behind would be (in a dismal tie) Daredevil, Hulk, Fantastic Four, and any others that came out I can’t remember and most certainly did not see. 

Anyone else craving Salsarita’s?  Better question, does anyone else (like me) pretty much always crave Salsarita’s?

2007 in Review

I’ve been wresting over some “top 10″ kind of lists, but I doubt I can put any together. Erin and I simply don’t see enough movies to compose a movie list…and most of the ones we see are ones we take Eli to. I’m very limited in my musical tastes, and I rarely buy new music. I don’t read nearly enough, and when I do, it’s mostly popular fiction.

So, I’m just going to list some stuff from 2007. Some movies. Some music. Some events. Some experiences. Some changes. Some of it may not actually “originate” from 2007, but they were meaningful to me somehow in this year. Without further adieu:

• Sicko, Stardust, Once, Bridge to Terabithia, Superbad, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Ratatouille are very worth seeing. Sicko made me mad. Once and Bridge to Terabitha made me cry. Stardust and Ratatouille made me smile. Superbad made me laugh…and feel guilty for watching it. And The Bourne Ultimatum just got me pumped up!
• Here’s who I enjoyed listening to in ‘07, regardless of the album, song, or dates of release: Caedmon’s Call, Kanye West, Rich Mullins, dc talk, Dixie Chicks, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Passion Worship, Bob Dylan, Alanis Morrisette, and lots and lots of sports talk radio.
• We began attending Crossings in June. Since July I’ve had the privilege of being involved with the setup/productions team every week, including producing, setting up lights, running video and sound, and tearing down after the service.
• “Relative” freedom came in July, after 6 years of punishment.
• Erin & I took our first vacation ever as a couple – and the first real vacation for either us in about 6 years – when we went to Charleston for 4 1/2 days in early September.
• This blog began the first week of July. I’m not sure if I would consider it successful or not, because I don’t know how to define the success of this blog. It’s been fun to write, and I can tell there are at least 12-15 of you out there reading each week, so let’s keep truckin.
• I became an uncle in September. My sister and brother-in-law had their first child, Grayson, and we’ve been fortunate enough to visit them 3 times since his birth.
• The month of April is host to my birthday, Eli’s birthday, and our wedding anniversary. So April’s always a good month, just in general.
• In September a good friend died. I didn’t hear about it for over 3 months. I hope he’s having fun in heaven.
• Around May-June, a friendship was rekindled with a truly great friend that I’d, for the most part, lost contact with for the last few years. I really needed it, and am very thankful.
• In February, Eli and I went sledding on about 1/4 inches of snow. You take what you can get around here.

I’m sure there’s more, but this is the stuff that comes to mind. As life goes forward, I’m really just trying to live better, learn more, serve more faithfully, be more grateful, and realize that no matter what kind of crap may come, my life is far far better than I could ever deserve.

my friend is gone…

Just in the last two days, I found out that a good friend of mine from Kentucky committed suicide in September. We were good friends, although not necessarily really close friends. I’d known him since 1996, when I was serving at a church in Kentucky while still in college.

Over the last 9 years, from the time I moved to Knoxville in 1998, he faithfully called me about once every 3 months, and even drove down to visit a couple of times. He was very much a country-boy, talked with a deep accent, always drove a pickup truck, chewed tobacco, and was an avid Florida State Seminoles fan.

Not really knowing what had happened, I found the online guest book hosted by the funeral home that handled his burial. I emailed a person from the guest book who seemed to have known him well over the last few years.

It seems that he killed himself primarily over a failed relationship with a girl he had dated for only 2-3 months, but simply could not get over. All evidence points to the fact that his suicide was not premeditated, but more of a rash decision as a way to get back at this girl. I’m hesitant to provide all the details, but that definitely seemed to be the case.

I’m just dumbfounded, really. Although I’d only seen him twice in the last 9 years, I’ll miss this friend very much. He was always a great guy, encouraging, was very active at his church in Lexington, Ky, outgoing, talkative. I understand there were no signs of mental health issues, no sickness. I just don’t get it. And I’m very sorry he’s gone. I’ll miss you, David.

bad night of sleep in a campus house

It’s 7:20am in Johnson City, TN. I’m sitting at an open computer on the 3rd floor of an old student fellowship campus house on the campus of ETSU. 7 of us arrived here last night after playing 18 holes of disc golf in Knoxville. In about 30 minutes, we’re headed out to try and play 4 different 18 hole courses by the end of the day today.

We went to “bed” around midnight. Bed meaning really really old couches spread throughout the 3 floors of the house. I finally fell asleep around 2:30am. Woke up around 6:45am. I’m really exhausted, but ready to hit the courses!

These old campus houses are amazing. There’s probably 3000 square feet of space in here. Room to sleep 30-40 if they wanted. Old, crooked, creaky hardwood floors. Huge back deck. Old tired walls filled with event flyers and student’s favorite scripture verses written in Sharpie marker. Two kitchens, a wide open gathering room on the main floor. A dingy smelling basement with a warped floor and an old Nintendo 64 with some cool games like hockey and Mortal Combat 4. And it works. But there’s only one full bathroom. And the toilet in it barely flushes. Definitely not a real livable house. But I don’t think anyone actually lives in here, so I guess it doesn’t really matter. Even so, as I sit here and type, it’s almost like I can feel the ghost of a frustrated college student breathing on my neck, as if he thinks I’m writing an important term paper than he can copy verbatim and turn in to the professor before I do. Kind of gives me the old Blair Witch Project goose bumps. I think I’ll go ahead and stop before an exorcism become necessary.

My Chains Are Gone

Just over 7 years ago I committed a criminal offense. I did it. It was horrible, wrong, shameful, terrible, hideous, etc. I’ve never denied my guilt. Just under 7 years ago I was placed under arrest at about 11:30pm after having driven from Detroit, Michigan all the way to Knoxville to meet with police personnel. I spent the night in jail. My good friend bailed me out around 9:00am the next morning.

Exactly 6 years ago, I was sentenced to 6 years of enhanced probation with the state of TN. Today, that sentence has expired. The words that keep popping in my head are the refrain of Chris Tomlin’s new version of Amazing Grace…”my chains are gone, I’ve been set free, my God my Savior, has ransomed me.”

Ultimately, sin is sin. Lying…sin. Stealing…sin. Envy…sin. Pornography…sin. Mistreatment of others…sin. Lust…sin. All sin has a cost. Some more than others. Some may cost more here on earth, all will cost us in eternity. We will account for our sin. We will be rewarded because of our righteousness.

This is going to be pretty “rough”, because I don’t have much time….but I’d like to give a brief overview of what my criminal act of sin has cost me in the last 7 years. Here it goes:

• Approximately $16,000 in fines, misc fees, and legal fees.
• Approximately $30,000 in lost wages.
• Completed 576 hours of fairly grueling community service work.
• Attended about 175 group counseling sessions, totalling about 250-300 hours.
• Submitted to 9 polygraph tests over 5 years.
• For the first 19 months of my son’s life, I was not allowed to care for him by myself.
• For the next 12 months of his life, I was only allowed to care for him by myself while my wife was at work.
• Almost all of my immediate family live in Kentucky, about 3 hours away. In the last 5 years, because of travel restrictions, I’ve been to Kentucky a grand total of 1 time.
• Because of the above restriction, my parents (and brother/sisters) have probably driven to Knoxville at least 12-15 times in the last 3 years to visit, often spending the night on our living room floor and spending who knows how much in gas and food money.
• Summer of 2004 – was forced to move residences within 1 weeks time.
• Numerous lost friendships and relationships.
• Until today, I have not worn shorts in public in almost 2 years. This because I’ve had to wear a “box” on my belt and a bracelet on my ankle since September 2005.
• Went through a significant period of time when I wondered if I would ever attend a church again.

I’m sure there’s more I could add to this list. But you get the point. You do bad things, you suffer bad consequences. Thank God for watching over me all this time. Thank God for my wife who’s loved me throughout. Thank God for my family (including in-laws) that have supported me and done whatever needed when we were in a pickle. Thank God for some of you reading this who’ve remained loyal friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I hope this helps shed some light on the name of my blog…Life Recaptured.