To the people God has put in my life……..
On
a trip back to Houston, I met with some friends who had recently moved back to
the states (Dallas) from Paris and just happened (God’s intervention) to be in
Houston at the same time.
It was
this encounter that I started thinking about my Christian walk and how I got
here.
It made me realize that God has been putting people in my life
that are not only there to help me, but to further His Kingdom.
One of the things that I would like those of you reading
this is to think about your own life.
Who has God placed in your life as part of your Testimony of where you
are in your life. For my former
students, I hope you see what I have been trying to teach you all these
years. How my life mimics what I
have always taught you. You don’t
have to preach to your friends to let them know who God is. As my wife and her friends did back in
high school, they just planted the seed and let God fertilize it, care for it and
help it grow.
Bobby Sepulveda:
My earliest recollection of someone
I considered my first “real” friend.
I had just moved from Indiana to Illinois in the 9th grade,
an awkward time to say the least.
I wasn’t as handsome then as I am now, and being introverted didn’t
help. Bobby was a senior. He came from a home where he was raised
by his grandparents. I never knew
why. He was a great guy. He was upstanding, good grades and
proud of the very old car that he had and the job that earned him the money to
put gas in it. I loved that car,
it was my freedom as well because I was not yet old enough to get my
permit. He dated a sophomore named April and we all 3 went everywhere
together. He introduced me to the
Y.M.C.A. and a great summer program that had 8 young people travel to upper
Minnesota and the lakes region and we canoed and camped out for 10 days. We traveled the lakes and rivers up
into Canada sometimes having to carry our canoe between bodies of water. It was there I learned to be away from
home, grow up and get outside of my comfort zone. I thank Bobby for all the memories of bowling, hanging out
and helping me grow up.
Nov. 8
Doug Burgess & Family:
We were very fortunate to be able
to build from the ground up the first house we ever owned. We were the 2nd people on
the cul-de-sac to build on our street, so we got to see all the other houses
being built and everyone move in.
God blessed us with an amazing neighbor who had just moved in with his
wife and 2 young girls and his wife, Felicia, was close to bearing their 3rd. They are amazing Christian
parents and I was lucky enough to be able to learn from them for 5 years. Doug would be out in the garage working
on something (most times tinkering with a car) and I would come to “help” and
we would get into the most amazing Christian discussions. I was able to see how gentle and kind
and committed they were to their children and instilling the greatness of God
in their lives. He never turned me
down when I needed his help with something that needed fixing on my car or my
house. Sharing the birthday
parties of their kids, (and we didn’t even have any). Being invited for dinners, lunches, or watching
football. I remember thinking; I
hope I have kids like that. I see
their kids now…. I still think the same thing…Thank you God for these great
people and the incredible example of a loving family.
Nov. 10th.
R.T. SHIELDS: HS Choir Director
I
grew up in a family that sang (more on that later), but I didn’t really have a
passion for it. I sang, but it was
only because it was something to do and my dad was a choir teacher. When I moved to Bartlesville my junior
year, I signed up for choir.
Being the son of a choir director, I never wanted to be in front of
anything, so any time he did a musical, I would run sound and lights. When it came time my junior year in
Bartlesville for the musical, R.T. put a sign up sheet for auditions. One day, he said, I didn’t see your
name on the audition list (now keep in mind I have only been at this school for
4 months). I said, no I usually
ran sound and lights for my dad.
He said, I guess you didn’t understand me, I need to see your name on
the audition list. So I
reluctantly did and auditioned that day singing you are my sunshine since I
hadn’t prepared anything.
When the cast sheet was posted, he had put me as the lead in the musical
7 Brides for 7 Brothers.
What? How could he do
that? I can’t do this? I haven’t been a soloist or even acted. But again God put in place people who
didn’t just look at me from the outside, they saw what God wanted them to see
and to push me out of my old self and into a new awareness of me.
Because
he believed in me and pushed me, it was the most amazing experience and that
began where I am today. A love of
music, trying out for choir in college and the experience that it gave me. I am forever in his debt and hope
that I can see in others what he saw in me and bring that out of them.
Nov. 12
David Stumpff:
We
moved from Illinois the beginning of my Junior year to Oklahoma. It is here that I would develop the
sense of character that I still continue to have today. The first person He put in my life
would challenge my own perceptions of people and a deep seeded fear of mine would
be quashed. Not only that, but it
would change the way I saw people and not judge, but to love. David was a senior. He came from a family that earned a
very good living, but they weren’t flashy about it. As a matter of fact were a very grounded family. David and I had known each other from
choir and we became very good friends.
After the first week of school, he found out I was riding the bus to
school and told me (not offered) he would be picking me up every day for
school. What a generous
thing. This was just one of many
things David and his family did for me especially at a low point in my life. Davids mom and dad basically were my
second parents. When I was at
their house, they treated me as one of their own. It was that unselfish giving that planted a seed in my heart
for being there for people. I will
always be thankful and grateful that God put them in my path. David’s friendship has transcend time
and he will always hold a special place in my heart and life.
Nov. 14
Michael & Edna Darby:
Before we had kids, we hung out
with 3 other couples and became very close friends. Amazing Christian couples who were learning about God as
couples and as friends. The
Darby’s were the first to have kids, so we got to learn from them about being
new parents. But what was Godly
intervention, was that Liz and I were worried about what we would do about
childcare as we were about to have our own child. Edna had decided to stay home and when we approached them
about taking care of our yet unborn child; she said yes. Can I tell you what an amazing peace
that brought us. She was an
amazing, loving, caring individual who loved not just our first kid, but our
second as well. She loved my
children as they were her own. The
side bonus to all this, is that I got to watch her and how great she was with
her kids and mine and how I could learn from that. She was a great example to me of how to be a good
parent. I don’t know what we would
have done without her. Michael too
was great to watch as he is a devoted husband and father and does anything and
everything he can for his family.
Watching him, you know family comes first. They will always have a special place in my heart and my
eternal gratitude for teaching me about being a loving parent.
Nov. 15
Mark & Jennifer Ryberg
Mark
& Jennifer were the final couple of the core 4 we got to become close to
prior to having kids and then continued after having kids. What I have learned from Mark & Jen
is compromise and cooperation.
Mark’s job is one that takes him away from home a lot during the week,
leaving Jen to man the house and juggle her work and kids and activities. They are a well oiled machine as they
balance working and family. The
preconceived notion of a traveling spouse is that whey they are home, they
aren’t really home. That isn’t the
case for Mark. He immerses himself
in his kids, whether it is sports, dance or concerts or taking the family our
4-wheeling, pulling a trailer for a parade, father/daughter trip to NY, a
father/son philly/NY trip.
Jennifer is lucky too, she gets to spend quality time with her kids as
well with dance competitions, boys scouts and special times with them as
well. Mark & Jen are the kind
of couple that no matter how long it has been since you last talked, it is as
if you just talk yesterday.
They always have time for you and have very generous hearts; they do not
know what “NO” is. Mark and I have
had some great talks over the years and he brings a wonderful deep perspective
that is rooted in heavy study of God’s Word over many years. One of the other characteristics that I
like about Mark is loyalty. His
loyalty to family, church and friends is without reproach. I thank God for bringing the Rybergs
into my life, because without them, I wouldn’t have learned how to be a more
dedicated parent. I also would
have missed out on late night card or board games at the Hudson lake house and
the memories I will always have.
Nov. 15
Matt & Judy Shamburger:
Matt
& Judy were part of that “core 4” couples that we were friends with prior
to kids (and after). Through
their friendship, I was able to watch what an amazing couple they are. They compliment each other like ying
and yang. If one has a weakness,
the other has the strength to compensate for it. I have enjoyed Matt’s friendship; it is one of those that
you don’t have to talk everyday to stay friends or to feel like you haven’t
talked in ages. Matt is
unbelievably smart, loves making lists and goals and usually accomplishes most
of them. He also has the uncanny
ability (whether learned from his dad growing up or God given talent) to be
able to build or fix anything. I
have loved talking about God with Matt, he brings a deep intellectual view that
he combines with real life experience.
Matt let’s me bring anything to him; to dump my issues out and he helps
me pick them up, rearrange them and make them look better. One of the things (besides all the
above) is that both of them, through intellect, has been able to show me and
teach me is how to keep cool. To
always think things through and to really go to God with our daily issues. They have also taught me commitment; to
God, each other and their kids.
There isn’t anything they wouldn’t do for their kids or each other. Matt’s job over the last 10+ years has
seen him traveling a lot, leaving Judy at home alone to take care of the
castle. Watching how she juggles
tasks with the kids, things at home and helping her own family; it taught me
how to prioritize and unconditional loving. She has an incredible spirit and attitude; it is
infectious. I thank God that he
allowed me to be a fly on the wall of the Shamburger’s. Without them, I wouldn’t have learned
enough patience and commitment; to love one another’s strengths &
weaknesses (and to create lists)
Nov. 16
Stuart Skeeter
I
remember way way back in about 1995, Stuart had come up to me after church and
asked me about my job. I had been
an insurance adjuster for about a year and he wanted to know how I liked my
job. We talked for sometime and I
found out that he was going to interview with a company called Chubb. At that time, I had no idea who they
were, but I told him I loved my job and I highly recommended it to him. From that, we became friends and would
talk in church and we now also had insurance in common. What I learned from Stuart from
watching him, listening to him teach from time to time and answering questions
in Sunday school class is his attention to details. This came through in being in deep discussions with him
about God, watching his dedication to his family and his work. His dedication and attention to detail
shines through even more when he decided to take up running some years
back. He decided to do it and went
at it full out to become an amazing runner. It shows through at work by how far he has come and what he
has attained and the respect he has from his clients and colleagues. If Stuart decides he is doing
something, he is going to make sure he does it to the best of his ability; and
not just in running, but again, with God, study, family, work and friends. I thank God for giving me Stuart’s
friendship and letting me be able to observe him. Stuart makes me want to be a better man, more meticulous in
everything I do and makes me strive to dig deeper into God’s word.
Nov. 16
Bryan & Deb O’Neil
I arrived in Paris; dazed and confused. We were
living in Paris for a few weeks (turns out it was more than 7) and school was
in the burbs. We had more things go wrong in our move and it was killing us.
About 2 weeks after school started, there was an open house for lower school
and there was no problem getting out there as I had been taking the bus up the
hill. Problem was, the bus stopped running at 7pm and it was well after 9pm
when the event was over and I didn’t know how I was getting home other than
walk the 12km to the hotel. I had decided that if I couldn’t find a ride, I
would walk the 1 hour back to town. As we were leaving the event, I overheard a
couple say to another lady that they were taking her into town. I got up the
courage, introduced myself and asked if there was any way they could take me
down the hill to the metro. They said sure.
But when we got in the car, they told me they
would take me to where ever the hotel was. I told them they didn’t have to, but
they said it was late and it was no problem; that was bryan and deb. As we
headed to my hotel, they heard my story, and saw that dazed look in my eye and
said, “Hey, we were just the same when we first moved here. Tell us what we can
do to help.” Who does that? This was only after meeting and talking to me for
less than 30 minutes; caring and compassionate. That one encounter would spur a
friendship that was my ROCK. For the next 2 years I we got to be great friends,
spend a lot of time together, do some fun trips out of paris, fun dinners out
and they constantly exuded caring & compassion. They showed that to each
other and their kids as well as the people they call friends. I thank God that
He gave me the courage to speak to them that first night. I thank God for Bryan
& Deb showing me love. I thank
them for their friendship and for letting me be a sounding board for my
frustrations. Because without them, I would have never made it through my first
year in Paris, they are a Rock. I also appreciate the very special times we
shared from Pierrefonds antique shopping to Lassarre and will treasure those
memories forever. Thanks Bryan ONeil
& Deb O'Neil...I will always
love and treasure you and our times together.
Nov. 17
Damon & Michele Biggins
I
have known Damon & Michele for 2 years now, but it seems like we have been
friends forever. Living in Paris has allowed me to meet so many great people
like Damon & Michele. They are
so comfortable to be around and make everyone feel at home. What I have learned from Damon
& Michele is openness & kindness.
We are similar to them a lot in this respect in that you can ask us
anything and we will tell you. You
aren’t afraid of being judged when you are that open with each other and that
is so refreshing. We agree to
disagree on some things, but find we are more alike in others. Michele and Damon would do anything for
you and on a couple of occasions, I used Damon as my french interpreter. Through their friendship, we have been
able to share some fun times together.
The Biggins are big UT fans and as you know we are OU fans. For 2 years in a row, they have hosted
us in their home to watch the game.
We have shared good food, good talk, good rivalry and great fun; even if
their team let them down for 2 years now. I see something very special in Damon &
Michele. I thank God for them and
will forever be grateful they allowed us to enter their lives. I thank God for our friendship. If Michele & Damon weren’t here,
life would be dull.
Nov. 18
David & Lauri Gordon:
I was introduced to the Gordon’s
some time ago (number of years unknown at this time). This incredible couple was brought into my life to not
only teach me a lesson that I needed, but show me how that Godly lesson was
missing from my life; giving. The
Gordon’s taught me giving, unconditional love & humbleness. Early on in my marriage, I had known
that I needed to be giving back to God and my community. That is easy to say, even harder to do;
especially when you are struggling with your own finances and trying to keep up
with the “Jones’.” After I met the
Gordon’s and seeing their overwhelming generosity to others, I decided I needed
to get our life on the biblical financial track. We discovered Dave Ramsey and he changed our life. I understood then what the bible meant
by “a cheerful giver.” They have
an unconditional love of al people; I feel it because they basically tell me
that their home is my home (and that is not just a saying to them). They make me feel like I have been a
part of the family all my life and that makes trips back so relaxing. I don’t think the word ‘NO’ is
even in their vocabulary. They do
more for their community and church than people know, but they don’t want any
recognition; that is the humbleness I hope I can continue to learn. They have 3 amazing wonderful,
talented, beautiful kids and I hope my kids are even a little like theirs. I thank God for letting me be part of
the family and them for being great role models, not just to me, but to anyone
whom they meet. I thank them for
continuing to inspire me to be generous in my life.
Nov. 18
Cory Thompson
Cory
entered my life just after Matt came to be Minister of Music. Cory coming into my life would teach me
how to be more confident and to be a better friend. This was a God thing because without Cory, I wouldn’t have
had an amazing 10 year run singing in a gospel quartet with his amazing
voice. Cory has this remarkable
confidence and a voice to match, as well as maturity beyond his years. It is this confidence and maturity that
I felt drawn to, not just be around, but to want a little bit to rub off on me. Part of that confidence and maturity
showed through because Cory would do anything for anyone; the word NO really
isn’t in his vocabulary. God
blessed him with an incredible voice, but when told he has a great voice, is
very humble. I have been blessed
to have Cory in my life, for a little of his confidence, maturity &
humility to have rubbed off on me, and for allowing me to sing with him in the
quartet. Cory has many more
amazing qualities that I aspire to, a loving husband to a wonderful, beautiful,
amazing wife & mother, devoted father to a happy, funny little boy;
Canon. I thank God for Corey. I know that without him in my life, I
wouldn’t have had the confidence to sing in the quartet, strive to be a better
singer, man, husband and father.
Nov. 18
Steve & Erin Nowicki
We
were able to get to know them because their daughter was in katherine’s grade
at ASP. They also had an older
daughter that we used as a kid watcher if we wanted to go out without
kids. We weren’t able to spend as
much time with them as I wish we could have, but both their kids and our kids
were b*u*s*y a lot. But, the times
we did spend together, I was able to see what wonderful parents they are. What they taught me is patience and to
not take life so seriously all the time.
They are very Godly people and they make sure their kids know how great
God is too. We were blessed last
year when we were kind of down and missing family around thanksgiving. They saw that and invited us into their
home to share thanksgiving with them.
What a thoughtful gesture; to open there home and the tradition of
family to welcome us to share in it.
Erin has a gentle spirit and when you are around her, you know that she
would walk to the ends of the earth for her kids. They are the bright shining light in her life and when they
walk in from school or where ever, she lights up. The same can be said for the kids, when they see their
parents, they light up. Erin is
also a giver; she gives tons of time to school and to serving the
homeless. Steve and Erin are a
beacon in a dark world.
Their love of God shines through in everything they do. One of my favorite memories is going to
dinner one night and sharing a great meal, coming back to their house and
talking until 3am. Well, Erin and
I talked; Liz and Steve got into a great biblical discussion (for 2 hours). I will always cherish those times and
hanging with them. They played a
huge part of our enjoyment here in Paris.
I thank God that we got to be included as part of their family and we
were sad to see them suddenly go.
Nov. 19
Elizabeth Young:
Liz
saved my life. If no one believes
God has a plan for your life, just look at mine, because this relationship is
God sent. I moved to Oklahoma as a
junior and I was lost. Liz and her
friends quickly brought me into their group and made me feel welcome. They included me in all they did, asked
me to sing in the church choir and planting the seed that God was the head of
my life. God had a plan. We started dating the day after
graduation (and for those that know any back story of our relationship know the
fact she agreed to date me is a miracle in itself). From that day, on, we dated for 6 years, but a lot happened
in that time. With not only Liz’s
example, but also her parents life example, they showed me God’s love and in
1987, I formed my relationship with God and was baptized. God continued to work on our
relationship not just before we were married but after too. Liz’s strength of character, and love
of God was what I found most amazing about her (the fact that she is beautiful
is like gravy on the biscuit). So
I got to learn what strong character is and what pure love is. But that is not all I have learned from
her, whether through observation but actual participation. One of the greatest things she taught
me was patience and forgiveness. Living
with me isn’t easy (as some of you might now), but she sticks with me, putting
up with me.
I
could go on about how smart she is, how incredibly beautiful she is, how loyal
she is to not just work but to her family. What a devoted mother she is, a dedicated studier of God’s
word, and her unfailing ability to think things through. To look at all sides and see where all
are coming from and then coming up with a plan or solution for all. She has shown me that praying about
situations, God will send you down the path He wants you on. God is the center of our relationship;
which is what He has always wanted.
I thank God for bringing Liz into my life, for allowing her to love me,
even when I wasn’t the best person, for letting her see in me what God did (and
forgive me for screwing up Prom).
If it wasn’t for Liz, I wouldn’t be the man I am today, my life wouldn’t
be an adventure and I wouldn’t have the 2 most amazing kids anyone could ask
for (even if they get some of their attitude from my side). Thank you for always loving me.
Nov. 19
RICHARD & KAREN YOUNG:
I
don’t know where to begin. I could
start with they believed in me and showed me what a relationship with God
was. Or it could be when I bombed
out of college my freshman year they believed in me and allowed me to come
over, use their computer (apple 2C for you IT geeks), read my English papers
and proofread them so I could achieve a good grade and return to college. How about when they took me on their
family vacation to Angel Fire and I learned to ski. Then there was the day (after 6 years of dating) I asked
them for their daughters hand in marriage. It was then Richard gave me this sage advice; “You know my
daughter, so, I guess you know what you’re getting yourself into.” Or how every time we have moved,
Richard has been right there lifting, lugging, loading and hauling without
complaint. It could be when
they took me to Elk City and the Rodeo.
It was one of my favorite things to go to Elk City because Grandma
Swinehart & her girls were amazing cooks. I would wake up to the most wonderful breakfasts of eggs,
bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, saurkraut, biscuits & sausage gravy. How about Karen volunteering to
paint a mural in both my kids’ rooms 2 different times? Richard fixing anything that was broken
at our house any time they were around. Driving from Colorado with a trailer, hauling plywood
and a generator when Rita was coming when there was no plywood to be found. I could go on and on and on with all
they have done and continue to do.
My in-laws are the most unselfish people that I know.
But
what I am most thankful for is their spirit and not giving up on me. They saw a kid in high school with
potential (and a kid who wanted to date their daughter) and shared with me the
need for a relationship with God.
For giving me my first bible (which I still have) in 1986 for
christmas. They are and continue
to be an example of the kind of parent/couple/people I strive to be (yet
continually fall short). Their
willingness to give and give and give, I hope I can continue to do the things
God allows me to do to follow their example. They have taught me that the only thing that is truly
important is family and that includes standing by your family through the good
and the bad.
Having
these people in my life is to say they not only saved my life, but they
continue to show me the kind of person I want and desire to be. Thank you for being the solid
foundation in my life.
Nov. 20
Matt & Trudy Marsh:
What
I have learned from Matt is how to be in love with your wife, how to love your
children, how to love God more, & how to have fun. I moved to Texas in 1992 after Liz and
I graduated and we ended up at UBC a year or so after we moved there and left
another church. Not long after we
arrived, a young music director was hired to replaced the one that had
resigned. He was full of
energy. I hadn’t done any singing
in several years, and I had lost that passion to sing, so I was content to just
sit in a pew. Somehow he heard
that I could sing and invited me to a choir open house and said just come once
and if you don’t like it, don’t come back. He saw something in me that said I needed to be using the
gift God had given me. Needless to
say, I did come back and spent 15 years singing with the choir. Matt’s leadership is above reproach and his dedication to God
is without fault. That lead to
other great things as to forming a Gospel Quartet and we were able to sing
together for 10 years, many wonderful solo opportunities starting the Gospel Gala
and being a mentor to high school singers by helping in youth choir. I love to watch Matt’s interaction with
the students and I was able to learn a lot watching him. I loved going to A&M/OU football
games with him. One of my favorite
memories is when Liz and I were social leaders in our adult Sunday school class
and we put together a 2 day marriage seminar in Galveston. We asked Matt & Trudy to lead the
seminar and we asked them to hold nothing back. They were funny amazing leaders teaching newly married
couples how to have a successful marriage.
I love how Matt is so in love with
his wife Trudy. I know a lot of
people are in love with their spouse, but when you see Matt & Trudy, you
know. To see him interact with his
own two girls; you can tell he is their rock, their stability, their love. Thank you Cory, Tim & Kenny for
letting me take that journey with you in the quartet. I will be forever grateful that Matt allowed me to use the
gift God had given me and gave me my passion for music back that I had been
missing. There are other great
stories (like how Matt let Steve Lindsey be mean to me on a choir tour trip),
but we will keep those for a later time.
I thank Matt for giving me his friendship, including me on his choir
journey’s, & for giving me an opportunity to express how I feel about God
in song.
Nov. 21
Karl & B.J. Krueger:
What
I learned from my mom was to know that it was okay for a woman to be just as
successful as a man. What I
learned from my dad was that you sacrifice for the ones you love. I grew up in an atypical family (at
least by the 60’-70’s standards).
My father was a successful choir teacher and my mother an equally
successful doctor. Typically those
roles are reversed. My parents
also adopted 4 other children after having me, so that I would have
siblings. One of my favorite
memories is of my father teaching me to drive on snow and ice. I had so much fun that day, speeding
across the school parking lot and then learning how to control a slide on the
ice. I remember I loved watching
my dad direct the choirs and the school musicals. I used to go into the hospital to visit my mom and I loved
watching her work. I would sit
there and listen to her look at these x-rays and then rattle off all these
complex sounding words and terms just to describe what she saw. I was in awe of her. She is one of the smartest women I know
and I always wanted to be as smart as her. I thank God for letting me have these 2 inspirational
parents.
Nov 21
Richard Simmons:
I
have known Richard for some time.
He is one of the most even keeled, level-headed, smartest guys I know;
that is what Richard taught me.
How to stay level headed and even keeled. Richard has been one of those steady friends I have had over
the years, and he always make me feel important. I know that sounds weird, but he makes me feel like I count
as far as our friendship is concerned.
We may have never shared NOLA, but we have shared, lunches, dinners,
poker games, church & golf.
Richard goes out of his way to make sure everything is going okay in
your life. He is someone I was
able to bounce things off and get some good feedback to solve the issue.
He
is an amazing family man, loving husband and father. I thankful to God for letting me be a tiny part of Richards
life and for letting me learn a little of the characteristics I feel I need.
Nov. 21
Martha & Joe Tanner:
16
years ago, God brought these inspiring people into my life. The Tanners taught me how to honor God
and to inspire students to want to have a stronger relationship with Christ and
to be humble. They had been
teaching Sunday school for many years, and we were lucky enough to be able to
partner with them and teach 10th grade Sunday school for 13
years. They are God inspired
people; the kind you hope to get to know so you can grow in your own knowledge
of God and His teachings. Joe was
an astronaut and to me and the rest of the world, that truly is the coolest
thing ever. But Joe was very
humble about it. What it allowed
him to do was to explain God’s word to many who asked; it was a vehicle to
allow people to see a different story of God and his creation. He got to see God’s beautiful creation
from space. He could have used the
notoriety of an astronaut to his benefit, but that was not Joe. He taught me how to be more humble
because of that. We discovered a
few years into our relationship that we lived in the same town at one time and
went to the same high school; small world.
Through the Tanners, we were able
to have some unbelievable times with them and our Sunday school classes. One of the best ideas to come from this
partnership was Beach Retreat. A
time for students to get away from “their world” of electronics, phones and the
dig into the Word of God and for them to examine their own lives. Their relationship with each other,
with other people and with the students was inspiring. Watching and listening to Joe
teach the kids about Christ’s love and watching the kids soak it in, is a gift
from God. Joe was there for me at
a very low point in my life and prayed with me. They are the examples of God fearing, God loving, God
honoring people and I learned a lot.
I have had some of the best talks with Joe & Martha; and without
Martha, there is no Joe. They
freely gave their friendship to us and I will never forget it. Thank you God for letting us hang with the
Tanners.
Nov. 21
Katherine & Jackson Krueger:
Most
people know that someday they will have kids (their own or adopted) and I was
no different. I never imagined
that God would give me the two amazing kids I have. They are a constant source of frustration and laughter. Good times and bad. What I love about them is how each of
them is exactly like us. They have
taken on traits that each of us have; which can be challenging sometimes. I love that my daughter is a great
swimmer and as a 7th grader made the JV swim team last year, this
year (after only 2 years of playing) made the JV Volleyball team as an 8th
grader. I love to watch her play
VB and swim, she has her momma’s athletic ability. Jackson likes soccer and has come to love basketball, which
is what I played back in the day.
I hope to encourage the basketball as it is a fun activity. I love that Jackson has started playing
the clarinet, would be great to have someone in this family that can play and
instrument. I love the sound of my
kids on a roller coaster (Jackson laughing, Katherine…not). I love that my kids are getting to see lots
of different places (even if they don’t appreciate it fully now) and that they
have done some cool things. I love
that my kids are learning french, even if they don’t like to use it right now,
it will serve them well down the road.
I love how creative my daughter is, which she gets from me. She has made some movies as assignments
for class and they have turned out very cool. I love to watch Jackson build legos. After he builds the piece according to
the directions, he breaks them apart and builds something completely different
and makes up a story to it. I love
the fact that for the first time, Jackson has asked to go skiing. Jackson hasn’t like to do this in the
past, but the school he attends takes a group of 3-5th graders for a
week into the French Alps and they ski.
If this is a successful trip, maybe he will continue when we get to the
states.
I
love that my kids adore their grandparents and have been able to spend a lot of
time with them over the years. The
memories I have with my grandparents are the most special that I have. I thank God for my kids, I pray that my
kids continue to allow me to love them.
I will make mistakes and I pray they allow me that and to apologize for
my mistakes. I pray they continue
to know you Lord and they further your kingdom. I pray they have an open mind to the world and the
things in them and just love people.
I love you with all my heart (even if I don't say it all the time or
when I am upset) and I will always love you. Thank you Jackson & Katherine Krueger for being my kids.
Nov. 22
Kyle & Mary-Michele Wilson;
Where
to do I begin? A young man (he is
only in his 30’s) entered my life as the new minister to students at UBC. God was about to open my life and my
ears to finally hear what he wanted from my life; and he was going to use Kyle
to do it. I had always heard that
God talks to people when they listen.
Some people interpret that as physically speaking (like a voice in your
head). That is not the way it was
for me. For me the way God talked
to me was presenting me with a challenge either in my life or in someone else’s
and then giving me this feeling that I need to figure out how to solve it.
I immediately saw how passionate
Kyle was for students and for his family.
But it was more than that; Kyle challenged me to get out of my own
little box and experience more that God has to offer. Which is a hard one to do, because I had already been
teaching Sunday school for 10 years and feel I had been doing a pretty good
job. One of the first things he
did was take a group of students to Waco for a weekend called Poverty
Simulation. In a nutshell, it is a
program that lets students actually experience what it is like to be a poor or
homeless person. This is not some
fluffy seminar, it is a weekend students must sleep outside, give up all their
possessions and have to figure out how they are going to eat for the weekend
without any money. I was one of
the chaperones for the weekend and I had to experience what the kids did. Without retelling the entire weekend,
let me just say, that after collecting aluminum cans just to eat, not having
showered all weekend and sleeping out in the 28 degree freezing temps in just
shorts and t-shirt, it opened up my eyes to not just what the poor and homeless
go through, but realizing that my own priorities were not in order.
For the next 5+ years, Kyle would
continue to challenge me to get out of my box and I would follow; attending
Silver Cliff, expanding Beach Retreat weekend, and challenging my students
more. The more Kyle challenged me,
the more I could hear God talking to me.
Now that I was being challenged, my life became calmer and I began to
hear God speaking more often.
Again, it was just a feeling I got that I needed to do something about
an issue or problem. It was
because of Kyle’s challenging me (helping to open my heart and ears), that I
was able to play a small part in satisfying a need Kyle and his family had in
their own life. Kyle and family
only had 1 car and he never complained about only having 1 car, but it was a
incredible challenge for a youth minister to get around to different events
having to do with students if his family needed the car to get their own kids
to their events. When I saw this,
God presented me with a challenge of getting them another car. I was stunned when I told other
people of the challenge they wanted to help. God provided over 20 people who donated to the cause and
within a week, God provided the perfect vehicle. I was able to witness first hand how gracious God is and how
he let me be His servant in this task.
If I had not open my eyes and ears to hear God speak, I would not have
been able to follow His plan
There
is an old saying that you learn from your elders, but for me I have learned so
much from someone younger than me, but wiser beyond his years.
Mary-Michele plays a big part in all this
too.
Not only does she have a
heart for students, but her support of Kyle allows him to flourish as the Youth
Minister.
She works hard taking
care of their 4 kids, she also teaches students, takes care of the family, goes
on a lot of the youth events & supports Kyle in God’s plan for their life.
Her love of students and her husband
allows for God to work in their life.
There are many more lessons I have learned; such as having a huge heart,
being foster parents and then adopting 3 more kids, or opening their home to
those in need.
I thank God for
Kyle and Mary-Michelle, because without them, I would still just be going
through the motions in my own Christian walk and not be able to hear what God
has planned for me do to in this world for Him to further his Kingdom.
Thanks Kyle Wilson and Mary-Michele Manley Wilson
for your friendship, your wisdom and your commitment to our students. Karen Hall Hendrick, thanks
for all you do for the youth department, the long hours and keeping kyle in
line, on track and organized. Without your incredible dedication, the youth
would be lost.
I am sure as I write this, I will
leave out people who God placed in my path. There are others that have freely given me their friendship susch as Cecil Ferguson, David Smith, Stacy Schaaf, Shannon Edwards, Fred Foreman, Lee Whitlock Those that know who aren’t mentioned will know they had a hand
in it.
Thank you God for loving me before I loved you.
