Our Baby Is 16 Today!

It's hard to believe, but our little girl will is 16 today! Born in Glasgow, KY, we have drug her from Kentucky to Illinois, back to Kentucky and now to Florida and she remains sane, a straight A student, on the church dance and praise team, speaks incredibly when called upon, and is a hoot to be with! Can you tell I am one proud Daddy!

Opportunity To Serve

I found this web site that gives a terrific opportunity to serve others. Go to www.freerice.com, you then click on the correct definition of a word, for every correct answer a grain of rice is given to someone in need. It's pretty cool, it's free, and it makes you think, three of my favorite things!

Florida Volunteers

I went to vote today, my voting precinct is in a senior adult mobile home park, on my way in a woman walking her dog, carry a baggy of poop waved at me to slow down. Once inside the average age was 70 plus, I was tempted to yell, "I Like Mike!" And then there's the volunteers at the hospital, all with dual hearing aids and still unable to hear. My wife reminds me we will be there quicker than we think, so I need to be nice because I will want others to be nice to me when I'm that age. Florida is a wonderful place, awesome weather and wonderful people, it is senior adult heaven, and the rest of us just have the honor of hanging out with them!

Progressing

I may be going through a mid-life crisis, manopause, or preparing for a nervous breakdown, or maybe I'm just being reflective...that's my vote...I just keep asking myself and others am I relevant? Am I stuck in the mud in my lifestyle, mentality, religious views and ministry style? Have I been able to maintain relevance and not look and act like an old man trying to look and act young? Have I been able to progress in a relevant manner without loosing my true identity? We've all seen the men and women who were aging that tried to look and act younger, I don't telling you that a 70 year old man or woman in short shorts just doesn't work. Nothing like an 80 man with an ear ring or a 85 year old woman with a tattoo....auuugh! Certainly it is possible to progress in life, keep up to date, be who we really are, and to become who we're supposed to be...isn't it?

Freezing, Family, and Fun

I'm in Champaign, IL this week, the coldest weekend of the year, Sunday morning it was 2 degrees when I woke up, last night and today we've gotten snow, though its now 20 degrees! But I am having a blast, I've spent time with family and friends, eaten at my favorite places and enjoyed the blessings of the Lord...What else can a man ask for!

Neilism's On The Run I begin revival services in about ten minutes in Alvin, IL, population 316. My grandmother pastored this church in the 1950's, I praying that my roots produce fruit. This weekend is supposed to be the coldest weekend this year, below zero wind chills. My Florida fanny is freezing. This week I will eat thin pizza from Monicals, Italian Beef from Niro's Gyro's, lunch at the Courier Cafe, spend time with my cousin Randy and visit friends. I will also preach for Pastor Cedric Nesbitt at the Glory Center in Champaign, IL. My daughter Kaitlin needs a healing, she's been having daily headaches. God is able, He is faithful, and He is loving. She believes, she loves Him, and she needs Him. I need Him!

Let The Games Begin!

American Idol 2008 begins this week! Now Tuesday nights will have me busy, my DVR will be in full swing with The Biggest Loser and American Idol on the same night and some of the same time!

Just Anxious To Matter

There's line in the movie Pearl Harbor that speaks to me, a young pilot has just arrived in London, lives are ending one after another and this young pilot who has just shown up asks the British officer to get him into a plane as quickly as possible. The officer asks him if all Yanks are as anxious to die as he is, the young pilots rely is powerful, "No Sir, Just Anxious To Matter!" Isn't that the quest of most? We want our lives to matter, to know that we have impacted someone's life in a positive way. I have to admit that I often wonder if I have ever made a difference in anyone or if anything I've ever done has been significant. This afternoon I was in an auto parts store where I ran into a single Dad and his son, this father reported to me of the progress his young daughter is making in school, a child that my wife taught a couple years ago, a child that goes to another school but still talks about Ms. Julie. God has not called us to seek significance, He has called us to make a difference, if we do that we will be significant. I don't know about you, but I am anxious to matter!

When You Think Of Me...Pray For Me!

Years ago I conducted a revival for a lady pastor by the name of Evelyn Zingmark, she pastored an awesome church in Waukegan, IL. When she went there it was about to close down, at the time I was there she was averaging around 250 on Sunday mornings, one of the Sundays I was there Roland Harper of the Chicago Bears was in attendance, his wife and children attended there often. One of my favorite memories of that meeting was at the closing of each service, when she dismissed the services she would ask the Lord to keep us in a place where He could speak to us and we could speak with Him. I will never forget those words and often think, "God, let there be people in my life that pray for me when I can't pray for myself, let there be people that You bring me to their minds, even without my knowing it, that call upon the God of heaven on my behalf, and God, let me be to others as I desire of God for myself! So today, tomorrow, or in the future, when you think of me, pray for me!

Grace

I was visiting Phil Hoover's blog this afternoon and he had the words of a song concerning Grace on it and I got inspired. Grace is God's unmerited or undeserved favor, I can't quite explain it, don't deserve, but am so thankful for it. I understand that if He gives me what I deserve I'm done for, I also understand that if I receive grace I must also give it! My wife and I teach a young adult class at our church on Wednesday nights, last night I shared four seeds for a new season of life: 1) I was to be a better communicator; 2) I want to complain less; 3) I want to compliment more; and 4) I want to consecrate all...I realize that without God's grace it is impossible for me to do these things, without the grace of family and friends it is impossible, because I will mess up, I will fail and drop the ball...but grace says that in the face of failure God gives us the power to get up, to receive strength and forgiveness, and to live the overcoming life! The words of a song come to mind:

"There's no other word for grace but amazing No other explanation will do Unmerited favor, a song that I sing There's no other word for grace but amazing!

I Hear The Lord

2008 is here, it hasn't been a huge event in my life so far, ate a couple cinnamon rolls, gave away some stuff to a church member and helped load it in the truck, sent out two text messages and plan on doing as little as possible today! My wife bought me a new computer desk for our home office that needs to be put together...I'm still looking at the box and thinking about it...needs to be done this week, my inlaws are coming next week...pray saints..pray! In the midst of all my foolishness I feel like I am hearing the Lord speaking into my spirit, started this past Sunday and continues today as I ponder what this new year holds. My plan is to lose weight this year, 30 pounds, 12 of them this month, to eat healthier and to be more diligent, I've lost before but I've also found it, this time I need to lose it for good! The spiritual side of me is crying, screaming out inside of my spirit man, there has got to be a change in you, there are things that must take place, be released, be renewed, and to be removed, a line has been drawn, the question is will I cross it? This morning a friend emailed me with a simple but profound word, "Expect the Unexpected!" Another friend shared on an online forum of his feeling this this is the time when he and his church will determine who and what they are really going to be and do...So what is it the Lord is saying to me? What can I share with my friends that read this blog that will give them prophetic insight? 1. The shifting continues! To shift something means to adjust or to move, usually it gives one the idea of gradual movement, ever so slight, but it is movement that creates change...There has been a shifting in the heavenlies and God is moving us, the Body of Christ into new arenas, the shifting is not over, in fact, it may have really just begun! 2. The shaking begins! The writer of Hebrews says that God will once again shake the heavens and the earth, removing the things that can be removed and establishing those things that cannot be shaken. I sense a shaking taking place, we will not be able to do business as usual, whether that be in our personal, relational, or spiritual lives, even in our financial situations, things are being shaken to reveal who and what we really are. This shaking will enforce the promise of God in our lives because it will remove the fluffiness and reveal the true content and character of our hearts! 3. The settling! Our world is at unrest, Kenya is near civil war, the death of a loved leader in Pakistan, troubles and trials in our homes and jobs, people are at unrest. In the midst of all of this God has promised to establish us and to settle us, He will cause peace in the midst of the storm, calm while the world around us is swirling. Notice something here, He will not always remove the problem, nor will He remove us from the problem, He will give us peace and a sense of being settled in the middle of the storm. 2008 has just started, it starts in a busy and frustrated world, but it holds phenomenal promises...get ready it's going to be a wild and wonderful ride!

Kenya

I went to Wal-Mart today and wanted to complain about the crowded conditions, the northerners, and the overcrowding...but as I consider what is taking place in my second homeland it all pales in comparison. Kenya, a country of nearly 34 million people, just had their elections, the sitting president has been re-elected, but not without controversy, the hanging chad's of Florida and all the upset of that election are nothing, the Kenyans have taken it to the street! Stores are being looted, buildings are being burned, and lives have been taken. One of my friend has opened his home as a refuge and says that Kenya is close to a civil war, other are sending email requesting our prayerful support. Pray for Kenya, these are wonderful people in desperate need of God's intervention! I love Kenya, have been many times and will continue to go the remainder of my life, how I long for their safety and peace, may God give them grace and may the church of Jesus Christ arise in powerful ministry during these difficult times!

Blessed 2 Bless 2B Blessed

The Lord of Heaven blessed me this year with a number of gift cards for Starbucks, people who know me know that it is definitely close to an addiction in my life. Today my wife, our oldest daughter and myself visited one of the Starbucks in the mall, I ordered a tall caramel frap, a tall and a grande strawberry and cream frap, much to my delight the total cost was just over eight dollars...it should have been closer to twelve! As the barrister went over my order we quickly discovered she had missed mine, the larger one, I told her I'd get my trusty gift card out again to which she replied, "Don't Worry About It!" I was taken aback and insisted, no she said, I've got it! Looking around I noticed the tip jar, assumed it would be split by the many, so I took out a five and said, "Well, you take this!", she tried to resist but I smiled, insisted, and walked off, she stood there grinning and my daughter seemed pleased.

This year I probably received 45.00 in Starbucks gift cards, the one I usually drink is 4.00, that's eleven cups of coffee, that's a caffeine heaven, it also became an opportunity to be be a blessing and to be blessed.

God blesses us in order to be a blessing, nothing is meant to be kept totally, we may not always give all of our stuff away, but once we've been blessed we need to look for the opportunity to bless others. I left feeling like I had given a hundred bucks away, when in truth, it was just a dollar over the price of the drink she blessed me with. There was something about giving that money to that young lady that made me feel like a minister!

I'm not meaning to brag, please don't misunderstand, I use this example because it's fresh to me, I want to be a blesser, to impact others without any reason or without seeking a return, if we do, there will be a return, in fact, it will be instant, you will obtain the joy of giving, of imparting something of value into the lives of others and that is powerful.

What would happen this year if we determined to be blessers? What if beyond our normal giving of tithe and offerings, missions and other types of giving, we looked for opportunities to bless people, whether it be a financial blessing, a card or email, a gift, a book, or just a phone call? Wonder how many people we could encourage in the next 365 days? What if once a month we did something out of the norm? Here's a thought, what if you blessed someone you have had a hard time with, knowing that they may not respond initially in a positive manner? Let's try it and see what the Lord will do in our lives!

Happy New Year!

Christmas and Children

This has been a busier than usual holiday season, had to do most of my shopping on the run. Finally got it done, or so I thought...Christmas Eve my wife and I went to Golden Corral for breakfast, walked in at 9:00 AM, they're doors are open but they don't open until 10:00 AM, so we go to K-Mart for the 2.79 special, the place was packed, so we ended up at IHOP in Dade City nine miles away. From there we went to Wal-Mart for our weekly grocery shopping, I nearly backslid, had a heart attack and went crazy all at the same time...but we were done...so I thought! We all start wrapping presents and the baby, our eight year old, starts counting presents...I'm back out to Wal-Mart...two of them to be exact, I got what I was looking for, but it took two stores and an hour to get there, and my baby got a brief, but kind reminder from her mother of the need to be appreciative! Today has been a good day, presents were accepted with great gratitude, dinner was wonderful, and I've been busy putting stuff together, batteries installed, and electronics hooked up...I got a clock that I can put my Ipod in and play it through...pretty cool and I've had several opportunities to use my new pocket knife...I am a real Floridian! 2007 has been a good year, I've been blessed with a wonderful family and the Lord has shown me great favor...thanks for being a part of my life this year...see you in the blogs!

Unbelievable!

I've been glued to the television for four nights watching The Clash of the Choirs. Two hours each night, I even slipped out of the Christmas cookie night at church to come home and set my DVR...Only for Nick Lachey to win...No Way! First of all, we could have got it all done in one hour, but his team while good, wasn't that good...Patti LaBelle and team LaBelle were off the charts...It's unbelievable, my day is ruined...well, that and the fact that I woke up before six this morning and couldn't go back to sleep and that my daughter lost her cell phone and we have to go shopping today...Go Patti!

Need I Say More? Caffe Mocha with a shot of Vanilla on my desk right now!

Eight Random Thoughts

I've been tagged by my friend Barbara on Tidbits and Treasures, check out her blog some time it's awesome. I'm supposed to share eight random things about myself:

1. I'm 45
2. I'm the oldest of two...My sister is 3 years younger than me
3. I'm addicted to Starbucks
4. I can't stand for the tags in clothing to show
5. I dipped my cats feet in the bathtub while I was in it last night
6. I hate Nextel cellular service but continue using it
7. I love Florida
8. I've been married 20 years to the most awesome friend in the world!

O My Goodness!

This past Sunday we had the most incredible experience! We ate at a Brazilian Grill called Texas DeBrazil. There are over 60 items on the salad bar, and then they start bringing the meat out on a spit, they carve you off a piece and then come around again and again and again. I think that there were at least ten different types of meat, we didn't eat all of them, but several...incredible is all that I can say. Then we went to the Bass Pro Shop, not necessarily my style of shopping, but it was I must say a good experience, they have absolutely the most fantastic selection of stuff for the outdoorsman! Christmas time in Florida, there's nothing like it! We're having a cool spell...down to 70 today!

Being Boring Is So Boring!

My children tell me from time to time that I'm old, I so appreciate their kind words...I usually follow up by telling them they're grounded...they appreciate me even more then! I may be old but I don't intend on being boring! It is my earnest intention to remain on the cutting edge, to keep myself up to date, out of the box, across the top, and to make sure I know where I am and where I'm going...I can't stand to be bored and don't want to be boring. Life is an exciting journey filled with surprises, corners to be turned, trials to be faced, decisions to be made, and life to be lived. Life is full of Starbuck's, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Cold Stone, Baskin Robbins and my soon to be favorite Texas DeBrazil...all of these places go outside the norm and offer something beyond McDonald's, Burger King and Arby's, their menu, their atmosphere, and their purpose for existence is cross over into area no one else is going. Don't you ever get tired of being like everyone else? Cookie Cutter Christians, Parrot People, folks that just say, do, and look like everyone else, it just doesn't work for me, I want to identify with others and don't want to impose my will on anyone, but I don't want to just be the same, following in someone else's wake, I want to create a wake others can follow...Just don't want to be boring!