Archive for October, 2007

A Day of Work

{ October 29, 2007 @ 1:31 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Saturday was once a good day of rest for me.  But ever since moving to our new house, it has been one of work.  I’m okay with it though, because it’s fun stuff.  I heard or read (can’t remember) that ministers like to do things with their hands while they are not at the office.  It was said more eloquently than that, but also more sexist.  They like to do things where they see immediate results, because in ministry we often-times do not.  That is how my last 3 weekends have been with the house.

This past Saturday I shaved our doors that were dragging the carpet and almost finished a project in the garage.  It was all day, but it was so much fun.  This weekend will be clearing more out of the garage and into the attic and finishing that project.

On a different note:  Many people are excited about our boys that are coming.  Leah and I appreciate your love for us and the two unborn boys.  We also appreciate your prayers and encouragement.

I went to a high school football game last Friday and screamed my guts out, but of course it didn’t help, and the team we were rooting on lost.  I had four tickets and we found two more and six of us guys crowded in the section and had lots of fun!

Maybe my next post can talk about a couple of lessons I received yesterday from worship and class!  Good Stuff!

-Mercer

Joshua, Ruth, and The Pastoral Letters

{ October 26, 2007 @ 10:18 am } · { Uncategorized }
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I have been living in these three books lately.  This is what our middle school will be learning about in the spring.  I am coordinating that class so I have been looking at these books intently.  A major theme I am pulling from them is the idea of Bravery through God.

Joshua is told to “Be Strong and Courageous and do not be afraid.”  He goes into battle and takes the land promised to him by God.  He overcomes negativity and drives into places where even distant lands become afraid.  God is glorified by his people being brave in His name.

Ruth, a story that I haven’t all too familiar with, is a story of faithfulness.  Ruth takes chance after chance being faithful to God by not leaving Naomi.  Her courage and willingness lead her to Boaz and their union which leads to continuing the legacy that will lead to David and eventually Christ.

Timothy is told “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.”  Titus is affirmed in his leadership where he is ministering.  It takes courage to faithfully follow like Ruth and to faithfully lead like Timothy and Titus without their beloved Paul.

Our society has given in to accepting everything under the sun which leads to us sometimes not standing up for what is right.  God has a path of courage and bravery laid out for us if we will only not be afraid and faithfully follow and lead.  There comes a time when we must stand against evil and move forward in the the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I hope our middle school students are blessed by this message like I have been.

The Results are In!

{ October 24, 2007 @ 12:20 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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We had a great appointment yesterday with our Perinatalist.  He is a great doctor with a good sense of humor.  Yesterday’s appointment was to check their growth, look for abnormalities, and tell us the gender.  Their growth and heartbeats are right on target, there were no abnormalities, and we are having two bouncing baby BOYS!!!!!!!  That’s right there are two boys!  We are excited that they are healthy and can’t wait to meet these guys. 

Tomorrow’s A Big Day!

{ October 22, 2007 @ 7:33 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Tomorrow is going to be one of those days that will change my life forever.  It’s not the fact that I have a Church History mid-term exam.  It’s not the fact that my in-laws are coming into town (although I’m extremely excited).  It’s not even the fact that I might be completely moved from my old house (notice the might). 

Tomorrow is the day that Leah and I find out whether we are having boys, girls, or one of each.  I have always thought of myself as a dad of boys.  This is mainly because growing up it was just me and my brother, no girls around.  However, the idea of daughter has been penetrating my thoughts lately.  In one moment I can’t hardly think about being a dad of girls, and in the next I can’t imagine how much joy it would give me to have two little angels.  The one of each would be a good result and could truly be possible.  A friend of ours from Houston dreamed that Leah announced having both a boy and a girl at a party.  Well, she has had only one other dream like this a proved that doctor wrong.  I have had a feeling it’s boys.  Analee, Leah’s sister, thinks they are one of each.  Hardly anyone has thought they were both girls.  Leah doesn’t really have a feeling or she’s holding out on us.

Tomorrow we will know.  We go to our high risk specialist and his equipment is better.  It is such an exciting event that we get to bring a video tape to record the ultrasound.  I am so excited.  Knowing the gender will allow us to pick names, colors for the babies room, and makes it way more real.  Leah will be 20 weeks this Thursday.  With twins we are already past the halfway mark.  Look out World here comes more Mercers.

-Mercer

P.S. Zeke escaped on Saturday morning again and it took till almost noon to get him back into our yard.  ARRRGGGHHH!

Listen to Your Wife

{ October 19, 2007 @ 10:01 am } · { Leah }
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That’s the moral of this story!

Zeke made another venture into the yard behind us.  The dog that resides there is pretty mean, not to Zeke, just to me.  I was trying to coax Zeke back to our yard, but it wasn’t happenin’.  Here is how the scene played out:

 I was at the fence calling Zeke and waiting for him to poke his head through so I could drag him back to our yard.

Leah was behind me calling Zeke and coaching me not to put my hand through the gap in the fence.

 Both dogs were barking and playing at the gap on the other side.

Although I heard Leah tell me 10 times not to put my hand through, I saw a moment when the other dog walked off and I tried to grab Zeke’s collar.  Well I almost pulled back a nub.  The other dog quickly turned and tried to bite my hand and me, not being as quick, got away but not without him catching my finger.  Luckily no blood was shed.

I had to go over to the other street to the neighbors and get Zeke back.  We’ll see if he and I can agree on a new fence.

I was reminded once again that I don’t listen to Leah enough.  If I would have listened I wouldn’t have almost lost a hand and finger.  When will I or any man ever learn?

And All the Wives Out there in Unison…NEVER!

-Mercer

What a Stupid Title…The Great Escape

{ October 18, 2007 @ 8:03 am } · { Uncategorized }
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That last blog title needs some help.  You can tell I haven’t written in a while.

Last night when I was at an elders meeting my dog decided to escape to our back yard neighbors to play with their dog.  We (the neighbors and us) knew this was going to happen because of the shape of that fence.  Luckily it was a friendly play-date they decided to have (without our permission).  My sister-in-law and Leah scolded Zeke (our dog) back into our yard.  Then they kenneled him for the night.

 This morning I let Zeke out in the backyard while I ate breakfast and watched.  Sure enough he and the other dog were conspiring for another play-date.  I dashed to the door, sprung it open in one swoop, clapped my hands together, and shouted WRONG (which in dog language means NO!)  He compliantly came back to our back door.  A few minutes later he was back at the fence again, but while the other dog kept pawing at him to come in the yard, seek would look back at the window he could see me through and not take that step.  I was so proud of him.  Of course I’m no fool and Zeke is kenneled for the day.

-Mercer

Saggy Blogging

{ October 17, 2007 @ 1:40 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I haven’t blogged in such a long time.  Somewhat because life has been busy, somewhat because I feel like I’m out of things to say, and there are many other somewhats.

 I started blogging to make myself write occasionally so that I would become a better writer.  However, that hasn’t worked out too well, then I thought I would write to help other youth ministers and this stunted my thoughts.  So, now I’m changing to wordpress and I’m just going to write about me and whatever comes up in my mind.  This is me goinmercer on-line, come with me if you like!

 -Mercer