Laminin

I just thought you may like to see what holds your body together.

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

The Sermon on the Mount

We finished up a 35week series on the Sermon on the Mount this morning at Grace by simply reading through. It was one of the most meaningful services that I have been a part of and I am thankful to be in a church where we strive to let the word of God speak. I am also thankful for a pastor who teaches me daily by his striving to be like Jesus. I hope and pray that God continues to lead Grace in a direction that glorifies Him.

When is stockpiling waste?

What is it about a stomach bug...

that makes you long to die??? Yet 24 hours later, I feel fine.

I need a VOICE!!!!

My sinuses are jacking with my vocal chords and I have to sing tomorrow...

New Coldplay EP

When does voting become idolatry?

John Piper On the prosperity Gospel

I think that this is one of the most powerful videos I have ever seen.

Let me know what you think.

Seeking First the Kingdom...

I have the privilege of speaking at Grace this weekend and I am talking about one of the most popular scriptures of my day. We sang songs about it in VBS (that's vacation bible school for those of you who may not have been raised in the Bible belt), put it on coffee mugs and the whole nine yards (what does :the whole nine yards: even mean?). But, if my obsession with worrying over insignificant things is any indication then I don't have a clue what it means to seek first the Kingdom.

Pray that God would speak... I am definantly not the expert in this field.

Awesome Students

You know... I don't talk about these guys enough but my group of students are pretty incredible. They come back week after week and get thrashed by the Word. Seriously... sometimes I don't even want to come back because my toes hurt so bad. I'm not saying I am a great teacher, I just think the Bible speaks for itself and right now it is saying some pretty hard stuff (we are walking through the book of James). From my new 7th graders through 12th graders...I am truly blessed to have such a seeking group of students. I really think they desire to walk with Jesus (I know they are not coming because of my pretty face.) and I love them very much.

Waterfall

This is just a sample of the beauty that is New Mexico. I will get in trouble if I show you too much because Leigh wants to post pics on her blog. So stay tuned here and there for more.

JJ Heller for Free

It's been awhile so...

I am not sure if anyone even still checks this page, but I figured I would give blogging one last shot to see if it sticks.

Therefore I would like to use my first post back to say how incredibly grateful I am to belong to the community at Grace. I am not sure how anyone could walk through what Leigh and I have walked through the past few months without it. So for the one and half readers that may still come to ?Who is James Gilbert? and that are a part of the body of believers that calls itself Grace. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am truly in love with the church and love every single person that God has put in my life because of it.

PS Thanks Jenny, Neise and whoever else may or may not have participated in the delicious dinner last night. It was scrumdilliumpcious!!!

A kick in the face from Chan

Please Pray

This is a really neat family who desperately needs our prayers.

http://aaronivey.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/need-prayer/#comment-5090

thanks.

I've had a rough couple of weeks...

Knowing that God is Sovereign and just doesn't leave me much to be angry with... except myself. I'm angry that I didn't relish every second that I had with my dad and we had a great relationship. I cannot imagine losing a parent while the relationship was strained. I now have a passion to awaken students to the great gift they have been given in their parents. I'm sure there are some crummy parents in my ministry, but they are the exception, not the rule. I truly believe that my student's parents love them very much and even when they are harsh or seem oppressive they are just loving to a fault. I applaud parents and will do anything I can to help them. My hope is that through this terrible loss in my life I can help steer students around some heartache in theirs. We'll see...

I hate...

the wages of sin.

Cardboard Testimonies

Mine would be:

"Hurt deeply by the church...

called to serve a loving church!"

Yours?

A Poem I wrote for my Dad a while back...

There is a sadness in my chest
That will not go away,
My heart is aching for release
That will not come today.

And though I long to see you
I know you stand complete,
The joys you had here on the Earth
Dare not even compete.

I know this burden's mine to bear
And that your burden's gone,
It's swallowed up in victory
In Jesus Christ alone.

In Jesus I will place my trust
Though I don't understand,
So breathe now Daddy, breathe in deep
You're home in Jesus' hands

Looking toward a hard day...

as most of you know, I lost my dad in April and it is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I long so badly to spend more time with him, to tell him things that I want to tell him, and to hug him one more time. Last Saturday was his birthday, which was hard because I had a three hour drive alone. Tomorrow is father's day and that means I have a full day of thinking about him. It's not that I do not want to think about him... just that it is so hard. I love my dad so much and would give anything to have him back.

Go G-Ballers

I am in a volleyball league at my church... and I put together a great team... the BACONATORS... and tonight we got creamed by the G-Ballers... and it's OK. They deserved to win and I can't think of another team that I was rather lose miserably to (except for the fact that Jeff is on their team... he kinda makes it bittersweet... j/k). Way to go G-ballers!!!! Great game!!!

1 John 1:8

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

My Dad

Shellee tells a great story about my dad at her blog:

http://shellee-notsodeepthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/05/its-been-four-weeks.html

I used to do the same thing....

I sure miss his smile.

Jesus

Who is he to you?

Our God Reigns

40 million babies lost to Gods great orphanage,
It’s a modern day genocide and a modern day disgrace
If this is a human right then why aren’t we free?
The only freedom we have is in a man nailed to a tree.

100 million faces, staring at the sky,
Wondering if this HIV will ever pass us by.
The devil stole the rain and hope trickles down the plug,
But still my Chinese take away could pay for someone’s drugs.

Our God reigns, Our God reigns,
Forever your kingdom reigns.

The west has found a gun and it’s loaded with ‘unsure’
Nip and tuck if you have the bucks in a race to find a cure.
Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you.

Our God reigns, Our God reigns,
Forever your kingdom reigns.
Our God reigns, Our God reigns,
Forever your kingdom reigns.
Our God reigns --

Yes our God reigns, Our God reigns,
Forever your kingdom reigns, Our God reigns
He reigns, He reigns, He reigns,
Yes you reign, You reign, You reign, Yes you reign,
For there is only one true God,
But we’ve lost the reins on this world,
Forgive us all, forgive us please,
As we fight for this broken world on our knees.

Delirious

This song absolutely floored me. I have used the chorus in many worship services over the past couple of years but didn't even know where it came from (Hillsong United covered it). I feel like God is trying to tell me something about our lucrative life in the west.

Any thoughts?

Truth???

True Christians need to remind themselves daily that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

American "christians" need to be convinced that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

What do you think?!?

My Dad

There is nothing that I could do to give my dad the honor he deserves from me. Even the little memories haunt me because I took (and take) so much for granted. I keep thinking if I could have one more conversation with him that I could tell him everything I want to say. But I realize this could never happen and even if I knew it were our last conversation he would have filled the time with all of the things he wanted me to know. I guess the hardest part of losing dad for me is that I still have so much to say. I catch myself taking my phone out of my pocket intending to call him and it kills me. I miss him so much. I've decided to blog memories every once in a while under the title "My Dad" because there is so much I want to express. If you think that is a little strange or awkward you do not have to read on. But the main reason I started blogging was because dad read them to keep up with us. When I went home to be with him I found pics printed out from our blogs (mine, Leigh's and Shellee's). I know that he is not going to read these and that Jesus is infinitely more beautiful than anything I could ever say, but in an attempt to honor my dad for the man that he is, My Dad (Part 1):

One time when I was around 12 or 13 I slung a fishing lure out of the water and straight into my arm. The barb was beneath the skin and I could not get it out. As I came running up to my dad with a lure dangling from my arm I am sure he had to suppress a smile. He looked it over in a way that only my dad could and began to lead me into the house. Back in his bathroom he started to gather the tools that he would need to surgically remove the hook from my arm (pliers, wire clippers, alcohol, etc.). As I began to protest dad explained to me that my other option was to be taken to the hospital (which was worse than death to me) and that he knew what he was doing (He really did. This same sort of thing, only worse, had happened to Shellee.). The first thing he did was cut the hook free from the lure and since it was a treble hook he had to cut off the other two hooks. Once he had it cut down to where he could get a good grip on it he looked me in the eye and said, " This is gonna hurt pretty bad, do you trust me?" I did. So gently but firmly he pulled the hook back through my arm, cut off the barb and pulled it back out. A little alcohol for germs, a band-aid for blood and I was on my way.

You may think that story is an odd memory but I am pretty sure that is the first time I really understood what it meant to trust. Dad was a trustworthy man and if I ever needed to trust him I always could. He taught me how to trust and he taught me how to be trustworthy and for that I am grateful.

Waking Up to a Nightmare

It is the strangest thing when your dreams are peaceful and the nightmare starts when you wake. Every morning I wake up and my dreams fade into the stark reality that is my present life. I get out of bed and get ready for the day (all the while the anxiety builds) and my stomach doesn't settle down until after I see daddy for the first time. Then I am OK until the last visit of the night when I leave him. Then the nightmare starts again until I finally dose off to my dreams.

At least my dreams are peaceful.

Fight the Good Fight

My dad has taught me a lot over the years. He taught me my first four chords on guitar. He taught me to plumb a wall and hang sheet rock. He taught me how to lay out a board to get the most cuts out of it. He taught me how to build, set and run a trot line (country boy can survive). He taught me how to love, laugh, learn. My dad has taught me so much over the years. Right now he is teaching me to fight and man is he a fighter.

Keep fighting Daddy... I love you!!!

Songs of Comfort

There are a few songs that keep running through my mind as I wait. I thought I would share the with you and maybe they will bring you strength:

Though I Feel Alone
Waterdeep

Though I feel alone
I am never alone

You are with me
Oh, my Lord

In the night-time while I'm on my bed
I will let every thought be of You
For you are good
You take all those who will come to You

In the morning as I face the day
I will let every thought be of You
For you are good
You take all those who will come to You

It is Well with My Soul
Horatio Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul


God of Hope
Charlie Hall

Set this hope in me, Set this hope in me

That I may be pure and holy
That I may be like You only
That I may be completely free

Though You slay me I will hope
Hope inspires my endurance
Your hope is my anchor
God of hope fill me

You are God Alone
Billy and Cindy Foote

You are not a god
Created by human hands
You are not a god
Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a god
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, thats just the way it is

You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
Your are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone

You're the only God
Whose power none can contend
You're the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You're the only God
Who's worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And thats just the way it is

Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
Thats what You are

You Never Let Go
Matt Redman

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

From Concept to Confession

I am sitting in an ICU waiting room for the eighth day in a row. My wife and baby girl just had to leave me and go home. My sisters and brother have also left but we promised our dad we wouldn't all leave him so here I am... resolved not to leave him (not that anyone else wanted to, but they have obligations and they will be coming back). The doctor tells us not to let our emotions go up and down because whether my dad is getting better or worse there will be good days and bad days. Yet I am sick every time I walk through the ICU doors not knowing whether he is doing great or terrible and realistically I have no idea what any of the numbers that give me comfort or panic really mean. I am helpless, unable to fix it. The funny thing is that I have been praying for God to teach me to trust Him and now I almost feel like this is my fault. That my dad is laying in that bed because my faith is weak. I pray that God will heal him. I remind God of stories where Jesus healed people like I am trying to build His confidence (come on God, You can do it). I recount scripture promises and claim them. I am hopeful every time the door opens and then I round the corner and see him in the same state and my heart falls. I am back to square one. Weak. Feeble. Helpless. And yet I continue to hope. I feel my faith strengthen and will not be shaken. I am resolved to pray that God will heal him and believe that He can. I wait. Realizing that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. I need strength. I wait. Because I can do nothing else. I hope. But only in Jesus because He is my only hope. My faith is becoming real and yet it hurts so bad. When faith matures from concept to confession you realize that all you can do is rest in Him. I rest.

My Daddy

Many of you know that my dad is in ICU from complications with pulmonary fibrosis. It has been a really long week but I wanted to give you an update so that you will know how to pray. We need to move him to Houston so that his specialist, Dr. Herlihy will be able to assess the situation and give the best treatment possible. Please pray that all the doors open to make that happen.

Rain, Rain Go Away!!!

So Leigh and Glory are visiting my family in Jacksonville (TX) and were supposed to come home tonight. But since it rained forty inches today and continues to rain tonight it wasn't safe for them to travel home. I miss my girls terribly!!! This is the first time that they left and I am at home alone (Usually it is the other way around) and I am not liking it one bit.





Oh well... I'd rather wait longer to see them than for something bad to happen to them.

Random Pics with New Camera

How many times can I say UMMM???

Ragamuffin Soul

What do you think???

Practice practice practice

BYOB LOL

I stink at blogging

I have two blogs... I haven't blogged on either of them in quite a while... I am a failure.

Give me another chance.

Sorry...

I've been kinda in a slum lately. Wrecked! really. After Sunday's humiliation I have struggled to hold my head up... you remember the Scripture reading catastrophe and the joke that went no where? Yeah... me too!!! Seriously though, I thank God for these times where I just look goofy because it reminds me in a small way that I do not have it all together. I'm not even close!!! And though am sure to always be remembered at Grace as the dancing goofball (thanks to Makayla's phone that SHE SHOULD HAVE TURNED OFF BEFORE CHURCH... JK) I am sure there will be many more humiliating moments to come.

I've spent my life trying to avoid awkward situations... it's not workin' out to well.

Veggie Tales

We (ENGAGE) are going to see Veggie Tales: The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything tomorrow after church. I haven't really watched Veggie Tales since they first came out but I have a deeper appreciation for VT now that we have Glory. Anyway, I am looking forward to spending time with my friends and watching a silly movie together. If you happen to read this tonight and are a student who is going with us, go to www.engagegrace.com and download the Parental Consent form under the GOINGS ON tab.

I AM A BANANA!!!

Ninja Turtles

Tonight my friend Kayleigh was wearing a ninja turtle hoodie and it reminded me of this story. When I was a kid I LLLOOOOVVVEEEDDD Ninja Turtles. I had every cartoon known to man and actually watched the movie (the first one.. of course) in the theater (my fam didn't go to the movies much). So anyway, one night we were in WalMart and the lady on the loud speaker said that if anyone knew what Michaelangelo's (how do you spell that?) first words were (in the movie... not real life) that they would win a gift certificate and I won. (His first words were Pizza... PIZZA.) It was the first time that I won anything (out of two... Bon Jovi Tickets was the other). I bought Raphael's swords with it. IT WAS SO EXCITING!!!

I used them to kill a Power Ranger.

First Vid Blog

Captain Crazy Face.

engagegrace.com vid

What do you think???

The only time I was in trouble in High School...

My friends and I jacked up our other friend's car and took a tire off of it. Then we put a stray dog that stayed around the school in it with a sombrero on its head (found in the car) and took pictures of all of it with the other friend's camera (which just so happened to also be in her car). Needless to say our principal was not happy when he received a call at 2 AM when the volleyball girls arrived back at the school.

Never, ever do this.

Glory's Day

Today is Glory's 1st birthday. She has grown so much this year. Last year at this time I was trying to get comfortable in a hospital chair bed... not happening... I'm fat and sassy.

Happy birthday Glory!!!

There are doubters among us

Be assured that the stories that are told on this blog really happened and only the most unbelievable parts should not be believed. For instance: Patty is not some random leprechaun, I have known Patty for years. Be assured that I could not make this junk up and that the actual experiences truly happened. That being said...

...my first two semesters of college were paid for because I was in show choir.

Please don't hold that against me.

Ninja fight or hanging light?

One time at choir camp (yes, I went to choir camp... quit laughing)...

Leigh had a crush on me and I asked her friend (not her) to the dance.

I didn't know.

Chicken Man?

I've always heard, "you are what you eat." Based on this I think that I am at least in part, a chicken. If you have ever noticed I am shaped much like a chicken: very skinny legs leading up to a very round chicken belly. I do not have any feathers that I know of but I have been known to randomly cluck from time to time.

I call it chickenitis.

Faster than a speeding sloth...

Once in junior high my track coach made me run the 400. Now I am not sure how much you know about track and field but that is an entire lap around the track (and guys who are good stride/sprint the whole thing). Needless to say I was not very happy with my track coach. So I decided to do what any normal guy that despised running and only wanted to do the triple jump would do... I jogged it!!! I'm not talking about a hearty jog that gets your heart-rate going, I'm talking about and fast walk with a little hop in it. I was so slow that the announcer literally had to ask people to clear the track because there was still a runner. I put the icing on the cake I did a beauty-queen wave the entire time I was in front of the bleachers. My coach was not happy (at least that made two of us).

I was a terrible kid!!!

Have you ever done anything like this?

Stacker

I can beat stacker!!!

Can You?

When I Die...

I have come up with the perfect solution to a funeral... I won't have one. Instead I would like to be dressed in a astronaut suit (Russian) and dropped from a really high flying plane over a neighborhood. I want a map of the United States in my hand with red x's on all the places the news tells you would be prime targets and code written all over it. When the descrambled the code it would simply say: "Why did you spend so much time decoding this worthless message?"

Is this too much to ask?

My Middle Name is...

Richmond (for real)... that is all.

What is your middle name?

Death by dryer.

From time to time my brother Jody liked to help me with my ninja training. I learned to do tight flips by curling up inside a dryer tub (the metal part inside your dryer) and letting him push me down a hill. One day when it was raining we decided to try the real dryer. My brother would basically hold the button with the door open and I would flip and flip. It was a crucial part of my cannonball attack training. Unfortunently my mother drove up as we were training (she never approved of such trivial things as ninja training). She thought that I should be spending my time doing more important things such as pottery or crocheting. Now, instead of telling me what was going on he simply shut the door and turned it on. As I was flopping and gasping for breath I managed one last thunder elbow to the door and popped it open. My mother hapened to be standing right in front of the door at that point. Needless to say I was turning pots for a month.

Has this ever happened to you?