June 26, 2008

Kayaking, oneprayer, and the Fourth

Posted in Uncategorized tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , at 10:39 am by charlesshyblosky

  • I got to go kayakinglast weekend with two of my favorite people in the whole wide world.  My Pastor at Lifechurch.tv, HNV, Andrew, and my buddy Aaron that is visiting from Vancouver.  We decided to make it an overnight-er, and deemed that kayaking sounds much more manly than canoes.  We decided to go for a 20 mile section of the Harpeth River.  The plan was to kayak down about half way, and then spend the night on the riverbank, making it the rest of the way in the morning.  Unfortunately our trip was cut short by injury.  Andrew and Aaron’s kayaks collided, leaving Andrew with sorely bruised ribs.  We evacuated him at the closest take-out point, luckily nothing broken.  Insult to injury all his gear was soaked, so was Aaron’s camera and phone.  Wow, what a trip.   I think we’ll need to go back and conquer that section again. 😉
  • Oneprayercontinues to blow me away.  Ed Young brought the message this week as only he can.  Its been neat to read around the blogosphere of the unifying efforts going on.  Prayer and fasting goes a long ways.  It’s drawn me into a closer walk with Him….God is good…
  • We had over 100 people at Switch last week, wow.  10 got saved, including 2 parents!!
  • The Fourth of July is coming quickly.  I love fireworks and BBQ on the grill.  Looks like we’ll be hosting friends from Chattanooga and Vancouver that day.  Sweet…   Don’t forget to check out www.shoutable.com for downloadable “4th” backgrounds, videos, and countdowns. 

April 28, 2008

Vancouver trip, memorial service, and Monday madness..

Posted in Uncategorized tagged , , , , at 10:51 am by charlesshyblosky

I had a great opportunity to make it back to the Pacific Northwest this past weekend for Samantha’s Memorial Service.  It was very fitting, and touching.  Pastor Mitchell Burch gave the message.  Thoughts: 

  • It was very emotional, and from the testimonies about her life, 22 people gave their lives to Christ.  Praise God.   I thought it was very fitting that my church started a new series which gave me some very fitting answers in times like these, check it out, HERE!
  • Vancouver hasn’t changed much in 3 years, besides some random LA fitness’ going up.  It was cold and rainy untill the last day, but then again, “when in Rome’……(the mountains were snowcapped)  i made it over to the coast, and snapped the above pic. (Haystack Rock) 
  • When you tell people that you are “doing life together”, its so true, it just isn’t lip service, regardless of distance.   (looks like lots of my favorite people are getting married, great reason to go back)
  • Thanks to Mike Floyd for letting me borrow one of his 28 cars, :),while i was there, and to Greg C. for putting me up for the night and for teaching me everything i need to know about coffee.  Thanks to Aaron for his hospitality, and expert driving skills and airport shuttling.  good times.
  • Some of my former students, and i, got to hang last Friday night, we went to the Kennedy School, very cool.  I miss these guys, it just didn’t seem like three years have come and gone.   See below pic.

April 22, 2008

Tuesday happenings..and the week ahead

Posted in Uncategorized tagged , , , , , , , , , , at 10:23 am by charlesshyblosky

  • Happy Earth Day.  Go hug a tree.  Start recycling, if you haven’t already. I have about 30 huge trees in my back yard, most over 40 feet high, and one was rotten to the core.  It was bound to fall ASAP, if not on my house, then perhaps one of two neighbor’s homes.  Not a good way to be a friendly neighbor, er, oh by the way, your home is flattened by a tree in my yard.  After numerous attempts at contacting my neighborhood committee for approval to get it chopped down, and two visits from potential axmen, the tree fell in the middle of the night, unbelievably it toppled gently into the woods, the only direction it wasn’t leaning, very weird.  I’ll chalk this one up to God and prayer, this tree looked destined to hit my house from the way it was leaning. 
  • I usually don’t get super personal, but this would be an exception I’m ok with. 
  • One of my former students went home to be with the Lord last week, Samantha Middlebrooks was taken in a tragic car accident, she was only 21.  Way too young.  I’m still kind of numb to the whole thing, she was blessed with an amazing husband, and close friend to me, whom I worked with for 5 amazing years in Vancouver, Jonathan.  Also was the daughter to Two amazing people, Pastor Randy and Tamara Kerr. 
  • When i started out as a Middle School Pastor, she had just entered the sixth grade, and got to be her pastor, even as I moved up to be her HS Pastor.  She led worship at our Youth Service every week with Steve, we called it, “The Ten Spot”, and was ever faithful to God and her ministry.  She left a lasting imprint on so many people, including her small group leaders(LeeAnn, Kristal, Bree, Stephanie, etc).  I haven’t been back to Vancouver in over 3 years now, and have so many people I can’t wait to see, re-kindle friendships, and for a time…grieve.  I haven’t seen Aaron Wilder in over 3 years, wow.  I miss that guy.  I fly in on Thursday, returning on Saturday.  Please keep Sam’s family in your prayers…(She’s in the pic, right behind Johnny Gaither, and Lauren Heerlein, beside Jill)