Saturday, July 19, 2008

Mom

Hey i want to ask prayer from whoever reads this for my sweet Mom, Joyce Apel. She has suffered from hearing loss for the majority of her adult life. Its getting worse now and its affecting her work-ability and normal social life. The deal is that she gets dizzy spells that pretty prevents her from doing anything but laying down. She also hears this roaring sound throughout her head all through the day. I think its almost like a ringing white-noise sound.(just imagine it all day long).
I want to ask you to pray for her. She may get a surgery soon that would remove some excess fluid from her right and the doctors say that her left ear, which is fully deaf, may follow suit and start removing fluid of its own. Kinda healing itself. Pray for her and pray that if this surgery happens that the Doctors are right about all of the stuff i just mentioned.
I have this feeling that one day my mom is going to be able to hear a pin drop in northern Alaska because our God is big and listens to the cries of His people. He moves mountains and calms seas. He creates colossal solar systems and planets. I know her can heal a couple of ears on my mamma's head.
Thanks. I'll keep you updated as i hear more form her and pops.

Mark 11:23-25
"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

I think my mom is just hearing the roar of a lion thats coming soon to save us...

Babushka/WakeBoarding/EmergentChurch?

Yesterday was one of those days that you'll always go back to. I got the go to the lake with the Corwins and friends on Friday and boy was it awesome. We went down to Cedar Creek lake in Tool Texas. (For you Apels this should bring back great memories of fishing with Grandpa and Ashley eating worm poop) We all took turns by threes on the WaterHog(i believe that was the name) as Captain Warren guided us through the wakey lake. I tried wake boarding. Yep tried it. I wasn't as skilled as some of the veteran's out there although i did get up a few times only to suddenly face plant with much talent and grace.

Mama Mona and I talked on the way there about a lot of things. About how to not let technology ruin a perfectly good day from the Lord. Also about the emergent church and whether or not we should be a part of that. I think we both came to the conclusion that these emergent writers(miller/bell) have a lot of good ideas and new perspectives on the church and Christ, but that nothing is new under the sun.

It was just one of those days where you find yourself riding into the country with a dog on your lap with people you don't know that well but you really love for some reason.
I dunno it was a good yesterday...

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Sing Along with Solomon

So i was reading the other night and i decided to venture into Song of Songs. Its the one book of the bible your parents told you never to read. I remember bible school teachers taking sharp lefts away from this raunchy book. I think its because it addresses love and intimacy and not just any kind but honest and true intimacy. Like the kind where you call your lover a gazelle and romance her by exclaiming that she is dazzling and ruddy. I guess that's why we weren't allowed to read it but I don't know.
As i read through the first few chapters I noticed some pretty awesome stuff. Immediately i was jealous. I wanted a woman to speak some of this poetry about me. Listen to this:
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love is more delightful than wine. 3 Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love you! 4 Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.
(This is awesome! Like if i read a girls diary and found this in about me, i would melt, then form again, and marry the heck out of her. I don't know. Maybe that's just me.)
Another portion of these beginning chapters really stuck with me. Song of Solomon 2:7:
7 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
I was/am always that guy who once he knows a girl likes him he does everything he can to impress her. But i think this is where i fail. I am pretty good at arousing and awakening love when its not time. I can honestly say that i deserve the blame for past relationships failing. I think in my head that its about time I had a girlfriend and don't let God awaken true love in his own time. Reading that verse convicts but also liberates me because i hear the passion in the lovers voice calling out to her beloved. And the way he describes her is pristine and pure.
Song of Solomon 2:2: Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens.
Solomon knows whats up. Seriously. I see how my Dad loves my Mom. Its crazy. I couldn't have had a better example of true love in my life. And now I see the way My Brother loves his wife. He would do anything for her.(Like buy her Layne's chicken fingers and a sonic water to smooth over the birth of their new baby daughter)
Also i look at how Christ loves his church. He would do anything for it. He would suffer 40 days in the desert and not eat for his bride. He would associate himself with sinners and eat with them in order to honor his bride. He would heal women with womanly problems, he would go and press the flesh with the lepers in order that his church might grow. He would be humiliated and beaten in front of his bride and by his bride for the sake of his beloved bride. He would be murdered by the ones who followed him for their sake. He rose three days later and visited his bride. He encouraged his disciples and renewed his brother Peter showing him that he was still the one Jesus loved. He ascended to heaven and permanently sits at the right hand of his Father and eagerly awaits the wedding feast when he gets to see his bride. And his bride will stand in awe of the glorious husband and enjoy an eternal festival celebrating the faithfulness of the Christ.
Song of Solomon 2:3
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

Friday, July 4, 2008

mcklayne is awesome.

On July 3rd, 2008 at 6:20 pm my tiny little niece was born in College Station. I got to see her about 2 hours after she came and it was great. Asher welcomed his new sister in the best way and in the way his Grumpy taught him best. It was definitely not a normal independence day weekend but it was one of the best so far. (Right up there with the sparkler bombs and Charlie getting a police escort for going 70 in a 30)
Cary is still Africa. He'll be home soon and i cant wait to hear from him again.
Ashley and I just got back from Highschool Camp with Prestonwood and it was quite the trip. A lot of students came to know the Lord and still more made a lot of decisions concerning their lives and sin.
Mom and Dad are awesome. It was great to see them this weekend. Mom not doing well and is still having her dizzy spells. Hopefully this will all end soon. I'm praying for total healing, but if this happens we will all have to start watching what we say about her.

Well there will be more to come. Love you guys. Check out this video!


Asher Meets Mcklayne