Celtics Win Title

All I can say is WOOOOW!! In my time of playing high school sports I have unfortunately been on the receiving end of a few beatings, but WOOOOW! Last nights Celtics thrashing of the Lakers was about as a thorough beating as I have ever seen in any professional sport. I am not a fan of either team but I was pulling for the Celtics for a couple of reasons: 1. Kobe, enough said. 2. Garnett, Allen, and Pierce, I wanted to see them win their first NBA title. I really felt that Boston's defense made Kobe look like a bench player (which made me happy). He practically disappeared last night. I just do not how people can call him a superstar after this series. Superstars do not disappear in the most critical series of the season. That is what happens when you have a ball-hogging, it's all about me player on your team. Yes, Kobe carried them to the finals, but I would not have him on my team. He was invisible last night after the first quarter. In fact he had more turnovers than field goals in the last three quarters last night. I hate to see Kobe lose, no not really! Congratulations to the Celtics, especially Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

Can it be, twice in one week?

I am so looking forward to today. I am having lunch with one of my closest friends, Brian Everett, at the Angry Dog. The Dog is in Downtown Dallas and has the best burger I have ever put my mouth around. I look forward to times I can get together with Brian, he is one of the funniest guys I know and also one of the most encouraging. I am thankful God has put Brian and his wife Diane in my family's life. Tonight is the Song Camp program at Meadow View. Bonnie and Brennen actually have a little part. I can't wait to see it. The kids were so excited to see me yesterday when I finally got to Meemaw's house. After several hugs and kisses, Brennen was ready to wrestle. I have missed wrestling with him. He is so cute when he wrestles. He grabs me and yells, "Take that buddy" or "You want some of this buddy?". It was just great to be able to hold my babies last night. I have missed them.

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I love these thoughts from Phil Ware:

Genesis 6:8 - But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

"Reminds me of what God told Jesus at his baptism -- "... in you I am well pleased!" Even in the middle of a culture steeped in sin in Noah's time, God could find the one heart loyal to him and use him and his family to be a blessing and provide the world a future. May we each be such a person in our day, in our job, in our school, in our neighborhood. Can you imagine the difference it would ultimately make if each of us decided to be a Noah?"

I like it. Imagine if each of us decided that regardless of culture, peer pressure, or anything else we decided that we were going to stand up for what we know is right. We decide that we are going to stand with God and reach for His blessings and favor than man's. I think most of us are the same. We want to be liked and pleasing to others, but sometimes that requires us to compromise Christ and that is not acceptable for any reason. I pray all of us will hear God's voice in our lives and each of us would grab a hammer and nail to build an ark.

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How about the Celtics? I was excited to see them pull it out last night against the Lakers. I cannot stand the Lakers. I know that sounds bad, but Kobe gets on my nerves. He has not played well during this series and I believe he is seriously overrated. He has looked average to me in this series. I know people are going to say Boston's defense is great, but that should not put him where he is. I know people will talk about how many points he scores in games. I would score a ton of points too if I took 80% of my teams shots. Does that give you an idea about how I feel about Kobe? Have I mentioned he gets on my nerves? He does. Go Celtics!

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I pray all of you have a great weekend and that God showers you with his richest blessings this weekend!

Okay, it took 6 months

It’s 1:30 a.m. and I cannot sleep. After Bible class I came home mowed half the lawn real quick, showered and ran to Wal-Mart to buy Bonnie and Brennen’s birthday presents. I have been home alone since Sunday afternoon to go to Mesquite for Song Camp. I miss my family something fierce. You never realize how much you miss the sound of those little feet running through the house, the giggles and laughter until their not here. I have been talking to the walls since my best friend is not here, but I look forward to seeing Danna later today. After I get off work today I am driving in to be with my family. I can’t wait!! I think that is why I can’t sleep.

Misc. Stuff to update you on since my last post
Danna and I got to go to Tulsa with her mother and we had a blast. While we were there we were able to see Richard and Melanie Wiginton, two of our best friends. Their three children, Ashlyn, Carter, and Braden are growing up fast. We didn’t get to spend as much time with them as we had hoped but we got to see them and hug that will have to do until we can get together for a longer stay. We also got to see Jason and Tiersa Reeves, two more of our best friends. It is always the same, you never have enough time to spend with everyone you want.

In April I was asked to speak at a youth rally in Mesquite. I always consider it an honor when I am asked to speak. I am thankful for every opportunity given to me.

May brought my graduation from Grad school, no big deal since I re-enrolled a week later to start my Master of Divinity. At this one will take me four years to complete. Then it is off to finish my Doctor of Ministry.

May also brought an on campus class in World Religions. I was really excited about the class material, but Jason Reeves took the class with me and we had a great time getting to visit and get caught up.

June brings a new season of “The Academy” on Fox Reality. It is a reality show that follows recruits through their training at the LA County Sheriff’s Academy. I love this show. June also brings Song Camp which Danna is at this week and then in a couple of weeks we will leave for vacation with Danna’s family. Her mother and at least three, maybe four, sisters. Okay, this will either be a great opportunity for my brother-in-law Gary and I to really get at the sisters or this will be the beating of a lifetime. I’ll let you know about it when we get back.

Okay, before I close and I get a lot of wise remarks (Richard). I am going to try to get better at updating. I am thinking I will try to turn it into more than just what I am going through and my family. I am going to try to offer more thought and Scripture.

At Long Last....

Believe it or not I actually started writing this post on October 12th. Life has been so busy and honestly it is starting to get to me. Since my last post it has been an up and down time for my family. First, one of my dearest friends, Greg Lucas, died following a motorcycle accident. There was no way to be around Greg and not be excited and upbeat. He was a walking example of what our “Joy in the Lord” is suppose to be. Greg would always come up to me and try to tickle my belly button. I would say, “Greg, do you mind!” He would reply, “Why, no I don’t. Move your hand!” I will always remember Greg in classes at the Center with his pencil, paper, and tape recorder, while everyone else had their laptops. When he would call the church office at Mesquite he would ask for me and when Susan would ask if she could say who was calling he replied would just say, “Yes you may,” and leave it at that. Greg will be missed. He was a good friend and dear brother.

A couple of weeks after Greg passed Danna’s Dad, E.W. Withrow, passed away unexpectedly. He was such a positive influence on so many lives. He taught me how to really love and take care of a family. He worked hard to provide for his family. Just so of my favorite memories of Dad.

1). I was a Junior in High School and Danna got home a little late one Friday night, like 2 a.m. late. Mom gave me a stern talk on the phone and told E.W wanted to talk to me, but wanted to do it face to face. All morning Sunday morning I was peeking around corners trying to dodge him because I knew he wanted to hit me. I ran into him by chance I just froze, starting sweating, closed my eyes and waited for the punch. He just slapped me on the arm and said, “Good morning Mr. Shannon,” and walked by me. I almost wet my pants. Danna said, “He knew he had you and that it wouldn’t happen again.” She was right it never did.

2). One year around Christmas time Mom was telling us all the things she had to do on Saturday. Dad told her she needed to go buy his Christmas present. The girls all started razing him and asked if he had a present for Mom. He replied that he had decided to spend the day with her watching TV, what more could she ask for! (I still get a roll in the floor over that one.)

3). Dad bought a new pop-up camper several years ago and wanted everyone to see it. Danna and I, along with our friends the Langford’s drove down to the lake to see it. Mom was inside with all the women, Danna, Andrea, Sue, Kathy and Karen, showing it off while the three guys, Dad, Matt and I, sat outside talking. Dad looked over at the camper and them back at us and said, Boys there’s about 1500 pounds in that camper right now. He looked over at his little Dodge Dakota truck, back at the trailer and turned to us again and said, Boys you think I could pull that camper with all that weight in there. Now I know that may sound cold, but Dad was always cracking jokes and did it in a loving way. All of us picked back in the same way and he loved it.

It is hard to imagine going to visit at the house and Dad not being there. As we were going in for Thanksgiving Brennen told Danna, Mommy I’ll wake Papa up when we get to his house. We both just cried the whole way in. I never told Dad enough how much he blessed my life. It was always one of those things I felt I could never tell him enough. Now you know why it has been hard for me to finish this post. I felt like I needed to finish it and not just let it slide. I am so thankful to God for allowing me to be blessed by two of the most genuine men I have ever known. They loved people and most importantly they loved and served God. They truly were lights in a dark world and ambassadors for Jesus Christ.

Welcome to my New Blog!

After several months of trying to get my blog separated from Danna's I have decided to make a new one. The last couple of months have been fast, full, and fabulous! Let me see if I can hit the highlights for you. First, in June we celebrated Bonnie (4) and Brennen's (3) birthdays. It is hard to believe that I have children this old and awesome kids at that. My babies are a real source of joy in my life. Brennen and Bonnie both love to wrestle with me on the bed, so needless to say I have several bruises all the time from jumping kids who land in the middle of me with their knees. I wouldn't trade any of it for the world! I also started another class at LCU, New Testament Theology, and so far this one had to be the most difficult. However, I did pass and will graduate in May.

Since the first of July the Church has started growing we are currently averaging sixty on Sunday morning and forty on Sunday and Wednesday evening. God is blessing our efforts here and answering our prayers. I know I do not deserve to be blessed with all of this, but I am thankful that God has allowed me to be part of this. I look forward to seeing what He does in this community.

I cannot think of anything else tonight! It has been so long since I posted I cannot keep up with everything that has gone on. I hope to post more often than I have in the past and want to do more with it. So, I will try to post again soon. Please be in prayer for Danna's sister Karen as she recovers from surgery and waits on test results for uterine cancer and my friend Greg Lucas who is the prison minister at the Duncanville church. Greg is in ICU at Parkland following a serious motorcycle accident. He is not doing well and he and his wife Karen need to be lifted up during this time. I am sorry for not posting sooner. I'll try to post more often with this new blog. You know I love you!