Inverted revolution

adoption update

uthmindave — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 02:59:07 +0000

So I’ve really been bad about keeping people up to date on our adption process. So here is a brief update.

We are in the last phase of interviews before our home study happens. We just finished our couples interview last week and next we have our individual interviews. The best way to desicribe these are Bethany Adoption asking us about ourselves. I’m guessing they are making sure we are who we say we are. Once we finish the interviews, our home study is scheduled for July 9. This is more of a safety study to make sure our house is appropriate to bring a child into. That means lots of locks, extinguishers, etc. have to be installed.

Once all this is done, they have to write up our case (not sure this is the right terminology but it works) which will take about 5 weeks and then we can be entered into the selection pool.

We still have to do our mini-profile and profile book which birth mothers will use to learn about us and select us as the adoptive parents. Once we are in the selection pool we have no idea how long the process will take.

God continues to amaze us with His provision. I wish I could tell you all the times He has shown us He is in control of this process.

I look forward to the day we bring the child God has for us into our home. I hope to give more updates in the near future.

that’s not my voice

uthmindave — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:22:21 +0000

I met with a potential leader the other day and as we talked, I asked then to share theirstory with me – the who/what/where/when’s which helped them become the person they is today. I listened to an incredible story of their journey with God. In the course of our conversation, they told me of their struggle with cutting. They shared some of the events and thoughts that led themto start. They told me about how they felt when they cut themself and when they weren’t cutting. They talked about getting help and how they continue to live/struggle with the desire to cut herself. As they shared this last part, they told me when they begins to think about cutting themself, they remind themself, “That is not my voice.” They told me that they belong to Jesus and their voice is His voice telling them He loves then and they has value. The voice that pushes them to cut is not their voice at all but the voice of their past and weakness that does not exist in the complete and redeemed body they obtained when they surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.

I’ve been thinking about that statement. “That’s not my voice.” I’m thinking about the voice that entices me towards things that are not of God. Things that bring temporary pleasure but not wholeness. I find myself repeating out loud, “That’s not my voice” when tempted, when beating myself up, when I find myself doing that which I don’t want to do. And I’m reminded of the words of James about our evil desires enticing us, giving birth to sin, which leads to death. I’m thankful for being reminded by this person of the loving voice of Christ, which even in discipline, is calling me to a more fulfilling life focused on God.

I’m reminded that it is in community we find sources of encouragement and support. I’m reminded that each person’s journey contains sources of inspiration we can draw from. And I’m reminded that while I lead a ministry, I am able to learn from those involved in ministry.

there are days

uthmindave — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:55:06 +0000

There are days like today that make me want to give up on ministry leadership. Days with tension, gossip, uncertainty, and angst. I feel like it would be easier to take a gig running sound & lights, stage managing, working at Target or something else than to try to lead a ministry. I often wonder how the people in the church – people that are supposed to be the church – can act the way they do, discourage and disparage people the way they do, and not see the plank in their own eye (of course that last statement means I’m not looking at the plank in my own eye). So when I feel this way I remember several things. First, Jesus did not have an easy ministry and I should not expect to either. Second, we are in the people business and I will be interact with all types of people. Third, we aren’t allowed to resign on Monday or Thursday. Fourth, Hebrews 10:35-36 reminds me to patiently endure in what God has called me to. Fifth, my wife isn’t home this week so I can loose myself in a video game and 2 liter of Mountain Dew when I get home and forget all about it till tomorrow.

adoption

uthmindave — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:30:17 +0000

Yes, we are on the adoption journey. I wish I could tell you how much fun it is and all the cool things we’re doing but at this point, it is a lot of monotonous work. Papers to fill out, appointments to make, psych evaluations to be done, training classes that aren’t very well managed to attend, so on and so forth. It will all be worth it at the end but right now it is simply a lot of busyness.

One thing I will tell you about that excites me on our adoption journey – Just Love Coffee. I’ll let their website tell you about the company but the short of it is they have a heart for adoption and want to help families offset the cost of adoption. They allow adopting families set up a “store” through their website and the family receives a percentage of what is sold through their store. For example, we receive $5 for every $13 bag of coffee sold. All the roast I’ve tried so far have been great so I have no problem recommending their coffee to friends, family and complete strangers. So if you’re a coffee drinker and would like to support us and your addiction to the java, visit our store at www.justlovecoffee.com/DaveandMelissa

What I was reminded of

uthmindave — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:23:26 +0000

Yesterday I was reminded of these things

1. My wife is the most important person to me on this planet. I need and have to make time to hear her, spend quality time with her, and to share myself with her. Time now is an investment in us for the future.
2. My leaders need to be ministered but there are times when their situation is beyond my influence and it is then I simply have to let them know I’m praying for them and am there for them.
3. 5 cups of coffee in a short period of time makes my body do crazy things.

uthmindave — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:46:01 +0000

blah blah blah

that’s what you’d read if I wrote anything.

I’m ready for Christmas parties and other nonessential gatherings to be done with.

blah blah blah

Control

uthmindave — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:58:46 +0000

I am working thru the book of Galatians in the morning. Today I had to stop reading and wrestle with the thoughts of where am I trying to do things on my own. Coming out of our time off, I found I was trying to do a lot on my own & how much this added to the frustration I felt. So I committed to stop relying on myself and simply let God work. That is so much easier said than done! It’s crazy to me how quickly I find myself trying to get back to the “old” way of relying on myself. I keep having to tell myself even Paul struggled with doing the things he didn’t want and not doing the things he knew he should.

I keep turning to old habits of procrastination (my way), responding in haste (my way) or not responding at all (my way) rather than allowing God to speak, guide, reassure and lead. Even when I know His way is better (maybe not easier) the old self tries to reassert itself. This morning stunk – too many frustrations, distractions, poor emotions, bad ideas, wrong reactions – all because I was trying to do it on my own, my way. Even though this morning I had thought about and prayed about the ways I needed to let God take control, I managed to do a lot my way – I was rude to my wife, coworkers, and if you’d been there I would have been rude to you. And I was so aware of it and it made things worse. At least till I remembered and offered this prayer, again - Abba, I belong to you.

I was reminded, I don’t belong to me, I don’t sit on the throne of my life, and I don’t have to have it all together. It was then I could go to people, admit my mistake, ask forgiveness, and see the rest of the day turn around to a good day. Not because I was doing great things but because I was aware that my way wasn’t (and isn’t) best. Tomorrow, I’m sure, I will have to remind myself again to be aware of who’s way am I trying and realize again (and again) I am trying to be in control rather than allowing God to move in and through me, as He desires.

last day

uthmindave — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:46:50 +0000

The last full restful day of our extended time away. For me, this day is always the hardest day to decide what to do. There is a tension between wanting to do something and not doing anything. There is a struggle to remain focused on staying unfocused on what awaits when you return.

Some of the tension has been helped by the rain. This morning was simply a down pour. That helped ease the “guilt” of not getting up for time on the beach. Instead it freed us to lay in bed and doze, have a lazy breakfast, sit on the patio, read and watch it rain.

Tomorrow we pack up and head towards Birmingham. We changed our return plans and have decided to worship at the Church at Brook Hills on Sunday before returning to Cookeville. We have been to the church for a conference and were really impressed with the campus and info we could get on the church. Plus, it helps that their pastor is a great communicator of God’s truth.

This thought just crossed my mind – why am I wasting time on this blog when I have the last restful day to enjoy?

Until I return I pray you would encounter God in the simple things today.

Quiet Place

uthmindave — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:40:28 +0000

Today I’m looking for quiet.

I don’t want the bother of a cell phone or a tv. In fact the fan on my laptop is bothering me right now.

No crowds, no loud talkers, just quiet.

I want to hear God, my wife, my thoughts and not have others intrude.

Tomorrow I will be ok with the noise.

time off

uthmindave — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:52:36 +0000

We are halfway through a 2 week hiatus from work. I’d like to say it is vacation but it is much more than that. It is time away from the office and not feeling guilty about not doing ministry, it is recharging time and not having to worry about getting it all done before the day/week ends, it is reconnecting time with God and Melissa, it is thinking time, and it is much needed time.

Thank you to the staff and personnel committee I work with for offering this time and encouraging me to take it. I know I wouldn’t have asked for it and wouldn’t have taken it. (and to Tony for looking at us and telling us not to be stupid, TAKE THE TIME!!)

I planned to blog daily about what I’m thinking on/learning but realized quickly that I didn’t want to be tied to a computer. I want to enjoy the people I’m around, the places I’m at and the opportunities that are around us. Instead, I share a few things that have stuck in the cranium.

First, I’m praying this a lot – Abba, I belong to you.

I found it in Brennan Manning’s book, The Furious Longing of God. Any time I am tempted to think work or am thinking on the direction of life and my family I pray this.

Second, this thought has caught my mind, “Do I love God or do I love the concept of God? ” This thought scares me, challenges me, and confuses me…sometimes all at the same time! I’m realizing I need to focus more on God and my relationship with Him than I do on how do I convey to people who God is and how much He loves them.

Third, I really do like The David Crowder Band’s new one, Church Music. Lyrically it is catching me off guard and moving me. Thank you David Vick for encouraging me to listen to it more.

Last, I have a week left of away time. When I get back I hit the ground with staff retreat. I have one book left that I WANT to read - Reggie McNeal’s A Heart of Worship. I hope it is going to challenge me so when I get back to the norm of work I HAVE reevaluate a lot of my priorities in life and ministry.

I’d like to say I’ll be back to write more but honestly, I don’t know if I’ll have an Internet connection at the beach. I look forward to this time with Melissa, just the 2 of us, to have some conversations without the distraction of work and circumstances.

May the realization of God’s love, power and majesty overwhelm you.