Hello Friends & Readers
I am launching a new domain for my blog today.
You can now find me at www.themartyschmidtblog.com
There are still some kinks to work out with the new site.
For those of you who are generous enough to link me it would be great if you made the change.
Also – RSS & Twitter are not up yet but they will be shortly.
I am really sorry about the false promo of a new blog being launched on Friday. A few kinks developed and I’m not sure what I’m doing.
Blog posts that have been put on hold:
My plan is to have those up with the new site later in the week.
I’m working on a new blog site that will hopefully be up soon. I know it seems pretty strange to jump ship but I have a few ideas of things I’d like to do with this blog and I am unable to do them here at wordpress. I’ll keep you posted.
Observation from recent reading - In chapters 2, 8, 10, 13 and 15 of 2 Samuel the words “In the course of time” appears. I think this is very helpful verbage for us to consider. Many of the exploits we read take place in our minds in a matter of seconds but were actually lived out over the course of hours, days, months, and years. Many of us are looking for a course of action that will fix or change things right now but scripture reveals that things transpire over the course of time. This is helpful to me both personally and as a church planter. I believe there are times when I long to see a radical change yesterday or implement a new way of doing things tomorrow but I’m learning that isn’t always helpful or realistic. Some of the dreams God has planted in my heart will take place – but not yet – they will happen over the course of time.
This is really fun to reflect on when I consider what has already taken place over the course of time. I think about my relationship with Jenny and how over the course of time we went from e-mailing each other, to engagement, to marriage, to being blessed with a family and so much more. Or I think about how just over three years ago thebridge was announced as a something that would be coming. Now, not even two years in we have stories of what has taken place over the course of time that could fill a book. Stories of how God has provided, blessed, carried, loved, and set free people who have come to thebridge.
Things to think about - What has happened in your life over the course of time? What are you hoping will take place over the course of time?
Even thought it is tomorrow the Mothers Day Celebrations and shout outs have started. This unique holiday in which we give pause to remember and thank our mothers is loved by Hallmark, cell phone companies, and florists. Husbands scramble to think up a gift that says I love you and settle for an appliance. Like me for example, I’m giving Jenny a toaster. To me it says you warm my heart. Children grab some crayons and start drawing up coupons like, good for one hug. When I was a kid I would always pick those things my mom would rather I not do like, good for one breakfast in bed cooked up by me. The entire weekend is filled with people doing whatever it takes to love on mom and all of humanity says, awe – now that is beautiful.
BUT…
What about the other half? What about those who have lost their mom and this time of year reminds them of their loss? What about the husband who no longer has their spouse with them and grief sets in? Or what about those who wish they could be a mother but first they need to not be single or the one who is married but is unable to have children? Or what about the mom who this past year had a miscarriage? What about the child/son/daughter/adult who never knew their mom? What about the countless people who were neglected because of their moms habits and behaviors? What about the individual who has talked to their mom for months or years?
The older I get the more I realize that every holiday has two sides to it. One is full of bliss, memories, family, laughter, and joy and the other side is full of pain, remorse, bitterness, grief, and sadness.
So for those who are on the other half of this Mother’s Day may you hear these words. You matter! You are not alone. You are known by your maker and You are loved.
So I got my new phone this week and I am pumped. There were several factors as to why I chose the phone I did. Here are a few:
I still have a lot to learn about this phone but I did figure out how to make this post which was all done on my new phone.
Recently Jenny’s uncle sent me this link (here) that is some of the most crazy awesome half time entertainment I have ever seen that took place at NAVY. It’s about 8 minutes long and worth the watch. The footage is unique in that it clips over to the fans every once in a while. At first they are board disinterested and I think you can even hear some booing. As the jumpers keep going though their excitement builds and it ends in a roar from the crowd.
I wonder if there was a fan who was sitting there in the beginning. He’s watching and part out of insecurity and part out of ignorance he says this is stupid and decides to leave and go get some nachos. A couple friends join him. Meanwhile a few others stay back. They are intrigued. There is something different going on here. The more they watch the more they are amazed. They become wrapped up in the event. Soon they are in disbelief and astonishment at what they see. They can’t help but cheer. The jumpers conclude and they go off to thunderous applause! The guys come in and can’t make sense of all of the commotion. They missed it.
I wonder if this is how some people are with Jesus. They never stick around to give him a chance. They judge to soon. They walk out and miss the amazing and the unbelievable but worse they miss out on so much more.
