How We Came To Be...The Entire Story

God never ceases to amaze me with His sincere ability to surprise me. In all facets of my life, at one time or another, He has surprised me and sometimes in very big ways. Recently, He did it again, but let me go back several months to February.

It was February 22nd to be exact and I had a date this particular evening with a sweet girl I had met three weeks before. When I met her I did not realize that I would be talking to her more or for that matter asking her to go out, but that's not to say that I didn't want to, I just really thought that she was probably already involved with someone. After the interesting exchange of a few emails, I asked if she'd like to stop getting to know each other over email and just go out sometime and she said that would be great. So, we did.

Immediately in my mind I began to panic a bit because it had been a really long time since I had been on a date. I didn't know what to do, where to go, heck, I really didn't know how to act. When February 22nd came along I had a plan, but I was still nervous. She and I had communicated by email a few times and she told me that she was not feeling all that well that day but that she still wanted us to get together. She proposed the idea of just grabbing dinner and eating it at her house while we talked and got to know each other better. At this point, I knew in my heart that God was going before me here and knew that for whatever reason I was nervous and He was interceding to make the evening light and easy. He knew that we probably both had unfounded pressures and that by removing those pressures it would allow for us to have more relaxed evening while accomplishing what we both really wanted which was to get to know one another better without all the pressure.

We had McAllister's for dinner that night while sitting at her kitchen table. Her home was so inviting and comfortable making it easier to just relax and talk. We moved our conversation to the couch in the den later and began to share a lot of different details about our lives with each another over the course of several hours.

We spent a lot of time sharing about our own faith in God with each other, because it obviously was the most important part of each of our lives. This was awesome to hear about her love and devotion for God and His people. Her desire and participation to serve with her church in ministries like the Firehouse Shelter and her church's Feed the Homeless ministry as well as just seeing the compassion in her eyes that was evident as she talked. This was awesome to discover about her because I too share a great passion for serving and missions work.

A little later we discussed our most recent life-changing experience with each other where by God's grace and sufficiency alone was the only way either of us had made it through and this is where I feel that we both began to really see a glimpse into who each other's heart. We talked over these experiences for a long time and through listening to her talk about what she had gone through, I began to admire her more and more for her courage and trust in our Lord; that He meant everything to her and is her main priority in life. It began to get late and we wrapped it up with a hug and I was out the door.

Just to note here - that evening as well as the many times we spent together following was like the most freeing breath of fresh air to me; it was extraordinary and real and I knew right away that there was something special about her. She was so real, so open, and so easy to just be around and talk with.

Times like this went on for about 3 weeks I guess and during that time she shared her hesitance to consider getting involved because she felt that she still had some unresolved lingerings from a past relationship. I appreciated her honesty and vulnerableness about this. It was big that she would be so honest with me and I told her that I understood and would just give her space to work on this. Somewhere in the midst of this, I have to confess here that my pride stepped in and I ended up finding myself trying to continue to woo her in to me anyway. This went on for about a week and then on that particular Sunday I had some time to reflect and pray over things a good bit. I came to realize that I had not been respecting her boundaries and space that she requested, and ultimately I had pretty much made it all about me and was just being plain selfish.

That Sunday evening, we got to get together to talk because we both knew that we needed to. I went over after she had gotten home from her Core Group (pretty much the same thing as what my church refers to as Life Group). We sat on the couch quietly for a minute and I began to speak; I began to talk and told her that I had some time to reflect and pray a good bit that day and that God had revealed to me my sin of being selfish. I confessed to her that my pride stepped in and I that I had continued to try to pursue her even though she had made it clear that she was not ready and that she needed some space to let God work on her heart and help her through the previous relationship and some other struggles she had been having. She wanted us to continue on just building a good friendship. I apologized to her and asked her to forgive me and promised her that I would respect her wishes completely and honor her request for boundaries and space. She was only wanting to be obedient to Christ and what His will for her life was the time - there's nothing wrong with that, and what right did I have to try and thwart that...as if I could, because I cannot thwart His plan for my life, much less hers. Oh, the things that God had in store for me...

Later that night after I got home, I actually seemed a little at peace, knowing that by being obedient to Christ in this was ultimately what He wanted for both of us. Honestly, I was a little nervous too I guess, just not knowing what the next day would bring, knowing also that she was not going to be in it, at least in the way that I had wanted. A lot of reflecting and processing followed this and I went on to bed.

The next morning I got up and got ready to head to work. I got in my truck and was not even 2 minutes from my house and lost it right there as I drove. The tears began to come and I began to be an emotional wreck. I don't mind sharing this because it showed that apparently I had some kind of feelings for this girl, but just didn't know what all they were at the time. Days went by without really seeing her all that much. We talked a few times here and there on the phone but it was hard for me and always seemed to end in disappointment, but I did my best to not let her see that. It was more important that she know that I wanted to respect her wishes and give her space.

I talked some to my counselor about the situation and he really helped me to begin to get some perspective on the whole situation, but in that I realized that this was going to be a process for me and not as easy as just making a decision to do something. He helped me to see that I needed to learn how to grieve this as a loss, but that would mean that I had to let go. I know I needed to but I began to realize more and more that this was not going to be easy...at all.

I guess a week or so went by and I found myself at home that Wednesday evening with idle time and my mind began to churn with thoughts. I began to analyze everything all over again and that led to coming to a place of loss where I just needed to talk things out or whatever, so I picked up my laptop and wrote an email to a few of the guys in my Man Group(just what we call it, basically a group of men I get together with on a regular basis to talk about life and God and how we can help and encourage one another as "stuff" comes along). As I wrote, I began to cry as I bled my heart out in this email. I didn't know what was happening but I continued as I know this was part of the process for me. I continued to type and ask what was happening to me? How could I be this into someone whom I really had not spent all that much time with. My heart was bleeding all over the place and honestly it sucked.

Two responses came from that email...one, from our group leader, Lee. It was short and simple; "sounds to me like your heart is coming alive again, and that should be celebrated". The other response came the next day at lunch from my friend Jeremy. We met at Moe's and talked about all the details of what had been going on. Jeremy is one of those people who is just easy to talk to, though weird enough, he's a good bit younger than I, but regardless of that, I feel he always has a lot of Godly wisdom to offer to any situation. We came to a break in my explaining everything that was going on in my heart and mind and he looked at me eye to eye and said "Jason, it looks like to me that you're just a little bit in love". "Maybe it's something about her your in love with or maybe a few things, but regardless it just seems like your a little in love with something about her, and Jason, that is okay." I just stared at him for a second with a blank stare, almost afraid to speak and then I admitted that a similar thought had come across my mind the night before but I had quickly washed it from my mind. I thanked him for his perspective and told him that I would take that away and pray about it, even though it was not going to solve anything and if I had to be honest, the thought of it scared me to death.

Ya know - looking back in my journaling and other notes, a lot really happened between she and I in such a short time. I just looked at an entry I made on March 18th. Actually it is was from the 4th and final letter that I decided to write to her because I still wanted to share my life with her even though it did not appear that things were going to work out. I want to insert part of it here, just as I wrote it that day...


Tricia,

Why do I continue to write to you? We talked on the phone last night for a little while. It was a good conversation, but this morning I began to have thoughts of giving up hope that there may ever be an "us". Not really sure where that thought comes from , but then almost as quick as I had the thought that, I also thought that maybe an immediate "war" in my life is you. Meaning that you are what I am to war over and fight to have in my life. Don't over-analyze this, but I look at you, I listen to you, I continue to learn more about you and I continue to grow emotionally toward you.
Nothing about you sends up red flags, and that makes me curious. It makes me wonder why I met you, why we ever began to go out only to then step back? We began to walk down a road, and then it was like that road came to a fork and we had to split and now with the terrain between us being so thick and unpredictable I cannot see or read the area well enough to determine if our paths may ever cross again. I guess it goes back to that conversation that we had about wishing we could just see ahead a little, a sneak peak at the play book of life, but I see more clearly now that this is God continuing to teach me to just rely and trust in Him alone, that while He is a mystery much like what there is between us, that He does have our best interest in mind here.


What I had not realize about all this happening is that God wasn't only wanting to do some work in her but also in my own life. Around that same time my men's group was going through a part of the book "Way of the Wild Heart" and we were going over the chapter about the Warrior. This chapter covered a section that talked about in a man's life there will come a time when God reveals to him what that man's war in life may be, war meaning in the sense of war or battling for the souls of men and women. When we were going through this in the book our leader asked us to be listening to God and think about what it may be that God was leading us toward in regards to what our war or battle in life would be. It seemed almost immediate that God began to speak to me about this, actually I think it was that God was already beginning to move my heart in this area and now things began to become more clear. First, I felt that God was prodding me to become more involved with our Single's Ministry, regardless of the capacity or whether or not it was up front or leading from the shadows - I just needed to be involved. Secondly - that I go ahead and complete the steps necessary in joining my church and begin to work on becoming involved with the church's missions committee. Ultimately I had no idea what any of this would end up looking like, but I just trusting in my Father and began to let the other guys know what I felt God had been leading me to. I will touch on this more as I progress in this post.

One thing I will say here before going on...I sincerely believe if it had not been for her taking a stand to do what she knew was right and then my respecting her decision to do this, that I am unsure that I would have been able to hear or feel God's prodding me in this direction at this time. I think I would have honestly been distracted. I am a sinner and therefore I am prone to wander.

So I go on. Feeling that I was being prompted by the Lord, I emailed the leadership team from my Single's group to let them know that God had laid on my heart that I needed to let them know that I was available and desiring to get more involved in our Single's group. I told them that if there were any areas that may need a void filled to just keep me in mind and I would pray about it. I got an almost immediate response from 2 or 3 of them and funny enough all of them seemed to be pointing me in the direction of heading up our Homeless Ministry that we participate in on a monthly basis. To be honest here, I really did not expect that to be an area that they would refer me to and honestly again, I really did not even consider it being an option when I volunteered, but obviously God had something else in mind here.

I told them that I would pray over the opportunity. After praying I guess for about a week or two, I kept going back in my mind to wondering why was it that this was all that was being offered, but then along with that, it was like God was sitting right there telling me, why not? And to add to that, I felt as though God was calling me directly to this ministry and desiring me to step out of my own comfort zone and dive into my faith in Him. It was like He was just saying, just trust Me, you will see. So, I called up the folks over this opportunity and told them that I would take on heading up the Homeless Ministry. Again, just being honest and vulnerable here, I was scared to death of this. I had no idea what to do, or how to do it, but God kept coming back into my mind and speaking clearly that He was in control and He would work out all the details. I will touch more on this a little later, because it has been and still is exciting to see how God works in every detail of our lives.

At this point, Tricia and I had gotten to a point of not really talking as much and I guess she was just doing her own thing and I was too. I felt as though I was able to think and see so clearly and while in my heart there was still a lingering for her, I was able to just press on and not let it all consume my mind. Obedience comes to mind as I think back over this all, and seeing clearly that God was in control and He truly desires the best for my life.

I guess to just jump right back into the Homeless thing; I remember my very first event and the days approaching it. Our group was in charge of providing the meal for the event and that pretty much means either by way of preparing and bringing it ourselves or by having a local restaurant or a group of establishments donate items to be served. I decided that because the Single's beach retreat was coming up soon that I did not want to dip into their wallets at this time, so I proceeded to make a list of establishments that I felt would possibly donate food. I began calling around town. I was a little surprised by the fact that most wanted to do something but due to the time of month and notice, that it just wasn't in their budget at that time, but almost all of them told me to call them back with more advance notice, so I noted that and pressed on. Finally, I remember sitting there in my truck, and you might remember this by reading one of my past blog post, but as I was sitting there, realizing that this was Monday and that Friday was coming fast. I sat and thought, and was pretty discouraged because it seemed that every place I called could not do anything at this time. Then it came to me that even though I had been praying for so many things going on around me that I actually had not stopped to pray about this need in particular. So right there, I stopped and began to pray, just pleading with God that He would provide as He promises in His word. I prayed specifically that He would provide the entire meal for some 50-75 people. I knew He could make this happen, but I never cease to be amazed at how quickly and bountifully He provides for our every need. I went on into work and was tending to my daily activities and then I got a call from a manager at a local Italian restaurant. He asked what we were in need of to make this all work out. I explained what our needs were and he said he would do some checking and give me a call back by the end of the day. I think maybe an hour went by and he called me back to tell me that he could provide salad, spaghetti, rolls, and all the other stuff needed. All we needed to do was pick it up. Oh, how amazing is our God! This is only one example of how magnificent God truly is...and here is another...

The following month it was our month to provide the drinks and for someone to do a devotional during our time there. I remember asking for a volunteer to do the devotional, mainly because I just could not see myself being able to do it without fumbling my words and not making any sense. As the day approached it became apparent that no one was going to step up this month so I laid down the burden to Christ. As I prayed that day, I remember the Holy Spirit laying upon my heart my own struggles with listening to the lies, that go through my head at times telling me that I can't do this or that, or that I'm wasn't good enough. That the truth was that Christ could and would speak through me, that He would prepare my way, that He would go before me, that He would do it. So, I went to the Word and found relative scriptures to pray over and began to write out an outline of what I felt I was being led to talk about. This was all fine and dandy at the time because I wasn't up in front yet, but that time came that Friday night. I remember being pretty nervous all day on that Friday at work. Tricia and I actually talked that day some and she just encouraged me that I could do this that it was in me; it was my heart that was speaking because she knew I understood the topic very well. She encouraged me to just take a deep breath and get up there and go for it, letting God speak through me, giving me the words that He laid on my heart and through His Word. Well, the time came where I was asked to step up and give the devotional. So, I stepped up and as folks gathered around, I remember seeing so many faces that I didn't know and many that I did know from my own Single's group. This was a little intimidating at first, but then I remembered, that my Lord had gone before me, that He had been preparing the hearts and ears that would be hearing me, that my friends were there and they loved me and supported me, so why be in fear? I began and to my surprise, I was actually speaking very loudly so that everyone could hear and with confidence. It was like the Spirit just took over, in fact, it was the Holy Spirit that took over and spoke through me. I remember referring back to my notes to be sure I was following my basic outline, but all the words between came from the Lord. He spoke through me, He did it and it was awesome! God is so faithful, no matter our fears, no matter our insecurities. He is awesome! I was so thankful about this and afterward Tricia texted me to ask how it all went and I told her that it went great and that I appreciated her prayers and encouragement. She told me that she knew I could do it, no doubt.

More time went by and I guess now it would be around the end of May and I had just come back from a beach retreat with our Single's group. At this point, I remember thinking that there were a few girls in our group that I wanted to get to know better. At this point, I had pretty much come to the conclusion that things with Tricia were just going to remain as friends and I was cool with that. I had come to a place where I felt that I wanted to just invest in friendships and whatever God would do beyond that would be accepted if that was His will. I want to point out here, you may wonder why I am talking about my thinking about going out with other girls if this post is so much about the beginnings of Tricia and I? Well, I want to accurately tell about everything that I feel God was taking me through to get there, and this all was just part of it. She knows about it all, so I feel comfortable telling you about it. Anyway, I wanted to get to know a few girls better, learn about their heart and see who they really were inside, and offer them the opportunity to see who I was. Over the course of about 3-4 weeks, I went out with three different girls. As I went out with these girls, I had a great time and I think they did too, most of all just getting to know them better was awesome. To see how God had been moving in their lives and using them for His glory. I will touch more on this in a second, but wanted to point out here, that it was about mid June and Tricia had called me up to see if I wanted to come over to her house to meet her cousin Amanda who was living with her for the summer. I said sure and went over that evening. We had a great time talking and hanging out. I remember during that conversation that we got in deep about dating and relationships and what they should or shouldn't look like. Her cousin was asking advice about a situation she was in at the time and not that I had any good advice to give, but shared the best I could with her. I explained a lot about where all I had been, the mistakes I had made, the places where I could see God molding me into the man of God He wanted me to be.

I remember referring back to when Tricia and I had first gone out, what we both felt, but also that apparently it was not in God's will at the time (understand, me still not knowing what was happening before my eyes). It was really cool to talk generally about what God had been teaching me through that experience, and Tricia commented too on the very same. I could see further confirmation in our obedience in following God's will in that situation, and as hard as all that had been, I was so grateful for His leading us in that situation.

About a week later, Tricia called me up at the office and asked if I wanted to go to lunch since she was in town. I said sure, so we went to Surin in Crestline. We just had good conversation, as usual. It seemed that we always had good conversation, always just being real about where we were in life, whether talking about our difficulties or praises, it has always just been great. We finished up lunch and I went ahead and paid for our meal and we headed back to the office. Still, understand, I am thinking on a friend level and I'm pretty sure she was too probably but looking back, I can see where God was working in this all again and setting up the stage for what was to come. We also went to lunch again a few days later, at this point it is around the last week of June and still I was just thinking nothing more than just a friendship. It was really cool.

That Friday of that week, I think it was June 27th to be exact; she called me while at work and was asking if I had plans on the following Thursday night and if I wanted to go to the Baron's game with her and some of her friends from church. I told her that I would love to, but that I had to work at my part-time job that evening and then I needed to head over to my sister's house to get it ready for our Single's 4th of July party that was going to be the following day. She seemed really disappointed, and honestly, for some reason I was too, but there was nothing I could do about it. So, the next week came about and we were beginning to talk on the phone a little more and during a few of those conversations she commented on how she really wished I could go to the game with her, but still, there was nothing I could do. That day approached and we were talking again and talking about our week and she asked what I had done the night before...I hesitated and then told her that I had a date that previous night. She was like, oh, okay. We both sat there for a minute in silence, I don't know why, well maybe I do know why now, but it was kinda funny. I then said to her, ya know, that was kind of weird to tell you that for some reason. She agreed and said yeah, that was kind of weird to hear. We didn't really talk about it anymore and continued our conversation. At this point, a thought came over me about her, and I took a chance and asked her if she wanted to come over to my sister's after the game. I told her that she could invite her friends if she wanted, but that everyone could bring there swim suits and come over to swim, heck it was hot enough so I figured it would be a great idea. She said that she would see about that and talked as if it were a good possibility. I pretty much wrote it off at that time because I figured that it wouldn't happen. Later that night, I guess it was around 9:30 or so and she called me from the game. They were watching the closing fireworks show and about to all leave. She told me that she would call when she got to her car. When she called back, I asked if she was going to come over and she said that she was, but wasn't going to ask the others over. Interesting, but just fine with me.

When she arrived, we pretty much got right into the pool. The water felt great and we just got on some floats and hung out and talked as we floated around the pool. I remember thinking to myself that she looked great. I guess we talked for about an hour and then it started to get a little cool so we decided to jump into the hot-tub. We continued our conversation and she said that her shoulders hurt so I offered to rub them, yeah, I know, this could be a dangerous thing to do while sitting in a hot tub, but I knew her and my mind was not there, so I felt it was okay. After rubbing her shoulders for awhile, she was still sitting in front of me and I kind of embraced her back into my arms, she followed that notion and just relaxed in my arms. We sat there for a little while longer talking. In my mind I was wondering what was going on, even though I was the one who made that move. Anyway, we decided that we were about as pruned up as we could be and got out of the hot-tub. We sat on the outdoor couch next to the hot-tub. On the couch she laid back into my arms again and we were talking for awhile longer. She resituated where she could see me and could talk face-to-face. This was the point where I really began to sense something very different from her. She was looking intently into my eyes, without ever breaking the lock as we talked and then out of know where, I leaned in and kissed her. Wow! That was amazing! I didn't say that, in fact, we neither one said a thing for a few minutes, but then kissed again. I then spoke up and asked her to tell me where she was in regards to her struggle with us dating from before, if she had worked through everything that she needed to work through at that time. She said yes, that she had worked through everything and explained her journey to some degree of what all God had been doing in her life. This was good news, especially since we just kissed for our first time. After that we really did not talk about what happened anymore. It was getting late and we both needed to get home and get some sleep. She said that she was going to come to the 4th party we were having and asked if she could bring a friend or two, I told her that would be great and then I walked her to her car, kissed her again and she left. I went home and just sat on my bed and began to pray and thank God for this happening. I proclaimed to Him that I had no idea what was going on but that I wanted to just trust Him in this and not be fearful or hesitant, but all at the same time, also not be naive to any false or assumed thoughts in this. I asked God to just give me wisdom, patience, and help me to just relax in this and enjoy her. To enjoy getting to know more about her and learning what God's will was for her in my life. I thanked God for Him supreme mercy and kindness, for His ability to have been obedient before in what we both went through and for all the work He had been doing in both of us during that time. He is truly a wonderful redeemer, an almighty giver, and gracious in all that He has done in my life, even through the tough times in my life I can look back and see clearly how He was working and showing me things about myself and more of who He wanted me to be in Him.

In my past, I would have needed to have a major talk right there and then when that kind of thing happened, to just kind of define things, but for some reason I didn't feel the need to do that. I felt like this was another evidence of God's work in my life. Just not needing to have to define something right there and then and that felt really good. The next day, the party got started and I guess it was about 12:30 or so and her and her friends Katie and Alissa showed up. It was great to see Tricia again and I was glad she came. In the back of my mind, I had analyzed the situation a little and thought she may get scared and then not show at all, but she came and she seemed fine after everything that happened the night before. This was really cool.

The day went on and was drawing to an end and folks were deciding of when and where they were going to go to watch the fireworks at Red Mountain. I had to get some sound equipment back to the YMCA and get things cleaned up. Tricia asked if I wanted to come watch the fireworks with her and her friends, I told her I would love to but that it all depended if I could get everything done that I needed to in time to make it to meet them a little later. I was able to get things wrapped up at the house pretty quickly and then took the sound equipment back over to the Y. I decided to just save on time and since I had some extra clothes that I would just take a shower there and save on time so I could make it to Homewood for the fireworks show. I met Tricia and her friends a little while later and we went to the field next to Shades Cahaba school to watch the fireworks. We had a great time watching the show and then went to eat afterward at some place near UAB that they frequent on late night outings. Afterward, Tricia and I went back to her house and we stayed up a little while talking a little about what was happening between us. We pretty much decided that neither of us wanted to necessarily rush into anything but that both of us wanted to go out with the other and at least give things a try. So, after this I left and went home. Very long but awesome day, again, being very thankful to our Father for what seemed to be His blessings to go forward and see where He was going to lead us.

We went forward on into the next week just taking things day by day, and now we are 3 months into our relationship, and I can tell you, that I've never been in a relationship quite like this; One that is so very free to just be ourselves and easy. One where it is easy to go and serve our Lord together and compliment each other while doing so; One that is filled with love, care, selflessness, honor, and respect. I am not claiming that she is perfect by any means and nor do I want her to be, because hey, I'm far from it. Relationships and marriage as a whole reveal more about our own sin than it does about our strengths. We have our issues, we have disagreements at times, and we’re just not perfect, but even with that, like never before I can see where I've grown and how she handles this in such a way that is so different from anyone in my past. Again, it is freeing and easy. I am so very thankful to our Lord in Heaven for this precious gift He has allowed me to embrace in Tricia. I know where we are heading, she knows where we are heading, but ultimately we never know where we'll end up, and we are moving forward day by day, trusting in God to lead and guide us along the way. We pray that He remains in the center of our relationship, that we seek Him to serve and love the other, and we pray that as He guides us into the future that He will do something really big in our lives in way of service to Him. No matter what we do, that it will be for His Kingdom and for the love of His people.

The Crew from Cov

The other night Tricia and I went to an engagement party for a friend of mine who recently got engaged.  It was a great time getting to see so many people there that I've not seen in a while.  Tricia got to meet a lot of my friends that night, from what I can gather, they all seemed to embrace her and there looked to be mutual acceptance among them all.  When I left Covenant Pres sometime ago and began going to Oak Mountain, it was hard to adjust to not being around many of those folks but over time I knew I was doing the right thing by going to Oak Mountain.  Those friends back at Covenant I have not forgotten nor has our friendships decreased.  That is really the interesting thing.  Most of these folks are married couples, now with like 2 kids and who knows what's in the works.  But the really cool thing about all these folks is that they have always been there, through the thick and thin and through all of my stuff.  They all mean a lot to me and I cherish those friendships dearly.
I don't know that I've ever mentioned any of them on this blog before, so I thought I'd shed some light to who all these people are and by maybe telling a few stories.  I guess to start off, we all met each other in the Single's group at Covenant.  Most of us began going there back around 1999 or 2000 and some came in a little later.  It was like God just dropped us all off at the same place around the same time to develop some very significant friendships with each other over the years.  God knew what He was up to here, because we all quickly began to develop very strong and lasting relationships.  It was neat to see how God worked in all of these friendships to later lead to many of the guys and girls getting married over time, now most of them having at least one child by now and some two.

Jon, Bobby, Bou, Derek, Brandon and Rusty.  These guys have pretty much been the closest guy friends in that crowd.  I will get around to who they all married a little later.  Each of these guys came from different backgrounds and places, with a ranging of interest that included hunting, sports, mission trips, and just good ole hanging out.  Not all of us had something in common except for the hanging out part, which seems to still be the most important, but the common interest among this group had us all pretty much doing things together very often, even leading to some of us sharing a house together here in there over the years.  All of them have very interesting and inspiring stories of life and their coming to a personal relationship with Christ, but one in particular is Bou.  If you ever run into this guy, do yourself a favor and ask him about escaping from Cambodia when he was just a kid with his family.  It is an incredible story and you can see Christ all the way through it giving him protection, provision, love, and grace.  He came to America and now he lives the American dream like the rest of us.  No, I'm not saying life is perfect for any of us, nor is it for Bou, but by the grace of God he was able to come and be raised here in America, was able to take advantage of the blessings of our freedoms that this country was founded on...although, I have to say now, that our freedoms seem to be slipping away from us more and more as we go through life...but that's another blog post altogether.  Jon, Bobby, Derek and I used to share a house out in Riverchase.  At the time, we called it the "Home for Unwed Brothers".  It was like a frat house, always having people over for cookouts and gatherings, and a lot of times for those great heart to heart conversations on the back deck or wherever to just talk about the struggles and successes of life. 

Jon and I first hung out at a Mt. Brook football game one night with some other guys from the group.  In our conversation, I pretty much unloaded my testimony to him right there from the stands watching the game, who knows why then and there, but apparently I just felt like talking but I talked about a lot and Jon was I think a little overwhelmed by it all at first, but later came to appreciate everything we had talked about.  He knew who I really was, he knew what I struggled with and he knew what my hang-ups where...from this, with him, I was free to just be myself and be real with him.  He knows this now but I really appreciated him listening to me that night and it was the foundation of our friendship that still presses on through thick and thin.  He later married an awesome girl named Kristi.  Kristi was in our group at Covenant too and most of the earlier years in the group she was tied up with school but stayed involved the entire time.  She is another great friend of mine to this day and going to hang out with them and their two beautiful children is always still a lot of fun.  One of the great things about hanging out with them is that they are both just real all the time. They talk pretty openly about the great things in their marriage and the struggles they sometimes have.  They are an inspiration to me to see their walk through life as husband and wife, father and mother of two, while balancing work, children, life, and other things.  Jon just finished up his MBA about a year ago now I guess, and now his career is beginning to take steps upward to new horizons.  I am proud of both of them and I cherish and value their friendship so much.

Derek  - one of the old roommates from the big house in Riverchase.  He is the entrepreneur in our group.  I remember seeing him studying while on retreats early on to be a world class commercial real estate professional and that he has become over the years.  Success looked easy to us on the outside looking in, but in hindsite, he worked hard, very hard to get where he has gotten.  Always studying everything he could get his hands on and always taking the right risk at the right time.  He was inspired and mentored by one of the best in the business back then and now he wears the integrity, values, and success of that person.  Derek was also the crazy one in our group, kinda like a kid that forgot his adderall or ritalin...every day!  He never seems to let adventure pass him by and like his profession, has always taken risk that could have cost him in the end, but God's hand of protection has always been upon him as well.  Derek always has been there to listen and give insight of wisdom along the way for all the guys.  He has a big heart and does whatever he can to help others out in a bind when needed.  He went on as well to marry a girl who is actually as short as he is...short but very sweet and fun.  You look at the two of them and see that God had them in mind for each other without a doubt.  Her name is Rushton.  She came into our group a little later and Derek had her in his sights almost imediately for a pursuit of an incredible relationship that we all got to see develop.  Derek is a pilot also and I was able to go up with him several times in his Cesna at the time and a few of us even took the plane on a beach trip once that was an experience that I'll never forget.  Derek is a busy person, running a business, being married, fathering two children and balancing life,  but will always take the time to stop and hang with the guys when opportunity comes around.  He is a great friend and I will always cherish he and his wife's friendhip for years to come.

Bou- he's always been a great friend, don't get to see him all that much anymore, but a friendship that has lasted through thick and thin over the years.  The early years of friendship were spent talking a lot about life and struggling through knowing what God's will was for our lives in one way or another.  It was cool to go on a mission trip with a person who was the result of mission work himself.  I've had many interesting times with Bou learning about his culture and how he grew up and then came to America to pursue life, school, work and then marriage to Aline, his sweet wife.  They now have two beautiful children.  One may wonder what does a baby from a red headed american girl and a Cambodian look like...beautiful is all I can say, and those kids are full of personality and character.  It was always great to see Bou struggle with the things that life brings along, in that by God's direction and grace, showing him what to do and how to go there.  As all of us, mistakes are made, and some decisions made over time seem to put us two steps back, but as we all learn too, that is God's way of just taking us four steps forward, learning more about ourselves and most of all the unconditional love of Christ along the way.  Each year, Bou invites several of us guys down to his father-n-law's land in Camden, Alabama for some of the best hunting around.  We go down around the same time in December to participate in this hunting trip that usually produces a lot of opportunity to kill a deer, and on some years, the harvest is big but I will not go into that as it may seem cruel to some, but again, that is all for another blog post sometime.  I think the best thing about that annual trip is just the guys all getting together again to hang out, talk about life, laugh a lot all while enjoying a glass of Crown...of course not while hunting...we're crazy - not stupid...however there have been a few things that have happened over the years that would have made you think we were drinking while hunting, some really funny stuff.  A favorite story I will share is about Rusty who I will talk about next.  We are all so appreciative to Bou for inviting us each year,  because it gives us that opportunity to catch up and continue building upon the strong friendships we already have.  Bou and Aline are another couple who's friendship I will always cherish.  They have been there for me too in the tough times and for that I am very thankful. 

Rusty- what can I say about ole Rusty, what can I not say?  I actually met Rusty when going on a mission trip to Ukraine.  He did not go to our church at the time and he came as a friend of someone in the group that was going.  I didn't know what I was in store for back then and now looking back all I can do is laugh and say, "ole Rusty".  But, over the years, and even back there on that trip I saw things in Rusty that most may not get to see when just hanging out with him at times.  Rusty has a very big heart.  He comes across sometimes to people who don't really know him as unfiltered, disrespectful, and sometimes downright wrong....but those people don't really know Rusty, and if they didn't give him a chance to know him a little better, it was only their loss.  Rusty will always be the one to say what you were thinking but just wouldn't dare say, and for that I am thankful...at least most of the time, because behind this rough edged face is a heart that really cares for people in a very deep and meaningful way.  As he reads this, if he does, he would probably say I'm an "ass-kisser" or whatever for saying all this, but that is just his way of saying being humbled I believe.  I remember on more than one occasion he and I having heart to heart talks that blew me away in regards to his care and compassion for people.  This is all just something you don't know about Rusty unless you get him one on one in a conversation.  Rusty married the perfect girl for him.  Laura, someone who can handle his smart comments and know when to listen to him and when to not listen to him.  She is a wonderful wife and mother too.  She compliments him in a way that makes them an incredible couple.  They are always laughing and having fun and always fun to hang out with.  Now, the story I mentioned above.  I think it was two years ago now, we were all down in Camden for our annual hunting trip and while Bou doesn't hunt, he does go out to the stands with each of us from time to time to watch the hunt.  This day he went with Rusty.  The actual hunting time was pretty unproductive, but as they were walking back up to the truck to come back in from the woods, Rusty spotted a doe about 100 yards beyond the truck.  Bou went ahead and got in the truck and Rusty hurried up to take aim over the hood of this Dodge Ram he was driving.  Just know this, Rusty is an awesome shot, he usually never misses what he's shooting at, so he took aim, while resting the rifle on the hood of the truck to get a stable shot, he pulled the trigger and boom!  He looked back through the scope and there stood the doe just minding its owne business.  A little shaken by the noise but otherwise untouched....Rusty was like "what the heck?"  So he took aim again and fired again, boom!  He looked again through the scope and said "you've got to be kidding me"  the doe was still just standing there eating at the grass.  Rusty looked at his rifle to be sure there wasn't something wrong with it then noticed two dark spots on the hood of his truck.  Then he took a closer look...with the way that the curve of the hood is on a Dodge Ram and with the fact that he was looking through the scope, he never noticed that when he shot both times that he was only shooting into the hood of his truck, but talk about consistency, they two shots were right next to each other...now that is called good grouping...not that he was too happy about his grouping at the time.  So, to top this off he went around the truck and took aim resting the rifle into his shoulder and put the doe down finally.  That day Rusty got to do something no one else ever has probably never will, he came back to the barn with a Ram and a doe.  Talk about a hunting trophy.  That is just one of the many stories that there are from our incredible trips.  I appreciate Rusty and his wife Laura.  They are great friends that will last over the years for which I am very thankful.

Now onto Bobby- Bobby, the quiet one, but don't let him fool you.  He always been up to something and his being quiet has always helped him to be taken seriously but also a good cover when he wanted to be scandalous.  Bobby has always been that one that you could talk to and know he would just listen and wouldn't have to say something back - he'd just listen.  Of course if you wanted him to respond or comment he would but he has a natural gift in being able to listen and give wisdom.  Many who know him knows he loves sports and he also is a referee for basketball.  Mostly high school games but some college girls games as well.  Bobby was another roommate from the house in Riverchase.  He was probably the first one of all of us in the group at Covenant.  He loves to fish too, so even though we go hunting down in Camden, sometimes he comes along to go bass fishing in the lakes around the property.  It seems like he was always the one behind all the shananagans that came about all the time.  He's just so stinking quiet and he was never the one you suspected to be behind something but somehow always was.  He finally married his wonderful wife Lori after years of going on and off over time.  We knew they'd get married and finally they did, but in a little different way.  They actually got married on a Single's beach retreat that we had one year, one that OMPC's single group at the time went on as well.  It was a crazy weekend and we did it all up.  The wedding was on the beach and it was really cool to be a part of such an awesome event.  Bobby and Lori now have a child of their own too, and he is another heart stealer.  Bobby and Lori are great friends too that I always enjoy getting together with at any time.  I will always cherish their friendship for years to come.

Now, only time for one more right now, and I'll come back to whoever I left off...
Brandon - Good ole Brandon.  I don't even know where to begin with him.  He's a photographer by trade but now works in ministry at The Apologetics Resource Center here in Birmingham.  He's always been that one that kinda talked over your brain and then you would have to say, "okay, Brandon, now tell me in English so I can understand".  Love the guy though, because he's always had a heart and love for God and His people and with a sincere desire to spread the Word in Truth.  He is another crazy one that I know, always taking the risk and sometimes not thinking about the consequences, but living in the end.  His wife Katrina is a wonderful match for him, mainly by being able to calm him enough sometimes long enough to just survive his crazy antics.  I am forever endebted to them for something they did for me back sometime ago, when all the guys were getting married off one by one and I did not have anyone to live with or anywhere to live.  They invited me to live in an extra bedroom in their home.  This was an awesome experience and worked out much better than I think any of us anticipated.  They were so gracious to let me live there and I am forever thankful for their ministry in that to me at that time in my life.  Brandon really showed me a lot about working hard during that time because with his going to school and trying to study all while trying to keep his photography business going was taxing to say the least.  He was awake more than ever asleep and always on his toes.  I appreciated seeing them in their marriage, working through easy and tough times along the way, but always trusting in God to provide and lead them along the way.  I will always cherish and appreciate their friendship as the years go by. 

I think that is about it for now on these folks.  These are firendships that will last a lifefime.  I am very humbled and thankful for them all and I look forward to the many years to come as our friendships grow and develop more.  Thanks ya'll for for everything you have been, for everything you are, and for everything you want to be.  Thank you.