to the hunt!

I'm preparing to hit the road this morning and head towards the western part of the state. My first stop will be at Hillvue Heights in Bowling Green. There I'll be hanging out with a dear ole friend Jamie Ward...just spending some time picking his brain a bit. Jamie is on staff there at Hillvue...their church is doing some really innovated ideas to reach people for Christ. I've been looking forward to getting up with him and again, just picking his brain.

Tonight I'll be watching the UL / West Virginia game...ought to be a doozy! It's in Morgantown, so that alone will be tough. The Cards are coming off a bye week, so hopefully they'll be fresh and pumped. After the Cards beat WVA last year, I'm sure they'll be out for some blood.

Friday morning officially begins some off time...more important it's about some serious deer hunting. I'll be with my father-n-law and a handful of other fellas. It's nothing but hunting, eating, playing cards...in that order for about 5-6 days. I hope I can bag a monstrous BUCK. That's always the plan...if I don't see any bucks by Tuesday...look out Bambi!

No blogging will occur until I return...I'll try to take some pics so you can capture the moment with me while sitting in a tree stand.

UnChristian

I'm about middle way through Dan Kinnaman's book unchristian. Dan is the president of The Barna Group, they are the George Gallup in the Church arena. I blogged several weeks ago when this book first hit the shelves...I picked up a copy at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta. One of the sessions that I attended was Dan and several others who contributed to this book lead a panel discussion about the premise of UnChristian.

The ideal behind the book and research is what a this generation really thinks about Christianity...and let me tell you from what I've read, we better listen up, because we, the church, need to address this in some form or fashion.

Kinnaman has researched and looked at several key words and phrases that people use to describe present-day Christianity. One of those words is HYPOCRITICAL (saying one thing, doing another) Here's a quote that really struck me hard in the "hypocritical" chapter...of the pool of unchristian people polled:

"84% say they personally know at least one committed Christian. Yet just 15% thought the lifestyles of those Christ followers were significantly different from the norm. This gap speaks volumes."

Dang, that hurts!

"I am not trying to hammer born-again believers; it deeply troubles me that our witness - including my own - waters down the image of Jesus."

That perception smacks me upside my head! It challenges me...Jesus sums it all up when it comes to this idea of hypocrisy.

"Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are filthy - full of greed and self-indulgence." Matthew 23

I'd encourage anyone who is a follower of Christ to pick this book up and read it...then react.

Good weekend...good friends

This past weekend some very dear friends to my family came up from Chattanooga...Geron, Lydia and Cora. We've known the Browns for about 8 years now...we were all members at FBC together, Lydia played piano...Geron was on staff with us at FBC as an intern (the Intern of all Interns!) Just good ole friends!

We didn't have a real set agenda, just hung out...some good late night conversations, dined at a couple good restaurants (You can't come to Richmond without eating at Casa Cafe'), and played some cards. And not just any card game...I'm talking some 'Hand n Foot' A great game they taught us some time ago...usually we play guys vs gals...they (the gals) KILLED us on Friday night, but we sought our revenge on Saturday night.

Geron and I spent some time tweaking the blog site. He's a computer savvy kind of a guy...so we took some pics...toasted them up on Photoshop, and made some changes. By the way the sunset pic was taken from the front of our house...we've got a great view out here!

We are blessed to have good buds like the Browns...always a good time when we get together...let's get together soon guys!

a new look

going for a new look...i'll share more later

Trunk or Treat

Last night our church hosted a "trunk-n-treat" for kiddos in our community. Bunches and bunches of kids came through...ministerially speaking at least 1200! Kids were racking up on the candy without having to walk fifty miles in the neighborhoods.

Bryan did some trick-or-treating on Tuesday night (that's when us richmond folk celebrate halloween...Oct. 30th...didn't get that decision from our city council) he brought home all kinds of good stuff. I reminisced back to my younger days of hitting the neighborhoods with friends...and then I found this picture...this was so me after a night of trick-or-treating! I was a bit of a neat freak/gotta have order about certain things in life...this was one of them.

Life Lesson from my parents...

Growing up I've had many "life lessons" from my parents...some were learned the easy way, others the hard way.

One lesson I distinctly remember was never to play with matches...this just came through the headlines in the news...I am bummin' for this kid.

Good game on Saturday & random stuff...

-Saturday's UofL game was a good one...they beat Pittsburgh 23-13. Holly and I scored two tickets to the game...drove up Friday night and spent the night with mom. She made some of her famous chili for dinner and then we played some rummy.

-PERFECT football weather on Saturday...kinda cold with a slight breeze every-now-and-then. I LOVE the atmosphere of a college football game...it's kinda hard to describe if you've never been. You just feel so part of the game! We're hoping to go to the Louiville / Rutgers game after Thanksgiving.

-Friday morning myself and four other buddies went to Old Silo to play some golf. What a great time we had...started off with some breakfast at good ole Cracker Barrel. Old Silo is a tough course, last time I played it...it ate my lunch. On Friday, it ate my lunch and dinner!

-However, the highlight of the day was playing with a good friend who just got back from Iraq. I cannot imagine being gone from my family for 15 months and then to come home and pick things up where you left. Believe me the golf was secondary...it was just good to have our friend Marty home...back in the US and safe. Thanks Marty for serving the way you did! Let's play some more golf soon...on second thought...how about Frisbee golf instead?

-The hunting season is just around the corner...and I am getting stoked! Six days of being in the woods...hunting all day, eating and playing cards at night. Not a bad way to spend a week! I've been getting myself pumped up by watching some of my hunting DVD's. These things crack me up, but they do get me stoked! I'll make sure and take some pics while in the tree stand, so you can feel excited.

Be prayer warriors for us...

Some exciting news within the Prosser household...for sometime now we have talked and prayed about adoption. We have talked and waited for the right timing...we knew that we wanted to wait until Bryan was 100% healthy...and now that he is, we are ready to TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH!

Tonight Holly and I had a meeting with an adoption agency in Danville, we wanted to sit and talk out some questions...and hear some wisdom. So now we are taking the first steps into the world of adoption. We are excited and stoked about what lies ahead...so I wanted to ask that you pray along with us in that everything will begin to come to fruition.

Fair Catch!!

fair catch:
when a kick returner decides only to catch a punt or kickoff and not advance it, protecting himself from being hit by an opponent; he signals for a fair catch by raising one hand in the air and waving it.

If you watched the Louisville / UCONN game on Friday night, you saw TWO HORRIBLE blown calls by the referees. One of those calls was where UL was kicking off to UCONN...the receiver CLEARLY calls for a fair catch...the Louisville defense eases up because of the fair catch, but the receiver begins to run down the sideline all the way in for a touchdown.

For some reason the play could not be reviewed, because fair catches can't be reviewed...that's STUPID...anyhow, the Cards lost another tough game. That makes them 4-4 with a huge game against Pittsburgh next Saturday.

Ughhhhhh....I love college football, but I can't stand a blatant lousy call...oh well Go Cards...I'm still loyal!

random-ness

-Crazy weather here...it's mid-October and it's been like 80 degrees. I'm a 'summer time' guy, but this is ridiculous...I'm even ready for some cooler weather.

-Bryan got his cast off this past Monday. His arm didn't look all that bad after being wrapped up for almost five weeks. The doc said he still needs to take it easy on any heavy activity for at least three more weeks.

-What is going on in the world of college football?? Everyone is getting beat! Anybody see South Florida get knocked off by Rutgers? This gives my Cards a chance at the Big East title...if they win out from here.

-This Sunday I'll be leading our college Bible study. In my new role, this ministry is one of my new responsibilities...and I'm really stoked about teaching again. We've taken a different approach to trying to meet our college students needs. We encourage them to sleep in on Sunday's...come to our 11am worship...following that we have lunch and a time of bible study with them. So not a bad deal!

-I'm still 'transitioning' into my new role at FBC...still working behind-the-scenes with our youth ministry. We've got a youth interim, whose doing an outstanding job, while our search team had been looking. Keep on praying for our search team...they've received about 100 resumes so far! But I'm really enjoying a wide variety of areas of ministry in this new role...I'm definitely being stretched spiritually.

-Been reading some really good books lately...I'll blog about one in particular sometime soon. It's pretty eye opening for anyone who is a follower of Christ. The book is called "UnChristian"...I just started it, so I'll share some thoughts about it soon.

-It's been a long, but good week. I'm really looking forward to the weekend. Tomorrow (my day off) will consist of the following:
*Coffee and newspaper at Starbucks (after dropping Bryan off at school)
*Driving range...gotta work on the short game a bit (if it doesn't rain)
*Work in the yard...planting some grass seed! (if it doesn't rain!)
*Play some guitar hero with B
*Watch the Cards vs UCONN at 8pm (espn!)

Top five list...

Last week as Bryan I were driving home from somewhere...he asked me, "Alright dad...what's your top five favorite songs of all time, in no particular order" (he actually said that too!) So after much thought we both shared our songs and who performed them. Here's my top five (in no particular order!)

1. "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds (This is song came out in 80's...it was featured in the movie "The Breakfast Club." The song just takes me back to highschool.)

2. "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2 (I'm a huge fan...incredible experience to see them perform this live back in 1987 at Rupp...gives you goose bumps. And...I remember some great memories back in the college days, of my good buddy Alan Creech and I traveling on Old Richmond Road cranking this song up as loud as his stereo could handle...I think that was in the blue Honda Accord?? is that right Alan??)

3. "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel (again, featured in the movie with John Cusack, Say Anything"...remember him holding up the 'jam box' over his head in front of the girls house??)

4. "Jesus Freak" by dcTalk (just a stinking rockin' song that spells it out)

5. "Sweet Home Alabama" by Skinny Lynrd, I mean Lynyrd Skynyrd (in my book one of the best 'crank it up loud while you are driving' songs EVER!)

Okay what are your top five favorite songs of ALL times? Share them with everyone...and remember, in no particular order (my son cracks me up!)

Wowed by Catalyst

Wow...I mean WOW! What a conference last week in Atlanta...it was the Catalyst Conference and by far one of the best that I've ever attended. I was moved, refueled, motivated, refreshed, excited, enthused, stirred, inspired…etc. You get the idea!

Many different speakers / teachers that came from all kinds of backgrounds led the different sessions. Of course each session began with some really incredible worship music…it was like being at a rock show, yet the focus was totally on God and praising His name. Talk about some great worship leaders…Steve Fee was pretty phenomenal!

My favorite session / speaker?? It would be a tie between Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel, both pastors in very large churches, but I couldn’t write fast enough in taking notes…just good practical stuff! I’m going to try and persuade the rest of our staff here at FBC to go next year (Oct. 8-10)…a very moving conference.

Holly and Bryan drove down Thursday night and following the conference on Friday we spent the rest of the weekend seeing the sights and sounds of Atlanta. We did the Georgia Aquarium, the Coke Factory, CNN center, ate at some really good restaurants…just some great family time! We got home yesterday afternoon after a quick stop in Chattanooga to visit our buds the Brown family.

As always it was good to come home…after a week of Atlanta traffic…coming home to Richmond was like coming home to Mayberry!

Catalyst 2007

This Tuesday afternoon I'm hopping on a plane headed to Atlanta for the Catalyst Conference 2007. It's what they title, a "next generation" leadership conference and I've been really looking forward to this for some time.

There will be some great speakers and general sessions to attend...you can go here to check that part out. They offer a variety of workshops to attend as well...the one that I'm going to is being led my Mark Batterson...I read his book, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" back in April...a really good read focusing on one verse taken from 1 Samuel.

Again, there's a host of other speakes that I'm really looking forward to hearing...I think I'm just looking forward to some spiritual renewal...I need that, more than often and sometimes just getting away and out of a routine helps with that "freshness"...and not having any responsibility other than just listening...oooh that sounds real nice!

CSI is back!

Whewww...after a long summer break from CSI's, it's back! Officially it was back on Monday with CSI:Miami.

You have to understand, I'm a CSI junkie...I don't have a lot of shows that I follow, I mean really follow...I am a fan of all three of them. I blogged about this sometime ago, but all three are so alike in some ways and then really diverse. They all have a “lead” man…Grissom, Mac and Horatio…of course they are investigating ‘crime’ (duh, that’s the idea!)

Monday night kicked off the new season with Miami…got to say, not my favorite…kinda thought it STUNK! Last night was New York…HOME RUN show…really done well and they even added a little something extra that could play out the entire season.

Tonight it the original CSI…Vegas. They left a huge cliffhanger for you to ponder on throughout the summer…and that will come to a close tonight. So we’ll see if they can top New York.

Of the three lead men…I’m a Mac Taylor fan. I’ve always been a fan of Gary Sinise…you know Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump??

Sign spinners

Have you seen these guys? Usually out on the corner somewhere of some busy thoroughfare...of course holding a "sign" advertising a business (fast-food, car dealerships, etc.)

We've got a spinner not to far down from the church who advertises for Little Caesars...and this guy is pretty good. He always has his ipod in his ears, a good pair of gloves (the look like winter ones) and of course his sign. He dances as he flips the sign and it's really a sight to see...and I think it definitely draws attention...and the guy looks like he's having fun!

I wonder if we need to have someone advertising like that in front of the church...it would definitely be innovative. Can you picture a group of deacons in shorts and tee shirts, with winter gloves on, with ipods in their ears out spinning a sign, promoting the church? I can see it!

Broken arm / Green Cast

Last week our son Bryan came home from a friends house all wrapped up in a sling. Apparently they had been skateboarding and Bryan fell...last Friday it was verified that B had broken his arm in two places. He's sporting a rather cool looking lime green cast (I'll post a pic later) and will be wearing it for just a few weeks.

Dang, he's a trooper...this is nothing compared to all that he's went through last year and I think that's helped in deal with this. By the way Bryan's last surgery was back in June...they took "the tube" out and he's been like a new kid since. We get very excited when he...poops! Sorta brings back memories when he was two!

Just so you know...

Great game on Saturday night...yes, I wish it was a better turnout. But just so you know...I'm not a bandwagon fan of the Cards, always have been and always will be. You cut me open...I'll bleed red! Some of the UK fans were in such an uproar whenever Coach Brooks made a play they didn't like or the outcome wasn't the best...no wonder Tubby left for Minnesota.

What stunk last night (other than Louisville's defense) were some of the UK fans...I would venture to say they borderlined STUPIDITY and just plain OBNOXIOUS...now notice I said "some" of the fans not all. The walk from the stadium to our car was like walking through a gauntlet of sorts. Little kids, big kids reminding me of who won the game as I was proudly wearing my Louisville jersey. As if I didn't know...I simply just said "what a game" to them and waited for a response back...they didn't know how to respond because I had defused the conversation. I think I was "flipped off" (you know the finger!) like a dozen times by, once again, obnoxious UK fans.

I know Cardinal fans aren't innocent of this kind of taunting...there are a few nutty fans there to. But I will say this...I was at the game last year when the Cards won at Pappa Johns stadium over the cats and from what I saw the Cardinal fans had some class about them...even with a victory!

Good game to all the cat fans...maybe this means we'll win the basketball game!

college football

Since the first weekend of the college football season...I've been loving it! I went to the EKU/UK game two weeks ago, and although the Colonels got thumped...the atmosphere was great.

Tomorrow night is the big UL/UK game and I am stoked. A buddy of mine has PREMO tickets (50 yard line, lower level)...the only problem is that we'll be in a sea of blue and we'll be decked out in red.

The Cards have them beat offensively...it's their defense that's suspect! Ought to be a good game...I'm hoping the Cards roll on top of the kitty cats...that would make my day!

Blogging block

Just not in the mood to blog...

thou shalt not labor

I love labor day...I like these Monday holidays a lot. Today we are having some good friends over for a cookout...my mom from the Ville is coming as well.

My mom retired back in January of this year and she seems to be loving every minute of it. She's in the process of selling her house and moving into a new place along with my sister and her family.

I really love my family...when you break it all down, that is what really matters the most. I value my family and my time with my family...if you ask my opinion, one of the reasons our world is so out of WHACK today...the breakdown of the family.

Oh yea, I've entered into the Facebook arena of the world. It's been a great way to connect with people...I even had someone send me a message asking if we went to elementary school together! Crazy stuff...you can go here to check out my Facebook.