Ok, this post verifies that I am the biggest nerd in the world. I just found out that my favorite band of my college and young adult life, Caedmon's Call, has brought back their former guitarist and songwriter, Derek Webb (pictured above on the far left) for their upcoming CD, Overdressed. Derek launched a solo career about 5 years ago and has put out some great music. Yet the band has definitly been different since he left. Andrew Osenga, another great singer-songwriter took his place after he left. He has added his own flavor and style that I think does well for the band. Yet, like all things, it isn't as good as the original.

While I don't know to what extent that he is back, I am pretty excited about the record coming up. Let's just hope that it hearkens back to the original Caedmon's sound. We shall see!

The mayor of nerdville,

Chris

going back

This week is graduation week in most towns across America. Since my move in January I knew that this week would come. One of my biggest goals when I lived in Vernon was to see this year's class graduate. They were the kids that I started with when I began youth ministry in 2004. I had a personal goal to see them through high school and graduate before I ever thought of leaving.

Well, as usual God has different plans. At the end of last year, God dropped an amazing opportunity on my lap with my new job in Granbury, Texas. I had to take it. There was no doubt in my mind that he was leading me here. I couldn't explain it then, and I really can't now. This is where I need to be.

Yet this whole move has messed up my plans. I felt a bit like I abandoned those kids when I left. They were the reason I lived in Vernon. I wasn't a huge fan of the town or the "small town" enviornment. But the kids and familes I fell in love with. So I have struggled a bit since I have been here because I have not been able to keep in touch with my friends up there because of my new life here. That is generally what happens when you move, despite your best intentions.

This week has brought some great opportunities however. Last night I was able to go to Baccalaureate (sp?) in Vernon at my old church. It was the first year that they ever hosted it. It was a great night. The seniors and families had no idea that I was coming so it was a lot of fun to suprise them. I saw tons of folk that I haven't seen in long time. It was a great time to catch up and to gain some closure on my leaving four months ago. It was definitly needed.

I had a friend ask me last night if I regretted leaving Vernon. I was able to tell her "no". That was a good feeling. While I miss those west Texas folks intensly, I know that God has brought me to another chapter in life that will be totally different from the last. I was talking to one of my former elders last night about how much I missed everyone, yet how I knew that God had brought me to the right place and how it was tough to make sense of all of that. My former elder spoke of "treasures in heavan" and how good friendships and rich relationships served that purpose in heavan. These great people that we invest in over the years will be with us someday when we go home. Those treasures are being stored up now. What a great thought, huh?

While God might put us different places and take us farther away from the ones we love, he always blesses deep, meaninful relationships that are based on him. That is good. Very good.

Hope you guys are well.

sunny days.....

While my last post found me burning the candle at both ends, this one finds me doing just the opposite. I am presently in Destin, Florida with my family on the beach (well not really at the beach presently, in the condo). Not too sure if the church would be cool with me taking this laptop down to the beach anyways. Sand in the keyboard isn't too good of a thing, you know?

We have had a great time so far. On Monday my dad, my brother in law, Jeremy, and myself went deep sea fishing. I have only been once before and that time wasn't very successful. I have a picture from that first time and it wasn't very spectacular. It was a pic of me and a very small fish. However, this time was different. While we didn't bag any marlins, we did catch quite a few large fish (11 to be exact.....10 red snapper and 1 very unlucky red grouper........dad snagged him on his belly). We spent the day amongst many redneck drunk guys so, on top of having a great day fishing, we had some really good entertainment to our left and right. What kinda stinks is that the most drunk guy caught the biggest fish. Figures.

Last night we drove over to Milton where my grandma lives. She is 76 and lives in a nursing home. We ate with her, 4 of my uncles, a few of my cousins, and their kids. We had three or four generations of Robeys sitting at the same table. My grandma isn't the most talkative of women and her old age isn't helping a lot with her memory either. She just sat there and watched all of us talk and cut up. She really didn't say anything. One of us jokingly said that it was her fault that all of us were here. I guess that is probably true. I can't imagine looking down a table and seeing several generations of my kids, grandkids, and great grandkids looking back at me. Maybe that is why she was speechless. I might have been as well.

As I close, to avoid any accusations of telling a "big fish story", here is the proof: