Bick's Quicks

Good Friends and Goodbyes

I'm leaving Texas today and moving North to St. Louis.  Our years here in the Lone Star state have been challenging, life-changing and rich.  As a kid who grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas and a die-hard Razorback fan I never imagined that I would EVER live in the state we so hated during football and basketball season.  I will truly and deeply miss Texas.

Over the past few weeks we've had the opportunity to share meals and say our goodbyes with some really great people.  Friends, in the truest sense of the word.

Friends who have....

Shared their lives and resources
Loved our children as their own
Prayed for and encouraged me/us when life was difficult
Challenged my thinking, rebuked my sin
Laughed with us late into the night
Gone more than the extra mile in helping us get our home ready to sell-(painting until 4:00am!)
Become part of our family and part of my heart

I'm thankful that yesterday some of my closest friends stopped by to say goodbye, pray and give one last hug. 

I love you friends and will miss you incredibly.

Attitude Checked-Update

Thanks to those of you who have been praying for my "situation".  Here's the scoop....  A while back we purchased a Yukon XL-we've long needed extra space...I realize it was not the green thing to do but it's better than always having to take 2 vehicles because our kids couldn't invite their friends along...I digress...said Yukon was a steal of a deal having only 29K miles and all the bells and whistles, it was the right color and my lovely wife liked the name Yukon better than Suburban.   

We fought off stiff competition from other buyers and the owner, who had purchased the car for use by an employee, liked my story and wanted to sell to us even though I was offering below her asking price and what another guy was willing to pay. 

At the bank we learned that title listed the company and the former employee as the owners...PROBLEM...she was unaware of this....BIGGER PROBLEM....former employee left on tense terms.   Not to worry we were informed that former employee was willing to sign the necessary documents releasing the title so our bank lady readied the paper work and we were driving with plenty of space. 

After driving the car for four months I learned that the former employee hadn't signed the papers, he hadn't responded to any letters requesting his signature.  WORSE YET...business owner who said he was agreeable and would sign the papers wasn't returning calls, emails or letters.     EVEN WORSE THAN THAT....the registration sticker expires in Jan 2008.  It was shaping up to be the perfect storm of used car ownership...I could find myself paying for a car that I couldn't drive.

OK, confession time:  I'm not good in moments like these.  I tend to doomsday-think the worst-imagine that it will never work out.

I ran across the verse mentioned in the previous post and kept asking God to intervene and work. I tend to be more of a worrier than a prayer warrior-just pulling back the curtain a little.  Over the next few days and hours when I was tempted to stress and worry I would pray....God change their attitudes...God work....God resolve this situation....and yes I worried a little too.

Last Thursday I woke up early and began searching for the guy who needed to sign the document...I googled him...no luck.  Out of desperation I decided to Yahoo him.....HIT!

I found his picture, place of business and phone number....he was just across town...down the street from my bank and yada yada yada I should be getting the registration sticker this Thursday and the title will now be in my name.

Yahoo!

   

Holy Hat Trick

To be honest there is much of ministry that is mundane...just like your job I'm sure.  Another email to send, another meeting to attend.  I'm not diminishing the impact of these tasks in anyway at all...just saying that like you even a Pastor faces routine responsibilities.

This past weekend I was living in a season of routine-ness until Saturday night.  It's been a busy season of doing weddings for me lately.  So, donning a new suit and tie I headed out into the night to officiate the joining together of another couple. 

It was a great scene, friends and family gathered at a lovely home, a tree filled with lights by a backyard pool and the cool crisp air of a December evening. 

Mike (the groom) and I were chatting, he handed me the license and I thanked him for letting me be a part of the evening.  It was then that he mentioned that he was especially thankful that I was able to do the ceremony.  Here's why.....Mike was an un-churched guy who was invited to our church by a trainer at his health club.

• He began attending, heard about Jesus and accepted Christ in my office-really cool.
• I baptized him a while back.
• And now, I was officiating at his wedding.

Moments like these break though the mundane.  Meeting Mike in the lobby the first time, developing a relationship with him, asking him to share his story at a weekend service, baptizing him, and officiating at his wedding....all a part of little moments that matter.

Thanks Mike for letting me be part of your life!

God was showin off...

After a full and productive day our staff team headed out to the Garden of the God's.  For years I had driven by the park on my way to youth camps so this was my first time to actually visit.  Incredible!

Keith, commented; "God was showing off when he made this place." 

After the park we stopped by the Stagecoach Inn for various and assorted Buffalo delicacies...including the Buffalo Steak au povire...you can't get that at the Broadmore...

Keepin It Real

This absolutely undeniably proves.....

• That I have very little rhythm
• I should never quit my day job
• My church is a fun place to work

Spring-Queen

While the kids and I are catching Idol tonight...you just need to know that we began Queen week early....here's the evidence.   The Mustang is reeling from the 1000lbs of Man crammed inside...no..that's not our real hair...thank God!

My Darling, My Dove...

Okay...okay....yes it's a mushy Valentine's Day Post but....needed anyway....sure this is a contrived, commercially driven event known to be loathed and hated by most men and loved by women but we probably need a day like this....and we do....

As men we're prone to rarely express our feelings, we get laser focused on tasks, we act like we listen when we really don't and we leave our socks and underwear on the floor.. and we ignore saying; "I love you" to the wives we promised to love and cherish so...before you blame this day on some commercially driven card companies why not take time to consider the gift God has given you-your wife.  I can't say it better that it's said here. 

On average men spend more for Valentine's Day gifts...again that's probably needed...to make up for all the in-sensitivities that have accumulated during the year.  What's in it for us?  Happiness probably but more important...obedience to God....after all didn't Scripture encourage husbands to take the lead in loving their wives? 

So...break out the mushy cards and music...hold hands....kiss...and say; "I love you!"  Maybe you should try out some new nicknames found in the Song of Solomon on your wife tonight...then again maybe not....

I love you Barb...thanks for making my life richer with each passing year!

Sunday with the Long Island Wrecker

Today after church I hooked up with my friend Scott, he's from Long Island NY, for some after church demolition.  I mentioned a while back that we're in the middle of some house repairs..our foundation needs lifting(we have big trees that draw a lot of water and TX is in the middle of a drought).  The shed was here when we moved in a couple of years ago and we've wanted to tear it down/replace it, it's in the way of the work needing to be done and this was the opportune time to get rid of it.   

I'm not sure what it is about guys from NY, they have a lingo and a way of life that I kinda like..Scott made fun of the way I said cement...I think I said it like this...C-mint....he says it differently...perhaps he learned to say it differently as they were fitting guys with cement shoes...like they do in NY.

We made quick work of the shed (2 hours), most of which involved me trying to utilize my new tool, unwrap the extension cord to power said new tool and several trips to the garage for hammers, screw drivers, pliers and whatever else I thought we needed for demo....

Scott(the Long Island Wrecker) beat the shed into submission and mentioned it was good therapy.  Barb took a picture of my muscles....she says that's good therapy....

The Sparkling City

  This weekend I've had occasion to return to Corpus Christi where I made my abode for 4 1/2 years.  Growing up in land locked Arkansas I never dreamed  that I would live in a coastal town much less in Texas...Right now it's sunny with a slight sea breeze and about 67 degrees.   When I lived here Corpus was a sleepy little town that seemed to be about 10 years behind the rest of the world.  Relocating from Kansas City required quite an adjustment.

The sleepy little town awoke about 1 1/2 years ago.(sadly after I moved away)...they now have a major events center, the University continues to grow, they have perhaps one of the hippest downtown vibes going, and the City leaders exercised incredible foresight in making the entire town a WiFi hotspot.  If you're a 20-30 something single/couple with a love for water and possess an entrepreneurial skill set you might want to check this place out.

Anywho...I'm here to do a wedding for one of my former High School Students, she is like a spiritual daughter to me.

A glorious day this has been...hooking up with my good friend Tony C , he's a young forward thinking President of a Theological School and he's going to change the world...for a while we partnered at The Station a candles and couches church next to the tattoo shop, across from the bus station....

We met at Elva's and had Destroyers the best breakfast burritos on the planet...I caught up with the family who runs the place and Lisa even remembered my usual.  Cool family...I asked them to open up a franchise in Dallas...they didn't say anything...but they let me take a picture anyway....

I stopped by the Church I used to work at and took a picture of the Glasscock Memorial Bell Tower and Carillon... a sacred structure that I desecrated by hanging a banner on advertising our failed attempt at a contemporary service-the Water's Edge...Ann, another staff member signed the guest book when we were up there hanging the banner, Esmeralda and Quasimodo.  The tower was about to rust out and the bells were in danger of falling and killing someone so they took them down, they were stolen but later recovered...

Lunched at the Executive Surfclub...great burgers..Corpus is the town of Good Eats...

Now I'm blogging at a new spot called Aqua Java, a hip coffee and Internet cafe.  The former Sheriff is in the booth next to mine breaking down some serious stuff for a guy who is listening with interest..sounds political...

A Willford Brimly type wearing a cowboy hat just walked in....He stared at me...I better go....

 

Muscle Car Musings

If you've been following for a while you know that several weeks back I received an incredible pre-Christmas Gift from an incredible family-A 1965 Mustang.  They are an incredibly gracious and generous family, committed to Christ and the church. 

I've never owned or really driven a classic car and there are a few things I'm learning about being part of the cool car crowd....

• A 289 V8 is fun to listen to.
• When driving a Mustang Classic Rock -n- Roll is best.
• Sunglasses are required, members only jackets-optional.
• I'm suddenly hungry for a hamburger, fries and a chocolate shake all the time.
• I can't wait for date night to cruise the town with my main squeeze.
• People ask me if I watch this show.
• The gas tank must be refilled when you reach 1/4 of a tank-found this out the hard way...thanks for bailing me out guys!

A friend of mine says "guy toys" are great....I now know what he means....