MOSCOW THEN HOME

TODAY I HEAD FOR MOSCOW. MEET THE TRANSIT VISA GUYS THERE FOR TOMORROW. HEAD TO ESTONIA TO DROP OFF THE CAR AND FLY OUT MONDAY AT 6:40 A.M.

MOSCOW....WHAT CAN I SAY. I HATE THE TRAFFIC THERE. NO PLACE LIKE IT TO COMPARE TO. NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DRIVE THERE.

MY FLIGHT SHOULD ARRIVE ON MONDAY AFTERNOON. I'LL BE BACK IN GOOD OLE GAINESVILLE ON MONDAY NIGHT IN ZOMBIE MODE. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

HEY, CHECK OUT THIS PAGE....REALLY NEAT....I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE "CREATION" COVERED THE ENTIRE CEILING. NOT SO. SOMEDAY I WANT TO SEE THIS. MAKE SURE CLICK THE M AT THE BOTTOM AND BROWSE AROUND A BIT. YOU CAN ZOOM IN REALLY CLOSE. WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS NEAT. OF COURSE, I DON'T FACEBOOK.

http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html

IF YOU'RE KEEPING UP, I WAS 3-1 LAST NIGHT. WHERE DID BUTLER COME FROM? WHERE ARE THEY? WHO IS BUTLER? GOTTA BE ROOTING FOR THE BAPTISTS TONIGHT!! WHAT IF THEY GET TO PLAY DUKE???

RAN INTO THE GUY WHO USED TO PLAY CENTER FOR OUR "BULLDOGS" NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM THE OTHER NIGHT. SPENT A LONG TIME JUST CHATTING AND CATCHING UP. THERE IS A GUY IN FLORIDA WHO WANTS TO BRING A BASKETBALL TEAM OVER NEXT YEAR....I WOULD LOVE TO TRY TO GET THE "BULLDOGS" BACK TOGETHER FOR A 10 YEAR REUNION (YES, IT WILL BE 10 YEARS) NEXT YEAR AND PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE TOURNEY. THAT WOULD BE FUN.

I SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST ON WEDNESDAY SO IT WAS FRESH ON MY MIND...THEN READ THIS FROM SPURGEON THIS MORNING. GOOD STUFF...

"When He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."—Mark 8:38.

F we have been partakers with Jesus in His shame, we shall be sharers with Him in the lustre which shall surround Him when He appears again in glory. Art thou, beloved one, with Christ Jesus? Does a vital union knit thee to Him? Then thou art to-day with Him in His shame; thou hast taken up His cross, and gone with Him without the camp bearing His reproach; thou shalt doubtless be with Him when the cross is exchanged for the crown. But judge thyself this evening; for if thou art not with Him in the regeneration, neither shalt thou be with Him when He shall come in His glory. If thou start back from the black side of communion, thou shalt not understand its bright, its happy period, when the King shall come, and all His holy angels with Him. What! are angels with Him? And yet He took not up angels—He took up the seed of Abraham. Are the holy angels with Him? Come, my soul, if thou art indeed His own beloved, thou canst not be far from Him. If His friends and His neighbours are called together to see His glory, what thinkest thou if thou art married to Him? Shalt thou be distant? Though it be a day of judgment, yet thou canst not be far from that heart which, having admitted angels into intimacy, has admitted thee into union. Has He not said to thee, O my soul, "I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness"? Have not His own lips said it, "I am married unto thee, and My delight is in thee"? If the angels, who are but friends and neighbours, shall be with Him, it is abundantly certain that His own beloved Hephzibah, in whom is all His delight, shall be near to Him, and sit at His right hand. Here is a morning star of hope for thee, of such exceeding brilliance, that it may well light up the darkest and most desolate experience..

SEE YA'LL SOON.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

THURSDAY

WELL....TELL ME ABOUT IT! HOW WAS LAST NIGHT? GIVE ME A REPORT!!! I WANT TO KNOW!!!

TODAY IS PRETTY. SUNSHINE. COOL. SWEATERWEATHER. SNOW IS MELTING. UGLY BUT MELTING. FEELING GOOD. GONNA DO ABOUT FOUR MILES TODAY, IF IT DRIES UP ENOUGH.

HERE IS SOME INSPIRATION FOR YOU TODAY. YOU KNOW HOW I HATE MICE. I WAS HOPING FOR A BETTER ENDING.

I'M STEPPING OUT WITH THESE PICKS:

NORTHERN IOWA(UNBELIEVABLE)

TENNESSEE

SYRACUSE

KANSAS STATE

BAPTISTS OVER THE CATHOLICS

WV

KENTUCKY(THOUGH I WOULDN'T MIND SEEING CORNELL WIN)

AND OF COURSE.......DUKE

LOVE YA'LL! YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

HAPPY DAY AFTER KATIE'S BIRTHDAY

WE HAD SNOW THIS MORNING.

JESUS IS COMING SOON.

TRYING TO HOOK UP TODAY WITH SOME OF THE GUYS WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THIS SUMMER.

THEY ARRESTED THE MAYOR OF SMOLENSK FOR TAKING BRIBES.

IF THEY ARRESTED EVERYBODY HERE WHO TOOK BRIBES.....THERE WOULD BE NO ONE WORKING IN GOVERNMENT.

YA'LL ARE GOING TO CORINTH TONIGHT. I WOULD LOVE TO BE WITH YA'LL TO ENJOY WORSHIP THERE WITH THE GROUP.

GOOBER SAYS HEY!!!.....................

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

TUESDAY INFO

IT IS REALLY A BRIGHT DAY TODAY. THE SUN IS SHINING. I DON'T SEE A SINGLE CLOUD. YESTERDAY AND TODAY COULD NOT BE MORE DIFFERENT. I WANT TO GO AND SIMPLY STAND IN THE SUNSHINE AND ABSORB IT. YA'LL HAD SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JESUS MUST BE COMING VERY SOON.

HERE'S THE DEAL WITH THE GUYS. THEY CANNOT GET A VISA IN KIEV. THE ONLY THING THEY CAN GET IS A TRANSIT VISA. IT MEANS THAT THEY WILL NOT BE COMING TO SMOLENSK. IT DOES MEAN THEY CAN BE IN MOSCOW 72 HOURS. ARRIVE FRIDAY AND LEAVE SUNDAY MORNING. AND IT MEANS I HAVE TO GO TO MOSCOW AND MEET THEM. I WILL BE IN MOSCOW FRIDAY - SATURDAY, LEAVE SUNDAY AFTER THEY FLY OUT. I WILL GET TO ESTONIA LATE SUNDAY NIGHT, BE THERE MONDAY AND FLY OUT ON TUESDAY FOR HOME. THAT'S THE PLAN RIGHT NOW. I'M STILL KINDA DIGESTING ALL THIS.

TODAY I NEED TO GET MY CAR LOOKED AT. THE ROADS ARE BEYOND, BEYOND, BEYOND TERRIBLE HERE NOW. MY SHOCKS ARE GONE, GONE, GONE. NEED SOME DUCT TAPE.

SUM OF TEN LEADING WORSHIP AT CORINTH TOMORROW. THAT'LL BE WAY GOOD. I'M SO FOR YOU GUYS. LEADING CHEERS FROM HERE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!!!!!!!

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

MONDAY AND WAITING

HOW WAS THE LORD'S DAY FOR YA'LL!!! I ENJOYED SEEING THE OLD FRIENDS AT POCHINOK AND WORSHIPPING WITH THEM AGAIN. NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE, WE CAN WORSHIP. WORSHIP IS NOT RELIANT ON MUSIC OR PEOPLE OR BUILDINGS. IT'S ALL ABOUT HEART AND DESIRE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. I SO WANT TO LEARN THAT BETTER.

IT'S MONDAY MORNING, SO I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY WORD FROM UKRAINE ON THE GUY'S VISAS. WAITING IS NOT EASY FOR ME.

IT IS UGLIER HERE THAN I'VE EVER SEEN IT. NO SUN. ONLY LOT'S OF GREY AND LOTS OF WATER. THE SNOW IS MELTING AND THERE IS PLENTY OF IT. I THINK THE RIVER WILL DEFINITELY FLOOD. ROADS HAVE NEVER, EVER BEEN WORSE. WISH YA'LL WERE HERE.

2 THINGS I'M WONDERING THIS MORNING:

HOW DID THE HEALTH CARE THING PASS?

HOW DID NORTHERN IOWA BEAT KANSAS?

THANK GOD FOR GOD. THANK GOD FOR PRAYER. GOOD EPHESIANS TODAY. GOOD SPURGEON TODAY:

"And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed."—Matthew 26:39.

HERE are several instructive features in our Saviour's prayer in His hour of trial. It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from His three favoured disciples. Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial. Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not suffice, these are very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God's.
It was humble prayer. Luke says He knelt, but another evangelist says He "fell on His face." Where, then, must be THY place, thou humble servant of the great Master? What dust and ashes should cover thy head! Humility gives us good foot-hold in prayer. There is no hope of prevalence with God unless we abase ourselves that He may exalt us in due time.
It was filial prayer. "Abba, Father." You will find it a stronghold in the day of trial to plead your adoption. You have no rights as a subject, you have forfeited them by your treason; but nothing can forfeit a child's right to a father's protection. Be not afraid to say, "My Father, hear my cry."
Observe that it was persevering prayer. He prayed three times. Cease not until you prevail. Be as the importunate widow, whose continual coming earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.
Lastly, it was the prayer of resignation. "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Be thou content to leave thy prayer in his hands, who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold. So pleading, earnestly, importunately, yet with humility and resignation, thou shalt surely prevail.

LEAVE YA'LL WITH THIS NEW KNOWLEDGE:

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

UPDATE ON THE ADVENTURE

ABSOLUTELY NO WORD FROM THE GUYS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE IN JUST A FEW DAYS. KINDA UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW. THEY WILL TRY TO GET A VISA IN UKRAINE. STAY TUNED!

WORST OPENING ROUND PICKS EVER FOR ME IN THE NCAA TOURNEY. 8-8! GOT MESSED UP WITH:

OHIO OVER GEORGETOWN(HOW'D THAT HAPPEN?)

MURRAY STATE? (MUST BE THE EAST HALL CONNECTION)

THE MORMONS!!!

THE CATHOLICS FAIL!!!(NOTRE DAME)

THE CATHOLICS SUCCEED(ST. MARY'S)

HOPING FOR BETTER TODAY!!

IS ANYBODY OUT THERE???

COLD AND WET AND UGLY WEATHER TODAY. I KNOW IT'S WARM AND NICE THERE. REALLY MISSING EVERYBODY. I SAW DOGWOOD BUDS AS I WAS LEAVING. ARE THEY BLOOMING? DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TILL I GET BACK. I'LL BE THERE SOON.

I'M READING EPHESIANS BEFORE I GO OUT. I HOPE YOU ARE READING THERE AND ENJOYING TJ'S TEACHING FROM THERE. THIS IS MY PRAYER FOR US:

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all his people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit ^{f]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[f]} of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

AND SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY BEFORE I GO:

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN

I GOT AN EMAIL FROM ROBERT YESTERDAY THAT SAID I NEEDED TO CONTACT A GUY FROM MANNA AND IT WAS AN EMERGENCY. WHENEVER I GET THIS KIND OF MESSAGE HERE, I DON'T EVER PANIC, BUT I KINDA GET THIS UNIQUE "WHAT IS IT" SENSATION. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I CALL AND HE SAYS....."THE THREE GUYS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN SMOLENSK NEXT WEEK ....DON'T HAVE VISAS." WELL, YOU CAN'T GET INTO RUSSIA WITHOUT A VISA. NOW, AT THIS POINT IN THE SITUATION (OR IN ANY SITUATION LIKE THIS WE FIND OURSELVES IN) WE HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE. ONE, SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS TO BLAME...OR,TWO, TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I PREFER THE SECOND OPTION. FIRST OPTION MAY BE NECESSARY SOMETIME, BUT WE WASTE AN AWFUL LOT OF TIME THERE. WE DO THIS IN LIFE A LOT. INSTEAD OF PRAYING, THINKING, PLANNING, AND WORKING ON THE SITUATION, WE WASTE OUR LIVES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING US THERE. THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN. OK. LET'S GO ON AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT. HOW? NOT SURE. BUT GOT TO GET SOME STUFF IN THE WORKS. AHHHH...ANOTHER ADVENTURE. STAY TUNED.

HOW'D YOU SPEND YOUR ST. PATRICK'S DAY?

NO ONE NOTICED IT HERE.

IT IS STILL WAY COLD AND THERE IS LOTS OF SNOW STILL EVERYWHERE.

I'M READING IN EPHESIANS. ENJOYING IT AGAIN. WHERE AND WHAT ARE YOU READING? ALSO ENJOYED SPURGEON TODAY...THIS IS GOOD NEWS....

"As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you."—John 15:9.

S the Father loves the Son, in the same manner Jesus loves His people. What is that divine method? He loved Him without beginning, and thus Jesus loves His members. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love." You can trace the beginning of human affection; you can easily find the beginning of your love to Christ, but His love to us is a stream whose source is hidden in eternity. God the Father loves Jesus without any change. Christian, take this for your comfort, that there is no change in Jesus Christ's love to those who rest in Him. Yesterday you were on Tabor's top, and you said, "He loves me:" to-day you are in the valley of humiliation, but He loves you still the same. On the hill Mizar, and among the Hermons, you heard His voice, which spake so sweetly with the turtle-notes of love; and now on the sea, or even in the sea, when all His waves and billows go over you, His heart is faithful to His ancient choice. The Father loves the Son without any end, and thus does the Son love His people. Saint, thou needest not fear the loosing of the silver cord, for His love for thee will never cease. Rest confident that even down to the grave Christ will go with you, and that up again from it He will be your guide to the celestial hills. Moreover, the Father loves the Son without any measure, and the same immeasurable love the Son bestows upon His chosen ones. The whole heart of Christ is dedicated to His people. He "loved us and gave Himself for us." His is a love which passeth knowledge. Ah! we have indeed an immutable Saviour, a precious Saviour, one who loves without measure, without change, without beginning, and without end, even as the Father loves Him! There is much food here for those who know how to digest it. May the Holy Ghost lead us into its marrow and fatness!

HOW WAS BIBLE IN LIFE GROUPS LAST NIGHT?

AND I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS "LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY".....

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY!!!!

HEY!!! HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAYS OF THE YEAR.!!!

HERE IS MY SAINT PATRICK'S GIFT TO YOU. JEFF AND I WENT TO SEE THESE GUYS LAST YEAR AND REALLY ENJOYED IT. I THINK THAT I COULD PROBABLY DANCE LIKE THIS GIVEN A LITTLE TIME AND A FEW DAYS PRACTICE. YOU WON'T GET THE FULL EFFECT UNLESS YOU WATCH IT TO THE END...OR SKIP TO THE END.

I AM HERE AND WAY BUSY. THE GROUP FROM MANNA WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK AND THERE IS A WHOLE LOT LEFT TO DO TO BE READY. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

TONIGHT IS SMALL GROUPS FOR YA'LL. ENJOY FELLOWSHIP. LOVE. ENCOURAGE. HELP. FORGIVE. DO ALL THINGS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND BE AS A BODY.

NCAA TOURNAMENT STARTS TOMORROW. ARE YOU READY?

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.