No fun...

at 02/24/11 10:48PM
It's no fun seeing someone you love puke their guts out, over and over again, day after day. Vomit whether the stomach is full or completely empty, it's not fun. And it takes its toll on Heather.

She is pregnant, and dealing with her own case of hyperemesis gravidarum. Fun stuff. But, it actually is better than it ever has been.

But she is amazing. She keeps talking about how there are people who would go through 10 times worse stuff just to be able to give birth to one child. She has such a great attitude about this.

Oh wait...I think I need to go clean something up!

  • scrappyhappymama
    You have such a great attitude and are such a blessing to Heather.

    I'm so bummed we missed you in Houston. We're actually moving back there in the next few months, so if you're ever back that way again...
    by scrappyhappymama at 02/25/11 3:20AM
  • the_ghost
    Been there bro... Hang in there.
    by the_ghost at 02/25/11 5:53PM
  • mtnestr
    Frederic! I pray that you are feeling better soon - and of course, Heather. You are right - her attitude is exemplary!
    by mtnestr at 02/25/11 9:28PM
  • nthnswmn
    Hey! Happy Birthday and thanks for taking care of my man today. We really appreciated you picking him up.
    by nthnswmn at 02/25/11 11:22PM
  • loveofjebs
    Frederick, do a little research on acidity levels, she may be highly acidic. I am and I was extremely sick with all three of my kids. Get some pH strips and see if you can tell her pH. Maybe that will help. Papaya pills also helped me with the nausea, they help alkalize the stomach as well. Hope she is better soon.
    by loveofjebs at 02/26/11 1:53PM
  • sallyanne
    You guys are great!!!

    Happy Birthday!!
    by sallyanne at 02/27/11 12:32AM
  • heidiw
    Frederic, I just want you to know how much you and Heather encourage me! Seriously. I would count myself blessed (well beyond how blessed I already am!) to have a family such as yours someday. May God always work through you and yours as you strive to serve him with faithfulness! I hope you have better day and that Heather continues to get better!
    by heidiw at 04/22/11 6:10PM

Beautiful Brethren

at 02/24/11 1:58PM
Just spent a GREAT time in Houston with beautiful brethren.

First, I preached at Southside. (where Bubba Garner, Dee Bowman, and Mike Cawthon preach) Had a BLAST! The people were wonderful, friendly, supportive, and I even got an adjustment after the assembly by a chiropractor in the congregation!

Then I did a meeting at Alief. (Where John Kilgore preaches) What a GREAT time! I stayed with a great family, saw old friends (a la Brian Orf, Terron Gaines, Lara Chapman, Teresa Lafferty), got involved in challenging and fun discussions, was very encouraged, and was able to make efforts to encourage hurting people. Fun stuff!

I had a GREAT time, and had loads of fun!

Have any great fun lately?
  • desi
    I'm glad you enjoyed your time there! We are looking forward to having you here!
    by desi at 02/24/11 3:22PM

Inadequacy at its best.

at 02/16/11 12:47AM
I just feel so completely inadequate with regard to doing all that is before me. The seemingly big things, like preaching sermons? That's not what overwhelms me.

The tasks that make me feel completely inadequate? A combination of loving my wife the way I believe scripture dictates, being a spiritual shepherd to my children, having more people to study the Bible with than I have time, having more people dealing with suicidal thoughts, homosexuality (among other sexual vices), and various doubts about God than I can handle, taking on so much that every night my day ends by me falling asleep somewhere other than my bed (all while I continue to drop the ball on some responsibility I am supposed to be managing), feeling guilty that it seems like all I do is take in my personal relationships, and feeling bad that I am going to be preaching 8 times in the next few days in Houston and am excited about it because I know I will sleep well, and feeling guilty about being excited about being gone from my family.

I just feel like a mess. And I wonder why God chooses to use sin-stained clay vessels like us to disseminate his gospel. Is everybody like me? Or do I just have some serious growing up to do to make up for a lack of character building in my youth?

I feel like my strengths are really strong. And my weaknesses are really weak.

And even as I write this, I smile. Because I know that my vision, my perspective, my vantage point is limited by so many flesh-induced factors. I am not complaining, merely reflecting.

I trust God, and know that there are many who have dealt, and will deal, with much more than me. I trust God, and know that his vision is perfect, and I am spiritually myopic. I don't trust my own judgments, so I press on, trusting God.

I trust God, and through my staggerings and stumblings of character, evermore there is the trying, the learning, the pressing on. Evermore there is the struggle.

Oh the struggle. That's what life is, right? I learned that truth early. I embrace the struggle. I embrace my Lord. I have trouble embracing anything good in this world in the face of my own iniquities.

The struggle of love.

I feel like I don't have enough time to manifest my love for my wife. Or my children, for that matter. Or my friends. Or my congregation.

So what is love, if there is no unfurling of that love...if there is no expansive manifestation of that love?

And therein lies my complete and utter inadequacy.

Inadequacy at its best.
  • dawnmk23
    I know you will make it through this patch! We'll be praying for your meetings and your sweet family! I wonder could you hire some help with the household chores? Many of the girls at FC would do these tasks for you. Some relief must be in sight for you. And I for one wouldn't hold it against you for bringing in some regular help.
    by dawnmk23 at 02/16/11 7:54AM
  • madtomkidd
    You are NOT alone, brother. I'm not preaching meetings, but I'm pulled in many directions and know your grief.

    We just have to remember - we are helpless on our own. So, we have to trust in God and - it's not even a working together, I can't even begin to stand on my own apart from the strength of Jesus.

    Stand strong in Jesus!
    by madtomkidd at 02/16/11 10:29AM
  • dehutmom
    You have verbalized the age old struggle that everyone wrestles with. :) Two pearls of wisdom that came our way during that early season of our lives when we were growing our family and Bruce was growing his career----(1)sit down and create a family mission statement. Doing this helped us consider and make decisions on the direction of our family and what we needed to do to accomplish our 'mission'. It also helped us when things got crazy and busy (we wrote it down on nice paper and had it handy to refer to) by reminding us what was important and what was expendable. (good, better, best) :) (2) Someone told us to always remember that it wasn't our job to save the world. :) That God would rise up someone to do "thus and so" if Bruce and I decided that "thus and so" was not the best choice for our family at a given time. That really helped to give us the peace when it was necessary to say, "no" to something. :) Excited for the coming changes in your family and the good work you all are busy doing for others. :) May God make it clear for you that which is "best" for your marriage, your child training, your service to others, and your own personal growth. :)
    by dehutmom at 02/16/11 11:00PM
  • sallyanne
    I feel like my strengths are really strong. And my weaknesses are really weak.
    This must be why we are kindred spirits ;) ... this and several other things we have in common!

    You are not alone. You get an amazing amount done. Heather is blessed to have you. The children are blessed with a godly father. The congregation is blessed with an energetic sincere godly man. The college students are blessed by you in so many ways. We were just blessed to visit with you for the few short times we were able to. Your love for your family and your brethren is manifested daily in all you do. I could see it all the way from AL and I could see it in Heather's blogs before I even knew you.

    I think we are a lot alike in that we try to do a lot (too much sometimes or even often), realize we can't do it all, then feel inadequate about even what we do well...one thing I've learned in the past decade is to say 'no' and to try to take on only what I can handle. Delegate if and when you can. Keep on keeping on. We were *just* telling some folks at Moody what an amazing guy you are...see? Your light is shining all over :)

    by sallyanne at 02/16/11 11:27PM

Prayers Please

at 10/12/10 6:41AM
Please go to my wife's page for an update on my mother.
  • chessman
    Love you, brother. My prayers and tears are with you.
    by chessman at 10/12/10 7:10AM
  • nillabarr
    Much love and prayers.
    by nillabarr at 10/12/10 7:22AM
  • sallyanne
    I'm praying. May God give you comfort and peace.
    by sallyanne at 10/12/10 7:33AM
  • desi
    I will be praying for your family. Much love to you.
    by desi at 10/12/10 8:13AM
  • littledieman
    I love you, brother. We'll be praying for you all.
    by littledieman at 10/12/10 10:12AM
  • trishie
    You and your family are in my prayers.
    by trishie at 10/12/10 2:01PM
  • godswarrior32803
    Fredrick, I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you. You are in my prayers.
    by godswarrior32803 at 10/12/10 5:45PM
  • deputyheadmistress
    My prayers and thoughts are with your family as well, as inadeqate as those thoughts are. Is there something we can do for you from here?
    by deputyheadmistress at 10/12/10 5:56PM
  • fullofgrace
    (((((HUG)))))
    by fullofgrace at 10/12/10 7:46PM
  • split_rock
    I'm sorry, Frederic.
    by split_rock at 10/13/10 3:04AM
  • littlebit
    Praying for you and your family!
    by littlebit at 10/13/10 12:01PM
  • matermagistra
    (((hugs))) I am so very, very sorry Frederic. I am so glad that you were able to be there with her when she passed, I know that is something you will always be thankful for and something you will always hold in your heart. Though we cannot be there in a physical sense to share in your sorrow and to weep with you, please know that we are grieving for and with you across the miles in our hearts. Much love to you and Heather and your children.
    by matermagistra at 10/13/10 9:27PM
  • rundrummerrun
    Just prayed for y'all! May our Father hold on to you during this time.
    by rundrummerrun at 10/14/10 10:53PM
  • dressednyella
    Frederic, my heart is so heavy right now. I am so sorry for the agony you must have been through in caring for your mother those last days. I just know you brought her immeasurable comfort. I will be praying for you, dear friend. Please know how much we love you.
    by dressednyella at 10/17/10 9:22PM
  • jhagan
    Frederic, I love you and grieve for you.
    by jhagan at 10/21/10 12:18PM
  • sallyanne
    Congratulations! I'm so excited for your news!
    by sallyanne at 01/20/11 11:53PM

Fathers of Faith & Daughters of Excellence Retreat 2010

at 07/17/10 11:34PM *
Everything is planned and we are ready for the retreat! Our website has been updated with this year's information so please check it out. Our website is www.FatherDaughterRetreat.com and it's located under my links section. All the informatin is under the "About the Event" link on the website. Please share this info with anyone that you think my benefit from the retreat or be interested in it. In the past, we have had father daugher couples come from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio and we would love to see you again and look forward to meeting new fathers and daughters that are looking to grow their relationship.

It will be on Friday, September 24th - Saturday, September 25th in Orlando. Along with myself, the speakers this year will be Bruce Dehut and Kent Heaton and we are really looking forward to the messages they are preparing.

We have scholarship money available to those that are interested but are unable to fully pay for the retreat themselves.

Also, please keep in mind that this retreat is for daughters of any age. We have several college age girls all the way down to elementary age girls planning on attending this year!

So please check it out and pass on the info! Thanks!!