I Am Still Here, Pt. 2

I couldn’t think of any better title for my random thoughts…Sorry.

 1) Dissertation Update: For all who care, which I assume is a small percentage, I am in the middle of the 4th chapter where I am analyzing 260 of G. Campbell Morgan’s sermons. I should be finished with the analysis and organization of my findings by next week. Then I will begin writing the 4th ch. which will be about 50-60 pages. I will have it finished by mid November.  While I am waiting for the approval of that chapter, I will write my two concluding chapters of about 50- 60 pages. My goal is to have the whole dissertation written by December 15th. Then it will go to other professors (Dr. Greg Heisler and Danny Akin of SEBTS ,and Dr. David Allen of SWBTS) for their approval until sometime in Feb. (it will take them that long to read it because of the Christmas break). I will hopefully defend my dissertation in late Feb./early March. I cannot believe the whole Ph.D. thing is wrapping up. It has definitely been hard. There have been times during my writing that I have asked myself, “How is this going to win anyone to Jesus?” I know, I know, it is all about further preparation. However, I have pressed through and have no regrets. Only a couple more weeks of writing.

2) Last week I kept one of our nursery classes of about 13 children during the Sunday morning service. Yes, you read that correctly. I thought it was very important to demonstrate that children matter to me and to God. It was awesome. The reaction from the church family was extremely positive. And, no, I didn’t keep the nursery because I didn’t have a sermon prepared! We planned this out in advance, of course. I love children and believe that the “childlike faith” Jesus speaks of should be brought to our attention more.

3) I preached at “revival” services at a church nearby several weeks ago. I enjoyed my time there. Calvary’s choir came for two of the nights and did an outstanding job. I am glad we still had some of their CDs to give away! During one of my sermons, I think I scared them when I said, “I do not know if God cares whether or not we have revival meetings or not. Aren’t we, in some sense, scheduling a movement of God, on our timetable when we say, ‘God, we are having revival on this particular week, but don’t mess with us the rest of the year.’” It was a great night with much response.

 4) Calvary is in the midst of setting up a new website. It should be up in the next several weeks….

 5) Recently, SEBTS hosted a preaching conference with Dr. Robert Smith as the plenary speaker. I am continually amazed at Dr. Smith’s ability to wed great exposition with such an engaging style. He needs to be at Southeastern. If I could preach like a black man I wouldn’t be so white…

6) I am 125.55% convinced that the New England Patriots cheated when they crushed my Redskins last Sunday. No doubt about it.

7) I am involved in two fantasy football leagues. I am 4-4 (4 game losing streak) in one and 3-5 (two game winning streak) in the other.

I Am Still Here

My apologies to all my faithful readers who have been more faithful checking out this site than I have been posting to it. Here as some updates of what is going on in the Brammer household:

1) My dissertation writing has taken precedent over this site. I am cruising towards completion of this beast. For some reason I have an incredible amount of energy in writing this thing. I recently had Dr. Akin approve my 3rd chapter, so I have about 100-150 pages to go (total of 200-250 pages). My goal is to finish writing the dissertation by Dec. 27th before I head off to my first trip to Israel. So as of the end of December, all I have to do is make any needed corrections and defend the dissertation. I will graduate in May.

2) I am going with my father-in-law on one of his Israel tours. While we are busing to all the Holy land sites, Dr. Page will be on one bus and I on the other. We will be providing devotionals on the way to each site. He’s crazy. I have never been and he expects me to tell 100 people what we are about to see! It’s going to be so awesome. My wife was going to go but she did not want to miss out on the growth spurt of our now almost 11th month old son, Zachary. She has already been twice. Then I may head off in 2008 to the Czech Republic, Hawaii, and/or Africa again.

3) Our (actually it’s God’s) church is rockin! We have increased numbers just about every Sunday and God is moving throughout the church body. Right now, I am preaching a sermon series that has me going through each book of the Bible and showing how they each point to Jesus Christ.

4) I cannot believe I ordered NFL Gameday Ticket. I have gotten fed up with being only 5 hours from DC and having to watch the Carolina Panthers every Sunday. Not any more! Hail to those Redskins! Except last Sunday.  Ouch.

5) I have been playing tennis alot. If you want to challenge me, bring your A game and prepare for some Federev like destruction. I wish there was an actual tennis league in Rocky Mount. I guess this is one of the negatives of a smaller city.

6) I am a bachelor this week. My wife and son went to Greenville, SC. Laura was homecoming queen at her high school so she was invited back to her school’s 50th anniversary celebration. I enjoyed the quietness the first two days but then I started going crazy and mold began appearing in the kitchen sink, nothing was in the refrigerator, and my bed was loney without my sweet wife. In other words, I have diagnosed myself as psychotic as of now. They are coming home soon and it will be sweet. I even caught myself watching Elmo in the early morning just to remember my son. Come home buddy!

7) I have been asked to serve on a pretty cool committee for the North Carolina Baptists next year. I will definitely be the youngest, so I plan to keep my mouth shut, and when asked something, to give one word answers

8) One of my dearest friends, Josh Via, has just released a CD, Return Worship, with a church from Charlotte, NC. You can check it out at www.returnworship.com  Josh and I have known each other since day 1 (literally, I am one year older and I saw him when he was a day old) and have been close friends ever since. His song, “King on the Way” is one the those songs that makes you drop everything to raise your hands to the Coming King Jesus. Keep rolling Josh…

9) Oh yeah, preaching still matters. I will write hopefully every week with my thoughts on preaching and other life updates. One more thought…

I believe we all attempt, in some way or another, to plan our life. A young professional may plant to work an entry-level position and then move up the ladder, and so on. We may get up in the morning and make arrangements to do a certain number of tasks in a particular order.  Recently, I have been guilty of this. I have realized (and will continue to learn) that at times God crashes our arrangements. He says this is what I have planned for you today or for you now. Follow me.

I am learning not to question God when He “crashes our arrangements” with something unexpected. If my kingdom is unraveled or upset, and it is because God’s kingdom is advancing, then I must step in line. I am discovering when you step in line with our Lord, His arrangements can be exciting, joyful, and peaceful. Col. 3:15 has meant a lot to me recently: “Let the peace of God reign in your heart… and be thankful.”