Love God. Embrace Beauty. And Live Life to the Full. Kyle closed every service with these words. He lived them, and he taught me so much about living them.

I spent most of today helping take care of Kyle's three children and his six nieces and nephews, all under five. The kids are doing as well as they can be.

Visitation was tonight. It was really hard. Probably over a thousand people were there.

A few of us went to Cricket's afterwards. It's a favorite UBC bar and grill. It was good to be together. Josh and I walked out of the resturant and into the parking lot, and we saw Dee for the first time in a long time. She is a homeless who hangs out around the Whitehouse (Waco's version of Portland's GraceLand or Testosterhome.... if you haven't read Donald Miller you really should)and Josh and his roommates have befriended her. We bought her supper and gave her a ride. Josh explained what had happened. I expected her to not say much about it for some reason, but when we stopped the car, she took my hand and Josh's hand, and she prayed for us. I can't put it into words right now, but I think it might have been one of the most beautiful kingdom of God moments I've ever been a part of. This African American woman who barely has a roof over her head prayed for my pastor's family and our fairly affluent and prodominanately caucasian church. Like I said, I can't really explain it now, but it was something pretty huge.

The funeral is tomorrow at 1:30 (well now that would be today actually). Please continue to pray for our community. We will be meeting in Truett Seminary Chapel for the next several weeks. I don't know if I can answer all the e-mails I've gotten, but know that all of you are appreciated. Keep reading my blog for updates.

Tragedy

I don't know what to say right now, but please just read this and keep us all in your prayers. We are devastated.

This morning, Sunday October 30th, our pastor Kyle Lake was involved in an accident during a baptism and was transported by EMS to a nearby hospital. Kyle Lake passed away around 11:30am. Not only did we lose a pastor but we've lost our friend. Funeral services are pending and we will update the website as soon as we have more information.There will be a gathering tonight at 8pm at First Baptist Church Waco which is located on the Corner of 5th and Clay. This is a chance for reflection, an opportunity to be with friends and to pray. There will be counselors available if anyone needs to talk to anyone. Please continue to keep the Lake family in your prayers.

Sincerely,
Ben Dudley
Community Pastor
University Baptist Church
www.ubcwaco.org

Like it?

Yaaah! A new format and a new name. I think I like it. Ganked the name from an Andrew Peterson song, which ganked it from The Lord of the Rings. Ganked the quote from Terry York, hymn writer extraordinare and beloved professor at Truett Seminary. (Actually, I came up with the synonomous part.) Two special people and a very special book for Janalee. I think it might grow on me.

Next week is crazy because there is a project due for every class, but we are starting this 30-day prayer experiment at my church. It's called Surprise me God! Should be interesting. You can read more about it here www.surprisemegod.com We are supposed to blog about our experiences, so I am going to do my best to keep up.

And welcome to all of you folks from my beloved UBC. Sorry I've never been very public about my blog. I hope you enjoy it. I sure do enjoy knowing all of you. You are my church crush. Of all the communities of faith in the world, I love you the most. You are the cutest, funniest, and coolest church I know, and sometimes you even make me a little giddy. That's why I'm always so excited when I get to see you on Sunday mornings. It's why I still walk into the doors sometimes, feeling like a little jr. high girl. Way to silly and way too akward and too weird for my amazing crush. Come to think of it, while you are still my crush, over the past couple of years, I think I've pretty much fallen in love. Yes, you frustrate me sometimes, but when I am away from you for too long, my heart seriously aches. Sometimes I cut vacations and holidays short just so I can get back to you. I get really upset at the thought that I might have to leave you in the coming months. Graduation feels more like the enemy than the friend right now, because it might be the thing that parts me from you. Well, now you know how sappy I can be, but I know you'll still love me, and that fact makes me smile.

Are you blushing yet?

So in your opinion....

I had to republish my blog to make those silly spam messages go away. I think it kind of looks goofy now. I'm ready for a change. I need your suggestions. Also, I'm thinking seriously about a change in title, maybe something less country, but I really like how the idea started. Take a gander at my first few posts in May of 2004 for a detailed history of "Confessions of an Unlikely Cracker Barrel Junkie". I've always known there is a bit of paradox in that statement b/c for most I would not seem like an unlikely choice for a cracker barrel fanatic because of my crazy accent.

Lots of pics and things to share with you about my weekend, but that'll just have to wait. My bed is calling my name!!!

But seriously, readership, let me know what you'd like to see on my blog, both visually, thematically, and topically.

You are Woodstock!

Which Peanuts Character are You?
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Tagged

Don't you remember playing these games over e-mail in college. They were fun, and now they have entered the blog world.

5 Things I plan to do before I die:

1. Drive across country
2. Graduate seminary
3. Live outside the Bible belt
4. Meet a president
5. fall in love

5 things I can do:

1. cook
2. throw awesome parties
3. speak in front of an audience
4. the splits
5. write (Terry York says so, not me, but if he says it it has to be true.)

5 things I can't do:

1. sing
2. loose my accent
3. loose weight
4. lie
5. math

5 things that attract me to the opposite sex:

1. what he's like around people
2. compassion
3. brains
4. some one who makes me laugh and cry
5. love for children

5 things I say most often:

1. Hey ______ (insert honey, baby, sweetie, or darlin. pick your personal favorite.)
2. The new David Crowder CD is stinkin' awesome.
3. I don't wanna do my homework
4. I haven't seen you in forever
5. What are you doing for lunch?

5 celebrity crushes:

1. Donald Miller
2. Rob Lowe (really Sam Seaborn)
3. Noah Wylie
4. Bradley Whitford (really Josh Lyman)
5. Tucker Carlson (I like nerds, and as you can see, I am bipartisan when it comes to romance.)

5 people I want to do this: (do five people even read my blog?)

1. John Young
2. Phillip Crum
3. Katie McKown (you can do it on facebook)
4. Vernon Bowen
5. Josh Brewer (you should actually write something on your blog. that would be fun.)

If you happen to be reading....

So if you read this anytime over the course of the next few days, please pray for me as I am speaking at a disciple now. (really, it's a worship now, but the two are really the same thing) Anyways, I was trying to count how many d-nows I've done since I've been in seminary and college. I've lost track, but I know that it is well over 20. However, I've never been asked to preach for an event like this. I'm both excited and nervous. I really hope God uses me to communicate something important to these students, and that I don't act stupid or try too hard to impress all of my seminary friends that will be there. I know the message I have is bigger than I could ever be. I just pray that my insecurity and desire to look good won't stand in the way of what God wants to do.

Love and peace to you my friends.