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| ...just wanted to say I love you all.
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| I am engaged!!!!!!!
BW family - you are reading a post from one happy man! Stop using exclamation points. Nope! Can't do it!
Sunday evening I asked Aimee Elisabeth Clark to be my wife... and she said YES!
Well, I eventually asked that. First, we just stood there and cried our eyes out for about three minutes - then I walked her in and kneeled down and inquired of her inclination to the thought of yours truly as a husband.
It's kind of a long story - but the basics are that I tricked her into coming to my house, locked her out (w/ a good excuse) for a minute or two, ran around the house, lit candles, burnt my hand a thousand times and straightened a bunch of flowers. Then, I went and got her from her attention-gathering activities outside and walked in with her... that's where we proceeded to embrace and weep with joy for a few minutes before taking to the floor - well, me taking to the floor.
It was amazing! I have never felt such emotion. Such love. Such peace.
It was funny, later that night - on the way home... I just kept singing to myself "God is so good. God is so good. God is so good. He's so good to me." For forty-two minutes straight - couldn't stop.
Another thought that popped into my head as I drove from Escambia county to Okaloosa county was how much I wished I could share the joy with my BW family. You are all so amazing and were/are so supportive of me and my development.
I know this might be a bit obnoxious... but we've also already set the date and place. The wedding will be on 28 Jul 07 at Charity Chapel church in Pensacola, FL (reception down the road at St Anne's Catholic Church). I know the chances of any of you being able to come are about 3.87%... but I want you to know that you are still in my heart and with me in my thoughts and my nature. I love you all. Thanks for being there for me as I started and continued to date Aimee long-distance for over a year. You are all a blessing!
This has been an awesome week or two - with the Souryal's baby and my best friend learning what gender/sex his baby is... I'm full of joy!
Peace
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| So, I'm strolling through Terminal A in the St Louis airport on Friday and I hear a CNN anchor speaking from one of the televisions along the wall. The man says "... prominent church leader... drugs... sex... Haggard." I begin to say to myself, surely that's not Ted. They repeat - Ted Haggard.
In my mind, Ted is just a pastor in Colorado, one of my dad's buddies... not headline news material. It's so surreal to see someone, especially someone like the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, held accountable by the public.
I was somewhat surprised at my disappointment... I wasn't so much disappointed in his conduct, but by his responses. When he said something like "I just bought the methamphetamine, I didn't actually use it..." - I was saddened. I'd almost rather him say that he bought AND used them... that would be more believable and a little less smacking of self-protectionism. I think when you get to that low of a point, what's the point of the measured tactics aligned for self-preservation - you're cooked - too late - why look disingenuous to boot?
Anyway, it was somewhat difficult to watch my father go from slight shock, to a bit of denial, to blaming of the media and politics, to humble recognition. I can't imagine watching a man you have arranged to be a guest speaker at your events, a man that you respect - just - fall - in front of your eyes.
I've seen a lot of moral failures in spiritual leadership recently - we've had some extremely dedicated missionaries (three separate couples) recently cheat/separate/divorce - what's the deal? It's not very encouraging - but it does remind you that people are fallible and that no one is above the essential need for grace and forgiveness. God is a merciful God. God is a loving God. God is a righteous God.
I was pleased to see that Ted actually sort of thanked his accuser for forcing his hand and making him deal with his problems. He took complete responsibility for his failure in his letter, while his wife's letter was even a bit more compelling as she stood almost defiant to the attack... It makes you think/wish that they planted this episode to facilitate the teaching of biblical accountability and restoration.
In those type of media exposes - I generally think that it's just an event and things move on relatively as normal after a while. In this case though, I couldn't help but imagine what that initial moment must have been like - "Oh crap, the world has just found out that I'm a druggie and a perv... oh crap, oh crap - oh Jesus." or "My husband did what? What did you say? What? What?" I can't imagine the instant of pain, anguish, and embarrassment that must have flooded them. Anyway, just random thoughts... Ted and Gayle's letters to their church are linked below if you're interested.
http://www.newlifechurch.org/TedHaggardStatement.pdf
http://www.newlifechurch.org/GayleHaggardLetter.pdf | | |
| I just got back from a week in St Louis. I had never been to Missouri before, it was actually very beautiful. Flying in, the trees were awesome shades of green, orange and red - gorgeous!
I was there for a Worldwide Air Force Contracting Conference / meeting with some of my contractors. I know - you are already picturing the sheer excitement of such an event. It actually wasn't too bad though and I learned a few things. I need to try and angle for some sort of work trip to DC - that would be wonderful.
Love you guys (patriarchal term intended to encompass peoples of all genders)
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| Oh... good times at the Krispy Kreme. No better way to spend your last night in DC/NOVA.
Thanks for sending the pic Jen.
You all look like you had a blast at the retreat... wish I could have been there!
Love you all.
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