The Redemption Blog

The Plan...

I'm a guy who needs a plan. I'm a guy who needs a plan to accomplish my plan.

If I don't write it down, it won't get done. If I don't plan it out, I get overwhelmed by the sheer fact that I don't have a plan.

Don't get me wrong, I love change and spontaneity, but if I have something in front of me that I'm responsible to accomplish, I go crazy and think about it constantly if I don't map out a plan of how to complete it. 

This will serve as my blog plan.

I've been apprehensive about starting to blog again because my previous blog consumed far too much time.  I was reading over 100 blogs a day, trying to comment on other blogs so their authors would read my blog, and constantly trying to think of something, anything to post on my blog...

THIS IS NOT THAT BLOG! 

Right now I read almost no blogs (They're like Pringles for me and once I pop I can't stop).

I don't care about trying to stroke my own ego by getting other bloggers to read my blog (Anymore).

I certainly don't want to spend hours searching utube for videos to post because I don't have anything to say. 

My hope is that my writing will be focused and helpful, both for myself as I process my own thoughts and pursuit of Jesus, and for anyone who manages to find this blog.  If you do read, I'm going to try and follow this basic planning for posting in an effort to provide 1. a plan and 2. some balance to what I'm writing about.  Here it is...

Monday - Message Recap (I'll post my preaching notes from Sunday, link to any additional resources and overview the previous Sunday)

Tuesday - Evidences of Grace (This is for my own personal growth.  I'm bent to see all that's wrong in life and forget to identify the amazing evidences of God's grace all around me)

Wednesday - Whatever Wednesday (Wednesday tends to be my day of and it's affectionately referred to as "Family Day" in the Huguley house.  We try to have no chores and no errands so we can spend the day enjoying each other, so Wednesday will probably be me figuring out what God is teaching me through being a husband and daddy)

Thursday - Stirring the Affections (Matt Chandler just had a great post (OK I read a few blogs) on what inspires Him and stirs his affection for God and this will be my attempt to process how God does this in me.  It will probably consist of other sermons, music, etc that draws me closer to God)

Friday - Free For All Friday (Whatever is going on in my head, family, life, ministry, whatever...maybe even a utube video or two:-)

If you're still reading after all that, thanks!  If you have any suggestions on how I can better use this blog (other than shorter posts) let me know!  Have a great weekend!!

A Fresh Start...

Greetings, Friends! 

It's been a long time since I've visited the blogosphere, but a new season of life and ministry should include a new blog as well, so here we go!

A word on the name...About Midnight
In Acts 16 Paul, Timothy and Silas had been sent by God to the Roman colony of Philippi and received the typical warm welcome most Christians received in that day which included a beat down and a prison stay.  There they sat beaten, battered and broken and what do they do?   "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God..." (Acts  16:25)

About midnight, in the darkest hour of life their response was to worship by the grace of God.

I don't know about you, but my response in seasons of pain and suffering is unfortunately not always to recognize the evidences of grace around me and worship our great Grace Giver.  I tend to whine and complain, wondering why God would allow this great trial (which is usually something stupid and not even really a trial, but more of an inconvenience) to come upon me instead of trusting that all I experience comes from the loving hand of a sovereign God.   The journey we're all on is learning to trust our God in our pursuit of Him through all seasons of  life...

In the good and bad.

In the blessing and curse.

In the ups and downs.

My main goal for this blog is to have another touch point for my church family at The Crossing to connect to what Jesus is doing in the life His church.  It's not always pretty and won't always be fun, but it is good because God is in control of all things.  My hope is to tie in additional resources to our weekend experiences, so that we can continue to journey together when the sermon and songs end...

Thanks for reading and feel free to say, "Hello"!