the christmas season

Christmas was an awesome time of celebration for Mer and I… a time definitely on the road – as is every holiday – driving from B’ham to Montgomery to Fort Payne to Montgomery to B’ham within four days… but always worth the distance, when we get to spend the time in such great company – including the always eventful Christmas throw-down at Lele’s (this could have been one of the best out of the many years – thank you Lele for all of them.) and the marvelous reunion with old friends – from Cali to ATL and Nashville to the Plains - loved every minute… and not to forget it all kicked off with an outstanding Abbeville wedding!! Here, Here to the New Kuhlers family!


I have to say that we were blessed tremendously with incredible gifts from loved ones, and had the total joy of giving some great ones too. I got hooked up with great gifts from my many Santa’s helpers :: gifts that were mainly as Biscuet put it “old person stuff” (even though I did get Mrs. Pac-Man!!) but I was moved in realizing the amazing grace in and through those who love me… my brother Ty said we should do this like every three months – Amen to that!!

And as always… with all four boys at the house in Fort Payne… Mario Cart definitely comes out of the closet… and the winner is…

finals...

so my "finals" are alittle bit different..

but the celebration of being done with them is about the same.

sing it... then repeat it.

so friday night i got to have a great time and enjoy an incredible concert like days of the old... many of you can remember the fervor of my past.. seeing vertical 19 times live.. traveling anywhere for a good show... and definitely making sure that somehow (sometimes not so much on the up and up) i would have a great seat. well its been a while since i've really loved a musical concert >> that wasn't a worship event. for some reason that fervor just hasn't been brewing up much. but i gotta say that friday night mer and I went out with some good friends (Robert, Betty, Josh Brooks, Erin, Susan D., and a few others) to a smooth venue (WorkPlay) to see an awesome performance (Mike Warren and Howie Day).

the night started with a good meal at the Jazz Cafe, with friends Josh Brooks and his girlfriend, Erin, and Robert, Mer's brother, and his girlfriend, Betty. We thought we were hitting up St. Anthony's - an italian restaurant that Josh recommended - but came to find the place was bought and changed to the Jazz Cafe, which still had all the favorites from the St. A's menu, with a few new extras. It was a great atmosphere, and good company... even though JBrooks and Erin had to cut out alittle early in order to save some seats at WorkPlay, which we were all so glad they did.


then we rolled over to WorkPlay after the great Beth (SD) joined up with us to get her tickets. to find jbrooks early leaving to be such a value as a booth in middle was held for us... perfect location, and even better when the booth right next to us opened up for friends to join in.

its was great show, with Michael Warren opening up and even getting in alittle "church" - pumping out a song of praise with great harmony - was really glad he took it to that level.. which had me thinking all about how awesome that venue would be for a true church service - couldn't help it... thats just who i am.

then with howie hitting the stage the jams of the place continued. it was awesome to see him live once again - i think the last time i saw him was back in '99 opening at an Aware show - T.Lyles representing! but to see his powerful transition into the world of looping was awesome. for him to pull a rhythm, record it, loop it back, then move on to the next beat on top of that, then the next... too smooth. its a must see. but it was a fun show.. not the cleanest.. but humorous.

but it was good for me to enjoy the show... and my heart was honestly moved in worship through the music.. which is something i never used to get out of it. plus a vision for why can't church look like that.. a "cool" place where His presence is felt. i'm just loving where the Lord has me right now.

this ones for the REV.

so this one goes to the matteo, whose ordination last night only legitimized on paper what has been brewing up and overflowing from within him for years now... and has been constantly affirmed by so many... i definitely throw all of my two-cents (nickel worths for ktb, aka "ki.ki") into that bucket.

mr. (now the reverend) matthew david dean is one whom i value greatly to call my dear friend. one in whom i honestly don't know if i would be doing what i am if had not been for him. one whose life has been a joyous celebration of the Lord's forever faithfulness... even through all of the toughest of times in his life. the Lord's hand has always been upon him. it was through his painful journey that the Lord used to reveal truth into my blessed situation and guided me to the best of things. it was in my phone call to him one january night from the C-zone parking lot in Auburn, while he was in birmingham (cool place switch there), that i was led to tell Meredith my true feelings way back when. [[a call that i am forever grateful happened... i won't want to be in this thing without the woman thats now my bride]]

and speaking of brides... let me just state was is so well known by anyone around them (and stated by himself last night)... Matt would not be the man he is now, if he had not married the amazing April. the joy that it is to see them together - in life and in ministry. i remember praying in our original small group over April (after her date with a depute sheriff - ask her about that one) for the dynamic man who could lead her like she deserves to be led... then the Lord answered in Matt. the combination of hearts within those two could not be meshed any better. it has been exciting to see how God has blessed so many - myself included - and how their beautiful family will bless so many for the generations to come.

but it was a true honor to be there as a tiny part of the formal proclaiming of the calling on Matt's life in ministry. i would not have missed it for anything.. just to see matt in that sharp new blazer was worth my drive. but what a blessing it was to join in that beloved community in celebration of who God is and what He is doing. I thank Him for it, and for my brother the Rev. Matthew Dean.

(( insert picture from 10th grade with curly haired Matt, Stanley Raye Lawson, and myself sporting our new 'foakleys' - those are fake oakleys - at the washington monument for DC/LA 97... representing the 4 mosegrooves and a wigwam... oh yes, oh yes.))

John 4:13-14

Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

>> have you been thirsty??

the game...

all i gotta say >>
WAR.EAGLE

happy birthday to mi madre

she is a stunning 31 years old, with only a few years of experience.

I hope that it is a marvelous one >> cause she deserves it.

i hate that mer and i will not be able to celebrate it with her today..

but oh the fun it will be celebrating in Auburn!

2 smith birthdays!!

so this weekend Mer and I got to throw down a big time celebration >> Luke’s 3rd Birthday Party!! Luke [[my youngest bro]] was decked out in his Wiggle’s gear, with every type of play ball around him. And you think that my family is allllllll about boys… well every kid that came to this thing was a boy… for real like 12 of them out running around… sorry, but just no room for the girls – except for the awesome ladies who prepared it all.

..Mr. Luke Motlow Smith..

but the day wasn’t just all about Luke,,, because in the craziness of the Smith family… my Dad and Luke have the same birthday >> November 14th. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY >> LUKE :: the big 3… and TED :: looking good for the double nickel!!

happy birthday to this stud with four of his sons...

JESUS >> i need HIM.

so how great is our God?? do you know? cause i thought i did... and then He showed me more and more that i ain't got a clue!!! let me tell you about it...

so late last night i was studying hebrew - it ain't that impressive... things weren't clicking like i needed them. so i was like, "Lord, i need You." and the response to my heart was so strong, i was blown away once again. cause His reply to my heart was, "Jared, you need me a whole lot more than just in Hebrew." the realization of the truth in that took me to my knees... in humility and brokeness.

you see, i don't know about you, but i go through my day thinking things are going pretty well. i can't count the number of times that i have the "how are you,, good,,, and yourself,, good" talk... and it has really gotten in my head that I am doing good. that things are going well because of what i got to offer. that it comes down to me >> but oh how the Lord has changed that one.

me - in my strength - ain't got nothing to offer, but here lately i've got myself relying on what i can produce - in class, in relationships, in sports, in business, etc. i get talking with friends - old and new - cutting up and laughing, talking about how good God is... and what He has done... but for me, it has been only from the reflections of what Christ has done in my past,,, not so much doing in me now. and thats where it hit me last night... i need Him >> Now more than ever... cause HE is all that i got going that is good!! how about you?

brokeness by Christ is such a gift... cause from it we can realize more and more that in our weaknesses, HE is truly is made stronger!! - Amen for that.

:: lets kick it :.

so check it.. i figured that i needed to quit being a busta >> just reading up on everybody else's lives,, without giving up anything on my own. i've really been loving all the posts from so many,, all the laughs in fun and the inspirations in depth.. and i hope to give some of both.