So Nick has started Seminary at Liberty University this week through their distance learning program. I (Brandie) am verrrry excited about this because he has been wanting to do this for a while and now he is on his way to getting his Masters, which is also kinda scary :).  He has a ton of work to do which also makes me laugh in an evil laugh kind of way because I am not the only student in the house now. Anyway, enough of evil laughing I know he will do a good job.

Travel Season Stinks (but has some good parts)

I'm wrapping up a 2 week stint in my travel for work in Charlotte, NC. Right now I'm staying at a Doubletree Inn by the airport which I've stayed at before. The computer work area that I'm in is loud and irritating, but alas I write.

If you're wondering why there are different cars throughout the entry, these are the ones I have driven this season so far.

I've been in Charlotte, Greensboro, High Point, Pembroke, Raleigh, Kill Devil Hills - North Carolina; Washington D.C.; Loudon County, and a bunch of other undesirable places in Virginia; I don't think I visited Maryland yet, but I think I'll be there in about 2 weeks or so, as well as Florence, SC.

Being away from Brandie for this long is no good. Seeing George and Alexis was fantastic and that night that George and I stayed up looking up different funny things we came across on YouTube.com was great as well. I really enjoyed spending time getting to know Alexis better, though I don't know how she felt having to host a mini-boys weekend, but I tried to be a gracious guest as they were amazing hosts.

Probably crazy late tomorrow I may attempt to drive back to Charleston, SC, but we'll have to see as I do my work.

I've read 3 books in the last week and a half and the best one I read was called The Gutter. It's about loving people that my seem "unapproachable" to you and I, but understanding that we have all been "unapproachable" at some point or the other (because of depravity), and we all need to know that we have someone who can save us from Hell (really)...Jesus. Anyways, it was good that I had time to read because I start class this week at Liberty Seminary and I have 16 books for 2 courses (having to read all of them) in 8 weeks. Fun fun. G'night.

Busy Days

Well, everything has been going on very quickly around here in the wonderful world of Brandie and Nicholas.

Brandie's sister (Casey) is here now and playing soccer for CSU! She is playing mid-field and got to play this past Saturday against Clemson, so it was great to get to see her playing in the first "unofficial" game of the season...most freshman don't get playing time, so that was nice.

Brandie is getting ready for hopefully her last semester of college. She should finish in Decemeber with a degree in Psychology which is cool, but ultimately means that she will probably began analyzing me anytime now.

It's looking like I'll start at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN this fall towards my Masters in Leadership, so that should be cool (if finiacially possible...schools exspensive huh?).

Work is crazy busy, but it looks like this recruiting year is winding down and today (supposedly the busiest day at work) is not that bad actually...maybe we prepared people better this year...there were a ton of online updates for parents and students...who knows.

The Olympics have been...well, they've overtaken my TV at my house...mainly because Brandie likes'em, but watching them I can't help but cheer for the US.

I heard the annoucers explaining what the US felt when Phelps won his last gold to set the new record, and it seemed as though they were playing it into the idea that the Olympics create community and unity...and they do.

The one thing they didn't discuss was "why". Why do humans have this desire for community, and to cheer on people? I mean if all of this "truth is subjective, there is no absolute" stuff is real, then WHY cheer on anyone besides myself? Why be happy for someone? It makes no sense. I could go further, much further in this to the point where it comes down to the fact that THAT particular school of thought doesn't even work and completely breaks down, that really what the "no truth" people are saying (which would have to be a truth to be true, therefore defeating themselves in their own explanation), is basically they don't WANT to believe in God because that means they are responsible for their sin...ultimately they don't want to own up to it...because that means they NEED something and they are not self-sufficient.

Anyways, sorry about the apologetist rant.

Back to work, CRAZYness. If you want to check out our church here that I work with at CSU, you can go to http://www.summitcharleston.com/.

Nicholas

Creation 2008

So I just got back from Pennsylvania (Mt. Union to be exact...which means basically Amish Country).  I went to Creation (the Nation's Largest Christian Music Festival), and basically everyone was there (DCB, Tomlin, Fee, Flyleaf, etc.)...as well as 75,000 other people...I spent a week there and it was a lot of fun...though tough work as well.  Pollett, and Abercrombie came with me, so that made it easier, though it was raining almost the whole time.  Lots of fun, and very productive for CSU as well.

Brandie had an amazing 25th birthday party that her WONDERFUL HUSBAND planned for her.  It was an IRON CHEF themed party, and Brandie's team won by a time default, though all the food was delicious and all of it was eaten.  I would like to thank all of our friends and family that showed up to the P A R T Y, and those that helped; we really appreciate it. 

Brandie has begun her second month of courses at CSU, and hopefully should graduate in the Fall.  She has 3 more classes to knock out after this month and they should be difficult, but I believe she will do well.

Nick <><

June a month of Hotness

So it's been like 100 degrees since the end of May here in Charleston.  I think that the idea of global warming originated here, since I have a constant sweat.

Anyways, Brandie is busy taking 2 summer courses, and I am working towards the Christian Marketing job at CSU as well as working with Summit Church as their Executive Pastor (which means I help out here and there).

Going to be visiting Edisto Beach with Dad and everyone in July, and other than that I don't really have anything else much planned.  Brandie and I are coming up on our 3 year wedding anniversary and that's exciting, though we don't have HUGE plans or anything...I guess you really do BIG STUFF on the 5 year, 10 year, etc.; though we are doing something fun for both of us.  Also, her birthday is fast approaching as well, so I've been listening but I'm not hearing a ton of gift ideas, so i'll have to think...which I believe will be unfortunate for her.  : )

Just wanted to update.

Nick

Well what???

Well what's been happening??? Just working really. I've been traveling alot (as you who have me on facebook probably know by now)...I've been in Oralndo, FL and Baltimore, MD.

In Orlando I was at Student Leadership University where I got to work, but also was able to learn a great deal about Leadership but also Apologetics from a professor at Southeastern Seminary, so that was great. I was able to do some surfing on my way home at Flagler Beach and it was the first time this year in the Atlantic without the wetsuit on, so that was a refreshing experience, but not that bad ultimately.

In Baltimore I spent sometime in Montgomery County, but spent most of my time at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore eating at the ESPN Zone restaurant and taking in a Baltimore Orioles game against the Toronto Blue Jays (O's won).

Summit church has been growing a good bit, and it's been great leading worship with the students; they're amazing. Our Youth Group is getting up there as well, so that's exciting to see young students coming to God.

Back to work....

~ Nick ~

Ignite the Flame and Wind

So this past weekend was interesting, and now I'm really tired; of course, being up right now at 7:45am at work isn't helping either. So...

This past weekend on Saturday my Dad came down and we went out to Morris Island (Lighthouse) and did some fishing with Jeremy and Seth: we caught two fish (maybe 8" long)...so, ultimately not that successful, but fun. The wind was awful and it made it feel like it was freezing; which it was cold, however, it wasn't as cold as it felt.

Sunday morning was a good time of worship. We did some newer Chris Tomlin and Hillsong United music, so that was good times. Then on Sunday afternoon/night the Worship Band and I spent that time at the Ignite the Flame "A Night of Worship and Prayer". We played for 2 hours straight, with some breaks in between, but it was a lot of fun. There were around 900 youth there and they were crazy loud! But hearing them sing so passionately makes my arena as a Worship Leader very very easy, and it was more like a night of encouragement for me and the band; ultimately it was a great time. Afterwards, we went to Olive Garden and Summit paid for everyone's dinner, which was also good and I was very tired.

This week at work so far I've been ordering DVDs for students that we want duplicated, creating letters to go out to them, and postcards to go out to others, coming up with a name for the new position (which BTW should be created between June-August), accepted and denied students for admission, met with parents and students about (admission, financial aid, housing, registration, etc), and waved to the Senior Adults with the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

Jon wants the Worship Band to play in a couple of weeks at this revival in Florence...well, near Florence, so we may do that. It would be in between my visit to CIU (Columbia International University), and my trip to SLU (Student Leadership University) in Orlando, FL; but after my trip back from Gaithersburg, MD...so we'll see about me...I know I'll be CRAZY busy at that time...which is weird considering it's not the Fall and I'm traveling so much.

"Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts" 2 Timothy 2:22.