Big week in Student Minisrty

Student Leadership interviews are underway. I am so excited to be part of such a great group of teenagers. I have began the interview process for our team, and that should only take a couple of weeks. This coming year is going to be amazing as we begin to reach out to the community around us like never before. Our students are loaded with potential and I am anxiously awaiting to see how God will work through our Students. I am so thankful for all of them. I have the greatest job in the world. This coming Sunday, a group of us are headed to Franklinton, LA for a mission trip. Please pray for us as we travel and minister to the people who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Sunday Rewind

Yesterday, the Student ministry here at Brookwood was responsible for the main services. It was a pretty incredible day as our Middle School Band lead worship. I was blown away with the humble spirit that our students displayed while leading our church. Mike did a great job helping parents understand the importance of teaching their students make good choices. There was an incredible response from our people. I know that God is working in our Student Ministry and the Church can't help but take notice.

Wednesday Night Recap

• Tonight was awesome
• Today was crazy
• I cant wait until August 22
• Our students are amazing
• This guy and this girl rock my face off!
• I love Hillsong music
• I love teenagers
• I love that we are going to build a student ministry building
• I love that are new name is Varsity
• Jesus is awesome and he is teaching me so much
• I love my job
• I love Brookwood Church
• I love this guy
• Did I say I can't wait until August 22
• I miss Dawson
• I miss Renae
  
• I am praying he doesn't have to have his trach replaced
• Jesus is cool
  
• I love Halo 2

That last one was pretty random, but I invited a bunch of my boys over tonight and we slaughtered each other for a couple of hours.

Wednesday Night

Tonight we are making some big announcements to the High School Students. I can't wait, I am about to burst. You do not want to miss tonight! By the way keep praying for Dawson, he is back in the hospital in Charleston. He did not do very well with the trach removal. The Doctors are trying to get to the bottom of it now. See you guys tonight.

Long Weekend

After a long weekend of sitting in a hospital we are finally home. Dawson is not really adjusting that well to not having a trach. He is not sleeping well at night because he is struggling to breath while he is asleep. Pray for our family over the next few days as Renae takes Dawson back to Charleston for more test. I will not be able to be there for a few days because of work responsibilities. Pray that the Doctors will know what is going on on can help him. God is helping us and we are learning to trust him more.

Awesome Dawson!

The week my 19 month old son Dawson was born, the NICU Nurse nicknamed him Awesome Dawson. Little did she know how true that statement would become. Today, Dawson is having his trach removed. It is unbelievable that he has progressed this far. Every medical professional we meet is amazed at not only his progress, but also the fact he is alive. I am so thankful for the past 19 months and how awesome my little dude really is. We are living in the light of Ephesians 3:20.

Carowinds

Went to Carowinds. Had a great time. Lost my phone. I want to punch something!

Work is Crazy!

After being out of the office for three weeks I am making a dent in all the work that needs to be done. I have a crazy week planned with a trip to Carowinds right in the middle and Dawson is having his trach removed on Friday. Pray for my little dude when you think about him.

Food....

After three weeks of eating like crap I am finally back on my eating plan. I have gained 7 lbs and they have got to go, along with a whole lot more. I will be in New Orleans in August and I do not want to die from the fatness. It will be so hot there!

Bigstuf 07

Last week took a group of our HS Students to Panama City Beach, Florida. The Camp was unbelievable and the students responded to God's word like I have NEVER seen before. Again, I have NEVER seen students respond to truth in the way that these students did last week. It was unbelievable. The Student Ministry at Brookwood Church is on the verge of something great! I can't wait to be a part of it. If you were a part of this group last week, send me an email at josh.bradley@brookwoodchurch.org and tell me how God worked in your life.

I am back!

No internet access for ten days, I am about to die. I am so glad I am back and I can recoup for a few days. More to come in the next few days about our trips...

Vulture vs Alligator?

Today, we went down to this place. It was pretty cool over all, but the most exciting thing that happened all day was when the lady feeding the alligators threw a piece of chicken onto the back of an alligator and he could not reach it. That by itself was pretty funny. But it got more interesting when a nearby vulture wanted a piece of the action. Hew quickly flew down and assessed the situation and paced at a safe distance around the alligator. He wanted that chicken almost more than anyone else, but was he willing to do what it took to get it? I was hoping with everything inside me that the vulture would have gotten too close to the gator and the top of the food chain would display his dominance by spreading feathers all over the pond (that would have been worth the 11 dollars I paid to get in), but he did not. Another alligator came by and snatched the chicken off the back of the helpless alligator. I was all a little anticlimactic.
I am sure that I could take some spiritual twist on the story, but why? I honestly wasn't thinking anything spiritual. I just wanted that alligator to eat the vulture. There is no real need to be overly spiritual in every arena, in fact it is kind of annoying. Sometimes we need to hope the alligator eats the bird and that is enough. The best blogs that I read are not so spiritual they make you sick. I enjoy getting to know leaders and pastors for who they are, not "what they know."

Deep Thoughts, Deep Ocean

Every year my entire family goes to the beach. (Renae, Dawson, Patti, Tim, Haley Kelsey, Libby, Joey, Rachel, Luke, Frank, Melly, and Me). I remember being here last year wondering what the next year would be like. I knew that we had a major surgery to get through and I wondered whether or not Dawson would even be with us. I am learning to live one moment, one day at a time. God has helped me to appreciate the "little things." I can be content with the present, and because of the past I can trust God with the future.

Week two of three out of town

Nashville was amazing! I came home last night and washed my stinky clothes and the whole family headed to the beach this morning. I am in Edisto, SC right now and I will be here for a week before I go to Panama City with the greatest group of HS Students on the planet. Last week was so awesome I will be making a video soon and putting it up here sometime in the next couple of weeks.