For the past two weeks I have lived in a small Sleep Inn hotel room in Wake Forest, North Carolina. It was my original plan to try and finish my doctorate of ministry project. I have been working on it for over three years and the past two years I have made no progress at all. I tried taking a day off during the week – that didn’t work. I tried going to the “Shepherd’s Rest” at Skycroft (a pastor’s retreat that you get for free three days during the year) – that helped, but three days a year wasn’t much help either. After thought and prayer I decided to just go to NC and meet with a faculty on almost a daily basis. So after two weeks, the last night of my stay, I am ready to go home. I have completed the project except for last chapter, which is a review of the whole project.

I am thankful for Daybreak Community Church that has allowed me to be away for these two weeks. We have two faithful men in our church who have preached in my absence. Thanks guys!

The first Sunday I was here, I visited a church that Kimberly and I helped start in Holly Springs, NC. We helped get everything ready for the launch and first service, and then we went to MD. But it was really cool to see what God has been doing in the 8.5 years we have been in Frederick. In many ways they are like us – meeting in a Elem. School, trying to break the 200 barrier, etc…. The visit was a complete surprise for my friend and he even asked me out for lunch. It was great to catch up. But it was also really cool to think back over the past 8.5 years and see how God has changed me (and my family). It’s way too much to go into here, but I feel I have grown by leaps and bounds.

Back to this whole degree thing. In many ways this project has been a weight that I have carried way too long, and finally feel like I can drop it (almost, I have one last chapter). I still have to defend it before a board of professors, and give an oral defense in Feb. But if all goes well, I can graduate in May.