Thoughts on Freedom from Banner Elk, NC

Sitting on the balcony of our friends' house in Banner Elk, NC, I'm taking some time to think about freedom. Also what about all those who have sacrificed for us and those that continue to sacrifice so that we can live in a free country, with a free and clear conscience, and more. Let me explain.

On July the 4th we celebrate our freedom as a country. Many men and women died. Many fought. Many worked hard. I come in on their coattails. I don't deserve to live here. God gave me the gift of being born here. I'm grateful. But why do we have this independence? To do whatever I want whenever I want? Negative. I believe that there are many little things I can do for my country, for my family, for those who serve in the military.

We also have freedom in Christ. Christ served us more than anyone could have. He gave His life. Do I take advantage of this freedom? Do I forget about it? Do I ignore it? Because of His life, death, and resurrection, I can have a clear conscience that the penalty for my sin has been paid. I'm not free to do what I want, I've been freed to bring the message of freedom in Christ to others.

Today, remember with me that we are blessed. If you can read this, trust me, you are a blessed person as there are others who can't read, can't see, or are suffering too much to get access to a computer. What will you do today with your freedom?

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Lindsey's Surgery: Discharged and Healing!

No More Tubes!!
Lindsey took a couple walks this morning and they removed all but one of the tubes connected to her. When the surgeon came to visit us in the room, he removed the final one and said that Lindsey looked good (I knew that already). We asked, "Do you think we'll be able to leave the hospital on Saturday or will it be Sunday?" He said, "TODAY, I've already signed your discharge papers."

Resting at the Beebe House
Lindsey is resting at Lindsey's parents house where Lindsey will be recuperating for a few weeks until she returns to be with Brad on April 13 in NC. I (Brad) leave on Saturday to return to NC where I'll be preaching in High Point on Sunday morning and in meetings for a few weeks). Lindsey would love visitors, text messages, and/or calls to her cell phone.

Prayer Requests and Praises
PRAISE: God has healed Lindsey faster than expected & the doctors anticipate a full recovery.
PRAISE: Lindsey is smiling and very excited to be at home with her family.
PRAISE: We are thankful for the outpouring of support from supporting churches, family, and friends. Your encouragement, gifts, cards, food, calls, and text messages contributed directly to Lindsey's healing.
REQUEST: For the incision to heal quickly and the pain to continue to be tolerable.
REQUEST: For Lindsey's energy levels to increase as well as her ability to eat more regular food.
REQUEST: For the weather in TX to allow for Brad to travel to NC on Saturday morning and for safety as he travels.


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Happy Birthday Racehorse Plonk

This past weekend we celebrated Brad's grandfather's 90th birthday. Happy Birthday Racehorse George Plonk! We created the video below to show to the family at the birthday party in Asheville, NC. Enjoy!




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Time with Family in NC

Visiting family is one of my favorite things to do in the whole world. In November, we had a chance to spend some time in NC visiting my three brothers, their wives, and children as well as my parents and many others. Somehow we never really get enough time with them which is a good sign to me that we enjoy our time with them.

This year in particular I was amazed by how relationships even with people you have known your entire life change but in many ways remain the same. One notable example was how blown away we were by the encouragement and generosity we experienced while with my brothers and their wives in NC.

Our little (or not so little anymore) nieces and nephews were so much fun. It is always tough to leave them as they now refer to us as Uncle Moose and Aunt Lindsey.

Click here to enjoy some of the pictures from our time in NC.

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Cousins (Matt Pollack, Greta and Julie Loftin)

While I was growing up, I had the privilege of living in the same town of both sets of grandparents (this is Brad typing). Not only did we get to see the Plonks and my grandmother Bridges, but we also spent lots of time with our cousins as well as aunts/uncles.

On Friday we spent time with 3 of our first cousins in Birmingham, AL (see picture). My first cousin Matt Pollack grew up in Midlothian, VA (near Richmond). He was in Birmingham from his current home in Charleston, SC for an interview for a Sports Medicine Fellowship at a local hospital. My first cousins Greta and Julie Loftin grew up in Snellville, GA (near Atlanta). Greta now lives with her husband Bob and their son Sam in Alabaster, AL while Julie is a student at Samford University. It was amazing for the six of us to get together in Birmingham even though we grew up in five different states (Lindsey [TX], Brad [NC], Greta/Julie [GA], Matt [VA], and Bob [AL]).

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Last Days and First Days - Part I

Friday was a pretty significant day for Brad and I as well as our family.

Brad's Last Day - A couple months ago Brad notified his boss at CAM that we were going to apply to become missionaries with CAM. This meant that Brad would soon be resigning his position at CAM to begin our ministry of partnership development before leaving for the mission field. Well all of that became a reality this summer when we accepted as new missionaries and then a few weeks ago when Brad turned in his official resignation. Finally on August 29th, Brad worked his last day at CAM International's Dallas Headquarters.


As much as it was a bit of an emotional day to be leaving a place that we had come to love, it was an exciting day to see God moving us forward as a couple towards what He has in store for us in the future. It is mind boggling how much God has done in our lives and in the lives of others to confirm his direction for our lives. From some close friends of ours who have five kids sending us a handwritten letter of encouragement from each member of the family, to some family friends taking us out to dinner and donating an old laptop to us for Brad to use, to a friend of ours allowing us to serve them by walking them through the issue of deciding about infant or believer's baptism, we've seen God at work each step of the way.

Enjoy the video of my last day on the job!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYW2xfcECY8



Bill's Last Day - On Friday August 29, my father Bill Bridges finished his last day of work for Bank of America after 37 years of work. Imagine beginning your career at 22 and finishing it with the same company (after a few name changes) just before turning the big 60. We are proud of Brad's dad and encouraged by his example to us of a loving father willing to work hard to provide for his family.



We found out that Sidney and Wesley along with their families all went and celebrated Bill's last day with the bank of Friday. Also many of Bill's current or previous boss's as well as others that he had trained or worked with came to visit him from various locations North Carolina. Imagine leaving an imprint on your organization or field in general big enough to; A. work there for 37 years, B. have old and current bosses come visit, and C. finish your career as the top performing Bank of America branch in NC. AWESOME!

Next (Last and First Days - Part II)

Wedding in NC

This past weekend Linds and I went to Ann Plonk's wedding in NC. Lindsey got some kind of stomach bug so she didn't feel so good but it was nice to spend some time with family all weekend. On Sunday we went for a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway which was amazing. Its amazing how much you begin to miss trees, mountains, etc in TX.

We also went and surprised Justin Kies for his birthday on Thursday late that night when we flew in which was hilarious. Justin had no idea that we were coming and Aube helped us to surprise him. While we were hiding in the back yard, Aube brought Justin outside and then we surprised him.

On Friday we got to see Hayne and also eat Japanese food with shrimp sauce. For some reason the japanese restaurants in TX don't have shrimp sauce so we had to get our annual fix while were in the Tarheel state.

We spent tons of time with my brother Doug and his family this weekend since most of the rest of my family was in Hilton Head, SC. We miss little Erica, Ben, and Mia already not to mention Doug, Alison, Bill, Barbara, and everyone else.