Christian Living Class: Next Steps

Friends:

I write with good news! A member of our illustrious group has taken the plunge and chosen to lead our class for a six-week stint beginning this Sunday. Steve May is the one, and I am very appreciative to Steve for his willingness to tackle this challenge. He will start this Sunday and will go through sometime around May 16th or May 23rd (Steve, we obviously didn't work out the specific date; we can figure out the details later). I hope that all of you will join me in supporting Steve as he takes the helm for a while. I know that a few others of you were thinking about teaching the class for a short time at some point as well. Perhaps one of you can consider taking a turn beginning toward the end of May?! Keep praying about it folks!

I will not be there this Sunday, but I will be back in class on April 18th. I plan to find a new spot near the donuts. I might even bring along a joke just in case someone wants to hear it, but my feelings will not be hurt if nobody is interested. : )

As you can see on the blog, we are set for snacks for the next three weeks. If Steve and the rest of you want to continue with the soft drinks, feel free to bring along a six or twelve pack to stock that sucker this Sunday!

That's all for now. Once again, I want to say thank you to Steve for his willingness to pick up the baton and run with things for awhile. God bless you, Steve!

Wes

Easter News, Prayers, My Biggest Loser Shot, and What's Next?

Dear Friends:

Good evening, all! For those of you who are looking at this message on the blog (which will give you the illustrated version), I've included a photo that shows me before I went on the Biggest Loser. Who is that guy with my wife? She obviously wasn't with him for his looks. : )

That picture was taken in about June of 2002, when Raegan was about 6 weeks old. Jeff Hookham captured this shot of me at the height of my weight explosion. What can I say, I thought gaining weight alongside my wife during pregnancy was the appropriate thing to do. This photo will show you what tenure stress will do. In my defense, I lost the extra pounds rather quickly and they have never returned! (and the tenure bid was successful)

Thanks, Jeff, for sending along the picture. I've included a few more from our recent trip to Disney World. Things sure have changed during the past eight years (and not just due to my makeover!). Let's get to our prayers and praises for this week before I try to sum things up.

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

I want to say a big praise for a terrific Easter service this morning. What a wonderful celebration we had!

Vince E. is traveling back to the Valley yet again this afternoon. Please pray for his safe travel.

Next, I would like for us to pray for all of the Baylor fans who are headed to San Antonio this evening. Pray for their safe travel and that they will be returning on Tuesday night instead of today!

I would like to say a praise and a prayer for Miss Raegan. She had a rough day at soccer yesterday. In addition to getting beat about 25-0 (yeah, seriously), she was hit by two very strongly kicked balls, one in the face and another in the stomach. She is just fine, but I don't think she had such a great time at soccer yesterday. I was so proud of how she got back up and kept playing. On the way home, we got to have the "sports can be a great metaphor for life" talk. I think she bought it. Please pray that she will recover from this rough day and continue to enjoy soccer this season.

Praise God for Reese Nicholson's last treatment! She finished up last Monday. This is incredibly wonderful news, to say the least. We are so proud of you guys, Brian and Amy. I still find it surreal that you guys have been through this. I don't even live with you guys, and it feels like a crazy, unbelievable whirlwind from start to finish. Please pray that Reese will continue to get nothing but great news!

Vince E. has asked that we pray that the violence in Mexico will subside soon. His station and the area he serves are deeply affected by what is going on there. Pray that God will help bring resolution to the situation soon.

Raelynn VanZee has had a difficult week of sicknesses. I think she even hit a 105 temperature at one point this week. Pray that Raelynn will feel better and have a sickness-free week.

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That covers our prayers and praises. Dana and I want to say thank you to everyone who has been so kind and thoughtful as our time of teaching the class has come to a close. The book of letters that everyone presented us with this morning is incredible. The letters mean so much to us. We cannot thank you enough for taking the time to write them. We already cherish the book more than we can express.

These past eight years have been nothing short of a roller coaster. We have been through so much with so many people that I don't even want to try and summarize everything. We have been blessed so much more than we have blessed others. God has shaped our family through all of you every week for the past eight years. That's all I know to say.

So what's next? What's the next step for the class? The truth is I honestly don't know. We continue to search for someone to pick up the teaching, but, if we don't have someone right away, that's okay. In time, God will provide. I will talk with Wayne this week to see if we can come up with some ideas. Dana and I, of course, are not going anywhere, and we will continue to search for someone who is interested in teaching.

In the immediate short term, I will be at home next Sunday morning participating in yet another sacred event at the Null home: Watching the Masters. I will be rooting for Phil Mickelson to beat the number one player in golf on the 18th hole by one shot, treating all of us to one of the biggest sports stories in history. Following that, on April 18th, I may spend the 10:50 Sunday School hour shooting baskets in the Family Life Center. My self esteem is still trying to recover from getting beat at Horse by Jill VanZee about three years ago (folks, think twice before challenging Jill). Jill, if you're looking for something to do on the 18th, I would like a rematch. You have to give me a chance to redeem myself!

Question

On a serious note on this most sacred of Sundays, I want to share a question with all of you that a good friend of mine shared with me this week. We discussed it in class this morning, so I apologize to those of you who are hearing this for the second time. Here's the question.

Was Jesus happy or sad when He died on the cross? Listen to that question again. Was Jesus happy or sad when He died on the cross? What a great question. I think Vince E. had a good response this morning. He said "Yes". The obvious answer is that Christ was both happy and sad. On the other hand, he may have been neither. He knew that His destiny was to die for our sins, so, in one respect, He was just performing His duty. On the other hand, Christ was also sad because He had just experienced--in a very painful and personal way--how sinful man can be. If I have to lean one way or another, I think the answer is that Christ was more happy than He was sad. After dying on the cross and turning death into life, He had now done what He was called to do and could move on to spending eternal life with his father--our father. I'm not sure this answer is sufficient, but I do know that this is a wonderful question for us to put in the back of our minds as we celebrate Easter every spring.

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Have a great week, everyone. I will be in touch if I hear more or different news about next Sunday. Thank you again to all of you who have been so kind, thoughtful, and appreciative as we have led the class.

God bless,

Wes and Dana

P.S.--Go Lady Bears!

P.S.--Class Lunch!

Friends:

I forgot one very important thing! Thanks again to everyone who came to the lunch today. We had a great time! It was wonderful to see everyone.

Wes

Holy Week Update and other news......

Dear Friends:

Good evening, all! Well, for you Bears fans, let's look at it this way. It was the best men's season in Baylor history. There is certainly nothing to be ashamed of about that. Secondly, now we get to yell for the Lady Bears tomorrow night! What an exciting time to be a Baylor basketball fan. I remember just a few years ago when I thought Coach Drew was going to be forced to put me in for lack of scholarships!

As for class business, let's start by thanking Kirsten E. for bringing our goodies today. We appreciate you, Kirsten! Next week, Jennifer and Steven Owens will be taking care of us. I hope you can still do it, Jennifer! I realize it's Easter next Sunday and things might be different for lots of folks (including you guys). If you can't do it, just let me know!

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

As for prayers, tomorrow is a big day for the Nicholsons! Reese goes in for her final treatment tomorrow morning. Praise God for that! The rough news is that she will have to be admitted to the hospital since her last few treatments have been hard on her. But, the hospital stay is only precautionary. Let's praise God for the strong character that Reese has shown during this journey, and let's also pray that everything will go well for this final treatment! The conclusion of this chapter is close, Brian and Amy!

We need to pray for little Everett, Kirsten and Shane's son. They had to take him to the ER recently because, once again, he is dealing with allergy induced asthma. Please pray for him to feel better soon. Pray also for Kirsten and Shane as they try and find ways to help Everett feel better. Hang in there, guys!

Next, I'd like for all of us to say a prayer for a safe trip home for everyone who is returning from Houston tonight after the big game.

Next, from what I understand, Steve Ramsdell is nearing the end of his treatments in Houston. Let's pray that everything will wrap up well for Steve and that he will be able to put this battle behind him very soon.

Last but certainly not least, let's pray for the Joe Cox family as they make a move back to North Carolina. Joe will be taking on an exciting new opportunity there. Praise God for the great work that Joe and Marianne have done while they have been here! Let's pray that everything will go well for the Cox family during this time of transition.

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I think that's all for now, folks. Let's work hard this week to prepare our hearts and minds for the significance of the Holy Week that is upon us.

Have a great week, folks.

Wes

March Madness Update and Other Stuff

Friends:

Good afternoon, all! What an exciting weekend of basketball, not just for Baylor Bear fans but for everyone who likes college basketball! (Well, not exactly for everyone. You Kansas fans are toast! HA!) Seeing as how I picked Kentucky to win it all, my bracket's still alive. How about yours?!

Thanks to the Hudsons! They brought our goodies this morning. We appreciate it, Greg and Courtney! Next week, Kirsten and Shane are in charge. Thank you for taking care of us, guys!

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

Believe it or not, we don't have too many prayers this week. That's great news, of course!

The Ramseys have asked that we pray for their friend Trent and his family. Trent's son (also named Trent) died last weekend in a tragic rock climbing accident. Please pray for everyone who is grieving this difficult loss.

As usual, we need to keep praying for Reese Nicholson! The final treatment gets closer every week, Amy! We're praying for you guys.

Christina G. has asked that we pray for her cousin's son named Jack. He was recently diagnosed with a learning disability similar to autism. Please pray for Christina's cousin and her husband as they learn about this condition and find ways to help Jack.

Let's also keep praying for little Levi R. As infants do, he has been battling normal baby sicknesses. Pray for good nights and weeks for Levi and the Ramsdells. As they say Beth, the nights are long but the years are short!

I would like for us to pray for everyone who will be driving to Houston for the Baylor game this Friday. There are at least two Dads among us who have chosen to take it on the chin and NOT attend the Friday game so that we can take our little girls to the Daddy-Daughter Dance. This has got to be a true sacrifice for the little girls we love so much. But you can believe that I will be looking at tickets and a drive to Houston if the Bears are playing Duke on Sunday!

Last but not least, let's pray for our class as we search for someone to lead the class for a while. After talking with Steve R. and Wayne, Dana and I have decided to think about calling this change a one-year sabbatical, which means we might kick things off again around Easter of next year. We will just have to wait and see what's going on at that time. I appreciate all of the kind words that we have heard. We have decided that our last Sunday will be April 4th, which is Easter. Wayne and I continue to look for someone who may be interested in picking up the class on Sunday, April 11th. If you know of someone who is interested, please let me know.

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Have a great week, everyone! We look forward to seeing you next Sunday morning.

Wes

NCAA News, Sunday Prayers, and Updates....

Friends:

Good evening, all! Go Bears! Okay, I'm glad I got that out of the way. Here's the road to the Final Four: Beat Sam Houston State, Beat Notre Dame, Beat Villanova, Beat Duke. We can do that!

Okay, now for other business. Let's say a big welcome to JD and Crystal Clark! They visited our class this morning. We were delighted to have you guys, JD and Crystal! We hope to see you back to visit us again next Sunday.

Our prayer list happens to be short this week. First off, let's say a praise for safe travel for those of us who were out of town. Us Nulls had a great trip to Disney World. I know the Hookhams were skiing in New Mexico. The Ramseys spent some time in Houston. And I know lots of other people were out of town. Praise God for great trips and safe travel!

Next, we got an update on Miss Reese this morning from afternoon. Even though she had to spend some time in the hospital this week, she is home and doing fine. The chemo made her very sick this last time. The good news is that Reese only has one treatment left. That's a hallelujah if I've ever heard one! That treatment will most likely take place on either March 29th or 30th. Let's pray that this last treatment will go as smoothly as possible. One day at a time, Brian and Amy!

Last but certainly not least, we need to pray for the Workman family. They are expecting their second child in August, and they are facing some job changes with the Methodist Children's Home. Please pray that things will go well for Liz and Matt as they look at new job possibilities. Pray that God will give them the wisdom and discernment they need during this time of transition.

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Believe it or not, that's our prayer list for this week. I think that's good news that it's short!

DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE

For you Dads out there who have daughters, don't forget to get your tickets for the Daddy-Daughter Dance. This one's a Hoe-Down! It will take place on March 26th. The last day to buy tickets is next Sunday. Miss Raegan and I will be there. And you can believe I'll be busting out the boots for this one! Ever seen the macarena in boots?! I dare you fellas to show up and join me.

Have a great week, everyone. We look forward to seeing you next Sunday morning!

Wes

Time for a Change

Dear Friends:

I am writing to let you know of a decision that Dana and I have recently made regarding our class. After much prayer and reflection, we have decided that the time has come for a change in leadership. We began the class on April 14, 2002, so next month will be eight years. It’s been a good run. This decision has nothing to do with our church or with the make up of the class. We absolutely love our church and want to do everything we can to help us continue to grow and flourish. The main reason for this decision is that time has become quite short for me. I have agreed to serve as Interim Director of Baylor’s Honors Program next year (beginning in June), which will be a major responsibility. I also was recently elected president of a national organization. That job will require a great deal of time as well. In hindsight, the best I can discern is that God put us in place eight years ago to lead the class during what we might call the “baby producing” span of life. As I think most of you know, members of our class have given birth to 39 babies since April 2002. That has been a great deal of fun. We are quite proud of having been present for all of that new life coming into being.

Dana and I want to thank all of you for your terrific support during this past eight years. We especially want to thank Steve R., Wayne, and the entire administrative team. We are blessed to have such incredible leadership at our church. We would like to remain members of the class, but only after taking a break for a while. We also may look into other opportunities to serve during the 10:50 hour, with one example being teaching one of the children’s classes. I talked with Wayne today, and the plan is for us to begin by seeing if there is someone within the class who would like to take over the teaching. If not, Wayne has agreed to work with me to see if there is someone else within the church generally who would like to do it. We plan to lead the class for another several weeks, perhaps into April and May, but we haven’t set a specific date for when to call it the last Sunday. April 11th or 18th would make for an even eight years, so that may make the most sense. If you are interested in teaching the class, please let me know.

This change will be a difficult one for us, but the time has come. While at Disney World next week (March 11th), Dana and I will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. We have been teaching this class for eight of those years. We did not come to this decision lightly. In many respects, we feel like we’re watching one of our kids go off to kindergarten for the first time. Most of you know what that feels like. But, as we learn from Ecclesiastes, for everything there is a season.

We love all of you guys and want to thank you for walking with us during this incredible eight year journey.

Wes and Dana