Introducing Nicholas Tate Hale

Another beautiful baby boy nephew has been born.  Jennifer’s brother and sister in law, Jeremy and Dana Hale, had a baby last week.  His name is Nicholas Tait Hale.  He weighed 8 lbs 8 oz. and was 20 inches long.  This is their second child.  (Sorry, no pictures at this time.)

Our family got to drive to Corbin to visit Nicholas Friday night.  He has blonde hair and pouting lips.  He is absolutely precious.

The grandchild count on Jennifer’s side (the Hale family) is now at 7: 3 girls and 4 boys.  Nicholas finally tipped the charts to the boys side. 

The grandchild count on my side of the family (the Garrison’s) is now at 7: 6 boys and 1 girl.  The Garrison’s are historically known for producing tons of boys.  In my line of grandchildren there are 13 boys and 1 girl. 

Welcome lil’ Nicholas to a wonderful family.  You will be loved and cherished.

Sunday Sermons

I had the privilege to preach at Woodlawn Baptist Church yesterday in Lebanon, KY.  I have been there before.  It was a nice to go back and visit their fine folks.

They are in need of a pastor.  They have been without one for about 2 years now.  Smaller congregation, about 50 in Sunday School, 65 in Sunday morning worship.  Excellent location in the heart of Lebanon, good facility, and extremely gracious people.  They have been so sweet and kind to me.

If anyone knows a good recommendations, I would be happy to send them along to their search committee.

Campus Revival Gets More Press

The Western Recorder, the KY state Baptist paper, did a great article about the CU campus revival last week where nearly 200 CU students made first time professions of faith.

Here is the link to read the full story: http://www.westernrecorder.com/wr/wrsite.nsf/stories/200838-GageCrusade

One of my students, David Lee, is quoted in the article.  His quote is absolutely hilarious.  He says he is going to followup with these new believers through the discipleship method of “hunting and fishing.”  Now that is Campbellsville-style.

My mentor, Dr. Ted Taylor, is the Class Institute Director and is the point man to see these new believer discipled in small groups.  He is quoted often in the article. 

Too much fun.

Television Debut

A couple weeks ago I did an TV interview with Mr. Al Hardy, Dean of Academic Support, on his weekly show People, Places and Things.  It was a lot fun to do and I think the final product turned out great.  Just for the record – the camera adds 10 lbs.  It is about 30 minutes.

You can now watch it on streaming video.  http://www.campbellsville.edu/svideo/

Let me know what you think.

CU School of Theology

Some of you have requested a short tour of my new work environment.  So I took a few pics this morning and will try to give you a quick overview of where I work.

This is the little placard in the front of our building.  Druien Hall is where our School of Theology is located.  There have been rumors of one day getting a new building, but Druien works just fine.  Druien used to be a dormitory, but was later converted to offices and classroom space.  It is one of the older buildings on campus.

Druien Hall is nearly a perfect rectangle.  (I am standing on an angle, which makes the picture look like the building is slanted.  It isn’t.  But that would be really cool.)

This is our basement hallway.  All of the classrooms are on the basement level.  We have 4 classrooms down here and a conference room.  Our department secretary, Mrs. Betty Hatfield, is also located on this floor.

Here is one of the classrooms I teach in.  If you look through the windows, you can see we are beneath the sidewalk level outside.  Maroon chairs are nice.  CU’s school colors are maroon and grey.  The classrooms have a chalkboard and a dry erase board.  I was shocked to still see chalk.  One room has a flat panel TV, all the others require you to bring in a TV or projector.  The rooms can be sterile, but I have found with some natural light, a little background music, and a lively discussion makes the Druien Hall classrooms warm up.

And this is my office.  Jennifer makes fun of me because I have alphabetized my books on the shelves.  You can see the sticky notes on the side of the bookshelf as my organizers.  I have really nice furniture.  A nice new Dell computer.  Plenty of space to stretch out under my desk and take a nap (just kidding-remember the Seinfeld episode).

That is about it.  I love my new job.  I love being on campus around students.  I love the fall leaves, hearing the band practice in the afternoons, watching college athletics, and teaching.  This is really a dream come true.

Suite 208: Revisited

Yesterday, the whole family and I were on a walk across campus after dinner in the Winter’s Dining Hall (hmmm, good!).  We walked over by my old dormitory,Southhall East.  Oh the memories that came flooding back to my mind. 

Taking up all 6 washers and dryers in the building to do my laundry.  Room checks.  Lobby duty as an RA.  Setting off the fire alarm with my burnt bagel.  RA meetings with my dorm director Curtis Barnes.  Sweet memories of 4 great years in the dorm.

We decided to take a peek instead.  We found nice, new lobby furniture.  Wi-Fi access.  A new TV.

Isaac and I decided to explore some more and walked upstairs to my old suite.  The historic SUITE 208.   It was like I was showing my eldest son a piece of modern history.  The hallowed hall where his father learned to be a man.  History was being passed down from father to son; generation to generation. 

As we knocked on the door, I was a bit nervous.  I heard ”Come on in” through the slightly cracked door.  When my head peeked inside, two college students looked at me like I was an alien.  Their facial expressions said it all, “Who is this freak?  And why is he lookin’ in our room!”  I told them I was a former student and lived in this room.  They didn’t seem the least bit interested.  They continued playing Halo.

The room smelled rotten.  Dip cans thrown all over the coffee table.  Stains on the carpet.  But they had the drum set and guitar for Guitar Hero; essentials for dorm life.

Isaac and I left and walked back downstairs.  I doubt I will be returning to my old room any time soon.  I guess I am now officially too old to be in the dorms.

130 First Time Decisions for Christ at CU

Yesterday, God showed up at Campbellsville University. 

130 Freshman made first-time decisions to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during the weekly First CLASS large group chapel on Monday morning.  First CLASS (Character, Leadership and Stewardship Studies) is the freshman year experience program at CU. 

I witnessed the whole thing ive and in person.  Numerous attempts were made to talk the students out of their decision to follow Christ.  There was no tricks, no frills, no overly emotional manipulation, just the Gospel of Christ presented clearly and powerfully.  And the result was that students responded to Jesus.

All 130 of new believers will meet this week in their already scheduled weekly small groups and be discipled by their two small group mentors (a fellow student and CU staff member).  40+ of the students were athletes representing every sport offered at CU.  Every coach has been notified of their athlete’s decisions and asked to follow-up with their committments.  The campus Ministries office, along with the First CLASS leadership team, are working to follow-up with every decision.

God’s kingdom was expanded on Monday right here in Campbellsville, KY.  It was too good.

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down…

I have been very hesitant to share about my classes.  Many of my students check the blog and I didn’t want them to feel as if I was telling ”their business” to the world.  But I just have to share about last Thursday.

Religion in Life is a general education course that many students at CU HAVE to take.  I have two sessions.  One class has 33 students, the other has 19.  So far in the semester, the classes have been ho-hum and somewhat lifeless.  I have been struggling with how to communicate and teach them so that they are excited, if not pumped, to be there.  I want to engage and interact.

I had tried several things but have been failing miserably.  Then last Thursday something hit me.  I had been teaching a lot of Religion, but not so much about Life.  So I flipped the switch on them (that is a new slang term I learned which means to ”mix it up”).  I turn all their chairs around so that they were facing each other.  Not quite a big circle, but way more eye contact.  And we talked. 

We talked about family struggles, forgiveness, conflict, overcoming challenges and how to deal with life’s struggles.  We took the stories of Moses and Joseph and made them our own.  Students started sharing about their experiences and life stories.  Some spoke of the difficulties they had overcome from abuse to divorce to families splitting up.

The walls of our class started to fall.  We had the first REAL CLASS of the semester.  There was a revived spirit of connection and community.  I actually got to be their teacher, not just the guy in the front of the class who does all the talking.  Just like Joshua, there is victory when the walls come tumbling down.

Super Saturday Finale

We closed out the Super Saturday season with a great event in Bowling Green.  I had about 20 men in each of my two deacon sessions.  Great interaction.  Good discussion and I hope some encouragement.

They recorded the sessions, so I hope to have those posted in a few days. 

I am very thankful to Steve Rice, the KBC Assimiliation and Discipleship Director, and all the KBC staff for their wonderful hospitality and for the invitation to participate in Super Saturday.  I have been blessed and uplifted by these meetings.

Dancing in Church

Oh, this is why we stopped dancing in church.

Thanks to http://theologica.blogspot.com for the video.

Last Super Saturday Event

This Saturday I will be sharing at the last KBC Super Saturday event in Bowling Green, KY.  The conference will be held at First Baptist Church.

It has been such an honor to serve these wonderful deacons & pastors over the last few weeks.  I have gathered a better understanding of what is going on in the life of many local congregations.  When you serve on a singular church staff, you can become isolated from what is happening in other parts of the state.  You are so focused on your church and your community that you miss what is happening down the street and in the next county.

These meetings have helpful me gain a larger view of the challenges facing Southern Baptist churches in the commonwealth of Kentucky.  I believe I will teach my ministry students better because of these times together.

Thank you KBC Leadership office for asking me to participate.  I have been blessed.

My Neighbor is Indicted

From the CKNJ on Monday, September 8, 2008

- Christopher R. Tungate, 26, of 807 N. Hoskins Ave. (3 houses up from us) in Campbellsville was indicted on charges of first- and second-degree selling a controlled substance, DUI and having no or expired registration plates.

According to Tungate’s arrest citation, he was found with four individual bags containing suspected cocaine powder, a bag containing 92 Vicodin pills, 14 $20 bills, two $10 bills and other bills. A field test later found that the powder tested positive for cocaine. The money and Tungate’s vehicle were seized.

The citation states that Tungate, who failed several field sobriety tests, told Campbellsville Police that he had consumed two or three beers.

Bond was set at 10 percent of $15,000. If convicted, Tungate could be sentenced to as much as 15 years in prison.

Isaac’s Birthday Party & Family Golf

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Some Updates

A couple quick updates on recent posts.

Baby Camden Garrison.  My baby nephew Camden got home last Sunday from Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.  He has been diagnosed with seizures and has been placed on medicine.  The doctors were not able to find out what was causing the seizures to take place, but do believe they have them under control.  He is doing great and his parents are thrilled to have him home.

Dad (Danny) and Hurricane Gustav.  Dad survived his third massive hurricane in the gulf.  He is home now.  There was no major incidents to the boats or to his crew.

Drug Busts in My Neighborhood.  We still have not heard any news on our neighbors and their drug charges.  We check the newspaper’s court records each week looking for information, but nothing has turned up yet.

Isaac’s Big Birthday.  Isaac turned 3 last Saturday (August 30th).  I will have some pictures and video up real soon.  He got a new bicycle for his birthday along with an Elmo helmet and knee & elbow pads.  His cake was decorated with Cars.  To celebrate we went to the Tiger Football game and had a small little party.

You Got to Be Kidding Me

My little CU press release has made it to the personnel section of the Lexington-Herald Leader.  Printed September 1, 2008.

Campbellsville University: Shane Garrison of Alexandria has been named an instructor in educational ministries. The CU graduate has served in four churches in Kentucky and Texas in various capacities including youth, children and adult education and pastoral care and counseling.

http://www.kentucky.com/101/story/509487.html

These newspapers need some real news to report.

Fantasy Football Draft

I get pumped every year around this time.  The smell of football is in the air.

One of the best parts of the fall is playing Fantasy Football with my friends.  Our 12 team league is made up of CU Alumni or friends.  Most of us lived on the same floor in South Hall East dorm way back in the late nineties (expect for the two ladies, of course).

We drafted last night and I really did terrible.  I actually selected two people that had been cut from their current teams.  They are sitting at home, watching TV and I choose them to be on my fantasy team.  I am a moron and don’t stay up with all the actions.  I rely on other people to tell me what to do.

But in the end, I don’t play fantasy football to win a championship.  Winning would be nice, but more importantly, I love getting to connect with my friends who live all over the country.  Football brings people together.

Go Bengies!!!  Go Cowboys!!!  Go Druien Hall Druids (my team)!!!

KBC Super Saturday #2

I am back on the road again this Saturday for another KBC Super Saturday event.  This time I am heading to deep west KY.  I will be presenting at Lone Oak First Baptist Church in Paducah, KY.

I haven’t been to Paducah in many years.  I used to have to drive my dad there to catch the boat for his work.  My roommate from seminary, Mr. Clay Davis, grew up at Lone Oak FBC.  His parents still attend there. 

I am looking forward to another great afternoon talking about deacons and their role in the church.

Braving the Storm…Again

Some of you know that my father, Danny, is a captain on the river.  He works primarily in and around New Orleans, LA.  Three years ago when Katrina hit, he was in the center of the storm.  We didn’t hear from him for two weeks. 

Well, he is at it again.  Riding out Hurricane Gustav.  He is located a few miles north of New Orleans.  They are preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best.  There is a benefit to being a boat…as the water rises, so does the vessel.

I would appreciate any prayers for my dad and his crew.