Jul 23
Jeremy LangleyUncategorized
I’ve just returned from a week at Daniel Springs Baptist Camp in Gary, Texas (A.K.A. – the HOTTEST place on earth). I absolutely love church camp, and this year was no different.
Despite the hot temperatures, I always have a great time at camp – especially at Daniel Springs. I was saved at Daniel Springs in 1996, and I surrendered to preach the day after I returned from camp last year. It’s a very special place filled with wonderful memories for me.
Each morning, I joined other sponsors in the cafeteria at about 7 a.m. for coffee. I remember doing this with my grandfather when I was about 8 years old. The only difference is that back then, my grandpa would by me a Coke from the machine outside the cafeteria. Now, I drink the coffee. It makes for a great time of fellowship with great Christian men.
I’m always excited to see the way young people’s lives change after a week at camp. It’s a week away from all of the distractions of the world where they can focus on God. It’s amazing what happens when we lose the distractions and focus on Him.
I’m already looking forward to going back to camp next year. No matter the circumstances, I think camp is pretty much a permanent fixture in my summer routine.
Jul 19
Jeremy LangleyUncategorized
It’s official! Mary and I just can’t wait until June 23, 2012, so we’ve decided to move up the wedding to December 17, 2011! It’s going to be here before we know it. We’re just both ready to be married.
The next five months will be filled with exciting things. I know she’s in charge of most of the details, but I’m confident that I’ll get to have my say on a few things whether I want to or not. I’m perfectly willing to share my opinions.
So just under five months until I get to marry the love of my life, a woman truly sent to me by God himself. I’m more excited that anyone could ever know!
Jul 07
Jeremy LangleyRandom thoughts
I never cease to be amazed at the work God is doing in my life. I am completely and totally humbled by the fact that He has chosen me to preach the Gospel.
There are some very exciting things coming over the next couple of weeks and months. I can’t really go into much detail right now, but I can say that I am more than ready for God to show me exactly what He has in store.
I have plenty to keep my mind busy as all of that plays out. I tend to get a bit antsy, so I’m glad to have other things occupying my restless mind. I’ve been on “vacation” this week. I used it as an opportunity to spend some much needed quality time with Mary before she goes out of town for a week to a conference. I’ve also gotten a lot done around the house over the last few days. My list of projects is long, and I hope to knock a few more out today.
I’ll be back in the office next week. It is going to be a crazy week. Going back after a week off is always hectic, but I’ll also be trying to get things lined out so I can be on vacation again the next week! I’ll be chaperoning church camp the week of July 18, so having only one week in the office between two weeks of vacation will be interesting to say the least!
Back to my to-do list. It doesn’t get done with me in here blogging…
Jun 28
Jeremy LangleyRandom thoughts
I’ve been blessed to stay fairly busy filling pulpits and preaching the Word since I surrendered to the ministry about a year ago, but July will be my busiest month yet. Needless to say, I’m very excited.
I have appointments to preach four out of five all five Sundays in July. I’ve also added preaching dates into August! Here’s my schedule:
- Sunday, July 3 – Bethesda Baptist Church near Fordyce, Ark. (morning and evening services)
- Sunday, July 10 – College Hill Baptist Church near McNeil, Ark. (morning service)
- Sunday, July 17 – Faustana United Methodist Church near Hampton, Ark. (this is actually my mom’s family reunion, and yes, Methodists need to hear the Gospel, too! haha)
- Sunday, July 24 – Bethesda Baptist Church near Fordyce, Ark. (morning and evening services)
- Sunday, July 31 – First Baptist Church of Gurdon, Ark. (morning and evening services)
- Sunday, Aug. 7 – Unity Baptist Church, Hope, Ark. (evening service)
- Sunday, Aug. 14 – College Hill Baptist Church near McNeil, Ark. (morning service)
I’d love to be somewhere on Sunday, July 24. Why leave a Sunday out? That’s taken care of now! God is good!
July will be the closest glimpse I have had into the life of a pastor who is blessed to preach every Sunday. I’m excited about it. I know that God has used this last year and will continue to use every opportunity to prepare me for the time when I move into full-time ministry.
Jun 27
Jeremy LangleyRandom thoughts
Wow… Has it really been nearly four months since I’ve posted? Time sure flies when you’re having fun!
And I’ve been having fun! Life is so much better now than I ever knew it could be, and the best part is that I can see it getting better and better every day.
Being engaged to the most beautiful woman in the world is a HUGE bonus! Mary truly is a gift to me from God. She’s everything I’ve spent the last several years praying for, and I know that she is exactly the woman God has been preparing for me over the last 25 years (my age, not her’s…haha).
The wedding is set for June 23, 2012, but plans are in the works to POSSIBLY move it up to December. I’m keeping my fingers crossed! Our lives are going to change so much over the coming year. I know God has amazing plans for Mary and I, and I can’t wait to watch him reveal those plans to us one day at a time.
Mar 07
Jeremy LangleyCurrent Events
I don’t believe in coincidence, so when the song “She said Yes!” came on the radio during my lunch break Friday, I took it as a sign that my plans for the weekend were indeed meant to be. Just minutes before that song came through the speakers of my truck I had stopped in at Murphy’s Jewelers to pick up a diamond engagement ring. I couldn’t wait to live out the moment described in that song.
The plan to “pop the question” had been brewing for a couple of weeks. So many details had to be covered: talk to the parents, buy the ring, get the ring sized, pick out the perfect location and time, and come up with my “speech.” By Friday, all of the details had been handled – well, almost all of them. I had lunch with her parents the weekend before, and they gave their blessings. I bought the ring and had it sized. I picked out the location and had written my speech. But then plans changed. It’s life. It happens. Plan B had to be put into action – but there really was no Plan B.
I decided to wing it unless I came up with a new plan. My hopes were to genuinely surprise her. She knew the ring was coming, but she didn’t know how soon. Any kind of traditional proposal would have tipped her off and ruined the surprise. I’m glad circumstances caused my original plans to change.
The proposal couldn’t have caught her more off guard. It was a huge success.
One of my favorite things to do is look at that diamond ring on Mary’s hand knowing that in just 474 short days she will be my wife. (That’s right, we’ve set the wedding date for June 23, 2012, due to our schedules, etc. If we could have possibly done it sooner, we would have.) She has a lot of planning to do.
I now know how the guy in the song feels. — “Nothing’s been the same since she said ‘yes.’” — That’s what the song says. I’m looking forward to taking the journey with Mary by my side.
Feb 04
Jeremy LangleyRandom thoughts
A picture of my house during the January 9-10 ice storm.
It’s snowing. Again.
I’ve lived along Arkansas’s southern-most border all of my life (if you don’t count they times I was away at college). I can’t remember ever having this much winter weather. Even the great ice storm of 2000 didn’t seem to last this long. The power outages lasted for weeks, but the winter precipitation itself seemed to come and go fairly quick. I sure don’t recall ever missing school or work this much in one season.
Today marks our third “snow day” of 2011. The first two came on January 9-10 when we received a few inches of ice that just wouldn’t melt. At least we’re getting snow today. It’s very pretty to watch it float from the sky, but it’s messing up my plans.
Yep, I’m being selfish. I’d rather be at work right now. You see, if I was at work right now there would be a good chance that the roads were going to be passable tonight. But that’s not the case. From media reports I’m receiving, roads are pretty treacherous in parts of the state to our north. I’d like to go to Hope this evening, but it looks like it will have to wait until tomorrow.
Why Hope? Well, dear readers, there is a very special girl in that southwest Arkansas town with the claim to fame of being the birthplace of Clinton (you know, Bill, the president, married to Hillary). I haven’t seen her since Sunday. I’m kind of going through withdrawals.
Modern technology will have to get us through one more day. If the roads are still bad tomorrow, I may have to call on of my National Guard friends. Maybe they’ll loan me a Humvee.
Jan 10
Jeremy LangleyUncategorized
Writing a year-in-review blog when we’re already 10 days into the new year may be a little late by the standards of the internet age. Okay, so it’s really late by those standards, but I’m doing it anyway.
The year ushered in a number of changes for me. Some of them were big. Some of them were HUGE. And some of them are still blossoming, but I’m confident that they will be amazing when they bloom. A few of them have already been discussed here on jeremylangley.com. I’ll go in chronological order as much as possible here – not necessarily order of importance.
I guess the first big change was really set into motion at the very end of 2009, but it didn’t come into fruition until January 2010. That’s when I bought my house. I made the decision pretty quick after looking at about a dozen homes in the Magnolia area. It all came down to a country home and a home in town. Although I prefer country living to city life, I chose the home in town due to its proximity to work and my other regular activities. I also got an amazing deal. Owning my own home at 24 was not something I ever expected to accomplish.
The day after I closed on my house, another big event happened – I became a father! I adopted the most beautiful little girl from the Columbia County Animal Protection Society. She’s a big mixed breed named Ellie May. Yes, I named her myself, and the name fits her perfectly. She’s grown to about 60 pounds now. I hope she stops soon or I won’t be able to afford her food!
In all honestly, my primary purpose for buying a house was so I could get a dog.
Well, things seemed to quiet down for a while. I don’t remember anything major happening during the months of February through June. I’m certain something worthwhile happened, but it slips my mind!
July almost got by without anything major, but then God stepped in. Yep, He decided he had better plans for me. So after battling it for more than a year, I surrendered totally and completely to His call. The peace I’ve felt since July 25, 2010 is unlike any that I’ve ever experienced. It truly is a peace that surpasses all human understanding. I preached my first sermon on August 1, and I’ve been honored to have the opportunity to fill several pulpits since then. I have two appointments later this month. I’m looking forward to the day when I completely fulfill my call by entering into full-time ministry work.
My 25th birthday came and went in October. I mention this only because my vehicle insurance dropped significantly on that date. Oh yeah, and I got a new truck in July – a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado. It’s perfect. Well, almost perfect. I hit a deer a few weeks ago, so as soon as I get it to the body shop, it’ll be perfect again.
I graduated from college (again) in December. I now hold a Master of Public Administration degree. Just call me Master, I’ll answer to it.
I thought the year would end on a low note. My best friend moved from Magnolia to Dallas. I admit. I almost cried … haha.
But then out of nowhere happiness abounds. I never saw it coming and I can’t explain it other than to quote Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” That’s exactly what He did.
I’m expecting even greater things in 2011. Sure, there are unknowns. Yes, there will be hard and difficult times. But the God on the mountain is still God in the valleys. I’m trusting that He will lead me through to a wonderful 2011.
Happy (belated) New Year!
Dec 14
Jeremy LangleyUncategorized
“I don’t want to lose any marines to the distraction. I don’t want any marines that I’m visiting at Bethesda [National Naval Medical Center military hospital in Maryland] with no legs be the result of any type of distraction.” (Gen. James Amos, commandant of the United States Marine Corps)
Gen. Amos made that statement during a recent congressional hearing concerning the possible repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the United States military’s policy prohibiting openly gay or lesbian persons from serving within its ranks. He makes a valid point, and I think it is just one of the many reasons DADT should remain a policy throughout our armed forces.
This topic became a focal point for me by accident this evening. During my typical perusing of the social networking website Twitter, I came across a tweet from ABC New Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) which indicated that 77 percent of Americans actually support allowing openly gay and lesbian people to serve amongst the ranks of those who are fighting to protect our liberties. I’m not among those 77 percent of morally challenged Americans. I’m in the other “33 percent.”
That’s right. I said the other 33 percent. You see, that’s where I messed up. While re-tweeting Mr. Tapper’s tweet, I made the comment that “I’m in the other 33 percent.” It’s been a long day, so while I was doing the math in my head I added an extra 10 percent. Oops.
Well, Jake thought it was funny I suppose, so I got re-tweeted by him. He has a lot of followers. May of his followers are liberals. You’d think that I was the biggest idiot who ever walked the face of the earth. This is just a small example of the comments I received:
- @JeremyLangley is bigoted AND innumerate, I see #homophobicdingleberry #tcot
- D’ya mean the 33% who failed math? RT @JeremyLangley I’m in the other 33% RT @jaketapper 77% of Americans support allowing gays in military
- @JeremyLangley Maybe education is a good thing, start with 1rst grade math perhaps. #DADT #Bigot
- @jaketapper @JeremyLangley What a SHOCK that a bigot sucks at math.
- BE the stereotype, mathmetician RT @JeremyLangley Im in other 33 @jaketapper new poll 77% Americans support gays serving openly in military
- @jaketapper @jeremylangley I’m glad to see that America still gives 110%
There are a lot more. That was just a sample of some of the nicer ones.
I guess liberals don’t make mistakes. I also suppose that anyone who disagrees with them is automatically a bigot.
A closing thought: “It’s discouraging to make a mistake, but it’s humiliating when you find out you’re so unimportant that nobody noticed it.” ~ Chuck Daly
I’m glad my mistake was noticed, and I hope I make many, many more.
Sep 28
Jeremy LangleyCurrent Events
I have been quite upset over the last few months because I haven’t received one of those telephone surveys about the upcoming midterm elections. I say that with only a hint of sarcasm. As one with a degree in political science, I am fascinated with these scientific polls. My political science training, however, has just about ruined me because I tend to spend more time listening to the question to find that slant which is often present when the poll is conducted at a candidate’s expense.
The lady asking the questions was nice, but she really shouldn’t have been calling. She kept coughing and sniffling, so I encouraged her to take the rest of the day off. She had my permission. I’m sure her boss would understand.
She asked questions about my political affiliation. I tended to give her long dissertations as to how I felt about the state of our political system and how both parties seem to be off-base. In the end, I told her that all-in-all, I am a compassionate conservative. She said, “I’ll put you down as a Republican.” I said she could just simply list me as a follower of George W. Bush.
She asked which party I was most likely to vote for in November. I was dumbfounded. She was just plain ignorant at this point. She received another dissertation. She, again, decided that I would be voting Republican.
She asked who I would be casting my vote for in the ARKANSAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 4 election. WHAT?!?!? This survey is wasting my precious time on a STATE level race?!?!?!?!?!? I was a bit perturbed.
But then, she asked a question that really peaked my interest. “Do you consider yourself a born-again Christian?” I said “yes,” but what does that have to do with a state House race? She didn’t know. I don’t believe an atheist or agnostic could be elected in south Arkansas. For crying out loud! We even post the church affiliation of our elected officials on their biographies on the official Arkansas General Assembly website.
When all was done, I asked the nice lady who had paid for this survey and to whom the results would be made known. She claimed not to know but said she would find out in case anyone else asked. I asked her to call me back when she knew. My phone hasn’t rung again.
I’m still waiting.
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