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.

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!

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!

“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.

For most folks around these parts, there is only one ballgame happening today. No. 10 Arkansas plays host to No. 1 Alabama in Fayetteville. I’ll probably listen to most of it, but I’ll be busy getting ready for the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders’ home opener against Valdosta State. The Muleriders look to pick up their first win of the season. Lucky for us, Valdosta hasn’t won a Gulf South Conference game yet this year. Maybe they’re vulnerable. I hope so.

I’m not going to get my hopes up too much about the game in Fayetteville. While I am 100 percent behind the Hogs, I’m also a realist. Not many Arkies join me in that category. I would rather be a realist and then go crazy when they pull off the upset. That’s not how almost everyone else does it. They get these inflated egos and then talk  trash when Arkansas gets it handed to them by a superior team.

Arkansas is good this year. Are they National Champion material? I don’t know. Do they have what it takes to beat ‘Bama? Yes. Will they pull it off? Maybe. I actually voted for Alabama to win in an online poll. Again, I’m a realist.

So, if you’re one of the hundred thousand or so people who made the pilgrimage to the extreme northwest corner of our great state today, please do me a favor, when the Hogs lose, don’t come crying to me.

With that said, GO HOGS!!!

Going to college at OBU was always somewhat of a dream that I never really expected to come true – mainly because there was a $20,000 a year price tag attached! While in high school, I attended summer leadership camps for the Arkansas Association of Student Councils at Henderson. We stayed in Newberry Hall which is on the Ouachita side of the street. I remember walking back to Newberry one night during the summer before my senior year in high school and seeing the Ouachita entrance sign. Something told me I would get to realize my dream, but I was still doubtful.

One of my high school teachers (Mrs. Jones) was determined that I would go to Ouachita. She had attended U of A, but she had close ties to OBU. Another of my teachers had a son in dental school who had graduated a few years earlier from OBU. They kind of ganged up on me. I remember walking into Mrs. Jones’ classroom the day that my scholarships came through allowing me to attend OBU. She was too busy to talk to me, so I left a note on her desk. She looked down and read it as I walked out of the classroom. She cried. She had won!

God knew I needed to be at Ouachita. There were so many personal battles that I went through while at Ouachita (not in any way related to the University), and God knew that there were people at OBU that he would put in my life to meet the needs associated with those battles. To this day, most of those people have no idea how much they helped me.

What’s best about my Ouachita experience is that even though I’ve been gone for more than two years, the experience hasn’t ended. I don’t expect that it will any time soon. I feel blessed that some of my former professors and Ouachita staff members that I met while a student can be counted as friends.

I work at a university now. While having a conversation with co-workers recently, I described the atmosphere at Ouachita and how much community I felt there. One of them said that they wished we had that here and pondered how to create it. I told them it’s not something you create. It’s something that comes from the people. Ouachita’s best asset is her people.

I could write all day about Ouachita. I could start naming names, but I’m afraid that I’ll leave someone out.

Happy Birthday, Ouachita! Here’s to many more!

I love those lyrics. They have been especially true for me lately. I realize that two week ago today I promised an update on how the preaching of my “first sermon” went. I’m glad I didn’t promise a time frame! Well, by all accounts, it went well. I “rehearsed” it in front of the mirror before going to church that night, and I thought my rehearsal was better than the actual delivery.

I was nervous. There was a large crowd. A large group of my family was there, and I had friends travel in. I was surprised to see some – like my friend Grant Merrill who traveled from Russellville – and I was glad they all made it. All in all, I was just glad to get that first time out of the way. I know that as God continues to mold and shape me, I will get used to preaching in front of crowds.

God continues to amaze and surprise me. He moves at a faster pace than what I would have ever attempted on my own. But that goes to the heart of the issue, I’m not alone. He is beside me each step of the way. Right now, He has placed before me what could be my first opportunity to serve on a church staff. Yeah, it’s been three weeks since I surrendered to preach, and He is already giving me this possibility. We are probably a month out from knowing anything at all about whether or not this opportunity will come to fruition. Rest assured, it is only part-time and will allow me to continue my work at SAU for now. As I have already informed by bosses, God has called me to full-time ministry, so at some point in the future, I will be leaving SAU. I don’t know when that time will be. It could be one year from now or 10. Only God knows.

I’ll keep you posted . . .

1. The Talley Trio

Jeremy Langley with Roger, Deborah, and Lauren Talley

Roger, Deborah, and Lauren Talley are amazing people. I’ve admired the work of this extremely talented family for years. (I know. I’m only 24, but I’ve followed Southern Gospel music since before I even knew Reba McEntire existed. That’s pretty major since I’m pretty sure I came out of the womb screaming “I love Reba!”) Until this cruise, I had never had the opportunity to interact with the Talleys. I was not disappointed. Not only did they put on the best performances of the week, but they were more than willing to interact with the “fans” off the stage. We ran into Roger several times around the ship, and he always smiled and spoke. I don’t think we ever ran into Deborah and Lauren on the ship outside of the Abraham Production events, but they were probably shopping or sometime. That’s what most of the women on board seemed to be doing a lot.

Lauren Talley and Jeremy Langley

During the time when we could purchase the artists’ product, I asked Lauren if I could have my picture made with her. She was more than happy to oblige. I had to get Roger to take the picture. After the last concert, I decided that I wanted to have a picture with the entire Talley Trip, but Roger was MIA. Deborah suggested that we form our own little trio, so I had my photo taken with Deborah and Lauren. Then Roger showed up and suggested we form a quartet, so I finally got my picture with the best Southern Gospel group out there. It will definitely go in my office.

Lauren has a new book and CD coming out in the next few days. I’ve heard the title track of the CD. The CD and book are both called “Songs in the Night.” If the rest of the songs are half as good as the title track, we’re in for an amazing treat. I plan to order one just as soon as they are available. Maybe I can get her to autograph it for me…haha. Check out her Web site for more information.

2. The Greenes

Jeremy Langley with Tim and TaRanda Greene

Tim and TaRanda Greene are two amazing people. We first ran in to Tim at the elevators on embarkation day. He stopped and talked to us like he had known us forever. Each time we saw him after that was the same. I had to have my picture made with them, and when I looked at it I laughed. It looks like it could be a cell phone ad. “More bars in more places.”

If you don’t know much about Tim and TaRanda, you should get to know them. They have an amazing ministry, but their personal story will make even the toughest man cry. Shortly after they were married (about 9 years ago, I think), Tim was diagnosed with a terminal illness that would lead to the complete failure of his kidneys. He ended up on dialysis for 8 years, unable to find a donor kidney. Finally, TaRanda decided to go through the testing process, and they found out that Tim and TaRanda were a closer match for the kidney donation than twins. She saved his life. To hear Tim tell that story was a blessing.

3. The Hoppers

Jeremy Langley with Claude and Connie Hopper

I didn’t get the chance to meet all of the Hoppers, but I got to meet my favorite two – Claude and Connie. I have never met a sweeter lady in my life than Connie Hopper. She just radiates, and her joy is contagious. Claude is just flat out hilarious. There is no way you can be in a bad mood with Claude Hopper in the room. He says he gets his jokes from his brother, but he does a pretty good job of delivering them.

Claude got in the habit of coming by our table each evening at dinner. He would tell us to just put it all on his tab (of course, dinner is already paid as part of the cruise package). He kept us entertained. I loaned him one of my extra spoons one night to stir a little bit of sweetner into his tea. I hope I get the chance to visit with these two more in the future.

4. Our dinner table

The people who sat with us at dinner were from all over the country. They shared our love for Southern Gospel music and our love for Christ. We had some of the best conversations getting to know one another. Although I was by far the youngest person at the table, they made me feel right at home. I hope they cruise with us again in the future.

5. Random people

Everywhere we turned, we met new people from all over the world. I had a long talk with the manager of the Orlando Ferrari dealer one day. We met a couple who was celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. I am determined that they are Alabama’s finest. They work athletic events for the University of Alabama. Roll Tide! Who knows when and where these connections may help me in the future?

If you ever get the chance to take a Southern Gospel music cruise. Do it. It will give you a whole new appreciation for the music and its fans. We’re planning to go back in November.

Ellie May

Okay, don’t take that headline too seriously. My child is a 12-week-old Australian Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix that I adopted from the Columbia County Animal Protection Society. She is my pride and joy, and I named her “Ellie May.” I have a hang-up on naming my dogs after female characters from 1980-era television shows. My last dog was named “Daisy” after Daisy Duke of the “Dukes of Hazzard.”

Ellie May is a very active and loving dog. She is going to be HUGE when she grows up, and I’m sure she’ll grow faster than I want her to. I expect that she’ll be 100 pounds or more when all is said and done.

I had thought about buying a pure breed dog. I really wanted a chocolate Lab, but I couldn’t find one. I looked at some German Shepherd puppies, but I just didn’t want to spend that kind of money. So I went to CCAPS to see what they had. (Daisy was a CCAPS dog.) When I saw Ellie May and her litter mates, it was love at first sight! I brought her home before I even had any furniture moved in the new house. I’m sure she will grow to love her large fenced-in backyard. As long as she stays out of the pool, we’ll be okay.

Ellie May will be an outside dog when she gets a little bigger. Besides, it’s too cold for her out there right now. For now, she is sleeping in a crate at night. She hardly even complains. I have bought her enough toys to entertain an army of dogs!

I’ll keep you updated on her as she grows up, and I’m sure I’ll be taking lots of photos. I’m sorry for the quality of this picture. I took it with my cell phone. I’ll see about getting a better picture of her later.