I was sitting in my Biblical Interpretation class when one of my classmates started to whisper, Anna Nicole Smith just died.  You see, we have wireless internet available these days, so while the prof goes on, and on, and on you can check email, catch up on the days news, blog, and what-not.  Immediately everyone cracks open their computers and start to surf the web trying to find out what happened.  As we walked out of the class one girl told another classmate from a different class about the tragic news.  His reaction was what was to be expected, being on a Christian campus and all.  He let out a "Woo-Hoo!"  But what shocked me was my reaction to his reaction.  I all of a sudden felt sorry for Anna Nicole.  I felt a sense of sorrow.  Not because this former Playboy Playmate of the year (1993)… don’t ask how I know that, but because this woman who lived a very troubled life and never had it as easy as people think now faced eternity of the same torment and torture.

Imagine for a moment.  You live your life of drugs, alcohol, sex, disease, death of a son, never knowing who was your real friends, depression, and only God knows what else, and then you die suddenly.  One moment you’re in your hotel room and the next moment your standing before the Judgement Seat of the Almighty.  Your tragic life takes its final, and most defeating, turn.  The God whom you thought didn’t exist, a gamble you chose to take, all of a sudden says, "Depart from me, for I never knew you."  You have just seen perfection, something you were trying to obtain through money and surgery and now you are going to be torn away from it for eternity.

My heart breaks for Anna Nicole, her family, her friends (if she had any real friends), but most of all that poor 5-month-old daughter, Dannielynn Hope.  This child has no clue as to how hard her life is going to be because this infant holds more wealth, potentially, than 90% of the rest of the world.  This precious child is going to find her life hard just because she will never know who her real friends are and more importantly, who her mom was.  As bad as her mom was, there’s a loss when an infant loses her mother. 

God, help that child and send someone who loves you to help her through life.

Ok, the semester is in full-swing, work is swamped, the family is busy with their own things, and I’m frustrated.  I have about 3 papers a week due (x’s 13 weeks = 39 papers).  That’s not the bad part.  I can write.  So far I’m #1 in all my classes (which basically means I can lie better and more convincingly than the other ‘kids’).  Work is getting more complex, not bad, just more complicated.  As I get further into this position and more trust is built between the senior staff and myself, more responsibilities will follow.  The twins are growing.  And I’m trying to juggle it all.  The great thing is that I am married to a swiss army wife.  Without her I would die.

I’m getting anxious about Vietnam.  I need $1000 now!  Considering I was at $0 a week ago, that’s not bad!  But everyone tells me that the last grand is always the hardest to get.  Please, if you’re still "praying" about giving, consider this the Lord speaking, "SEND THE MONEY NOW!"  I’m just kidding… I think.

After much wrestling and phone calling, I FINALLY received my passport… a day late, but I finally got it.  I have to turn it in to the travel agency on Monday with my visa pictures.  God is awesome and hears the prayers of the righteous.  Several of us who were "on the bubble" for getting our preliminary money in for the plane tickets ($1700) received our money at the last possible second.  As a matter of fact, I’m still about $40 shy of $1700 but the church said they knew how to find me and get their $40 (I’m sure I can find it in my truck or something… or possibly sell one of the twins).  Keep praying for me and if you are thinking about donating to this awesome cause, please do by the 10th of this month.  I have a plane ticket, but I still need food, shots, and shelter once I get there!  I need $1300 still.  Everyone at church who goes to Vietnam multiple times per year have told me that the last $1000 is the hardest to raise.  I hope that is not my experience.  I’m going to be doing thank you notes during the super bowl today to those who have already given.  If you are one of those, thank you, thank you, thank you!  I’m going to be taking my camera with me to Vietnam and I’ll be posting pictures of the trip so you can see exactly what we are doing.  Also, keep tabs on my journal here because I’ll keep a daily diary of what is happening.  We leave on March 6th.  I’m so excited and scared.  I’ve never been out of the country before… let alone to a communist country.  My wife tells me I’ll fit right in… whatever that means.

Ok, so some of you may see this as sacriledge, but I’m writing this right now as I sit in chapel.  We have Dr. Charles Lyons from Armitage Church in Chicago.  He’s pretty good.  At least he says for us to feel free to throw bricks.  That makes him ok in my book because he isn’t scared of what he’s saying.

Now, I don’t usually blog while in chapel (I’m usually asleep).  I respect our president, but man, it’s so bloody boring!  And most of the time I disagree with what’s being said to the point of frustration.  It’s true, Bible-Belters are in their own world!  I pray that God will open their eyes to the real world one day.

Well, that will teach me to have a pity party.  I just recieved a phone call today that a church from my childhood (THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Bethel Baptist in Aztec, NM!) is giving me some money for Vietnam!  That added with a generous donation from nameless contributors (thanks Mom and Dad) I may have enough for the plane ticket at least.  Which is about half of the total amount I need, but it’s the important half!  Thank you God!  I knew to not doubt… but I did, and I’m sorry.  If you’re considering giving, please still do so!  I’m still only half way.  I have a long way to go.

Well, I have to have the minimum amount due to the Church on February 2nd which is $1550.  To date, I have a grand total of… $0.00.  I guess Vietnam and Malaysia just isn’t in my future this trip.  That’s ok.  I’m disappointed but my family needs me right now, so I guess it’s best that I don’t go.  But, man, it’s so depressing that all the other guys get to go on this awesome adventure but I’m stuck in Texas.  And yes… I AM having a pity party.  I’m allowed one per year, and this is it.  Thank you to all of you who have been praying for me.  Keep praying for us.  It’s been a tough week for all of us.

So you recieved a letter from Ren and I asking for money.  And I know what you’re asking, "Why would I give my money to Bobby?"  Well, it’s simple really.  Because God wants you to and you’ll burn in hell for all eternity if you don’t.  JUST KIDDING!  Some of you older folks who don’t have a sense of humor… breathe!  It’s ok.  We’re allowed to laugh and joke.

No, but really, this is a huge opportunity for me to see first hand how to engage a people group other than my neighborhood (which is what Jesus commands multiple times… Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, just to name a few). 

Let me say thank you to those of you who have already sent in money.  And yes, I am doing a hand-written thank you note to everyone, Rennee.  But I am FAR from my goal!  Help me, please!

Ok, something is wrong with me.  I’m addicted to blog sites.  Can’t get enough of them.  What the heck?  I’m not talking about (or aboat, as my next-door Canadian neighbor says) reading other people’s blogs, I’m talking about starting my own blogs on multiple sites!  I found wordpress today and I almost started ANOTHER blog!  That would have been number 5 for me!!!  I need stability in my life.  I’m pretty spontaneous.  Some would say too spontaneous.  I say Spontaneity RULES!

Please be patient, this is a work in progress.  (this work is also Copyrighted, any use of this is a violation of law and may not be reproduced in any form without written concent of Bobby Vaughn).

The other day I was talking to Omar Reyes, Missions Director at NorthWood Church, and we were discussing how so many of our friends who are on the "Organic Church" bandwagon have this attitude of, "We hate structure!"  I would consider myself to be an organic guy.  Neil Cole is a hero of mine, and I like to let church "happen" whenever and however it’s going to.  But in this non-structure world we have a problem.  Organic things have the MOST structure in the natural world.

What happens when you take a daisy seed and extract one piece of its DNA?  It ceases to become a daisy.  The potential beauty of this gorgeous flower has been destroyed.  For the Organic Church (some call it house church, cell church, etc.) this line of reasoning is offensive because it implies that there needs to be necessary DNA and ingredients in order to make an Organic Church work properly.  I’ve heard the argument that, "If you try to give an Organic Church structure you defeat the entire purpose of it being organic!"  That is an empty argument from people who just hate structure.  I submit to you that Organic Churches need not only structure, but RIGID structure.  Now, don’t mis-read me.  I’m not saying that every Organic Church is going to look, function, and worship in the same ways across the board.  Quite the contrary. 

Here’s what a rigid structure within an Organic Church looks like (briefly… details to come later).  First, a missional mentality is absolutely necessary.  Without the knowledge and attitude of "go and get them" (as opposed to "come and hear me") an Organic Church doesn’t stand a chance.  Second, a movement mentality is required.  What do I mean by "movement"?  If you try to start a church (cell group, home church, whatever you want to call it) for just your neighborhood or city you will miss the point as well as miss out on God’s over-arching plan for the Church.  Leading a group of people (especially non-believers) through mission (both globally and locally) is the greatest (and simplest) form of discipleship.  Without this key element, you’re just reproducing me-centric clones.