New Year’s Resolutions Coming Soon

I have a hard time keeping my New Year’s Resolution. I tend to throw in the towel when they get hard to keep. 

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  — Hebrews 12:11 

Here is what I am living by this year.

1. I am going set some goals.  SMART goals.
   Specific: Goals should be as specific as possible.
   Measurable: It should be possible to keep track of your progress.
   Achievable: Make realistic goals.                                                                                                           Relevant: Is this a goal that a) will have an impact on your life, and b) that you are prepared to pursue?
   Time-bound: Give yourself a clearly defined end date to achieve your goals by.
2. I am going to plan some steps to get there.
3. I am going to stay away from negative people.
4. I am going to decide what I am willing to sacrifice.
5. I am going to have some accountability.
6. I am going to celebrate accomplishments.

 My resolutions are coming soon.

Christmas

Here are some highlights from Christmas this year:

1. We were all healthy. Well we were not sick. I am not sure how healthy I am. I ate like a pig.
2. Graham (my 7 year old) said he wanted to start a new tradition. Before we went down stairs to see what the kids got, he said we should pray, so we did.
3. I know it is better to give than receive, but I received some pretty cool stuff.
4. Ivey and Graham got a Wii. I am fired up about that gift.
5. Hearing Ivey (my 12 year old) say Daddy you are going to hit the TV, you are really close to the TV, BACK UP YOU JUST ABOUT HIT THE TV!!! That is what we heard constantly as Graham and I were Wii boxing.
6. I still can’t figure out how Graham knocks me out in boxing. I know I am throwing more punches and hitting harder.
7. Bekah’s (my 3 year old) face was so fun to watch when she opens anything.
8. Cathy simply amazes me how she does so much with a job, 3 kids and me. She still gets it done and done well!

Guy’s Bible Study

We have some guys in our student ministry who are serious about their faith. They have their own Bible Study on Thursdays and today I got to hang out with them. They rotate who teaches between themselves and all add to the lesson. Today Steven taught and did a great job!

Here is a few things I love about what they are doing:

1. They don’t need me. They are getting it done without my help. I love that.
2. They are serious about the Scriptures.
3. They totally student lead.
4. They meet in different places, such as Waffle House, Starbucks, etc.. (getting outside the church).
5. They are holding each other accountable.

Keep it up guys. You are a great example to our student ministry and church!

Official Member of the Junky Car Club!

I have been a proud member of this club for years without even knowing it. Today I made it official and joined. Click  http://www.virb.com/junkycarclub to learn more about a car club who is living with less so they can give more.

I know what some of you are thinking. Don’t hate, congratulate!

Learning to Let Go

“God is always working behind the scenes, engineering our circumstances and setting us up for success.”      Mark Batterson 

T.D. Jakes preached a sermon one time and he kept referring to our struggles, hard times, difficulties, etc.. as a setup for God do something amazing. I wished I remembered more of the sermon. It was good stuff.

I read once, in mountain climbing, sometimes the climber has to entirely release his grip from the rock he is holding on to and commit all of his energy to reach another ledge. For a moment he grasps nothing. It is a huge risk he must take to ascend the mountain.

Have you ever been there? Maybe you were forced to let go. Maybe it was by choice. It makes little difference, the point is sometimes in order to follow God you must let go of what is good to get to what is great. You must let go of what is comfortable, familiar, secure and launch out into uncertainty.

I have to tell I know from experience, it is a scary place to be. You  feel as though you are out there with no support, but the truth is you are never more supported.

You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!       Psalm 139:3-5

You will not be able to make sense of it all. You will not understand. Don’t even try. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!”

I am a better man today because of a couple of tough times in my life. Times when I had to let go of some things I loved. It was a set up. If that is what it takes for me to get to ascend, then I pray I will have to do it again. You get a glimpse of great our God is when you let go.

Lost My Phone

It is pretty trivial on the grand scale of things. But I am out about $200.00 and 200 saved phone numbers. So if you read this and don’t hear from me for a while, I probably don’t have your number. You can still call me at the same number.

New Band?

Graham (my 7 year old) said:

 “I want a guitar for Christmas. I want you to get one too. We could form a band and name it The Two Lone Strangers. Mama could sell our t-shirts and Ivey and Bekah could cook us cookies.”

That might not be funny to anyone else, but I laughed out loud. I have to admit that would be pretty fun.

Hawks Game

Graham earned free tickets to an Atlanta Hawks game Saturday night, so I took Graham and Ivey. We had a blast. I hadn’t been to see the Hawks play since I was in High School. Back in the Dominique Wilkins, Doc Rivers, Kevin Willis, Spud Webb, John Koncak, Kevin Battle, Tree Rollins & Antwan Carr days. Those were the good old days. But the Hawks were fun to watch tonight.

Highlights:

• The Hawks won 93 to 84.
• Graham loved the Kiss Cam.
• The Hawks drum line was cool.
• We got in when the doors open and got a couple autographs (Nazr Mohammed & Gerald Wallace).
• Seeing Graham & Ivey’s face when they got the autographs.
• Nazr Mohammed having to pull the program out of Grahams hand (for some reason Graham was not letting go).

The only thing that bugged me, Grown men standing in front of a couple of kids trying to get autographs. I gave Ivey and Graham permission to squirm in and one of the men had the nerve to look at them like they were being rude. I thought I was going to have to slap somebody (just kidding, kinda).

Be Agressive. Be, Be…

What if the church played aggressive? We tend to play not to lose.

Do you remember Boise State versus Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl back in January? Boise State used three trick plays at the end of the game. Winning on a 2 point conversion statue of liberty. The final 43-42 in OT. Boise State, the underdog, wins.

What if the church played not to lose? What if we went all out to reach the lost? What if we took some risk?

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.    Matthew 16:18

Does that sound like a church that plays it safe. No! It sounds like a church on the attack. Remember gates don’t play offense. Gates play defense. I convinced we play to much defense. We tend to care that everyone knows what we are against, rather telling them what we are for.  

I want to be a part of a student ministry that plays aggressive.

Quotable

“Maybe God allows the odds to be stacked against us so He can reveal more of His glory.”                            Mark Batterson

“My thoughts are not like your thoughts…”   –Isaiah 55:8