Heart Renovation

This Blog Is Moving!

2008-08-06T22:12:00.002-04:00

For the two or three of you that read this blog:

I've decided to experiment with Wordpress, so I've moved this blog. You can find me now here.

Family Vacation

2008-07-24T11:39:00.004-04:00

We took a few days of vacation this week and traveled to Lancaster, PA. The highlight of our short vacation was a trip to Dutch Wonderland, a theme park that bills itself as a 'Kingdom for Kids.' That is an apt description as our children had a great time! Here are a few short videos of the highlight of the day for me: Annie and Allison's first roller coaster!

IMPACT Virginia!

2008-06-23T22:27:00.003-04:00

I'm at IMPACT Virginia! this week. IMPACT is a week-long (construction) missions camp experience. This year we are in Bluefield, Virginia. We're staying at Bluefield College - a definite upgrade over sleeping on a high school classroom floor. Things are going well. I hope to be able to post some more later. I also hope to get back to more regular posting after I return.

The Perfect Alibi Trailer

2008-05-17T23:39:00.003-04:00

Here's a trailer for a short film by one of the students in my youth group. She's a senior and she wants to major in film/media. I've seen the film and it's pretty good. I think she's got a future in the film business. Many of the actors and extras are also members of our youth group and college group.

We're showing the film at our church later this month. Let me know if you want to come and I'll get you the details.

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Final Results

2008-05-09T15:22:00.009-04:00

It's been some time since I last posted to the blog. Going on two trips (to Kansas City and Atlanta) really threw off my schedule and I've been playing catch up for the past few weeks. A lot has happened in the last few weeks and I'll hopefully be catching up with the blog posting soon.

The Are you a bigger loser than Marko? contest ended during my trip to Kansas City. Since I wasn't taking my scale with me to KC, I did my final weigh in on Wednesday morning, April 23. The contest ended on Friday, with final weight and pictures due in to YS by 8 AM. I finished at 219 pounds - for a total loss of 32 pounds during the 12 weeks of competition. That put me in about 14th place among the men that completed the contest. I finished 4 pounds shy of my goal, but I am not disappointed. I am really happy that I lost 32 pounds! Unbelievable! Here are the pictures:

Click here to see the starting pictures. I can tell that I've lost a lot because my clothes do not fit anymore, Randa keeps telling me how skinny I look, and people at church and elsewhere have noticed and commented on the loss. It's been great! Marko won the contest. He lost just over 60 pounds! However, he was disqualified later - check out the video below to see why (and why youth ministry people are the best)!

I've not eaten as well or exercised as regularly since the end of the contest, but I had lost one more pound as of Monday bringing me to 218 pounds and the half way mark to my ultimate goal! I've eaten better and exercised more this week and I plan to stay on track until I reach my ultimate goal of 185 pounds. My new goals are as follows: I'd like to be at 205 pounds by the time we leave for IMPACT Virginia! on June 22nd. I'd like to be at 185 pounds by the time we leave for Summit Lake Senior High Retreat on September 26th. That would be awesome!

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 218, Ultimate Goal 185

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 11 Recap

2008-04-21T23:31:00.002-04:00

This week was not so good for me - no weight loss. But, no weight gain either! I'm hoping to make my goal weight, but realistically, I know I won't - especially for the contest (which ends this Friday). This experience has been great and I love that I have lost weight.

A Friend's Ordination

2008-04-21T23:30:00.005-04:00

Sunday morning I drove down to the Roanoke area to participate in the ordination of my friend, Terry Goodnight. Terry is the Minister to Students at Vinton Baptist Church. I had the privilege to share in his ordination by giving The Charge to the Candidate. It's a little long, but I want to include it here because I really want to remember this special day in my friend's life.

Terry and I have known each other for 12 years. We first met in the Spring of 1996 at a preview weekend at Truett Seminary. We both enrolled in the Fall of that year and by the end of our first year of seminary, we had become life-long friends. This time of ordination has been a long time in coming and I am privileged to be a part of this service.

Ordination is simply the setting apart by formal recognition to an office or special service. Of course, ordination is not essential to ministry. Charles H. Spurgeon and D.L. Moody were never ordained, but both had wonderful ministries. Ordination is however, important for both the church and the minister. I was ordained almost one year ago to the day (mine was on April 22). For the longest time, I resisted being ordained. But then things changed. Let me share with you a passage from my blog that I wrote back on November 29, 2005, that I feel illustrates the importance of ordination:
"My pastor has encouraged me to consider ordination not only as part of God's calling on my life, but also because it would be good for our church. Although he didn't use these words, ordination would be a part of God's calling on our church community. I think I feel comfortable with that view of ordination. After all, being a pastor is about living out a shared calling with my church community--it's our calling!"

In the words of Baptist historian Leon McBeth, "It's a good thing to recognize God's call on a person's life. It's a way to say, 'We recognize God has called and gifted you for ministry. Amen, and more power to you.'"

With that in mind, Terry, I’d like to share a verse that reminds me of you. It is Ezra 7:10:
"For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel."

Terry, I think of three things when I think of you as a minister: you are a life-long learner, you are a passionate teacher, and you love teenagers. With those things in mind, I want to leave you with these challenges:

FIRST, deepen your love relationship with the LORD. Make daily time for God and spend daily time with God. Live out James 4:8 – Come near to God and he will come near to you. This is the foundation that you must have in order to be successful as a minister. After God, comes your family, and then your ministry. Don’t fall into the temptation to reverse the order. Terry, I charge you to Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

SECOND, continue to be obedient to the word of God. As you study the word, make it a priority to be diligent in obeying its commands and truths. Live by the saying attributed to St. Francis of Assisi – Preach the word daily; if necessary, use words. Terry, I charge you to make the Word a lamp to your feet and a light for your path, to make God’s statutes the joy of your heart, and to set your heart on keeping God’s decrees to the very end.

THIRD, continue to love people and care for them. Terry, I have experienced your friendship, love, and care first hand. You have made a difference in my life. Continue to make a difference in people’s lives. Always let people know you love them. Terry, I charge you to keep loving and caring for people.

FOURTH, continue being a person of integrity. As Paul Powell says in his book, The New Ministers Manual, “Effective ministry is based on integrity.” Ministries crumble to pieces when integrity is lacking. Terry, you are a man of integrity and my charge here to you is to keep being the man of integrity that you are.

FIFTH, be sincere in your ministry. Be yourself; don’t put on a front or wear a mask. Now, I don’t think this is going to be a problem. I have never experienced you as anything other than the real deal. You are not false or superficial or full of pride. You are a man of your word and you are someone who can be counted on. The charge here is to keep doing that and to GIVE GOD THE GLORY!

Now, the church has a responsibility to you as well. Church, I charge you to take care of Terry—financially meet his needs, give him time for himself and his (future) family, support him in prayer, accept him as a leader, do your part in the work of the ministry, encourage him, and cooperate together in setting goals for the future of Vinton Baptist Church. Remember that in ordaining Terry, you are all in the ministry together.

FINALLY, with apologies to Paul, In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge Terry: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Love God with your whole being. Obey the Word at all times. Love and care for people. Live with integrity each and every day. And give God the Glory in all you do.

That night, Terry's youth "ordained" him in their own special way. You gotta love youth ministry!

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 10 Recap

2008-04-14T17:54:00.005-04:00

Week 10 was great! I lost 4 pounds and now I'm down to 220 pounds. I am only 5 pounds away from my contest goal with two weeks remaining! I'm almost halfway to my ultimate goal of 185 pounds. I wasn't expecting to lose so much this week because even though my eating was good I didn't think my exercise was that great. I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped on the scale this morning! I'm feeling better physically and people, especially at church, are starting to notice and say nice things about my weight loss. Of course Randa has been the best. It's great to hear your wife gush over how good she thinks you're looking! With only two more weeks to go and beating Marko an unattainable goal at this point (he's lost close to 55 pounds), I have firmly set my sights on reaching my goal of getting down to 215 pounds - a 36 pound loss over 12 weeks. Here's to a great two remaining weeks!

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 220, Contest Goal 215, Ultimate Goal 185

Contest Rank: I'm currently in 11th place among the men - not too bad!

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 9 Recap

2008-04-07T22:17:00.005-04:00

I lost two pounds this past week - encouraging, but I was hoping for three! That puts me at 27 pounds lost after 9 weeks. I am still on schedule for making my contest goal weight of 215, but it will not be easy. I need to lose three pounds a week these next three weeks - hard, but doable!

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 224, Contest Goal 215, Ultimate Goal 185

Family Spring Break!

2008-04-05T16:20:00.009-04:00

Since Annie goes to a school that is on a modified calendar, we've had an extended Spring Break this year - three weeks! The first week, of course, was Holy Week. But, these last two weeks have given us opportunities as a family to get away and do some fun things together. This year, we visited Maymont in Richmond, the Children's Museum of Richmond, the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin, and just had some fun times locally at parks and at the Planet Play in the mall. Here is a slide show with some of the highlights:

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 8 Recap

2008-03-31T23:13:00.004-04:00

As you can see, Week 8 did not go as well as I hoped! Once again, I only lost one pound. I really was hoping to lose three. Technically, I'm still on pace to reach my contest goal of losing 36 pounds - at the two-thirds point I've lost 25 pounds. Realistically, I'm thinking for the first time that I might not make my goal. I'm still hopeful and I'm still happy that I am losing weight. Here's to a strong finish in the final third of the contest! Marko is kicking serious butt (he's lost just shy of 47 pounds) - there may not be any bigger losers than Marko!

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 226, Contest Goal 215, Ultimate Goal 185

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 7 Recap

2008-03-24T11:53:00.005-04:00

Week 7 was my worst week so far in the contest. In retrospect, I knew this kind of week was coming. I only lost one pound this week. I knew things would get tougher as we progressed, but the reality of small losses (or no losses) hadn't hit me until this morning. I have to keep reminding myself that I am doing this not so much to win or even beat Marko (although that would be nice), but to make long-term lifestyle changes with the way I eat and exercise. Small losses and no gains are still making progress toward that life-changing goal and that's what is important.

I ate fairly well last week. What let me down (again) was not drinking enough water and not exercising consistently. I blame part of that on it being Spring Break week, but part has to be blamed on just plain laziness. I'll have to buckle down if I want to reach my weight loss goal for the contest. I'm 12 pounds away from my contest goal, with 5 weeks remaining. I can reach my goal! With that in mind, here are my goals for the remainder of the contest. I hope to lose three pounds in each of the next two weeks and two pounds in each of the last three weeks. That would put me squarely on my goal of losing 36 pounds! Here we go!

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 227, Contest Goal 215, Ultimate Goal 185

Lent Update - Final

2008-03-24T11:20:00.006-04:00

Lent is over! This year's season of Lent was special for me. I was able to keep my Lenten promise of not watching sports on television. It was difficult at times, but it was a good promise to make and to keep. Randa especially enjoyed not having the TV on sports during the weekends of Lent. I was able to do more with my family during this time, so that was nice. I also was able to reflect more inwardly spiritually during this time. Missing sports on TV (especially the first three days of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament) wasn't too bad. I was satisfied with filling that time by focusing on my relationship with God. I even learned a few things about myself and how I had been spending my time. I need to spend more time with my family and with God. While I'm not giving up sports watching for good, I'll definitely watch less from here on out. (Football season will be the big test - I'll check back on this promise then.)

Once again, I enjoyed hearing from the children about how they did with their promises. The youth made promises this year as well. Sharing together in community this discipline was good - for us as individuals and as a group. I always left church on Wednesday and Sunday nights encouraged by the stories from the children and youth.

The final observation that I have on Lent is the power of the promise kept. Focusing on the promise during the season of Lent brought a new appreciation and joy for Easter. Celebrating Easter took on a new sense of joy as I was able to watch some NCAA basketball on television for the first time! I don't think it was a coincidence that the first NCAA tourney game I was able to watch was the Davidson upset of Georgetown. Pure joy!

Easter

2008-03-23T21:33:00.007-04:00

We had a great Easter Sunday! The National Chamber Brass played in our service this morning. They have become an Easter Sunday tradition and really add a special quality to our worship service. Our pastor gave three meditations from John 20; they tied together nicely and after each of the first two, you were left waiting for the next one. In between the meditations was music - either a hymn or special music. Today's service had more music than usual and that was a good thing! The following hymn is one that we sung today and also one of my favorites.

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Christ the Lord is risen today. Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, you heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where’s your victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!

Praise to you by both be given, Alleluia!

You we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

You to know, your power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

After church, we went to Boston Market for lunch. After nap time/quiet time (and Tourney time for me), we had our egg hunt, took some family pictures, and dyed eggs. It was definitely a full day!

Spring Break / Holy Week

2008-03-22T23:25:00.005-04:00

This past week was Spring Break for our students. Spring Break always coincides with Holy Week here in Fairfax County. We usually plan a few opportunities for fellowship and an opportunity for service during the week, in addition to the special worship opportunities provided by the church. This year's worship opportunities included a Maundy Thursday service and a prayer labyrinth.

Monday was spent at a Wizards game. The Wizards played Atlanta. We went down early and had dinner at Potbelly's before the game. Since it was St. Patrick's Day, the Wizards were having a promotional giveaway - nice, green rally towels that light up.

The game was exciting for the most part, but the Wizards lost, as they have not heard about something called 'playing defense'. It was a nice consolation to see Acie Law play for the Hawks. (Acie is probably the best men's basketball player ever from Texas A&M). All in all, it was a good time!

Wednesday was laser tag day. Laser tag was a compromise between bowling and paintball. We played over at Shadowland in Alexandria. Everyone seemed to have an enjoyable time, but the best memory I'll take from the event was when one of our senior girls got excited about finishing in second place and declared that she found her calling!

Friday, the family and I spent the day together. We went to Krispy Kreme for a mid-morning snack. I'm proud to say that I only had one chocolate-glazed donut! After that, we went to a nearby park - Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. We almost had the whole place to ourselves! We played on the park playground, walked around the park, and played on the playgrounds at the school next to the park. We ended our time at the park by having a mid-afternoon picnic and a final round of play on the playground. It was a fun day!

Today was our service project. We joined with Cornerstone Baptist in Warrenton for a follow-up time to our JUBILEE Retreat. This was another opportunity for us to put Jubilee into action.

We worked at a ministry called Community Touch. This ministry is doing wonderful things in the rural community outside of Warrenton. They have a food bank, a clothing and furniture store, and they provide transitional housing. It was great to be able to serve at a ministry that is doing meaningful things in their community. It was also fun to hang out with Josh.

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 6 Recap

2008-03-17T11:47:00.005-04:00

We're at the halfway mark of the contest! I lost 2 pounds this past week, bringing me to 228 pounds. Not bad, but it was only half of what I wanted to lose. I slacked off too much this past week - not enough walking, too much eating out (and too many sweets), and not drinking enough water. I plan to get back on track this week, so I'm setting my goal for this week to lose 4 pounds. I'm happy that I'm losing weight each week. I feel better than I have felt in a long time. I even managed to win a game of basketball knockout against the youth last night! Randa bested me this week by losing three pounds - way to go, Babe!

Marko is tearing it up! He was in 2nd place among the men last week. He lost a little over three pounds this past week, so he's ahead of me by about 12-13 pounds. Since we started at about the same weight, it's not looking good for me as far as beating him. But, you never know! I'm just glad I am losing weight. I'm also encouraged by my progress and I am pretty sure that I will make my goal of getting to 215 by the end of the contest! That would be awesome and victory for me!

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 228, Contest Goal 215, Ultimate Goal 185

Lent Update - Week 5

2008-03-17T11:12:00.007-04:00

Carrot Top Studios

We're to Holy Week now. So far, I have done pretty well in keeping my Lenten Promise of not watching sports on television. I noticed I had been lingering a little too long when I was flipping through the channels Saturday. I feel that this week will be the most difficult for me because of the NCAA basketball tournament beginning on Thursday. But, I also feel it will be the most rewarding as well. As I've been discussing with the children and youth, the keeping of a promise is not supposed to be for us to brag about, but something that draws us closer to God. I am hoping that this week will be a good time of reflection for me - reflecting on my relationship with God, my role as a husband and father, and my role as a vocational minister. As we talked about last night at FaithStation (our youth group meeting), I want to think on a deeper level this week and gain insight into who I really am in God's eyes. Easter is coming - Hallelujah!

the CORE: Generation Change

2008-03-15T16:22:00.003-04:00

Today, six of us (three adults, three students) attended the CORE: Generation Change at National Presbyterian Church in D.C. This year's theme was about transformation and helping students reach their dreams of changing their world. As always, the CORE material was excellent and our presenter, Brock Morgan, was very good. He shared personal examples from his ministry and from his family that really connected the theme material with the audience. We had to leave early so that some of our students could be at the final choir rehearsal for Sunday's performance of the Vivaldi Gloria. I trust my friend Chris will fill me in on what we missed! I love the ministry of Youth Specialties, especially their two big events: the CORE and the National Youth Workers Convention (NYWC). The CORE is an excellent opportunity for all youth workers (and for the first time this year, student leaders) to get some training and encouragement. The time commitment and price can't be beat and the content is always timely and helpful!

That's a Scary Thought!

2008-03-14T23:41:00.005-04:00

Dr. Gray!
Picture this setting as you say those words: I'm in a hospital room visiting with a patient. Here's the story:

I made a hospital visit today to see a church member who is recovering from surgery on a herniated disc. While there, I was mistaken for being a doctor not once, but twice! Two different nurses came into the room and asked me if I was the patient's primary care physician. After the second time that I said "No, I'm a pastor," I mentioned something about not being able to wait to tell others that I was mistaken for being a doctor. The nurse replied that she would rather be mistaken for being a pastor. In my mind I'm thinking, "I'd rather be a pastor, but get paid like a doctor!"

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 5 Recap

2008-03-10T11:30:00.007-04:00

Week 5 is in the books and I lost another 3 pounds! That puts me at 230 pounds - a total loss so far of 21 pounds! Randa lost another pound and she has lost a total of 9 pounds so far! We are both one pound shy of having lost a third of the weight we need to lose in order to reach our ultimate goal weight.

I wasn't sure how I was going to do this week. I had to eat out more than normal, so that was hard. I was at another weekend youth event, so that was hard. And to top it all off, I didn't get to walk as much as I have been. The thing that saved me was that I managed, through all the difficulties, to eat well.

Meanwhile, Marko had a great week 4, so I'm 7 pounds behind him pending Week 5's results. Marko has been doing awesome. I guess there's nothing like the pressure of having to possibly give away lots of free stuff to get you extra motivated! (Of course, having a personal trainer helps as well!) I've really enjoyed this contest and I feel so much better physically having lost some weight. It will be interesting to see what YS does once the contest ends. I think they should (and will in some way) keep the emphasis on healthy living going. After all, YS works so hard to nurture the souls of youth workers - why not nurture the physical bodies of youth workers as well? Here's to a great Week 6! I'm shooting for a 4 pound loss this week!

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 230, Contest Goal 215, Ultimate Goal 185

Lent Update - Week 4

2008-03-10T10:38:00.004-04:00

Slabbinck Church Tapestries - Passion

This week went pretty well. I've been able to keep my promise not to watch sports on television fairly easily so far. Difficult weeks are ahead, however. This week is "Championship Week" in college basketball, the week when most conference tournaments take place. After this, comes Selection Sunday and the revealing of the tournament bracket. Then, during Holy Week, March Madness kicks into full force with the First and Second Rounds of the tournament being played. These next two weeks are the weeks that I've been dreading because I already know how much I am going to want to break my promise. I am confident I can keep my promise because of three things: 1)the encouragement I'm receiving from Randa, 2)the accountability I'm receiving from the children, youth, and friends, and 3)because of the Become More... theme from the PlanetWisdom Student Conference this past weekend. I'm seeing this Lenten promise as part of my lifestyle of surrender of my heart (as the clay) to God (as the potter).

The children and youth are continuing to inspire me during this time of Lent. The ones that are keeping promises are doing well and are really being touched by God in the process. It's exciting to see and hear others share about their experiences with God!

PlanetWisdom Student Conference

2008-03-08T22:21:00.012-05:00

We returned earlier this evening from attending the PlanetWisdom Student Conference at the Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge. The theme this year was Become More... and it was excellent! This was our first PlanetWisdom Student Conference. I've heard Mark Matlock speak before and I've seen The Skit Guys many times, so I knew it would be good. Hearing Mark share his heart periodically with the youth leaders during the weekend only confirmed the trust I felt heading into the weekend. Mark shared a little about a new parenting initiative WisdomWorks is working on - Real World Parents. It sounds like it will be good and helpful - and it is needed! Can't wait to find out more! Addison Road led musically in worship and Sean McDowell also taught a few sessions. Fewer personalities, all of which are directly involved in some way in local church ministry, contributed to a very focused conference and I appreciated that.

Only six of us attended, but I signed our group up again for next year because I really felt the quality of the conference is well worth experiencing again. Next year, Dutton Band will be a part of the team. I enjoyed seeing and hanging out with Chris, Mary Beth, Steve, Lane, and Darren. I also got to meet Brian Coday, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator for the National Network of Youth Ministries. We were Facebook friends, but hadn't met in person until today. Brian is passionate about what he does with helping connect ministries together to reach more students. I look forward to getting to know him better in the future.

The theme was the reason why I encouraged our Ministry Group leadership that we should attend the conference this year. Our ministry theme for this year has been "Whatever...Do Something!" The Whatever part is from last year's IMPACT Virginia! - "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col. 3:17)." The Do Something part came from the One Life theme - "You Have One Life, Do Something!" I felt that the Become More... theme of PlanetWisdom fit it nicely with our ministry theme. After all, if you are becoming more, you'll definitely be doing something for Christ!

The metaphor of the potter and the clay and all the spiritual applications that come with those images made this a powerful theme. Friday night was especially effective as Mark sat at the potter's wheel and 'threw a pot' as he taught. The visual was very arresting - several thousand people watching in rapt attention. You could have heard a pin drop! Mark took us through the steps to making a piece of pottery - centering, opening, pulling, trimming, shaping, glazing, supporting clay, and firing. Along the way, he shared spiritual applications for each step. Check it out below:

Sean and Mark did a great job today of giving us the rest of the pieces needed to lead a life of growth. I appreciated the solid teaching and I especially appreciated the simple, direct invitation Mark gave this afternoon that focused more on the relationship between the student and the local church, instead of numbers. There were no decision cards because the important thing was for the students to be able to have a conversation with a loving adult from their church about how God was moving in them during the weekend. I really appreciate that attitude and that commitment to the importance of the local church.

There are flashier conferences around, but I would highly recommend you choose a focused event more likely to bring life-change. In my humble opinion, PlanetWisdom is a conference you should attend. I don't think you will be disappointed.

I'm Going to the Prelude Gathering!

2008-03-08T21:20:00.003-05:00

I'm happy to report that I'm going to the Prelude Gathering in Kansas City in April. I first heard about Prelude from Chris Folmsbee while I was attending one of his seminars at the Youth Specialties NYWC-2007 in San Diego. I was interested in going, but didn't think it would be possible because I was already planning to attend a conference oriented more toward Family, Youth, and Children's ministry and I wouldn't have the budget money for a second.

After finding out that Josh, Tom, and Chris (and maybe a few others from our area) were going, I began to think more about how I might be able to attend. The reason I wanted to go is because of the conversations that will take place about new kinds of youth ministry and spiritual formation in adolescents and the chance to experience those conversations with some good friends and colleagues. After explaining this to my pastor and showing that I won't be too much overspent on my conference budget, I was given the go ahead to attend. I registered for Prelude and got my airline tickets on Wednesday! My dream is that the group of us from Northern Virginia will be able to take what we learn and experience at Prelude and come back and together do some transformational things in youth ministry/spiritual formation in our area.

The Scariest Thing I've Done In Awhile

2008-03-05T23:13:00.003-05:00

Today, I spoke to all the kindergarten students at Annie's school - all 69 of them! I can say, without a doubt, that it was one of the scariest speaking opportunities I have had! But, once I got started talking, things settled down and I felt at ease. The kids were great! I was invited to speak because I am a "community helper." I had 30 minutes (a long time with a room full of kindergartners!) to share with them about my job.

I took "Theo," a dog puppet we use in our preschool ministry to help with my talk. I even did the high-pitch voice that Theo uses on Wednesday nights. I used Theo to help me share about what I do in the office, what I do with the youth and children, and other things I do and our church in general does. I specifically tried to share why our church is an important part of the community since that is what they are learning about right now.

One way I tried to make the point that a church is an important part of the community was by sharing about our food pantry and how we help people. I used Play-Doh to help tell about our food pantry. I made a person out of the Play-Doh and explained that people come to our church in need of food because they are hungry. To illustrate that, I punched a whole in the person where the stomach would be - to illustrate the person's tummy was empty and they were hungry. I then asked if the kids liked Macaroni & Cheese (almost every hand went up) and I shaped the Play-Doh into the share of a food box. After explaining that we give people food and gift cards to the grocery store, I made the Play-Doh into the shape of a smiley face to illustrate that the person was fed and happy! I brought small Play-Doh containers for all the kids, along with pens from our church. I encouraged them to share the Play-Doh story with their families at home. I also encouraged the kids to write thank-you notes with the pens - to their teachers, family members, or friends. All in all, it was a good time - I really enjoyed the experience!

Hopefully, Annie's teacher will email me a picture or two that I can post later.

Happy Birthday, Randa!

2008-03-05T23:10:00.004-05:00

Today is my lovely wife Randa's birthday! She is 42 years young and still as beautiful, if not more, today than the day we met nearly 10 years ago!

The girls and I baked a cake last night and the girls frosted it this morning. Annie picked out a pair of earrings for Randa and Allison gave Randa a Periwinkle Ty Beanie Baby stuffed animal. (For those that don't know, Periwinkle is from Blue's Clues.) Ainsley and I gave Randa a book (Iron & Silk by Mark Salzman) and cd (The Altar and the Door by Casting Crowns). And of course, there were cards galore - including the first signature from Allison in which she spelled and wrote her whole name by herself. And the mailbox only had cards for Randa today! Incredible!

Happy Birthday, Babe!

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 4 Recap

2008-03-03T11:24:00.003-05:00

Week 4 was great! I met my goal and lost 3 pounds last week! After the first four weeks (a third of the way through), I have lost a total of 18 pounds! I'm halfway to meeting my contest goal of losing 36 pounds!

My parents were in town last week for Annie's sixth birthday, so I was a little worried that this was going to be a hard/bad week for me eating-wise. But, my parents were very supportive and encouraging of me and my taking part in the contest - that made things a whole lot easier. I managed to survive a week with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese for a birthday dinner, a birthday party with my favorite Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake, and several outings out to restaurants, especially the Old Ebbitt Grill in D.C. I ate well and was able to exercise plenty this last week. In fact, I think last week was my best week eating and exercising together that I have had thus far. I tried to run some, but my body is not ready for the pounding yet, so I upped my walking distances/times instead. Randa has been very encouraging and that helps A LOT!

Week 5 has its challenges. First, Randa celebrates her birthday on Wednesday! The girls and I will bake her a birthday cake again this year (very tempting), so that will be an obstacle. We'll also go out to celebrate! Second, I am deciding not to eat the church Wednesday night dinners. They are good, but not for my diet! Finally, I travel again with the youth to the PlanetWisdom Student Conference this weekend. As always, I have to plan ahead so that I can choose meals that will be good for me - not too hard, but time-consuming. And I won't get to exercise as much as I would like during the conference weekend. But, I'm going to do the best I can! My goal for this week is to lose another 3 pounds.

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 233, Contest Goal 215, Ultimate Goal 185

Lent Update - Week 3

2008-03-03T11:00:00.004-05:00

Abbott Church Supplies - Slabbinck Lent Banner

This past week was the hardest week for me in keeping my Lenten promise to not watch sports on TV. My parents were in town last week to celebrate Annie's sixth birthday. One thing my dad and I like to do together is watch sports on TV. We didn't do that last week. Saturday was the hardest day for me. For the first time since Lent began, I was home for most of the day on Saturday. As college basketball draws toward the conclusion of the regular season, there were several good games on TV. I missed seeing Coach K get his 800th win and Texas get upset by Texas Tech! But, each time I flipped through the channels Saturday afternoon and saw some sport on TV, I quickly flipped away and was reminded of my promise to focus my thoughts toward God. I also decided that it would be better to do something with the girls than to watch TV, so we worked on some craft projects and played some games that Annie received at her birthday party earlier Saturday morning. And then I took a long nap. It was nice to be able to do that!

The children at church who are keeping promises seem to be doing well. Some have already completed some of the actions they promised to take during Lent and have moved on to other promises. Hearing their stories and experiencing their energy is very encouraging!

U.S. Treasury Tour (and other adventures with Flat Stanley)

2008-02-29T17:33:00.008-05:00

We went on a special tour of the U.S. Treasury today.

Our tour was arranged by Neal Carlton, a former Boy Scout (Eagle Scout) from my dad's troop. Neal is the Scheduler for the Treasurer. We met the Treasurer of the United States, Anna Escobedo Cabral. She was very nice and greeted all of us, including Allison and Ainsley. We also met a Treasury intern from Alaska named Eric. He is an interesting guy. And we met several of Neal's friends: Michael, a staffer in Congressman Joe Barton's office, and Chris, who works at the Treasury. After our visit, we went over to the Old Ebbitt Grill for lunch.

It was great. The food and atmosphere were wonderful. After lunch, we went over to the White House so we could take a picture. But, the south side was blocked off. And here's why:

So instead, we took a picture in front of the north side of the White House. Ainsley is sleeping by this point - pretty amazing considering it was cold and windy!

The paper doll in the pictures is Flat Stanley. He was sent for a visit by Maryanna, a second-grade girl from our last church in Texas. Her class is doing a project about different states. Flat Stanley is supposed to visit different states and his hosts are supposed to send back pictures, postcards, and stories about what he learned. So we took him with us today!

Annie is Six!

2008-02-27T23:47:00.003-05:00

Happy 6th Birthday, Annie!!!!!!

I Love You!

Daddy

We interrupt this program for an important message from BBC News...

2008-02-27T10:27:00.007-05:00

Last Saturday, our church held our annual Mama Mia's fellowship. Mama Mia's is a church-wide spaghetti supper and variety show that raises money for youth missions. People from the community also support this event. The great thing about Mama Mia's is that many, many people are involved and it is great fun (and I'm not in charge)! Our creative people really get to show off their talents and skills (as well as some who are not so creative, but are good sports). Check out the video above for an example of the show. The theme this year was "TV Like You Have Never Experienced Before." To see more, check out our youth group's blog here!

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 3 Recap

2008-02-25T10:54:00.003-05:00

Week 3 is in the books and we have reached the one-quarter mark of the contest. I did okay this past week - I lost 2 1/2 pounds. It's not quite the 3 pounds I was hoping for, but it was better than the 1 1/2 pounds I lost during week 2. (Randa had a better week than me and lost 3 pounds. Way to go, Babe!) So far, at the one-quarter point, I've lost 15 pounds. Not too bad! I'm 21 pounds away from my contest goal with 9 weeks left. I did better with my eating and walking last week. This week I am hoping to add some other exercises in addition to walking. I might even try to mix in some running this week - after I get some running shoes. My parents are in town this week for Annie's birthday, so that will make it a little tougher to stay on the right track eating-wise. I think I had too many sweets last week; I'm going to try to limit myself to just a piece of birthday cake this week! All in all, I'm pretty happy with things so far!

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 236, Contest Goal 215, Ultimate Goal 185

I Saw a Glimpse of Heaven Yesterday

2008-02-25T10:26:00.003-05:00

...or maybe heard a glimpse of heaven is more appropriate. Yesterday our church celebrated a joint worship service with the Northern Virginia Chinese Baptist Church. The NVCBC started out as a mission church of Westwood and reached full church status in 2005. Sunday was their last time to meet in our facilities. They are moving to the Fairfax area and will meet in two locations for their various ministries - an elementary school and another church. This move, as one of their members shared Sunday, will be bittersweet, but it will allow for growth to occur in both congregations. Both congregations seem excited about the possibilities the future holds.

During the service, we did two things that painted a picture for me of heaven: we said the Lord's Prayer together and we took communion together. To hear the Lord's Prayer spoken by hundreds of people in Chinese and English (and who knows what other languages) was an awesome and powerful experience. The rhythm of the voices reciting the words of the prayer simultaneously was both wonderful and awe-inspiring. To see two different churches cooperating in the serving of communion really helped to see a glimpse of what heaven will look like and be like - all God's people worshipping him no matter the differences in race, gender, age, or language. It was a good day to be in the house of the Lord!

JUBILEE Retreat

2008-02-23T15:44:00.012-05:00

Last weekend I was on retreat at a monastery in Newport News with my youth group and my good friend Josh Hayden's youth group. The retreat was called the JUBILEE Retreat and you can read about our hopes concerning the retreat here. I really enjoyed the retreat!

Most of all I enjoyed planning the retreat with Josh. I love being able to plan and share ministry opportunities with friends. And I especially enjoy friends who make me think in deeper and fresh way. Josh is that kind of friend. Our friendship was a big reason I decided to suggest to our Youth Ministry Group leadership that we do our Winter Retreat differently this year. Normally, we go on retreat during the semester break. I'll invite in a speaker and worship leader, we'll go away to a resort, enjoy skiing and tubing, and have a few sessions. We usually have a great time and take a big group, but the retreat sessions part usually isn't that powerful because the kids are always tired from skiing. And because of that, I have felt that we are not being good stewards of our ministry budget dollars. This year we are substituting three things for our Winter Retreat - a ski day at Whitetail, the JUBILEE Retreat, and the PlanetWisdom Student Conference. Doing this met several needs: better stewardship, a greater focus on the retreat teaching, and being able to participate in activities with other groups. After PlanetWisdom, we'll evaluate and make decisions for next year.

I thought the retreat went well. We only had 8 in our group - 3 adults and 5 youth.

Despite the low number, I felt the participation was above average. I am really looking forward to seeing how this retreat impacts the lives of these youth, our youth group, and our church. Here's a breakdown of the retreat from my perspective:

LOCATION
The location, LivingStone Monastery, was a perfect setting for our theme of Jubilee.

Being able to observe people living for a season of their life in community was wonderful. Being able to join with them in the daily rhythms of their prayer life was fantastic! Having our students have the opportunity to have a Q&A with them was beneficial and helpful for the retreat and for the students.

The facility itself was very conducive to having a spiritually-focused retreat. Our hosts displayed wonderful gifts of hospitality.

SPEAKER
The speaker, Jon Middendorf, did a great job communicating the idea of Jubilee to us. We had three worship gatherings and the style of Jon's teaching changed with each gathering. I think that helps to keep interest from the audience as well as allow people to experience several different learning styles. I thought Jon did a great job of explaining Jubilee and then tying it into our personal, church, and community lives. I was challenged and inspired to make Jubilee a reality.

We ended our last worship gathering with taking communion together - two different youth groups from two different Baptist churches, but with one heart - a heart for Jesus and a heart for Jubilee.

WORSHIP LEADERS
The worship music, led by Tim Gardner and Kent Jaffrey, was excellent and the audio/visuals, led by Kent's wife Andrea, fit in seamlessly and added to the experience immeasurably.

The songs chosen, the graphics used, the prayers and readings chosen, and the movie clips used for reflection all helped to create an environment for worship to take place. The theme song, Give Reviving, was wonderful and for me, helped to focus my thoughts on Jubilee.

OBSERVATIONS
I felt that the worship stations allowed for us to reflect more in depth our relationship with God and they also helped us have an awareness to the need for Jubilee in our lives and in our world.

I felt that the discussion time with Jon about Jubilee and how it impacts us on many levels was powerful, challenging, and inspiring all at the same time. I have great hope in a future where this band of students and adults has chosen to make Jubilee a reality in daily living! This hope was seen in the response to our groups to the movie we watched on Saturday night, God Grew Tired of Us. The movie dealt with the crisis in Sudan and followed the stories of several of the "lost boys." Seeing their response to tragedy and injustice was inspiring.

PRACTICE
The chance to work with the community at LivingStone was an integral part of the weekend. I had hoped we would be out in the community instead of at the monastery, but all in all it was good to do something, however simple it may be, that will help minister to others as they come to LivingStone for help. I look forward to our groups getting together again in our local communities and practicing Jubilee together!

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
I really enjoy doing things differently than they have always been done. It's good to get out of our comfort zones and stretch our mental and spiritual muscles. Through solid teaching, wonderful music, opportunities for service, observing others living in community, and being challenged to bring about Jubilee, this retreat definitely made a mark on me and I trust my youth group and Josh's youth group. Ending with lunch and games at Chuck E. Cheese capped off a great retreat weekend!

Lent Update - Week 2

2008-02-23T15:20:00.004-05:00

This is a bit later than usual, but I am doing well in keeping my Lenten promise. Next Wednesday I will be teaching the children and I am looking forward to discussing with them how their promises are going and how they are experiencing God during Lent. This year, for the first time, I have introduced the idea of Lenten promises to the youth. Sunday night will be our first time to have discussion about our promises - I am looking forward to that as well!

One thing I have noticed in reading other people's blogs about making promises for Lent is that some people share about their promise and some people choose to keep things to themselves. I see merit in both approaches. I like to share because I need/want the accountability that comes with sharing. I also appreciate the community aspect of sharing the promises. I also try to emphasize the idea of humility with the groups that I share/discuss with - we're not doing this to brag about how good we are, but instead, to draw closer in relationship to God and each other.

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 2 Recap

2008-02-18T22:45:00.004-05:00

Week 2 is in the books! It wasn't a great week like last week, but it was a good week because I did lose weight. I lost 1 1/2 pounds last week - I'm now at 238 1/2 pounds. Not too bad considering Valentine's Day fell last week, I couldn't walk several nights, and I was on a youth retreat last weekend. I knew it was going to be a hard week, but I still was hoping to lose 3 pounds. I've already eaten better today and had a great walk tonight! Here's to a great Week 3!

At the end of Week 1, I was in 9th place. Marko was in 14th place. Week 2's standings came out this afternoon and I did not stay ranked. Week 2's standings are different than Week 1's - Week 2 lists the top 10 men and the top 10 women; Week 1 listed just the top 10 overall. Marko is still in 14th place overall. According to his blog, he has lost 14 pounds so far; I've lost 12 1/2.

TRACKER: Starting Weight 251, Current Weight 238 1/2, Contest Goal 215, Ultimate Goal 185

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T21:40:00.007-05:00

Here's a glimpse into what my Valentine's Day is like - love, flowers, and candy for all the girls in my life!

Here we have home-made cards for the three girls. We have roses for Randa - 9 roses, one for each Valentine's Day we have spent together. We have three roses for my three sweet daughters. There is candy for Annie and Allison. And last, but not least, we have tulips - Randa's favorite!

This part of the post is for my wife.

Happy Valentine's Day, Babe!

To my one and only, always and forever!

I love you!

Lent Update - Week 1

2008-02-14T21:11:00.003-05:00

Week 1 of keeping my Lenten promise went well. I was able to keep my promise of not watching sports on television. I was able to spend more quality time with family on Saturday and I was able to reflect on my relationship with God when I normally would have been watching sports. Since those two things are the reasons I am doing this particular promise, I feel pretty good about the Lenten journey so far.

I don't really anticipate not watching sports on television being too difficult until my parents arrive for a week-long visit next Saturday. My dad, like myself, loves watching sports on television. After that hurdle, the big test comes when March Madness begins. The First and Second Rounds take place during the final days of Lent. After football, the NCAA Tournament is my favorite sporting event to watch.

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 1 Recap

2008-02-11T12:09:00.000-05:00

Well, Week 1 is in the books and I'm happy to report that it was a great week! I lost 11 pounds! My current weight is now 240.

I've been counting calories, drinking more water, and exercising. (I'd say exercising more, but then I hadn't been exercising any.) Randa is joining with me in the calorie counting and she lost 5 pounds! I made a few startling realizations (which, in retrospect shouldn't have been all that surprising) in the first week. First, I was eating way too many calories. I would say that at times, I was probably consuming at least twice the calories I should have been consuming. Second, I need to exercise. I've felt good after my walks, especially the ones where I have pulled the girls in their wagon. I'm looking forward to seeing how I will feel once I start running again (once I lose some more weight - too much pounding on my joints right now). Third, I'm not feeling as hungry as I thought I would. Sure, I am feeling hungry some, but the problem I have dealt with more is wanting foods that are unhealthy and filled with calories. Participating in this contest and receiving so much encouragement from Randa have made staying on track a whole lot easier. Here's to a great Week 2!

Week 2 will be harder for several reasons. First, I am certain that I won't lose as much weight the second week and I have to prepare myself for that. Second, Valentine's Day falls during this week. Randa and I are going to order in and have a nice romantic dinner at home. We're going to relax the rules a bit for this meal. Third, I'm going on a youth retreat this weekend. Staying on track away from home is harder, but it can be done. I'll be happy with whatever amount I can lose in Week 2. I'm hoping for at least 3 pounds.

TRACKER: Starting weight 251, current weight 240, contest goal 215, ultimate goal 185

Ash Wednesday

2008-02-06T23:37:00.000-05:00

Tonight our church held our Ash Wednesday service. Our children (1st-6th graders) participated in part of the service. They entered and led the congregation in a Taize song, "Come and Fill Our Hearts." We then received the ashes before leaving to have our own special Ash Wednesday study. Last year I led the children in a special Lenten study. As we reviewed Ash Wednesday tonight I was impressed with the children's memory about many of the things concerning Ash Wednesday and Lent. It was very encouraging! We talked again about making a Lenten promise and I gave them Lenten calendars to take home to use as reminders about their promises. My Lenten promise this year is to not watch sports on television during Lent. It's going to be hard, but it will be great for my family and for my relationship with Randa (as a matter of disclosure, this was one of her suggestions and after reflecting on what to give up I chose sports watching because it would require the most sacrifice). I'm also planning to work through a devotional book during Lent called, "40-Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer." Randa is going to work through "40-Day Journey with Joan Chittister." Should be a great time of remembrance, reflection, and repentance.

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Contest

2008-02-04T11:35:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm starting the Are you a bigger loser than Marko? contest that is being run by Youth Specialties. You can read more about it here and here. I'm doing this for several reasons. First, I weigh too much. My official starting weight for this contest is 251. I'm pretty sure this is the heaviest I've ever weighed. The second reason I'm doing this contest is that it will help me meet some of my goals for my 39th year. Read here for the goals. Specifically, I want to lose weight, exercise more, and eat healthier. Finally, I hope to win some stuff in this contest. If I lose more (percentage-wise) than Marko, I can get some free YS stuff. If I'm the biggest loser, I can win free stuff and a free registration to the NYWC this year! Since I'm attending Orange 2008 this year, this is the only way I'll be able to attend NYWC. Anyway, if I lose weight, I'll be a winner!

Here are my Day 1 pictures (full body and scale):

Cletus, Take the Reel

2008-01-29T12:58:00.000-05:00

This is too funny not to share!

(HT: Justin Taylor)

"He put a new song in my mouth..."

2008-01-28T15:36:00.000-05:00

The following was originally posted on my youth groups's blog.
------------

In response to our discussion last night at FaithStation, we crafted songs to God that are expressions of our "God moments" - those times in our lives when we know deep in our souls that God is present. As promised, here is mine. If you'd like to share yours, please add it in the comments section.

Your love, O LORD, is beyond words.
When I find myself at the end of my rope;
When I find myself without hope;
When I feel that I am all alone;
You are there.

You are there, in the shadows.
You are there, in the silence.
You are there, in the middle of all the chaos that is life.

In unseen and unexpected ways, O LORD, you make your presence known.
And that makes all the difference.
Thank you LORD.

If only there were words to adequately express your love and your presence.
Thank you LORD.
You are enough.

Happy Birthday To Me!

2008-01-21T15:06:00.000-05:00

Today is my 38th birthday! I was born on January 21, 1970, in Huntsville, Alabama. I checked into the world at 3:42 AM at 6 pounds, 13 ounces, and 20 inches long! Seems so long ago (especially when I consider that one of my youth group members shares the same birthday as me, and she is celebrating her Sweet Sixteenth)! Here's a picture of me at 4 days old. Handsome devil, wasn't I!?!

Anyway, I love birthdays! I especially have enjoyed the last few because the girls get excited about my birthday almost as much as I do! I always look forward to getting drawings and cards from the girls, getting birthday cards in the mail, opening my presents, eating some delicious ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins, and spending a nice evening out with Randa. And in keeping with today's technology, it's also been nice to get birthday greetings on Facebook and MySpace.

Awhile back, I came across a link to a site that will show you the number 1 song on the Billboard chart for any given day. The number 1 song the day I was born was "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" by B.J. Thomas - a classic! Check the song out here. (HT: Marko)

Here's me at 38! And here's my great cake (chocolate cake with cookies 'n cream ice cream)!

I don't really make New Year's resolutions, but I usually decide to work on a few goals for the coming year when I celebrate my birthday. This year I thought I'd put some goals down in writing (so to speak). So, here are my goals for my 39th year:

Spend more time with God (especially in scripture, prayer, and silence)
Be a better husband to Randa (be less selfish and more loving)
Be a better father to Annie, Allison, and Ainsley (spend quality one-on-one time with each one on a regular basis: 'dad-and-daughter dates')
Grow as a youth and children's pastor (minister to and with volunteers, parents, and children; help others discover and use their gifts; grow our groups spiritually and numerically)
Lose weight, exercise more, and eat a healthy diet
Deepen and grow my friendships
Read more books
Blog more regularly
Develop a new hobby
Go somewhere new on vacation this year
See more of DC this year

Here's to a great ride on this adventure we call life!

In addition to today being my birthday, it is also the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Below is the famous speech he gave at the Lincoln Memorial. It's always good on this day to stop and reflect on what this day is really supposed to be about.

Life Without Internet Access?

2007-12-28T17:54:00.000-05:00

While on vacation, I have been experiencing life without readily available Internet access. I can only come to the conclusion that I am spoiled - both at work and at home. I'm having a great time with family and friends, but I miss being able to get online and read my favorite blogs, check email regularly, and post something to a blog. Neither my parents, nor my in-laws have decent Internet access (slow dial-up is the best I can get at those places). I've had to journey to Chick-fil-A in Waco to find high-speed Wi-Fi. Amazing, isn't it? How did we survive before high-speed Internet access?!?

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T14:50:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas, friends and family! We're enjoying our time in Texas. We'll be heading to a Christmas Eve service in several hours and then we'll enjoy a great Christmas Dinner prepared by my mother-in-law, Pam. Enjoy these pictures and a very special Christmas greeting from us to you!

This is our family Christmas picture that we sent out this year. We decided to go with a 'Christmas morning' motif - hence, the pajamas.

Here, the girls are holding their 'babies.'

This is the picture we should have sent out with our Christmas cards, right?

Annie and Allison decorated the tree this year. Isn't it beautiful?

A special greeting from us to you - Merry Christmas!

Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen?

Advent Devotions

2007-12-17T23:04:00.000-05:00

This Advent season, I'm using three resources for my Advent devotions:

First, I am using the devotional guide put together by our church. Randa and I each contributed a devotion.

Second, I am using the Following The Star online devotional. It was created and is produced by Passport, Inc., a student ministry organization focused on creating meaningful experiences and resources for students.

It has been an interesting experience to read devotions from several contributors who were students at Truett when I first started as a seminary student.

The final resource I am using this year is a book, Setting the Christmas Stage by John Indermark.

It is a unique resource in that it does not have daily readings, but four readings per week. It also uses the metaphor of a play to present the themes of Advent. As someone who is not gifted in the dramatic arts at all, it has been a stretching and encouraging resource. There are also great family, small group, and congregational ideas to use with the book as a part of the journey.

Another thing that has helped with my Advent journey this year happened last night. A few of our youth, a college student, a few youth workers, and I attended Convergence's Jazz at the Vespers Christmas service. It was a beautiful service with wonderful music, scripture readings, and the freedom to experience God in a stress-free setting. Todd and Lisa and the rest of the leadership over at Convergence are doing a great job following the call of Christ in their lives to be a creative community of faith. Check Convergence out if you get a chance and support them in any way you can!

The Real Meaning of Christmas?

2007-12-17T22:40:00.001-05:00

There's an excellent article in today's USA Today On Religion weekly column that is titled, "The real meaning of Christmas?" The author, Tom Krattenmaker, opens with the notion that the holiday season has become for many of us something to dread. But, as Krattenmaker says, "If there's any larger trend to be divined from people such as Marcus Borg and organizations such as the Advent Conspiracy and Christmas for the Needy, there is reason to be optimistic that Christmas might become more fully an occasion for renewal and hope — for religious as well as secular citizens — and ever less a venue for culture war and credit-card debt." The thrust of the Gospels' Christmas message, Borg and John Dominic Crossan write in their new book about the Bible's Christmas stories, The First Christmas, "is the possibility heralded by Jesus of a world in which power and violence no longer reign, in which peace and compassion finally prevail." If only that would be the world in which we would find ourselves. What is keeping us from that world?

Loose Ends and Other Minutiae

2007-12-07T14:54:00.000-05:00

Randa and I enjoyed a date night last Saturday at Convergence. We attended Harp 46's Sanctuarium CD release concert. There was also some amazing art from Nancy Lynch on display as well. We got to hang out with some friends, see some cool art, and listen to great music. What an awesome night! Buy the CD here! Here's some pictures I stole from Todd's blog. The first one is Harp 46. The second one is the audience. if you look real close, you can see me on the far right side of the picture. Unfortunately, Randa sat to my left and didn't make the picture.

Josh's wife transcends cool and apparently Josh doesn't come close, unless he gets a Mac.

Why, you might ask, is there a picture of an Advent wreath with all the candles lit? Our Faith Builders children and I just concluded our Advent Study this past Wednesday night. Because of our church's Wednesday night schedule, we had to begin our study back in November and conclude it just as we, as a church, are participating in Advent on Sunday mornings. It was interesting to do it this way, but I think it may help make the Advent season more memorable and meaningful to us because of our participation in the study. You can see our focus words for the study on the board. I pray that the season of Advent is a reminder to you and me of God's wonderful heart of love towards us.

Some fall pictures. The first is from our church. The second is in our front yard. The final fall picture is the view from our back porch. Driving on Old Keene Mill Road is best done in the fall - God has an amazing paintbrush!

SNOW! The first snow of the season occurred on Wednesday, December 5. What is it about snowing on Wednesdays and Sundays? Interesting tidbit from the weatherman - it has snowed in the greater D.C. area on December 5 in four of the past six years. The first two pictures are of our church's courtyard. The final picture is a night picture (of not so great quality) of our front yard.

One detail not explained in the story in my last post was why I chose to propose on December 5. After all, it was a busy day. Looking ahead on the calendar to June 5, 1999 reveals that six months separated the day we got engaged until the day we got married. Seemed like good symmetry at the time!

There was a great post by Steve Argue a few weeks ago on the Intersect Community's AlreadyNotYet blog. It deals with life after conferences. I think it is partially the reason why I haven't blogged my thoughts/reactions to the NYWC yet - I'm still reflecting. Check it out and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Marko had a great post right after Thanksgiving that linked to an article in the New York Magazine that discussed the effect lack of sleep has on children/teens and their cognitive abilities. It's worth the read.

Chuck Norris Approved! This is just too fun!

There are other (serious) videos of Chuck Norris and Mike Huckabee that can be found on Huckabee's website.

Here's another cool video I've wanted to post, but just didn't get around to until now. Enjoy!

What's So Special About December 5th?

2007-12-05T23:44:00.000-05:00

I haven't been able to write for awhile now. I had things I wanted to write about, but just didn't feel like I could get them down in words. I probably should have just written anyway because I do really want to write more regularly and that means I should probably write even when the words don't come so easily.

Today is December 5th, a very important day in my life. Why is it important? Let me tell you a story.

On December 5, 1998, I had a very busy day. First, Randa (who was my girlfriend at the time) and I went to a brunch hosted at the home of my pastor at Bellmead FBC. His wife was a wonderful hostess and everyone had an enjoyable time. After the brunch, we headed to the library at Baylor so I could work on a seminary project. After that it was off to the Waco Zoo for a date with Randa. The zoo is where we went as a part of our first official date. (Our first date was a blind lunch date at Applebee's in Waco with mutual friends, but it was more like an extended introduction.) We had to rush our time at the zoo because the zoo was going to be closing soon. When we got to the bench in front of the elephants we sat down. It was at that moment that I proposed to Randa. And she said 'yes'! Randa knew something was up, mainly because we rushed to get to that particular bench. Why there? Because elephants are my favorite zoo animal. I was nervous (even though we both pretty much knew we were going to be married some day) and was actually having trouble getting the ring out of my pocket. I had a zoo map in my hand and it blew out of my hand. That was the moment I needed. I retrieved the map and in the process of doing so was able to get the ring out of my pocket. When I returned to the bench I handed Randa the map and when she took it there was the ring and those immortal words, "Randa, will you marry me?" After she said yes, there was some kissing and some picture taking. When we got to my house, we called our families. Of course, nobody was home. Don't you just love having great news to share, but no one to share it with (we wanted family to know first)!?! To pass the time we watched the end of the Big 12 Championship Game in which my Texas A&M Aggies defeated #1 Kansas State for the title. Gig 'Em Aggies! We finally got in touch with family and shared our news with them and then our friends. What a great day! The rest of course is history and today I celebrate the 9th anniversary of the day I proposed to my lovely wife!

NYWC 2007 - San Diego

2007-10-17T19:59:00.000-04:00

I'm heading to the NYWC in San Diego tomorrow!

Making Hard Decisions

2007-10-09T14:11:00.000-04:00

I'm from Texas. I like football. That should help you understand why this article caught my eye. Unless you've experienced the religion that is Texas High School Football, you can't fully appreciate and understand how hard the decision must have been for Coach Demo Odems to forfeit two games (last Friday and this Friday) and determine the remainder of the football season for the Johnston (Austin) Rams on a week-to-week basis. But, as the article points out, the coach made the right decision. He put the safety of his players first.

How do we make hard decisions? Do we do what we know is right and best? Or, do we worry about what others might think, about upsetting tradition, or about our own selfish needs/wants/desires? Coach Odems is taking a big risk in alienating his players, parents, school officials, and the community in general by deciding not to play football. While the loss of football and all the good that goes with it is devastating, having kids get hurt for no good reason is just not acceptable. Coach Odems is teaching his players and others a valuable lesson in decision making. It is one that will not be appreciated right now by many, but as time passes will be recognized for being the correct decision.

May we be free and courageous enough to make hard, correct decisions.

Forgiveness

2007-10-03T16:21:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the anniversary of the schoolhouse shooting that resulted in the deaths of five Amish girls and the gunman in Nickel Mines, PA. After the incident, the Amish community offered forgiveness for the shooter and his family. USA Today's Kate Naseef talked with Steve Nolt, a co-author of the book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, in an interview about what America could learn from the Amish. We can learn a lot.

The Amish understanding of forgiveness is simple and yet complex. Simply put, to receive God's forgiveness is dependent upon extending forgiveness to others. More complex is the understanding of forgiveness being a long process - one that is difficult, painful, takes time, and can only happen through God's grace. The Amish begin with expressing their intention to forgive, with the faith that the emotional forgiveness will follow over time. Blame is out of the equation. What else can we learn? Nolt answers this question well:

Even though forgiveness is a complicated and difficult thing, if we approach it with the support of other people — the Amish do everything in community, including their grieving — and if we don't feel like we have to have all the emotions sorted out before we extend compassion, the road to forgiveness is easier. Reaching out in compassion to others in the faith that the difficult emotional work will follow, I think, is one of the things that they demonstrate.
In our world today, religion is so often used as a force for division, and here is an example of religion being used for compassion and healing.

This idea of forgiveness has been central to the Amish faith for many years. Instances of the Amish forgiving others before and after this tragedy are readily known and they will continue to forgive others who cause them harm. The real question for us is are we willing to take the necessary steps to make the road to forgiveness easier? Can we answer the question that is the title to the interview as found in the paper, "How can the Amish forgive what seems unforgivable?"

Click here for a follow-up article about how the community is doing now.

Death

2007-09-28T17:37:00.000-04:00

There's a great post over at Lilly's Pad entitled "The Mystery of Death..." Check it out - it is a thoughtful look at a situation we've all been in or will be in as we minister to others. Lilly writes in a straight-forward manner that is simple, yet profound at the same time. I always appreciate reading her thoughts on difficult subjects.

The Teen Whisperer

2007-09-28T16:32:00.000-04:00

I started a new book today, The Teen Whisperer: How to Break Through the Silence and Secrecy of Teenage Life, by Mike Linderman with Gary Brozek. Mike Linderman is a licensed counselor who has worked with teens for more than ten years. He's been married for twenty years and is the proud father of three healthy teens. He lives in Trout Creek, Montana. The book looks like it will be pretty good. I'm thinking this will be a good resource for youth pastors and for parents. I'll post a review when I'm finished with the book. For now, here's the publisher's description of the book:

Mike Linderman is a star in the making. He wrestles cattle at the crack of dawn, then spends his days working with the country's most troubled teens before coming home at night to three healthy teens of his own. Where so many other therapists can only offer futile advice to struggling parents, Linderman has mastered a blend of downhome honesty and military–like discipline––not to mention a layer of trust and love very rarely found in the therapist's office. Most of the teens Linderman treats are angry, abused, violent, and dangerous–they are children without hope.
Yet despite their difficult pasts, Linderman has achieved an extraordinary success rate with these teens, helping them turn their lives around and earning him the nickname "the Teen Whisperer." The son of a poor ranching family, Linderman learned at an early age the values of honesty, tough love, and hard work. Miraculously, it is those three values that have transformed the hardened clients at his school into loving, rational, productive teens.
Finally, Linderman shares these and other secrets with parents everywhere as he explains his methods for turning around America's toughest teens. Centering on the Five Primary Needs of Teens (Survival, Fun, Freedom, Power, and Belonging), his approach demonstrates the importance each of these concepts plays in teen's family life and the negative impact that occurs when a family is incapable of fulfilling these Needs. Here he provides concrete steps that parents can take to reconnect with their teens as they work together to create a stronger relationship and kids learn to:
* Trust themselves and others
* Process emotion and pain in healthy ways
* Understand and appreciate boundaries
* Gain joy and pride in real work
* Live a life of love, respect and gratitude
Interacting with teens on their terms and in their language, Linderman allows parents to see that in order to help kids you must meet them at their level and treat them as peers not subordinates. With powerful and effective words, he calls on readers to understand that our teenagers deserve our love––not our fear––and ultimately it is this unique and straightforward perspective that sets him apart. It is this methodology, grounded in honesty and integrity, that has led to his unparalleled success record with some our country's most difficult youths. This is the story of that success and how parents can use the lessons he's learned to heal the troubled hearts of their own families.

Soccer Rant

2007-09-27T23:41:00.001-04:00

I read an article in the Sports section of The Washington Post this morning about the U.S. women's national soccer team. The article was about Coach Greg Ryan making a change of goalie on the eve of their World Cup semifinal match with Brazil. Talk about foreshadowing! I thought that making a switch wasn't a good idea as the author of the article, Steven Goff, hinted. On my way to the office, I heard the score was 2-0 Brazil. By the time I got to the office it was 3-0. And the final ended up being 4-0. Turns out changing keepers might not have been the best idea. On the way home this afternoon I heard an interview with Hope Solo, the goalie who was benched. She called out the coach for making the change!

Here's a snippet: "It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that. There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves. . . . You have to live in the present. And you can't live by big names. You can't live in the past." Good for her!

Now, before the comments roll in about a blog post on women's soccer, know this:

1) I consider soccer not only a sport, but a good one.

2) I have three daughters who may one day play soccer.

3) I know probably not many people are blogging about this, much less men blogging about it, and I don't care.

RANT ALERT!

It irks me when people make stupid decisions and replacing a successful goalie (whose previous three matches were shutouts) on the eve of the most important match since the 2004 Olympics qualifies in my book as stupid.

On a positive note, D.C. United won last night!

Catching Up

2007-09-26T15:53:00.000-04:00

Today, my oldest daughter, Annie, said she didn't want to go to school. She said this as we were walking to school. We never broke stride and after hugging and kissing me at the school entrance, she went inside and walked to her classroom. Whatever made her not want to go to school must not have been too bad. When I picked her up today, she said she had a good day. When I asked her if she was glad she went to school she said yes. When I asked her why she didn't want to go this morning she said she just didn't. Isn't that the way we are sometimes with the things in our lives?

Annie is in Kindergarten. She started school on July 30 - her school is on an alternative schedule. She loves school! In fact, today was the first time she ever mentioned not wanting to go to school. Annie being in Kindergarten is a monumental life passage. I have the privilege and joy of being able to walk her to school every morning. Along the way, we talk, usually about what she might do that day or about big things coming up. We always say a prayer on our way to school. It's tough as a parent to watch your kids grow up. Moments like these are exciting and sad! The excitement comes from the possibilities of the future for Annie. The sadness comes from the realization that Annie is no longer spending her days at home learning from Mommy. Kids grow up so fast!

Randa and Annie at the special lunch we had together before Annie started school.

Annie ready to leave the house for the first day of school!

Annie sitting at her table on the first day of Kindergarten!

Random Stuff

2007-09-25T20:33:00.000-04:00

There was an interesting article on the front page of today's Washington Post about worship and technology. Seems like people are more concerned with the method rather than the act of worship.

Yesterday's USA Today had an interesting opinion piece about God and the role of women. Reminds me why I'm not Southern Baptist anymore.

The warm weather we've been having lately reminds me of something that can only be described as coming from God - the Frosty! I enjoyed one this afternoon and it was heavenly!

Remedy is here and it is truly amazing! DCB continues to produce wonderful worship music. Read Marko's review here - his is better than anything I could do.

My sister-in-law Erin celebrated her 30th birthday today! Happy Birthday! Erin is married to a great guy named Jeremy and together they are the parents of four wonderful kids. You can check out her thoughts on motherhood here.

Fall Means Blogging!

2007-09-24T23:19:00.000-04:00

After taking most of the summer off from blogging, I've decided to start back up on this, the first full day of fall! A lot has happened over the last several months, so I think there will be many posts forthcoming! Let's start with this past weekend.

Friday through Sunday was my fourth Summit Lake Senior High Retreat. This is the second year I have been involved in leading the retreat as the "Retreat Director." In reality, I work with a great team of fellow youth pastors from the NorthStar Church Network to help make the retreat happen. My main contribution has been to be the administrative leader. I don't mind it, but I am looking forward to having someone else either take the mantle or at least be co-director.

I felt this year's retreat was our best one yet. The speaker, Chris Folmsbee, was great and together with Harp 46 and Communidad Hispana de Columbia, made up the best worship leadership I think we've had at my four years of Summit Lake. The words honest, open, authentic, heartfelt, and genuine come to mind when describing our leadership. They pointed us to God! They challenged us! They encouraged us! Chris left immediately after our last worship celebration so that he could try to get an earlier flight back home to be with his family. That's the kind of speaker I want teaching my students. My good friend Josh and I (along with Andy and Katie) helped put together some worship stations that made the worship times even more special. Thanks Josh! You can read more about Summit Lake at Chris' blog and Josh's blog.

Josh with Chris at Summit Lake.

Me with Chris. Unfortunately for Chris, his Bears lost to my Cowboys!

The best part of the weekend for me was having my family present. This was the first youth trip that we have attended as a family. My wife is awesome! She did so much with the kids by herself because of my leadership responsibilities at the retreat. The times we were together made the weekend special for me. Being able to see Randa and the girls each day was awesome. Eating meals together, going on paddle boat rides, playing on the playground, and worshipping together was an experience that I will never forget.

Westwood Baptist at Summit Lake!

Candy Land

2007-07-23T21:34:00.000-04:00

Being a Youth Pastor is awesome! This is what we found in our front yard this morning - anyone up for a game of Candy Land?

SPURS - 2007 NBA Champions!

2007-06-15T01:03:00.000-04:00

Spurs Hoist Larry O'Brien Trophy

Add to My Profile More Videos

GO SPURS GO!

2007-05-18T22:16:00.000-04:00

The Spurs sure have created a frenzy in the sports universe during their series with the Phoenix Suns. Several things have been said about the Spurs that simply boggle the mind. First, the idea that the Spurs are "dirty" is just ludicrous. The Spurs simply play fundamental basketball - not flashy basketball (i.e. lots of offense and no defense). They play good, hard, aggressive defense. Bruce Bowen plays aggressive man defense and offensive "stars" don't like that. The idea that Bowen would deliberately knee Steve Nash in the groin out in the open outside the three-point line is just crazy. Ironically, Nash got hurt because he was playing aggressive defense at the time. Robert Horry's foul at the end of game four was a hard foul, but he clearly was not trying to hurt Nash. If he had been, Nash wouldn't be playing in this series any longer. Nash (and Raja Bell for that matter) is as good a "flopper" as people claim Manu Ginobili is. The idea that Horry, a "scrub", went after Nash to try to provoke the Suns' stars into getting suspended is also crazy. Last I checked, Horry had six championship rings and Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Boris Diaw had zero between the three of them. Horry is the Spurs' most important bench player after Ginobili, much like Diaw is after Leandro Barbosa. The Spurs missed Horry in game five and will miss him in game six - make no mistake about that. All the literal blood drawn in this series has been drawn by the Suns - Nash's head-butting of Tony Parker and Shawn Marion raking Ginobili's eye. Yes, the Spurs are dirty!

Second, the idea that the NBA is trying to rig things in favor of the Spurs is just plain stupid. The Spurs are a great basketball team and organization, but they are boring for television. They don't draw ratings. If the NBA wanted one of these teams to advance to the finals, it would be Phoenix. The Suns just aren't ready yet. They may have better athletes, but the Spurs have the better team. It's a shame that the respect for each other these teams started the series with has disappeared. The fault there lies with Stoudemire opening his mouth and calling the Spurs dirty and then the media for jumping on that band wagon. If Stoudemire had kept his mouth shut, who knows how the rest of the series would have played out.

Finally, in the midst of all the controversy, the one thing Spurs fans and Suns fans could agree on was that the Dallas Mavericks just aren't ready to win a championship. In fact, they have a new logo that illustrates their strength as a basketball team:

2007-04-30T10:53:00.000-04:00

Ordination Service

2007-04-25T14:48:00.000-04:00

My Ordination Service was last Sunday. It was a nice service with a reception that followed. A fair number of people came out to the service, including some of the youth. And many others who couldn't come made sure I knew they were thinking of me. It was nice to have my parents and Randa's parents in town for the service and for Ainsley's dedication (in the morning worship service). My parents read scripture and prayed for me during the Laying on of Hands. In fact, my dad was the first to pray during that time. In addition to that, the most emotional time was when Randa's parents came through and prayed for me and for Randa. It was nice to have church staff members involved in the service, as well as ministry colleagues and friends. The support and love that Westwood and the community of faith in this area has shown us has been amazing. The service was very meaningful, affirming, and encouraging! Thanks to all who made the service so special!

Here's some pictures from the service:

Tragedy at Virginia Tech

2007-04-18T16:21:00.000-04:00

There are no better words to express about what happened at Virginia Tech than these seen all over the Facebook world: Today, we are all Hokies. As people from all over the country and the world share in the grief of this tragedy, may we always be quick to turn toward God. As Lilly Lewin said so well on her April 17 blog post, "we need you to help us understand things that cannot be understood." Amen.

Ordination

2007-04-15T20:23:00.000-04:00

Well, it's official: my ordination is set for Sunday, April 22, at 3 PM. My ordination council was this afternoon and those gathered voted to recommend me to the church for ordination. The council was very affirming - just another reason why I appreciate Westwood. My parents and Randa's parents will be coming into town to celebrate this part of my spiritual journey. I'm looking forward to spending time with my family and to celebrating this moment with the church, with family, and with friends.

Lenten Promise Update #6 - Maundy Thursday

2007-04-06T16:10:00.000-04:00

I am happy to report that I have been able to keep my Lenten promise of not eating fast food during Lent. It has been strange not stepping inside a McDonald's or Wendy's since Ash Wednesday. I wonder if the manager at my favorite McDonald's has noticed my absence. If so, the next time I am there will give me a great opportunity to share my experiences with others. I have grown spiritually as a result of this experience. I feel like I have slowed down and tried consciously to take in the meaning of Lent. Holy Week has been a great finish to this expereince for me. From Palm Sunday to today, Good Friday, I have felt more aware of the journey Christ took to the cross those many years ago.

Last night, our church had our Maundy Thursday service. It was a beautiful service in the respect that it provided a great opportunity for reflection on Christ and his sacrifice and sufferings. The service was full of scripture, hymns, reflection times, and beautiful imagery and symbolism. We ended the service by taking communion in the light of a single candle representing Christ. After taking the bread and dipping it in the cup and eating it, we took a candle and lit it from the single candle, thus transforming the dark room into one full of light, just as Christ is the Light of the world. After singing a final hymn, we departed in silence. It was a moving and powerful experience.

As we look toward Resurrection Sunday with anticipation, I am always moved by how feeble it is to try to explain and express our understanding of the love of God found in Christ. Mere words are too inadequate to be able to express what we feel. But I am compelled to express my thanks and though I cannot find the words, God hears them anyway.

Lenten Promise Update #5

2007-03-29T16:15:00.000-04:00

My Lenten study with the children ended last night as we do not have Church Family Night during Holy Week. We will be making a trip to ECHO on the Wednesday after Easter to present the donations we have collected during Lent as the service project part of our study, but the teaching/reflection station time ended last night. We discussed Jesus' last supper with his disciples. The focus word was 'remember'. We tried to focus on remembering Jesus' sacrifice and specifically the last week of his journey. I think the children have enjoyed this time together (even though they long for recreation time!) and have benefited from doing things that we normally don't do in our program. We have really stretched ourselves in doing this focused study on Lent, especially through the creative activities that have been involved in the learning process. I was hesitant at first about whether this would work, but I have come to realize that children will amaze you if you give them the chance to try different things! I feel blessed to have been able to share this Lenten experience with the children of our church. On a personal note, I have continued to keep my Lenten promise of not eating fast food and I believe I have grown spiritually during this process. (I'm still working on the shrinking physically part!) I look forward to this year's Holy Week with an anticipation I have not had before - an anticipation of remembrance that will be deeper because of the Lenten study and my experiences with the children. Here's a picture of the painting we used last night to help us remember:

Leonardo da Vinci - The Last Supper (1495-1498)

March Madness Mourning

2007-03-23T12:41:00.000-04:00

Well, the dream is over! Texas A&M's basketball season is finished as the Aggies lose in the Sweet Sixteen by 1 point to Memphis. In not taking care of the fundamentals (missing a lay-up and giving up 4 offensive rebounds in the last minute), the Aggies find their season coming to a premature end. But it has been a great basketball year for a "football school." Hopefully this is a harbinger of where the basketball program is headed!

I will now turn to rooting for the remaining underdogs of March! Go UNLV, Butler, and Memphis (since no one gives them any respect, I'll call them an underdog)!

Lenten Promise Update #4

2007-03-22T15:20:00.000-04:00

I am still on track with keeping my Lenten promise. The children, however, have had some problems. But this is a great learning time for them and for me. We use the times when we share about our promises to encourage one another. It also is a good time to remember God's forgiveness and our ability to start over. It is refreshing to hear children talk about breaking their promises, but then trying again. Openness and honesty is so refreshing! As is the lack of being judgmental! I had what I will refer to as my 'Josh moment' last night. After discussing their promises and how they were doing at keeping them, we moved on to our discussion about prayer. But, one child stopped me and asked how I was doing with my Lenten promise. It was nice to feel like a part of their lives during this journey! I was happy to share what was going on with me! We had a good discussion about prayer, especially about prayer not just involving talking, but also requiring listening. We focused on the discipline of silence. We did an exercise where we focused our bodies and minds on achieving silence. After the exercise, we spent the remaining time at the reflection stations in silence, listening for God's voice speaking to us. It was very interesting and very hard! Silence is a spiritual discipline I want to and need to spend more time exploring.

Reminder Prayer
When I pray I speak to God,
When I listen God speaks to me.
I am now in God’s presence.
God is very near to me.
From The Lion Book of Children’s Prayers, Lion Publishing.

Lenten Promise Update #3

2007-03-15T14:48:00.000-04:00

Yesterday marked another week of successfully keeping my Lenten promise. I am finding that my big challenge now is not in being tempted by fast food. It is being hungry all the time. My poor diet kept me full with the terrible combination of high calories and fat. Now, I struggle with feeling hungry all the time. As a result, I have tweaked my response of focusing on Christ's sacrifice when I feel like having fast food to include focusing when I am feeling hungry and unsatisfied with my meals. What better way to fight hunger than to meditate on Jesus. I have newfound appreciation for Jesus' fasting in the wilderness. I also have more of an awareness about how hard it is to focus on sacrifice during Lent. This is definitely proving to be an experience I will cherish and grow from.

Last night in Faith Builders we focused on forgiveness. Forgiveness is so powerful, yet we treat it so flippantly. This becomes more apparent when you are with children. They really do have a way of grasping these deep concepts in simple ways. After discussing forgiveness for awhile, the children overwhelmingly came to the conclusion that forgiveness is not only powerful, but it is powerful because of the way we experience it. They described how they felt when they forgave others and more so, how they felt when they had received forgiveness. That feeling was one of peace - a peace that only can be explained as coming from God. Forgiveness is powerful because it turns things upside down. Punishment turns to freedom, the messiness of sin to a clean slate. Only forgiveness (through God's sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us - talk about turning things upside down!) bridges that separation from God that sin creates.

We used two prayer exercises to help us with understanding forgiveness. The first was The Prayer of Saint Francis. We meditated on the prayer to discover and experience God's peace. The second was an imaginative prayer exercise. We imagined being on a walk to meet Jesus. Along the way, we are reminded of what we have done wrong and our need for forgiveness. When we finally are face to face with Jesus we pour out our wrongs to him and ask for forgiveness. Jesus forgives us with loving words and then reaches out for us and pick us up and gives us a big, soft hug. Can you imagine a better picture of forgiveness!?!

The Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
-Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

March Madness Is Here!

2007-03-14T11:26:00.000-04:00

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is finally here!

Here's my final four picks: Florida, UCLA, Georgetown, and Texas A&M. The Aggies win it all and avenge an early season defeat to UCLA for the title!

Before you call me a shameless homer, this is the first time I have ever picked my team to win it all! (Of course, this is the first time I ever realistically could!) Several basketball experts have picked A&M as a dark horse team to win or picked them outright to win. A&M plays great defense, shoots well from the field, free-throw line, and three-point line, and has the best point guard in the nation. They have good, if not great, post play and they have a good coach. They also have tournament experience. All that should add up to a good showing!

A couple of picks for my friends: Michigan State goes down to Marquette in the first round. North Carolina goes down to Texas in the Sweet Sixteen.

Would the tournament be better with these teams: Drexel, Syracuse, Appalachian State, Akron, Missouri State, Marist, Hofstra, and Air Force instead of these teams: Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, Stanford, Arkansas, Villanova, Duke, and Georgia Tech? I think so, but we'll never know because the Selection Committee loves to put middle-of-the-pack teams from big conferences in over good teams from lesser conferences. I like Duke, but they are not that good of a team this year. I'd much rather see Drexel get a shot than a middling ACC team that probably wouldn't be in the tournament if their coach wasn't named Mike Krzyzewski (the only plus is that it drives Maryland fans crazy that Duke gets in with an 8-8 conference record and opening round loss in the conference tournament this year, but Maryland didn't last year with an 8-8 conference record and an opening round win in the conference tournament) . Bottom line: I say give deserving teams more chances.

How to fix this mess: First, look at who teams play and where they play. Second, add three more at-large berths and have four play-in games between the bottom eight at-large teams. Third, all conference champions (automatic berths) get seeded instead of fearing having to play in a play-in game. Don't make a team that earned it's way into the tournament by winning a championship play another game to get into the field of 64.

My pick as this year's Champions! Gig 'Em Aggies!

Lenten Promise Update #2

2007-03-08T12:38:00.000-05:00

Another week of Lent has passed since Ash Wednesday and I am still keeping my promise to not eat "fast food." Keeping this promise has been interesting lately. My daughter Annie celebrated her 5th birthday at the end of February and my parents were in town for a week to celebrate. Normally we would have gone out to eat at Wendy's or McDonald's for the kids. But this time we celebrated and ate at nicer restaurants. The keeping of the promise has been beneficial in the way it has affected my relationships with my family members. Randa and the girls are proud of what I am doing and have been very supportive. Randa even notes that she is eating less "fast food" because she thinks of me and my promise when she thinks about eating at McDonald's, etc. It has been an interesting time so far. I feel good - almost at peace as I progress with every new day.

I love it when Wednesday nights come and I get to hear how the church children are doing at keeping their promises. Those times together are encouraging. It is especially nice to see the innocence in the eyes of the 1st graders. And we have had great discussions about God and forgiveness. Last night our small group (due to the weather) focused on the story of Jesus going into the wilderness to fast and pray and how he was tempted by the devil during that time. We had a great discussion about temptation and we learned how to deal with it from Jesus' example. So far on Wednesdays, we have learned about making and keeping promises, baptism, and temptation. It has been a special Lenten season thus far.

Lenten Promise Update

2007-03-01T16:04:00.000-05:00

I have been able to keep my promise of not eating fast food during Lent. One thing I have noticed during this experience is that this promise limits the number of places at which you can eat quickly and/or inexpensively. But the time waiting, either at a sit-down restaurant or while preparing a meal, gives me opportunity to focus on Christ. This has been a rewarding experience, notably because I am sharing this experience of keeping a Lenten promise with the Faith Builders children at our church.

I Wish I Were A Birder

2007-02-21T14:44:00.000-05:00

Here's a couple of pics in homage to my friend Josh, the self-proclaimed "dork birder." I couldn't find any birds, but I found this lovely nest.

Ash Wednesday

2007-02-21T14:21:00.000-05:00

Today is Ash Wednesday. I will be leading our Children's Program on Wednesday nights during Lent. Tonight we will be discussing the Lenten season. In addition to learning about Ash Wednesday and participating in our church's service tonight, we, the leaders and children, will make a Lenten promise to do something loving, or to give up something we really like, in order to help us remember Jesus. I am going to give up eating fast food for Lent. During those times when I hunger for a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit from McDonald's or a Cheesburger from Wendy's, I am going to focus on Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us. I am hoping that through this experience I will not only eat better and lose weight, but I might be drawn closer to the Lord. I'll keep posting about my Lenten promise as the season progresses.

Here's a picture of me with my beard. I decided to grow a beard this winter just to see how it would look. I kind of like it - I just wish there were fewer gray hairs! Below is a picture of the motivation behind my Lenten promise. That scale says 248! That would be a great weight if I was playing fullback for the Cowboys, but it's not so great for a 37-year-old Youth Pastor. I hope to use this Lenten season to kick start a new focus on healthier eating and exercise, as well as a renewed spiritual growth focus. My goal is to grow spiritually as I shrink physically!

The Democratic Resolution Opposing a Troop Increase in Iraq

2007-02-15T17:53:00.000-05:00

The Democratic resolution expressing disapproval of President Bush's troop increase in Iraq that the House will debate this week:

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), that —
(1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and
(2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional U.S. combat troops to Iraq.
Source: The Associated Press

The problem with this resolution (other than it not having any teeth because it is non-binding) is that, once again, no alternate solution is advanced. It's one thing to criticize President Bush's decisions, but in not offering a viable alternative to his plan, all the Democratic Resolution is doing is piling on. And we all just love to be piled on, don't we?

Dixie Chicks Redeemed?

2007-02-15T17:33:00.000-05:00

In the Tuesday edition of the USA Today Opinion Page, the editorial board shared a brief blurb about the Dixie Chicks winning five Grammy awards. Here's the quote that stood out to me:

"Whether the music industry professionals who awarded the Grammys were making a statement beyond artistic merit is hard to ascertain. What is clear, however, is how the trajectory of the Chicks' comeback mirrors the rise in anti-war sentiment. That sentiment has gone mainstream and is reflected even in once unquestioningly pro-war country music."

Did the Dixie Chicks win because their music was the best? I'm afraid not, and that is a shame for all parties concerned.

Super Bowl Ads

2007-02-15T17:10:00.000-05:00

Our world has become too politically correct. Masterfoods USA has to pull what was one of the funniest Super Bowl advertisements because some gay organizations found it offensive. As a lover of Snickers bars, what I found most offensive was that the second mechanic felt it was okay to eat the candy. My wife can't even get away with that one. Don't eat my Snickers!

Other ads from the Super Bowl have come under attack as well, including the Nationwide ad featuring Kevin Federline. The National Restaurant Association criticized it for a "demeaning" portrayal of restaurant workers. Give me a break! USA Today featured an article that addressed the subject of interest groups complaining about ads. The last three paragraphs are telling:

Yet, when marketers back down, it creates a "very dangerous" environment for the ad industry, says Drew Neisser, CEO of the Renegade Marketing Group.
"The recent withdrawals will embolden every interest group to push their agenda and complain about any ad that doesn't jibe with their mission," he says.
"To create ads that offend no one is a fruitless endeavor," Neisser says. "To cut through, there must be an element of surprise … that someone, somewhere, might not like."

Spiritual Beltway?

2007-02-15T16:27:00.000-05:00

I read an article in the Washington Post recently about McLean Bible Church, but the article was really more about the new growth strategy of megachurches - satellite sites. These churches use the strategy of opening multiple locations under the same name and considering themselves one church. Gone are the days of planting new churches that are independent entities, creative and unique in their approach to ministry in a specific community. There are advantages to this new strategy, chief among them being the ability to provide better and more affordable programs than a struggling small new church plant. But here's the quote from a pastor that embraces this strategy that got me thinking differently: "It's kind of like going to Starbucks. You know the product you're going to get." Skeptics and critics wonder if this new trend is more about bolstering egos than spreading the message. That, I feel, is a valid concern. My first reaction upon reading the article was, Are we really more concerned with creating a "brand" than we are about being the presence of Christ in a local community? And, is there such a thing as a church being too big? These questions have been around for awhile, but the need to address them is only going to get more urgent as more and more megachurches adopt this strategy of opening satellite sites, and in our case here in the DC area, spiritual beltways.

Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T15:28:00.000-05:00

I've been away for awhile working on my youth group's blog and group page and calendar (isn't technology great). For my first post back I would like to declare my undying love for my wife Randa. We have been married for a little over 7 1/2 years. We have three children. And we are tired! We don't look as young as we used to, as thin as we used to, or as energetic as we used to, but we still love each other! And I would dare to say that we love each other more now than we used to. Our relationship isn't perfect, but who's is? We keep trying and that's what I like about us. We declared our commitment for each other years ago and that commitment is what keeps us going through the great times, the terrible times, and all the times in between. So here's to my wife -- the love of my life now and always! Happy Valentine's Day Randa! I LOVE YOU!

Catching Up

2007-01-16T16:52:00.000-05:00

Well, I was just over at my friend Josh's blog and I realized that I haven't posted in quite a while. So here's a quick update on a variety of things:

FIRST:
Here's my FINAL RANKINGS after the College Bowl season. (It would sure be nice if they'd just 'man up' and go to a playoff and settle things on the field like every other sport does! But that's a whole separate post for another time.)
1. FLORIDA
2. Boise State They won all the games they played and would have played more if allowed, so they get the #2 spot.
3. Ohio State Dotting the "i" before the game was their highlight of the night.
4. LSU
5. USC
6. Louisville
7. Wisconsin Maybe they were the best Big 10 team?
8. West Virginia
9. Auburn
10. Rutgers

SECOND:
A&M follows up pivotal victory over t.u. with a terrible showing in the Holiday Bowl.

The Cowboys limp to a 9-7 regular season finish and then give the playoff game away to Seattle.

Maybe 2007 will be better? There's always hope! And the 5-11 Redskins!

THIRD:
My two Fantasy Football teams were disappointing in the playoffs. I finished the regular season as the number 1 seed, with the best record, and the most points in both leagues. I finished third in the league I won last year and fourth (this hurts the most) in the youth group league. At least I'm still undefeated when facing my pastor!

FOURTH:
Enjoyed a great family Christmas vacation back in Texas. Travel with three kids is so awesome! It's always great to see family and friends, but it is nice to be back to a normal schedule and to be able to sleep in my own bed!

FINALLY:
Church work is so nice. Those of you who work in the church can use your imagination here!

Final Top Ten Update

2006-12-08T16:40:00.000-05:00

Final Top Ten
1. Ohio State
2. Florida
3. Michigan
4. LSU
5. Louisville
6. Wisconsin
7. Oklahoma
8. Southern Cal
9. Boise State
10. Wake Forest

Week 12 Results
Dallas 21
Indianapolis 14

Week 13 Results
Texas A&M 12
t.u. 7

Dallas 38
Tampa Bay 10

Week 14 Results
Dallas 23
NY Giants 20

Records
Georgetown 5-5
Texas A&M 9-3
Dallas 8-4

Top Ten Update (Week 11)

2006-11-14T17:19:00.000-05:00

I missed a few weeks due to the birth of Ainsley, so I'll just jump right back in.

Top Ten
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Rutgers
4. Florida
5. Southern Cal
6. Arkansas
7. Wake Forest
8. Wisconsin
9. Notre Dame
10. Boise State

Week 9 Results
Georgetown 22
Leander 29

Texas A&M 31
Baylor 21

Dallas 35
Carolina 14

Week 10 Results
Georgetown 24
RR Stony Point 16

Texas A&M 16
Oklahoma 17

Dallas 19
Washington 22

Week 11 Results
Georgetown 24
RR McNeil 21

Texas A&M 27
Nebraska 28

Dallas 27
Arizona 10

Records
Georgetown 5-5
Texas A&M 8-3
Dallas 5-4

Baby Gray Is Finally Here!

2006-11-04T15:30:00.000-05:00

Ainsley Arden Gray arrived on Thursday, November 2, 2006, at 4:19 PM. She was 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and 20 inches in length at birth. She was born in Falls Church, Virginia.

Top Ten Update (Week 8)

2006-10-26T12:37:00.000-04:00

Top Ten
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. West Virginia
4. Southern Cal
5. Rutgers
6. Louisville
7. Tennessee
8. Cal
9. Auburn
10. Boise State

Week 8 Results
Georgetown 19
Round Rock 41

Texas A&M 34
Oklahoma State 33

Dallas 22
New York Giants 36

Records
Georgetown 3-4
Texas A&M 7-1
Dallas 3-3

Top Ten Update (Week 7)

2006-10-19T16:38:00.000-04:00

Top Ten
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Southern Cal
4. West Virginia
5. Louisville
6. Rutgers
7. Tennessee
8. California
9. Auburn
10. Boise State

Week 7 Results
Georgetown 20
Round Rock Westwood 36

Texas A&M 25
Missouri 19

Dallas 34
Houston 6

Records
Georgetown 3-3
Texas A&M 6-1
Dallas 3-2

Top Ten Update (Week 6)

2006-10-12T15:51:00.000-04:00

Top Ten
1. Florida
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Southern Cal
5. West Virginia
6. Louisville
7. Missouri
8. Rutgers
9. Boise State
10. Tennessee

Week 6 Results
Georgetown 30
Pflugerville 26

Texas A&M 21
Kansas 18

Dallas 24
Philadelphia 38

Records
Georgetown 3-2
Texas A&M 5-1
Dallas 2-2

Apathy

2006-10-08T12:54:00.000-04:00

NYWC Austin is winding down. It's Sunday morning and we're being challenged by a representative of the IJM to confront the stark reality of slavery in our world. Why is there slavery in our world? Because of our apathy. How sad and shameful that slave owners can laugh because, as we are told, we do not cry! But there is hope. God has a plan to rescue those who need justice and he wants to do it through his church. Will we--God's people, his church--step up?

NYWC-Austin!

2006-10-04T16:19:00.000-04:00

I leave for Austin tomorrow to attend Youth Specialties' National Youth Workers Convention. I am so excited to have this time of refreshment and nourishment. Plus, I get to go back to God's country - TEXAS! I also look forward to seeing my friends and maybe even my parents - who knows? It should be a great few days away from the office!

Top Ten (Week 5) Update

2006-10-04T15:59:00.000-04:00

Top Ten
1. Auburn
2. Ohio State
3. Southern Cal
4. Florida
5. Michigan
6. West Virginia
7. Louisville
8. Georgia
9. Missouri
10. Rutgers

Week 5 Results
Georgetown 12
Cedar Park 21

Texas A&M 27
Texas Tech 31

Dallas 45
Tennessee 14

Records
Georgetown 2-2
Texas A&M 4-1
Dallas 2-1

A Christian View of War

2006-09-28T12:46:00.000-04:00

I read this great article in USA TODAY last week entitled "A Christian view of war." It is a part of a religion series that the paper runs every Monday. I think the subtitle by the author, Oliver "Buzz" Thomas, says it all: What would Jesus do in Iraq? He'd offer compassion, he'd feed the hungry, he'd even pray for the enemies. What he'd really do is give American Christians--Republicans and Democrats alike--something to think about. Are we as Christians ready to get serious about following the teachings of Jesus?

Top Ten (Week 4) and Update

2006-09-28T12:27:00.000-04:00

My Top Ten
1. Auburn
2. Southern Cal
3. Ohio State
4. Florida
5. Michigan
6. West Virginia
7. Louisville
8. Iowa
9. Georgia
10. Virginia Tech

Week 4 Results
Texas A&M 45
Louisiana Tech 14

Records
Georgetown 2-1
Texas A&M 4-0
Dallas 1-1

My Top Ten (Week 3) and Update

2006-09-20T15:38:00.000-04:00

My Top Ten
1. Auburn Best team in best conference.
2. Southern Cal Impressive win over Huskers.
3. Ohio State Can they survive until Michigan?
4. Florida Dashes Vols dreams again.
5. West Virginia On track for showdown with Louisville.
6. Michigan Crushes Irish on the road.
7. Louisville How much deeper is their bench?
8. Georgia Tough conference to be in.
9. Iowa Finally defeats in-state rival.
10. Virginia Tech Best team in weak ACC.

Week 3 Results
Georgetown 34
Belton 0

Texas A&M 28
Army 24

Dallas 27
Washington 10

Records
Georgetown 2-1
Texas A&M 3-0
Dallas 1-1

My Top Ten (Week 2)

2006-09-14T17:30:00.000-04:00

My Top Ten College Football Teams
1. Notre Dame Tough schedule continues with Michigan.
2. Ohio State Convincing win on road against Texas.
3. Auburn LSU comes to town and they'll put up a fight.
4. Southern Cal Nebraska tests the Trojans this week.
5. Florida Big game with Tennessee looms on the horizon.
6. LSU Can they hold Auburn to just a field goal?
7. West Virginia Will Maryland put up a challenge?
8. Tennessee Looking ahead to Florida in near-loss to Air Force?
9. Florida State Noles in for a fight against Clemson.
10. Oklahoma Win on road vs. Oregon makes OU a title contender.

Football Teams Update

2006-09-14T17:21:00.000-04:00

Here are the results for my teams so far:

Week 1
Georgetown 27
Alamo Heights 19

Texas A&M 35
The Citadel 3

Week 2
Georgetown 9
SA Reagan 13

Texas A&M 51
Louisiana-Lafayette 7

Dallas 17
Jacksonville 24

Records
Georgetown 1-1
Texas A&M 2-0
Dallas 0-1

My Top Ten College Football Poll

2006-09-06T14:18:00.000-04:00

There are several polls that rank college football teams in the pre-season. Invariably they generate lots of discussion and controversy. Now that the first week of games is in the books here is my Top Ten Poll. My poll considers the following factors heavily: level of competition and where the game takes place. Performance on the field is the key here. Early in the season this will be a very fluid poll.

My Top Ten:

1. Tennessee

2. Florida State

3. Notre Dame

4. Auburn

5. Southern Cal

6. Florida

7. West Virginia

8. Texas

9. Ohio State

10. LSU

Tennessee gets the nod for the top spot because they easily defeated many people's dark horse national title contender Cal. In the process they put behind all the frustrations from last year. The pressure on Tennessee going into this game cannot be taken too lightly. Florida State narrowly misses out on the top spot after going to Miami and defeating the Hurricanes. It was a game dominated by the defenses and lacked aesthetic value. Nevertheless, Florida State positions themselves as early ACC and national title favorites. In the third spot is Notre Dame, a team also under the immense pressure of high (unrealistic?) expectations. All they did was go into a hostile environment, at night, on national television, against a good foe with perhaps the best WR in the country in Calvin Johnson, and WIN. The offense didn't look great, but the defense answered some questions. Now, can they survive a visit from Penn State? In fourth is Auburn. The Tigers overcome their recent history of slow starts (three opening games losses in last four years) to defeat Washington State. WSU is not a great team, but it's not a Division I-AA team either. And Auburn plays in the best conference in the country, the SEC. Southern Cal is next at number five. After losing lots of firepower from last year, all they did is hit the road and whip Arkansas again. The margin wasn't as great as last year, but the cupboard at USC is definitely not bare. In the sixth spot is Florida. Florida handled Southern Miss at home with the ol' ball coach, Steve Spurrier, in attendance. Southern Miss may not be as dangerous as in past years, but they are a formidable foe for a season opener. West Virginia comes in next at number seven. They defeated rival Marshall. In case you doubt the bitterness of the rivalry, there were four personal fouls called in the opening minutes of the game. West Virginia is another pick to go undefeated and contend for the national title. The loss of RB Michael Bush at Louisville for the rest of the year makes their run to the championship game a little easier. So does the increase in stature of the Big East (Rutgers and Pitt). WVU is loaded on offense and last year's bowl game victory over Georgia was probably the best game outside of the USC-Texas championship game. Speaking of Texas, they come in at number eight. Texas defeated North Texas easily. Of course, some big school Texas high school teams could probably beat North Texas. UNT's secondary made Texas QB Colt McCoy and WR Limas Sweed look like All-Americans. The real test comes next week as Ohio State comes to visit Austin. And that leads us to Ohio State at number nine. They defeated Northern Illinois, but in the process made RB Garrett Wolfe look like an All-American (285 total yards). Can they return the favor and knock off the Horns on their home field? We'll see. Thanks to the AP leapfrogging Texas over Notre Dame in their poll, this is now a #1 vs. #2 game (USA Today Coaches Poll already had OSU #1 and Texas #2). This game also has the intrigue of player suspensions. One team's national title dreams die Saturday night. Rounding out my poll at number ten is LSU. LSU was the feel good story of last year after surviving the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and posting a great record and bowl victory. It looks like they have another good team this year. Of course, they need to work on the defense some after allowing Louisiana-Lafayette to put points on the board (3) for the first time since 1924.

See you next week!

NYWC 2006 Is Coming!

2006-08-10T16:32:00.000-04:00

Football Is Coming!

2006-07-25T17:31:00.000-04:00

Football season is almost upon us! Pro training camps are opening up all across the country and excitement is in the air! Radio commentators are breaking down the pro divisions and the college conferences to see who is going to reign supreme this year. And, if you are from Texas, high school football is gearing up. You have 2-a-days, scrimmages, and in just a few short weeks, Week 0 arrives and the season begins! Everyone starts at 0-0 and believes that this is the year! Can you beat that kind of hope and optimism!?!

One of the things I miss most about Texas is high school football. Friday nights during the Fall become the central focal point of towns and communities all across the state. You have the football players, the band, the cheerleaders, the drill/dance team, and the parents/friends/community members all converging together to root for the home team. From the smallest six-man communities to the largest 5A schools in the DFW and Houston areas, football is something that brings the community together!

Football's approach always reminds me of the new beginnings that Fall brings. We often think of Fall as when the leaves fall off the trees and nature prepares for Winter, and Spring as the time of new birth and new beginnings. But Fall, signaled by the start of football practice, ushers in the new school year. And what could be a better time for a new beginning!?! As the summer winds down to it's last few weeks, I look forward to the excitement of a new beginning that the Fall always brings!

So to all my football teams I say GO! FIGHT! WIN!

GO (Georgetown High School) Eagles!
GO (Texas A&M) Aggies!
GO (Dallas) Cowboys!

BIG NEWS!

2006-07-20T14:52:00.000-04:00

Randa is pregnant and is expecting our third daughter in late October! God continues to bless our family! Somehow, I will have to learn how to live with four females!

Heart Renovation

This Blog Is Moving!

Family Vacation

IMPACT Virginia!

The Perfect Alibi Trailer

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Final Results

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 11 Recap

A Friend's Ordination

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 10 Recap

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 9 Recap

Family Spring Break!

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 8 Recap

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 7 Recap

Lent Update - Final

Easter

Spring Break / Holy Week

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 6 Recap

Lent Update - Week 5

the CORE: Generation Change

That's a Scary Thought!

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 5 Recap

Lent Update - Week 4

PlanetWisdom Student Conference

I'm Going to the Prelude Gathering!

The Scariest Thing I've Done In Awhile

Happy Birthday, Randa!

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 4 Recap

Lent Update - Week 3

U.S. Treasury Tour (and other adventures with Flat Stanley)

Annie is Six!

We interrupt this program for an important message from BBC News...

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 3 Recap

I Saw a Glimpse of Heaven Yesterday

JUBILEE Retreat

Lent Update - Week 2

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 2 Recap

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lent Update - Week 1

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Week 1 Recap

Ash Wednesday

Are you a bigger loser than Marko? Contest

Cletus, Take the Reel

"He put a new song in my mouth..."

Happy Birthday To Me!

Life Without Internet Access?

Merry Christmas!

Advent Devotions

The Real Meaning of Christmas?

Blogroll Roundup

Loose Ends and Other Minutiae

What's So Special About December 5th?

NYWC 2007 - San Diego

Making Hard Decisions

Forgiveness

Death

The Teen Whisperer

Soccer Rant

Catching Up

Random Stuff

Fall Means Blogging!

Candy Land

SPURS - 2007 NBA Champions!

GO SPURS GO!

Ordination Service

Tragedy at Virginia Tech

Ordination

Lenten Promise Update #6 - Maundy Thursday

Lenten Promise Update #5

March Madness Mourning

Lenten Promise Update #4

Lenten Promise Update #3

March Madness Is Here!

Lenten Promise Update #2

Lenten Promise Update

I Wish I Were A Birder

Ash Wednesday

The Democratic Resolution Opposing a Troop Increase in Iraq

Dixie Chicks Redeemed?

Super Bowl Ads

Spiritual Beltway?