Pic Of The Day (Actually, First Pic in the Past 3 yrs.)

Best Burger

THIS burger joint recently showed up in GA. Had a chance to eat there yesterday. One word: Yummy. Actually, let's make that 3 words: Yummy Yummy Yummy. There, that's more fitting. (Hint: You need to eat there some time soon.)

You Don't Mind

As I ran to my car this evening - 5:30pm, leaving my office - I had a thought. Actually, a couple of them. I was having to run. And this was a good thing. No, this was a GREAT thing. Why? Well, because I was running to avoid getting wet. Yep, it was actually raining in GA! Seems like it's been months, even years, since we've had rain.

And as I threw my laptop in the back seat, quickly opened my door and ducked my head to get in, another thought hit me. I Don't Mind. I don't mind the rain. In fact, looking out my window most of today, it was like I was watching a carnival or a college football game (ok, not THAT good). But it was a sight to behold. We so desperately need the rain. We are in a drought. A bad one. (Are there good ones?) Historic type stuff. And while I've never liked rainy days, you don't so much mind it when you know just how desperate we are for it. When you know that farmers and business people and concerned people have been praying like never before that God would send rain. I didn't mind the slower drive home. If I was a mind reader...or a reader of road emotions...I would say you could sense a calm on the road. I think there were many other people on the road who didn't mind the rain either.

As I thought about the rain, I compared it to our faith and our witness. When we find ourselves desperate to hear from God, we don't mind (so much) His discipline or odd answers. We find ourselves so consumed to know Him more and to be in His will for our lives that we don't mind whatever He places in front of us - cause we know He loves us like crazy and is shaping us. Also, when we are so filled with the Spirit and burdened for neighbors and friends and co-workers who don't follow Christ, we don't mind the differences. We don't mind being around the cussing or the different values or any kind of awkwardness - b/c it's worth it. We are driven to love them and accept them and convey a love to them that has changed our lives forever. We truly don't mind.

Quick Hits

1. Got my first ever flu shot the other day. Do they have one for the stomach flu? That's the one I want!

2. Overheard two local policeman chatting at the ball field the other day. Very insightful (sarcastic). One said to the other, "You know, we sure is growing...much like Canton and Acworth. The thing is, I've lived here all my life...and well, you know much of these people living here now are not from here." (Wow, thanks Captain Obvious --- said with much respect.) And yes, it was said in a tone of "I don't like the growth, go back where you came from." But no bigee, I can understand his frustration. Personally though, I like it a little bigger. At least we have enough now to attract the Starbucks and Kohl's of the world. Oh wait, is that a good thing?

3. Northstar is showing a promo video for kIDS Beach Club this Sunday during both services. Dana and I will have a table set up near the kids area so when parents come by to pick up their kiddos we can harass them, force them to listen to us, and demand they volunteer......oh wait, sorry, I got that wrong. We can kindly tell them about this great ministry and answer any questions. :-)

4. I recently bought THESE computer speakers. They are at my office and now I crank some serious tunes at work. (They run specials at buy.com...just wait for the free shipping.)

5. Watched Evan Almighty last night. Funny movie. I was pleasantly surprised in the many good points made throughout the movie. A little overkill on the whole protect the environment thing...but overall, great flick.

6. I bought some doggie treats that I give (with permission) to my neighbor's dog. He's in a fence. Good thing too, cause he would attack the living mess out of me or my kids otherwise. Mean thing. I'm hoping this will aid in stopping his ferocious barks at us. So far, though, I don't think it's working. He's probably just thinking, "Sucker...now this idiot feeds me, got him right where I want him."

7. With our oldest,Braden, attending Cartersville Primary School, we are trying to get into the whole town pride/school pride thing. Today was spirit day at his school....but dude, I just can't handle Purple & Gold. Reminds me too much of LSU.

Expect the Unexpected

I've just about concluded that life and faith and love and success and just about everything has to do with the unexpected. However I thought it would be, rarely turns out that way. And most of the time that's a good thing. After all, WHO is in control? Who is steering the ship? Who knows far better what is good for you? Who can see 6 months ahead? And this same Almighty God/Father/Savior/Redeemer calls us to the unexpected, doesn't He?! Look at what He called His people to back in the day. Crazy stuff. Rare stuff. Completely and totally and utterly the UNEXPECTED. Just thinking out loud a little.......

I never expected to have four kids within the first 7 years of marriage.

Never thought I would have a desire to be involved in a kid's ministry. As in never ever never thought! Now, the potential that kIDS Beach Club has in reaching elementary students is....is...whack crazy! I'm pumped! Cobb County has just about approved everything. 1st Club in GA coming soon.

Dana and I never expected to be back at Oak Leaf Church. When I say it came out of left field, I mean the foul line, bleacher seat left field. Out of nowhere. Does it make complete sense to us? Nope. Have others questioned it (body language saying "WHAT?!")? Yep. But are we doing exactly what we feel God prompted us to do? Yep. Are God's ways always common sense? Hardly.

Never thought Auburn would beat FL this year. (Had to throw that in there.)

Never thought I would be working with 60,70,80, & 90 yr olds. After all, I was on the cookie cutter fast track for Seminary-->Youth Pastor-->Asst. Pastor-->Pastor. That's what you're supposed to do, right? That is how ministry works, right? (Sorry, the sarcasm was a bit heavy there.)

Never expected to live in the state of GA. After all, AL, right next door, is far better. :-)

Never expected parenting to be this hard.

Never expected to be so selfish in marriage. Putting your spouse's needs above yours is difficult (and impossible without God's help).

Never expected the things I held in high regard...things I considered SO important just a few short years ago...to mean absolutely nothing now. Is that part of growing up?

Today's Song

Stop what you are doing, turn up your ratty computer speakers, and sing it out!!!!
(Hillsong, Take It All)

Are you kidding me? Dude, totally awesome!

Could you ever imagine something like THIS in Georgia?!?!

Uh....dude...uh, gnarly, eh? Uh,pssstttt...come here...come closer...check THIS out. It's not a pipe dream, no pun intended.

Further Proof
A Video
A Pic

Possible dilemma: My in-laws live just a few miles from the proposed spot. Let me get a feel from them whether or not they want something like this in their backyard. If not, then I'll come back on here and say what a horrible idea this is and how we need to protect the environment and this will kill fish in the lake and.....wait, who am I kidding, no I won't! 30 restaurants?!? World's only indoor snowmobile track? Two ice rinks? Two quarter-pipes, a half-pipe, and a super pipe?!? A mogul field?!? 2,500-seat outdoor amphitheater and replica of a European castle?!?

I've already sent an email to the genius behind this. I quickly put together and proposed a package deal in which I bring in a Christian band and I will be the speaker for youth lock-ins (this is a huge joke if you can't tell) and I will make a ton of money....ha.

Ok, enough with the madness. Quite interesting, eh?

Oh, in case you didn't read the long article - If you wonder why the developer is considering Dawsonville (still relatively small, 1 hour from my driveway), here's why: "It's within 100 miles of 6 million people."

Umm....hmmm...hey churchplanters...ummm....hmmmmm..........

Soccer Lesson

I had a revelation of sorts tonight. A good illustration. A lesson learned. It was on the soccer field....with a bunch of 5 yr olds.

Like every parent and every coach and every relative watching and instructing the game, I was barking (nicely I'd like to think) orders to the kiddos. Encouraging them to get aggressive. To stay with it. To get in to position. To kick it in the goal! (I'm an assistant coach and lovin' it---well, sometimes.)

It was about mid way through the 4th quarter that I had this "huh, it is just like that, isn't it?" kind of moment. We were getting clobbered by a much better team and I found myself getting quite frustrated. Yeah, I know, don't say it. I say it plenty to myself. "They're just 5." And you're right. I do everything I can to suppress (over and over and over) my competitiveness, and remember the big picture.

So in that moment, toward the end of the game, I asked myself, "Why are they not listening? Why are they not running? There are plenty of people instructing them where to go and what to do." The answer was simple: They didn't learn it in practice. We didn't really do a good job showing them how to spread out or pass or turn the ball well.

And in that moment I compared that with following Christ. Specifically, passing that following on to our kids. I think the average approach (that I find myself in quite often) is yelling from the sidelines. We are encouraging them to do the right thing. We want them to succeed. We want them to trust this Jesus that we are entrusted to. We want them to discover God's best. But in those gametime moments, when character and faith are tested, what will they have to recall? Will they be able to pull up illustrations from memory? Times when they saw us illustrate a Biblical principle? Did we ever intentionally teach them "in practice"? Here's another one: Did we just leave it up to the church?

And for those thinking it: Yeah, I know, this is oversimplified. I know it's more than, "Oh, just teach your kids right and they will not fail or abandon their faith." We all know the stats on that and what kind of enemy we are up against. But I know for me, next time I wonder why one of kiddos is just not listening or just not making the wise choice, I'm not just going to simply pass it off as them just being a kid or the rebellious spirit. I'm going to look for those teachable moments and first place the responsibility back on me - what have I taught or showed or lived out in front of them that would help change the current situation?

p.s. Back to the competitiveness stuff: Sorry other coach, you can't sub when my goalie is holding the ball. I may have informed him of that tonight. :-)
(In a "bless you brother" kind of way.)
:-)

Friday's Reality Pic

Auburn vs Florida 2007

In case you missed it...quite the weekend!