Memorable day at Vinings Lake

Today at VL, we concluded our series My Life. We spent our time in I Timothy 6:17-19 and looked at My Wealth, My Trust, and My Generosity. We focused in on the last part of the passage that says, "that they may take hold of the life that is truly life".

A few things stood out that were awesome:

1. The band did a superb job in ALL of the songs & it was fun!
2. We weaved the message and music together throughout the service - it was a great change up and very impactful - that was commented on in our Community Group tonight.
3. During one of the worship songs, "All We Need" - we had everyone just stay seated which gave us a fresh visit to the words we were singing.
4. We used a clip from Rob Bell's Nooma video called Rich - where he teaches on I Timothy 6:17-19. Out of the 4 minute clip we showed, it seemed to be one of the most impacting parts of the day. This was also a topic of discussion at our Community Group tonight - b/c it was very easy to recall the statistics and statements that were made in the video.
5. At the end of the service, everyone had a My Life card to write something on it that they were giving to God (the main point of the series was "The way to Live My Life is to Give My Life"). People wrote on their cards and brought them and placed them across the front of the stage. Brian came up with this great idea a few weeks ago - I thought this was a very powerful moment in the life of VL - great idea Brian! This week, a lady in our church is going to place all on our backdrop for everyone to view them next week (no names were on the cards).

It was a great and memorable day at VL!

Hollie

My wife is truly a GIFT from God to me. I know that God gave her to me as a gift because a gift is something that brings us joy, lifts us when we are down, or is just the right thing - at just the right time.

Hollie is full of joy - she is so positive and has helped me to stop and enjoy the people, places, and moments of time that God has given us. I can be so focused or driven and let many things pass me by - but she is the gift that God has given and continues to give to me - and I think God says to me through her - "Hey dude, you need to just relax a little and enjoy what I have given you."

Tomorrow at Vinings Lake, we are concluding our series "My Life" - and we are going to be in I Timothy 6. In verse 18, there is a challenge to "do good, be rich in good deeds, be generous, and be willing to share" - My Wife is an example of all of these - and that is why she is God's gift to me - she is good to me, she is rich in good deeds, she is generous, and she shares her joy and spirit and God-given personality with me and with everyone who she comes in contact with.

I love her - she is the best!

**Here is a little taste of her "random" craziness while we were in NYC last Christmas! - click here to see her on YouTube!

**Also, check out her blog - she has a great post about a date night we had with a couple in our church this past Thursday - and some awesome photos from our visits (yes, as in plural) to the Fair this past week!

VL Salsa Party

Last night, we had an adult Salsa Party for VL. We did it in a neighborhood clubhouse near our church - it was a great night! We had mexican food catered from La Parilla and a little entertainment from Dickie Bickford's (one of VL's favorite people!) long lost cousin from Mexico, Rickie Bickford. It was crazy fun! My wife did a super job putting it together - she is the party queen!

There was another special guest that actually made it to YouTube - but I am not brave enough to give you the link on my blog...............all I am going to say is - WOW!

Car battery...if only I listened to my wife!

For the last few weeks I have been complaining that my car has been "sluggish" in starting and I have been warned by my wonderful wife to get a new battery. Yesterday, when I went to start my car, it was dead - so I jumped it off of her vehicle.

This morning, we had our Men's Fraternity at Vinings Lake which started at 6am - do you think I got a new battery yesterday? No way, last night I literally pulled my car right up next to hers in the garage, popped both hoods loose, and had the jumper cables ready to go - b/c I was leaving around 5:20-5:30am this morning and so I jumped it again and off I went.

It took my car completley going out at an intersection at lunch time and the help from an incredible man in our church - to finally get my rear end (that phrase is so weird to type - "rear end"!) to Wal-Mart to get a new battery.........if only I listened to my wife!!! (that's for you sweetheart!)

"4:8 Principle".....simple and impacting

Yesterday at VL, we continued our "My Life" series with a guest speaker, Tommy Newberry. Tommy just released a new book called the 4:8 Principle. This comes from Philippians 4:8 where the apostle Paul challenges us to be disciplined in our thinking - and the principle that Tommy taught really brought out the importance of our thinking - because it affects our living.

This is such a simple, yet incredibly impacting principle that really shapes our life while we are here on this earth. God is no doubt the creator and sustainer of our lives, but He does give us the great privilege of being stewards and managers of this life - and our thinking is so VITAL to this - however it is so often overlooked.

speeding ticket

Last night, Brian, Jen, Hollie and I, Addie and her baby sitter were on our way to this conference in Orlando and I got pulled over for doing 84 in a 65!!! He had NO mercy on me and wrote me up for the full amount.....it is NOT going to be pretty! I even asked him to take a picture with me - I was going to put it on my blog - but he wouldn't do it!

best steak house!

I am at a conference in Orlando, FL and tonight I ate at the best steak house I have ever been to. It is called Charley's and it is actually rated #1 in the US. I knew it was going to be a good night when I fell in love with the blue cheese crumbles on top - then the bread, steak, mushrooms - and desert and coffee to top it off!

3rd Tooth!

Good-ness! Hope lost another tooth today! It is on the bottom and was quite a bit easier than the last one I pulled out. It has been loose and today was the day - she was pretty pumped up!

Rock n' Roll

Last night was completely incredible! I went to a show where my buddy Thad Cockrell opened up for Drivin n' Cryin. I would say it was my first "true" rock n' roll show and I thought it was great. I loved the music and the atmosphere was quite a treat.

Thad did a fantastic job - he is the man....and Drivin n' Cryin was off the hook!

Serving the community

Today I sat in a "Partners in Education" meeting at Griffin Middle School in Smyrna. I heard some of the faculty sharing about the needs and circumstances and statistics of some of their students. They also presented a "wish list" which consisted of things from money to take tests, to luncheons for parents and teachers and also mentors for the students.

I am challenged and convinced more and more - especially as I am reading through the book of Matthew right now and seeing how Jesus lived His life, that we MUST serve our community - simple, just that - serve.

I think it is more than just "growing our church" but it is about serving - in order to expose people to the love of God. Jesus met the needs of those that He passed by and came in contact with - He "had compassion" on them. Are we not to do the same?

Serve our community - and let's not do it just so they will come to our "church" - but so that they will be introduced to and shown the love of a God who cares for them and us very personally.

Proud moment as a father and a pastor

This morning following our 2nd worship service at Vinings Lake, Addie's (my 3 year old) teacher came up to me and told me something that every father and pastor wants to hear.

She said that they were singing songs and were taking requests from the kids. When they asked Addie, she said she wanted to sing................."I'm Bringing Sexy Back"
When they said they wanted to do more Bible songs, she then asked if they could sing "I like to move it, move it"

I think they decided to move on and take requests from another kid.

Good-ness! Pray for me!

This is amazing!

Dear gravy - check out what happened at Newspring Church this weekend!
One of the churches I follow and appreciate their courage and purpose to reach the unchurched baptized 562 people Saturday night!
http://www.tonymorganlive.com/tony_morgan_one_of_the_si/2007/09/559-people-bapt.html

Each Day, God's Faithfulness

Each day is new, different, good and challenging. Simple statement, but I am thankful for each new day. Yesterday for me - seemed to be a great challenge emotionally and mentally. Today is a new day. The best part of today, whether I 'feel' it or not - is that God is faithful.

Lamentations 3:22-23, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

God and children

Hollie and I and the kids are staying in a beach house outside of Jacksonville, FL. Last night, I had to really talk to Hope about obedience and that she really needed to change. Without me saying anything spiritual (I am pretty sure there was nothing "spiritual" about how I was feeling at the moment!) - when asked how she was going to change - she mentioned both "God" and "heart". This was very encouraging to me - to see that God is working in her life.

This morning I was talking with her some more about asking God to help her and something that puzzles me a little was her response when I told her that she needed to ask God to help her - she said she was afraid.

We haven't gotten much further yet, but today I was swimming in the ocean with her and I was telling her about how God made the ocean and the sky, clouds, etc. I am trying to tell her how much God loves her - and that she doesn't have to be afraid. She may not understand what she is saying about being "afraid" - but I still want to help her not be afraid.

Later today, I was thinking about it and realized that I sometimes view God this way - rather than a loving heavenly Father who loves me so much and goes to great lengths for me to know this (if I will only pay attention!).

Having children helps me relate to how God may feel at times with me. I want Hope (and Addie) to see God for who He really is - and God probably wants to give me ths same message!