Home Again

We returned from the FL beach today in a bunch of traffic and a little bit of rain. We were up and out of the condo by 7am and on the road. May a stop for a light breakfast, another stop for a potty stop, (I traveled with 4 females) and lunch and then another potty stop. All in all it was a good trip home and a wonderful week at the beach.


Looking forward to teaching our SS class in the morning. Between preaching some this past month and being out on work assignments and vacation, I did not get to teach our class all of June. We did have two incredible talented ladies in the class that taught while I was away. I think it is good for the class to get a female take on the lessons as well. Not good to hear from me all the time. I have my own prejudices and filters that I teach through. Always good to get another perspective.



I got home in time to get the yard mowed and edged and weedeated before it got dark. Glad to have that done so I am hoping to lay around tomorrow and watch the Women's US Open rest of the third round and final round if they get to play it. Been some pretty tough storms in Southern Pines, NC this week evidently. We did get some rain here this past week while we were gone but it was not much. Did help to keep the grass a little bit of green while we were not home to water.



June is in the books and July starts tomorrow. Hard to believe half the year is gone.

More Fun in the Sun

A good couple of days at the beach since the last post. The weather has been pretty good and the water got some swell in it today so it was fun on the rafts. Enjoyed some good grilled burgers last night and lasagna tonight.

Having a great time and it will all come to an end soon. Hope to play a little golf either tomorrow or Friday and then the fun drive home on Saturday. This has been a very good vacation so far.

Sun Update

Hardest decision of the vacation is whether to lay at the beach or the pool. I love it. Had a little rain this morning after a 5-miler and then it cleared up nicely. Headed out to eat some pizza tonight and then back for the Closer on TNT.

Update on my mom - oncologist visit went well and she is cancer free with good levels. Energy may just run low for awhile. And, the dr. said that she may have a new normal that is just less than what she had. She has decided not to teach this next year which is the first time in about 10 years where she has said she is going to retire and actually is.

Sadness for the Tar Heels who lost to the OSU Beavers in the College World Series for the second year in a row.

Update - the pizza was good and the Closer is coming on.

Church on the Beach

We headed out to the beach for church and there were probably 75 folks there. It was a very meaningful time complete with children's sermon and some really nice singing. The pastor's brother brought a sermon from Galatians 3 and 4 and did a really nice job with the passage. I believe it is a Lutheran congregation that does the service, but it was very well done and Biblical. It has been overcast some today which has been okay with me. It is always good not to get fried the first day out.

Pulling for North Carolina in the College World Series. It is the Tar Heels and the Oregon State Beavers again this year. Pretty remarkable. Carolina played poorly last night and lost handily so either they turn it around tonight or they go home empty again.

Let's go Heels!

Florida

The girls and I arrived in Florida yesterday to be a part of the XFuge conference that runs through Sunday. I am leading some Bible studies and leading a couple of seminars and then hope to run a little, play golf a little, and enjoy being around the folks who came to the event.

We drove down yesterday and attended worship with Big Daddy Weave and Landon Dowden. All of these guys are great folks that I have worked with before. It is nice to be around solid folks who just enjoy one another.

We hope to enjoy the next week down here vacationing so there is a good chance that I will not be blogging this next week. I am sure both of you who read this blog are disappointed. I will try to make it up to you by bringing you some sand from the beach or something.

My mom visits the oncologist today for her 6 month check up. She has been pretty tired lately and is not eating too well so she continues to lose some weight. Pray for her as you think about it and I will keep you updated on what we find out from them.

Bring on the Rain

Texas is flooding and does not need any more rain right now and Tennessee and most of the Southeast is baking and drying up. We did get a little bit of rain yesterday and the forecast calls for more rain today. I think we are about 13-14 inches behind for the year and it is a big drag to have to be watering this early in the summer.

Later this week I head to Panama City Beach to teach at one of our XFuge camps and then a week of vacation at Santa Rosa Beach. Hope to lay in the sun, play some golf, run some, and enjoy some good seafood. We went there last year and had a great time. I love when the toughest decision for the week is whether to lay at the beach or the pool.

I finish my role of teaching students at Victory tomorrow night. The church has called a new youth minister and he starts next week some time. My time at Victory has been short but I have really enjoyed being around the students over there. They are some great kids.

I did a 11-miler this morning and it was incredibly humid but my time was pretty good and it is good to be done.

Father's Day

I guess this is my 17th Father's Day coming up tomorrow and it makes me thankful that God has allowed me to be a dad. I can think of many times that I have come up far short of being a good dad, but there are a few times I remember that I have gotten it right. Those are the ones I want to repeat.

I want to comment on my dad in this post. Dad turned 67 this May and is still preaching and enjoying life. This past year has been pretty hard on him, taking care of mom through her cancer surgery and subsequent chemo and radiation treatments. I know that it has aged him some. I can hear it in his voice. It is always weird to me this changing relationship that I find myself in with my dad. Dad is one of the godliest men that I know. He genuinely loves people and loves my mom. I never have doubted that he loves my brother and me. He has shown it through the years and he always verbalizes that he loves me.

A few years ago I wrote an article about my dad that was published entitled, Lessons I Learned from My Dad (and continue to learn). Dad has taught me how to live as a honorable man. He taught me how to love my wife, by him loving my mom. He taught me how to throw a ball that later in life I hit him with when my brother and I would pitch to him in our back yard. He taught me how to light a campfire by throwing gasoline and a match and then running. He taught me how to be honest in all my dealings and relationships. And, I could go on and on. Now he is teaching me how to grow older and to finish strong. I can not imagine my life without my dad. Oh, I know the time will come that dad will pass, but I am selfish and pray that he lives to be an old man, with a continued gentle word and a strong love for his Lord. I am blessed.

Dad, I love you. Thanks for all that you have taught me and continue to teach me by the way you live. Thanks for taking care of my mom. She needs you and you need her.

Don't preach too long tomorrow.

Home Again

We had a great time in San Antonio with a nice room overlooking the Alamo, a couple of blocks from the convention center and River Walk. I just enjoy being with my wife. She is alot of fun and hopefully she would say the same about me.

Our girls are a little bit stranded in FL since their bus broke down. They are hoping to get away later today. They have been down there all week at basketball camp and now are a little sun burned and tired and ready to get home. Safety is the key for me, so if they come in late, so be it, just come home safely.

I ran a little 5k on Tues. in San Antonio as part of the Convention extra-curricular activity and ran a 20:17 which is neither good nor bad. I had a little groin pull going into the run and it flared up during the run but is now feeling much better thankfully. Those groin pulls can be problematic to say the least.

The Spurs completed their domination of the Cavaliers and LeBron James. I am not a big NBA fan, but sort of got caught up in it while we were in San Antonio. Looking forward to the College World Series coming up and of course the US Open began yesterday. What a course and incredible conditions.

Have a 10-miler scheduled for tomorrow and hopefully some sun time. Preaching on Sunday and speaking on Being Dad. We guys have a tendency to skip over the being part to the doing part. Going to try to bring some balance to that.

The picture of Payne Stewart was to honor him and his US Open win just a few months before he died.

San Antonio via Denver

Travel in the summer is always an adventure and yesterday was no exception. My wife and I headed to the airport in Nashville to catch a Northwest flight to Memphis and then to San Antonio but we were met with "It ain't happening" through Memphis today. Evidently there were problems on the East coast for NW, Continental and Delta and it was filling up all the other planes. We headed to Denver, spent four hours and ate a nice meal and then made it to San Antonio last night about midnight.

It was an adventure but it was fun to be with Sondra and even though it was a long day, it was good. We are in San Antonio for the Southern Baptist Convention. Sondra is planning on attending a couple of sessions and a whole lot of time at the pool and good restaurants. I am working but glad she is along.

It is the start of a busy summer. Pray for the 22 folks from our church who are in Vegas this weekend doing some ministry opportunities www.lasvegasjourney.blogspot.com to keep up with their adventures.

Kelsey Smith Found Dead

I just read the headline on the KC Star website and my heart just sank. I still ask you to pray for her killer, now to turn himself/herself in, and continue to pray for Kelsey's family. Hug your kids and your family today. Thank God that they are in your life. Pray for those people who feel like they have no hope and want to harm others.

Here is the link to the latest report: http://www.kansascity.com/132/story/138680.html

Hard to Imagine

Since the weekend, I have been following the disappearance and now apparent abduction of Kelsey Smith who is a recent high school graduate from the Kansas City area. By all accounts, she is a great, young lady who excelled in her high school band and is loved and admired by everyone who knows her. She was shopping at a local Target store, called home to say she would be there shortly, and then has not been heard from again.

I guess I am drawn to this for a number of reasons. For the past 25 years, I have worked with students. I enjoy being around them, I learn alot from them, and I am always encouraged by how much they contribute to society. My wife and I have two teenage daughters of our own, whom we love dearly, and learn from daily. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to hurt another human being, and especially a young lady.

I urge you to pray for Kelsey, her abductor (to come to his/her senses and turn her loose) and for her parents and family.

Good News Again

Not to sound blasphemous, but I am not talking about that Good News that drives me to be involved in the ministry that I am involved in. I am talking about the good news that Rick and Bubba are back on in middle Tennessee again. While it is true that they have been available to listen to on weekdays via the internet, now they are on in morning drive time. These two guys are pretty funny and unapologetically, faith-based. Listen to them some time in the morning on 1510 WLAC AM weekdays 6-8a or via the internet @ www.rickandbubba.com


Looking forward to a good weekend. Have a 10-miler scheduled in the morning and then going to work an AAU basketball tournament later in the day. Preaching on Sunday for a buddy of mine who pastors a newer, church start in a neighboring county. Praying for rain this weekend too. It is painfully dry here in Nashville. Come on rain.