Fun Pic of Shelbi

I got this today and thought you might enjoy seeing how our money is being spent on Shelbi at Union University.

That's our girl right there.

Busy day today with me starting the day with a 20-mile run and finishing with a meeting for DCA this evening. Needless to say I am pretty spent.

Headed to L.A. tomorrow for YS - National Youth Worker's Conference. L.A. is not my favorite place and the Dodgers are in Pittsburgh so there goes that idea.

Sunday Lazy Day

This week was a whirlwind in many ways. We hosted the LifeWay National Youth Worker's Conference this week here in Nashville and had a great time. We heard from Steven Curtis Chapman, David Platt, Aaron Ivey Band, Blue Tree, The Skit Guys, Brad Stine and had over 25 breakout conferences as well. This was our second year to host this event and it grew by about 100 attendees.

DCA Lady Wildcats played three soccer games this week and won 2 and lost 1. We have had so much rain that one day was completely rained out. It was good to get the games in and to have a little bit of a break. We are pretty short on subs and have had quite a few injuries so hopefully the break will give us time to heal.

Dad and my aunt came through on Thurs-Sat to watch soccer and it was great to have them here. They are pretty much two peas in a pod and enjoy one another and are pretty good for one another too.

It will be a busy week this week as well as I head to LA on Weds and will be out through Mon. for the Youth Speciailties Convention.

Shelbi came home this weekend and it was great to spend time with her. She will be back in a couple of weekends to be here for Morgan's Homecoming appearance on the Sr. Court for DCA Homecoming. As she said, "who knew I was so popular?" Typical Morgan response.

The Next Five Minutes

You may have seen this video already, but I will tell you it is powerful. Take 5 minutes and then decide what you are going to do differently to make a difference in the world.

Crazy Busy

The last week has been incredibly busy with soccer games, holiday weekend, 10k race, office time, more meetings than I care to even remember and final preparation for the LifeWay National Youth Worker's Conference. All in all it has been very good, just very busy.

I currently am in Orlando, FL for Rock the Universe which is a christian gathering at the parks that involves us in doing training, artist interviews, hanging out with youth leaders and hopefully getting to ride a couple of the rides. If you dig through their website you might even find a picture of me on there in case you have forgotten what I look like. We will also lead in three worship experiences tomorrow morning w/ my boss, Jeff Pratt speaking and the Michael Spooner Band leading in worship through music.

I fly home tomorrow and we begin setting up for the LNYWC that runs through Weds. Busy week for sure but looking forward to spending time with the youth leaders coming our way to Nashville.

Family is doing well with the exception of our dog, Sadie who seems to have some funky colon issue going on. Got her on meds though and looks like she will live. It is pretty obvious she has not been feeling well. Praying she is the only one in the family that decides to get sick this year.

Closer to 50 than 40

Let me be the first to say that I rarely live in denial, but it dawned on me this week that even though I have been closer to 50 than 40 for the last 364 days, I really am closer to 50 than 40 for real now. Tomorrow I turn 46. It will be the second birthday to celebrate w/o my mom being around, which although sort of sad, is not what it was last year.

I do admit also that when my parents turned 46, I thought they were old. Heck, I thought they were old when they turned 30 but I was a kid and didn't know any better. Now I wonder what Shelbi and Morgan think of me turning 46? I have a lot of friends who are much older than me and I really do not think of them as being old. I don't think of myself being old. But, . . . I also have to admit that when I go to do some form of physical exercise, I feel older. Not ancient, just older. I do consider myself pretty studly after running 20 last Sat. but I have to admit, recovery takes a little longer than it used to. I am just not near as good at some things as I once was, and . . . I am really learning to be okay with that.

I do think however that I am better at hearing God's voice and pray that I am quicker to obey. I am honored that some younger brothers come to me for advice and to pray for them. Not that I have figured it out but because they trust me. My hair is grayer and my torso sags a little more than it used to (although not too much); my arms are still skinny and weak; my mind is fairly sharp; my love for my wife and family is stronger than it has ever been; and I am more appreciative of God's grace and mercy than ever. I long to be wholly His. I know now more than ever that He can be trusted fully. I want to live that out.

I am a blessed man. I have an amazing wife who loves me, two daughters who are the delights of my life, and a God I serve Who is Who He says He is. I am blessed.