Radical

Recently I received David Platt's new book, Radical where in it he challenges me to Take Back My Faith from the American Dream. If you have not read it, I would suggest that you do not if you plan on living the rest of your life w/ little regard for doing anything differently (that is assuming you are not chasing after the American dream).

I have met David a couple of times and he spoke at our LifeWay National Youth Worker's Conference this past year. I have found him to be very unassuming, humble and a great student of the Word with a heart for reaching the world for Christ.

In reading the book, I have discovered that I am really not very radical. I am pretty complacent at the core of who I am and I do not like saying that nor do I like being exposed. I do know that I cannot continue to live into the future the same way I have lived in the past. David has messed that up for me and I am grateful that he has written Radical. I am over being mad at him for helping me hold my life up to the light of Christ and finding my actions far from what Christ commanded. I am choosing to change not because I desire God to love me more, but because I understand and love Him more. I have not arrived by any stretch. But I am traveling farther down the road in this journey.

On another note - Sondra and I enjoyed a few days in New Orleans this week. I was teaching at New Orleans Seminary for my buddy, Dr. Allen Jackson at YMI. Allen is one of the those guys who has invested in me and encouraged me along the way and I am always thankful to be able to spend time with him and his bride, Judi. Sondra and I enjoyed our time together and even took in Cafe' Du Monde.

Graduation

Earlier blog entries mentioned that the Turners have been pretty busy as of late. With the Nashville Flood, the flurry of "events" like Mother's Day, Dads' birthdays, 25th Anniversary kind of stuff, this has been a pretty crazy month so far.

One of the events that happened this past Saturday was pretty much a milestone for not only Morgan, but for the Turner family as well. A few months ago I posted a blog entry on Turning a Page and you can read that one here if you missed it or have forgotten that wonderful piece of prose.

Saturday, May 15 was a really big day for Morgan. She culminated her high school career in an hour long ceremony that one of the best graduating services I have had the opportunity to witness. (I might be a little biased since I had a great seat and a small part in it.) With the flood, baccaluarate was combined with the normal graduation ceremony. Jeff Pratt did a great job of talking about parents packing a suitcase that begins to close as the years go by. It was short, compact and powerful. The three ladies that provided the valedictory speech did a wonderful job of focusing on the things that really matter. Dan Boone, President of Trevecca Nazarene University gave a wonderful talk on students writing new words to an old tune that puts their mark on the Kingdom.

As Chair of the Board of Trustees, I got to participate in handing out diplomas, shaking hands, hugging necks and making snide comments to the graduates as they came through the line. The highlight of that part of the ceremony for me was being able to handle Morgan her diploma and hug her neck. After the handing out of diplomas I was privileged to lead the benedictory prayer. (picture courtesy of Jen Tramel)

After graduation was over we headed to the house and hosted a grad party for Morgan and had about 85 people come through the house. It was a great time. My dad, my nephew, and my mother-in-law were all able to come and be a part of the entire weekend.

It was a great weekend. Morgan is a wonderful young lady whom Sondra and I have the privilege of parenting along with her amazing sister, Shelbi. (Sure I am biased, but I am also right about both of them.)

Time goes quickly. Life truly does come at you fast. God is good. He has allowed us the honor of rearing and stewarding two wonderful daughters. Many of you have joined us in the parenting process and we are grateful.

Hey Morgan - love you and incredibly proud of you. Cannot wait to see what all God does through you and thankful for what He is already doing in and through you. Proud to be your dad.

Happy 25th Anniversary

Wedding Day, May 11, 1985

There are some things that come along that can catch you by surprise. For example, last week's incredible amount of rainfall in Nashville was pretty much a surprise along with the subsequent flooding. Winning the lottery without ever playing the lottery would be a huge surprise. Winning the Boston Marathon or winning the Masters tournament, all would go down as a huge surprise and pretty much out of my realm of reality.

One thing does not catch me by surprise though. Being married to the most incredible woman in the world for 25 years is not a surprise to me. I knew she was a remarkable lady when I met her in college in Missouri. I knew about 4 months after we began dating that she would be the girl I would marry and spend the rest of my life with. I knew that I was blessed beyond all realm of knowable grace that God had planned me for her and her for me. Being married to her for these past 25 years is really no surprise to me.

But . . . there have been some surprises in our 25 years of married life together. Some of them have been very good surprises and some of them have been tough to go through. Losing my mom and her dad in a span of about 9 months was a tough time. Having the girls has been a great joy. Learning to parent and continuing to learn has been so much fun. Life has been good and even better than good, it has been great with Sondra.

So . . . my fortunate bride . . .You are more beautiful today than you were that Saturday in May in 1985. I will never forget seeing you come through the door and down that aisle hanging on to your dad. I was so excited, scared, nervous and ab0ut to scream with joy and pee my pants with fear and excitement. I did not know what the next years would be like other than I was going to be with you and that has made it more than alright. You are the love of my life. You are me. I am you. Without you I would not be complete.

What an incredible 25 years. What an amazing woman you are. I love that you still think "I am all that and a bag of chips." I love being your man. I am all yours. You have my heart. You have everything I have to give. I am thankful that God blessed me with you. I do not deserve you and everyone who knows you knows that you must have done something bad a long time ago to deserve me. ;-)

Happy 25th. I am so excited about what God has in store for us. I am alot grayer than I used to be; I am not as fast as I once was; I fall asleep earlier at night; I cannot see and hear as good as I once did; but with all of those things diminishing, the one thing that has gone the other direction is my love for you.

Just one last thing I need to say to you . . . I love you MORE.

Sunday, May 9 - A Tale of At Least Two Emotions

The month of May is a really busy one for us as a family. Some of the things that happen in May happen to everyone during this month, but May presents our family a couple of extra things.

When Sondra and I were dating and then betrothed (just wanted to use that word) we were trying to find a suitable time for us to have a wedding. We went through many dates and finally landed on a Saturday in May. The challenge for us was to have our wedding day and subsequent anniversaries not conflict with other major dates on the calendar. We thought we were doing a good job 25 years ago but quickly realized that the best laid plans of choosing dates do not always pan out. (Enough back story. All of that to say, May is really busy for us.)

My mom w/ Shelbi & Morgan

This Sunday, May 9th is one of those collision dates for us and with it will come a wide range of emotions. For everyone, this Sunday is Mother's Day. This will be the third observance of this honored day without my mother treading this sod. I have to admit that I still miss my mom but I will add that the hurt of that miss is not near as painful. I was really blessed to have mom for 44 years. Many do not have the privilege of having someone like my mom for four months, so I am truly blessed.

This Sunday, Sondra will get to celebrate her mom on Mother's Day. I know she has sent a card (pretty sure w/o any money) and my mother-in-law will arrive at our house later in the week to be with us for Morgan's h.s. graduation. Joyce Holmes is an amazing woman who followed her husband to this country via a little time in Canada. She is a wonderful woman of God and the best mother-in-law ever. Hands down.

My in-laws w/ Shelbi

This Sunday, May 9th is also my father-in-law's birthday. We lost him in September '08. What an incredible guy he was. He would be 80 this Sunday. I know that my beautiful bride will be thinking of him, as will I, and the rest of our family. Dr. Bernard Holmes impacted many lives for the Kingdom of God. He impacted mine in too many ways to mention.

My dad, Charles and me

This Sunday, May 9th is my dad's, Charles Turner, 70th birthday. I have lauded him many times on this blog, but I have to tell you, there is no greater man in my eyes, than my father. He is balding, losing his teeth and a little of his hearing, (had to throw all that in dad) but he loves Jesus. In the last few months, he has retired from full-time pastoring (and about to lose his interim job), sold his house, bought another one closer to my brother, moved in and in some ways, started over. Pretty awesome for a 69/70 year old.

Morgan, Sondra, Shelbi

This Sunday is also Mother's Day for my wife. While she is definitely not my mother, she is an amazing mother to our two daughters. Sondra is the Proverbs 31 gal. She is the love of my life and our daughters have the great privilege of calling her mom. (She can say all of these kinds of nice things about me next month at Father's Day.)

Maybe lots of emotions going through me now and on Sunday, but the overwhelming knowledge of and experience of being blessed is what I know and feel.

Oh, and on Tuesday, May 11, we celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary. I am blessed.

Whole Lotta Water

If you have not heard yet, Nashville received record rainfall amounts this past weekend. Almost 15 inches of rain fell in about 36 hours. I remember the flood of '77 in Kansas City and that included alot of water. I remember New Orleans in the mid-90s getting 10" of rain while I was there, but never have witnessed anything like the rain and flooding we got this weekend and now still going on flood wise. (No disservice to New Orleans and Katrina almost 5 years ago. I know this flooding and devastation pales in comparison to what you folks endured.)

Here are some pics of Donelson Christian Academy (early on Sunday morning 5/2) and then some of downtown Nashville from yesterday (Monday, 5/3). You will also find a video I shot yesterday morning at DCA. Last night I was in the school helping clear out some things and the water was waist high. This morning went I went back to school there was only about a foot of water still in the building.

We are safe. Unfortunately there has been loss of life and much devastation, but God is good.