The Way

The last few years I have become more and more aware that we are people obsessed with information. We are consumed by it. We google, read articles in actual print form, download, surf, watch, engage, and what not (what they heck is that filler phrase anyway? what not? stop saying it, it means nothing) trying to get more information so we can be "smarter", "in the know", what not. (See there it is again. We would not normally type it so quit saying it!) (ENOUGH FILLER WORD RANTING YOU SAY!) Agreed. I spent the weekend with youth leaders in AZ and am about to spend the week with youth leaders from all over the US and Texas. (Most people from TX forget that they are actually US citizens). Many will come looking for more information to help them to be more effective in ministry to students. I love what I get to do, but more and more of the conferences that I lead are less about information and much more about transformation. We get information in order for God to u...

This is one of my favorite accounts of what St. Patrick's Day is really all about. I have posted this many times over the years on this day. Enjoy and Happy St. Patty's Day. Click here to read.

With Easter less than a month away, many participating in Lent, and many trying to figure out how to invite those "pagans you live by in your neighborhood" to church, I ran across this video from my buddies, The Skit Guys. You might not want to approach your neighbor invite this way though -

This past few days have been good ones including a pretty violent storm, hail damage to our roof and car, and some really good family time. This past weekend I found myself in northern Alabama during some crazy storms and then leading training at Clements Baptist Church. What a great group of leaders! I am always so encouraged to be around leaders who are willing to get at it differently when it comes to sharing Christ with students. I left Sat. morning refreshed by being around them. I drove to Lipscomb University and watched the last quarter of DCAs win over USN in the DII-A State Championship. It was a great example of a group of boys encouraged by coaches and leaders achieving more than they should have because they believed in the mission and one another. I have included a little video below of the final seconds if you are interested. It was fun to watch them this season and I am honored to get to announce the home games. Great seat on the floor behind the table and in ear shot...

It has been a very active "winter" season lately in our neck of the woods. We had a little snow two weeks ago but most of this "winter" has been very unstable air that has resulted in some pretty good thunderstorms. Today was another one of those days with some pretty violent storms throughout the SE region. Unfortunately there has been quite a bit of damage, injuries and even deaths. Thankfully, it has not been as violent today as they had predicted. We did get some hail damage to one of our cars and my best guess is that our roof on the house has some damage. I traveled to Northern Alabama this afternoon, missed the storms in Nashville, but did capture this video of a storm that passed just north of the hotel I am staying in. I provided a little commentary as well but not at the first of the video.

I am sure that many from my generation (basically, not as old as dirt, but not young either) thought of Michael Jackson when you read the title. It is true, that without change, we will not become who we are designed to be. I really am one that says that I embrace change, but actually at times, I take change very hard. We have been through some amazing change in recent days at my job. Many have lost their jobs and that is always difficult. Many people have been displaced. From all that I hear, my employer did a very fair job of taking care of those displaced by offering career counseling and a number of other helpful resources. I experience some survivor's guilt every time there is a downsizing in employees and always remain grateful that I get to do what I get to do. My personal challenge is to never grow lazy or complacent in my job or in any phase of my life. I am beginning to learn that change really can be a very positive thing and without change, we would die. My hea...

I realize with a title like that I am potentially opening myself to a lot of sarcasm from those who know me well. I am NOT a lot of things: - a great athlete - a math whiz (Sondra is keenly aware of this one) - very good at staying up late (I get up too early I suppose) - very quiet in the stands when watching ballgames (thus give me a mic and let me announce) - a very good romantic (confession on Valentine's Day) - an extrovert (I have an adapted style of relating to others and genuinely like people, just my strength is gained in solitude) - an unselfish person - non-judgmental - gracious as my default - on and on, ad nauseum What I am longing NOT to be is the center of my universe. I am really good at convincing myself that the world and God for that matter, revolve around me. It shows itself in so many ways. You might be able to relate to a couple and unfortunately, you have seen these in me. - hollering at officials/refs who are lazy and do not get in position to ...