The Way

To all of our friends, family, in-laws and outlaws, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. As you celebrate today, we pray that God would remind you of His great love for you. The Turners at the KC Country Club Plaza

Growing up in the KC area and being a sentimental goober at times, I could not help but post this video on my blog. I love KC. I guess there are just too many good memories. This is not the coolest song but for those of you who know KC, you get this song. Merry Christmas!

Good to see that the town I live in and the airport I get to about once every two weeks is getting in on the flashmob mania that seems to be sweeping the country. This happened on 12/22/10

Great niece Ava I really enjoy my job and I really enjoy time off from my job too. Since last Weds. I have been enjoying hanging out with Sondra and the girls. I have done a little around the house and have pretty much run every day but have had a blast being with the family. We traveled to MO on Sat and enjoyed our time with my dad, my brother and his wife, Julie, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. My family is pretty much crazy which says alot about me and how I act. There is still some sadness with my mom being gone, but memories are very good. I ran quite a bit around the area that I spent as a teenager and reflected on many fun times and experiences with my mom.We also made it down to the Country Club Plaza with one of our cousins Jenny. She was a lot of fun to be around. She is a twin and I am forever getting them confused. Niece Cassy & great nephew Lucas Caught up with my high school friend, Donna Robinson Vaughn today and that was quite a trip. She reminde...

Lisa Whelchel of The Facts of Life fame tweeted this that she had gotten from some friends. This is really very well done. Take a look.

The past couple of weeks have been very busy to say the least. Last week I was in Phoenix (and some much warmer weather) with my friends and counterparts at the NAMB Student Evangelism Mtg. What a great group of men and women who encourage me so in their commitment to seeing students come into relationship with Christ. I shared a message with them about staying focused on the calling that we have and used the Geico Woodchuck commercial as part of my talk. It was received well. You can see and read about my talk more here . The weather was very nice and it was enjoyable to run outside in a pair of shorts and long sleeved shirt. Back in Nashville this week has been incredibly cold. Lows in the teens and low 20s are not overly fun for me to run in but it was good to get out just the same. Our girls got home this week from Union and have finished another semester. They will be with us for the rest of this month and the majority of January. Nice to have them back in the house for sure. ...

Okay, so GEICO does make some funny commercials. Still not interested in their insurance but like this commercial.

Maybe I am more aware now than I have been before, but there just seem to be so many things to be thankful for in my life. I grew up in a family that always stressed the importance of being thankful. I intentionally try to live in such a way that shows that I am thankful for both the good and the not so good things that come my way. It just seems like the right day to blog about thankfulness but I know that a Christ-followers life is one that is blessed everyday. Here are few things I am especially thankful for and not necessarily in any kind of ranked order: The grace of God - this is # 1 without a doubt. I blogged earlier about thinking that the older I got the less grace I would need. Silly me. My family including my bride and love of my life, Sondra and our two daughters, Morgan and Shelbi (I am even thankful for Mark, Shelbi's beau. He will be shocked if he reads or hears about this.) My family - this includes my dad; my mom who has been enjoying heaven almost 3 yrs. now; ...

In Harrisonville on Tuesday, James Turner of Independence was among the estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people who came to ensure that Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church/family congregation did not disrupt the funeral of Army Cpl. Jacob R. Carver. Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/23/2467169/in-harrisonville-thousands-line.html#ixzz16DhO8R89    

I wish I had an ounce of this kind of creativity. Watch and enjoy. This takes place in Macy's in Philadelphia -

Those of you who have known me awhile, know that I traveled to India in January 2007 with some friends from our church. We did all kinds of ministry including conducting a pastor's conference; home visits; preaching; and many other ministry activities. Last week after much prayer and wrestling with God, I decided that I would go back to India in January 2011. I put some conditions on my going and God was quick to reduce me to a nub and helped me to understand that He was in charge and that He was in charge of the conditions. All that to say, I bought a Delta ticket and agreed to go January 6-18. The total cost of the trip will be in the neighborhood of $2800. I would like to invite you to be a part of my prayer team and would also like to ask you to consider giving $5 for India. That is a small monetary commitment but one that I believe most can handle. If you are willing, please send $5 to me at: Paul Turner 101 West Catalina Court Hermitage, TN 37076 If you choose to giv...

Tim Hawkins is a wonderful comedian who is clean and funny. You will enjoy this video and if you don't it may be because you have not been blessed to have Chick-fil-a in your area. Enjoy!

Morgan, Sondra, Shelbi In my last post I stated that I was going to start mentioning some of those people who have had great influence in my life. Sometimes this is the one whom I have a tendency to not make such a big deal of in influencing my life, but I am able to remedy that now. Sondra Jean (Holmes) Turner is definitely "one-of-a-kind" and has the most influence in my life for the last 25 years plus. (How can you be married to a wonderful woman for that long and some of that not rub off on you anyway?) She is amazing. I am going to attempt to do a compare and contrast and then let you draw your own conclusions on how she has most influenced my life. She is black and white on issues.       I am pretty gray on many things She is organized.                               I am organized enough to get b...

I think I have hit that interesting age in life where many people who are younger than me, 20- and 30-somethings primarily, think I have wisdom. I am pretty sure that I do not have much, but my gray hair sort of lends itself to this whole "wisdom" thing. To be completely honest, I am a little flattered and a lot scared. I know I do not know much. I do have experience and get the opportunity to be around alot of folks in ministry and realize that I do have some influence in others' lives. What a responsibility. Turners circa early 70s It has also caused me to think about many people who have influenced my life in so many great and strong ways. I have talked about my dad and my mom in this blog many times and those two people obviously have influenced me the most. It is hard to believe that my mom has been gone almost 3 years ago and yet her influence in my life continues strong. Of course, my dad continues to influence me in so many ways. My brother, James, is almos...

A couple of blog posts ago I wrote about change and how I am okay with it, especially when it does not involve me. You can read it here if you are interested. Lately I have discovered that this new life that Sondra and I are leading is just that - change. But "the more things change the more they stay the same" , as the old saying goes. This transition in our lives is really, really good. It is strange and weird and we have by no means transitioned completely, but I am discovering some things I had not anticipated. I have more focused "free" time - our evenings are not filled with ball games, practices, etc. that centered around the girls' activities I have fallen more in love with Sondra. At the risk of sounding sappy, I knew all along how incredible of a wife and mom she is, but with more time not filled with activity, I find myself just longing to spend more time with her We have more time for one another. Heck, we even played backgammon the other nigh...

Busy is the key word for the last couple of weeks for me. I am convinced that I do not work any harder than any one else does, but these past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. Last week I flew to Orlando for Rock the Universe hosted at Universal-Orlando and got to see many youth leaders who God is doing some great things through their lives and ministries. Our friend Todd also got us on the new Harry Potter ride and it was pretty awesome. Along with hearing some great bands like the Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Toby Mac, Skillet, and others I got to do an interview w/ John Cooper from Skillet . Great guy with lots of energy. That is the two of us in the pic to the right. I got home from Orlando Sunday afternoon in time to start setting up for our LifeWay National Youth Worker's Conference . What a great time to host youth leaders from across the country and even had a young leader from Malawi. How cool is my job that I get to minister to youth ministers and encourage them? Incredib...

Saw this video again from Francis Chan and the way I too many times hold on to stuff that hinders me from being all that Christ has created me to be. Is it really right that I live life in balance? Or, is the Christian life designed to be an "all out" kind of life? I know the answer. I struggle with the action.

Most of us really like change as long as it is happening to someone else. When it comes to land in our own lives and in our own homes, it definitely takes on a whole new connotation. I am all about change, especially when I am consulting a church, leading others, and talking about how to get at it differently. I am little less enthused with change when it hits me square in the chest. And . . . change has hit me square in the chest. Sondra and I have been married for 25 years, have two incredible daughters and a not so incredible dog, but she is a dog and does not really count in this conversation. Change hit us last Thursday/Friday. Morgan is now a college student and has had the audacity to join her sister at Union (her sister left us two years ago). The house is quiet; we have to take care of the dog (scratch that . . . that is the same. It is their dog but we have always been the ones to care for that four legged beast); picking up the trash takes about half as long; laundry loads...

It was nice to be at home most of last week and then on Friday morning I headed out to Ft. Myers, FL to be a part of the SW FL SS Conference. I have to admit that I am not a big fan of Delta Airlines, in fact, most of the time I work hard avoiding their carrier. It was not an option this time so I boarded a flight to ATL (all flights on Delta go thru ATL) seated in a row with two of the largest men I have ever flown with. I had the aisle, they had the rest of the three seat row. I had about 2/3 of my seat. Arm rests up w/ the exception of the one on the aisle. It was buried about 6 inches into my ribs. But, I have to say, these two guys were extremely pleasant to be around. Not that large people are not pleasant, but many of them I have sat beside wedge into the seat and then spread out and just assume I want 1/3 of the seat I paid for and they can have the other 2/3s. Most of the trip consisted of layovers. . . in fact, long layovers. Lots of sitting around. Lots of opportunities to...

I do not like writing this blog entry. There. I said it. I do not like writing this particular blog entry because unless you have been in a cave lately, you know that Tiger's life is a mess, Mel, well, he is a mess as well, and Paul, yep, me, that one, is a mess too. How does it happen that people do stupid things? How is it that we all "fall short of the glory of God"? And, I know what you are probably thinking, "what did Paul do?" No big announcements of gross sin forthcoming. No tales of lurid affairs, running around with shady characters, and no videos of me doing something I should not be doing. But, I do have to tell you, my life and my actions are far from perfect. I get mad a people who drive slowly in the "speed lane". I get impatient when things do not go as I think they should. I think less of people than God does way too often. I feel entitled to many things when I have no "right" or reason to feel that way. My thoughts are at...

Last Friday I flew to Jackson, MS via Chicago and spoke three times at the Growing Churches Conference in Brandon, MS at Crossgates Church. Great group of youth leaders and got to reacquaint with Kipp Smith is a wonderful youth minister going at it into his late 40s. Also, Ken Hall at the MS Baptist Convention is a great guy and good to see him as well. The team that put the conference together is one of the best I have worked with. Great job of communicating and everything was very well done. Saturday night I flew to Orlando and met my family who had driven from home and on Sunday we worshipped at FBC, Orlando; met our friends the Keators and then drove to Sarasota. The Keators are letting us use their condo this week and it is very nice. We have enjoyed the pool and the beach. Great times with the girls. We will try to put some pics up somewhere I am sure.

I think about this topic quite often and more so I guess the older I get. I think about the legacy that has been given to me by my parents and the one that I am leaving behind for our daughters. Today though I have been thinking about a young man named Nathan Johnson. Nathan is the son of a friend and co-worker of mine who has had an incredible impact on the Kingdom. You can read about his story here . You will see that link sends you to an article that was written in 2006. Four years ago today, Nathan was killed in an automobile accident. He was living for Christ and making a difference. Through his death, God continues to use his influence to impact lives for Christ. Please pray for his parents Chris and Kathy and his two brothers.  No one of us is ever guaranteed of the remainder of this day or tomorrow. What kind of legacy are you and I leaving that brings glory and honor to Christ?

Some of you know that Donelson Christian Academy is where our girls graduated from high school and many of you know of the devastating flood that Nashville experienced in early May. DCA experienced much flooding and for the last 2.5 months we have been in restoration phase to get the school back open for the '10-11 school year. An anonymous donor has graciously offered to match up to $500,000 in donations from now until September 1. Please consider giving whatever you can. You can donate here .

The company/ministry I work for has a comprehensive, intentional plan of spiritual development. Here is a video that gives you a little glimpse into what that is all about. LifeSpan By LifeWay from BiblicalSolutionsFor on Vimeo .

Seasons come and seasons go and I am reminded of Ecclesiastes where there is "a time for everything". The FUGE camp theme this summer is Kairos - meaning "a defining moment" and each day a certain Bible character and character trait are explored, expounded, and never exhausted. This theme has been impactful on me this summer. I am in my 6th week of some part of FUGE camps this summer. Ridgecrest twice, Union University, North Greenville University, and Jenness Park in California. I have seen the same video clips, studied the same Bible study lessons, led pretty much the same leadership training lessons, but have heard different takes on the character/character trait in sermons. All of these have contributed to me "getting it" in a number of ways. From funny illustrations, hard core Biblical sermons, poignant illustrations and stories, God has quickened my heart and mind to really focus on the Kairos. Defining moments in life that God brings our way and w...

Sounds like a line from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band but actually it holds greater significance for me on this day today. I was youth pastor at FBC, Donelson, Tn and had taken our youth group to camp with Two Rivers Baptist Church. Two sister churches who decided not to compete for kids but reach as many as we could in ministry. Med Skeens was the youth pastor there at the time and we had a good working ministry relationship. We were at camp at Panama City Beach, FL and my wife called me at 3a and said it was time and that I needed to get home. A little background - Sondra was great with child and that child was to be Shelbi Brooke. She was not due for another 2 weeks so we made all kinds of contingency plans just in case I was in FL at camp when Shelbi decided it was time to make her entry into the world. It might very well be the last time she was early to anything too. I climbed on a plane, connected in Atlanta and arrived at the hospital with about an hour to spare. So...

Here is the quick rundown on what all Morgan and I accomplished today. Productive wise - not much. Making memories and enjoying the city - quite a bit. Slept in a little, grabbed breakfast at the hotel, climbed in the car, drove to Candlestick Park. I remember it for many great football/baseball games; Morgan says, "Hey, they finished up the Amazing Race here." On to Golden Gate Park; drive along the ocean; Presidio; Golden Gate Bridge; Vista Point; Marin Headlands (see pic); Golden Gate Seminary; quick Starbucks run; Muir Woods; Fisherman's Wharf (Boudin Sourdough bowl and clam chowder); seals at Pier 39; Coit Tower; Lombard Street; Painted Ladies (Full House kids and fans will know them); Haight/Ashbury District (60s love in); Los Pinos (local Mexican that was truly amazing); back downtown for Ghirardelli Square and hot fudge sundae (we split one). Back to the hotel. We mixed in a Skype conversation in there with Shelbi and Sondra too. Good times. Sleeping in and on to ...

The Snyder wedding was a lot of fun last Saturday in Richmond. So thankful to be a part of that service with Jake and Kari. They jetted off to Cancun and I have not heard from them since. Good for them. Jake had a parting comment to Kari's dad as they pulled away that was typical Jake. Greg took it in stride and I think realized that Kari is really now Jake's. He must lay away at night worrying. (joke) FUGE was great at North Greenville University this week. I love that I get to invest in and learn from youth leaders/pastors for all over the US. What a privilege to hear their stories, be encouraged and encourage. I head home today for a few hours and then Morgan and I head to San Francisco for a couple of days and then to FUGE at Jenness Park in California. Really looking forward to that time with her. Hard to believe she is headed to college next month. By the way, she gets in tonight from Panama City Beach - FUGE and we both head out for a 610a flight. What was I thinking...

There are many times that I am traveling and find my way to the local Panera to take advantage of their wonderful food and their free Wi-Fi. Now that Starbucks has realized that providing free Wi-Fi is a no-brainer you would think I would try to hit there more often. Not so. It is about loyalty for me. Panera is like a trusted friend. You know the kind of experience you are going to have pretty much at any Panera. I guess the same is true of Starbucks since I have visited many of them while traveling internationally, but Panera has something that Starbucks does not; it has many memories of times that Sondra and I just sit and talk and plan and dream and generally hang out. I think it started because Panera provided free Wi-Fi and I got used to going there so naturally, you go where you feel most comfortable and valued. We like going places where we feel that people are valued. People will put up with a lot of challenges when they still feel valued over stuff. I am sitting at a Pane...

Gene Wilkes Sometimes God puts people in your life who you know will have a lasting impact on you. Many times you can count your own family members; mom,dad, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles and I am thankful that God has blessed me with those kind of family members. So many of them have helped shaped me. Sometimes He places people in your life that you run in to every once in awhile but regardless how often you see them, they just impact and influence and continue to do so. I have many men in my life who have invested in me and for them I am truly grateful. There is one guy who I met about 25 years ago who just keeps influencing me whether directly or through his writings. C. Gene Wilkes is a guy who gets it. He has written some of the most meaningful stuff on leadership including Jesus on Leadership and Paul on Leadership (the Apostle, not me) and another great book called My Identity in Christ. If you have not read any or all of these, then in my opinion, you a...

This was an interesting weekend at the Turner's. Shelbi had been in China for two weeks with Show Hope and was to return on Friday night but with bad weather across the northern part of the US, she made it to Newark and then flew to Washington Dulles and that was as far as she was able to get. We got her a hotel not far from the airport and she spent the night and got home on Saturday morning. She had a great trip and you can read some of her exploits here . Her boyfriend Mark was surprising her by having some time off from his summer job at Winshape , so he drove over on Friday and was with us Friday and Saturday. He might have thought it a little awkward being at our house without Shelbi but hey, he got to do his laundry and eat some non-camp food so I think overall he was pretty good with it. Friday night was also rehearsal and rehearsal dinner for Kyle and Rachel's wedding that I was officiating on Saturday at 530p outdoors. The trick was that we needed no rain which we g...

The last couple of posts I have done have dealt with leadership and leaders surrounding themselves with people who have diverse ideas than them. Surrounding yourself with people just like you is a very precarious position to be in as a leader. This week I attended the SBC as an observer. I went to work the LifeWay booth as part of my work assignment. I enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones and especially encouraging pastors and youth leaders.Many of those who attend the SBC use this event as their family vacation and it is always fun to play with the kids and talk with the teenagers who come with their families. One of the things that stood out to me this year was the evidence of good leadership displayed by good leaders. Kevin Ezell of High View in Louisville, KY was the President of the SBC Pastor's Conference this year and did a great job of getting a diverse group of speakers to challenge and encourage attendees. Kevin is one of those younger leaders (we are about ...

Okay so my last post on the whole leadership thing has brought quite a few comments and one of the statements I made in particular has resonated and concerned some posters. Here it is - Surrounding ourselves with people just like us is dangerous. We fail to recognize that we could be wrong. Here is a little background on why I made that statement. In looking through the group of Twelve that Jesus hand picked to be his disciples, there is great diversity of occupation and thinking. He called a couple of sets of brothers, fishermen, a zealot (anti-gov't) and a tax collector (gov't guy). Not to mention a guy who He knew would betray him and another deny Him. In no way am I thinking that Jesus went into His Dad's mission thinking He might make a mistake, but he chose 12 not only for immediate Kingdom work, but Kingdom work that would continue even through today and beyond. If Jesus thought it important to grab 12 from many walks of life, ideals, occupations, and diversity of t...

You ever wonder why so many good things go bad? I guess because of have many failures that I have caused and lived through, it gets me to wondering at times why something can be going along so well and then the wheels come off in a heartbeat. I do not know the answer but I have surmised that most failures come about through a series of smaller things that go unnoticed or neglected. I have discovered in my own life that when I refuse to allow people with differing opinions or ideas to hang around me and speak into my life, that I quickly climb on the road to failure. Surrounding ourselves with people just like us is dangerous. We fail to recognize that we could be wrong. Arrogance and pride come crashing in and invade our hearts and minds and failure is just around the corner. I am far from perfect, just ask my wife and daughters and anyone who spends any time with me. But I am learning that the counsel of many is wise. James 1:5 reminds us that if any of us lack wisdom, all we ne...

I ran across this commercial from the Salvation Army. Love what they do to help others and this commercial is well done in my opinion.

I had always hoped that I would at least get to see the great Coach Wooden in person if not personally meet him. He was one of my heroes though I never was any closer to him than being in the same city at the same time a few times. Coach Wooden was a great man. He was a wonderful husband. His coaching accomplishments unmatched. He was a man's man, hands down. He loved Christ, his family, and he loved basketball. All three things that I would include in my list of "loves". Coach Wooden, you will be missed. Thanks for allowing the light of Christ to shine through you. You influenced many directly who had the opportunity to be around you personally, but you helped shape and influence many of us from a distance. Here is a tribute to Coach Wooden written by Bill Walton almost 10 years ago. I like what it says and how it captures some of the greatness of Coach Wooden. THE COACH On the 21st of the month, the best man I know will do what he always does on the 21st of the ...

I am an American and so very thankful and proud to be American. I am reminded of a SNL skit that parodied George W. Bush saying, "You know why I like America? Because it is full of Americans." I have to agree. Many times I think that I have placed being American above being a Christ-follower. Please do not get me wrong. I am incredibly thankful for the hundreds of thousands who have died gaining and preserving our freedom in this great nation. I am grateful for the men and women who have served, are serving and will serve this great nation. But I am also convicted that I have placed living the American dream and chasing after that dream as priority rather than chasing hard after Christ. I have been lazy and lax at times in resting on my laurels instead of fighting for and preserving true freedom that comes only through Christ. I am grateful for our freedom in this land. Because of that great freedom, I have great responsibility to share of the wealth that we are afforde...

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 m...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...