The Way

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 ...

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 re member 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 thin gs 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 be...