A New Reality

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 night and we had not done that in years. It was one of those fun games we used to play as newlyweds.
• We have attended free Titans and Predators games. I love free and love sports but really just love spending time with Sondra.
• I find myself praying for and being thankful for Shelbi and Morgan more than ever. What incredible young women they have become and with text, email, and Skype, we stay in touch alot.
• I find myself reflecting on the past and dreaming of the future more. Maybe because I turned 47 in early September and realize I have about 20 years of full-time ministry left. I want to make the most of it. There are some great days already lived and even greater days ahead.

Life is good. It is very good. I love our daughters and am thankful for how God is using them. I love my wife and am so incredibly blessed. I am adjusting to the "empty nest" whatever that really means. I am thankful for some new things that God is teaching me about Him and about me in Him.

What a Crazy Couple of Weeks

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? Incredibly blessed to get to do what I get to do. The pic to the left includes me hanging with Addison Road and some of the FUGE Camps team. We had special guests like Dave Barnes, Brandon Heath, Lee Miller, Mike Farren from Pocketful of Rocks and the band Red. Speakers included Derwin Gray, Jeff Iorg, Alvin Reid, Ed Stetzer and Ben Arment. What a great group of speakers. Two of my favorite people, Tommy and Eddie, who make up The Skit Guys did a great job for us as well.

Sondra and I are looking forward to the girls coming home for a quick visit this weekend. It is DCA homecoming and a couple of soccer games so the girls will be here for a short weekend but is the first time they have been home since school started. Love those two and can't wait to see them. Sondra is subbing alot this week due to one of assistant's father being in the hospital.

We have much to be thankful for in our lives. Most of all thankful for His grace.

Holding On to What?

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.