The Way

To help you get into the Christmas spirit I am sharing this from about five years ago. This is worth the watch!

I have always loved Christmas. I like the lights, trees, ornaments, gifts, parties, well . . . not so much all the parties. I like most of the people at the parties, but being an introvert by nature, I like smaller groups and not a whole bunch of hoopla. I realize that I could sound like Ebenezer Scrooge to some. I really do like the people and most of the activity, but I get overwhelmed by all of the "on time". Introverts get that term. It is not that we are trying to be phony, it is that we are trying to be nice and participate, just don't ask us to be "on" all the time. Here in early December, I look at my calendar between work commitments, church commitments, and family commitments and just feel a little overwhelmed. Days are filled with incredible amounts of work, nights are filled with parties, ball games, church related ministry opportunities and family commitments. And . . . all of them are good things. I just struggle bringing balance to all the co...

Many who read this know me pretty well. Others of you have a tendency to know me through conferences, projects, or some even through creeping on me and my happenings via Twitter or Facebook. Some times I write something rather pithy, or report on what has been happening in our family, work, or even some kind of fitness adventure I have embarked upon. There are times that I struggle with what to write, what I want to reveal or even to just ignore hoping that somehow I do not write something that would be offensive; too self revealing; or just plain stupid. The filter that I try to write through does include a lens that I hope will be informative and especially encouraging. I do not always hit that goal, but that is a desire of mine. This post is one designed to point out some of the struggles I contend with practically every day I am alive. At its' root, it is addiction or addictive behavior. At times I masquerade it well and at other times, I am blatantly out in the open with ...

This past weekend I found myself in Panama City Beach, Florida spectating and supporting my buddy, Dave MacNeill, as he competed and completed the Ironman Florida Triathlon. Dave and I work together at LifeWay and over the past couple of years have become pretty good friends. Dave is an Ironman. He has been an Ironman for a number of years and you may recall that back in the Spring, I completed my first triathlon, much to the encouragement of Dave. An Ironman Triathlon consists of these three sports and distances: Swimming -2.4 miles Biking - 112 miles Running - 26.2 miles All of those miles add up to 140.6 miles and a pretty tired body evidently. I had a blast spectating and supporting this triathlon. I really did. I found myself encouraging and supporting people that I have never seen before and quite possibly, never will see again. But that did not really matter to me. What mattered is that they competed to the best of their ability and I wanted to help them do that by ...

I like these guys alot and we have become friends over the last few years. You know I love the great Johnny Cash, so I like what Sidewalk Prophets did here! Enjoy!

Mom, James, Me & Dad I have the best brother ever who turns another year older today. October 29, 1959 (almost 4 years before my appearance on this terrestrial ball) a dark headed, widow peaked little boy was born. I have seen pictures and know that this kid looks much like his dad (my father). James and I have had some incredibly great times together. We grew up playing ball in the back yard (any kind of ball, it really didn't matter); he frequently beat on his little brother (I have the scars to prove it); and we shared a bedroom as little kids where he would say scary things to me and pretty much freak me out. He taught me how to throw a ball; hit a golf ball; kick a soccer ball and how to mow a yard. We shucked much corn together; broke many a green bean; traipsed through all kinds of woods hunting squirrel and rabbit; and fished every little creek, pond, lake, and puddle in Cass County. Oh, so many good times and memories. We grew, he moved out of the house, and I...

I am a little hesitant to even write this post because it could be perceived that I am "calling out" some folks or possibly setting myself up as being better than others. I will have to trust that those of you who really know me will understand that I am writing from a a perspective that is not mean or vindictive. If you do not know me and just happen on this blog, give me the benefit of a doubt. Or, totally disagree. Either way is really okay. Hero Worship is really nothing new. By definition is  foolish or excessive adulation for an individual (Merriam-Webster) There are different levels of hero worship from mild to all out lunacy. Some synonyms would be:  adore ,  adulate ,  canonize ,  deify ,  dote (on) ,  hero-worship , worship  and to be honest, I get that we are wired to worship, make a hero out someone or something. I live in SEC country and it is fair to say that during this time of year (football season) all kinds of Hero Worshi...