So, I was thinking about it and realized that most of the customer blog, I don’t do it because by the time I get there I just cannot remember what I am going to say. So, I decided that I am certainly doing Jott to check it out www.Jott.com and that way I think of what I want to right which is awesome when I am not available to write. I can actually do it by that way. So, check it out jott.com, which you think who knows later. listen

Powered by Jott

EDIT: The above is what Jott transcribed on my behalf today. I realized after I did it that I am going to have to slow down a bit when I speak in the phone - which if you know me - that is hard. I do everything one speed - fast. So, you can click listen and it will let you hear my beautiful (self proclaimed) voice and hear what I actually said - which upon listening myself I found to need a little work. But see what you think. I think if I slow down, jott should be able to handle what I say. We’ll see….Thanks for playing guinea pig)

So, Susan and I have a lot of questions right now.

As you may have noticed that we did go through church planters assessment and it went well. Right now we do not know what our next steps are. So we are working on figuring that out. For us those questions inculde - 

Where will we plant?

When will that happen?

What is God up to at this point?

There are so many things going on, we just aren’t sure what is next. We are simply praying and trying to discern the answers to those questions.

I have been reading and studying a good bit lately and that has been helpful. Last week I attended the National New Church Conference or Exponential Conference (as it is now named), and that was neat and informative, but I don’t have perfect clarity at this moment as to what we will do next or how we will do it.

Got any ideas?

I’m listening…

We made it to Missouri today for assessment. What a wild ride. Details soon! Let’s just say flying with a buddy pass probably wasn’t our best move, but who would have known  that American Airlines would do what they did this week, so hindsight is 20/20.

We are excited but a bit nervous. I may keep you posted via twitter when I can. Don’t hold me to it, as I haven’t used twitter as much as I want to as of yet, but I like it, so we’ll see. 

You can find me there under “thelock”

Holla!

Yes, that is a question I recently received from a friend who reads my blog from time to time…

The answer is no, honestly. I have no issues with my blog, thank you friend.

The issue I do have right this moment is time. I have been a bit beyond myself lately. If you read my last post you know that Susan and I have been preparing to head on our CPAC journey, which has kept us both quite busy. Especially seeing as there have been tons of preparation involved in regard to filling out lots of paperwork and I have increased my reading load a bit as well. Then of course, you add in the typical life stuff - a wife, two sweet little girls, and more reading and well I think you get the point. 

I have been trying to keep up on my very important reading list lately so in the last couple of weeks I have been zooming through quite a few books:

• The 5 Dysfunctions of A Team (excellent book by Patrick Lencioni)
• Good to Great (enjoyable and inspiring by Jim Collins)
• Starting A New Church (informational by Ralph Moore)
• Strengthsfinder 2.0 (neat read by Tom Rath)  
• And many more…I have enjoyed reading lots of things lately.

I will say that “Strengthsfinder” was very interesting though because it gave me access to this online test that I took to determine my top five strengths. Which simply helps you to figure out some of the things you do well and things you can work towards. Quite revealing, I’d say.

So, here they are my top 5 in order from top to bottom:

1. Activator - People who are especially talented in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient. 

2.    Futuristic – People who are especially talented in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.

3.    Woo – (I admit this was a new one for me, so I was surprised when it landed here) People who are especially talented in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.

4.    Communication - People who are especially talented in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.

5.     Positivity - People who are especially talented in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.

Interesting, huh?

Susan and I have had to take a couple of other personality tests in the last couple of weeks, which has been an interesting experience for both of us.

This one was fun too, if you get a chance pick up StrengthsFinder 2.0 (or you can go to strengthsfinder.com for more information), try the quiz, read the book. It is worth your time if you are interested in learning a bit more about yourself. It will also help you with action items you should take to help you use your strengths and how to work with others like yourself, which can sometimes be tricky.

I guess in some ways it goes back to that old age concept – “Know thyself.” I  think this has helped and I am looking forward to assessment for more of the same.

What do you think?

These were the words out of the mouth of my daughter last Wednesday as she came in to the bedroom to check on her Dad after a day and night of well….sickness. Last week was bit of a rough week, having gotten sick just a couple of days before my wife and I had to drive down to Florida with my mother-in-law, our four year old and our four month old, with my brother’s wedding on the docket for Saturday. It was a bit of a rough car ride Thursday afternoon as my stomach just wasn’t interested in being in the car - neither was I.

Regardless of the circumstance though, I would say that these words uttered by my sweet four year old were truly something right just for that very moment. While her kind words were meant to let me know that she loved me and was thinking of me, I just couldn’t help but think of all of the things that are happening in our lives as a family right now. I too, echo her sentiment of a melancholy thought process at times these days. Susan and I have a lot of changes ahead in our lives of which we can’t exactly describe, and only because we aren’t sure exactly what God is up to at this very moment. Don’t get me wrong we know He is up to loving us, and taking care of us, there are no doubts there. The doubting lies more succinctly in the details, if you know what I mean. At this point in my life, the old adage, “The devil is in the details” couldn’t make more sense to me.

We see great things ahead in our journey and we are very ready to embrace them, but of course for all of us the fear of the unknown at times can still be a challenge. Truly, it has kept a bit of a twinge in my stomach even before the aforementioned “sickness.” Adventure awaits us, new challenges, but lots of excitement. In a few weeks, we will head off to Joplin, MO for the Church Planters Assessment Center, as a new phase in our lives may be beginning - God knows the answer to these questions and we are trying patiently to wait upon the big reveal of what He is going to do with us. I have been working consistently to complete some paperwork required for our journey and it is quite exciting. April will definitely be an interesting month.  

Round and round, here we go, where it stops, nobody knows…As Hayden reminded me after her sweet words of encouragement just last week….”OK Dad, I’m leaving. Now you can go throw up….”

Is that what that twinge is?

Nah…. 

I have been reading in the book of Romans a bunch lately and over the last few weeks we have been spending the weekly teaching time there. We’ve gone from Romans 6 to Romans 8 and this week it’s Romans 12. Each week leading us closer and closer to seeing the story of God and how it can really help our lives become much more “clear,” if you will. It’s been a fun time.

Sunday we walked through what God is doing regard to the sufferings that we deal with, the message was called “Glory” and it was helpful to me to see the text of Romans 6-8 in comparison to the story of Israel from slavery to Freedom. The themes are quite neat and contrasting yet the similarities are pretty uncanny, that’s just how God rolls. So, as we began to grasp the bigger picture of what God seeks to accomplish through our personal suffering the idea of perspective came up in our journey group tonight. You know, our perspective versus God’s and how different these two usually are. The discussion developed into the idea that God will use us to accomplish His will which allows him to receive His glory, of which will eventually be clear to us.

It reminded me of something that Hayden said to me yesterday on the way home from her school.

Hayden - (With great dramatic style) “Daddy, the rain is flooding our entire neighborhood, and its going to cover our house!”

Me - “Oh no babe, then we wouldn’t be able to live there, would we?”

Hayden - “No!” (long pause) “Daddy?”

Me - “Yeah baby?”

Hayden - “You, You and God can save us though!”

Me - “Me and God? We can? How can we do that?”

Hayden - “You can daddy, cause you got the tools and God’s got the rules.”

I’m glad God shares his “rules” and “tools” with us.

Friday begins the NFL free agency period, and I think that is really awesome. I like professional football a good bit, actually, it is my favorite sport. The free agency period is neat because if your team has any money (under the cap) it can go shopping for guys that can really help you out.

This year my Buccaneers (at the current moment) have almost 44 million dollars to spend on some of this “help.” Honestly, the whole thing blows me away, you know the money factor and all…I guess I just am amazed at how money is thrown around in the old business - it may be the one thing I don’t like. Although the fact that I like and support the sport but don’t like the money throwing, could be antithetical. Could be? OK, they are.

The price is hefty in more ways than physical I know - the arguments bloom about the wear and tear on the body and the deservedness of the payday but either way each man has to choose if that is his path or not, for the ones who are at least equipped to play the game.

I guess many things in life are like this. Everything requires a choice. I’ve made some pretty good ones in my life and some really bad ones. Sometimes, I beat myself up about the bad ones and honor myself for the great ideas I’ve had. Either way, I am trying to learn from all of them so that I don’t end up repeating my personal history. I am thankful that God is patient with me and has allowed me to make mistakes and learn from everything I have done. Still, through all of my choices there have definitely been payouts - good and bad, big and small. And WOW, have I learned and experienced a lot through them all…

It’s exciting to know that God is a god who shows grace and mercy, even on our worst days and our worst moves.

I need that.

I’ve always wanted to use that as a blog title and maybe tonight is as appropriate as ever. So here goes.

I have continued to wrestle through the Lenten season and its rocking my world. I don’t think the timing is coincidental either. God is working. The last couple of weeks have honestly been a bit more stressful than some of the times before that, but I have great peace about what God is doing in my life and with my family. As the days get longer, I am realizing that God is in control much more than I ever gave Him credit. Fact is, we all have to get to this point I think. I realize, I am good at preaching this stuff, but crappy at living it out. So, if you would right now, pray for my family and I.

We are excited about God being at work. The main thing I would ask that you pray about is wisdom and discernment for me, I  stink at slowing down enough to smell the roses and sometimes that keeps me from getting the details hashed out before moving forward. I fear that if I was a base jumper, I might get so excited about the jump I would forget to bring my chute.

More updates/details to come very soon…please pray!

We interrupt this post to bring you a very important news item from the all things random and especially useless information department….

• We have had these Popsicles in our freezer since last summer and Hayden has never gotten in to them. So, just in the last few weeks I have started eating them, man I like them a lot, I don’t know what I was doing before I found them - they’re great. We’ve had them forever and a day, and I just kinda stumbled upon them a few weeks ago, good stuff. They’re the freeze pop kind in the plastic sleeves - yum.

Back to the program…

I am really thankful for the people God has placed around Susan and I at this point in our lives. We are really feeling supported and blessed right now. If you are reading this and you have prayed for us, thank you. It really means a lot. If you’re not a commenter, please send me an email and let me know that you said a prayer for us. Please, don’t stop now, keep going.

Well, gotta try and make my Wednesday deadline, but looks like I may be too late.

Happy Thursday!

I have been doing really well on my commitment to submitting to God and His will, I’m not bragging - I promise, but I feel good about getting closer and becoming more intimate with Christ in the last few days since giving up a few things during this period of focus and reflection. It has been very eye opening for me and very encouraging in many ways, challenging and stressful in others. I have definitely found more clarity the last few days on many things - that is for sure.

I have had a wild week this week. Some surprises, many good things happening though.  I got to hang out with John Alan Turner for a little while earlier in the week and he was a huge blessing to me. I am thankful for getting to spend time with John as he really helped me to put some things in perspective. Thanks John.

One more tidbit for you this week:

Last week I was sitting in a local establishment working on some things for the weekend. I was listening to itunes but it just quit. The music stopped just in time for me to hear the Mayor of Lafayette, TN being interviewed on CNN. You may or may not know about the tornado that ransacked through Macon County, Tennessee. What he said was interesting. He talked about how people there are coming together to help get things in order. Which is great! But what struck me as most interesting was this comment, “We will just do the best we can and pray that we get Federal Aid.” He actually said, “pray” for the government to help. Does that seem ironic to anyone else?

I have been having conversations with a bunch of people lately regarding the upcoming election and the need for new federal this or that. But all of this gets me thinking. Have we become a bit too dependent on federal anything? Shouldn’t our dependence rely more fully on each other. You know, the church or the people of God?

I mean I understand the mayor’s point. He wants what’s best for His communities timely restoration. That’s cool. I don’t blame him. I just wonder, wouldn’t it be cool to hear someone on the news at some point say. “Man, we have been overwhelmed by the people of God who have rushed in and are focused on helping our community become whole.”

Does this have anything to do with the mission of God?

Maybe it isn’t said because it hasn’t been proven yet. I’m not preaching here, I’m part of the problem.

I’m wrestling with the value that we place on things for the church, rather than simply valuing the idea of being the church.

My friend John can testify to this, I think. After Katrina he saw the church step up in ways that I think shocked him. Plus, while he may not say it, I think it is safe to say that he may of also been shocked by what the church didn’t do. I’m not putting words in his mouth, but just thinking from an outsiders perspective. I was part of that problem too.

It all sounds so simple, but is it? Obviously I have been rolling this around in my mind a bit, so it may sound a bit incomplete. It is, I’m still mostly clueless.

Feel free to chime in.

 Today is Ash Wednesday. This year, as I mentioned previously, we are journeying through the season of Lent together. I am excited. My whole family made some decisions on things we would give up as part of being fully in submission to God right now. Honestly, this couldn’t come at a better time for us. More on that later.

God is using this time in my life to remind me that He is in control and that I am not. I am thankful for the fact that he bears with me. I don’t mean that in a way that is fatalistic (like it sounds) it’s just that, I often need to be reminded that God is God and I am not. So we have given up some things and are all focusing on de-cluttering, yet also decompressing. Simply releasing ourselves into the fullness of God’s Spirit and being moved to live more like Jesus. I need that.

Short post today I know, what are you doing during this time to submit to God’s will in your life?