More Great Wisdom

Some of my takeaways from session two were:
• Mark 10.45 - for even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others
• Do for 1 what you can’t do for all. Even though I can’t visit everyone in the hospital I can visit one.
• Systematize top down service. Build in systems that make this natural for me.
• I need to create a system that allows the staff and leaders of AC to vent (so they aren’t forced to do it with others).
• Ask this question often, “What can do to help?”
• As a point leader, I need margin in my schedule if I’m going to serve others. When I get too busy I get too selfish.
• What’s rewarded is repeated.
• Great leaders don’t “get” people they “attract” them.

Loving to Learn

The last few days I had the opportunity to be part of the Drive conference (a leadership conference hosted by North Point). It was an incredible time of worship, humor, and learning. I continue to be amazed at the wisdom and humility God has given Andy. In my opinion he’s a leader worth following. I’m so honored that I get to serve with the amazing people at North Point.

Some of the primary takeaways for me from session one were:
* Our church should be the best organization in the entire city! What we’re doing is so important that we ought to be efficient, well run, and organized.
* Great organizations are characterized by trust. Trust is a choice each teammate makes instead of suspicion when someone doesn’t meet their expectations.
* We should give each other the gift of trust & trustworthiness.
* Teams use trust as currency.
* If what I see erodes my trust in you I’ll come talk to you about it.
* Confrontation is better than concealment. Concealment becomes a cancer.

I desperately want to create a team environment where we give each other the gifts of trust & trustworthiness. It’s VERY hard not to talk to others when you feel suspicious, but I’ve seen how dangerous this can be. So, I’m praying that Athens Church will be an organization that brings much glory to God by the excellent way we lead this church.

The End?

We turned a HUGE corner today as a church. It's probably much bigger than I am aware.

It was our 99th service as a church and our final service in the Fine Arts Theater of Cedar Shoals High School - the only place we've had consistent services since our church began in January 2005.

There are quite a few emotions bouncing around in my heart. Here are a few:
* Moved - Today it hit me (toward the very end of my message) that the God of life and love has truly been present in our midst. He is, has, and will change the lives of those who are seeking Him. We got to celebrate one of those lives today - my neighbor and friend Caroline. It was beautiful to watch the Spirit of God give her life, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose.
* Tired - I feel great joy at the fact that our team gave our very best for 31 months to get this church started. I know that when I get home on a Sunday (after loading in, serving, and loading out) I'm often very tired. So, this period has been pretty tiring. It's not over either. We plan on being a portable church for at least the forseable future.
* Thankful - My good friend Chris Brown in Charlotte, NC (ridgechurch.net) is really struggling to find the right facility for their church to use. So, I'm reminded again of how God gave us unique favor with the leadership of Cedar Shoals to allow us to use this amazing facility for this time. I clearly remember the anxious and prayerful times before our negotiations with them. I wondered if it would ever happen and it did - God provided the perfect place for us to begin this church!
* Anxious - As we make this move I'm again tempted to be anxious about how things will work in this next location. Will we have a great relationship with The Classic Center leadership? Will the facility swallow us whole? Will it be more than we can afford? These are a few of my incredible faith opportunities in the next chapter of this church leadership journey.

So, to all of you (99% of which don't read this blog :-) who gave, served, invited, or supported this mission in any other way to make Athens Church a reality, "From the bottom of my heart - Thank you!" Athens Church is not mine nor is it about me. This church is God's and it's all about His fame in this vital city. Let's move forward with courage in the midst of fear, prayer in the midst of anxiety, and hope that God will do imeasureably more than all we could ask or imagine.

BEING on vacation

My family & I are on vacation right now. It's so great to be away from the normal routine. And yet one of my great challenges in life is to "be" on vacation. I struggle to really be here. I'm so used to allowing my work to be the center of my world that it shocks my system when I'm here. I intetionally left my computer at work and I'm not checking email all week. Actually I'd say email is my biggest enemy. I check it way too often and I allow it to distract me. I really need to improve here. I think it will help my focus and my efficiency.

One of the things I'm praying will happen during this week is the chance for me to fully disengage from work and fully engage with my God and my family. I need help with this. I know this is a wise decision. I know I'm a "nice to have" at work and a "must have" at home, but I fight the same battle every man fights - the search for significance. It's so easy to get caught up in the mission at work and engage in it to a degree that brings me out of balance. I don't want to lose this battle.

I pray that this time away will help me re-focus on the things that matter most in my life. God, I'm asking for your grace here. Please help me see life the way You see it and value most what You value most. Thank You for m amazing wife and boys!

Going Green

One of the things that God is teaching me right now is about being a steward of His creation. I'm learning about the good ole Jack Johnson song - reduce, reuse, recycle. I have a TON to learn and I'm just getting started.

I'm reading "Serve God Save the Planet" right now and really enjoying it. I'm a little intimidated by what I might learn but that's OK. It will be a lot of fun to let God teach me and stretch me.

I'd love to know if you've learned anything about this that could help me.

In sickness and in health

I've been the groom in one wedding, the best man in one wedding, a groomsman in several weddings, an officiant at multiple weddings, and an attender at tons of weddings. In most all of these ceremonies, the bride & groom made a commitment of love to one another for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. Each time they said it there was a huge smile on their face and they were absolutely confident that they would extend love and grace to their spouse in the face of health challenges.

However, it's unfortunate that we had to make these promises before we ever have to hold a vomit bucket for our lovely bride. It's a very sobering experience to watch the person you love the most face health challenges. I can't even imagine what it's like for a spouse to love their partner through life's final days. I have HUGE admiration for those people.

Currently Bonnie has "the stomach bug" and she's not feeling good at all. I really feel for her. I HATE having a stomach bug. It's so painful.

So, I'm just praying that I'll be the faithful husband that I promised I'd be in 1992 with my sweet white rented tux. She is surely worth it!

Smart or Wise?

I've spent much of my life acquiring intelligence through formal education. I started kindergarten when I was 5 years old and I finished my graduate degree about a month before my 29th birthday. I only took off 1 year during this time. I've been through 3 different graduation ceremonies, read countless books, and written more bad papers than you would care to read.

Yet recently I've stumbled across the book of Proverbs again. This simple book of ancient Hebrew poetry. These writings are simply stuffed full of life-changing principles.

I'm not sure what the cumulative effect will be of my formal education when my life is over, but I'm very confident that soaking up the truth of Proverbs and courageously living out those principles of wisdom will keep me from a life of regrets. This is what I want most. I want to end my days and look back on a life filled with decisions that I'd do again if I could.

Prov 2.12 - wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men
Prov 2.16 - it will save you from the adulteress

Boo Boos

In the last 2 days my youngest son (5 yrs old) has been fairly significantly injured twice. He first dropped a pretty heavy item on his toe and it essentially popped off the toenail. This was a really dramatic and painful experience. Then today he was standing on a stool to put something up and slipped, only to bump his chin on the counter-top and bite his tongue really hard. Needless to say, lots of bleeding and crying (for the whole family).

I'm sure every parent could say this, but I HATE WHEN MY CHILDREN GET HURT!!!!! It breaks my heart to see them in pain.

Ocasionally when I have these parental moments, I think about God. I think about what a pitiful, selfish, and insensitive father I am in comparison to my heavenly Father. It's so hard for me to picture this, but my Father loves me tons more than I love my precious, soft, wonderful son. I really can't fathom that He would love me that much.

Why is that so hard for me? Why is it so hard for me to mentally or emotionally grasp God's amazing love for me? I feel like it would revolutionize my life if I could live with a consistent emotional understanding of His love. I feel like I'd be full of such joy and contentment. I feel like my life would be so quicly rid of the things I do in search for life. I spend so much of my time and energy searching for life, fulfillment, and satisfaction. But if my heart were full of the amazing love God has for me, I'm sure I would be set free of this pursuit.

So, the age old question persists, "Why doesn't God help us experience this love on an emotional level consistently?" And the only answer I have at this point is that He wants me to trust Him that His love is true whether I feel it or not. He wants me to take Him at His word. His love is a proven historical fact. He loved me so much that He gave His Son for me (and you!). He also says that one day He will bring me to a place where this love is the constant reality of my existance. Wow! I can't wait to be there!!!

Logged In!!!

Well it's official. Our family is officially logged in to the Chinese Center for Adoption Afairs. The ball is now fully in their court. They can accept us or reject us during this waiting process. It's just another reminder that we're not in control of life. We have worked realy hard and paid a lot of money, but we may still not get a daughter.

They are saying that the typical wait at this point is 14 - 18 months, which would put is in the summer/fall of 2008. This is when the Olympics will be in Bejing as well. It would be intriguing if they overlap. At least there will be a lot of the world's attention on China at that time.

Bonnie & I have each read a book on Chinese adoption and feel like our hearts are getting more and more ready.

Easter In The Theater

We're excited about the opportunity we have to worship together this Easter at The Classic Center in downtown Athens. Even though a good number of students go home for the weekend, it will be a lot of fun to be all together for one celebration service. The Classic Center is a beautiful facility in the heart of our city.

We'll be enjoying the baptism of one of my friends as well. It will be fun to hear his story and watch him "go public" with his faith in Jesus.

if you're in town, we'd love to have you join us at 11am on April 8th. It will be a lot of fun!