Monday Ramblings

Another Monday….

• Sunday was another incredible day as we landed in Nehemiah 8 and challenged people in the area of biblical truth.  We closed by asking people to submit questions/curiousities regarding scriptural viewpoints for our next series.  Should be interesting.
• Learning new work arounds and troubleshooting each and every week.  Technology is great except that it is technology which means it will be funky.
• Bill Thrall’s book “The Ascent of a Leader” is still one of the best organizational leadership books I have read.  Move over John Maxwell.
• So my fantasy team is on the verge of 3-1, the naysayers are no where to be found at this point.
• The stairmaster and I have been a bit distant the last few days -  have to change that.
• My back is killing me - I now have greater sympathy for those who have ongoing back pain - I have a 9:30 am appt. at the Chiro to hopefully get some relief
• Great Management Team getaway to St. George — 4 new initiatives that are big, driving us for the next 12-18 months as a church - pretty excited.
• The Crossing has a great leadership team - very healthy - it is good to be around good leaders, but even moreso just good people
• Still wondering about cigars…
• St. George is an awesome little sleepy town - didn’t have a chance to do anything on this brief trip, but made a mental note to get back there for a day or two asap (have to do the Pizza Factory)
• This whole economy thing is really getting scary and tense.  It’s also an opportunity for our leadership to step up and do the right thing
• I’m concerned about Palin and the debate on Friday.  Saw her tonight with Katie Couric and McCain was talking for her, over her, and about her even though she was sitting next to him.
• Did I already say my back is killing me?
• Speaking this Sunday on the topic of confession from Nehemiah.  I’m going to spend a great deal of time tomorrow in prayer as well as just pondering the realities of confession from a biblical perspective - should be a strong Sunday if I get out of the way and let God do his thing
• The Stairmaster and I have not connected for a few days - need to get back in the routine (but did i tell you my back is killing me)
• I went the entire weekend and didn’t see any football… there is something very wrong with that picture
• Got a backstage tour of KA last week at the MGM — never seen the show but wow the production level blew my mind and the amount of people involved. Crazy!
• This week will bring huge changes!!!

Not Sure What To Think…

My buddy Bruce Hopler, pastor in Maryland posted this on his blog:

The Southern Baptist just pulled from the shelves of it’s bookstores (Lifeway Christian Book Stores), the latest issue of a magazine that they have carried for years, because the cover on it features Woman Pastors.  Evidently that is a bad thing.

On the other hand, they endorse and support Sarah Palin for Vice President.

Now, of course, they do allow for women to serve as “children’s ministers” so perhaps Palin is like the United States Children’s Minister or something.  Perhaps this is is a way of like getting extra insurance, because surely God would not allow the aging 70 something year old McCain die or go senile, because God knows you need male anatomy for the “Lead Role”. Right?

Now there is one redeeming factor, if you go to a LifeWay book store, and you ask for the magazine, they are keeping copies behind the counter.

Oh wait, isn’t that why they once called a boycott on Royal Farms some years ago, because they had dirty magazines behind the counter?  Ok, so now i am really confused.

Sorry to pick on the Southern Baptist, it’s my heritage, and I regularly fear what will show up on the headlines next.

People are funny!  Response?

Monday Morning Ramblings

A few thoughts to start the week…

• @JakeKeck was hilarious video directing yesterday.  He had a few choice words on the Comm units that will go down in history.  Strong work!
• In total, I spent 18 hours on the baseball/softball field this weekend.  I watched a total of 4 and 1/2 minutes of football.  Is there something wrong with this picture?
• I love coffee … anytime day and night.
• Had a strong urge for pizza last night so headed to our favorite place, Mark Rich’s for some incredible stuff.  I will hit the Stairmaster twice today.
• Fantasy Team wins again (2-1) record with a strong performance from Michael Turner.  Who knew?
• In the midst of Nehemiah series including our own Nehemiah wall.  Really good stuff and a lot of fun.
• Time to start planning for the next series.  We’re calling it “Full Disclosure:  A Campaign for Truth” using the election theme and motif.  The idea is to take four weeks and unwrap the biblical perspective on some issues relevant today.  We’re going to give people an opportunity to submit questions/speak into the series as well.  Should be interesting.
• Met a guy named JJ yesterday following the last service.  He drove by back and forth in front of the church 12 times before finally pulling in.  Talked for awhile and we’ll see where his journey begins, but it’s cool to have people just roll in like that.  Another reminder of why we do what we do.
• Today is officially the first day of fall.  The crisp, cool mornings are sweet and the golf is great.  Going to try and get out this week with J Lee.
• I think I have a new book title (but no content).  It is “Shortcuts to Another Dead End”.  What do you think?  The thought is based on some recent conversations I have had with other leaders who consistently try to work around/avoid/… shortcut the realities of any process.  More often than not, they end up in a unfortunate place they never intended to be.  Shortcuts are usually deadly especially when it comes to leadership.
• USA recaptures Ryder Cup… strong work fellas!  Not sure about Boo Weekly riding around on his driver and slapping it like a horse, but whatever works.
• Great stuff from Andy Stanley on leader ship at his new podcast.  It is a short discussion on Assumptions.  In it he asks the questions, “If you were fired and another leader came in to take your place, what are the things they would immediately do?  So why don’t you just get up, walk out the door, come back in, and DO THEM YOURSELF?”  You can listen here.
• BTW… did I mention that my wife rocks, is hot, and basically keeps her life on track as well as three other people including me (the most difficult).  If I didn’t mention it, I am now.  Plus she’s putting me to shame training for half-marathon in December and running 3-5 miles a day.  Dang!
• Hoping for a normal week… whatever that is

Ashlee’s Softball Tourney

Pictures from the Las Vegas Fall Classic

Hard core softball player!

Xtreme Las Vegas!

Ashlee and old softball buddy Katie Cuddy!

The black under the eyes is impressive

It's all about how you look ... french braids

Warm up time

Meeting with the umpire... he was intense

Coach Roy --- strong!

The obligatory pic with your brother

and the pic with Mom --

On deck!

Another clutch hit momentarily

What we do for 18 hrs.

BTW - that's my favorite hat... Bandon Dunes

2nd place (beat by a team from So Cal in the Final)

Nice!

The whole Xtreme Crew!

One more!

Monday Ramblings…

And so another Monday rolls around:

• Wow!  Another strong Sunday when God did some really cool things @ The Crossing.  We had a poignant moment doing a little “How Great Thou Art” in the midst of 15 people getting baptized.  Strong!  You can check it out here if you’re interested
• Austin’s 10th B-Day was a big hit!  A couple hours of bowling with friends and family along with pizza and cake.
• Interesting - no presents to unwrap at Austin’s party… only envelopes with gift cards and cash. Nice.
• More volunteers stepped up big time this week - we’re blowing the lid off and it is awesome.
• Thai food rocks!
• Fall baseball and softball is kicking our collective butts - hard to keep up with all the practices, games, and tournaments…
• This whole economic situation is getting scary
• Looking forward to some time with old bud Rusty G. this week - he’s in Vegas for work so we will connect
• Finished second in the 1st annual Vegas Fall Classic - eight guys, two days, lots of golf (27 holes on Friday, 18 on Saturday).  Good times!
• UNLV upset ASU — we are living in the end times
• Is it college basketball season yet?
• To all you Fantasy haters out there - I am 1-1 in my league with over 120 pts both weeks - I know it’s early, but you never know
• We’re building our own Nehemiah wall as a part of our current series - today I was an asst. block layer - check it out.
• Check out Ragamuffin Soul thread regarding Ray Boltz - Wow!
• Connected with some REALLY old friends on Facebook last week - Buddy from 2nd grade (that’s right, second grade) who found me … even Facebook haters have got to admit, that’s pretty cool
• 
• Prayers going out for those in Texas dealing with the Ike aftermath - brutal!

I Started Losing My Kids Today

It’s the nightmare for every parent… losing a child.  Tanya and I have experienced that reality a couple of times most notably at Sea World (yes, home of Shamu) and at our friendly, neighborhood mall.  Both occasions called for shock and terror on our parts before our child was safely discovered and returned to us.  However, tonight I realized I am actually “losing” them and it is honestly terrifying.

Austin turns 10 tomorrow…actually in about seven hours.  And as he reaches double digit, I realize that the clock is ticking.  Every year that passes, the kid that is my buddy and my pal slowly changes and I lose him a bit more.  Ashlee is 12 going on 24 and now has a portion of her life that I don’t see and am not privy to.  That is extremely normal and makes me completely uncomfortable.The tough part is that is exactly what defines parenting.  You lose your children.  Oh, we try to hold on tightly, attempt differing strategies to prolong the inevitable, but in the end it happens.  And it happens this way because that is exactly the plan that God intended.  And I hate it.

Someone eloquently said this week that “memories are to held lovingly, not longingly in our hearts.”   I hate that too.  For a parent a memory is what you hold that no one else has.  It is exclusive and private.  For example, pictures of your children are more than just images and colors, they are secrets and marks on a treasure map.   Parents are the one who exclusively know exactly what was happening in that moment, what was being wrestled with behind the scenes, conflicts and challenges that we’re being faced, and the cherished memories of that moment are beyond what a picture could ever capture.  Those cannot be lost… but today I felt the twinge of losing them.

Soon they will be more enamored with their friends, their passions, and their new found freedom than they will be with good old dad (or mom for that matter).  Oh we’ll still be tight, but it will be a different type of tight.  And the more I fight it the quicker they will… get lost.   And honestly, I’m not bitter, just grabbing at perspective.  Because tomorrow, as family and friends gather at a crowded bowling alley to celebrate an incredible ten year olds birthday with cake, balloons, and bad wrapping paper, I will mark the moment as only I can…. as only a DAD can.   Where others will see just another ten year old with inextinguishable energy, I will see something so much more.

So to all of you who said it would happen, who are now nodding knowingly, or to those who are just starting this incredible journey called parenting and perhaps are wondering what exactly you have gotten yourself into… welcome to a long and incredible goodbye.   And Austin,  Happy B-Day buddy!