Helps Me Think?

I don't know what it is about it, but I really like watching Ultimate Fighting. Lora thinks it's stupid and doesn't even like me to watch it in the bedroom when she's sleeping. Maybe it's the wrestler in me, or maybe it's just "my way" of letting out some frustration, but I just enjoy the sport and like watching two guys pound the snot out of each other. It actually helps me think. In fact, I'm doing some message prep right now and that's what got me wondering...."how in the world can I be thinking about how to communicate God's love when I'm watching this in the background?" Then I thought a little further and I think it's because I feel like I'm in a battle. Sometimes I feel like I'm being pummeled, but other times I feel invincible. Ultimate Fighting is just a picture of the spiritual battle I'm fighting and that's why it helps me think. At least that's my conclusion.

Luck O' The Irish

Well, I don't care if it was Michigan State...Notre Dame pulled it out. And it's a good thing because I would have had a hard time sleeping after that first half. Maybe they actually believe in themselves now and we won't have these kind of problems any more this year. We'll know for sure on Thanksgiving weekend when the Irish head to USC.

Bigger Picture

I was just thinking that lately I've been too close to the job. Not that I shouldn't be working, but the old saying that the "devil is in the details" has a bit of truth to it. I think the details too easily derail me and that's certainly not part of God's plan. So I hit a little conference on Thursday and was reminded that I need to pull back a little and try to see the bigger picture. Here's what I see.

• A church where people's lives are transformed
• A church that's having a positive and noticeable effect in the community
• A place where people can find real answers for real life (not just knowledge, but solutions)
• I see Discovery moving people from "Sunday only faith" to an "unstoppable force"
• I see marriages being restored
• I see families being connected (to each other and to others)
• I see the outcasts, unlovable and forgotten ones being accepted and included
• I see the church (which is the people) going out instead of just waiting for others to come in
• I see people being empowered, equipped and unleashed to make a difference
• I see hope

I see other things too, but that's the bigger picture. Break it down more and I see work. I see obstacles. I see potential problems, questions I can't answer, and roadblocks. But those are details. No wonder when I focus on those - when I work on those - I get tired, worn out and even depressed. Yep, the devil might be in the details but God is in the driver's seat. I call shotgun, you comin'?

Suck of the Irish

I'll just get this off my chest now....I can't believe that Notre Dame played that poorly all the way around. It was embarassing. It was frustrating. It was awful. So there, I've said it. We deserved to lose after that.

Favorite Girls

I've got three lovely ladies that live in my house.

Hannah is just now 2 months old. She smells like sour milk all the time from all the baby yack she spews down herself and all over Mom and me

Lora is amazing...able to do school for three, entertain a fourth and totally care for and feed the fifth. All while making sure the house is picked up homecooked meals are on the table at least 2 times a day. It's no wonder she needs a nap once in a while.

Sarah is 2 1/2 and entering the "emotional" stage where she'll cry if we tell her no and sometimes for absolutely no reason. This is something we haven't encountered yet as the first three were boys. But when she looks at me I can just get lost in her little blue eyes.

I've got the greatest family in the world. My mom called the other day and I was watching everyone because Lora was out (alone). My mom asked who Lora had with her and I said that it was just me and I had "all five kids." It was then that it struck me. I have five kids!!! That's a lot. But it's really not much different or harder than when we had two....can't explain that though. Only thing that's a little harder is finding someone to babysit all of them. Usually we have to 'farm them out' a couple here and a couple there. Whatever it takes to get some time alone with my wife though.

Fall Is In The Air

This is about my favorite time of year. Right now, my windows are open, it's seventy something and there's a light breeze blowing. You can smell it...it's fall. It smells like football, like school time, like a long awaited part of the year. I love it. For some reason, it's easier to enjoy the day when it's like this. It's better sleeping weather when you can leave your windows open and listen to the crickets and frogs sing you to sleep. It's just good stuff.

Oh, and since I mentioned football, how about those Notre Dame Fighting Irish? Last week, people questioned if they were any good since they only beat Georgia Tech 14-10. This week, they dominate the 19th ranked Nittany Lions and they still don't get much credit. Instead, people are wondering if Penn State was just a little overrated? Come on. I suppose when Michigan gets beat next week the critics will wonder if ND could have won if they played at the Big House. Whatever. Go Irish. Either way they can't play as bad as Florida State did (come on....Troy State??).

I'm also giving fantasy football a go this year. Let's just say that this week....if I could play my entire team I still wouldn't have enough points to be close. So I've decided I'm really not too good at this, but I'm gonna have fun anyway. In fact, I played a team that I created and then gave away and they've got the second highest point total of anyone. Go figure. Maybe next weekend will do better since we'll play a little flag football....yep, real exercise.

Claude's out this week....in Florida with his "real" job. Hope he gets to keep it. Brent's up with his mom who's having cancer surgery. That leaves me, Dusty and Davey....what a crew. I get to edit and create small group videos this week...should be a great Sunday....can't wait to see 'em.

Happy Labor Day

Well, our labor day happened almost 2 months ago and Hannah is doing great. She sleeps through the night and is starting to smile and coo. Makes life much better than what it could be. This whole church planting thing isn't quite as easy though. In fact, yesterday was rough, mostly because I was talking about priorities and not letting the urgent crowd out the important. Man it was tough for me to speak on that when I'm so much in need of hearing it. Too often I'm letting the "urgent" stuff that has time limits crowd out the important stuff like really spending time with my wife and kids and enjoying being "off" of work. It's tough...I mean, I never thought starting a church was so hard, took so much out of you and could so easily sideline your entire family. Well, no more. My plan is to refocus on what's important and stop wasting time worrying about all the so called "urgent" stuff.

So I'm off to enjoy Labor Day.