My Epic Adventure

New blog

2009-07-29T22:47:00.001-04:00

This blog has a new home....to follow it simply go here

My boys...

2009-04-03T19:15:00.004-04:00

Gavyn had a spring concert last night. He sang a short solo. I took a few quick pics of him all dressed up and of course his little brother wanted in on the action.

Just Me

2009-03-19T22:06:00.004-04:00

I was messing around with my camera tonight and playing with some new lighting techniques. I couldn't get anyone to come outside and help (It was getting a little cold) so I was my own model. What can I say,,,,I look gooooood!

SPRING TIME

2009-03-19T22:00:00.003-04:00

I am so ready for spring. The last couple of days it's been warm and beautiful. The best part has been how good it has smelled. Spring time smells so clean, warm, green, wet, it smells so good. Everything is new and fresh. I love it. The earth breaks free from it's winter bondage into brand new vibrancy. Spring is a time of new beginnings. Maybe you need a new beginning. It's time. It's spring!

LIFE GETS CRAZY

2009-03-10T09:46:00.002-04:00

I have had several emails lately asking where I've been. Well, sometimes life get's crazy. I apologize for the lack of posting. Life has been busy. We have had a lot of challenges as a family lately that have taken my attention. So, I will make a greater effort to post regularly. I love posting and sharing. I love my "Blog Family". So don't give up on me.

OUR VISITOR TODAY

2009-02-10T13:43:00.002-05:00

We had a little visitor outside the back yard today. Took a quick shot to share. When I opened the backdoor he took off.

MEDIA ACCOUNTABILITY

2009-02-10T12:07:00.002-05:00

My friend Blaine shared a post on his blog The VertiCall yesterday that really resonates with me. So check it out here.

Reading Blaine's article provoked me to share what Julie and I have been doing to help keep our boys from being over saturated with media. Although we are very careful of what we let our boys watch, play and listen to...it is still possible for them to get way to much media. To much TV, to much playstation, to much mp3 time, and to much computer. So, what we have done is to develop a media chart. The boys are only allowed 14 hours per week of media time. When they use their time up they are done until the next week. It has been awesome to see them monitor their time. They turn the tube off more to save time for something else (ie. Saturday morning cartoons or a movie night). We have also used the chart to handle behavior issues. In other words if they misbehave (fighting with each other, breaking a household rule, etc) they can lose time. If they do something right (extra chores without being asked, helping each other, using kind words) they can be rewarded with extra time. We spent a lot of time explaining the reason for the chart. How media can affect us, etc. They have really responded well. We have seen them spend more time playing with each other, reading, playing outside and being creative. It's been great. Above is a picture of our chart.

My ultimate goal is to raise up my boys to be godly, creative, balanced, thoughtful men who love to learn and have a desire for God.

Hopefully this helps some of you out.

WE ARE NEVER MORE LIKE JESUS THAN WHEN WE SERVE

2009-02-05T09:00:00.002-05:00

I'm reading a book right now that was written for kids. I took the boys to the city library the other day so they could get some books and I found this one that I'm reading. I love books. I love the smell of old books, the feel of a book in my hand, the sound of many pages turning. I love books. My boys have inherited that love from me. Going to the library is a huge deal in our house.......wait, I got off track.

I'm reading a kids book right now. When we were last at the library the boys were looking for books to read and I was helping. I found one that I thought they would like but they weren't interested. The problem was I got hooked on it. So, I'm reading a kids book. Anyway, there was a line in the book that I loved and I wanted to share it with you.

"That is because your people are brought up to believe that serving another is a weakness. It is not out of weakness that one serves, but out of strength."

Isn't that a great line. It is so true. It is the lesson that Christ taught us over and over.

Mark 10:42 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Luke 22:26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

Servanthood should be the goal of believers.

Serving others puts us in a place where we are more like Jesus.

Serving is a selfless act and selflessness is the opposite of selfishness and selfishness is the root of sin. When we serve we are walking in humility. Serving is becomings less so that HE can become more in ours. Serving is aligning ourselves with the attitude of our Lord. Our goal should be serving.

So, serve someone today.

I'm a little scattered this morning but I hope you get the idea. We need to serve!

MY LEADING MAN 2

2009-02-02T12:21:00.004-05:00

Here is another pic of Gavyn at yesterdays play practice for the community theater. He is in "The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe". He had so much fun. He found out that his character has a sword fight with one of his friends and "kills" him in the final battle scene. He was so excited...maybe I should be worried about that.

CHECK IT OUT

2009-01-27T12:26:00.002-05:00

Go check out my photoblog...I've started a photography business and need to create some buzz. Check it out and leave me some comments on it. Thanks! Check it out here.

ARE YOU LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM???

2009-01-26T15:39:00.000-05:00

If you are maybe you should stop!!!!

JESUS IS COOLER THAN THE EASTER BUNNY

2009-01-26T15:23:00.001-05:00

In case you weren't sure here is a little reminder.

Public Service Announcment.

CLOUDY

2009-01-26T15:15:00.002-05:00

Sometimes you can have a cloudy heart. Life sometimes waylays you when your not expecting it. Just remember that the "Son" always shines after the storm and shines brighter than ever. If you have clouds in your soul today ..... this storm will pass!!!

DON'T WORRY - (A REMINDER)

2009-01-22T15:04:00.004-05:00

Matthew 6:34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. NIV

Don't worry.

Easy to say....hard to do.

The economy...my over due bill.
Our health...we've go little control over it.
Disaster, tragedy, unexpected shortfalls, broken relationships.
There seems to be no control.

Don't worry!

How?

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; NIV

Trust....that's all we need. That's all................not so easy sometimes!

Dictionary online.com
1.reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
2. confident expectation of something;

Hope

We struggle, we falter, we worry......God is not surprised by our circumstance!

God is able!!!

Worry brings fear. We fear.....we're afraid....uncertainty breeds fear. Failure feeds fear. Disillusionment perpetuates fear.

Matthew 10:31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

We combat worry, fear, uncertainty with trust.

Trust that God loves, trust that God guides us, trust that God sees us in our need.

We do not need to fear. We need Faith!!

Faith in our God.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

We may not see the end of our circumstance but we have Faith in our God!

Don't worry!

GETTIN IN EACH OTHERS FACES!!!

2009-01-20T23:26:00.004-05:00

I need to make a confession. I love Facebook. I didn't think I would like it as much as I do. I got an account on a whim. I thought, "What the heck", and signed up. Now, I'm addicted. I've reconnected with so many old friends. I can't believe the number of folks that I've discovered. I've also made some new friends. I have to say that social networking is cool. If you have been wondering about Facebook you need to give it a try. If you do, make sure to add me as a friend!

MY "LITTLE" LEADING MAN!!!

2009-01-20T22:28:00.004-05:00

Well, he isn't actually the leading man but in my book he'll always be the most important person on the stage. My son Gavyn tried out and was cast in a play at our local community theater. Last fall we were downtown during an art promotion in our city (the shop windows were filled with local artist works and we took a self guided tour) and when we passed the theater Gavyn saw that "The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe" was playing in the spring. He kept his eyes and ears open and discovered that the tryouts were last week. Soooo, we took him to the tryouts where he read for several parts. In the picture below you can see him reading on stage. He's the second from the left. He wanted a lead role but he got a supporting cast role. He's a mouse. Not glitzy, but we all start somewhere. He is so pumped. It's a big commitment for him over the next 6 weeks, but he is ready to give it all he's got. When the time comes you are all invited to the play. It is the first two weekends of March.

ADOPTION

2009-01-20T15:03:00.004-05:00

Julie and I have thought about adopting a child for several years. It hasn't worked out for us yet. I have a good friend that adopted a little girl. It is so awesome to see them together. The whole idea of adoption stirs me deeply. Someone choosing to open their heart and life to a child at such a level of intimacy and giving so much love so freely. Wow. It paints a picture of God's great love for me. It causes me to "feel" God's love in such a raw way. I guess I can't really describe it. God chose me and I know it. Thank you Father!! This morning during my quiet time with God I read the book of Galatians 4:6-7 and was unusually stirred.

6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[a] Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Our God's love is so great!!!!

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CHURCH....

2009-01-16T17:41:00.001-05:00

Do you ever find yourself looking at the modern day church and scratching your head and wondering if we are missing something? Well, check this out...very intersting.
HERE...

SELF IMPORTANCE

2009-01-14T13:54:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine shared some thoughts on his blog the other day that I thought were powerful. Check it out here.

GRAVE CLOTHES

2009-01-13T09:44:00.003-05:00

I've been captivated lately by the passage in John 11:38-44. It is the story of the raising of Lazarus. I keep coming back to this passage over and over. What has gotten a hold of me is in verse 44 when after Lazarus is resurrected and come out of the tomb Jesus says, " Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

The grave clothes.

Lazarus had been resurrected from death to life yet he still had on the grave clothes. The remnants of death still clung to him.

I think perhaps there are believers who have been resurrected yet still have grave clothes hanging on them. Grave clothes that keep them connected to the remnants of death. This is not God's plan.

I think that is what Paul refers to in Romans 7:21-25, "24......what a wretched man I am, who will rescue me from this body of death." Paul was talking about the grave clothes that were still connected to him. The sin, the remnants of death, that still attempted to keep him from obeying the law of God.

The words of Christ echo today...." Take off the grave clothes and let him go." We do not have to allow the grave clothes to remain. Through Christ we can find freedom from the remnants of death!

There is something interesting in this passage. Lazarus couldn't remove the grave clothes on his own. He needed others to help him. Jesus commanded others to help him.

So, there are still those that walk this christian walk allowing grave clothes to keep them connected to the remnants of death. We have been given new life through Christ. We do not need to stay connected to our grave clothes. Through the power of the holy spirit and the help of the body of Christ we can be free. Don't be satisfied with anything less.

CLOSE BUT NOT QUITE THERE....

2009-01-06T15:02:00.002-05:00

Well, I wanted snow and we got ice. I don't like ice. I want snow!! Oh well, maybe next time.

IT CAN BE SO CONFUSING

2009-01-05T14:19:00.003-05:00

I've been trying to learn HTML and CSS so I can create my own Blog and Websites from scratch. What I've discovered is that it is so much like trying to learn a foreign language. It has got my head spinning and I'm having a really hard time. I know for some of you it's a piece of cake. I've had several people suggest programs that will allow me to build sites without the need of learning the languages. Well, that isn't my objective. I've already done that. I just might give up. It's a little overwhelming trying to teach myself.

As I was sitting here working I had a "a-ha" moment. I realized that this is how a lot of people feel when walking into our churches. We are so often so guilty of using our "christian" verbiage that we make it difficult for those who have no reference point to understand what we are trying to communicate. We have so many people today who have grown up in "Post-Christian" America and have no reference point to understand the things we take for granted. I believe that as we prepare for our worship services and meetings we should be keeping these folks in mind. (That is if we expect to see visitors in our churches). We need to develop what we do with those that have no "Christian reference point" in mind. We wouldn't travel to another country and attempt to share the gospel without learning the language. Why? Because we would want people to understand the message. We should do the same for those in our own country that are from outside of our "Christian Culture." Everything we do should be done with the hope of seeing folks come to know Christ.

Just some thought!

WHERE IS THE SNOW????

2009-01-05T13:46:00.001-05:00

It's January...where is the snow? I want some snow. I know a bunch of you don't agree with me and would love to throw a shoe at me for even saying this but if it is going to be winter I want some snow. There's nothing better than seeing the dirty winter country side filled with clean, beautiful snow. Well, perhaps we'll see some snow soon. We can only hope!

THE NEW YEAR

2008-12-30T23:54:00.003-05:00

You know what I like about the New Year? It's the word "New". I love the word New. One of the definitions is...

b: being other than the former or old.

Don't you love that? I love what it stands for. It stands for a fresh start. It's a "do over." Do you remember when you were a kid and you were playing a game and you messed up all you had to do was say "do over' and you got to start over (well at least if you brother let you). My boys did that very thing today while they were playing in the living room. Well, New Years is a "do over" for adults. In just 24 hours we all get to have a "do over". The year is over and we get to start fresh. Regardless what last year was like, we get to create the coming year fresh and new. If last year was horrible, well this year can be "other than the former". If last year was great, then this year can be even better. At 12 am January first we are each handed a fresh sheet of paper. We each get to determine what we will write on it for 2009. Let's write intentionally this year. Let's be proactive. Let's allow our lives to bring God glory. Thank you Lord for making all things "NEW"!!!

PLAYING WITH LIGHTING

2008-12-27T23:46:00.004-05:00

I got some new studio lights for Christmas. We had some friends over today so I got to experiment on Elyse. Here is a little sample of what we did. Let me know if you like it. Thanks Elyse!!!

DAVIS FAMILY CHRISTMAS PICTURE

2008-12-25T14:28:00.003-05:00

I got everyone to hold still long enough yesterday to take a quick shot of the family. Merry Christmas everyone!

HARD TRUTH WRAPPED IN AN AWESOME MUSICAL PACKAGE

2008-12-22T19:35:00.004-05:00

A couple of years ago I came across the music of Derek Webb. Derek was formally the singer for Caedmon's Call. His music is challenging and rings deeply within me. I was listening to one of his songs today and thought I'd share it with all of you. If you haven't added Derek's music to your collection I hope you will....soon. Derek has the ability to wrap some hard hitting truth in an awesome musical package. In some ways it reminiscent of the late great Rich Mullens. ((Sorta))

Below are the lyrics to the song "Rich Young Ruler"

poverty is so hard to see
when it’s only on your tv and twenty miles across town
where we’re all living so good
that we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood
where he’s hungry and not feeling so good
from going through our trash
he says, more than just your cash and coin
i want your time, i want your voice
i want the things you just can’t give me

(vs. 2)
so what must we do
here in the west we want to follow you
we speak the language and we keep all the rules
even a few we made up
come on and follow me
but sell your house, sell your suv
sell your stocks, sell your security
and give it to the poor
what is this, hey what’s the deal
i don’t sleep around and i don’t steal
i want the things you just can’t give me

(bridge)
because what you do to the least of these
my brother’s, you have done it to me
because i want the things you just can’t give me

You can check out the song here.

MY LITTLE BROTHER

2008-12-22T17:59:00.005-05:00

Took some pics of my little bother Leon and his new bride Tina over the weekend. They flew in from San Fransisco to have Christmas with the family. It was so good to see them. Merry Christmas Leon, and Tina, sure wish you guys lived closer.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS

2008-12-22T14:29:00.003-05:00

Isn't the Christmas season great? All the decorations, the good food, the T.V. specials and the family traditions. Christmas time just makes me smile. Being a Dad of 2 boys under 10yrs old makes Christmas even more exciting.

I want us to remember the real reason for the season. It is all about the birth of Christ and God's great gift of redemption to all mankind. We must never forget that if it hadn't been for Christmas (the first Christmas) and God's great gift we wouldn't be able to experience grace. God's Amazing Grace flows through the Christmas story! We must not only keep from forgetting, we must infuse our holiday celebrations with worship and thanksgiving to God.

Luke, Chapter Two
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

CHRISTMAS MORNING AT MY PARENTS

2008-12-22T11:44:00.006-05:00

We had a great weekend at my parents. We celebrated Christmas early since my brother was home from California. The cool thing for the boys is that this week they get to spend time celebrating Christmas again. They're loving it.

MY BROTHER'S WEDDING

2008-12-19T14:17:00.006-05:00

My brother got married last June. I have had some pics from the wedding for a while and I just failed to get them edited and to share them. Since they are here for Christmas I thought I ought to give them a copy. Some of these I took, some of them a friend of the family took and I edited. I was in the wedding so I couldn't shoot it too. You can see me in the pic with the river and mountain in the background to the right of the groom. Anyway here they are.

CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR

2008-12-19T13:21:00.002-05:00

I love the Christmas Season! The cold weather the warm greetings. I love it. We'll be spending the weekend at my parents house with my Mom and Dad and my Brother and his new Bride. We'll eat some traditional family holiday treats, play games, open presents and watch football. We'll be playing Christmas music and we'll read the Christmas story. It's a great time of year. It is even more fun during this season when you have two boys under 10. Experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child is so much fun. Hanging the lights, decorating the house, every present that gets added under the tree. Each new move brings expressions of delight.

With all the hustle and bustle lets not forget the reason for the season. It's all about the birth of our savior. Make sure as you celebrate, you celebrate the birthday of the King.

A few more of Clinton and Tina

2008-12-18T14:07:00.004-05:00

Just a few more...

PHOTOGRAPHY

2008-12-15T00:06:00.005-05:00

Here are a few pics from the weekend. To see more check out the photo blog the link is on the sidebar or click here.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

2008-12-11T16:28:00.002-05:00

An old college friend posted the following on Facebook. I thought it was hilarious. You can check out his blog here. Enjoy.

To all my Democrat friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an
environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive,
gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the
most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular
practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion
and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or
secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally
fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally
accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of
choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other
country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made
without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith
or sexual preference of the wishee.

To all my Republican friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

THE LOVE OF A FATHER

2008-12-10T14:00:00.003-05:00

Today Gavyn had to stay home from school sick. Fever, runny nose, sore throat. Today I got to play nurse. Gavyn is very needy when he doesn't feel good. I think he gets that from me. With him lying there being all pathetic it reminded me of how much need he had when he was only a few days old. I remember when he was born. I don't think I really understood what a fathers love was all about until that moment. Having kids taught me how much God loves me. It's overwhelming sometimes but it's also amazing. Thank you Lord for your fathers love for me.

Got to go, my little sick one needs me.

LEVERAGE

2008-12-10T12:36:00.002-05:00

There is a new show on TNT. It's called "Leverage". It is sort of a ....Robin hood meets A-TEAM meets Oceans 11. I've watched the first two episodes and have really enjoyed them. Check it out!

SOME MORE FUN SIGNS

2008-12-09T09:31:00.007-05:00

Enjoy....

I REACH OUT MY HANDS

2008-12-08T22:49:00.006-05:00

I don't know why I share this tonight. Putting yourself out their can be, well, intimidating. I guess I just feel that as I travel the path I find myself on right now it might be helpful if I do so in a way that is open and vulnerable. I don't know if that means helpful to me, or to someone else. I'm not even sure who follows my blog besides a few friends.

Lately I have felt a little bit alone. A little isolated. I know that I'm not. I serve a God who will "...never leave me nor forsake me!" I have a great wife who blows me a way with her love and support. I have great friends who are there for me. As a matter of fact I have been a bit overwhelmed by the many expressions of love and support I have received recently. I am blessed to have so many incredible friends. Never the less I have felt a bit lonely. Kind of an island in a crowded room. It's sort of like being so thin your transparent. You know that you're in the crowded room but you don't feel apart of it. That's how I've felt. Can't explain why, it just is.

I turn 37 next month so maybe I'm having a little bit of early "mid-life". I don't know for sure what mid-life crisis feels like but this could be part of it. The last couple of years things haven't gone "according to plan" so that could be a part of it too. When I was 22 I made a map for my life. Marriage, kids, ministry, etc. If you know me at all you know I like maps. I even collect maps. When I go to new places I buy maps. I've got a box full maps in my garage. So, mapping out my life was sort a natural thing for me. The problem is I seemed to have stepped off the map and into the margins. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's just not what I have expected. It doesn't feel good. It's hard.

My relationship with Jesus is still alive. Vibrant wouldn't be the word I'd use today but I would use words like...dependable, steady, consistent. These aren't bad words. Most people would think they are great words. They are great words, that is if they are used in a different context. These aren't words I want to use when describing my relationship with the "Lion of Judah." I want to use words like "Powerful", "Passionate", "Unpredictable" these are words I've used in the past, but today I can't use those words. I'm not what you would call cold. I'm not even as cool as lukewarm. I'm.....just not where I long to be. In my pursuit of excellence in ministry and success in serving, I seem to have become faithful to the point of boring in my personal love life with Jesus. I guess I'm saying that on top of everything else, this frustrates me. It's not what I want and I know, I know, I know it's not what my Jesus wants.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I am on a journey to rediscover something that seems to be missing. In the past, as I've counseled others, I was able to quickly and cleanly shovel out advice and guidance. Today I realize that there is nothing quick or clean about where I am. I apologize to anyone who I may have trivialized your journey in the past because now I understand.

Recently I resigned from my ministry position. Why? Because I knew that God wanted me to. To take a "sabbatical". To take time off of giving myself to others and to give myself to Jesus in a greater way. Over the last couple of weeks since my resignation I've come to realize that I needed this time more than I could have ever imagined. The loneliness I have felt hasn't been because I haven't had others around. It hasn't been because I've had a lack of caring, loving, praying friends, and family members. The loneliness I have been feeling hasn't been because I've really been lonely. The feeling I've had has been a result of God being lonely for me. God has been waiting for me to draw close to Him...

Isa 30:18
18 But the LORD still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God.
NLT

A few months ago I wrote something in my journal. I'd like to share it with you. It reflects my heart at the time. It is immensely personal.

This doodle and this paragraph was followed by this verse...

Ps 143:5-6
5 I remember the days of old.I ponder all your great works.I think about what you have done. 6 I reach out for you.I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.
NLT

The other evening I was reflecting on my life and looking through my journal and I came across this entry. Immediately I felt drawn to a verse that was the Lords response to this cry.

James 4:10
10 When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.
NLT

Before God can lift me up I must bow down. I find myself in a season of bowing.
I didn't expect to be where I am today. I'm off the map. It isn't easy. It's not fun, but the Lord has shown me over and over that where I am is exactly where He wants me to be. I've seen some powerful church leaders crash and burn. I've seen some close friends make some indescribably poor choices. Somehow I feel like the Lord has put me in a place of "preventative medicine" for my soul. I don't like it, but I have come to understand it and I love Him all the more because of it. I can't wait to see what he does in me in the coming months.

I hope what I've shared speaks to someone tonight. Just taking the time to write it out and to put it in the light has been good for me. It has helped me to understand myself a little more.

"Lord, I bow down tonight and I reach up my hands to you!Amen
"

WOULD YOUR KIDS EAT FREE?

2008-12-08T22:31:00.002-05:00

My kids would eat free often. They're a chip off the ol'block!

NEW TOY

2008-12-08T22:19:00.005-05:00

I've been doing a lot of outside work with my photography lately. I've done some sessions for some folks and have a few coming up in the next few weeks. This Saturday I am going to be participating in an all day workshop at a studio near Columbus,OH. So, I thought it was time to upgrade to a higher quality lens for my camera. I had some stuff lying around the garage and sold it on eBay so I would have the cash. (Who needed that old automatic french fry cutter/cooker anyway...just kidding) I've been selling things for about 2 weeks and finally made enough for my new lens. Now, if any of you need some family portraits, business head shots, band promo shots, weddings, engagement or any other portraits taken. Pleassssssssssse give me a call. You can check out my photo blog on the right side bar. Hope your having a great week.

PS. Some of the cash came in the form of a Christmas present from my Mom and Dad in-laws. Thanks Ron and Barb!

ABUNDANT TRUTH

2008-12-08T14:01:00.002-05:00

My friend Blaine Moore has a great post on his Blog the vertiCALL on worship entitled "Abundant Truth". Blaine's stuff is always great. Go check it out here.

GREAT CONCERT

2008-12-06T13:28:00.003-05:00

I'm not much of a concert goer. The few I have been to were too crowded, the volume was so loud I couldn't understand what was being said and it was just too busy. Not my cup of tea. When I listen to music I like to sit and soak letting the music get inside. Well, last night Julie and I went to a coffee house in Lafayette called Sacred Grounds and listened to the group "SeaBird". I loved it. I loved the atmosphere, the band, and the coffee. I think I found a way for me to enjoy concerts, via coffee house. I plan on going to their concert next month. Here is the music video to one of "SeaBird's" song I found on God Tube. Enjoy.

PS. I even bought the CD.

WORLD TOILET DAY

2008-12-04T17:07:00.003-05:00

Did you know there was a "World Toilet Day"? Seriously. I received this as an email from a friend. Take moment and check this out....

*ABOUT WORLD TOILET DAY**

*Lack of safe sanitation has been called a silent crisis, a scandal of human
indignity, and the number one enemy of world health. This is why the
international community recognizes World Toilet Day every Nov. 19, and the
United Nations deemed 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. One of the
Millennium Development Goal's (MGD) set in 2002 is to halve the number of
those without access to basic sanitation by 2015.

It is no joke. On November 19, 2008 we celebrate World Toilet Day and the incredible value of the can. Call it what you will – the pot, the loo, the throne, the
latrine, the water closet, the bog – it's one of the most important
inventions in history.

Why recognize World Toilet Day? Because the majority of illness in the world
is caused by fecal matter. Because 2.5 billion people, 42 percent of the
world's population, don't have access to proper sanitation. Because 1.2
billion people have no toilet, no hole in the ground, no pit latrine –
nothing. And because 1.8 million children die each year from diarrhea alone
– 4,900 deaths each day.

What would you do without a toilet? In the Kibera slum in Nairobi, people
defecate in plastic bags, which they throw on the roof of moving trains, in
order to keep the waste out of their community. In Atabaha, Bangladesh,
people relieve themselves in fields – the same fields that grow their food.
In Dasra, Ethiopia, community members use a nearby river, which also serves
as their source of water.

"This is not only about public health, it is also about dignity," said Gary
White, executive director of WaterPartners. "Can you imagine not having a
safe place to go to the bathroom each day? World Toilet Day is an
opportunity for us to call attention to this vast, solvable crisis, and
invite us to act."

*WaterPartners International is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization
committed exclusively to providing safe drinking water and sanitation to
people in developing countries. Since its inception in 1990, WaterPartners
has transformed hundreds of thousands of lives by helping the poor develop
accessible, sustainable, community-level water supplies in Bangladesh, El
Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Guatemala, India, Kenya, and the Philippines.
By forging partnerships with carefully-screened partner organizations and
offering innovative financing methods through its **WaterCredit
Initiative
**, WaterPartners empowers local communities to develop and sustain
solutions to their own water needs.** Visit WaterPartners Website.

SOME FUN TOILET FACTS!!!

*Toilet Facts*

- Most toilets flush in the key of E flat.
- One-third of all Americans flush the toilet while they are still
sitting on it.
- An average person visits the toilet 2,500 times a year, about 6-8 times
a day. This adds up to three years of your life.
- 40,000 Americans are injured by toilets each year.
- The first toilet ever seen on television was on "Leave It To Beaver."
- Car steering wheels carry more than twice as many germs as a toilet
seat
- Urine on the toilet seat - although disgusting, it is a nearly sterile
liquid.
- In Florida, a 7th grade student recently won a school science fair by
proving there was more bacteria in ice machines at fast-food restaurants
than in toilet bowl water in the United States.
- Contrary to popular lore, Thomas Crapper didn't invent the toilet.
Seated toilets with drainage systems date back to 2500 B.C. The flush
toilet was invented in 1596 by John Harrington.
- See pictures taken by WaterPartners of *toilets around the
world.

LIFE GUARD HUMOR

2008-12-04T16:52:00.001-05:00

I came accross this video of God Tube and totally cracked up. Enjoy! I sure glad I never had this guy as a lifeguard.

RELIGIOUS????

2008-12-04T12:19:00.004-05:00

I was listening to a podcast today and the host made this comment."I think more people would be willing to visit our churches if our churches weren't so religious." Ouch. What does it mean to be religious? Well, I looked up the word on Merriam-Webster online dictionary and here is what I found.

1: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity, a religious person, religious attitudes
2: of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances ,joined a religious order
3 a: scrupulously and conscientiously faithful

I don't think the problem the speaker was pointing out in his dialogue had anything to do with definition number one. "Faithful devotion" is a good thing. I believe the problem was in the second definition, "devoted to religious beliefs".

The thing that turns people off is when they see folks who claim to serve Christ, but who are more devoted to their religious beliefs than to a relationship with the God in whom those beliefs are based upon. I think what happens is we lose focus. We move our focus away from "Knowing God" and we focus on "Knowing about God". The fact is all the knowledge in the world will never replace a relationship with the God who created the world. Now don't twist what I'm saying. There is no excuse for not studying God's word and understanding doctrine. At the same time we can't allow the study to replace relationship. It shouldn't be one over the other it should be both. The world needs to see our passionate pursuit of a living God more than they need to see the depth of our knowledge of doctrine and theology. If they see us loving God and as a result of that love, loving them, then they will be drawn to know that God for themselves.

Just some thoughts for today. C-ya.

A BLOG MAKEOVER

2008-12-03T23:47:00.003-05:00

I got in the mood so I thought I'd give the blog a little makeover. How do you like it? With my recent change in ministry I am going to be using this blog a lot more to share the things I feel God speaking to my heart. I'll be using the blog as an outlet for the things that are burning on the inside or for the creative ideas that often come bubbling to the surface. I'm also looking at beginning a podcast that will link from the blog where I can continue to teach and preach. We'll see where it all goes but for now I'm excited about the ideas bouncing around in this head of mine. Give me some feedback on the new look and any ideas you might like to see me incorporate, add or take away.

TRIMMING MAMAW'S CHRISTMAS TREE

2008-12-02T23:21:00.003-05:00

Last weekend we spent 4 days at my Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving. We had a great time. The highlight of the weekend for the boys was "Trimming the Tree". They had a blast. You can tell by their goofy expressions they were getting tired of me and my camera. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving too.

MAKING DEPOSITS

2008-11-26T17:06:00.002-05:00

Through the last couple of weeks we have had a lot of change happening as a family. It has been a challenging season. In the midst of it I have tried to be very purposeful to try to include both my sons in our decisions and discussions. I feel that one of the most important things I can do as a father is to be vulnerable enough that my kids can learn through me the process of making tough choices and following God with sincerity and integrity. I have tried to let them see my struggles, my fears and my joy. I try to include them in the journey that I walk. If I can do that for them I believe that it will help them to understand and adopt the process of following God in their own lives. Although I would like to, I can not shelter them from the pain associated with living. I can't hide them from the difficulties we battle in life. I can't build a wall around them and keep hurt, sin and temptation away from them. What I can do is prepare them the very best that I can to understand the biblical process for dealing with the inevitable aspects of life. I can help lay a foundation for decision making that can last them a life time. That is my goal. Every day I attempt to make a deposit into their lives that will collectively help them navigate through life with integrity. I want my boys to understand how to walk with God. I believe that is my job as a dad.

Prov 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
NKJV

Just some thoughts for today. Hope you can get something from them.

MY LITTLE MODEL

2008-11-25T15:42:00.002-05:00

Last night I was taking some pictures of a friends 1 year old and in the middle of the session Trey jumped in front of the camera wanting his picture taken too. He is such a little ham sometimes. I think he would like being a model. He likes the attention. Hope you like my little snap shot of one of my favorite people in the whole world.

THE JOURNEY

2008-11-23T17:40:00.000-05:00

Well, today has been a tough day. Today we said our goodbyes to our church. Our time here at First Assembly has been way to short but it has also been sweet. We have come to love and appreciate so my people. We made so many relationships that have blessed us and shaped us. Our boys love going to church and as a parent that is such a wonderful thing. It was hard to say good bye, but we know that we are following God's will. I struggled as I prepared my sermon for today. Finally, I realized that the Lord wanted me to share one simple thought, "Finish Strong". Julie and I may not be able to walk beside the folks at the church in the same way but we are all on the same path. We are all walking the same "narrow road". We are all on the same journey. The journey of Faith! We must remain faithful to the end. We must finish strong. It was bittersweet to preach today.

The fact is that our lives are a journey and we each have to make choices as we travel. Those choices will either draw us closer to Christ or move us further away. So, give careful thought to your choices and choose to move toward the Lord. Live passionate lives of pursuit! You will never be sorry! Enjoy the Journey!!!

GAME NIGHT

2008-11-23T17:15:00.007-05:00

We had a church game night a few weeks ago. Here are some pics from it.

(these are just a few quick snapshots)

FIRST FLAKE

2008-11-18T09:31:00.002-05:00

We had some snowflakes coming down yesterday. When I went to pick the boys up from the Boys and Girls club there were some flakes coming down. It was only for a few minutes and they were small but it was still enough to get all three of us excited.

I have always loved snow. I love to have snowball fights and go sledding. I love skiing and making snow angels. I love the feel of them landing on my cheek. As a kid I grew up in Northern Michigan. It wasn't unusual to have 3 - 4 feet of snow on the ground in the winter. When you wake up in the morning after a fresh snowfall it is almost magical. The snow totally transforms the land. When the sun peaks out and shines on a fresh snowfall it's like a millions diamonds sparkling all at once. It's amazing.

What is also amazing is the thought that no two snowflakes are alike. Each snowflake with it's complexity and beauty is an absolute unique individual. Wow, that just blows my mind.

Thank you Father for being the Lord of such amazing beauty and such incredible intricate detail!!! Thank you Lord for making all of us in your image yet making all of us so amazingly unique and intricate. You are truly good.

Did I mention that I like snow!

NOT ALWAYS EASY BUT ALWAYS RIGHT

2008-11-17T09:52:00.002-05:00

Well, yesterday was not an easy day for us. Yesterday we resigned our position as Sr. Pastor's of First Assembly. It was a difficult day. It is not always easy following God's plan for your life but it is always right. We are going to be taking some time to re-evaluate, reflect and reconnect before going on to another assignment. So, in the mean time we'll be working, growing and seeking the Lord. Please plan to continue to follow this blog. Because I will continue to share with you as I travel along this "Epic Adventure" of faith.

HEROS

2008-11-05T20:06:00.003-05:00

This weekend I am sharing a message 'How to be a Hero" as we take time Sunday to honor our veterans. I believe the men and women that have served our country and kept us safe deserve to be honored. Thanks to all who serve.

GO VOTE!!!

2008-11-04T15:53:00.001-05:00

I thought this video was awesome. What it says.....Go Vote!!!

GET OUT AND VOTE

2008-11-04T11:39:00.001-05:00

Do your part, do your duty, be a part of the process. VOTE!!

DUSTY

2008-11-04T11:16:00.003-05:00

All summer and into the fall I have spent about a dollar per week to wash my car off. Why you ask? Because we live on a gravel road. Now understand I love living in the country. Most mornings I see some type of wildlife outside my home. One morning it will be several deer crossing through the field across from my house. Another morning I will see several wild turkey walking beside the road. So, I love living in the country. The problem is our road becomes so dusty. Every day when I leave for work or come home the dust goes flying. After a few days our cars get covered in a thick layer of dust. It gets so bad strangers write "wash me" on the dust on my windows and people can't tell what color my vehicle actually is. Anyway, I end up taking about 15 min. at least once per week to go to the local car wash and spray off my car.

Well, last night while I was spraying my car off I made a spiritual connection. (( Think light bulb going off in my head)). Life in the world can leave our spirits "dusty". Even when we strive to live lives of purity just living on this planet and in our current culture can leave us covered in ugly dust. Sometimes it's just hard to stay clean. We have to stay diligent. We need to create built in "safety" procedures and boundaries. Be careful what we watch, be careful where we go, be careful what we hear. If you haven't put filters on your computer do so. If you haven't set the parental control on your TV then do so. If you don't have an accountability partner find one. We must do all we can to fight for purity in our lives while living in a very dusty world. At the end of the day we need to make sure that we take time to "spray off" the dirt and grime that accumulates on our lives. The process is easy. Spend time with Jesus. Pray, read your word, worship. We need to allow God to wash us...

Eph 5:26
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word
NKJV

...if your feeling dusty it's time to spend time with the Lord and get clean.

Just a thought for today.

MORE OF THE BOYS

2008-11-03T18:45:00.002-05:00

Here are a few more pics of the boys. I guess I'm on a roll.

MIND DUMP

2008-11-03T13:29:00.003-05:00

((Some rambling thoughts))

-Julie and I have been spending some extra time lately praying together. I am so thankful for my wife. I am so thankful for her relationship with Jesus. She challenges, encourages and blesses me day by day. Thank you Jesus for my godly wife!

- Had a great weekend. We were able to reach out to approx. 2000 folks on Friday night. What a blast.

-Saturday was Trey's B-day. He was as proud as a peacock all day Sat. We took him and some of his friends bowling and laser tag. He was the king of the Hill. So proud of my boys.

-I shared a message yesterday about going through valley's in our lives (check it out here). Over the last few years we've dealt with some valley's. One thing I know is that God is big enough to see us through our biggest problems.

-The leaves are still on the trees. It's 70 degrees outside and I'm loving it! It is so beautiful outside today. Wow!!!

-We have a family in our church that started coming in August and God has been really impacting their lives. They wrote me a letter recently sharing about how they've been growing so much in the last two months. I get so pumped when I hear these stories. It's so awesome to see God working in peoples lives.

-I am so glad the Colts won last night. I was getting worried.

-We spent some time last night praying over the upcoming election. I don't care what party you are in. Whether you are liberal or conservative. My prayer is that God's will be done. Now, I have my own desires and thoughts but even more than wanting what I want, I want what God wants!!! "Lord, your will on earth as it is in heaven!!"

-The boys are going to Mama and Papa's this weekend. Julie and I will get to spend the whole day together on Sat. I can't wait! I love date nights but a date day will be even better!!!

Have a great day!

AMERICA OCTOBER 29, 2008

2008-10-29T22:56:00.001-04:00

I found this video on another site (PC3 on Vimeo) and thought it was good. Check it out.

"You Are Here" Intro from PC3 on Vimeo.

MY BOYS ARE GROWING UP

2008-10-29T16:46:00.004-04:00

I know, I'm always talking about my boys. Well, outside of my walk with Jesus and my relationship with my wife these two boys are my life and my biggest ministry. So, I offer absolutely no apologies for talking about the things closest to my heart! Here are a few pics I took the other night. Enjoy.

FILL IN THE BLANK

2008-10-29T14:37:00.002-04:00

Everyday is a new day to "fill in the blank." Everyday we have a chance to write something new by the choices we make and the way we live our lives. What are you going to do with your blank page today? Tomorrow? How will your attitudes, ideas, choices and actions translate onto the pages of your life. Each of us has the ability to write our own pages. No, we're not always in charge of what happens to us but we are always in charge of what happens in us.

A LOOK AT THANKSGIVING

2008-10-29T13:30:00.003-04:00

I was thinking about thanksgiving coming up and I thought I'd share some thoughts.

Out of the many nations of the world, America is one of only a few that celebrates a Thanksgiving Day. In most nations there is not a day set apart to offer thanks.

This thought hit me, it is because we were established as a Christian nation, and Christians have the most to be thankful for. We need to understand though that Thanksgiving can be done wrong. Seeing it as just a day off from work is not the point, seeing it as a day to eat turkey is not the point, seeing it as a day of offering Thanks to God is the point.

Ps 50:23 23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. NLT

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. The reason Christians can really do Thanksgiving right is because we know God and God knows us.

Ps 118:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. NLT

This knowing God is personal not professional, it is relational not theological. For anyone to do Thanksgiving right they must know God in Spirit and know God in Truth.

Ps 100:4-5 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,And into His courts with praise.Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.5 For the LORD is good;His mercy is everlasting,And His truth endures to all generations. NKJV

Let's make sure that this year we do Thanksgiving right!!

PRINCIPLES ARE TRANSFERABLE

2008-10-29T13:17:00.004-04:00

There are some great principles out there if we will take the time to discover them. The following is a list of ideas about being a salesman that I think could apply to our daily lives. Soooo, read a apply.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Adapted from Jim Meisenheimer's selling newsletter.

----
Keys to Being a Sales Machine

1. "Yes I can!" Begin everyday thinking and saying aloud "Yes I can!" The choice is pretty obvious here. You're either thinking "Yes I can" or "Yes I can't."

2. "I will" versus "I'll try." Trying accomplishes nothing, nada, zippo. Doing - gets things done. Begin every day with the intention of doing instead of trying. Once again this is an example of an appropriate mindset if you want to become a selling machine.

3. Establish daily written and prioritized goals. Begin each day with purpose and passion in the pursuit of your daily goals. Push aside all interruptions and distractions until your written goals are achieved. Purpose and passion elude most people.

4. Don't complain and don't explain. Just go about your business energetically and enthusiastically. Your enthusiasm will fuel your purpose and passion - so don't leave home without it.

Complaining and explaining creates negative energy. Just stay focused on your daily goals and you'll stay on track and accomplish more than ever.

5. Go buy a composition notebook. Call it your success or idea journal. This is the place to keep all of your good ideas. Make your life your laboratory and keep tabs on what works and what doesn't work.

Write down your thoughts and action steps. Include words of wisdom. Include everything that inspires you. Include everything that's noteworthy. This is the place to also keep your favorite quotations.

6. Take chances and don't fear failure. Of course this is easy to say and hard to do. Just think "Yes I can."

7. Become a student ((of selling)). Read good books. Turn your car into a classroom and listen to CDs everyday. The quickest way to become a master of ((selling)) (insert whatever you want to master) is to become a student of ((selling)) first.

Establish a written goal to invest $1000 every year for your personal development. Most people don't recognize and appreciate that the size of their library influences the degree of their success.

8. You can become a master of change or a prisoner of change. Time in your territory doesn't make you an agent of change. Only the acquisition and implementation of new ideas can. I know salespeople who have been in sales 20 years. Yup - one year repeated 20 times. This is no way to live your life.
Once a month ask yourself what can you start doing, stop doing, or change what you are doing? And ask this question at the end of every selling day. "How can I do it better?"

9. Have an attitude of gratitude. Be thankful for everything you have. Say thank you to everyone who buys from you. Say thank you to everyone who helps you make the sale. And it wouldn't hurt to say thank you to your Creator.

Don't settle for the ordinary when you had the opportunity to become extraordinary!

Hope you get as much out of this as I did.

JUST PASSING THROUGH

2008-10-28T12:43:00.002-04:00

This Sunday I am sharing a message entitled "Just passing Through". We are going to look at 1 Samuel 30. David had to go through one of his most difficult times in order to get to one of his greatest. Sometimes in order to get to our greatest victory we have to pass through our worse defeat. Fortunatley, it is in those times that we are "Just Passing Through". Come on and join us Sunday at 10:30.

TREY'S B-DAY

2008-10-28T12:38:00.004-04:00

Next weekend is Trey's 8th b-day. I can't believe how quickly they grow. I don't want him getting older, but I guess I'm stuck with it. We're taking him and some of his friends bowling and to play lazer tag next weekend. I'm going to have to make the big sacrifice and jump in to play with them. Oh yeah!!!

DAVIS FALL CAMPOUT (GREAT WEEKEND)

2008-10-28T11:44:00.005-04:00

Last weekend we went camping. From Thursday to Sunday. We had a blast. The weather was cool but not too cold. It was perfect for sitting around a "roaring" fire. (I can be a bit of a pyro sometimes). We went hiking, played games, read a kids adventure book together as a family (Whenever I would pause for a break the boys kept "accidently" telling me to "play" some more... they were watching the movie in their mind) and cooking over the fire. We had an absolutely awesome weekend. The only problem was that it went way too fast. Can't wait until our next campout.

LITE THE NITE

2008-10-28T11:41:00.002-04:00

This Friday is our second annual "Lite the Nite". Can't wait. We are partnering with Crosspoint Fellowship and hoping to impact 1000 children that night. It's going to be a great event.

FAMILY FEAST

2008-10-23T17:16:00.003-04:00

We had our fall "Family Feast" earlier this week. We had a blast. I love dutch oven cooking. We had cornish hens, potatoes, carrots, squash, fresh bread and peach cobler. It was great!!!

ON another note. I know I haven't posted much recently but I will do a better job...I promise!!

CHECK OUT "PERHAPS"

2008-10-08T14:02:00.005-04:00

I loved this post on Mark Batteson's blog "Evotional". Check it out here. It ties into a message that I've been working on for Veteran's day weekend about "Leading" in battle. Check out the post here. Enjoy.

THE JOURNEY

2008-10-08T13:38:00.003-04:00

Life is a journey (no, not the band) that has many twists and turns. Some lead to joy, peace, true happiness. Some lead to pain, difficulty and hurt. The key to completing our journey (the journey of life and of faith) while remaining faithful and intimate with the Lord is to ..."...fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith," When we take our eyes off of Jesus and allow the temtations and troubles of this world distract us we set ourselves up for failure. Life is a journey. Sometimes we will walk high on the mountain tops and sometimes we will trudge low through the valley but as long as we keep Christ in our sights and continue toward Him we can and will complete the journey and find the greatest joy we could ever imagine. Let me encourage you today, stay focused on the prize and don't give up on the journey of faith while walking this journey of life.

John Bunyan wrote..."What danger is the pilgrim in? How many are his foes? How many ways there to sin, no living mortal knows. Some do escape the ditch, yet can fall tumbling in the mire. Some though they shun the frying pan, do leap into the fire."

Stay focused, keep going and you will finish the journey "well"!!!

THERE BACKKKKKKKK!!!!

2008-10-08T13:21:00.003-04:00

Guess what folks. The mouse saga continues. We caught two in the last week and Julie was particularly upset by the last one. Why? Because he scurried across the floor while she was in the kitchen and she saw him. Well, being the good protector that I am I cornered him and, "ahem", disposed of him. I am in the process of procuring more defensive machinery and increasing security. I'll keep you updated as the saga unfolds.

GREAT WEATHER, GREAT SEASON

2008-10-07T14:22:00.005-04:00

I know I have shared this already, but I love Fall! I'm so glad it's fall. I love everything about it. Well, the weather lately hasn't been very fall'ish, but it is starting to get there. We have a couple of family traditions in the fall. We have our annual family cook out. We do a Thanksgiving like meal that we cook all outside over the campfire. We call it our "Fall Family Feast." We cook in dutch ovens and over the coals. It's great. You can check last years out here. Another fall traditon is our trip to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins. I think we're going to do that this Saturday. Finally, every fall we go on a camping trip. This year we're going for four days. Can't wait. We're going to Mc Cormicks creek state park. Below is a picture of the falls. This month will be so much fun. I hope you have a great fall too!

Home

2008-10-07T12:36:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine, Blaine Thomas Moore, whose blog I love to read has a post that we all need to read. The post starts with a reference to a great song but if you will keep reading it really heats up. It's all about our "true" home and our Fathers great love. Just trust me you need to read it. Click Here for the link. Let me know what you think.

POWER ENCOUNTER

2008-10-06T15:10:00.003-04:00

On October 18th and 19th we have 3 special services, that we are calling "power Encounter", with evangelist Nathan Grubb. Nathan is a young evangelist, but God is using Nathan in big ways. Our goal for the weekend is to simply set some time aside to encounter God and his power. You can check out Nathan's website here. Plan on coming out and being a part of this special weekend and be prepared to encounter the "Power of God!"

ps. We will be having a special time of ministry during each service for our kids.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!!

FOOTBALL IS OVER

2008-10-06T13:43:00.002-04:00

Well, the boys football season ended on Saturday with their best game. Both boys scored touchdowns, they both had interceptions on defense (with a return for a touchdown) and they both did awesome. The game ended up 5 touchdowns to 2. I'm so proud of them. To top it off they were both "great" sports all season. Next year they will play tackle. Can't wait to see how that goes.

END TIMES 1 & 2

2008-10-06T13:38:00.003-04:00

The last 2 weeks we have done a short series entitled, "Are we living int he end times?" We have had a bunch of guests over the last two weekends. It is so much fun to see and meet new folks. If you are interested in hearing the messages you can check them out here. Have a great Monday!!

HAVING ONE OF THOSE WEEKS

2008-09-24T10:56:00.002-04:00

I'm having one of those crazy weeks. Trying to get ready for our Big Sunday is a big challenge. It seems like everything else is fighting for my attention. I hope your weeks is going a little smoother.

Thought I'd share something I'm excited about. On Halloween we are doing an outreach to our community called "Light The Night". We will be setting up in a parking lot in a high "foot" traffic area and handing out bags of candy to kids. We'll also have games and prizes and food. Last year it was a huge hit. Well, this year we're going to be joining with another area church to do the event. I am all pumped about about that. Why? Because when God's people start working together than nothing is impossible. Can't wait to see what happens as a result. God is good!

Well, have a great day!!

NEW SERIES

2008-09-22T14:31:00.002-04:00

We are starting a new 2 week series next week. Actually, it is an illustrated series. Last year we did an "Big Sunday" where we went out of our way to really invite guests to our morning service. This year we are doing two weeks and we are going to talk about the end times. It should be a powerful couple of weeks. If you're from the area we'd love to have you come out and be apart of this series. See you there.

GREAT WEEKEND

2008-09-22T14:13:00.003-04:00

We had a great weekend. I hope yours was good too. It started on Friday night with a special presentation of the youth league football teams during half time at the varsity game. My boys felt like real "big time" athlete. It was so much fun. On Saturday we had a football game where the boys won. Gavyn had and interception on defense and on the next play Trey threw him a pass that he ran down to about 5 yards short of a touchdown. The next play Trey threw a touchdown pass. He also ran one in for a touchdown. It is so much fun to see them play and get so excited. Saturday night we went to the Fall Festival at their school. It was a real family focused weekend. We had a great service on Sunday morning. We finished our series "Lost". Had a great time. Lots of new faces which is fun to see. Sunday night we had our prayer service which is a highlight of my week. The only thing that would have made the weekend better would have been if the Colts would have won. I hope you had a great weekend.

LOST Pt. 4

2008-09-16T14:07:00.003-04:00

This weekend is the last message in a series that we have been in entitled, "LOST". You can check out the series here. This weekend we are going to look at the practical steps to reach out to those that who have not yet begun a relationship with Christ. We are going to look at the story of the "Good Samaritan." It's going to be a very practical yet challenging message. Make sure to be here this Sunday morning.

JUST A THOUGHT

2008-09-16T11:40:00.001-04:00

A friend sent me this quote today. I liked it so well I thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy (or not).

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most do. -Dale Carnegie

MIND DUMP

2008-09-16T11:30:00.003-04:00

The following are a bunch of random thoughts....

-Busy day yesterday. I had staff meeting first thing, then had a board meeting for a missions organization that I sit on their board, got back just in time to pick the boys up and get them to football practice. Crazy day but good.

-I've been playing a lot of golf lately. I've actually been watching the golf channel too. The sad thing is I'm not much better than I was 3 months ago. Oh well, I still enjoy it.

-Really felt like the God spoke to me on Sunday night at prayer encounter. He told me not to let fear get in my way as I follow him. I love it when God shows up.

-I'm loving the fact that the nights are cooling off. Been waking up to some foggy mornings. Fall is on it's way and I can't wait.

-Had B-fast with a pastor friend today. It's always refreshing to spend time with someone else in the trenches. Good food, good friend, good time!!

-Getting ready for our "Big Sundays" coming up. Going to do two illustrated sermons entitled, "Are we living in the end times?". Really challenges folks to fill the church those two weeks. Can't wait.

-Trying to keep fresh in the creative areas. I've done some photo shoots lately and am hoping to do more. I've been dabbling with digital art. We'll see where it goes.

-Can't wait for the boys game this weekend. I've got a couple of athletes on my hands.

....Well, that's it. Have a great day!!!

MY FOOTBALL PLAYERS

2008-09-16T11:09:00.003-04:00

It is time for an update on my two football players. The boys have been having so much playing football. They are in a flag football league and loving every minute of it. They have both scored several touchdowns each. Trey is the Quarterback and Gavyn is both a running back and wide receiver. The most exciting play so far this year is when Trey connected with Gavyn for a touchdown pass. It was awesome. They have several more weeks of football to go. Here is a pic of Trey calling the play on the line and Gavyn running the ball.

IT'S OKAY TO ASK GOD "WHY"!

2008-09-16T10:51:00.003-04:00

Do you realize that God is not put off when we ask questions? Seriously, he's not. I've had conversations with people who have been dealing with guilt because they couldn't understand why "such and such" took place and they were questioning God. They felt as though it was some how a lack of faith. I don't believe it is. I don't believe looking up at heaven and letting loose with the question "Why" is in fact a lack of faith. I believe that God can handle our questions. He's big enough to be able to handle when we just don't get what happens in this life. He doesn't get mad or upset when our minds filled with question marks. If we look at the word we see a lot of our spiritual hero's who are asking a lot of questions. The book of Psalms alone is filled with King David asking God "Why" over and over. the fact is as long as we reside on this planet we will always have questions. The problem develops when we allow our questions to affect our faith. I may not understand "why" something happened but I trust that all things "... work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Rom 8:28-29 NKJV God has our best interest in mind. Even when we can't see and understand we must trust. That is faith. Not knowing the beginning from the ending but trusting that our God is able to see the beginning and the ending and that ultimately He will see us through. So, feel free to ask why but be prepared to trust God. It's called walking by faith. It's not always fun or easy but it will all work out!

ABSOLUTE MADDNESS

2008-09-16T10:48:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine from college has a blog and is always sharing some insightful stuff. We hadn't seen each other in years and only recently started reconnecting through (it's so ironic) our blogs. Anyway, he has a post entitled "Absolute Madness" that I really enjoyed and thought you might enjoy it too. So here it is.

STORMY SEA

2008-09-11T15:27:00.004-04:00

Mark 4:39-40
39 When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, "Quiet down!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
NLT

Can I be honest for a minute? Well, since I'm writing this I suppose I can. Sometimes it's hard to truly be honest because sometimes like wolves believers can have a tendency to attack their wounded. Back on point.... Lately I have had a stormy sea inside of me. Anyone else ever feel that way? the pressures of life come squeezing in. Financial pressure. Challenges at work. The car breaks down. etc, etc. Pressure that seems greater on the outside than the peace that's on the inside and you know at any minute that you are going to implode. Well, I just want to confess that I've been there. I don't need to give all the details. We all have our "whys" and "how comes" I just thought I'd let you know that even in the midst of the stormy seas Jesus still speaks "PEACE!" and I'm so glad he does. If you are going through a storm just know that you can count on him to bring the peace.

Here is a pic that I thought was hilarious. Hopefully it will put a smile on your face like it did mine.

FALL IS IN THE AIR

2008-09-10T15:12:00.003-04:00

This morning we were getting the boys ready for school I went outside and took the trash can to the curb. It was extremely brisk. Let me rephrase that. It was cold! It was the first time I realized that we are on the edge of Fall. I love the fall. I love the brisk air. I love wearing my favorite hoody. I love the changing leaves. I love cold air beside a warm fire. I love camping in the fall when you wake up in your sleeping bag and there is frost on the edges. I love hiking in the fall. I love football season and thanksgiving. I am excited that it's fall!

DESERT

2008-09-10T15:06:00.003-04:00

Spiritual deserts. I don't like them. I've had to walk through plenty of them. I'd like to say that in the midst of them I'm always content but that's just not the case. Usually I get irritable, frustrated and antsy. It's hard to remember but sometimes it's in the desert that God prepares us for the next stage of the journey. Moses went through the desert before he led God's people. The Israelites went through the desert on the way to promise land (they ended up staying there for a LONG time). Jesus went out into the desert before his ministry began. Deserts are not my favorite place but sometimes they are exactly where we are supposed to be.

ABOUT

2008-09-09T20:55:00.002-04:00

I have recieved a few emails asking me to share a little bit about myself. So here we go.

What do I say about me? Well, I love life. I love my family. I love God. I love people and I love photography. I guess that sums me up in a nutshell.

I am most comfortable when I'm having fun. If you get to know me at all you'll know that I love to laugh. I work hard to enjoy myself no matter what I'm doing. Most of the time I succeed.

I've been a Senior Pastor, School Assembly Speaker, Missionary, Evangelist, and Youth Pastor. I love sharing God's word and hope with hurting people.

I don't like relgious mindsets and attitudes.

I believe that we have the greatest message the world has ever heard and it deserves the greatest effort to share with the greatest number of people using any means possible.

I believe the church today needs to be in the relationship business. We should be about our relationship with Jesus. Our relationship with one another and our relationship with people who have not yet discovered God's love.

What else about me?

-I love hanging out with my wife Julie and our two boys Gavyn and Trey
-I love the outdoors...hiking, fishing, using my canoe and camping.
-I love Photography, technology, computers, video editing, etc.
-I love reading.

If you want to know more about me just drop me an email.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME

2008-09-03T15:48:00.002-04:00

This last weekend was our 2nd annual church campout. We had a great time. There were over 50 people from the church that camped out and on Sunday night we had over 75 who were there for our big pitch in dinner. I played several rounds of golf, 8 games of basketball and one game of football. I probably had 8 lbs of meat off the grill and 10 gallons of Soda. Overall it was a blast. I hope your weekend was as good as ours.

BEING OURSELVES

2008-08-27T13:43:00.002-04:00

I read this post on one of my favorite blogs and thought I'd pass it on. You can read it here. Here is a little snip-it.

At some point, most of us stop learning and start copying. It's so much easier. We stop living out of right-brain imagination and start living out of left-brain memory. And that is when we stop creating the future and start repeating the past.

Read it and enjoy.

MOUSE HOUSE III

2008-08-25T13:21:00.004-04:00

Yes ladies and gentleman I caught another mouse. Last night before bed I did my routine check and sure enough mouse # 2 was found under the sink. Needless to say Julie was less than excited. She was thrilled that the little critter is not running around our house but not so thrilled that we had a second visitor at all. Our house is surrounded by corn fields and we haven't even had the harvest yet. I haven't told Julie but I am expecting a few more before it's all said and done.

Mouse 0 = Al 2 (Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!)

WEEKEND REFLECTION

2008-08-25T13:11:00.002-04:00

We had a great weekend!! First we had some friends who were camping at Turkey Run State Park and we got to spend all day Friday and part of Saturday with them and their four kids. We had a great time. Then on Saturday the boys had their first football game. The game ended in a tie (it's pee wee and when time runs out the score stands). Trey threw one touchdown pass to his brother and then both Gavyn and Trey ran for a touchdown. To say that they were excited would be an understatement. I am having so much fun helping to coach the team. Well, we went home after the game and had a celebration cookout. Sunday morning we had a great service with a lot of visitors and a bunch of our summer traveling families back home. I started our new series, "LOST". You can check out the audio of the message here. Sunday afternoon we had some of the teenagers and youth leaders from the church out to the house for another cookout and we had a great time. Sunday p.m. we had some live worship at the fountain downtown and we did a prayer walk around the city. Ended the weekend off sharing a ham and pineapple stuff crust pizza from Pizza Hut. All in all it was a great weekend. I hope yours was as good.

MOUSE HOUSE II

2008-08-20T13:59:00.002-04:00

Ha, ha, ha!!!! We got him! Mouse zero, Davis family one!!!! I am mighty hunter hear me roar!!!

LOST

2008-08-19T14:38:00.003-04:00

We are starting a new series this Sunday. The series is entitled, "LOST." We will be spending the next few weeks being reminded what one of our core purposes is as believers. We are supposed to share God's love with those that don't yet know him.

I think sometimes we spend so much time in or around church that we forget that the main purpose for Christ's time on earth was to redeem and to restore mankind into a relationship with God. We can get caught up in doing our "church" stuff that we become in danger of being religiously distracted from our God given assignment. To reach people with God's love. We get so involved in the "Church" world that we insulate ourselves from building relationships with people outside the church. Each of us should have multiple relationships with many different people who don't yet follow Christ. Not so we can preach at them but so we can build a bridge into their lives and show them who Christ is through our lives.

This Sunday we are going to look at the story of Zaccheus. In particular the verse

Luke 19:10, "And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and to save those like him who are lost."

Lost in this text does not mean damned or doomed, But in the wrong place. A thing is lost when it has gotten out of its own place and into the wrong place. When we find such a thing, we return it to the place it ought to be. A person is lost when he is away from God. Jesus is not on a search & destroy mission - His mission is to seek & to save that which is lost and to invite them to move back into a right place with Him.

Come and join us for Sunday mornings as we start he new series..."Lost."

MOUSE HOUSE

2008-08-19T14:29:00.003-04:00

We have a problem. Yup, we have a big problem wrapped in a tiny little package. There is a mouse in our house. Now that may not seem like a big deal to some of you. It isn't really a big deal to me. I grew up on a farm and we had mice everywhere. We also had cats everywhere. The reason the little bitty mouse is such a big problem is because my wife hates mice. I mean she really, really hates mice. She has declared that she will not be doing any work in the kitchen until the mouse has been apprehended and removed. The reason that presents such a problem is because I really like to eat my wife's cooking. So, as any good husband would do I spent the evening last night searching through the cabinets and setting traps for our little visitor. As of this morning we still hadn't captured the "foul beast" but I hope we have him before dinner tonight. If not I guess we'll be having frozen waffles. I'll keep you posted.

DAY OFF

2008-08-15T15:12:00.004-04:00

I had a great morning this morning on my day off. I went golfing. Now I intended to quietly golf by myself and work on some things ( actually I need to work on a lot of things). I was golfing alone and another gentleman was golfing alone so He asked if I wanted to play with him. I hesitated, why? Because I'm with people all the time. As a pastor I'm almost always in ministry mode. I was looking forward to playing by myself and shutting ministry mode off. A nice quiet morning of Golf. All alone with my thoughts. God quietly nudged my heart. "Sure, let's play." is what I said. As it turns out the guy I played with (Jason) used to attend my church some years ago (before we were the pastors) and was just moving back into the community. We were able to share and encourage one another. It was a great morning of golf and fellowship. As he left he said, "We'll probably see you Sunday." Well, I believe that their are divine moments everyday. We just can't be in too big of a hurry to miss them. I almost missed one. As a pastor I might want to shut off ministry mode but as a believer I can't! Jason, if you read this by chance I hope to see you on Sunday but if not I had a great time golfing and look forward to doing it again.

YAWNING ANGELS

2008-08-14T12:10:00.002-04:00

Check out this excerpt from Mark Batterson's new book, "Wild Goose Chase." It look like it's going to be great. I loved his last book "In a pit with a Lion on a snowy day." Anyway, check out the excerpt here.