The (Insert Clever Blog Title Here) Blog

Kidspoint Snow Day!

2009-12-20T00:39:00.002-05:00

Everybody loves a snow (or blizzard) day, but it's kind of a bummer when it happens on a Sunday. Kids big and small will spend the day sledding, making snow angels, and building forts for epic snowball fights (no mercy on my kids, either!).

Parents, you have an opportunity to do so much more than just make your kids hot chocolate and dry their clothes. You have a prime opportunity to set a godly example and show them that just because we have a snow day from church doesn't mean we take a day off from God. So, what will you do? Don't miss this opportunity. After all, YOU are the primary spiritual influence in your kids' lives!

Now THAT'S pointing kids to Jesus....

Kidspoint Snow Day! from Steven Latham on Vimeo.

Kidspoint QUEST Families: Accelerate Together!

2009-11-10T16:28:00.001-05:00

Kidspoint QUEST Families: Accelerate Together! from Steven Latham on Vimeo.

GOD IS HERE

2009-09-16T13:08:00.004-04:00

I have this sign that says GOD IS HERE pinned on the wall of my cube (at least for now...new office next month!), and it often catches my eye. I don't really know why I put it up other than because it was in a box of stuff and I thought it was kinda cool. So, there it remains, motionless on the wall, but it won't leave me alone...

As it inevitably catches my eye several times a day, it causes me to constantly reflect upon whether I truly believe it and subsequently whether or not my actions demonstrate that belief. I know without a doubt that I have the head knowledge that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, along with everything else that Scripture reveals about His nature. But as is often the case, there is a huge chasm between head knowledge (belief) and heart knowledge (action).

I've concluded that many days I live my life not as if GOD IS HERE, but more as if GOD IS THERE. In other words, I live minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day focusing more on where I am going (or want to go) rather than where I am. But experiencing and knowing God is not a destination, but a journey.

For example, I aspire to be a godly husband and father to my family (where I'm going or want to go), but God puts before me daily the opportunities to grow and live that out (where I am). So, my focus has been too much on the destination, but not enough on the journey (and hard work) that will get me there.

As it is said, the journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step. And in that first step, GOD IS HERE. He's also here at the second step, the 100th step, and that final step.

In what ways are fixated on the destination rather than the journey? How are you short-circuiting your spiritual growth as you focus on the end, but not the means? Where are you ignoring God's presence today while seeking His hand for tomorrow? Stop living like GOD IS THERE and start living like GOD IS HERE.

Kidspoint Sneak Peak

2009-09-09T12:17:00.013-04:00

Here's a sneak peak into our new Kidspoint look and environments. Special thanks to Josh for the mad skillz in bringing the new concept to life!

More than just a fresh look or cool names, this new concept represents a shift in stragegy. The compass icon ties everything together. No matter what age kids are, they are on an adventurous journey toward discovering Jesus. Kidspoint provides age and developmentally-appropriate environments and 'Compass Points' (foundational biblical truths/spiritual benchmarks) to ensure that every child has the opportunity to know and follow Jesus by the time they finish 5th grade. We are 'Pointing Kids to Jesus!'

The 'new' Kidspoint will be unveiled this Sunday at Lifepoint Church. You're coming, right? Who are you bringing with you?!

New KIDSPOINT Logo:

DIVE
Birth-2 years old (formerly Nursery)

TREK
3's & 4s / 5's & Kindergarten (formerly Preschool)

QUEST
1st-5th Grades (formerly Elementary)

E-CHECK

Our brand new Electronic Check-In is now in its centralized location in the lobby. Parents can now check in all of their kids at once no matter what their destination is! There will always be someone to assist you, but you can also check in yourself.

Next Stop: Turkey

2009-07-09T20:03:00.005-04:00

Lindsay and I will be heading to Turkey in less than two days. Can't believe the time is already here!

Our team of eight Lifepointers will be providing programming support for conference of "workers" from around the country. They have poured their lives into the Turkish people, and this is our opportunity to pour into them and their families. We will be hosted by a wonderful couple, Nat & Abby, who I am very excited to meet.

Turkey is a spiritually dark place (99% Muslim), so the experience will be much more than physically demanding. Pray that our team is covered by God's hand throughout. Pray also for safe travels, health, and focus as we serve. Finally, pray that God's grace would abound as Lindsay and I leave our four kids with her brother's family near Atlanta (some prayers for them would be equally appropriate!). It'll be hard leaving them, but sometimes God calls us to hard things.

I look forward to experiencing another culture and seeing what God is doing in that part of the world.

Countdown to Turkey

2009-07-03T20:38:00.002-04:00

Be sure to check out our team videos on my wife's blog! It's worth the couple of minutes to watch...

Roll Out

2009-06-26T19:38:00.001-04:00

Enough said.

It's Good to be Home.

2009-04-06T08:26:00.006-04:00

Today is a one of significance. Well, technically yesterday, but I digress. Today...yesterday...whatever...signifies my official return to full-time ministry. It's good to be "home."

Since December 12, 2007, we've been mentally homeless.
Since January 6, 2008, we've been officially homeless.
Since March 1, 2008, we've been financially homeless.
Now, as of April 5/6, 2009, we're finally home.

It's been a long road. We've seen God's faithfulness firsthand, and while it hasn't always been a smooth journey, He has kept His promises. I'm overwhelmed by His goodness!

My amazing wife has stood the gap for us and worked full-time for over a year in the face of her calling to be at home with our kids. Thank you, Lindsay, for your selflessness, sacrifice, and love. My kids have endured school and home life with dad. Thank you, kids, for your patience and forgiveness of my faults and failures. I love you all with all my heart.

It's good to be home. Yet the journey continues...

Taxes

2009-03-26T10:41:00.002-04:00

I've NEVER been this late filing my taxes. I worked them up several weeks ago, but didn't file because I've been trying to get a couple questions answered by a tax professional.

Wanna know the answer I got?

"Go ahead and file. If something's wrong, you can file an amended return."

Brilliant.

Routine vs. Rhythm

2009-03-25T13:08:00.003-04:00

From Merriam-Webster's online dictionary...

routine - 1 a: a regular course of procedure
rhythm - 3 a: movement, fluctuation, or variation marked by the regular recurrence or natural flow of related elements

Right now, I'm torn between my responsibilities at home (which are increasingly difficult to focus on) and my evolving role at Lifepoint Church. Truth is, I've been wrestling with this since September when I started the student ministry as a volunteer, then the scope broadened in February to include Kidspoint as a part-timer. I'm counting down the next week and a half until I'm officially full-time (counting faster hasn't worked yet...suggestions?!).

One thing I'm looking forward to about being officially full-time in ministry again after a year off is getting my life back into a rhythm, but not a routine. I used to think of it as routine, but now I know it's actually rhythm. I want my life to be anything but routine...

Things have been so chaotic for my family over the past year, I find myself craving the "natural flow of related elements" I used to have. Those related elements comprise my life, and you have your own set of life elements, too. The challenge is getting those elements to make beautiful music together in a way that honors God.

Ever heard a tight band play live? You know, one that is just...tight? Timing is impeccable, they can read each other's minds, and everything just grooves? It's hard to describe, but you know it when you hear it...and you know it when it's not there. Well, just like that tight rock band grooves together, I want my spiritual life, home life, ministry life, family & friends life, financial life, health life, etc. to settle into that synergistic groove that's been missing over the past year.

Rhythm is underestimated. When you have it, don't take it for granted. When you don't, keep practicing...

Twitter Bug Got Me

2009-03-22T19:57:00.002-04:00

In keeping with my very first blog post, I'm now a "twit" - @steven_latham. Yeah, finally got bit by the Twitter bug and gave in to pop culture peer pressure. Now just gotta learn the dang thing.

Follow me! Bet Jesus would say that if He was on Twitter...

March Madness

2009-03-20T00:09:00.002-04:00

The season of late nights is upon us. You never know when that instant classic is gonna happen. Right now, I'm watching the UCLA/VCU game come down to the wire. 11.6 seconds left, VCU down by one...

Gotta love it.

Who's winning YOUR bracket?

Back to School

2009-03-18T23:32:00.002-04:00

Homeschooling is such a trip. A trip to the past, that is.

Today, I spent about two hours doing math with my girls. It's incredible how much you forget from your school days, but even more incredible how fast it comes back to you. It's actually fun to rediscover stuff I used to think never mattered, even if it still doesn't matter today. Does that even make sense?

Somewhere along the line, I forgot that pi is more than something you eat. I double-dog dare you to ask me how to find the area or circumference of a circle. Go ahead...do it.

Tired, but Wired...

2009-03-17T23:34:00.004-04:00

Long day, but a great day. My day in the office, great staff meeting, and had an amazing evening at Momentum with our great volunteer leaders.

Momentum is our quarterly gathering of key leaders (60 of 'em!) to worship together and pour into them vision, leadership principles, some good vittles, and some serious fun. I bet you've never raced other followers of Jesus doing shots of Lucky Charms! Anyway, I'm sure you're thoroughly confused and disturbed now, but it was such an encouraging night, and aptly named...

Even though I'm exhausted from the day, I have so much running through my head. Tired, but wired. God is going before us, and He is going to allow us to make a huge dent in Hell this Easter Season. We don't want to go anywhere He's not going ahead of us.

I'm so honored to be part of such an amazing group of people that are sold out to the vision of reaching people far from God so they can experience His design for their lives.

Who are you bringing Easter Sunday?

Craigslist is my Friend

2009-03-16T20:04:00.006-04:00

Sold my old phone tonight. Got someone on the hook for my iPod Nano. Got wifey's old phone and a DVR I'm cutting loose (anybody interested?)...

Why?

Daddy needs a new phone.

The cell phone I inherited is driving me mad. Like literally mad. I've never been given to slamming doors, stomping feet, or maniacal screaming like some other people I know, but I've come close to throwing this phone through the wall a time or two. I feel like I have two left hands with this thing! What's that they say? "Don't know whatcha got til it's gone...?"

Yep. Saving up for a new phone. Should I get an iPhone like the rest of the planet?

Stevenday

2009-03-15T21:13:00.003-04:00

So, I've decided to petition God to add an eighth day to the week. I've decided that He simply made a mistake when He chose to make a week seven days. Now, don't get your panties in a bunch over that last statement; I know God doesn't really make mistakes...just play along, OK?!

I'm six weeks into the part-time portion of my new position at Lifepoint Church. It's been such an answer to prayer that God led us to this incredible church last spring, but especially since He opened a door to us serving there after a long year of looking for position (yes, it's been a year). I'll be part-time for three more weeks and FULL-TIME APRIL 5. Needless to say, I've got that date circled on my calendar!

These past six weeks have convinced me that God should have made an eight day week. You see, I have so many exciting tasks/project/initiatives that I want to pursue that I'm finding it difficult to squeeze them in. Need that eighth day! Between my two day work week (crazy-busy Sundays and staff-centered Tuesdays), school for the big girls, house work, a full-time working wife, etc., life's been...shall we say...a little crazy.

So, for the next three weeks, I'm proposing an eighth day - "Stevenday." That way, I can get all the things done I want/need to. Will you bend God's ear with me?

The good thing is once April 5 gets here, "Stevenday" can fade into history as seven will do just fine like it always has. I think...

Darn good. Darn cheap.

2009-02-22T17:31:00.003-05:00

My local McDonald's has a big banner in front of it proclaiming "$1 COFFEE - Any size, hot or iced." On the way home this afternoon, I was sucked in by this brilliant marketing vortex. 4:30 is about the ideal time for a cup o' joe, so into the drive-thru I went. Being one who always stretches his dollar as far as it will go, I promptly ordered a large.

Best dollar I've spent in a while. Especially after being up at 5 a.m.

Something tells me it won't be last time I'm sucked into that vortex...

Stay At Home Dad...

2008-12-10T14:05:00.002-05:00

A friend sent this to me, and I thought it blog-worthy. Enjoy (and pardon the credit screen at the end)!

So Much to Say...

2008-11-12T15:11:00.002-05:00

...so little time. This phrase has been bouncing around in my head for the past few days. Between laundry, family, homeschooling, laundry, housework, Linds' job, laundry, my job search, volunteer church work, laundry, meals, dealing with our financial situation, etc., it feels like we're working three full-time jobs between the two of us. Laundry for six (two of which are almost potty trained, two of which are discovering sweat glands) equates to almost a full-time job. Now, I'm given to exaggeration at times, but this is no joke...

Having had two extended stints at home with kids (once with two kids and currently with four), I give mad props to those stay-at-home-with-the-kids moms out there. I believe most of your husbands have absolutely NO CLUE what you endure. And, no offense, but I laugh at people with only one kid that complain about how hard it is! OK, I'm bordering on self-righteous, so I better shut up! All that to say, being at home is a lot of hard work, but it is also an incredible blessing.

Anyway, so much to say...so little time. Gotta go! Here's a blast from the past...

Talk Is Cheap

2008-10-15T12:09:00.004-04:00

Last night, about 50 volunteers/key leaders of our church had a great night worshiping, celebrating what God has done so far in '08 (and He ain't done yet!), and anticipating what He'll do in '09. It's an honor to serve with such dedicated people. Their hearts for God are so evident in the sacrifice of time, energy, and emotion they pour into the vision of Lifepoint Church - reaching people who are far from God.

Something Jeremy shared really stuck out to me. He talked about about various stages of commitment (and this applies to anything, not just the Church): understanding, embracing, communicating, and defending. Each is a step is one of deeper and truer commitment.

In short, we can understand something, but not embrace it. We can embrace something, but not communicate it. We can communicate something, but not be willing to defend it (with our lives, reputations, etc.). The truest test of commitment is one's willingness to defend the vision.

Vision is such a buzz word in today's lingo, especially in the Church, but how often do we plod through life without it? What visions do you have for your life? For your health, finances, family?

I understand, embrace, and even communicate my belief in eating right and exercising regularly, but I don't always defend it by my actions.

I understand, embrace, and even communicate my belief in living within my means and saving for the future, but I don't always defend it by my actions.

I understand, embrace, and even communicate my belief being a godly leader to my wife and children, but I don't always defend it by my actions.

You see, it's not enough to rest on principles and conviction; they must be consummated by action. I've experienced many lofty visions (both personal and corporate) that have ended up littering the graveyard of good intentions because they were not defended by action. The vision may have been understood, embraced, and communicated, but it wasn't lived out. As they say, "Talk is cheap."

What area of life are you doing a lot of talking?

Conventionally Unconventional

2008-10-09T11:30:00.004-04:00

Above is a phrase I've used countless times over the past nine years of my life. Why? As of today, I have spent those last nine years married to my amazing wife, Lindsay.

Happy 9th, Linds. Here's to 90 more! Although my words and actions often fail, I love you more than I could ever hope to show you. You are truly the other side of me.

From the beginning of our story together, God has seen fit to make sure we never do things in a conventional fashion. In fact, we do so many things unconventionally, it's become conventional (if that makes sense). While I won't bore you with every detail, suffice it to say we've got some great stories whenever we get around to writing our autobiographies. Lindsay has long said she wants to write a book, and I don't doubt she will (I'll no doubt serve as her proofreader. Snicker, snicker...). I've never thought seriously about it, yet with each passing year it seems I have more than enough experiences and material from which to draw.

So, without further adieu, here are some chapter titles I've come with. If you know us well, some may sound familiar, others not so much. If you don't know us well, please don't think any less of us...

How Not to Remember the First Time You Met
Pop Tarts, Mello Yello, and Other Gifts of Affection (and Occasionally Bribery)
Dating with Daughters
Gas Pains in Birmingham
Long Distance Relationships Are Not For Wimps
Taking the "Big" Out of "Big Wedding"
First Night Honeymoon Suggestions: College Football & Japanese
How to Buy Stock in U-Pack, U-Haul, and Budget Rent-A-Truck
Morning Beer-Drinking Neighbors and Other "Fredneck" Adventures
Fort Worth, Texas - So Far From Home, Yet So Close
"And They Came Two By Two..."
The Joys of Home Ownership
Virginia Is For Lovers. Maryland Is Not. (Sorry, MD friends! Don't take it personally...)
As the Church Turns
No Guts, No Glory
Livin' on the Edge

The rest is yet to be written. Linds, as unconventional as our life together has been, I wouldn't trade it for anything because it's been with you. We've overcome a lot, and we will surely overcome more...together.

God, thank You for the precious gifts of my amazing wife and the children You have blessed us with. On this special day, we commit again to honoring You with our marriage and our family. Continue to watch over us, protect us, and guide our path as we follow You. Amen.

Seasons Change

2008-09-30T14:54:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year again. Football is in full-swing, the weather has turned schizophrenic, everyone's sinuses are starting to acting up, leaves are starting to wither. God bless fall.

When it comes time for one season to give way to another, we usually welcome it. Why? Because we want a change. We want to break out our other-season clothes and see if they still fit (I'm convinced this is really just an excuse to go shopping). We want to start eating different foods and drinking different drinks (sorry, I just can't do coffee regularly during the summer!). We want to enjoy some different weather than 90+ degree days we've been experiencing for what seems like forever. We want to break the monotony of life. We are anxious for a new experience...

Life's seasons aren't quite as predictable or sometimes even welcomed. Sometimes they last shorter than we wish they would, sometimes longer. The seasons could be good or bad, depending on your perspective. Regardless of whatever season you're in right now, rest assured that change is blowing in. It could be in the form of a move, a new child, a shift in health, financial hardships, a quickly advancing career, a sudden tragedy. Just as God has given nature a rhythm of seasons, He has given a unique rhythm to each of our lives.

Whatever change is coming, make the most of it. When God blesses you with prime rib, well...eat dead cow and rejoice! But when God seemingly gives you lemons, make lemonade. Don't endure it bitterly; embrace it for the sweet opportunity is represents to participate in God's rhythm for your life. And rest assured that God, who rules sovereignly over His creation, has your best interest in mind.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Something Eye Learned Yesterday

2008-09-11T11:00:00.002-04:00

So, yesterday we learned the hard way that a three-year-old boy's cornea should heal quickly. You can read all about it on my wife's blog here...

When we found out we were having a boy (and a girl!), we said to each other it's time to lower the deductible. Like Eye always say: "Never a dull moment!"

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

2008-09-06T00:01:00.003-04:00

So, it's been a while since I've blogged. I seem to go through spurts, like so many others. My main excuse? The blessing of having my wife at home as she has recovered from her surgery. We are very thankful that all has gone well; your prayers have certainly been a huge part of that!

Anyway...wife at home...yeah. Ever hear that phrase "don't know what ya got 'til it's gone?" Yup, it was more than just a song by that 80s superband Cinderella. Well, that phrase could sum up the past six months of our lives. The last month or so since surgery has once again whetted my appetite for what's been "gone" temporarily - my wife at home and me working. If anything, this season of life has given us a greater appreciation and desire for the proverbial "it."

"It" just fits. Ya know, like an old pair of jeans and a t-shirt (VT, of course...). About this time next week we have to slip back into our starched polyester pleated trousers with a wool button down dress shirt. Yeah, I know there's no such thing, but it makes my point - it sucks to wear and it looks awful to boot.

Here's hoping (and praying) we can find that ol' pair of jeans and t-shirt again soon...

Leave a comment for goodness sake; it motivates me to blog more often! In fact, I dare you to.

Surgery Update

2008-08-10T14:24:00.002-04:00

God is so good!

Lindsay came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon, a day earlier than expected! She is still sore, but feeling pretty good and slowly getting back to eating normally. The surgeon was able to operate laparoscopically, so that should really help her recovery move along a little quicker. He removed about 10 inches of bowel (4-5 of each small and large intestine) and said he has every reason to believe that she should do well for many years!

We appreciate all the prayers that have been offered on our behalf over the past days, weeks, and months. Please continue to pray with us that Lindsay will be free of any Crohn's symptoms.

If you don't already, you can follow her journey on her blog, TwinsX2.

SPS - Selfish Prayer Syndrome

2008-08-04T15:58:00.009-04:00

"I feel so selfish when I pray."

Sound familiar? Ever felt that way? Better yet, have you ever not felt that way?

I'm willing to bet we all think it or feel it at times, if not most of the time. It's so easy to get wrapped up in our circumstances that our prayers continually drift "selfward." Then we start beating ourselves up for not being spiritual enough to see past our own needs and suppress those selfish prayers.

So we stop. Before we know it, the guilt of SPS - "Selfish Prayer Syndrome" - has weighed us down to the point that prayers almost cease altogether. I know I have experienced this, especially in recent months. Any given day, my prayers are filled with a selfish swirl of the following:

God, please help my wife to feel good and get through her workday.
God, please sell our house in Maryland.
God, please help me find a job to pursue the calling you've put on my life and provide for my family.
God, please take away my wife's disease.
God, please help us find a new church family.
God, please help us pay the bills this month.
God, please protect our marriage and kids.
God, please give us opportunities to serve You.
God, please give us the wisdom to know when to wait and when to go after it.

Yeah, I'm pretty selfish. These are all legitimate challenges we've been facing over the past several months. They all kinda hit the fan at once, and that's new territory for us.

I'm tired of praying selfishly (or at least feeling selfish), so I'm asking God to work on my heart in that area. He immediately took me to the Psalms where I am reminded that I'm not alone. Even David, the Shepherd-Boy-Giant-Slayer-Turned-King/Man After God's Own Heart/Bible Hall-of-Famer spent a lot of prayers on his own circumstances. An awful lot...

Then the thought occurred to me that my prayers have had the right words, just in the wrong order. See how different the same prayers come out when they are prayed with an adjusted, God-centered focus:

Help my wife to feel good and get through her workday to please You, God.
Sell our house in Maryland to please You, God.
Help me find a job to pursue the calling you've put on my life and provide for my family to please You, God.
Take away my wife's disease to please You, God.
Help us find a new church family to please You, God.
Help us pay the bills this month to please You, God.
Protect our marriage and kids to please You, God.
Give us opportunities to serve You to please You, God.
Give us the wisdom to know when to wait and when to go to please You, God.

All of a sudden, the same prayers take on a completely different meaning when the focus is on God's glory and not my circumstances. My prayers are transformed from selfish pleas to humble requests that are pregnant with opportunities for God to glorify Himself! Whether He chooses to answer them the way I want isn't really the point. The bigger issue is for God to be pleased.

We're in a valley. And valleys, they say, is where the most fertile soil and potential for fruit is. It's in the valley that God has the most opportunity to mold us and teach us things we would otherwise miss out on, like the principle I've pointed out above. It's in the valley that God has the most opportunity to answer prayer and pour out His blessings. It's in the valley that trust is forged and deepened beyond imagination. I praise God for this valley.

Ever suffer from SPS?

Less Guts, More Glory

2008-08-04T11:43:00.006-04:00

So, about a year ago, my wife started dealing with some pretty intense pain and sickness. After about two months of it, a trip to the ER finally revealed that her gall bladder was chock full o' stones. She was scheduled for surgery the first week of September '07 and had the little twit removed. Things improved quickly.

At least for a few weeks.

Later in the fall, her symptoms came back en masse. Knowing that something still wasn't right, she saw a gastroenterologist (gut doc) and had every test under the sun including a scope with biopsies of some peculiar looking things. Over Christmas break, we awaited the results. Needless to say, with colon cancer in her family history, it wasn't the most restful holiday.

On January 2 of this year, she was formally diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. This wasn't unanticipated as both her father and brother (bless their guts) have suffered from it for many years, but we had hoped that she had dodged the genetic bullet. That she dodged it this long is a miracle in retrospect!

Throughout the diagnosis process, we were also dealing with some other major life decisions, so I'm sure the stress didn't help her condition. Just prior (literally an hour) to our trip mission trip to Guatemala, she landed in the hospital for five days. God definitely had His hand on the situation, and for that we were so thankful.

Moving to Virginia caused a change in doctors and another round of tests. This time, the recommendation was a resection since drug therapy wasn't having enough of an impact after six months. We met with a surgeon in Richmond in early July and surgery was scheduled for this Wednesday, August 6.

In the procedure, called a resection, they remove the diseased portion of the colon (large intestine) and reattach the healthy ends. They'll also check out the rest of her intestinal tract and assess if there are any other problem areas. Hopefully they will be able to accomplish this laparoscopically, but the surgeon won't know until the procedure is underway. If all goes well, she will be relieved of her symptoms (mainly severe cramping, nausea, and all the good things that come with them) and stay on some maintenance medications. There is no cure for Crohn's, but many people enjoy long periods of remission and a high quality of life.

Please...

...pray that my wife will fly through surgery (laparo, if you would pray specifically!)
...pray that surgery will be an extension of God's healing hand in solving her issues forever. Yes, forever - why pray small?
...pray that she will have a quick recovery with minimal discomfort.
...pray that our kids will be comforted while away from Mommy.
...pray that Daddy will know and strike the right balance between arenas of need as he takes care of both wife and kids.

Most of all, pray that God would continue to glorify Himself through her circumstances! There is no doubt that He has shown us more of who He is through these difficulties. He is our only Provider and Healer. I'll be glad to give her surgeon an assist, though (as well as the proverbial arm and a leg).

Less guts, more glory for God...

We both thank you in advance for your prayers!!

Grilled Goodness - The Sequel

2008-07-31T11:14:00.004-04:00

So, my spidey-sense was right - regular grilled cheese is a thing of the past. I had to make not one "Super Deluxe Ooey Gooey Goodness Grilled Cheese" today, but THREE!

Guess I'll have to think about how to raise the bar next week. Running out of cheese, though...

Have a favorite cheese?

The Shack - Book Review

2008-07-28T11:26:00.006-04:00

The Problem of Evil - reconciling the coexistence of a perfectly good and all-powerful God with the terrible evil and suffering in the world - has long confounded the human race. In fact, the Bible dedicates a whole book to the subject. Many scholars believe the Book of Job to be one of the earliest canonized Scriptures written, if not THE first. Job, we are told, "was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1).

In other words, Job was God's man. Yet God allowed him to suffer at the hand of Satan beyond both his and our understanding. It confronts head on one of life's greatest mysteries: why do bad things happen to good people? This is a question that everyone, Christ-follower or not, wrestles with sooner than later in this fallen world. By the way, God's answer to Job? "I am God and you are not."

Job, meet Mackenzie "Mack" Philips.

William P. Young's The Shack has been a popular foray into not only the Problem of Evil, but the character and nature of the triune God - Father, Spirit, and Son. One major mind-bending philosophical/theological reality at a time, please! The two realities are intertwined and explored around the life of Mack, a complex character who deals with his Great Sadness as tragedy strikes his life and shakes his often flawed understanding of who God is and how He works.

The book's popularity has not come without controversy, namely over some portrayals of the nature of God as well as some of the themes that are born out of Young's upbringing as a missionary kid among the Dani tribe in New Guinea. Many reviews and rebuttals have even made their way to Youtube and countless websites and blogs. Even prominent leaders are weighing in on it because of its popularity.

Lost in all the fuss is an important feature of the book - its genre. Most detractors stand on theological ground about God's nature, yet The Shack is not a theological work. In fact, it is at the very least a work of fiction, arguably an allegory. Some negative reviews I came across admitted to not even reading the book in its entirety; they were just taking aim at the most widely circulated theological complaints. I believe you need to 1. fully investigate (i.e. read cover to cover) something you harshly criticize, and 2. understand and judge it by its literary style and purpose.

I understand their criticisms from a theological perspective, and it does need to be read with discretion, but I can't help but to feel that some people have missed the forest for the trees. The main source of contention? Young gets in trouble for not-so-subtly challenging our preconceived notions that God is a bearded, grandfatherly figure who floats on clouds wearing a blazing white robe and reigns over creation by hurling bolts of lightning not unlike the Greek king of gods, Zeus. Without spoiling too much of the story, let's just say that God (as Father, Spirit, and Son) is humanized in a rather unorthodox way!

In doing so, he apparently did some "sacred cow" tipping. Young demonstrates that God's true nature is not that we merely know about Him, stuffing Him into our finite systematic theologies that mean little to nothing in the midst of a tragedy, but that we personally know Him as intimately as He knows us. You see, I think we all are guilty of casting our own graven, humanized images of God that, at the end of the day, fall woefully short of grasping who He truly is.

I'm theologically conservative, and I was not at all offended by The Shack. It blew fresh wind into the sails of my relationship with God and caused me to consider it in a new light. I believe it would do the same for you. I would recommend it without reservation, yet as with any fiction work (i.e. Left Behind series, Frank Peretti's works, etc.), I would caution you to read with discretion and not take it as a theological authority.

Does Young rattle the cage a little? Sure. Does he have good reason? You betcha. I'm I closer to God for reading it? Absolutely.

Will I put it on the shelf next to Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology or The C. S. Lewis' The Great Divorce?

I'll give you one guess...

Purgatory...

2008-07-25T09:27:00.003-04:00

If I believed in it, Chuck E. Cheese would be the personification of it.

Filthy rodent.

Grilled Goodness

2008-07-23T15:25:00.004-04:00

So, my girls asked if they could have grilled cheese yesterday for lunch. Being the generous, selfless dad I am, I said, "Sure, but let me make mine first." So, I set about my masterpiece.

Oh, what a masterpiece it was!

Two slices of Arnold's Oat Nut bread (100% whole grain no less) buttered with Country Crock Churn Style encasing a melty mound consisting of a slice of American cheese, a generous layer of shredded mozzarella, an equally generous layer of shredded Mexican blend (four cheeses), and another slice of American for good measure, grilled to a golden brown on each side with a ooey-gooey center.

Good golly, it was cheeserific. (That's a blend of "cheese" and "terrific" for those of you wondering...)

I kept getting dirty looks from the girls. I have a weird feeling those garden variety grilled cheeses won't cut it anymore...

Who Stole My Church? - Book Review

2008-07-21T12:43:00.009-04:00

A lot of people feel like their church is being stolen by a new generation, church movement, or both. Their tithes built it, their sweat equity resides in virtually every square inch, and they'll be darned if those new young people are gonna steal it out from under them. At least not without a fight...

Problem is, it was never their church to begin with. It's not the others' either.

Whether they want to acknowledge it or not, countless well-established churches across the nation are at a crossroads. Many will continue to "do church" as they have for the past 50 years and scratch their heads as they ponder why their church is quite literally dying. Then, one day, they will do what was unthinkable in their hey day when their vision was fresh, their excitement was contagious, and their methodologies for reaching people with the Good News were radically innovative - they will shut their doors. The stats show it happens every day.

For others, they will successfully (and necessarily) jettison obsolete strategies and programs that no longer serve the purpose they once did. Yet in doing so, they will ignore their heritage instead of celebrate it and dishonor the faith heroes that have paved the way for success for God's Kingdom to that point. In doing so, they will cast entire generations aside in their fervor to see the church achieve its mission.

Unfortunately, more often than not, churches are ripped apart as a civil war erupts over hot-button issues. Whether it's so-called "worship wars," transitioning Sunday School on site to small groups in homes, or installing technology in our houses of worship, generations are waging war against each other in ways that make Christ's defining characteristic of His followers - our love for one another (John 13:35) - laughable. The carnage is unsightly, but the real victims are the millions of people who live in our spheres of influence that remain apart from God as people quarrel over turf.

Gordon MacDonald, a pastor of 40+ years, creatively and proactively drives us into the crossroads in his fiction work Who Stole My Church?. MacDonald is firmly planted in the generation of Builders and Boomers (generally those born between 1930 and 1960) which is often at the center of this controversy. More often than not, it is people from these generations that are asking the question, "Who stole my church?"

Gordon's work is unique in that he and his wife, Gail, are factual characters in a fictional church with fictional people, yet the issues they face together are uncomfortably familiar and undeniably real. In the story, he has been pastoring a church in Massachusetts for three years, during which many changes have started to come about. A business-meeting-gone-bad causes some underlying issues within the Builders and Boomers to rise to the surface, yet "Pastor Mac" is able to seize the moment and what ensues is quite unexpected. By God's grace, he and a "Discovery Group" of 15 or so disgruntleds enter in to a period of honest dialog, Bible study, historical and sociological survey, and personal growth. What results is indeed a miracle.

But miracles don't have to be confined to fictional stories. They can happen in churches that are facing the dilemma of embracing the 21st Century or the inevitable onset of missional rigor mortis. Pastor Mac demonstrates that while we don't always have easy answers to hard questions, carelessness and laziness should never prevail as we pursue change. Leading a church through change is hard work, but loving people is sometimes even harder; however, if countless churches are going to advance God's Kingdom in the 21st Century and beyond, they must take seriously the charge to "above all, love each other deeply..." (1 Peter 4:8).

At its core, Who Stole My Church? is a story of redemption. Through of a group of flawed humans (who at times you feel like you already know personally or have attended church with), God is able to do great things. Having grown up and served in established church settings, many of the scenes that played out resonated with something deep within my soul. MacDonald has allowed me to finally put words to things I've often thought and felt but never known how to express.

If your church is going through a season of change (and who isn't?), and particularly if you are a Builder or Boomer, I would highly recommend this book. I think it has the potential to be the catalyst for an awakening as you seek to understand what is happening in the 21st Century Church. No matter your generation or perspective, it's worth reading with an open heart as you pursue what role God would have you play in His Body.

Books-A-Million

2008-07-18T10:19:00.002-04:00

One of the great things about being in this "period of transition" (aside from the blessing of being home with my children) is the time it affords me to do things that are otherwise difficult to do. Even simple things.

Like read a book.

Seriously, for as long as I can remember, I've been made to read. Aside from Marvel comics I collected when I was growing up (mostly X-Men and various Spider-Man series), the most I read was an occasional Choose-Your-Own-Adventure or Sugar Creek Gang book from the church library. The childhood book I remember with the most fondness is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I just may read it again to rediscover some of that childhood magic.

But mostly I was made to read for academic reasons. I was never one of those kids that took to the joy of reading (like my oldest sister "Gwiddle" who could always be found curled up on her bed reading a book). I think the only book I cover-to-cover in high school was The Great Gatsby - easily less than 200 small pages. Why? Because it was really short. Shorter than, say...the almost 500 page phonebookesque, high-schooler-spirit-crushing novel The Grapes of Wrath? Fuggedaboutit. Curse that Steinbeck guy...

For most of my college experience, I was reading a different kind of literature (while riding a piano bench), and a lot of it. That was certainly more joyous than reading my psychology or accounting textbooks, even when I was tangled up in some of Bach's mind-boggling fugues and worn down by some of Liszt's hammer-hand techniques.

During my graduate studies, however, I experienced the second recorded Great Flood of history - God's personal judgment against me for all those books I sin-skimmed in high school and college. I had to read an average of probably 10-12 books a semester. You see, for me this was uncharted waters, drowning in a true flood of, at times, some very lifeless stuff. Worse yet, I had to pay for them all out of my pocket. There's something to be said for the stereotype of a "poor seminary student."

I came across a lot of great books, and am thankful for that, but I'm really enjoying this season where I can pick and choose what I want to read. It helps that my wife is working as an assistant manager at a bookstore; she keeps the suggestions coming. In fact, I attribute this reading renaissance I'm experiencing largely to her. Thanks, Renelu.

I've read several books, am reading a couple right now, and have a couple more in the queue. I hope to give little reports on each of them over the next few posts. Maybe you'll find one that will impact or speak to you the way it has me. Or maybe we can find something to argue about. That would be fun. I only get to argue with preteens and preschoolers, and that gets old sometimes.

Stay tuned...

PS - Sorry for the delay between posts - I've been too busy reading!

Just a little somethin'

2008-06-17T20:58:00.002-04:00

...to help the dog days of summer pass by a little quicker!

New Look - New Game!

2008-06-16T13:11:00.003-04:00

As you can see, I'm playing around with my blog layout/scheme including a new, albeit simple, title banner. In order to condense the title - The (Insert Clever Blog Title Here) Blog - and save space, I thought it would be best to initial it.

I thought to celebrate the new look, we could play a game. So, let's see how many words we can form from the initials. I'll start:

Uh, nevermind.

Adventures in Babysitting

2008-06-07T19:26:00.005-04:00

By the way, great 80s movie. What 12 year old boy wouldn't think Elizabeth Shue was hawt?! Between that and Karate Kid...anyway, I digress.

So, I was asked by a friend a few days ago if I could watch his four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter Friday (yesterday). Being the great friend that I am, I said yes. After his initial shock wore off, my friend said, "Are you sure?" to which I responded, "Let me think about it. Actually, no...YES, it's fine!" I guess he thought he was getting Punk'd. I figured what else does a 31-year-old unemployed dude have better to do. If anything I was thrilled to finally be able to say I found a job. Hey, small victories...

I got up Friday morning at 5:45, went to the Y, did legs and some cardio, came home, and got ready for the big day. I don't write all that to contribute to the story, but just to brag that I - despite my incredible physique - work out. Anyway, with my own four kids set for the day, we welcomed our guests (who will remain anonymous for their protection) around 8:45. Some favorite moments/highlights:

Nap time
The doorbell at 5:15 pm

Always keen on the teachable moments life affords me, I made a few discoveries along the way:

"They already pooped this morning, so you should be good" is no guarantee.
Toy screwdrivers really hurt when they are twisted on your arm.
Carrot sticks dipped in ice cream isn't half bad.
Cap'n Crunch (actually the Malt O' Meal generic...hey, we're on a tight budget) is a bad idea for afternoon snack. The box (or bag, in this case) should be clearly labeled in big letters "Parental Warning: SUGARCRACK."
The back of my computer chair can withstand downward pressure exerted by 45 lbs. of sugarcrack-infused kid.
Little girls are made of sugar (crack) and spice and everything...stinky.
Tarzan & Jane is a great movie...to fall asleep to.
Benadryl and Tylenol PM can easily pass as jelly beans.
The hair from my cat's tail comes out really easily.
The words "Watch dis!" when used exceedingly can actually make your ears bleed.

Actually, we had a great day together, and the kids had a blast playing together (OK, I played some, too!). It reminded me of what a privilege it is to be at home with my kids during this season of transition. But the best thing I learned is that kids, even other peoples', are a true blessing from God. I want to thank my friends for trusting me and giving me the privilege of spending the day with your precious treasures. I know how hard it can be to entrust your kids to other people.

That'll be $50.

Yeah, per kid.

Stomach Viruses Suck

2008-05-07T18:36:00.000-04:00

Nothin' more to say.

Not Cut Out

2008-05-01T14:20:00.003-04:00

I'm not cut out to be a worship leader.

I'm not 23, 165 pounds, freshly married, and just found out I'm gonna be a dad.
I don't wear slim jeans, graphic t-shirts, and vintage bowling shoes.
I don't sculpt my hair to be intentionally uneven and randomly spiked (a la Edward Scissorhands).
I don't play every worship song in B (actually, capoed 4 in G...)
I don't have a conspicuous tattoo to demonstrate my loyalty to Jesus Christ.
I don't listen to Coldplay or U2 every day for songwriting inspiration.
When I sing worship songs, I don't mysteriously acquire a British accent.

Nope. I'm not cut out to be a worship leader.

DC Pro Sports Playoffs and American Idol

2008-04-22T11:14:00.004-04:00

Aside from the NFL's single elimination "lose and go home" playoff system, most other pro sports employ a "best of ___" series of games with the higher seed enjoying the home court advantage.

Being a homer sports fan (i.e. Redskins, Wizards, Capitals, and Orioles - sorry Nats!), I'm thrilled that both the Wizards and Caps are in the playoffs right now. The Caps - not having sniffed the playoffs in years - went on a tear to steal the Southeast Division, earning the third seed in the process. They started strong winning Game 1, but tossed the next three and were on the brink of elimination. They got their mojo back and won the last two games to force Game 7...tonight.

The Wizards thought they had a lot of mojo with Agent Zero and the rest of the team finally being healthy. They were practically salivating at the chance to face King James and his "subjects," otherwise known as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who just so happened to knock the Wiz out of the playoffs the last two seasons. Lots of bad blood here. Terms like "overrated" and "everybody wants to play them in the first round" were thrown around by some Wiz players. The Wiz promptly went out and laid two eggs (losing last night by 30) and will head back to DC down 0-2. It remains to be seen if Cleveland will indeed be the new manifestation of the "Curse O' Les Boulez."

[Sports Off. Pop Culture On]

American Idol would be savvy to follow the lead of their sports counterparts by seeding the Top 12 and employ the "best of ____" series as they whittle down their contestants. They could extend their "season" and kill the competition with their ratings. This approach would give an opportunity for more celebrity coaches and allow us, the voters, to observe who blossoms the most musically.

By lower seeds facing higher seeds, the more musically talented entries have a higher chance of facing off instead getting tossed after an average night or poor song selection, or - worse yet - suffering at the fickleness of call-in voters that cast their ballots like they're voting in a middle school election instead of a talent competition. Popularity wins one while ability wins the other. By the way, I'm boycotting Idol if Carly Smithson gets eliminated (blog teaser).

Whatever. Unemployment gives you a lot of time to think about random things.

All this to say, what should I watch tonight - Game 7 of Caps vs. Flyers (elimination game) or American Idol (glorified middle school election)? Pretend TiVo doesn't exist...

Things That Make You Go "Hmmm..."

2008-04-15T14:47:00.009-04:00

So, I read a few blogs. Not a lot, but a few. Most of them have to do with ministry or church stuff. One peculiarity I've noticed is that the more "successful" the blogger appears to be, the more they seem to blog, sometimes multiple times a day. Makes me wonder where they find all that time if they're so busy tearing down the gates of hell.

Hmmm...

Breaking Stereotypes

2008-04-10T10:12:00.003-04:00

So, my significant other recently blogged about what a great wife I am. While I am guilty as charged, it got me thinking about the stereotypes we attribute to people. Some, of course, are earned while others are a product of ignorance.

[Side rant on] Why has the word "ignorance" come to mean something offensive? It means uneducated, uninformed, or unaware. Hmmm, I'm awfully ignorant about a lot!! [Side rant off]

So, I've embraced and made a goal of being a great wife...at least in the eyes of one person whose opinion really matters to me. Thing is, I'm an unemployed 31-year-old guy that:

... thinks farting is cool and should be socially acceptable, if not encouraged
...loves to watch sports hours on end (yes, honey, there's another game coming on...)
...likes to play guitars really loud (wish my amp went to 11)
...wishes on some level he could be Bruce Willis' character from the Die Hard movies
...defines "basic physical necessities" as (in no particular order) oxygen, water, food, shelter, guitars, and sex
...and thinks that doing "bunny hair" for a toddler is some form of medieval torture. Or the more PC phrase "cruel and unusual punishment. Either would be accurate.

Not exactly the profile of your common wife.

Let the revolution begin!

75-49

2008-03-24T23:30:00.002-04:00

Hokies win big...again. Next up - Ole Miss at the Cassell in the quarterfinals.

Hokies in the NIT

2008-03-24T16:56:00.004-04:00

In honor of my new blog background...

My Virginia Tech Hokies are playing as a #1 seed in the NIT (National Invitational Tournament). Now, the NIT is often viewed as a consolation prize for teams left out of the "Big Dance," but can still be just as exciting and rewarding. Just ask the teams that aren't playing in ANY tournament right now. Many expected VT to be one of the bubble teams that got into the NCAA tourney, but alas, they were left out. Hence, the #1 seed in the NIT.

VT won the NIT in the mid-90s and are hoping to do it again. They crushed Morgan State in their 1st round match-up and will be playing UAB tonight at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Should be a great game as UAB's had a great season, too. GO HOKIES!

Once Again a Virginian

2008-03-17T16:43:00.003-04:00

...at least for a little while!

And no--before you get smart--I didn't say "Once Again a Virgin."

The dust has settled somewhat and we find ourselves in a place I never imagined possible - the house I grew up in. There are Lathams on Ferry Road once again. Never thought I'd see the day...

Linds has asked me a couple times if it's weird being back here, but I can honestly say it doesn't feel like the house I grew up aside from its little quirks that subconsciously come back to me (like how to jiggle the front door key just so, pull up on the bathroom door a bit to make sure it's closed, etc.). Other than that, it feels distinctly "us" because...well...it's US in it!

We are very thankful that we have a soft place to fall during this season of unknowns. To have my parents' old house vacant for the first time in 35 years is nothing short of a miracle. We are very thankful for their willingness to let us crash here for a few days or weeks (hopefully not too many months!). We know it's quite a financial burden on them, so we are praying that God would continue to meet our needs, especially now that it is affecting other people.

Our Salisbury chapter is behind us. There are many things and people we will miss, but truth be told, we are very relieved to leave Salisbury behind. I told Linds as we look back at our three years in Salisbury, they will be distinctly defined by the word "struggle." We have some wonderful memories and great friendships, but it will be remembered as a time of refining, building of our faith, and tempering of our calling to follow God on this journey called ministry. From start to finish, we faced obstacles and challenges, but we understand that they were all part of God's greater purpose. So, we embrace it...as we let it go.

Now, on to the next challenge!

So, How Come...

2008-03-06T18:07:00.003-05:00

...nobody comments on my blogs? When I blogged once a month, I got comments. Now that I'm trying to blog every few days or more, all I hear are...[chirp, chirp]...crickets!

Role call!

Talk vs. Power

2008-03-04T12:12:00.003-05:00

"For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."

~ 1 Corinthians 4:20

I am by no means a biblical scholar, but having read quite a bit over the years I'm pretty familiar with most of the key themes and phrases throughout Scripture. Every now and then I'll come across something that totally strikes me as "new." Although my eyes may have passed over the words on the page, my heart and spirit sometimes tune out. I wonder how many times I completely miss the power of God's Word to mold me!

As a blogged last time (mere days ago!), I'm making strides to become more disciplined in my spiritual life. One of the changes I'm trying to make is to approach Scripture reading/meditation more systematically rather than randomly. Right now, I'm reading through Paul's letters. As I was reading in Corinthians today, the verse above jumped out at me as "new" for some reason--at least new to me. Maybe it's that it resonates more with me today for some reason. Regardless, I think God put it in my path. It's so short and simple, yet deep and profound.

For the Kingdom of God...
The Kingdom of God is situated squarely in the hearts of people, not in the physical realm. It is not forced or coerced, but freely within our choice to accept or deny. When God reigns in one's life (or that of a body of people), God's Kingdom prevails over this dark world. His Kingdom has been established already through Christ, is being established as the Church fulfills its purpose from His commission, and will be established permanently when Jesus returns. Right now, we are privileged to be involved in the expansion of His Kingdom as we reach a lost and hurting world, which is only our temporary home.

...is not a matter of talk...
Wow - talk about conviction! In many ways, we (the Church) have created a paper kingdom based on nothing more than...mere talk. Either we're so caught up in yesterday that we can't see today, or we're so hell bent on tomorrow that we miss today. Thing is today is TODAY. How much time do we waste talking about God's Kingdom instead of living and experiencing it? Every new day God blesses us with is an opportunity to experience and share His Kingdom in real and tangible ways. And when God's Kingdom truly descends, it will not be a matter of mere talk, but...

...but of power.
Dunamai - miraculous power (where we get "dynamite"). How often do we experience miraculous power in our lives, power that can only be explained by God? It doesn't have to be in the form of a sensational miracle (i.e. physical healing, water into wine, etc.), but isn't abiding daily in Christ a miracle enough itself? Isn't His forgiveness powerful (as well as the capacity to forgive)? Isn't the call to be the hands and feet of Christ to the broken so utterly far from our ability that we must have His power dwelling within us? To earnestly reach out and pray and witness God's Spirit invade someone's life?

All these things are powerful miracles if we actually partake of them, but we can't experience that power if we're not living in them daily. I think one of the enemy's subtle attacks is to fill our mouths with words that sound good but are completely void of true meaning, action, and subsequently the unmistakable power of God.

Talk vs. power. Fake vs. real. Jibber-jabber vs. "BOOM!"

We are kings and queens of words. It's time to shut up.

It Only Takes a Few Minutes...

2008-02-29T10:55:00.005-05:00

It amazes me how much pain can be inflicted by just a few minutes of lifting weights. I did legs on Wednesday morning for about 20 minutes and here I sit 51 hours later still cursing the Y and stumbling around like a old fart with a dirty diaper. (Hopefully that last phrase isn't prophetic of my future!) My legs just don't move like they should!

Inevitably I'll miss legs some weeks. I've always noticed that when it comes time to do legs the next week, the aftermath isn't nearly as bad as the first week. The principle is simple - the more you partake of positive habits, the less difficult they become while the benefits multiply exponentially. In other words, if I consistently work my legs, the less strain I will feel as I continually build up muscle, which in turn allows me to work my legs more. It's a cycle of positive momentum.

Spiritually, I've been making great strides to shore up some weak areas in my relationship with God, specifically in the area of consistency. Guess what? It's uncomfortable at first, but routine has started taking over and I feel that I am in a cycle of positive momentum. And it feels good. God has been a most patient personal trainer and my biggest cheerleader. I'm convinced that it's only through His strength that we can be successful, from the mundane to the most profound. His hourly rate isn't too bad, either...

One of my daughters was telling us about a quote she heard on a commercial the other day. It states that in 21 days you can either develop or break a habit, and from what I've experienced that's pretty accurate. Whether it's flossing, not biting your nails, reading the Bible, dealing with persistent sins, or giving up Cokes, it's staggering to think that the potential for such good or evil only takes three weeks to gestate and develop into a fully-fledged habit.

What areas do you need to buckle down and "do legs" consistently in order to work through the pain and discover that cycle of positive momentum? It'll hurt like the dickens at first, but when you see it through, you'll reap the rewards of your effort.

Now, back to my legs...

Off to Guatemala...

2008-01-18T21:16:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the two months between blogs. You know, that whole "life" thing...

We leave dark and early tomorrow for Guatemala. Please pray over our trip:

Safe travel to Dulles, safe flights to and ground travel in Guatemala
HEALTH! Especially for Lindsay - pray that God would grant her a supernatural energy and healing.
Opportunities to share the love of Christ through word and deed despite the language barrier.
That our team (21 Soul Discovery members and 2 NorthStar members) would bond and be servant-hearted throughout the week.
That God would have His way with us and draw us closer to Himself.

Thank you for your prayers! I hope to post updates if the internet is working there. We look forward to sharing all the God does during this experience!

Two Months Until...

2007-11-19T21:42:00.000-05:00

...Lindsay and I leave for Guatemala.

With the holidays between now and then, I'm sure the time will fly. I'm looking forward to returning to Guatemala, but I'm particularly looking forward to experiencing this with my wife. I'm so excited to see how God will use this in each of our lives.

In order for this trip to become a reality, we have committed to raising $3,000 ($1,500 per person). With about 35 letters mailed out between the two of us, we have only heard back from nine people. So, we are still quite a bit short, but we are trusting for God's provision. He is obviously interested in stretching us in that area. He is faithful.

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, it makes me even more aware of the privilege to serve the people in Guatemala in the name of Christ!

Short post, I know. I'll try to blog some over the Thanksgiving break...

New Blog Format!

2007-10-18T17:14:00.000-04:00

So, when I started this blog a few months ago, I selected a template and never really made it my own. Today, as you can see, that changed. Hopefully, I can add some more picture and content to make it a more interesting place to visit.

Leave a comment and let me know how you like the new look or what you'd like to see. Can anybody guess the color scheme?! First one to get it right wins a virtual high five from your's truly!

Peace.

Soul Discovery in the News!

2007-09-24T16:39:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to share something exciting with you. Our church (Soul Discovery Church in Salisbury, MD) was contacted about our billboards around the area, and it ended up being the front page headline/photo/story in the Sunday paper, complete with a color picture of our staff in front of our most popular billboard.

It's really neat how God has orchestrated the timing of this because 1. we had no idea it would be a front page feature and 2. it comes exactly a week before one of our big semi-annual open house outreach events called "Friend's Day" (kinda like a high attendance Sunday). Hopefully, God will use it to draw many new faces to our church. Free advertising is exactly what we need!

Anyway, thought you'd like to share my excitement...

Click here to read the article on www.delmarvanow.com...

Busy Month

2007-09-15T12:41:00.000-04:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. It's been about a month since I last blogged. But I'm full of excuses--it's been a busy month. Here's the (not-so-short) recap:

The first half of August was the storm before the calm, or so I thought. Our pastor was on vacation for a couple of weeks, so I was filling in for him. Our vacation was scheduled for the last two weeks of August, so I was anxious to get some time off. There were some major decisions facing our church, so I was also looking forward to taking a mental break.

All the while, Lindsay had been dealing with some digestive issues since the middle of July. So, we started vacation with some hesitation in our steps. We met my oldest sister's family in Jamestown, VA on Monday for a fun day seeing the historical settlement (home school points, too!). Everybody had a blast, especially the cousins. We stayed a couple of days at their house just outside of Richmond and had a good time, but Lindsay's illness overshadowed it a bit.

Wednesday, we made a pitstop in Fredericksburg to see my parents and their house renovation project. It's neat to see them so excited about building their dream home--they deserve it! After another pitstop at IKEA and dinner at Macaroni Grille, we headed back home.

After a Thursday full of laundry and house projects, we welcomed our good friends Mike & CJ from Fredericksburg for a weekend visit. It was so good to hang out and catch up on life. They are friends we just feel at home around no matter what, the "friends for life" type of people. Both of our quivers have gotten quite a bit bigger, so having all the kids together was a trip. They returned home Sunday evening...

Monday and Tuesday were filled with packing and preparing for our trip to Jacksonville to see Lindsay's dad and his wife. We were blessed to fly out of Salisbury, so the trip was very smooth. After arriving at the Salisbury airport at 5 a.m. Wednesday morning--five suitcases, two carseats, one double stroller, three carry-ons, three daughters, and one airsick son in tow--we landed in Jacksonville.

After one day exploring our new surroundings, Lindsay's brother's family joined the fun Thursday evening. Did you pick up a theme throughout all of our vacation adventures? A lot of people, especially wild and crazy kids!! We ate, we swam (30 minute rule observed), we went to the beach, we romped around St. Augustine (cool place!), we ate some more, we swam, we ate three birthday cakes and one birthday pie (OK, I ate most of the pie--key lime is my favorite!). Did I mention the food? Don and Susie definitely fed us well...a little too well.

All the while, Lindsay continued to struggle with the cramping in her stomach. She hardly ate anything and was fatigued most of the time. She generally napped twice a day and did remarkably well considering the circumstances. After six days in Jacksonville, we made the trek back home.

So, vacation was over. I hate that feeling, but I was also eager to get back into ministry mode. Those major decisions had been made (I'll blog more on those later) and I was energized for the fall. I went back to work the first day and had made Lindsay promise to call me if she needed me. Ring, ring, ring!!!

Lindsay went to the E.R. because her pain had gotten more intense. Gall stones--big ones and lot of them--were the culprit. She had an appointment with a surgeon the following day to plan a course of action. Great! Now that we know what it is, we can get this resolved this week!

Or not. Surgery was scheduled for the following Wednesday, which was almost a week away. I was ticked! First, that she would have to continue to endure this, and second, that she would have to continue to endure this. So, we waited.

Surgery Day finally arrived and went smoothly. So smoothly, in fact, that Lindsay is at a Women of Faith conference in Philly right now. I'm so glad she got to go as she had been looking forward to it for months. I can't wait to hear all that God has done! I worked from home most of the week (and ironically I feel like I'm actually more productive). I am so thankful for a job that allows me to put family needs first with any threat of docked pay or lost time. The past two months have definitely been a struggle, but it looks like there's light at the end of the tunnel. At least until the next challenge which is sure to come!

That's the recap and the reason why I haven't blogged. I hope to be more consistent in blogging and start covering a broader range of topics that swirl around my mind.

Until next time!

Elusive Odes...

2007-08-14T16:37:00.000-04:00

So, I've tried on two different occasions now to compose an apparently elusive "Ode to Iced Tea." Why? Just a crazy idea I thought would be funny, at least to me (Can we all agree that this is all that matters anyway? After all, this is my blog...).

Odes don't come easy.

At least ones that are trivial, as one about iced tea would surely be. Don't get me wrong; I love the stuff. In fact, I break out into a sweat every time I see that new "Ice Gold" McDonald's billboard in town with a giant styrofoam cup supposedly housing that intoxicating elixir called "sweet tea" (some of you reading this may be able to hear my obnoxious rendering of that phrase). Back to my point...

Trivial things are, well...trivial. Dictionary.com defines trivial "as of very little importance or value; insignificant." So, I'm coming to grips with the insignificance of iced tea. Pray for me!

After reading that definition, I started looking for more trivial things that take up space in my life. While delivering this past Sunday's message, I confessed before my church things that have been (or have potential to be) idols in my life. Idols meaning things that keep me from God. Idols are trivial, are they not? Idols are things that are "of very little importance or value; insignificant" in the grand scheme of life.

The great lie of idols is that they seem vital, valuable, and utterly significant at the time. Otherwise, they would struggle to command our attention as they do.

That new instrument is vital until it becomes the god I serve instead of a tool to worship the one, true God.
That 12-win regular season for the Hokies is valuable until it fades into just another year.
That ministry job is utterly significant until I realize I'm doing it for all the wrong reasons.

Idols seem to be something they are not--vital, valuable, and utterly significant. This is not say that everything trivial in the world is inherently evil or should be condemned, but at the very least, we should guard our hearts from the idolatry that can so easily slip into life virtually undetected. In other words, iced tea isn't evil (thank God!). But, as silly as it sounds, it has the potential to be if I put it between God and me. So it is with other, not-so-silly things in my life.

Even "good" things can be idols. Like technology, relevance, tradition, a denomination, or even your kids. But, in the grand scheme, when God is put first as He most certainly should be, these things become blessings and extensions of His goodness. Sometimes, we get it the other way around, that these things lead us to God's goodness. These are the hardest idols to avoid, and that probably explains why we pursue them so hard, because they seem noble at the time.

Idols lie.

My prayer today is straight out of God's Word.

Psalm 24:3-6 ~

3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
6 Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.

Personal Vision - Do I Have One?!

2007-08-10T12:08:00.000-04:00

Our pastor has been on vacation the past week or so, so I've been filling in giving the messages. I preached last Sunday and will again this Sunday. We did four weeks of co-talks during July's Just the FAQs series where we answered tough questions submitted by attendees. So, that will make six out of the past seven weeks that I've been preparing messages.

Problem is, I don't feel particularly gifted to do them. It's definitely uncomfortable for me because I'm more of a writer than an orator. I like to chew on my thoughts before they have to leave my lips. I'm constantly trying to find the balance between finding my "main thing" and focusing on it with laser-beam precision and doing all the general things that are required of me right now. Sometimes, I even question what my "main thing" is...

The messages I've prepared the past two weeks have been about personal vision. They have been spawned largely from Craig Groeschel's book Chazown and his Life Development Plan message series. They have really challenged me to examine my own life, which was my prayer as I sought what God wanted me to teach on. I'm glad because I'm being forced to wrestle with my own personal vision God has for me.

For example, I'm a horrible steward of time. Yeah, I get a lot done, but it's usually under pressure and not all it could be. I'm good at a lot of things, but...

Good is the enemy of great. We often think "bad" is, but greatness is usually thwarted by our tendency to settle for average, mediocre, simply good. I'm realizing that many areas of my life are good, but not all that God intends them to be.

I'm a good follower of Christ, but not a great one.
I'm a good husband and father, but not a great one.
I'm a good pastor, but not a great one.
I'm a good money manager, but not a great one.
I'm in good shape, but not great shape.

What are you settling for good at in your life like me? Are you all God wants you to be? Are you willing to endure the pain and discomfort of striving for God's best for your life, that personal vision?

Father, I pray that you would continue breathing Your vision into my life. Help me be receptive to how You guide me. Empower me to make tough choices and trim the fat, lazy, empty things from my life. Help me to honor You as Your child, Your servant, a husband, a father, a minister, and a friend. Order my steps and call me to submission. For Your glory...Amen.

Ministry is about...

2007-07-30T09:44:00.000-04:00

So, yesterday was a wild day. We had our final preview service for the new campus. After church in Salisbury, there were some major storms and steady rain most of the day (which we haven't had in months). Just as we dropped the gate of the trailer to unload in Pocomoke, it started pouring again. It seemed to set a tone for the evening.

We slammed the stuff into the building and began setting up. The four preview services before this one saw increased attendance each time, culminating with about 115 in June. Granted, a good portion were supporters from Salisbury, but there were a lot of Pocomokers that were coming, too. Last night, there were only about 14 visitors that weren't Salisbury folk, and even they were carrying embroidered Bible covers, indicating they were very churched people (maybe I shouldn't judge, but I do!). We set up for KidMo for the third time, but there were no children other than our own.

So discouraging. But why?

I think we get impatient with our expectations and easily lose sight of the fact that churches just don't sprout overnight. Whether or not the Pocomoke campus makes it, God is still about revealing more of who He is to us. And, as Reid preached, God is about pursuing and redeeming people.

I've always said two things: 1. I didn't go into ministry to be rich or popular, and 2. Ministry is about people. Yesterday, I learned that regardless of our perceived successes or failures, ministry is about people...again. But, didn't I just say that's one of things I've always said? Yes, but I never claimed to always live by it.

You see, we need constant reminding of even the things that we have always known. Just like we need to give our lives to Christ on a daily basis, dying to self and carrying His blood-soaked cross. Just like I need to commit each day to being a loving husband and father. Just like I need to remember that, amongst the mechanics of "doing church," ministry is about people. I know these things, but that doesn't mean I automatically live these things.

Father, burn onto my heart that ministry is about people because You are about people. Let Your heart beat in mine. Help me see the opportunities you place before me this week to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

"Weight" on God...

2007-07-25T16:43:00.000-04:00

Day 2 of my "blogsperiment." I haven't given up yet!

Today has been a challenging day. I am being challenged in my faith. Sometimes I wonder if faith isn't being challenged, is it faith at all? Hmmm...

I'm learning that faith is stepping with your full weight into the unknown. That's not a profound statement by any measure, and it's one that I learned--at least in head knowledge--when I was quite young. Learning and experiencing, however, are two vastly different things.

So, how exactly am I being challenged? Our four-year-old church is planting a south campus, and it's scaring the heck out of me. Not from a physical standpoint, but from an emotional and spiritual one. Being a mobile church, this proposition means we will be loading in at our main campus at 8 a.m., having church, packing up, driving 30 miles south, grab a quick bite to eat, start setting up again at 3:30, have church again, pack up, drive 30 miles north, and get home around 9:30 p.m. Every Sunday. If you do the math, that's at least a 15-hour day from wake-up to head-down.

The vision is that God raises indigenous leaders to take the ball and run with it, but so far after four preview services, that has been an elusive thing. It's causing me to question my leadership and our leadership as a staff. But at the same time, it could be exactly what God has sovereignly ordained...at least for now. I'm reluctant to step with my full weight, and that bothers me tremendously. I want to be all in or all out, none of this in between stuff.

The Good Book says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11). In this situation, I know what I hope for and I know what I can't see. I guess that's right where God wants me--to trust only in Him...rather than strategies, technology, relevance, etc. Those are all important things, but how often do we make idols of them? God calls us to walk by faith in a dark, dying world. Sometimes, that just really stinks! But at the end of the day, what choice do we have but to follow Him? Our new campus could belly up and "fail," but whatever happens I'll bet my bottom dollar God has a plan for it all. Sink or swim, God is on His throne and He will be glorified.

Where is God asking you to step with your full weight?

Father, help me to step with my full weight (minus a few trips to Krispy Kreme and Taco Bell) into whatever it is you call me to. Help me to cast off my unbelief, abandon my preconceived notions, and trust Your divine hand to do YOUR work. Redefine success to me. Thank you for the privilege of being a part of this amazing thing called "the Church." Jesus, lead on.

Always a Little Late...

2007-07-24T23:06:00.000-04:00

So, this is my first foray into blog-land. I've always noticed of myself that I tend to be a little (or a lot!) late with fads, fashions, trends, etc. So, it's no surprise that I'm a few years late to the blogging phenomenon.

Pardon me while I take off my K-Swiss tennis shoes and change my parachute pants into something a little more comfortable...

There. That's better! I must say, I've been inspired to take this step by my wife. She has been such an inspiration to me since she started blogging a few months ago. I joke with her that it's the best way for me to really know what's going on in her life. While that statement could be perceived as a sad commentary on our marriage, it's not. In fact, I think blogging will be an avenue for me to journal, which is something I've always had the desire to do. Yet, I've always lacked the will to back it up. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a new season for me.

As much as I want for myself the spiritual benefit of journaling, I also it to be an encouragement to you, whoever you are! I look forward to this journey and pray God's blessing on it...

More tomorrow...hopefully.