Officially on VACATION

Today marks the first day of a two week vacation...I've never taken this many days off at one time, but I am totally stoked and think I'll be able to manage it.

What's on the agenda today?
-Teeing off at 9:52am...got a new swing as of last Thursday, we'll see how it pans out
-Home Run Derby tonight at 8pm...got a buddy coming over to watch.
-Hanging out with my family, maybe some guitar hero with Bryan

Tomorrow?
-Getting packed up for California
-Driving up to da Ville to stay with my mom, who is going with us!

Wednesday?
-Fly out at 12:15pm-ish...I love hanging out in airports, always have, always will

The 4th of July

Having a "holiday" mid-week has really thrown my sense of time off just a bit. Wednesday felt like a Friday...then yesterday really felt like a Saturday and today (Saturday) feels like a...Saturday?? Anyhow...it's been nice to have some days off, even mid week.

Me and the fam went up to Cincy to watch the Red legs play the San Fran Giants...I was really hoping to get a chance to watch Barry Bonds yank one out of the park. He didn't even play that day...said he had sore legs.

It was a good game...we had decent seats as you can see. The new ballpark really doesn't have a bad seat in the place. It was a combo of sunny/overcast throughout the day. Hollybird got ROASTED by the sun...

About the 8th inning you could see some rain clouds rolling in...Then all of a sudden, WHOOSH!!! I hadn't seen it rain that hard in a long time and to come on so quickly. We stuck around during the rain delay, but ended up leaving before play started back...the Reds lost...again! According to the scoreboard the "highlight" of the game was the Reds grounds crew trying to get the rain tarp on the field before it got really flooded...it was a hoot to watch. Pretty sad for your team when that was the highlight of the game!

I've been a Reds fan all my life and will continue to be one...good times and the bad. He at least they've won a recent World Series (1990) unlike the Chicago Cubs (1908!) That's for you Geron!

I crumbled and gave in

A few post ago; I was telling you of a goal that I had set out for myself. For years now I've been a diet-coke-aholic...I can easily admit it. So my goal was to go three weeks with no pop...first week came and went (not without its challenges and serious cravings for pop, also some HUGE headaches as well!) The second week was good until Friday night.

We decided to go to The Pub in Lexington for some grub...they have a great fish & chips there. I succumbed to the temptation and had 2 glasses of Diet Coke with a lime...and dang, if it wasn't the best Diet Coke with lime that I'd ever had.

So the goal wasn't quite met...since Friday I've had a few other diet cokes (just during dinner)...I'm even drinking some Kool-aid right now. At least this time I went longer than four hours!

Walmart & Waffle House

Thursday night Bryan and I had an impromptu “Dad and Lad” night. Since Bryan’s surgery and recovery he has had LOTS of cards sent his way…in one of them he scored a Wal-Mart gift card that was already burning a hole in his pocket even before he put it there.

So we went to Wal-Mart Thursday night around 8pm…as always it seemed like EVERYBODY was at Wal-Mart that night…I bet we saw 15 people from the church, so we spent some time talking and chatting with folks.

Bryan shopped for a new CD and got an MXPX disc, which is really good! After that we went over to Hastings to browse around…I found a DVD that I’d been looking for. It’s U2’s Vertigo Tour live from Chicago…good stuff…I think they played like four really old songs from back in the day (for U2 fans I’m talking from Boy and October!).

We then started to head home when Bryan suggested some Waffle House. I’m thinking “Waffle House??? Hmmmmm…yea why not, lets make a waffle house memory.” So we pulled in, gobble up some breakfast grub, laughed and made some memories. Even took a few pics of the night.

I love spending time with Bryan…

Randomness

*Bryan is getting better each and every day. He's still pretty sore and needs a little assistance getting up and laying down. He's tough as can be! I'm so proud of my son...its been a pretty painful past few days for him when we have to change the "dressing" on his wound (two times a day!). He just sucks it up and goes with it. I can't wait until he's fully recovered from all of this.

*Went and saw Evan Almighty last night with the fam. Although critics really hammered it...I thought it was good. LOTS of great teachable clips that could be used!!

*On Monday I purchased a new game for the Xbox-360. Of course I got it for Bryan...hmmm, sure I did...anyhoo, we got Guitar Hero Two. Crazy game...all of us were playing it together last night trying to out do each other. Bryan seems to be a bit of a natural. The coolest song we have so far is "Sweet Child of Mine." I'll have to get some pics of us playing...Holly-bird can rock the house!

*Vacation is drawing near. I don't think I've ever looked forward to getting away on vacation as much as this one. It's been a really different/difficult year for us as a family...lots of challenges to say the least. I'll have to post about the past year sometime soon to give you some perspective. Soooo...we are taking off to sunny California here in a few weeks to go see the sights. Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Sea World, maybe a baseball game...it's just going to be us three and my mom this year. I'm really enjoying looking forward to getting away...does that make sense?

Trying to kick a HUGE habit

For years I've been a diet-pop-oholic. I love the taste of an ice cold diet pop, I prefer diet Pepsi or diet Mt. Dew. But when I say I'm a diet-pop-oholic...I'm talking some days downing like TWO 2-liters a day.

So as of last Sunday I decided to try and kick the habit...at least try and really cut back. I tried this once with a former yute, Jessie Russell. I think she was a senior in high school and we had a bet to see who could go the longest with no soft drinks. Well, I lasted like four hours because my head was pounding from caffeine withdrawal. Oww! Jessie went like a year with no pop...my hero.

As of today, Monday, June 25th I have gone seven days with no diet-pop or for that matter any kind of carbonated drink. Yep, the caffeine headaches have tried to creep up on me, so I've been downing a cup of coffee to help ease the pain.

I'm not saying I'll never drink a diet pop again...my goal is to go at least two more weeks before we go on vacation. I've been drinking lots of water and lots of juices in the mean time...and they taste great.

Hold me accountable these next few weeks...even the thought of a nice icy cold diet Mt. Dew sounds refreshing.

God Tube

Came across this today while surfing around...it's the alternative to YouTube.com. It’s called GodTube. You can go here to check it out. Pretty interesting stuff…I watched a handful of videos. Check it out, let me know what you think.

we're home!

Thanks to those who prayed for our son Bryan...his surgery went very well. We ended up spending two nights at UK (dang they have a incredible staff of docs and nurses). We got home this morning and Bryan is resting comfortably as a type.

We pray this is the last of the surgeries...docs seem to think it will be. He'll be out of action for a little while. These next few weeks he'll spend recouping...just in time for some family vacating! Thanks again for your prayers...our God is an awesome God.

A prayer request

Tomorrow our son Bryan will be having surgery. Almost a year ago he had tube placed in his side to help out things involving the colon. If you have followed my blog you will know that over the past year, it's been a real adventure to say the least...he's had several surgeries all related to this tube.

But tomorrow the tube is coming out...along with his appendix. So we would really covet your prayers for our son tomorrow and the days to come. Bryan is an INCREDIBLE, TOUGH AS NAILS, RESILIENT boy. He’s gone through all of this with an extraordinary spirit…something that I would have really struggled with! BP rocks the house!

Ichthus Recap...

Great weekend at Ichthus. Nice and warm, but hey there was no rain or snow or hurricanes or tornados!

Heard some great bands throughout the weekend...Here are some of my favorites: Skillet, Chris Tomlin, Reliant K, Newsboys, Toby Mac, Phil Keaggy (yup, I said Phil Keaggy...one of the old school guys who can still out play any guitar player there!).

I even went over to the deep end stage...this is where they would have your harder sounding bands...I mean really hard. Now some of them I must say were EXTREMLEY talented with the instruments, but the singing part...I just didn't get. I can't even call it singing...it was the monstrous, barking like a dog / throaty, thrashing sound that just made me go hmmmmm... I don't get it. I know I sound old in saying that, but I just don't get it.

The surprise band for me and the one that I thought had the best stage presence was Hawk Nelson. These fellas were rocking the house...great punky sound, heavy guitars; fun lyrics...even went and bought their disc.

Another surprise for me was the fact that my lovely wife Holly went with us on Saturday. Just know this...Holly is NOT a big concert go-er, let alone a music festival go-er. But she came along and we had a blast together. We both enjoyed dancing around to Toby Mac and crew. So that was plus having my bride with me!

Another plus, was hanging out with my good old buddy Robert (Robo) Coffey and his daughter Taylor. Robo and I go waaayyyy back to the college days. Since then we've been in each others weddings, been there for one another when our children were born...just a great bud.

So another Ichthus down...would love to go back next year, maybe even take Holly for two days!

ICHTHUS 2007

This Friday and Saturday my son Bryan and I are going to tackle huge crowds of sweaty, stinky bodies and rock out to many bands at ICHTHUS. I've been going to Ichthus for many years now...I must admit I really don't enjoy it like I used to. The crowds are just too big for me...I have no desire to squirm my way up to the front (like I used to!) to get the "good view". I guess I'm just getting old...I don't know...

Anyhoo...we are going to hang out together...I'm looking forward to hearing some of my favorite bands like Newsboys, Toby Mac, Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, etc. Bryan is really into some of the "harder" bands...not me...I find myself souding like my dad when I was a teenager listening to Billy Idol and Prince. It kinda comes back doesn't it!

I'll enjoy the fact that we'll spend some time together as a dad and lad!

The last two weeks

I REALLY am trying to be a more consistent blogger, but sometimes things just get too busy. Summertime is here and things have been extremely busy...so here's what's happened the past couple of weeks.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION / ROAD TRIP
Two weeks ago I turned 39 (dang...I'm knocking on 40's door). We decided to celebrate by going to visit some best friends in the whole wide stinking world...the Brown family in Chattanooga. Went down on a Thursday night and it was our first official "family" trip in our new van. Had a great drive down...cranking out some tunes on the iPod, etc.

Geron and Lydia Brown have been dear friends of ours for many years...they moved to Chattanooga about three years ago (i think). Chattanooga is a great town...we basically just hung out together, playing cards, catching up on everything. One of the highlights of the trip was to see their little girl Cora...man she's a sweetheart! We had to come back Saturday night...it's never long enough, but we had a great time together.

Oh yea...birthday gifts that were received! Holly and my mom chipped in on golf lessons with a local pro here in Richmond. If you read some previous post you'll see I'm trying to get a little more consistent in my game. So a great gift! (I'll let you know how that pans out). I received some $$$ from my in laws...thanks guys...I'll probably use that for something golf related. My good buddy Geron bought me lunch at Chi Burger, Chi Burger while we were in Chattanooga...mmmmmm good! And I received several cards from friends. So overall...a great b-day! And "no" I don't feel 39.



MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP
Last week I took our middle school group to a week long camp at Crossings at Cedarmore. We got back yesterday afternoon...what a great week! My son Bryan is now part of our youth ministry so this was his first camp with his pop being his youth minister.

The plan has been that I won't begin my transition to my new position as Associate Pastor until we have an interim in place. So last week was probably my last camp experience as a youth minister being that we should have an interim in place sometime in the next two weeks.

Again, a great week with a great group of youth. But man, the schedule was BUSY...and it started EARLY. Most camps begin with breakfast around 8am or so...last week we were all up at 6am to make a 7am breakfast time. But I gotta say our middle school guys were all over it...after about making 3 to 4 wake up calls each morning.

It was cool to be there with my son Bryan...I told him that I would make sure and play the role as youth minister to him and not dad. Unless of course he needed money for something! Love ya big guy!

TODAY
Today I slept in...I mean really slept in. My body was so tired from the week that I slept until 11am! I haven't done that in a L-O-N-G time!

We went to see Oceans 13 up at Hamburg. GREAT movie! A definite thumbs UP! I am a big fan of the Ocean movies...the first one was excellent, the second one was so-so, but 13 is really good. Almost as good as the first. Same cast as in the past along with Al Pacino, who plays a great character. We ran into some good buddies from FBC and enjoyed the movie together.

Came home...did a little weed eating...washed and waxed my truck...had a pretty decent water fight with Bryan...now I'm blogging and getting ready to munch down on some pizza. I'll see ya soon...

Random thoughts, etc.

Alright...it's Sunday afternoon and it's sunny and hot outside. Following our worship this morning we officially started Family Home Week. We encourage families to make it a point to spend a little more time together. We, as a church, help with this by...not having evening worship tonight and no meetings or gatherings throughout the whole week. I like family home week!

RANDOM STUFF...
-Friday night watched a crew of our seniors graduate from high school. I gotta say it's a really cool thing to have watched these youth growing up since 6th grade.

-We went and saw Pirates 3 Saturday afternoon...it was good...a thumbs up. I love all the Pirate movies, the first one is my favorite. But dang if the new one is not like 6 hours long (actually 2:45).

-The Cincinatti Reds STINK...they own the worst record in baseball. I'm still a fan!

-I'm conteplating taking some golf lessons. I'm just too inconsistent of a player and for some reason that's driving me nuts this year.

-Our lawn mower is on the fritz...it started smoking the other day. I've had this one for almost 6 years now. Our new yard is ROUGH!! Until we get more grass growing, it's going to be a struggle. Plus the back yard is nothing but a big ole hill. So we've looking at some new ones with a little more power.

-Remember my knee surgery I had a little over a year ago?? Seems I'm getting a settlement ($$$) because it was a workers comp situation. I had no idea! Too bad most of it may be going for a new mower...that stinks...hey just like the Reds.

-I haven't began the transition yet into my new position as associate pastor...we are still looking for a youth interim. We should know something this week. I am preaching here in a few weeks...our pastor will be out of town for two weeks...really looking forward to this (to preaching that is!)

JP Invitational 2007

Last weekend was the 12th Annual JP Invitational...this year we opted not to go to a State Park, but did a trail of courses. The whole weekend typically consist of the following:
-Golf
-Good Ole buds playing golf
-More golf
-Eating with good ole buddies who also play golf
-And more golf!

We played five rounds in three days at four different courses. Friday both rounds were played at Kearney Hill in Lexington. Saturday morning was Gibson Bay in Madison Co. and The Bull as well in Madison Co. Sunday morning we played a new course to most of us, Old Silo in Mt. Sterling (over 100 sand traps!!).

The weekend was great...my hands are still sore a bit from all the swinging (clubs that is!). I love playing golf, but it certainly is the most frustrating game around. I've got to be the most inconsistent player of all times! I can go out one day and score in the low 80's and then turn around and shoot 99!! Stupid game...I'll be out playing again on Friday more than likely.

Last R.I.O.T.

For the past eight years on Wednesday nights (during the school year)...our youth ministry has a 'thang' called RIOT (Radical Impact On Teens). The best way to describe RIOT...a HIGH ENERGY / HIGH VOLUME youth worship experience. Full of live music, relevant teaching from the Bible, etc. all for yutes!

Well, last night was our last RIOT of the school year and for that matter my last RIOT. As I have shared in a previous post I’ll be soon transitioning to a new role in ministry as associate pastor here at FBC.

What a great stinking night it was! The house was packed out...present youth and some youth that had since graduated, parents, youth leaders. The volume was EXTRA loud...we worshipped and remembered together of the years past. I'm a big picture taker...in our youth area it's full of 8 x 10's of events, faces, experiences. So last night I put together a 15 minute slide show of years past to the present...man was it cool to watch.

At one point the youth asked me to come down, they laid hands on me and prayed over me. Talk about an emotional time...dang! Afterwards, they had a huge cake...we ate and hugged and shed a few tears. But it's all good...cause the best part of this whole deal is that we are not leaving FBC, I'll just be in a different role. Yea, it will be different...but that's okay, God is, even as I type, preparing the next youth minister to come and continue this ministry. It will be exciting to see what happens over the next couple years in this youth ministry. I'm just thrilled to be able to still be a part of their lives.

Love you FBC yutes...you've given me much joy in my life!

Hmmmmm...

Good ole Steven Wright...a favorite comedian. Some things that make you go hmmmm...

1. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
2. Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?
3. Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations?
4. If a cow laughed...would milk come out its nose?
5. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
6. One should never genralized.
7. Why is it when you're driving and looking for an address, you turn the radio down?
8. If a book about failures doesn't sell...is it a success?
9. What do you do when you see an endangered animal that eats only endangered plants?
10. Why are there interstates in Hawaii?

Questions to ask yourself

I got this from a fellow blogger and I thought it was very in your face and vital to anyone who is in ministry...I hope it makes you think, it did me:

If you are involved in ministry, church staff, etc. ask yourself...



1. Am I living above reproach? (1 Timothy 2:20-21)
2. Is this job my passion or my paycheck?
3. Am I in line with where we are going as a church?
4. Do I feel like I deserve more? (You shouldn't)
5. Am I reflecting on how things used to be or passionate about how things are going to be?
6. Do I feel like I have to "kill time" because there is "nothing to do?" (There's always something to do when you're in the 'people business')
7. Do I fully trust the leadership? (1 Thes. 5:12-13)

My day off...

It's been a busy week here in the metropolis of Richmond...the first part of the week our staff got away for a retreat up in Indiana. A great time together doing some planning and visioning about the future of FBC.

Today I was off...Friday is slated as my normal day off, sometimes things come up and we may work from time to time. But not today...me and my buddy Bart Bowman went out and hit Gibson Bay for some golf. I've said before in previous post, I love golfing...not a great golfer, but I have fun.

It was a bit hot/humid today, but a good one. Bart is a good golfer and typically when I play with someone of a different caliber; it brings my better game out. I was pleased with the score card today...I had many pars and even one bird!

Next week is the 12 Annual JP Invitational...it's a weekend of golf with some church and college buddies. Usually we go to a state park, but this year I'm trying something different. A JP Invitational Trail...we are going to play five different courses in three days! I'll take some pics...

The BIG News!

Let’s let the “cat” out of the bag!

Almost two years ago God began "a stirring" in my heart, my life concerning ministry. This is my 18th year as a youth pastor…here are a few words to help describe this kind of ministry: incredible, challenging, exciting, some times want to pull your hair out, humbling, emotional, awesome, thrilling, stirring, moving, funny, rollercoaster ride, electrifying, amazing, unbelievable, overwhelming, speechless…I could go on and on!

But for sometime now I have sensed Gods calling into a new season of ministry for my life. So as of this morning First Baptist Church voted me in as the Associate Pastor. This is not only a new position for me, but also for FBC. Talk about a humbling time this morning! I can’t begin to tell you how affirming people have been since it was announced two weeks ago that I was “the candidate” for this position.

So, it’s a new chapter, a new era, stage, whatever you want to call it…I’m excited about this new challenge. The best news of all is the fact that we are going to remain at FBC and what a home that it has been for me and my family.

So that’s the “big” news…I won’t begin officially until we have a youth interim in place. We want our youth ministry to keep right on going and growing…so there will be a transition time, but a very exciting time.

Please pray for me in this new adventure in life…please pray for our youth ministry as we begin a new search for a new youth minister. We are the search teaming-est church around, and I love it because it’s a sign of growth!

Reader's Corner...

I'm a reader of some sorts...I'll go in spurts throughout the year with my reading habits. I think I've got about three books going right now and have vowed not to start anymore until these are finished.

One that I've been focusing on most of my reading time has been Mark Batterson's book, "In a pit with a Lion on a snowy day." Mark is a pastor in Washington DC...National Community Church.

In a nutshell the book is all about what we do with opportunity in our lives. Do we thrive on adventure in life or do we walk through life in a "ho-hum" state. It's been a really challenging read. I've read the majority of this book at our local Starbucks...nothing quite like getting a caramel macchiato and reading.

What books have you been reading?? I'm always looking for some good recommendations...but if course I won't start anything new until I've finished these three!

Still got some exciting news to share with you…I’ll wait until Monday to do so!