Sunday Thoughts

• We had a good day Sunday. A good crowd, new faces, good atmosphere. Two weeks is too long to go without church. It was great to see everyone again.
• Finished the series Reel Life with a message on Conflict and Resolution. Spoke on the role of conflict, obstacles, trials and difficulties in the stories of of our lives and identified 5 hardships from the life of Joseph that we too must face and overcome. Concluded with some positive things to do to ensure that your story ends well. It was well received and several people requested cd's.
• Had one of my bus driver friends show up.
• Hit Stevi B's for lunch.
• Ben and I went to see Cloverfield in the afternoon. Good movie, unique format, great monster but an abrupt end.
• No football was a bummer. It's hard to get into basketball until March Madness. Tiger Woods in incredible.
• Getting new signs made this week and working on a new stage design for the new series starting Sunday.

My Own Route

I have been pulled from the ranks of substitute bus drivers. Starting Friday, I will have my own route. Everyday I will know where I am going, when I need to be there and who I need to pick up. It kind of takes the adventure out of it all but you exchange that for a chance to get to know some kids and meet some different drivers, teachers and parents. I will miss my new friends at Bus Shop 2 but will still be able to keep in touch with them. If you have to drive on Cumming Hwy (Hwy 20) then watch out for "Turbo" Brim and be prepared to stop!

Do You Know Where Your Life Is Heading?

I finished a book that I have been reading since the first of the year called Chazown (khaw-zone): A Different Way To See Your Life by Craig Groeschel. I have read several books around this idea of purposeful living, personal vision, dream fulfillment, or whatever you want to call it and I highly recommend this one. Everyone should read books on this subject on a regular basis because we need to constantly remind ourselves of what God wants to do in our lives and refocus our attention on accomplishing something meaningful rather than wasting our lives acquiring more and impacting less. I know that I am doing what God has called me to do but I have not yet accomplished what God has called me to accomplish. Not everything is about accomplishing. There is much to be learned from the journey. But doing is not an end in itself. My doing has a purpose and a destination. It is good for me to revisit the vision God has given me for Axios, my life, my family, my finances, my dreams. The Bible says that we are all like sheep in that we easily go astray. Books like this show me where I have strayed and help me stay on track. This book is very good because it gives you some very practical ways to discover your God-given vision for your life as well as specific steps to help you in 5 crucial areas of your life: relationship with God, relationship with others, finances, health and work. Here are some other books on this subject that I believe are excellent:

1. Visioneering by Andy Stanley. This book would probably be in the top 5 books that have influenced my life. Andy follows the story of Nehemiah and gives very helpful insight into seeing and accomplishing God's vision for your life.
2. Seizing Your Divine Moment: Dare to Live a Life of Adventure by Irwin McManus. I believe that this book has been reprinted as Chasing Daylight. Irwin and Andy are two Pastor/writers that have greatly influenced my life. This book follows the story of Jonathan, the son of King Saul, who accomplished much with very little, against great odds, armed only with his faith.
3. If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg. This book will help you deal with the greatest obstacle that stands in your way of fulfilling your God-given vision for your life - fear. It is the story of Peter, the only disciple to have walked on water. Ortberg uses a great deal of humor which makes this an enjoyable read.
4. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Probably the most popular and most well-known and shouldn't be left out of a list like this. It is an easy read and deals with the foundations of a life well lived. This is a great starting point.

Click it or Ticket

I have seen this campaign slogan for seatbelts and now I know they mean it. I got a ticket for not wearing mine yesterday. I am getting better at wearing one but I hate being told that I have to wear it. It's just another government infringement on my personal freedom. They are micromanaging my life. But I made sure that I had it on today.

Random Thoughts

• Had a kid say to me today, "You drive incredibly fast!" I just said, "Thank you." I promise that I was just going the speed limit. I think my bus just feels fast.
• Watched Live Free, Die Hard last night. I really enjoyed it. It almost got too far fetched for me but I still liked it. How can you not like John MacClaine?
• Saw 3:10 to Yuma over the weekend. It was good but what happened to the good old days when the good guy got to ride off into the sunset having killed the bad guy and the girl by his side. This movie could have been better but I still liked it.
• I've been enjoying the American Idol tryouts as usual. I hope they find better talent than last year. I think Daughtry is the best thing to come out of Idol but I like Clarkson and Underwood also.
• Can't wait until the end of the month when my favorite show, Lost, returns. I hope 24 starts after that. I miss Jack Bauer.
• Can't wait until Sunday. It seems like an eternity since we last had church. I am fired up about the message and I believe a few of my friends from the bus shop are going to be there. We will be wrapping up the series, Reel Life: Living a Story Worth Telling.

Hot Krispy Kremes

Is there anything better than a hot (or at least a warm) Krispy Kreme Donut? Donuts have always been a weakness of mine. I used to have a donut and a Pepsi everyday as a morning snack but I have paid for such a habit and am trying to be better. I have not had a Pepsi or any soft drink since the beginning of the year and have had only 1 donut in the same time frame. Now I am not trying to eliminate them completely but I would like to relegate them to a treat rather than a large portion of my diet. So you can imagine my dilemma when one of the drivers (who will remain unnamed but we all know who she is) brought in the KKD's this morning. She brought them as an act of penance for playing jokes on the other drivers with a Fart Machine (yes, that is the official name of the device). It would have been rude not to accept a donut under these circumstances. The good news is, I only had three!

Edith Haynes will be missed

One of our dear friends from Hopewell Baptist church passed away and her funeral was today. Edith Haynes was a prayer warrior, an incredible teacher of the Word, and encourager to both Pattie and I. She will be missed but it is fitting to rejoice with her as she finds heself at home with the Lord and with so many loved ones who have gone before her. I was at the funeral home last night and saw her family and many friends. Death has truly lost its sting. The grave has no victory. Death is not the end but the beginning of life the way God intended it to be.

No Church Today

We decided to call off church today due to the weather. Several other churches in the area canceled services last night but I felt like the roads were clear enough for church. It was the temperatures in the teens and the single digit wind chill that got us. Our heater could not keep up. I could not get the temperature above 58 in the Warehouse. I know the people in Ukraine may be disappointed with that but we are use to our controlled climates and decided to not let everyone freeze. We called everyone we could around 8:30. I went back home after being at the church at 6:00 and took a little nap, then I got up and made a huge breakfast. Fried eggs, link sausage, toast, grits and pancakes. You should have been here. It was all good!
Getting ready for the football games today. Go Packers and Chargers!

Praying for no snow

Today is another day that is optimal for winter weather but I hope it doesn't get as bad as they say. This is unusual for me because I am all for snow most of the time. 2 reasons I hope it stays clear.

1. Joe is going to Birmingham with some friends. He got tickets to a Foo Fighters and Jimmy Eat World concert (2 of his favorite bands) for Christmas and it is tonight in Birmingham.
2. I want to have church in the morning. I love this series that we are in and I am excited about the message tomorrow. I also want someone to preach to. If one drop of rain keeps 10 of the average church goers at home, imagine what one flake of snow might do. Our people are more faithful than that. They are not the average church goer. They are excited about God, His church, His Word, His people and look forward to meeting each week. It will take more than inclimate weather to keep them away.

It Snowed!

Wednesday night, the snow came in and we had an inch to an inch and a half in no time. By 11:00 PM they announced that Cherokee County Schools would be closed. It turned to rain around the same time and most of it was gone by morning but it didn't matter, my prayer had been answered. When I entered the Bus Shop at 6:00 this morning, I was greeted with a round of applause and shouts of "You're the man!" Armed with guest registration cards from church (my wife's idea), I proceeded to hand them out and told them it would save time if they filled them out now. They all laughed but one person did fill it out and told me she would be there on Sunday. I wish they all would come. I think they would come away encouraged and challenged.

Designated Pray-er

When people know you are a pastor, you become the designated pray-er. Family meals and gatherings, meetings, hospital rooms, etc. people look to me for prayer. Mostly I don't mind. But I am not a professional pray-er. My prayers carry no more impact than yours. God hears me as well as He hears you. God is not impressed with my position, calling, or professionalism. But there is an expectation from people that my prayers carry more weight than others. Today there is a chance that it could ice or snow late this afternoon and this evening. I have been designated as the official pray-er for this calamity by my fellow bus drivers. It seems that my reputation is hinging on it. I was reminded again this morning that whether it snows or not will tell them a lot about my influence with God. I have prayed and I too desire a day off but will not take it personally if God opts for safe roads and conditions. I did make a deal with them that if it did snow they would have to come to church with me. If it does snow I may tackle the drought next.

Top 5 of 2007

I love to read and appreciate books that inspire, motivate, challenge. I love to be introduced to new ideas and new ways to think. If I don't read then I am stuck with only me and my point of view and my way of thinking. That isn't bad unless I'm thinking wrong or looking at things from the wrong direction. Here are the top 5 books that I read in 2007 in no certain order.

1. In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson. I read this last January and it set a tone for the rest of the year. It's about seizing opportunities, not quitting, facing fears and accepting risk. Mark has a great story of planting a church in Washington D.C. Following God and attempting things for Him can be a scary and risky place but the dividends of achieving outweigh it all.
2. Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. This was a challenge to me in many areas including political views, social issues such as war and poverty, the purpose of wealth and prosperity, and living out the Gospel by taking the words of Jesus literally.
3. A Renegade's Guide to God by David Foster. I was drawn to this book by the title. The dictionary defines renegade as an apostate from a religious faith. I want to abandon Christianity as a religion and live it the way God intended. I want to be a renegade. I feel like I am one and have been one for most of my life. But often I need someone like David Foster to unleash it and keep pulling it out of me. I am not looking to forsake what I have been taught or how I was raised but I don't want those things to go unchallenged either. These books (2 & 3) do that for me.
4. The Dip by Seth Godin. This is a small, business book by a secular author about when to quit. It was an excellent read. It challenged me and fired me up about the opportunity here at Axios.
5. The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. Yancey has been around for a while but I had never read any of his books. This book was a little slower reading for me but worth it still the same. I'll probably read another Yancey book this year.

A Story Worth Telling

Is it really necessary to live a story worth telling? I say "yes" if you truly are a child of God. After all, we are the only one's truly living. Everyone else is merely existing until the day of their ultimate demise. We must take the lead in life and show life the way God intended it to be lived. And we must not get distracted from what really matters, from what really determines a life well-lived. Wealth and possessions don't matter. It is not the litmus test of a life worth living. Accomplishment is not the main thing. In the original Rocky and in this last Rocky (I hope this doesn't ruin it for anyone), he doesn't win the fight. But we are still inspired by the story. So what does matter? You do! The kind of person you are, the choices you make, the driving force of your life, all matter.

1. What you want matters. What your vision is, your dreams and desires matter. They set the course of your life. They create your ambition or the goal for which you work. Desires are not necessarily wrong. No desires lead to a passionless life. Noone writes about a person with no passion. But if we don't want the right things, our stories become small and our lives become unfullfilled. But if we want what God wants, our lives will have impact beyond our years.


2. Your moral choices matter. We talk about Joseph because he ran from Potiphar's wife. If he had slept with her, his story would have probably been no greater than his other brothers who lived immoral lives. But he made good choices and had a lasting impact on his family and on history. Being good is not an end in itself. That's legalism. Being good is a path that usually leads to greater opportunity and greater impact. Bad choices are also a path but it is one that can be ruinous to dreams and life itself. Thankfully, through repentance and forgiveness, we can get off that path at any time and begin new stories to the glory of God.


3. Overcoming the obstacle that is before you now, or enduring the hardship you find yourself in today, or rising up from the victimization and abuse that you have gone through matters. Noone writes about quitters. We tell stories of the people who finish. Don't quit. Don't get discouraged. Don't throw in the towel. You don't know how close you are to a breakthrough. There is a reward to those who endure to the end. That means there will be an end and what is at the end is determined by how you finish. The greater the obstacle or conflict, the greater the story.

Sunday and Monday Thoughts

• Another good service. Attendance has been very consistent and with visitors every Sunday.
• Joe Stag had more of our cafe area done. It looks great and people are loving the new look.
• Continued the series Reel Life and shared that if we want to be people who live great stories, we must be great people. Every good book has great characters and movies rely heavily on star power. The better the lead character, the better the story. Joseph is a great lead character which makes his story worth telling.
  
• Played a clip from the movie Rocky Balboa (it's hard to believe that the first Rocky came out when I was in High School). This movie was surprisingly good and entertaining. The clip was showing what a great guy Rocky is. He befriends a single mom (not to sleep with her but to help her), mentors her teenage son and even adopts the ugliest dog at the dog pound. If we don't like Rocky we won't care if he wins or loses the fight at the end. The character of the star of the story matters.
  
• Took advantage of a gift cars and had a great lunch at Ruby Tuesday's.
• I have a new addiction: Hazelnut Ice Coffee from McDonald's.
  
• Excited for Green Bay and New York. Hated Indy losing and Patriots winning.
• I have enjoyed hanging with the other relief drivers at work. Good people but I don't know what they think about me. They all know I'm a pastor now and that changes things with people. I was asked a lot of questions from how to light Advent candles ( something of which I know nothing about) to what do I think about tongues ( a subject I try to stay away from). It was fun though.
• I usually cook when Pattie works so I tried a new dish tonight. It was good and well liked by Joe, Rayanne, Ben and Davia. Serve it with chips and salsa and top it with sour cream and you have a great meal.
  

Starting at the End

We played a clip from the movie Stranger Than Fiction this past Sunday. The main character played by Will Ferrell wakes up one day hearing the narrator of his life. He realizes that he is in a story. The scene that we played is when he is told through the narrator that his death is imminent. His life changed when he received this new information. Its amazing that God has already revealed the end of our stories yet we're stunned when it becomes a reality. God tells us that we all will die and stand before Him to give an account of our stories (lives). This should change how we live. To live a great story, we should begin with the end in mind. If we want to hear "well done" at the end, we should live "well done" today. If you were to write down what you would like to see happen in 2008, what would you envision? If your greatest ambition is to buy something (dream car, dream home, dream vacation, etc.) or the dominate action words in your list are get, buy, possess, want, you are probably living a small story. The last guy to do this was told something else other than "well done." But if your vision for 2008 includes words such as change, lead, influence, create, give, provide, you may be on the path to a great story that will end well. This year, start with the end in mind. Determine how you want 2008 to end and work toward that end all year long. It could make it the best year ever.

Random Thoughts

• Rayanne started a new school that meets every Thursday and helps give direction, instruction, and structure to home schooling efforts. It should be a great thing for Rayanne and will also allow her to meet new people. It will be more challenging and allow for better grading and subjectivity. It is also accredited and qualifies her for the Hope Scholarship.
• Joe Stag is working on our decor again. He does great work and is very diligent. He deserves to be paid.
• We have just one vehicle because the car is losing all of its coolant. It makes it difficult when we need to be in 2 places at once but I do get to spend more time with Pattie and that is always good. I will get it fixed next week.
• I have been juicing with my new Jack LaLane Power Juicer or brothing for lunch since the first of the year. It always makes me feel healthier and hopefully I can drop a few pounds. I keep telling everyone that I will look like Jack LaLane in 2 months but I don't know if a 90 year old man is the look I should be going for.
• All our Christmas stuff is down and put away except for the icicle lights hanging from the gutters. I am seriously considering keeping them up year round. Pattie is not for it.
• Our power went off last night around midnight. Its amazing how you know the power is off even when you are asleep. There is always a light on in our house so it is extra dark when there is no power but I think it is the complete silence that wakens everyone. Its amazing how there is always noise and how loud silence really is. Makes me realize that I need more silence to ensure that I hear God speak.
• There is a lady at the bus shop that thinks it is her job to inform everyone that I am a preacher. I told her that she needed to stop because she was ruining my reputation.
• It did help though. After finding out I was a preacher, one lady said that she wanted to come and check us out.

Sunday recaps

• We had a decent crowd on the 30th considering it was in the middle of the holiday vacation. We ushered in the New Year by observing the Lord's table and remembering the good things that God had done in our lives and anticipating the good things that God would bring into our lives in 2008.
• This past Sunday, Jan 6, we started the new series above. Can we live the kind of life in 2008 that someone would want to make a movie about? We talked about the power of story and that God's primary way of sharing truth was through storytelling. Most of the Bible is the recording of stories with very little comment. Jesus' primary form of teaching is storytelling (parables). We remember stories but forget sermons. We are all living a story but have God's permission to live a great story worth remembering. And the great stories are the stories that line up with God's greater story of redemption that He has already written for this world. I'll write more about this later because it really excites me and fires me up about the opportunity to rise above the mundane and live greater than we are used to.
• It took us all day Sat. to get all the Christmas decorations down and put away plus we were redecorating the street and cafe area. Joe Stagnaro came to me in Dec with a vision of changing the street and making it into a warmer more receptive and contemporary place. So I turned him loose. Joe is very creative and talented (his talents run from guitar to sewing) and has a great eye for design and form. The store fronts remained the same but the floor was repainted, our coffee and serving line was changed, the Visitor Registration repositioned, couches and chairs and lamps and tables were brought in, and the results were amazing. There is a little more to do but the changes were well received and it definitely gave us a newer, fresher atmosphere.
• We have had several new families attending with quivers full of children. One family has 6 kids another with 5 and another with 4. Thats 6 adults but 11 children and 4 youth.
• We raised enough money to drill another fresh water well to open doors for the living water of Jesus Christ. Praise God!

Vacation is over!

I was back in the driver's seat today. School is back and I was up and on the bus early today. I am back on the same route that I have been driving for over 2 months. I had told the kids that the other driver would be back after Christmas so some were happy to see me again and a few were disappointed. It will end this week at some point and I will be cast back into the sub driver pool and unknown routes. It has been especially good to be on this route for the weeks before Christmas because I was the recipient of some great gifts from these kids. Besides the homemade goodies from many and the candy and nuts from others, I received gift cards for Cracker Barrel, Chili's, and McDonald's. It made me feel bad for all the times when the kids were bus riders that I couldn't understand why we had to get the bus driver something for Christmas. Thankfully I have a wife that is much more thoughtful than me.
I guess you also realize that I took a vacation from blogging and did only those things that I deemed necessary during the holidays. I will not be able to catch you up on everything that happened over this time but suffice it to say that we had a great Christmas and a good start to the new year. We did make it up to see Pattie's mom and my parents and that is always a good time and a refreshing break. I hope all of your holiday times were as good or better than mine.