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Friday Five

What's Friday without the Friday Five...

1. If we can avoid any more snags, we'll be moving into our house this time next week! To say we're excited would be a drastic understatement. But, there is much to be done between now and then. Still need you to pray!

2. Played NCAA Football 09 on a 52" flat screen last night with some guys from Awaken. At times, I forgot we were playing a video game...when the first shot of the Willy-B came up, I couldn't help but stand up and jump around like an idiot. The only bad part of the night...Josh and his Georgia Bulldogs made the comeback of the century to win the tournament. I am SO ready for college football now!

3. Had my first coaching conversation with my new life coach. Amazing how the primary content of our conversation was an area I didn't even plan to or want to talk about. Yet, it was exactly what we needed to talk about...which is the point of having a coach. Now I actually have to act on what we talked about...:-)

4. Preaching Sunday AM & PM at Center Grove Church in Winston-Salem, NC. Pray for them and me...a very influential leader/member of their church was killed in a cycling accident last weekend. Obviously, many are still grieving and I want to be sensitive to say what God wants me to say the way He wants me to say it. 

5. I want to hear from you...what would you like to see me write about here on the blog? I'm working on a couple of series of posts, but would love to get some ideas from you and know what questions you have for me. Leave a comment or drop me an email.

Thanks for reading, praying, and encouraging us! I'm thankful for you!

Tuesday Ten

No Friday Five last week and no post yesterday means you get the Tuesday Ten today...

1. Had what may have been the worst migraine I have ever had yesterday. You know it's bad when a Venti Red Eye, 6 glasses of water, 2 Exedrin, and a Venti Doubleshot don't knock it out!
2. Battling major writer's block these days. I have a couple of writing projects to do and lots of good ideas for here and the Awaken blog...but it's not happening like I want it to right now.  Might be because of number 3...
3. If all goes well, we close on our house a week from today. CRAZY! This has been such a God-thing...we KNOW we are supposed to live in this house, in this neighborhood, and that the time is right. But when you live off of raised support, it's a bit of a leap! Pray this through with us, please! 
4. 37 days until GAMECOCK FOOTBALL baby! Yeah!
5. Had the last three Sundays off from preaching...good break, but I'm ready to roll again. So, this Sunday, it's on the road again to Center Grove Church in Winston-Salem, NC.
6. Never posted to let you know how it went leading worship at my brother in-law's church, Generation Church, two Sundays ago. Had a blast, the people sang their guts out, and my fingers were mad at me for a few days afterwards. :-) Well worth it though... Set list = Salvation is Here, Enough, Take My Life (Passion Hymns version), and God of this City/Our God Reigns/Salvation is Here medley to close.
7. Eating lunch with Northeast Columbia area pastors today. So cool to see the number of pastors who are locking arms and sharing resources to see Columbia transformed. Honored to be a part of it...the collaboration and the chinese food lunch!
8. Re-reading Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders and it is kicking my tail for the third or fourth time. It is a MUST READ for anyone who wants to lead in a way that represents and honors the heart of God.
9. Yesterday, I drove through the neighborhood where I grew up and past our old house. The mailbox still had our name on it.  My parents moved from there 3 years ago...weird.
10. I miss golf. Maybe one day... 

 There you have it...the first ever Tuesday Ten. Hope you are not dumber for having read it...:-) 

Friday Five

Been a crazy week...still lots to do today, so let's get on with this week's Friday Five!

1. Happy iPhone 3G Day to those who are taking the plunge! Lara Beth orchestrated a beautiful strategy so that I got enough money for my birthday to buy one with the reduced price...COOL! But, AT&T raised their rates by $15/month with text messaging...NOT COOL. Oh well...maybe next year...

2. The last two weeks, I have felt more like a real estate guy than anything else. But, it's been good. Thanks for praying for us...the hand of God has been all over this process! We cannot wait to start meeting neighbors and using our new home to gather people.

3. Visited my sister in-law at the youth camp where she is on staff this summer. Great worship environment, in spite of the middle schoolers! :-) Molly was standing next to me and I got all messed up when I could hear her singing "God of this City" at the top of her lungs with her hands raised and her feet dancing. I'll never forget that moment...NEVER!

4. Sam and I worked on some processes this week that are vital if Awaken is going to produce transformed people. I'm convinced that Christianity's credibility hinges on transformed people and if we can't produce them, then why bother.  I'm excited about the process God laid out for us!

5. Looking forward to Sunday: I am leading worship...yes, you read that right :-)...at my brother in-law's church plant, Generation Church, right here in Northeast Columbia. Got new guitar strings and got my callouses built back up....I'm ready to roll! In the afternoon, we are doing a "camp" at Sesqui State Park for kids from a local tailer park. And, Sunday night, Awaken will host the second prayer experience as part of the 40 Days of Prayer & Repentance.  Sunday will be a busy one, but I can't wait!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Five on the Fourth

1. Looking forward to a great day & weekend with family and friends. Swimming, ribs, fixins, more swimming, more ribs, more fixins, and then cap it off with some serious fireworks. Yeah!

2. On Sunday night, Awaken will host the 1st of 5 prayer experiences as part of the 40 Days of Prayer & Repentance. Each experience will start at 6:00 pm @ North Point Church. I cannot wait to see how God answers our prayers to change us and change our city!

3. We're in the middle of taking the ultimate irreversible step to put down roots in Columbia. We're nervous as all get out, but confident that if God wants this to happen, it will happen.  Pray it through with us, please!

4. My grandfather in-law, aka "PeePaw", retired this past Sunday after 60+ years in the ministry, the last 41 years serving as Pastor of Ekron Baptist Church in Brandenburg, KY. Talk about commitment, putting down roots, and giving your life for the sake of a city...there it is! He and "MeeMaw" are in town and I am looking forward to spending time learning from and reflecting with them this weekend. Thank you, PeePaw & MeeMaw!

5. Freedom is never free. Really grateful for the men and women whom you and I never knew but who willingly gave their lives for our freedom. Even more grateful for the freedom and life that comes in trusting and following Jesus. While we were still sinners, He gave His life for our freedom. Amazing!

Happy Fourth!

Friday Five

1. House Hunting Mis-Adventure #2: Went to look at a house last Saturday. Walked in one of the upstairs bedrooms only to find a man and a woman...IN THE BED!  I don't even want to know what we're going to walk in on next! Any crazy house hunting stories out there?

2. Viva La Vida, as a whole, is going to have to grow on me. I like it, but I don't love it...yet. X&Y was the same, so I'm okay with giving it some time.  Your thoughts?

3. Preaching at Center Grove Church in Winston-Salem, NC on Sunday. The message I am preaching has been brewing in my heart and mind for months...can't wait to let it out!

4. I've decided that my new favorite drink at Starbucks is the Iced Doubleshot.  It is simply fantastic! What's your favorite at Starbucks?

5. Thanks to some very generous friends, LB, the girls, and I are heading out on Monday for a week at the beach. Really looking forward to getting away for a whole week with just the 4 of us. This will be our first "just us" vacation and I can't wait! What are you doing for vacation?

Happy Weekend!

Friday Five

1. Loved hanging out with our new friends at Northgate Trailer Park this week. So many stories, so many needs, so many opportunities for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Can't wait to go back!

2. So cool to look amongst all these poor hispanic kids and see our girls playing, laughing, singing, and learning with them.  Even better than that...our girls see no difference between "us" and "them." We're all friends.

3. As we looked at the master bedroom in a house with our realtor on Wednesday, we heard water running in the bathroom and the door was closed.  Yep...someone was in the shower. Our realtor said that's not the weirdest thing she's walked in on...hmmm....

4. Preaching twice this weekend in two different cities at two different churches.  Tomorrow, I'll be at SNC @ Mud Creek Church in Hendersonville, NC. Sunday morning, I'll be @ The River Church in Camden, SC. Sunday morning at The River will be unforgettable...I'll tell you why right here on Sunday afternoon or Monday.

5. Sam and I, along with some help from Professor McGlohon and several others, made some serious headway in putting down on paper what's next for this movement God has called us to here in Columbia. You'll hear more next week!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Five :: It's a BIG Weekend

5 reasons that this weekend is a biggie...

1. We're beginning our first missional community on Sunday night!  I am so excited about this I can hardly stand it! People who don't believe in God, people who love and follow Jesus with all their heart, and people who are somewhere in between will share a meal together, share in the Word together, and share prayer, stories, questions, and encouragement together.  This is the first step in the big picture of what God has called us to do here in Columbia...WOW!

2. I'm preaching for the third week in a row at Lake Murray.  We started a three week journey through Luke 9:23-26 last week...this week, we'll talk about obedience in taking up YOUR cross to follow Jesus. Last week, we talked about idolatry and denying yourself...it was THICK in there! Can't wait to see what God does this week.

3. Lara Beth, the girls, and I are hanging out with some friends we grew up with and haven't seen in forever. One of the coolest aspects of being back home is renewing friendships with people we haven't seen in over 10 years.  So many of the people we re-connect with still can't believe I'm a pastor...:-)

4. My brother in-law is officially launching a new church here in Northeast Columbia on Sunday.  His story is a pretty remarkable one...he didn't go looking to plant a church - it found him! He's done a great job developing and leading his core team and I am confident God is going to use this church to do big things. How crazy is it that my father in-law, my brother in-law, and I are pastors on the same side of the same city?

5. And finally, this weekend is my last weekend in my 20's.  Yep...the big 30 rolls in on Thursday the 5th. Not sure how I feel about that yet...it's a big deal when that first number changes...

Have a great weekend! Throw up a prayer for us this weekend if you think about it!

Friday Five

Is it Friday already...

1. I'm speaking at Lake Murray Baptist Church in Lexington the next four Sundays. Could use your prayers and so could they. They're still healing from their former pastor's moral failure. I want to be a voice of encouragement for them.

2. Very excited about Whiteboard next week. The most exciting part for me is that Lara Beth is able to go. We'll arrive in Reston sometime on Wednesday afternoon. I think there are still a few spots left for the conference, so if you want to go last minute, let me know...I can help with that.

3. Next week, I'll introduce you to Sam Frye. Sam and I met about three years ago and have kept in close contact ever since. He's currently in seminary at Liberty focusing on church planting. He offered to come spend the summer with us in Columbia and he'll be here next week! Can't wait to have him...you'll love him! One problem...we're still looking for a place for Sam to live for the summer. If you have a room or know of someone who does, let me know.

4. Had an incredible gathering on Wednesday with the people God has brought together to launch a movement in Northeast Columbia. I haven't been that encouraged in a long time...more on all this next week.

5. I'm pretty much scared to death of this new drink at Starbucks. But curiosity is killing me, so at some point I have to try it. Anyone tried it yet?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Five: Link-o-Rama, Prayers, & Hilton Head

1. New bloggers :: Welcome Chris Ruppe and Bryan Plyler to the blogosphere! I had the "opportunity" to ride to Exponential with Chris and Bryan a couple of weeks ago...the scars are healing nicely. Love these guys and the important work they are doing in Rock Hill and Lugoff/Camden respectively.

2. Comment King :: Pete Wilson can post a picture of someone sweeping a floor and ask "What's your favorite broom?" and 600 people will comment. :-) The best example this week was his hold your breath contest. Pete's blog has become one of my favorites because you just never know what's next!

3. WiBo :: Yes, there's still time to get on on the epic that is The Whiteboard Sessions. Ben has been posting the "why's behind the speakers" over on his blog...check 'em out and then get signed up. If you need help signing up, email me. Hey, Chris Elrod is going...how can you resist now?

4. Prayers :: Pray today for the family of Michael Colwell and the North Point family. Michael was a passionate follower of Jesus who went home to Jesus Sunday night after battling cancer for 2 years. He was 32 and left an incredible wife and 2 beautiful boys...and who knows how many people who were impacted by his life and leadership. The memorial service is today at North Point.

5. Hilton Head :: LB, the girls, and I are heading to Hilton Head for the weekend. One of our former students is getting married and I am doing the wedding...it's on the beach and everything! Should be a great couple of days with some great friends.

See you next week!

Friday Five: Great Week

I had a blast at Exponential in Orlando! So thankful for Captain Senesi and our convention for making it possible for poor church planters to attend.  I'm walking away with so much and I will write more as I process, but here are five big takeways that are front and center:

1. Tim Keller on Romans 1:16-17 - "Paul is not saying the gospel produces power. He says the gospel IS the power of God in verbal form. Do we believe that?"
   • Do I secretly believe that movement is up to me?
2. Neil Cole on multiplication - "Multiplication starts at the smallest level.  If you can't reproduce disciples, then you can't reproduce leaders, churches, networks, or anything else."
   • Am I personally involved in disciple-making?
3. Andy Stanley on making vision stick - "Stories do more to clarify the vision than anything else. People need living illustrations."
   • Are there stories to tell and am I telling them well?
4. Alan Hirsch on Missio Dei (The missionary God) - "God is at work in every person calling them to Himself in and through Jesus Christ. I do not bring God to people - He's already there."
   • Do I believe that God is already at work in the heart of the stripper, the addict, the abuser, the broken, the scared, the wounded, the sick, and the gangbanger?
5. Alan Hirsch on potential - "Every Christian has within them the potential for global transformation."
   • Do I believe this about me? Do I believe it about the people that are already a part of what God has called us to do in Columbia? Am I releasing people or restraining people?

Bigger than all these, I am back home in Columbia with tremendous HOPE - hope for our city, hope for our state, hope for our nation, and hope for our world.  My hope is founded in the power of the gospel, the missionary activity of God, and the invitation to the people of God to join Him in what He is doing.

And, I am beyond thankful to be on this journey with the men I was able to spend the week with. Senesi, Plyler, Ruppe, McGlohon, Willis & the Midtown crew, Bishop, Morris, Barrineau, Browning, Martin & the Bluffton crew, Thompson, Mitchell...I love you guys and it's an honor to lock arms with you.