Praise and Petitions

Easter was incredible.  Today we started our sixth service time for Elevation Church making that four at Providence Campus and two at Butler.  I’m officially wiped out.  I don’t know how my volunteers do this week after week.

The big news was of the 4,800 people who attended this morning over 500 of them walked out of our doors filled with life in Christ.  That’s right!  Over 500 people today alone in our services made Jesus their own personal God.  By the way, that’s a conservative estimate and I think it’s the number of people who actually indicated on a card and not just how many hands we think we counted.

We had around 560 children in our church today as well.  I’m so proud and humbled by the hundreds of people who make EKIDZ happen each week.  I especially want to thank the many people who adjusted their family Easter time to serve at our 11:30 or 1pm services.  I know how precious family time is and I’m impressed by your example to serve God.

Anita, the girls and I are headed out tomorrow to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  I’m speaking at the Submerge Camp.  My old friend Travis Agnew puts this camp together and I can’t wait to spend some time with him and a bunch of teenagers.  Please pray that God would speak through me to change the lives of these students and encourage the adults working in their churches.  Please also pray for me as I’m away from Elevation for the first time since around Christmas.  God is doing a lot in my heart and I feel like I need some time alone with Him.

I’m going to miss working in the office this week and hanging out with our Charlotte friends but I’m so thankful that my church allows me the opportunity to build up the Kingdom apart from the walls of our gatherings.  Have a great Easter evening!

Q & A

Here are the answers to the questions I got from my "Dry Spell" post.  Thank you to the very few of you who submitted a question.  What’s up with the rest of you?  Come on chickens.

My niece Rachel asks…
Would you rather have dentures for the rest of your life or would you
rather have to wear a diaper for the rest of your life and why?

A: Dentures without a doubt.  I have a big enough butt as is and finding pants to fit is hard.  I don’t need a diaper making my selection even harder.  Plus, I’d be that funny old man who pulls his teeth out and makes kids laugh or run away in horror.

This one is better. Would/could you give up all TV, movies, videogames, even YouTube, for five whole years if it meant that after the 5 years you would recieve millions of dollars and save 1000 starving kids?

A: Yes I would; I don’t know if I could; I’m glad I haven’t been asked to.

Michael Sanchez asks…
How about: If you could be a cookie, what kind of cookie would you be? Or perhaps, whats the hardest part of your job?

A #1: I would be a chocolate chip cookie.  Faithful, hard to resist and sweet.
A #2: Details and administrative stuff.  I feel like a fish out of water with that stuff.

Lindsay Gallagher asks…
If you could replace any LOST cast member or character, who would you choose and why?

A: I’d love to say Jack but I’m afraid I’d make a better Charlie.  In my mind I think I’m Sayid.

Jake Miller asks…
how about 2 questions for you… what is the biggest difference you’ve experienced between atlanta and charlotte? and… how many times can you link to my blog in one post?

A #1: How much more time I spend in the office and how much less time I spend in traffic tie for first.
A #2: At least six Jake.  Do you remember when you and I were in college together and I lost your hat?

Aunt Kathy asks…
Would you please put Robert on your prayer list at the church and continue to pray for his safety over the next 7 months?

A: We don’t have a "prayer list" at our church but I know those who are reading this would be happy to intercede on behalf of Kaiti and Robert.  Especially Rich.  He’s a prayer giant.

Thanks everybody!!

And This Is Why

Today we had a little 2 on 2 basketball tournament at a nearby basketball court.  Joel Salter (our Finance Director) fell victim to bracketing.  We played what was the most athletic game of the tournament but were forced to play the eventual winners Chunks Corbett (Executive Pastor) and John Bishop (Chief Ministries Officer) in the first round.  Our game should have been the final.  Oh well. 

As the first round of brackets play themselves out today in the NCAA Tournament I am doing okay to significantly worse in the future.  My "cinderella" final four team lost there first round game.  And this is why (among other reasons) I am not a gambling man.  For those who are interested my two brackets are below.  Happy watching everyone!

(BTW, answers to your questions will be coming tomorrow.)

Just Down the Street

We’re set to close on our house in a little over a week.  That’s right…next Monday!!  Thank you God and Bev our agent along with all the family that has helped us over the last few months.  Anyway, I saw a news story (thanks to Scott) today about a house nearby to my house in Georgia. 

I’ve driven by this house countless times but I’ve never actually seen it.  It’s pretty impressive.  Maybe if God ever brings us back to Atlanta or allows us to retire we’ll be in the market for this 82 room, 17 bathroom, 47,000 square foot home.  I mean it’s only $45 million.  What a bargain.  Click here for more on the story.

Details

In some scenarios I see more than most people.  I walk into a room and see flow patterns, creative touches and symmetry or lack there off.  I see things in passages of scripture that some don’t.  I love being able to see things differently; I believe God allows us to see things others don’t to show us how unique He has created us.

On the other hand, I’m very blind when it comes to many things.  Specifically to details.  I’m a big picture thinker.  I love to creatively think through events, decorations, teachings, and culture.  I can mentally paint a picture to pull a series of ideas together under one umbrella.  But underneath that umbrella I’m lost.  When it comes to numbers, spreadsheets, and schedules I honestly have to force myself to stay involved in the conversation and not drift off to la la land.  Where I see a creative piece of fabric that would be great for an illustration in a message others see how much the fabric costs; how many stitches are in the fabric; how much fabric we would need and how it would get transported or stored.

That’s why it’s important for me to surround myself with people who can either help me work through the details or handle them for me all together.  I’m not saying this as a cop out.  I have to learn to manage details but part of managing details in my life is finding talented people who derive joy out of details.  Even though the word "Excel" causes me to curl up into a fetal position and start sucking my thumb, there are many people who get a natural high working out a spreadsheet.  Those people are demented but God loves them anyway.

So thank you to the people in my life that keep me on task.  My wife Anita, Jessi & the EKIDZ Lead Team, and Apple Computers (including my future iPhone.)

Dry Spell

I’m feeling a little dry on topics to blog about.  So I thought I’d put it you.  Ask any question you’d like and I’ll find and give you the answer.  I got this idea from one of my favorite bloggers Carlos Whittaker.  So here we go; you’ve got until midnight tonight to ask any question you want and I’ll answer it.  Make it clean and interesting.  This should be fun.

Shephard’s Pie and Other Enjoyable Things

I had to work late yesterday.  We’re preparing for a very creative and exciting Easter Sunday opener at Elevation Church.  You do not want to miss this.  DO NOT BE LATE SUNDAY!  When I arrived home, my sweet little family was at the table waiting on me.  They had already eaten but my Shephard’s Pie was hot and setting at my place at the table.  (I told you Anita treats me like a king.)  Dinner was delicious.

Savannah Grace was so excited about St. Patrick’s Day (or as she said all day "Happy Aunt Patrick’s Day.")  No offense to any of you who may actually have an Aunt Patrick.  I mean I named my daughter Rylee.  The evening consisted of family time and laughter.  After which Anita and I enjoyed a little couple time playing on the Wii. (Thanks again Kelly.)  Anita usually doesn’t enjoy competition with me because I usually win.  However, last night she honestly beat me in Wii tennis.  She thinks I let her win but I didn’t. 

So St. Patrick’s Day is over and Easter is in less than a week.  (Still very weird.)  After Easter I will be in mourning.  In a very short month and a half I’ll be turning 30.  I realize there are many of you who read this blog and have already passed the bench mark of 30 but for a lifetime Youth Minister like myself, 30 feels like a huge pivot point in my life.  I suppose it’s a little bit of a quarter or mid-life crisis.  I’ll get through it I’m sure, but please feel free to ease my pain and burden with presents.  May 5 will be here in no time.  Make your plans now.

Beannachtam na Feile Padraig! (Happy St. Patrick’s Day!)

Cead Mile Failte!  (Gaelic for "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes")  As much as I wish I was able to spend the day with my family celebrating one of the greatest holidays of the year I am glad I get to share my passion for St. Patrick’s Day with my coworkers and volunteers in the office.  I won’t write a long post about my heritage and appreciation for all today stands for.  If you’d like to you can read my post from last year here.  It gives some insight into what today is all about and why this IS a religious holiday.

To my wife and her co-conspirators, thanks for decorating my office.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I love it.  To my parents, thank you for raising me with an appreciation for our heritage both nationally and spiritually.  I’m very proud of where we’ve come from and I owe that to you.  To my children, I pray you know the great Love that this day stands for. 

To all the rest an old Irish prayer:

May God give you…
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

(photo credit to Jessi Welch: Children’s Director Elevation Church)

Gift Card Surprise

Around 2pm yesterday Anita told me to go change clothes.  She said we had to go run some errands.  We had a house full of guests so leaving felt weird but you don’t look a gift babysitter in the mouth.  God’s really been working on my heart lately and that drains me mentally, emotionally and physically.  I don’t know how it works for everyone else but construction is hard work and God is a perfectionist.  I’ve got the old song going in my head right now; "He’s still workin on me, to make me what I ought to be."  I’m thankful He still cares enough to grow me.

So we leave the house on our little journey.  To my surprise, our "errands" turned out to be a date made possible by some gift cards we’d received.  Anita took me to see the movie Vantage Point and after a quick time killer trip in Target we went to dinner at Firebirds (a local steakhouse).  A really good movie, filet mignon, and some really great conversation later I was very rested and grateful.  God has used Anita so much in the last few months to encourage and support me in ways I haven’t experienced before.  I’m so amazed at how God has been maturing her faith and growing her as a wife and mother. 

I know it’s just a simple little date but it spoke so much to my heart.  She truly is a Proverbs 31 woman.  I love you Anita.  Thank you for being an incredible example to my daughters of what God intends for his children.  (It sure doesn’t hurt that our date didn’t really cost us any money either.  Thanks for providing God.)

Call Me Crazy

Well, I’m sitting here in my pajama pants and bathrobe being a lazy bum instead of hanging out in downtown Charlotte celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.  The weather proved to be a little to much to gamble on today.  We’ve been illness free for the last week or so and I’m just not willing to get the girls out in fifty degree rainy weather.  Call me crazy but I just prefer to have healthy kids.

So I’ll be destroying everyone on Kelly’s Wii today.  I can’t wait till lunch.  There’s nothing better on a rainy day than grilled cheese sandwiches and potato soup.