Promise

Noah stepped out of the ark. He had to be exhausted from all of the time on that boat with his family, , critters and creatures of every kind.

I wonder what his emotions were like? Did he get wore out from the complaining of his family members (even in safety) did he get sick of the smell (even in safety) did he ever doubt, fear or wonder if God forgot about him and those under his care?

I do.... I have fears

We all do

We fear so many things.

We fear people, the future, the present

Some of us fear our past

Others fear, fear.

Noah came out of the ark after God opened the door.

Noah looked up into a clearing sky and saw a "bow" in the sky. A rainbow

God told Noah that this will be a reminder to you and future generations that I will never destroy the earth by flood again

It was a promise.

It was a visual reminder.

It was a sign from God

His promise still stands

God has NOT forgot about you.

What ever He promised you still stands

He will open the door. And close some as well

Listen, look. He has promised you that He will never leave you or forsake you

Its written

Its His promise to you.

Just a thought.....
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Real smiles

When was the last time you had a smile that was child like?

A real smile.

Eg.

As I picked up the kids on my school bus route it was snowing.

As they walked outside their little faces lit up!

No worries about the icy roads

All they could do is speculate and plan how they were gonna play in this first winter weather in Little Rock

Oh I wish I could develop that smile again.

A smile that is not aroused my motivation

Or motivated by people

I want a real, innocent smile.

What about you?

Just a Thought.....
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Wow, I remember skating back in the day. Oh to be a teenager again.... Just a Thought.....

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Super - Natural

God, The LORD, YHWH, The creator of the universe is so awesome! He speaks and things stop or go at His command. He moves and the earth shakes. He breaths and things come to life. Why/ because is is a super God.

Humans, people, the created. We are awesome as well, because we are made in the "image of God". His love for us knows NO end. Yet, we are not Super, we are natural.

Think about this though, when we partner with God it becomes "Supernatural"!

He uses us in spite of our failures. He uses us in ways that we will never know until we get to heaven.

His unmerited favor (grace) is almost an indescribable force that connects to our spirit and causes us to take what seem to be risk.

Do you want to see the Supernatural in your life. Then move, give, pray, worship, love your neighbor as yourself, if you don't love yourself then forgive yourself and start loving your self.

We are a part of His plane. You ready? Just a Thought.....

The bridge to the past

I would assume that anyone over 65 don't read this blog. If so, i am honored.

As of late, it seems like God has been tugging at my heart about people who paved the way for young guys like me.
On my desk are several pictures of men and women who pastured the Church I am at (formally "Ferndale Assembly of God) now CrossPoint church. I look into there hard working eyes and see some stuff i hope i have attained or attaining.

I see their prayers.

I see their tears.

I see them laughing.

I see them cheering me on.

I used to assume that they didn't understand my generation, oh man was I WRONG! They not only understand, they have been there! They prayed for me and didn't even know me!

They took things to different levels. Levels that I have not been to, yet I am gonna get there.

The present is great, the future is even greater... because of the bridge from the past. If someone from the past is reaching forward toward us with rebuke, reprove or praise; we need to listen. If that bridge is ever burned or destroyed then we will never Know HISstory. Just a Thought.....

The Dog House!!

This is the funniest thing I have seen a long time!!

The Cross

Just a few quick thoughts that hit me.....

The cross and our five sences

Through our eyes, they will see the cross

Through our touch, they will feel the cross

Through our scent, they will smell the cross

Through our story, they will hear the cross

Through our living, they will taste the cross
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verbs and nouns

Action! We all like it. Well, most of us do.

People, places and other things. We all have a problem with them. Well, some of do.

Usually the verb we like is when the noun is involved in drama as long as its not a verb aganist ourself.

example:

We all "rubberneck" when there is a wreck on the road. If that wreck is us we might say, "What the $#@#!!!! are you looking at?!

So, the challange for most of us... well, for a few, is to verb the noun in a positive way.

In other words take some action and share a positive word to a person (or place or some-thing)

Ready? Action!!

Just a thought.....

Forgive

Do you wake up in the mornings and say to your self, "Self, why don't you just hurt someone today". Of course you don't.

My motives are actually pure. I try to be nice to strangers, helpful to most and close to a few. However, no matter how you slice the pie someone is ALWAYS going to get hurt.

I'm not talking about petty feelings. I am talking about real bonifide pain.

I have done that. I have hurt some people. And, no matter what I do or say it will take the Holy Spirt to help me and them.

The trap is turning someone Else's forgiveness onto your self and vicariously living through their unforgiven. I call it "reverse debt." In other words, we try to pay for someone Else's debt by beating ourselves up because we caused them pain.

It does NOT mean that we just grow numb to anothers feelings, it does mean however, that we must allow ourselves to be released after we speak and ask for forgiveness from our heart.

I had to do this the other day. I walked up to them at the door. I said "can we talk" They said no, not now. I tried to use that as my way out. God would redirect my paths. I would run into the one who offend me and told them I forgive them. Wow, it was tough.

Then came the toughest part, I asked the to forgive me. (even though I felt I was justified in my actions years ago.

Pride is hard. It is very hard. one writer said this,

"To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail our pride supports us; when we succeed, it betrays us." - Charles Caleb Colton


Forgive and process through today.

Let it go and be free.

Trust me, its worth it.

Just a Thought.....

I lost my best friend

I set here at my desk this morning in tears. I lost my best friend. My dog Fred.

Man, he met so much to me. It was as if he read my mind. EVERY TIME I came home, he was the first to greet me. He was a big dog and did not know it. He was goofy, yet smart. Wow, cant replace a dog like that. I have two other dogs, but they ain't Fred.

Me and my boys, Luke and Jacob, went out in the cold last night and buried him. Yep, we cried. And, yep I am still crying today and will for a few. You may ask, "over a dog?" Nope, over a member of my family. My best friend. Fred.

Simple

This is one of my neighbors, Stan. He is a great neighbor.

One of his greatest quality is he is simple. This is a picture of him and the house he is building. It is built out of split logs heavy cross beams as corner posts.

Everything he does is simple. His budget. His walk with Christ. He is very kind and very helpful.

Simple.

He does a FEW things well.

I cannot seem to get away from that thought. Its hard for me to be simple, but I'm trying.

How about you?

Are you simple?

Do you live simple?

I would love to know how if so.
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We Are Family

Back in the day there was a family the group, Sister Sledge, sang "We are family"

Coming off of a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday, eating wayyyyy to much, I realize more this year how important family is.

I lost one of my older brothers a little over a year ago. Yesterday, I was thinking about him. As a kid I would not let him fix my plate because he had a wart on his thumb! Lol, that was too funny.

My oldest brother was the "cool" one My older sister was the one that spoiled me. My oldest sister was the one who kept us in line.

By the time I was 15, my parents divorced.

That was hard.

Caused us to be "disfuntional". Or at least that is what the world calls it.

What's cool though, is that we may be older. Less one awesome brother and my Dad may not be with us like it was, but when I am with my family (and their kids, my kids, their kid's, kid's and all of our "dysfunctions" we are still family.

Tell your family you love them.

Just a thought.....
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Laughter

Need a stress releiver? Then pull a harmless prank on a friend. I love to laugh, its a stress reliever!
Just a thought.....

What The ?????
What The ?????

OK, so I ran across this pastor. Who in the ;*^!!! does he think he is?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY0xNu4pU5E

I have opinions about stuff, but this guy rolled Billy Graham! Billy Graham? Wow. If you look at this guys videos that he posts on You Tube, he attacks others as well.

He has also attacked Perry Noble at Newspring Church. Perry and his Church are reaching so many people for Christ! Yet, here is this freakin dude that calls him self a pastor attacking men and women of god .

He is gutless and narrow minded! I would love to see the dude walk up to Perry and say it. Perry would not get mad, but it would be cool to see what he would possibly say to the dude.

I don't know. maybe it takes all kinds. OK, i vented. I feel a little better.

Just a Thought.....

What are yours????

Pace

Pace. Thats what this lil old man is about.
That is the hardest thing in the world with someone like me to do!!

When I do something I want to get it done!!

As I read "it" by Craig Groschel I am having to set the book aside and pray after every chapter, sometimes paragraph.

The word that is my new motto (and not an easy one) is "simple"

Yes, simple.

With that I MUST learn how to Pace my self. Not to slow, not to fast. But at the speed that God wants me to go at.

maybe its age.Maybe its because I have been a pastor for a while now. Maybe, just maybe its both and God saying.. Focus, simplify, be diligent and do things ON PURPOSE.

Celebrate, Connect, Commit.

Pace. pace, pace,

Pace

Its gonna take a while, but I'll get it

I think Ill' just set my chair on the front porch this evening and look at the stars.

Just a thought.....

What is your "IT"?

This book is rocking my world. Through it i'm discovering my IT. My new favorite word as a pastor is "simple". Why? Because that's my "IT"

Just a Thought.....

The Big Three

WOW!!!

25 Billion dollars? Normally i would not blog about "political" issues. However, this one blows my mind!

To try and understand what is going on in our economy is one thing, to see three multi-BILLION dollor leaders fly in their leir jets to beg congress for money is another.

I love this guys take....


http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/20/honda.town/index.html

Just a Thought.....

I wish I could be my dog for a couple of days. No worries

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Expressions and Quotes

Whoooooooooooooo!!! LOL That was the famous one line expression of former wrestler "The nature Boy" Ric Flair.

Yep I am still a WWE fan. I still go to the shows when they come. I still go nuts, because a part of me wants to believe its real.

I love one line expressions. For example:

"Boy, ill slap you so hard yo mama will feel it!"

"That tastes sooooo good, it'll make you wanna slap yo MaMa!"

"He was drunker that Cooter Brown"

Or God ole Church quotes....

"God is good all the time"

"Ive got victory in Jesus"

"Are you "saved?"


Any way, what is it about one line expressions and or quotes that make us grin or in some cases puke?

What are some that you have heard???????

Praying by the Arkansas River

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ReTrOsPeCt

Every day offers the unexpected, if we look for it.

To know the future is one thing, to look at the experience of the past is another.

Tomorrow I look back into yesterday and smile.

Today I wonder what tomorrow holds. Hmmmm

Each day offers a lesson that we truly cannot learn from until we look at it in retrospect.

The why's

The whens

The how's

And the

Well, looking at the refined funky and freaky steps we did or didn't take.

Hopefully no regrets

Prayerfully repenting of sins

Masterfully formed my Gods hand.

Retrospect

We will see

Perhaps tomorrow

Perhaps.

Just a Thought.....
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The Nest

The training nest

I set here this evening at a pc where my son is tutored.

I think about how his 10 year old brain is being "trained". Its at a place called Learning RX... And yes they call it "brain training".

Carving new "Neuro Paths" to cause him to think quicker and process information better. Proof it works? Yep, got plenty of that.

Pre Learning Rx

He could not read well at all

He could was introverted in public

He was very bashful

His memory was thin

Mid way through Learning Rx

He can read 100% better

He is NOT introverted at all

He is still a little bashful, just not in a "under minded" way

His memory is sharper as I watch him USE his brain.

My point to writing this?

Brain Training is difficult and painful. It always starts with the heart. You think about it, pray about it, fast, cry, and even question at times.

When we go to make a decision, we do it for the bigger picture and protect those we love. And in that "protecting" we try to explain, yet one can't fully do that because then the very one(s) you are protecting would be hurt.

A worship artist by the name of Jason Upton wrote a song called "Fly"

The momma bird pushes the bird out of the nest. As the bird oddly flys it cries, and the mom does to. However, the end result is a brand new way of thinking for the bird. It fly's, discovers and the end result is bigger and better than ever. But the Momma still has some pain.

Its a never ending "brain training". ahhhh.. Here comes my 10 year old. I wonder what he learned tonight through the process. Just a Thought

Weekly Mind Dump

Wrecked my car

They totaled it....

They paid it off

Church decisions

Study for sermon on Sunday

Not supposed to drive... but i am

Been off of my School bus job because of broken foot

Insurance is paying me a little bit while im off (thanks be to God!)

Helped do the funeral of my Asst. pastor's grandma. What a sweet warrior of God.

I have some great people around me.

I have some decisions to make.

I am praying.

I am thankful.

A bit stressed.

Its all good though, cause God is Good.

Substance

If faith is the substance what do we grab?

The fact that we "walk by faith and not by sight" is a freaky thing.

In the boat, is safty. Then we get a crazy idea to wanna be like jesus and step ON the water.

jesus smiles and says, "come on!"

We smile and freaking do it! the sound of spiting, gargeling and choking are the post reactions.

Salt water. Its cold. Its deep.

Substance? hmmmmmm...

I don't know. Maybe its just me. But I ponder the thought that walking on water or healing a sick person or even raising the dead is not the point. The point is.... Jesus.

In faith failure.... jesus is to be praised

In faith celebration..... Jesus is to be praised

Substance is trying. Substance is just stepping out and having NO idea what is next.

Example

God told Noah to build an ark because it was gonna rain... Noah had no idea what rain was

Jesus told his followers to "take up the death tool (the cross) and follow me" Follow Him where?

Substance is the perfect nothing manfested into our imperfect something to be transformed into faith that causes us to walk on a perfect nothing. (read that again to get it)

Just a Thought.....

Then I blinked

The earliest memory that I have as a child is waking up and thinking no onw was in the house and i freaked out! I think I was about 4. Then I blinked.....

I was entering kindergarten and ready to tackel the play-doe project. Then I blinked.....

I was entering the 6th grade and my body was changing and girls no longer had "kooties". Then I blinked.....

Jr. High School. Lol. I wont even go there at the moment. Then I blinked.....

High School. Scarey. Then I blinked.....

Met Tami (My wife). Then I blinked.....

Our first child. then I blinked.....

Then college and then another child then another blink.....

Now a 16 year old and a 10 year old. Blink.....

Opps... just a second.....

Had to fix my contact lens, I blinked again and it almost fell out....

Just a Thought.....

Loud Life

Several years ago I preached a message called "When life gets louder than God".

I have had one heck of a week. With all of the drama going on in my life I have not heard Him very well. Therefore I am coming to the end of this year with a little bit of resolve.

When people are hurting, that is God saying help.

When people are cursing me that is God saying - this is a test.

When people are numb, that is God saying "Pray for them"

When an "offering basket" is passed by that is God saying, "give".

When my kids laugh, that is God saying "go ahead laugh with them!"

I know its Gods voice ANYTIME I read Scripture

I know ITS NOT God's voice when im confused.

Come to think of it loud gets so loud that we KNOW WHEN sATAN IS ATTACKING US, but we cant here the one who is protecting us.

I choose to hear God and hopefully become deaf to satan -

Can you hear Him now? Just a Thought.....

Romancing the past

Today God spoke to me loud and clear.

As I near the 40 mark in my life I find myself saying more and more, "remember when."

Wow, what is so intreaging about the past?

The good memories. Sure there are bad ones as well. But we stuff those in until we want to be the victim. (thats another post for another time).

We like to, in the words of Rob Bell, "Romance the past".

Dont we?

The time we did that........... This.......... and the other.

How the story went (no matter how sweet or sour it was) is not how it has to be... Or become.

I have been married for 20 years. Great years. Surly though the next 20 will be even better than the past 20, right?

Simply put, I hear God say in a very still, small, whispering voice. "Quit dancing with the past"

My dance partner is the now. I will "romance" the now and plan for the future - which will be better.

As a matter of fact I love to dance. However, if I try to dance like I did then, well haha, I think I will just dance how I do now.

Break dancing anyone? Just A Thought.....

She was right

Yep - I admit it, my wife was right!

She kept telling me that if I dont stop I will crash. Of course because of the "good" husband that I am i did NOT listen.

My day?

up at 4am

work out 415-530...am

drive a school bus 630 to 830....am

pray 9 - when im done

1030 - 130 depwnds what day it is (study, mentorship to and from, followups, phonecalls, church errands, study, research, study, read, plan, pray,marketing for learning rx etc....)

drive school bus - 2pm - 430pm

take son to "brain training" at learning rx 5:30 - 630...pm

come home, help with house chores, pet my dog, help with homework, shoot basketball with my younges (and oldest if he is not at work), help cook, eat if there is time 700 - 830....pm

Pick up my son from work 9 - 945....pm

Come home and catch the news, read 10 - 1030....pm

go to bed and fall asleep by 11.... pm if I can

next day??? More

Yep my wife is right - I crashed Wednesday at noon. My body said STOPPPPPP!

Lesson learned? Sure. The lesson is, she is right more than I give her credit for and I hope to slow down and heed that advice.

Well time to drive the bus! Just a Thought.....

Decision

I am soooooooooo trying to think before I (re)act. I am 38 years old and you think I would know that, LOL.

For example. A driver cuts me off - I will cuss him (in Jesus name) kidding...

If I am stressed I tend to over react to the ones I love the most and put on that smile to those who I simply am trying to be nice to.

Its a decision that should NOT be mine on how to answer a question, react to a situation, etc... It is, or should be the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I mean, even jesus said that he did not speak unless the Father (YHWH, God, Daddy, Abba, The man upstairs) told him what to say and when to say it.

I decide that I need to decide that my desisions effect more than me. I decide that I will NOT be stingy and self centered. And, that is tough to do

38 years of practice, wow God is graceful isnt He? Just a thought.....

WEEKLY MIND DUMP

Wow its Friday

Thousght I was supposed to do a wedding Monday, no one shows up

I had the date wrong, I was there a week early

Threat of Hurricane Ike

Met with a Doctor and his office about referrals for Learning RX (My third job - Marketing)

Loved Bible group study this past W.N.

Worked out 4 times this week for about an hour and a half

Drove the bus

Preped for a message

Prayed on the phone with a couple of people

Spent some time on the phone with a couple of pastors.

They have Churches that refuse to change (Ill blog about that next week, ughhh!!)

My 10 year old made a 97 on his Science test

My 16 year old is gowing up tooooooooooo fast

My wife is awesome - her dad has cancer, please pray for him

The wedding?????? Monday

LOL at my self! Just a thought

REMEMBER

i WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND HEARD THE DJ ON THE RADIO TALK WITH A VERY LOW AND SAD VOICE.

A PLANE HAS HIT THE ONE OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NYC.

ANOTHER PLANE HIT THE PENTAGON.

ANOTHER PLANE CRASHES

A SECOND PLANE HAS HIT THE OTHER TRADE CENTER.

IT WAS AN WEIRD FEELING.

IT SEEMED SO QUIET OUTSIDE.

MY WIFE LEFT HER CLASS AND WENT AND GOT OUR BOYS FROM SCHOOL.

I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT HAD HAPPENED.

HERE WE ARE 7 YEARS LATER AND OVER 80% OF AMERICA DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN!

WOW

TELL THE LOVED ONES THAT

THE PEOPLE THAT WERE JUMPING OUT OF THE BURNING BUILDING.

WE FORGET.

WE THINK WE ARE STILL STRONG

WE ARE COCKY

ARROGANT

IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN

WE ARE VENERABLE

IN AN ELECTION YEAR

LIFE GOES ON

BILLS TO PAY

PLACES TO GO

THINGS TO DO

GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH

A CAR TO CLEAN

WHAT WAS I WRITING ABOUT?......

OH YEA, I ALMOST FORGOT......

REMEMBER

JUST A THOUGHT.....

weekly mind dump

Labor Day, I did NOT labor!

Tuesday, was Monday

Brady preached a life changing message Sunday!

Hurricane Gustov hits the gulf

Some of Gustov set on Arkansas for 2 days

Power out for 2 days at home

Lost my temper this past week, I twittered about it in short

Brady and i dug trench for very poor drainage at the CPC campus

I love my wife

I love my kids

I drive about 700 miles a week!

I have made it to the gym at 4:30 am this week!

I have a lot to be celebrating

I am under stress, yet it is stress that forms us in the hands of the Holy Spirit

I am reading "Wild Goose Chase" for the second time

Laundrey is getting piled up at home, thankful to have stuff to ware

Life is, life and I desire to live it differently everyday so that i will not presume everyday is the same. i can's stand boring! i need adventure. I need a box to hide in at times, but after I come out of the box I will burn it.

Just a thought

Connection

I just had the chance to meet Robert Lewis (founder of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock). Wow what an incredible leader! He still travels for mens fraternity and is getting ready to go to hondorus and train 1500 pastors!!!!

Wow what an incredible connection to make!

When I talk to dudes like that it makes me hyper! Why? because I want (and am) to do something to make a difference in this world!

I dont like politics, but I love God connections!

I have had the chance to make several in the last couple of months. I am amazed that God would think of us enough to have us connect with people to be able to connect to others!

Even as I am setting here in a coffee shop I just invited a total stranger to CPC, he and his girlfriend are students in pharmecy school.

It is so, so, so important to connect with people. Jesus loves people.

"Look at the fields" those are four very challanging words that should ring in our ears!

Connect! Just a thought.....

Tension

So, I am a dude that wares a lot of hats.
Husband, Dad, Pastor, Public Relations and yep! a bus driver!
With this portfolio comes tension.
Tension is healthy, tension is hard.
Like heat forming a metal. Tension forms my reactions.
I love being in a room where there is healthy tension. I am the one who will expose it. I don't like controversy, but, I do like to use it as a springboard to get to another level of communication and leadership.

When tension enters our life it will push at our limits at times. So I wrestle with it and use it for the good. As a dad its the tension of my boys. As a husband its the tension of communicating. As a pastor its the tension of leadership. As a bus driver its the tension of stupid drivers!! As a public relations dude its the tension of trying to connect a product to the buyer.

I don't pray for no tension. Why? Because with out tension there is no gravity. With out gravity we would all just float around.

I don't invite tension, but when it comes i use it and I try not to let it use me!

Oh yea! I do have one more hat. The hard hat. I ware it because of the tension of being a human.

Just a thought.....

Wild Goose Chase

I have just read the book "Wild Goose Chase". Written by author and pastor Mark Batterson from NCC in DC. You can get more info at www.chasethegoose.com

This book convicted me to the core. Phrases like "do angels yawn" to "good old fashioned guts"

In following Christ we are given so many opportunities to live on the edge. Mark teaches is reader to step of the edge and allow God to do crazy stuff in our life

I am a pastor and I know (even more now) that the Spirit of God moves where HE wants and the adventure of chasing it is the beginning of it all

The Wild Goose invites us with a grin, and Mark smiles himself as a spokesmen of the Goose. "Just a Thought.....
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Ahhhhh what a team

I have had some major stress in my life (well, major to me) and I knew I needed to see some change.

And change, I have seen.

Following Christ... Living by faith... through grace...

Working on being a better husband (wow, edging up on 20 years!!!!)

Being a better dad (I must say, I'm pretty good at that)

Pastoring.............. well that is a challenge.... but oh what a great team i work with!

Brady (asst. pastor) he is a get it done guy

Ann (yep you) by far the MOST efficient, caring and sharpest people I know! (She is our book keeper)

Phillip - What a passionate worship leader!!

My board - men that do not stifle vision (Kenny and Keith)

You see, its this team - and a load of other people that enable me to do what i do.

If I had the means I would take them and their families on a cruise! (if you wanna give, call me... LOL kidding.... LOL no I'm not)

Whats next? I don't know, but i will NOT do it alone!! Just a thought.....

The Edge

The edge is scary. It is lonely. It is a place that causes you to really think! Yea, its a place that is away from the middle ground. That place that if you fall down you just hit the ground. On the edge, if you fall you are not gonna hit the ground for a while!

I love coming from the edge of thought and inviting someone to come with me. To that shift in culture. That thing that makes you really challenge your self, question things and cause you to really pray. Yes, I am wired differently, but - like Mark Batterson from NCC Church in DC says, "Chase the Lion".

Try this, go to a tall building and go to the roof of that tall building and set on the edge of the roof of that tall building. Your heart will jump, you will respect the edge and you will see a new perspective than you can from the ground.

From the edge you can dream, target and see what it is from a panoramic view what God wants you to conquer next.

Come on, come with me to the edge and hang on tight and see what else there is to do in this thing called life.

Next? I wanna skydive off the edge! Wanna come? Just a Thought.....

Faith

Substance. Things hoped For. Risk. Blind. These are all words that describe faith. In all of life we are required to live by faith. To not know what tomorrow holds. We learn it through process, through life, mistakes, and or success. Understanding faith is impossible , yet operating in it is not. Moving mountains, praying for that unreachable thing. I am beginning to find in my own walk that faith is not what we see on the local Christian TV station. Where it can be seen is in that single parent that is raising a kid and holding 3 jobs. In the teacher who makes a small salary for an untold amount of dedication. The missionary in worlds not heard of. The kid who says no to peer pressure. The CEO who is ethical. Faith, I certainly do hope, risk and God knows I am blind at times. I just want to see what i am supposed too. Just a Thought.....

Mind Dump

I saw another pastor do what is called "mind dump" on Twitter. Once a week he will just empty his thoughts onto paper. So, in the spirit of that pastor - here goes......

Time is short.

Rest is hard to get.

Its getting harder to be romantic.

My dog is my best friend.

I have to go, again??

My kids are my heros.

I wish I could scream very, very loud.

I love Jesus with all my heart, yet sometimes I just want a cold beer (but I don't - because those other "preachers" might gossip about it)

I hate religion

I wish we had carpet instead of hardwood floors at home.

I want to sky dive.

I am self centered.

I love Jesus with all my heart, why do I get road rage?

Frusteration is a flaw of mine.

I will NOT please everyone, so why do I try?

Do all people have Drama problems?

Its hard to be commited to people with the lack of commitment.

I need to loose 50 lbs.

I joined a gym two weeks ago and have not gone yet!!!!!!

I am a hypocrite

I cant spell!!!!!!

I love Jesus with all of my heart, why don't I trust him most of the time

ahhhhhhhhhh, that is much better. Just a Thought.....

Others

In the Church you will find as many stories as there are people. As many people you will find, you will discover relationships. Unless, of course you are one of those narrow minded, self centered "Christians". The fact that we go to church every Sunday is for several reasons. First, to worship God. Then in this order, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and then Evangelism. Did you notice the list of importance? Yes, God is FIRST! However, 4 of the 5 are about others. A sobering question that needs to be asked of ANY Christ following church every 3 months is, "when do we notice the "others". You know, those ones that are not in our inner circle. LOL, yep that includes the local church. The fact of the matter is this. The song "I just need Jesus" is a false doctrine that is taught in introverted Churches. Jesus not only loves people, he needs people. Not in the "needy" since, but in the since that He wants to involve us in His plan of helping others, through compassion and hands on love. Everyone has a story, and every story is unique and God wants us to hear it. Why?, well to quote a college history professor I had, "History is "His Story". Just a thought.....

sleep

As I set here at a desk in the baptist sleep clinic I have just concluded a sleep study done on me. With wires attached to my head, chest and legs and a "c-pap" (breathing instrument) machine around my head, I'm sure I looked like a cheap stunt double from a star wars movie! I feel really good this morning. Why? Because I slept! That c-pap gave me the proper air flow that my brain needed to get the sleep that my body needed. What stinks is I could avoid all this trouble by loosing about 30 pounds - but heaven knows that "aint no fun!" So I will leave here today and go get a new c-pap machine and starting tonight I will get some very sound sleep (minus the wires). Thus, bringing more peace in the bedroom at the wood house. Thus, making my wife happier, thus feeling a whole lot better. Yep, no more bed bugs for me! Just some good sleep as I dream about what I need to dream about. Just a thought.....

Sister blabsitall and the piano

There is an old story about a pastor who had just took a church that had not seen productive change in 43 years. After about 3 months of successful ministry he thought he would make some changes, only to be met with some up hill challenges. They didn't like the new paper towels in the kitchen. They didn't like the fact that he parked his car behind the church and not in the "pastors Parking". They didn't like the fact that he removed the "pastors parking" sign. And then the one that just about "quenched the spirit", you ready for this shocker?!.......... He moved the piano!!!!!!!!! Oh the shock!!! Oh the horror!!!! The piano player (who knew all of 3 songs) said "surly these are the last days!!" So, the pastor moved it back. But, as he pondered these new challenges, he thought of ways that he could make tiny changes that only would be noticed in tiny but curious ways. So, one day he began to move the piano 3 inches every Saturday night. Before the year would be out he would have moved the piano 12 feet. As the weeks rolled along he faithfully moved it 3 inches a week. Then, one day he saw sister blabsitall (the piano player) standing at the back of the sanctuary just staring and scratching her head. The pastor approached her and said, "sister blabsitall, is everything OK?" (he knew he was busted!) She said "yea, something is different... hmmmmm... " , "oh, i see, haha, so you think you can just come in hear and change everything about this house of the lord don't ya?" .... "well don't think you can pull the wool over my eyes pastor, I hear from the spirit every day. He talks to me ya know! As the pastor was getting ready to take a chewing for moving the piano, sister blabsitall said with a passion, "you not only tried to change the paper towels 12 months ago, now your trying to change the brand of toilet paper!!!" A sheepish grin came across his face and he responded. "Yes mam, I will see to it that we go back the the generic brand". She turned and walked to the stage too her seat at the piano bench and began to play one of the three songs she knew "changed in the twinkling of an eye". From that day forward the change slowly happened and the foundation was set. The pastor just caught the secret. Change is gooooood, even if its just 3 inches at a time. The next change? The flowers in the foyer! Just a thought.....

Er's, bad nurses and a police officer

well it began at 11 am in the er and ended seven hours later! Oh what a day! I took my dad to the hospital to make sure he was not having a stroke (he didnt - Thank you Jesus!) and the drama began. As i checked him in they took his vitals (one of 958 times!!) and then a nurse who had THE PERSONALITY OF A FLAT TIRE NOISE AND ALL!!!!!! came in to attend to my dad could not, would not or what ever give us any information at all as to what in the heck was happening - two hours later - she come in to take his vitals again, still NO INFORMATION. So I "fired her" and they got me another nurse (which i would find out later was an angel sent by GOD!). About 4 hours into our luxerious stary at the local ER, me and my dad began to get very very antzy. They come in the room with a wheel chair to go and take a chest X-Ray, which would have been great, IF HE NEEDED A FREAKIN CHECT X-RAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What they ordered 4 hours earlier was a CT scan!!!! So i am hot, no TICKED! at this time. I venture down to the nurses station to find out what was up. Now it gets fun!! A barney fithe, opps.. I mean police officer approached me with a snarl, hands on his gun and a slite strut. (this is where I was VERY, VERY WRONG AND I HAVE REPENTED OF MY STUPID SIN SINCE) i looked at him and asked him,"what are you looking at??" I turned to go back to the 2 inch x 2 inch room and i knew he was following me. Why, you may ask? Well because he was screaming at me! I turned around and said, "Sir, I am very sorry - I really am - please forgive me its been a long confusing morning for me and my dad". He then said " Yea and you better shut your mouth or I will arrest your smart ellick butt right now" I said (as he was about 3 inches from my face) to back off - he precedes to call back up. In walks two other police officers twice my size - and I am a big guy. So i just shut my mouth and let him continue to spew out a bunch of crap. The result?? Well the "fine" police officer was wrote up by the charge nurse, his supervisor and they want me to fill out a report. I wont do that, I think he understands and I thank God I was not falsely arrested. As a matter of fact I made a friend out of the deal. I connected really well with one of the other police officers. lesson learned???? Well, lol its very true that patience is a powerful virtue and I can see why it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Yep, I am a jerk and God said I was acting like one. So, hopefully the next time I am in a deal like that hopefully I can think through the situation before I act through the situation. Like the comedian Steve Harvey said AFTER he came to Christ, "He ain't done with me yet!!" Just a thought.....

TEXTING

Its amazing..... PC's were all the rage 10 years ago. Then the laptop came on the scene. Now? Well its the smart phones. From anywhere a person that has one can post blogs, such as this one, upload pictures, check email, instant message and of course the most popular, text. Its funny, my oldest son who is 16 has "unlimited texting" on his phone. For 20 bucks a month he can text until his fingers turn blue. I was with him and some of his friends a couple of weeks ago (yes he let me go !! LOL) and, get this, they were not talking, they were texting!!!!! then I looked up and saw about a hundred other people doing the same thing. Then something really funny happened. i saw a young man walking out of the door and he just about triped over a lady because he was texting. He didn't miss a beat, he said (with out looking up) "sorry bout that" and kept on texting away. Recently i had to take the phone away from my teen (another story) and what I have found out is amazing. he has something to say!! He actually talks. He is creative, conversational and listens really well. So, i have told him that when he gets his phone back that he will look up and see the world around him, because it will pass you by while you pass it by texting. Well i guess i better close this blog, i have a text that's coming in. Just a thought.....

but God gives the increase.....

As a pastor you will spend countless hours investing into the lives of people, and for that, i am thankful. I guess the hardest thing i battle though is this... Investing time (an priceless commodity) into people only to seem near helping them, only for them to go to another person, pastor, Christian, what ever and get "rescued just in time by them". To be honest its very very very frustrating. It makes me want to say, "forget it!!!!!!!!" and quit doing it. However, I have been checked by the Holy Spirit (and He is still working on me) that some sow seed, others water BUT GOD GIVES THE INCREASE. In my mind that stinks!!! But in my spirit I know its truth. So, I keep sowing, keep watering and if someone else is in the process of helping (like another pastor, person and or Christian) along their journey, I must learn that it is not about "me and my ministry" its about that person and their walk with Christ. Because through it all, God gives the increase. Just a thought.....

Spontaneous

Remember the doughnut commercial when the baker would get up early every day and say in a depressed way 'its time to make the doughnuts'. Life can get boring if we let it. I want to be more spontaneous. I want to play hookie on a Tuesday morning and play go fishing with my kids. I want to drive a different way to the office. I would love to get up in the middle of the night and take a walk on the river bank. No planned vacation, just go with no agenda. No clock. Just to decide when I get up. You know, know, just to enjoy every moment. Plans are good, and need to be made. Not 'in a box' but made in a fluid, changable kind of way. Even doughnuts can be made in a bunch of ways. Just a thought.....
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Vacation part 2

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Vacation

Me and my family are on vacation in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This has been an awesome and relaxing trip. I am trying to learn to how to relax more. Now I think I'm getting the hang of it. Hahah. I hope that even in the face of Agenda that I can have the discipline to learn how to too take a Sabbath on a normal basis. Hmmm the root of vacation is 'vacate' so I think its ok to even vacate our agendas, don't you? Just a thought.....
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Process

Life is a process not an event. Why do we live from event to event? Vacation to Vacation? Friday to Friday? In my opinion its we don't enjoy process. Its in the process that we are stretched, hurt, turned around, question God and are molded. I truly believe that process is more important than outcome. If not, then we would be able to take a quantum leap into our end. So I kinda see it like this. I find my potential, try to learn in the process so that i will be able to handle the peak. In other words I learn to cry then crawl then walk then run only to learn how to cry again. Process, not an event. Just A Thought.....

Walk With Me

Thoughts.... Walk with me God.
Actions.... Walk with me God.
Opps!... Walk with me God.
#$@@#!!!!..... Walk with me God.
Let me try again.... Walk with me God...........

That is what I call "the vicious cycle" We start off with thoughts and then we pray and then it seems at times all of hell breaks loose. We fall and all we can see is the dust from it. We lay there, praying, crying, still, scared. Then we feel something. A touch on the shoulder of our heart. We look up. There he is, smiling with a smile that can only be described by faith. Its Him, Jesus. He wipes the tears, picks us up and says, walk with me..... Just a thought.....

Narrow

Narrow minded cultures make me squirm. You know, people who have lived in their lil corner of the world and think that is it. Especially "religious" people. Yes we all understand that Jesus is THE way. Other than that, its about personal desire and method, isn't it? I mean some people try to put their own convictions into a "doctrinal thesis". Cmon, give me a break! Do we really think that our American apple pie is the best way? Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Lutheran. Who's right? Which description on the "attributes of Jesus" or "list of 7, 16, 22 or 100 statements of faith" are right? Jesus was a radical in every since of the word. He would not conform to narrow minded, one sided and beneficial law. He came and "filled in the blanks" of a non fulfilled law. He set us free, not just from sin, but from narrow minded and ridged doctrine. Narrow is the way, not our minds. Just a thought.....
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Powerful Network

I was told by a great leader a few years ago to "never underestimate the power of a network". That was before all of the popular social networking sites came out. Wow, was he right or what??!! If you know one person you have a network. The question is, who's network are you in? The people around us can use us as dumpsters and diapers or they can help us to learn and lean. Connection is so vital. I only allow a few people to truly speak INTO my life. The rest, well that same leader said "eat the chicken and spit out the bones". I believe one of my callings are to help other leaders. I dream of connecting and downloading useful information into young leaders so that the Gospel of Jesus can be applied and multiplied. I desire to form a network of men, women, students and kids that will be part of a NON COOKIE - CUTTER atmosphere. I wonder what it would be like? I wonder how powerful a positive, proactive and non selfish network could be, if not underestimated? Just a thought.....

DANG I AM GETT'N OLD!!!!!

OK here is the deal. I remember when i used to be able to go from dusk till dawn! Not so any more. I went and did something that my mind said I could do and my body rejected this past Saturday. i challenged my 16 year old son and some of his friends to a basketball game. Oh man, how stupid am I?????? LOL, I got out there on the court and bounced around like I was 0 years old. Then, my lungs started burning, i was grasping for air and then my legs started cramping. Then....... By Monday morning my back was so tight that I would NOT dare try to walk. Yep, I'm old. i used to have a saying that went like this, "never let your mind tell your heart what to do". I will add to that - "Never let your mind tell your out-of shape body what to do!! Ha ha! Just a thought...................

Busy Mind

There are things in life that cause a person to answer this question; "how are you?" "Well (they will respond) I'm too busy" I have said that myself. Its a dangerouas thing. Being too busy to be busy about what's important. That is a discipline. I'm trying not to be busy about worrying about stuff, fretting about stuff and getting sick about stuff. I need to have a clear or renewed mind everyday. The next time asks me how I'm doing I hope I can say, I'm busy with the right things. Just a Thought.....
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Fear

Everyone has them. Fears. The fear of death. The fear of life. The fear of the economy and everything in between. One of my fears is to have none at all. To be numb. To not feel any emotion. If I ev er get to a point where I cannot not cry, that would really put fear in me. I know Jesus said fear not. And, I am working on those abstract things that can cause fear. But, just like the original disciples of Christ I still call from the bottom of this boat called life and scream out loud, JESUS!!!!!! HELP!!!!! Because if I am to numb to cry out, I would die in this boat. Just a thought.........
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Lessons from a sisteen year old

My oldest son will be 16 in about two weeks. We just bought him his first truck. I was talking to him last night and it was evident that he was purely focused on one thing, driving. He understands that with that comes certain responsibilities and freedoms. A tension that should not exist but does. I have learned several things from him over the course of the last few days. First, he is focused - that in itself is a lesson. See what you want and go for it. Secondly, he he listening better. I am sure that is do to being this close of actually driving the tuck! and most of all, he is expecting. His expectations will no doubt be brought down by the current gas prices, yet I have learned that expectation is the ingredient that everything else is fertilized with. Just a Thought............

Sum Sum Summer Time!!!!!!

Well it is about to arrive! The summer of 2008. Water parks, vacations, picnics, cold creeks (or at least in the country where I live) sun burns, float trips, youth camps and the list goes on. This year my family and I will be taking our first vacation in several years (shame on us). I plan on using this time to rest and recharge. Its a Biblical principal. Its called Sabbath. I don't want to continue to "get all I can and can all I get". I want to chill. I want to not have to be creative. I just want to have fun with my family, get alone with God, reflect and just get what I like to call "stupid silly". Its the summer time - and I am gonna chill! Just A Thought.........

Blog

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Think

Its Friday. The rain is pouring out of the sky. The ground is already saturated from a month of hard rains in April. As the rain falls it one can watch as the water just pours off of the ground. I watch as the ground will not receive the rain. Then I think, hmmm... The ground must be able to absorb the water before it can receive any more. Life, in a since, is the same way. We are spoiled. We have more than enough, (well, at least in our western culture we do). We cannot appreciate something fresh because we don't take time to absorb that which God has given to us at a previous season. So, as I look out of the window and watch the rain, I tell myself, enjoy the moment. Take life all the way in as it comes (good and bad). Tomorrow will be Saturday, i wonder if it will rain again? Just a thought........

Mobil

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In Reguards To:/ I posted this a while back, Just wanted to repost it

In regards to grace, its amazing

In regards to love, its a gift

In regards to patience, its earned

In regards to energy drinks, don't

In regards to my wife, Proverbs 31:10-31

In regards to my 10 year old, i want to be like him

In regards to my almost 16 year old, he is the picture of calm

In regards to Church, be it

In regards to Jesus, imitate Him

In regards to books, read the thick ones too

In regards to the heart, don't let the mind tell it what to do

In regards to Monday, well its Monday

In regards to Rocky, was that really the last one made?

In regards to doors, do not walk through all of them

In regards to rest, do it or die

In regards to jello, what happened to the Bill Cosby jello commercials?

In regards to random, lol... thanks for reading

Just A Thought...........

Try Again

Failure is not an option? LOL!!!!! I heard that line on a movie that I watched the other night. Well, in my world failure is not only an option, it is common! When the Bible states that, " a righteous man falls down 7 times (or in my case 7, 423 times!!) he gets back up. So, my theory is try again. Keep going. Get back up. Don't look behind you, just keep going. I WILL get there, i will succeed, why? Cause I will try again!......... Just a Thought

The last peice of Chicken

I was reminiscing about a childhood moment this morning. I grew up in a large family. Me, my two brothers, two sisters, Mom and Dad (before they divorced), cat, two dogs and a goldfish named "sharkey". We lived in a modest 3 bedroom home in an older community. Needless to say it was crowded. But, wow, what great days they were! I remember setting at the dinner table one Sunday afternoon. My mom had made some homemade fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. What a meal! I remember setting there stuffing myself and enjoying my self as I argued with my brothers. Then, it happened... I looked up to see the last piece of chicken setting in the bowl that was lined with a paper towel and a little bit of grease coming through. No one dared reach for the last piece, it was taboo. You just don't grab the last piece of chicken. You think about it, but don't dare bring it up. Years later I would learn that there was a method to that table setting. I found out that the last piece of chicken was always for my mom. You see, my mom would not eat it until all of her family was satisfied. She would it some potato's and green beans while we stuffed our selves. Wow! Unknown to us it wasn't just the last piece of chicken, it was moms main course. As it is with Christ when He would hang on a Cross, while our sin debt was "satisfied". Yet, even as he hangs there it can become taboo. Thanks God for "preparing a table for us....." He waits, for the last person on earth to take the last piece. Just A Thought.........

coffee

I love coffee. Any kind of coffee. I remember being in Quito, Ecuador and tasting the pride of the country, Bannanna's and coffee. Its the universal beverage. With coffee i can think, converse and just enjoy good company. Coffee gives me the pep I need to get going and stay going. Yet, at the same time it causes me to just slow down, think and enjoy. Un like the over rated soda that most of us just guzzel down. Coffee and life are one in the same. If its fresh (coffee) then its goooooood. If its been setting in the pot for two days and then reheated then its baaaaaaadddd. Such is life. We have to keep it fresh. We have to slow down long enough to enjoy it. We cant just let life get cold, only to try and live off the "warmed up memories of yesterday". Maybe God would say, "pull up to the tabel and let me brew you a fresh pot of coffee". Want a cup? Just a thought........

RUMORS...AGAIN

Don"t ya just love what we can hear through the famous "grapevine". I got a phone call last evening from a board member in the Church I pastor (www.crosspointwlr.com) He is a great guy. He wanted me to be aware that someone called him, (someone who used to be a member here 12 years ago LOL!!!!!!), and heard through the wonderful grapevine that CrossPoint Church had filed for bankruptcy! Wow! Well, our Church does not have millions in the bank, but we are far from that statement. I love it. We are a healthy Church that has some awesome people who give faithfully, but you have some "concerned" person wanting to confirm the fate of CrossPoint.... and he has not given a dime in over 12 years!! Yes, I was fired up about it at first! Now? well I still am. Why didn't he just freakin call and or send some money insted of feeding the rumor! LOL. I love rumors, when they are about me.... its water off my back. Mess with my family or the good name of CPC, well the old testament wrath just might "mana-fest!" Hmmmm, O wonder what grape vine juice tastes like? Probebly like the water that God puked out of his mouth in the Book of Revelation. Just a Thought..............

PRESSURE

I remember when I was a kid my Grandma making tea. I would watch as the steam would slowly roll off of the release valve. Then, it would happen. I would run for cover and cover my ears! All of the sudden that little bitty tea kettel would blow out a whisteling sound that scared me to no ends. But, oh man Grandma's tea was good! Such is life. To be honest I feel like I just want to run for cover and hold my ears. in the Bible paul said, "we are pressed but not crushed." Well I feel like (even though I'm not) I am crushed. Pressure is for a purpose. Its in the "press" that we are molded, tried and made tender by the Holy Spirit. Life is not fair, yet, God is good! Tea any one? Just a thought...........

TRAFFIC

On the highway of life we can easily get caught up in all kinds of "traffic jams". What jams us up are several things. Let me name a few. First, the fear of pleasing everyone ALL THE TIME. You know what I mean? I am a pastor. I love people. It is expected of me to be a people pleaser. Well, if you know me IM NOT!!!!! I refuse to get jammed up as I have been before. The question is, how do you get unjammed? The best way out of a traffic jam is to turn around and go another way. Leave the  traffic and find another way. My life is too short to please everyone. I will try to please my wife, kids, parents and God. Everyone else is only as I feel it can truly benifit their life. If I continue to stay in the jam, i will not be productive, rather I will be standing still, going no where.... stagnet. I will continue to love people, but I will never be bound by them. Traffic jams.... they happen. Life, it happens. Detours? For sure. Stop standing still and go the other way. "Wide is the gate, narrow is the WAY"  Just a thought...................

Power

I long for it. I long for the day when i can walk into a hospital room and lay my hands on a person who is sick with cancer, heart disease, etc... I long to see the stuff that happened in the Bible to happen in my life. I long to see a God that I know is active, be active in my life. I know things happen "according to His will" but I refuse to use that as an excuse. Jesus Christ said, "I am gonna die, and then be raised again, then I will pray to the Father (God) that He will send the POWER of the Holy Spirit. It happened then, it happens now and I want it. Not for me, not for popular gain, not to feel good, but to see people changed and draw other people to God. I am not talking about belief or doctrine. I am talking about a real God, that really cares and really loves me. A powerful God, that longs to powerfully touch me. I long for it, and I will walk in it. Just a thought..........

Burned Popcorn

Know something funny? I do. Its the absence of commom sence. Since when can we NOT think for ourselves! Since when can we not see the answer to the questions when it is right freakin' in front of us! For example, who screwd up the popcorn? Let me expalin.... Have you ever noticed the instructions on a bag of microwave popcorn. It states, and i quote, "remove plastic wrap before placing it in microwave". Some really slow....slow person must have forgot to take it off before melting it in the freakin' microwave. The fact is, that is a total absence of God given common sence! My point? Think. Learn to listen to your heart before you do the media. Learn to listen to your heart before a right winged or left winged, or a broken wing tells you the "correct way" Commen sence is not book smarts, tech smarts.. it is survival knowlege that we must have to cleary know how NOT to "burn the popcorn".

AGANIST THE GRAIN

It's funny. I have been called a rebelious pastor to my face and behind my back (i appreciate the ones who tell me to my face by the way!). Any way, I love God, my family , the Church I pastor with all of my heart. Only a few people really understand me. The others? hugh, well I don't know. As far as doing and being the pastor (lead pastor, I have an awesome co-pastor) I find myself going aganist the grain a lot. I love people, yet its the religious ones who think that Church has to be done "their way". At CrossPoint (where I pastor - www.crosspointwlr.com) we do our best to listen to God, be creative and love people. When you do those three things YOU WILL go aganist the grain. NO WE ARE NOT the avrege type of Church. NO we are not for everyone, and No we will not back down, sow down, shut up , give up, rust up, grow stale, become religious and go with the flow of religion. WE WILL, how ever continue to go aganist the grain by loving the unlovable, doing things different, being different, shunning stink'n religion, be free, preach truth, worship, pray and just be people who are not afraid to GO aganist the grain! Just a thought.....

NOT A STOPPING KIND OF QUIT

It was one of those days. I think it was a tuesday morning. i started my day off with devotion, prayer, breakfast and talk radio. Then it happened. That feeling. That "mist of depression". Oh man, what a sick feeling it is. It's when the enemy of our soul comes and whispers to us lies, threats, empty promises. Its at that moment, that we have a thought that is fleeting, yet... in slow motion. The liar, the accuser, the enemy tells us ever so slick.... "quit! Just stop, give up and run." At that moment those words seem sweet. They seem like the way out. Your burned out. Tired. Numb. and..... mad. So, you do the religious thing and keep on going. For a while you feel like a spiritual hero! Then in about three to six months the visious cycle starts all over again. So what do you do? Well, I tell you what I am gonna start doing. I will quit! Now, before you check out on me let me expand this phrase. I will quit , or take a break, or retreat, while someone is praying for me. Thats right, we can getaway. We can "quit". but it is not a "stopping kind of quit" its a rejuvenating kind of quit. It is 1 hour on a lake side. Its that 30 minutes of a good nap. It's that Friday and Saturday of alone time. But, be aware. Ask someone to stand post for you while you "quit" for a while. Ask them to pray for you , to interceed for you. No, its not giving up. It is growing up and realizing that we need that little get-a-way from time to time. Give your self that permission today before you really... quit. Just a thought....