Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Second Mac


Just got a MacBook. It came by FedEx yesterday. Really excited about it. I know several who are switching from PC to Mac. 

I bought my first Mac back in 1988. It didn't even have a hard drive. It just had a floppy drive. That first Mac cost just about the same as this MacBook. Since that first Mac, I've been with PCs. I look forward to all of the new stuff that I will be able to do with this MacBook. 

However, I don't think that it will be as 'ground breaking' as that first Mac was for me. In 1988 I was making the switch from owning a typewriter to owning a computer. That was a huge jump.  

Father/Sons Trip

Going to Nascar's Martinsville Race on Sunday was a great time with my boys. It was an overall great experience. Some of the highlights were:
  • The seats were great - just past the start/finish line. The seats had backs to them - saved our backs. 
  • The weather was fantastic - short sleeves. Even got a little sunburn. 
  • There was a huge video screen in the middle of the infield that gave all the info those watching TV see. 
  • We rented Fan View sets. A handheld video screen that allows you to see video, hear radio, TV and pit crew broadcasts. Really awesome.
  •  We actually got to park fairly close, considering how far away we saw folks parking. 
  •  The roar of the engines was incredible! Fox's Crank It Up! does not even come close. Also the smell of rubber, spent fuel and hot dogs can only be experienced at the track. It is a smell that takes me back to going to the races with my grandpa.
  • The hot dogs at the race track are awesome!
Some of the things we noticed:
  • A lot of Nascar fans are very loyal to their driver. So much so that the fan will give the 'finger' to any other driver near their driver.
  • We drank Pepsi and Mountain Dew. For those around us, it seemed that Bud Light was the beverage of choice. Luckily we didn't any spilled on us. 
  • Since it rained Friday and Saturday, the parking lots (fields) were quite muddy and slick. I did more sliding in the mud at Martinsville that I did in the snow in West Virginia.  

Most of all, it was a great time to be with my sons. As a dad, I believe that one of my chief responsibilities is to help create memories. This trip is something that we will remember for a lifetime. Looking forward to making more memories. 

Saturday, March 28, 2009

I Didn't Ask For This

I wanted to pass on this post from Pastor Steven Furtick

We talk a lot about discovering your purpose.
But most of the time in Scripture, people’s purpose discovered them.
When God places His hand on you to accomplish great things through you, part of you will feel like: “Hey, I didn’t ask for all this!”

If you’re the parent of a strong willed child, a decision maker in a struggling company, or a youth pastor with little budget and no support, no doubt you’ve felt the frustration:“I didn’t ask for this!”

Mary didn’t ask for a full-term teenage pregnancy.
Noah didn’t ask for a 102,000 square foot, 43,000 ton building project upon which the preservation of the human race depended.
Moses didn’t ask for the responsibility of leading a fledgling nation of couple million ingrates through the wilderness.

God doesn’t ask your permission to fulfill His purpose through you.
You don’t get a vote, much less veto power.

You may as well give a gracious acceptance speech, and get on with it…

Friday, March 27, 2009

Weekend Reflections

It's been a busy week, lots of good stuff happening and lots of good stuff to look forward to for the weekend.
  • Bagley Swamp will be a host site for Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope on April 23 @ 8pm. This is going to be awesome! Check it out!
  • Had a great meeting last night with our Building Team, Consultant and an Architect. It was mainly an information gathering meeting, but I think we all walked away Pumped Up!
  • Headed out tomorrow with my boys to Winston-Salem to my mom & dad's.
  • It's a Father/Sons weekend. We've always talked about going to a Nascar race, but never had. Being a pastor, I'm usually busy on the weekends. Well, it's time to go. My oldest will be a senior in high school next year, so I don't want time to pass me by. So we are going to the Martinsville Race on Sunday. Really getting excited about it! Hoping that the rain will be leaving. It should.
  • Pastor Todd is preaching on Sunday. He going to be talking about Taking God's Name Seriously. I don't know if he is pumped up about it, but after we talked today about his message, I'm pumped!
  • I think that while boys are off, I think the girls are excited about having the house to themselves. I'm sure there less noise and most likely no sports on TV.
  • UNC plays tonight around 10. After getting up at 4:50 the last four mornings to go to the Y, I'll need to take a nap before the game.
  • Couple of milestones happening this coming week - one on Tuesday and one on Thursday. I'll let you know as they happen.
  • Speaking of milestones, Amy and I have been - how do you say it - an 'item' for 23 years now. Last Sunday was the date of our first date 23 years ago. First date: pizza and a movie. It's been awesome, babe!

Just a Toe

As I write this, March Madness is in full swing -the NCAA college basketball tournament. Every year there is a bunch of hoopla and predictions about who will be crowned the new “champs” after winning every game in the tournament.

This year, my UNC Tar Heels are predicted by some to win the championship. It seems – from previous years – that when they are predicted to win it all, they fall woefully short.

One of the main topics of conversation surrounding the Tar Heels is the condition of a certain big toe. The point guard, Ty Lawson, injured his big toe before the end of the regular season. He missed several games, the team looked very average, and the team lost in the ACC tournament.

So, the question has become – How is Lawson’s toe? And the next question is – Will he be able to play? I’ve been asked this at the YMCA, church, school – practically everywhere I have been. I’ve seen it in the newspaper, on blogs, and have gotten emails and text messages about it.

What does Ty Lawson think of all of this attention? At a news conference, he said, “It’s just a toe.” Wow! I think he realizes that when people look back at the Tar Heels, they are going to remember the team, and not his toe.

It seems in life we can get focused on a lot of things that can take us off track. Our spiritual lives can get high-jacked by a focusing on anything but Jesus. You see, it’s all about Jesus. At Bagley Swamp, we want to make Him famous.

May we connect people with God . . . and each other.

Friday, March 20, 2009

The Weekend

Looking forward to the weekend . . .
  • Getting ready to head to Olive Garden with the family and some friends. Olive Garden is one of our favorites. Everyone is sure to get full of the food they like.
  • Going to spend the night on the ocean front in Virginia Beach. We have an ocean front room - cost a little more - but worth it when you don't get to the beach much.
  • I am running in the 8K (4.97 miles) Shamrock tomorrow. The race starts at 8am. There will be thousands running in it. Pray that I make it and don't get run over. Two guys from the church are running in it, too.
  • I hope Amy is feeling better. She has been sick since Sunday afternoon. This is the longest I've ever seen her sick in the 23 years I've known her. I also hope that I don't get it.
  • Going to do a little shopping tomorrow after the race. There's a couple of stores in Va. Beach that I want to check out. (Is it still called shopping if you don't buy anything?)
  • Tomorrow evening is our annual Wild Game Dinner at the church. A great, relaxing event where you get to swap stories and try all kinds of great food. Can't wait!
  • Sunday we'll be talking about {There}. Life is a journey, but it is also a destination. We all want to get someplace in life. We want to go from here to there, from where we are to some other, better place. It's a divine desire placed in our hearts by God. Sunday we are going to look at that mysterious longing in each of us to discover the {There} that propels us forward on this road called life. I guess you will have to be {There}.
  • Time to go!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Monday Evening Thoughts

Just some thoughts:
  • Had a great weekend. I really enjoyed the team from City on a Hill Project. They are the real deal and connected well with the folks in Bagley Swamp. We can already see God's fingerprints in their story, I can't wait to see what He is going to do through them in Chapel Hill.
  • Crazy Saturday. All three kids went in different directions. Kaleb on a youth trip, Katherine to a birthday party, and Kendall took the SAT. At least Kendall will never have to take that thing again.
  • We had a great turnout for our morning worship services on Sunday, despite the miserable weather. Awesome! Way to go Bagley Swamp!
  • Headed to Durham in the morning to a pastors meeting. Looking forward to it, but have to leave around 6:30 am. Meeting at the new facilities of www.newhopenc.org. Can't wait.
  • Took Kaleb to the doctor this afternoon. He has strep. The doctor believes he is no longer contagious. His only complaint is that his throat is a little sore. When I've had strep, I felt horrible.
  • Started reading Killing Cockroaches by Tony Morgan of NewSpring Church. Great book on leadership.
  • Time to go to bed. Peace!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Story Comes to BSWC

I'm excited about this weekend! Matt LeRoy and Justin Simmons are sharing about the City on a Hill Project, a church plant in Chapel Hill. Can't wait!


Chick-Fil-A

Found this on Dustin AhKuoi's blog about my favorite fast food by one of my favorite comedians, Tim Hawkins.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Sunday Evening Thoughts

Some random thoughts this evening:
  • Glad to see the Tar Heels beat Duke. It seems for the last several years the have split during the regular season. It'd be real nice to beat them again next Sunday:)
  • Loving the spring-like weather. Took a long 4-wheeler ride this evening. There is something about riding through the woods and fields and enjoying nature that recalibrates me.
  • Kinda weird though. Last week this time I was at my Mom & Dad's in Winston-Salem and the snow was starting to pile up. Last Monday I even make a snowman. Today, shorts and had to make my daughter put on shoes.
  • Real excited for my friends at http://www.newhopenc.org/. They are moving to their new campus this Sunday! Check out their new facilities.
  • My plans are to work on taxes tomorrow. Yeah! Not.
  • Grilled out and played Corn Hole last night. The best thing about this time of the year with warm weather is . . . no bugs. I have a feeling that they will be out in full force soon.
  • I need to do some running. I've signed up to run in the 8K on Saturday, March 21. (http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/). I've been going to the Y, taking a cycling class and doing aerobic machines. I just haven't run on the road in quite a while. I should be OK, but need to make sure.
  • What's the deal with this World Baseball Classic? I don't remember this in years past. Is it new?
  • Saw where the Netherlands beat the Dominican Republic in that World Baseball Classic yesterday. The DR had 23 Major League players on it (with $83 million in salaries) and the Netherlands had 2 Major League players on it (with $400,000 in salaries). Go figure?
  • ACC Tournament is the coming weekend. Looking for to it. Too bad it's in Atlanta.
  • Looking forward to next Sunday! Some great things planned. Stay tuned.
  • Coffee grinder just broke. Getting a new one is at the top of the "To Do" list for tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The Cold

I’m like a lot of you, I’ve had a cold recently. I’m not talking about a stuffy nose, I’m talking about a clogged-up head. I was taking medicine just so I could get to the point where I had a stuffy nose.

My usual approach to colds and such is to plow on through until I can go any longer. This time, I tried a different approach. When I felt medium sick, I decided to cut back. That doesn’t mean I went and laid in the bed. I just changed my routine. I wasn’t out and about as much. I spent more time reading and doing research.

It reminded me that I need to take time to change the routine every once in a while. I need to set aside some time where I can read, reflect, refocus and recharge. I have known this, but haven’t done it as often as I have needed.

I now know that I need to plan this time, and make it just as much a priority as any other appointment. I have found that I need to be intentional in my life. I will not float along in life and find myself in great physical shape. That is why I must be intentional with my exercise – that’s why I go to the YMCA every morning.

I also have to be intentional in my spiritual life. That is why I set aside time each day to read the Word and to pray. I also need to be intentional about changing my routine so I can read, reflect, refocus and recharge.

When was the last time you spent some time doing that? I know. You’re too busy. You need to make the time, or you may find yourself in bad shape.

You see, you have to make time to make sure you are connecting with God­ . . . and if you are not well, you will not be able to connect with each other. That’s what true life is all about.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Monday Morning Thoughts

Sitting in the basement of my Mom & Dad's - here are some thoughts this morning:

I like snow. Growing up in the south, snow represents: a day out of school, playing outside, fun, snow cream, and all things good. Rarely have I had to shovel much snow (except when I lived in KY) because it's gone in a day or two.


  • My drive to Mom & Dad's yesterday was quite nasty. It rained the whole way. Everything was either brown or grey. However, this morning, everything is white. Snow makes everything beautiful. Reminds me of God's grace.
  • Going to try to find a sled.

  • Great worship yesterday @ Bagley Swamp! It was great to see the crowd that gathered to worship - especially as nasty as it was. Awesome!

  • Planning on working on Mom & Dad's taxes today. Shouldn't be too bad. I think the sledding will be the reward for getting it done, so I should start soon.

  • Looking forward to this Sunday . . . finishing up the series You Don't Have What It Takes. This series has been fun, but very truthful about where we live. Lots of folks connecting with God in a real way!

  • Maybe I can sneak Dad's truck out and do some doughnuts. Probably won't happen. He's got a pretty keen eye.

  • Hoping to get out to Confluence Coffee today. It is a coffee house that is owned and operated by a church. Hope it's open.