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. 

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…

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.

Town Hall for Hope

Check this out - (Thanks, Chuck!)

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!