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Travel: Comings, Goings and a Happening Church

The Lord has provided ample amount (for us) of travel this year. Here is some of where we have been since 1/09.

DISCLAIMER: I give you permission to skip to the bottom of this blog post if you are not into reading where other people travel. Some send out Christmas letters each year telling you where they've been. Maybe you do, too. Perhaps you send me one each year. If so, thanks. For me, I'll just choose to annoy you several times throughout the years with where I've been and where I plan to go.

 

BEEN THERE ...

* Las Vegas - yes, and what happened there ...

*  Oklahoma - parent and children's conference

* Louisville - Southern Baptist Convention

* Denver - The Parent Adventure presentation to International English

Consultants

* Horn's Creek Camp - Camp Whatever! With hundreds of kids!

* Western Caribbean Ocean - Marriage Cruise

* Phoenix - The Parent Adventure workshop at the Association of Marriage and Family Ministers (AMFM)

* Dallas (Forney, TX) - The Parent Adventure workshop at a Church Leadership Conference for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention

 

GOING THERE (Lord willing!) ...

* Smyrna, TN - LifePoint Church's Real Marriage - You need to be there, too! BUY YOUR TICKETS WEDNESDAY NIGHT OR NEXT SUNDAY AM IN THE CONCOURSE.

* Ridgecrest, NC - Keynoting at Festival of Marriage

* Arlington, TX - (TPA presentation) LifeWay Kids Conference

* Clarksville, TN - TPA at Parent's Conference

* Smyrna (LifePoint) - TPA presentation over 5 Sundays beginning in late October

CANCELLED

* Panama City, FL - Festival of Marriage - R&S withdrew

* Scottsdale, AZ - event cancellation

Whew! It already has been a major year of travel and we've got 4 months to go!

I giggle slightly because every year Selma tells me we're going to slow down. We try but ...

We are blessed to have such opportunities to speak and encourage marriages and parents. It is a true joy as well. I am also blessed to have a partner to speak alongside me.

Many of the speaking engagements mentioned above have been or are mine alone. I can do that okay but it is just right when my mate is beside me.  

What about you? Where have you been this year? Where are you planning on going? I'd really like to hear. Comment on this post and let me know.

PS - Church News:

1 - if you haven't been to LifePoint lately, it is going bananas. We are almost averaging 3000 each Sunday! Wow! I knew it when it was running around 400-500 each week.

This week we are beginning a new campus in the Stewart's Creek area. Check it out at lifepointchurch. We'd love to have you.

2 - REAL MARRIAGE is coming September 19 and 20. More on that later but you can get your tickets this Sunday in the concourse.

The Longest Married Couple - the Groom Has Died

Wow - check this out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/8067752.stm

How long were they married? Hint: they have a 76 year-old (legitimate!) son.

A Coach's Primary Role: Influence

Several men on our church staff are little league coaches. So are a lot of other guys at LifePoint. I am proud of all of them. Many of them do not even have kids themselves in the game yet they give and give and give to these kids.

Of course they teach them a lot more than just football (or baseball, basketball, soccer - you fill in the blank). A lot of it is about influence. Encouraging a kid to do his best, reach his potential, building character, etc. Sometimes even sharing Christ with them. Basically being salt and light to these young players.

100 years ago I played football for the mighty Cleveland (Tennessee) High School Blue Raiders. (I just know you've heard of them!) I was a wide receiver. I keep up with them whenever I get to Cleveland to visit Mom.

A little history: when I played for CHS we had a 32 game winning streak. (I got a head concussion the game we had it broken!) I also played in a state championship game. We lost, but we got there. CHS also got back to state finals game - and won it THREE YEARS IN A ROW in the 90's. So we're not talking about a so-so program here.

The Blue Raiders have a new coach this year. His name is E.K. Slaughter. (Not a bad name for a head coach, huh? SLAUGHTER!) Haven't met Coach Slaughter but he made me proud of him and my alma mater this week with a quote in Cleveland's newspaper.

There was a two-page spread of quotes from all the high school team's coaches just as the season was beginning. Many were saying "We're gonna win the state championship this year" and stuff like that.

Here was E.K. Slaughter's quote:

"What you do is go to school and play football. Who you are is eventually going to be a husband and father, a family man. Our No.1 goal is to create better fathers and husbands."

WOW! Not a bad start for the new coach.

I am pulling for you this season, Coach Slaughter. But whether you win a single game or not, your players are going to have a good season with you and that kind of philosophy influencing them.

 

Selma's Recovery

Many of you have inquired about my wife's health. Selma is doing well after a thyroidectomy last week. While all the tests have been negative (including after the surgery) - and no pain ever for Selma - the thyroid was growing and several opinions told us that it needed to come out.

It's been ... interesting being able to tell her to shut up all week while her voice is healing. She's actually done very well and has been a great patient. She's even taken my "shut-ups" rather well.

We have felt the prayers of friends and work associates and are grateful to our Lord and the prayer support of everyone. Considering the potential of what could have happened to her voice we are most thankful for a great recovery to this point.

Some time ago Selma was out of town on business. When she returned, Natalie, our youngest, made the following observation to her: "Mom, Daddy seems lost without you." When Selma told me that I thought "fair enough". I don't know that I could take that wrong if I tried. After 33 years she's a part of me for sure. And I AM lost without her around. Perhaps that's why the rollout bed beside hers at Baptist Hospital didn't really feel that bad last week!

A good week to you --

Golf with 3 Special Guys - Orchestrated by a Special Woman

Selma is one to celebrate. She always claims that the weekend of Mother's Day is "her" weekend. All weekend. Her birthday is not her birthday. The week of June 14 is her birthday week.

But I must say she does it with rest of the clan as well. This past week for example, it was my birthday week. She surprised me with a round of golf at a course I'd been wanting to play all my life - The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay State Park outside of Chattanooga. She set it up for me to play with a lot of her family. The seven of us that ended up playing had an amazing time together. Her family all play golf anyway so it was a natural thing.

In my foursome I played golf with the three most special men in my life. (Dad would have been on that list as well.) I played with Steve Vought - my best and long time friend from east TN (like a brother); Roy, my father-in-law (like my second dad); and David, my son-in-law (like my son).

The scenery at Harrison Bay was at times really breath-taking. Water flowed in and out of the course, just like my ball once flowed into the water. (It was the only ball I lost all day.)

When the round was through, I came out on top! I shot an 89, while David had a 90 and the other 5 had a little more than that. Of course they all said it was because it was my birthday that they let me win.

But it wasn't the score that mattered even though I'd only beaten everyone once or twice before - Robert, my brother-in-law (like a brother-in-law :-) usually shoots in the high 70's. It was the time together that was so great. It was playing with the most important men in my life that was so wonderful. in their own ways they are each such an inspiration to me. We got home, talked golf some, watched the Titans get beat, argued some theology - it was all so wonderful.

I am glad my wife knows how to celebrate. She wasn't even there when we played. That didn't matter to her. She got the blessing in being such a blessing. I continue to learn from my wife.

Lord, help me learn every day what you have for me to learn - from your Word, from speaking with you, and from my wife. Let me have more of a giving spirit that you have given her. She is such a blessing from you.

All of this happened when her surgery was coming up last Monday. She's doing fine. I'll give you the details tomorrow.

If you are married, I hope your spouse gives to you. If not, you can start the process by giving to her. Start simply and watch it grow. He/she may even respond. Take it from my wife's lifestyle - it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive.

55th Birthday Memories

Tons of fun on my birthday yesterday! My wife has a way of expanding everyone's birthday into days. Mine started on Sunday with a special lunch with the family. It was then she revealed that we were having an extended family celebration of my birthday this weekend. i love my wife. She really knows how to spoil the family. She is awesome at that.

Here are some quick reflections from yesterday:

* Walking into my office in the morning and seeing EVERYTHING decorated with FIFTY-FIVE and HAPPY BIRTHDAY banners everywhere. (If they weren't too old, I'd pounch on my girls!) Imagine explaining to everyone you counseled why your office looked like a party!

* Lunch with Pat and Kyle. It was a real birthday treat in that I didn't have to pay for THEIR lunches!

* Having people you didn't recognize coming up to you at the restaurant wishing you a happy birthday. The power of Twitter, the blog and Face Book these days ...

* Being called into the main office area for a surprise party of b'day cupcakes with the staff. (Thanks, Leslie!)

* Teaching some parenting concepts with Chris Hollomon to 200 parents at church last night. Eager audience ready to do what it takes to become better parents to their kids.

Finally, there is no other day that I know of who , along with me, have August 19 as their birthday. Some I'm proud to share my day with, while some ...

Maybe you know as many on your birthday but look at these:

-- Bill Clinton

-- Tipper Gore

-- Amy Goen - yep that's Kyle's wife

-- Kyra Sedgewick (The Closer- one of our fav's!)

-- Matthew Perry

-- Willie Shoemaker famous jockey

-- LeAnn Womack

-- Peter Gallagher

-- Lil' Romeo

-- Adam Arkin (actor - you'd recognize him)

-- Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek creator)

-- Ogden Nash

--  John Stamos (Jessie from Full House)

-- Mary Jo Fernandez (tennis star)

-- Steve Sloan (former Alabama quartback from my home town and former Vandy football head coach.He actually signed me to a football scholarship to Florida State in another life - that's another story though)

-- Steve Clark (good Cleveland, TN friend of mine)

-- Jill St. John (movie star from yesteryear - hey I am 55!)

-- Orville Wright (went to high school with him just before he and his brother took the first flight :-)

-- Coco Chanel (remember Chanel No. 5?)

-- Malcolm Forbes

It's just for fun, but I think it's a pretty impressive list. Take a look and see who was born on your birthday so you can brag about it on your next birthday blog ... or the day after!

A Unique Birthday Present

My wife gave me a most memorable present on my birthday present today. Our Blackberries look just alike and - you guessed it - she took MINE in to work with her today. She works in Nashville while I work here in Smyrna.

I had a great insight (great to me anyway) on John 15:16 today. Will share it with you soon.

Also coming soon ... Comings and goings this summer. We've had a lot of both. It's been another busy travel summer with more ahead this fall.

A Special Blessing Returning from Phoenix

I had a wonderful trip to the Association of Marriage and Family Ministers (AMFM) conference in Phoenix last week. Got to lead a workshop on The Parent Adventure along with Scott McConnell from LifeWay Research. Then I attended several helpful workshops myself. Always good to meet some new people "in the business".

The running was interesting for sure. There is no feeling like running just before sunrise in Phoenix, AZ, and the temp is 96 degrees! And I never need to have that feeling again.When you are training for a marathon and the high for the day is 114, you run when it's the coolest, even if the coolest is 96.

On the last leg of the trip home - from Dallas (where else?) I sat beside a college girl, Ellen, who was reading her Bible. The conversation easily went to where she had been and where I had been. She then told me her story which touched my heart.

Flashback for a moment ...

For 12 years I worked in collegiate missions for the TN Baptist Convention. It was a most fulfilling ministry. I supervised college student missionaries from across the state through Baptist Student Unions (BSU's or BCM's as they are now called). These were campus ministries at some 40+ different schools.

Now back to the present ...

Ellen told me she was coming back from Texas as a summer missionary. And it was through the TN Baptist Convention! It was great to get an update on how things looked from her perspective. She was headed straight to the TBC for her debriefing weekend, just like when I was leading it.

I couldn't wait to introduce  my new friend to Selma when we got off the plane. It was a joy for both of us to meet Ellen.

It is heart-warming to know that the next generation of missionaries - and a program to help facilitate their calling - is alive and well.

I am most grateful to serve where I am right now. LifePoint Church is where God has called me to minister and it's still awesome after serving here almost ten years. Yet the experience on the plane with Ellen brought back some fond memories of a ministry from long ago.

God is cool like that. He places people in your path to remind you of previous times. He really wants to bless us and looks for ways to do that if only we will acknowledge that those blessings are from Him.

Have a great week and look for those blessings from the One who sends them your way.

Our Marriage Is 33 Years Old TODAY!

That's right - 33 years ago we were two young kids who might have been a little scared but very confident in getting married.

Today, we are still two young kids. (I guess love continues to be blind!) Okay, we are older kids but still very confident that God is in our marriage.

So what is the proper gift to get each other on the 33rd anniversary? You know, for one year it is paper, one is gold (50th), another silver (25th), another sapphire or rubies, etc. We know what the 33rd is without looking it up:

It is a SEPTIC TANK. Like the one above. That's what we are getting each other. (It's part of our remodeling plan for our home.)

I'm telling you, for a marriage enrichment couple - for a guy whose ministry title is Marriage and Family Enrichment - it just doesn't get any more romantic than that.

Actually, we have a trip planned soon. and we are planning on going out to a nice restaurant tonight - and think about anything BUT a septic tank!

Some anniversaries are more practical than others. This one we will remember for a long time.

No Air but a Nice Trip to Denver

Just an update on our trip last weekend. Denver has almost no air. Hard to breathe throughout the trip. What should I have expected going to a city known as "The Mile High City"?

And yet, it was a most productive engagement as we got the chance to share our passion for encouraging parents through presenting our book The Parent Adventure to a group of English speaking Christian book distributors. What a literally global opportunity.

    

We did get to see the Rockies play. And guess who they played? The Atlanta Braves - my fav team! Actually we saw 6+ innings of it. The tarp came on and the rain came down.

                                        

                             

A beautiful light show provided by the Lord Himself in the form of 2 hours of constant lightning - WOW! Widespread lightning like I've never seen. A lot like the Lord - beautiful, and a little scary.

Probably the coolest part of the whole trip though was lunch Friday with two other guys very much in my position. Selma and I sat down at the conference hotel to eat when a couple of conferees needed a seat. It was divine appointment for sure. As we got to know them we soon found out that they wore "similar hats" as mine. They were pastors and did a great deal of pastoral counseling.

As we discussed principles and approaches, issues and affect this all had on our own marriages and families, it was a cool thing.

Here's the kicker: one was from Africa and the other was from Southeast Asia. Three ministers, three cultures, three continents ... all the same issues. Fascinating in that wherever you go, people have the same needs.

Thanks for your prayers about the trip. I made some interesting new friends from a long way away, saw the Braves beat the Rockies, and learned some pooignant lessons like the fact that people also need the Lord - wherever they live.