Get a Room

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.

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.

Tsunami of Events Coming in 2009

Here they come. They seem like a long way off right now, but moving toward us, like a tsunami in the northern Pacific honing in on Hawaii - they are getting closer by the day.

Unlike the disasters the water tsunamis make, the one I am referring to is not bad news, just busy news. Here's what I mean.

I was reviewing my 2009 travel and speaking schedule with Susan, my assistant recently. It certainly looks to be another active year for Rodney and Selma in terms of speaking. Lots of stuff. Different stuff. In fact, the cool thing about it is the variety that of assignments. I think the Lord gives us that diversity just to keep us from getting bored.  (Or perhaps to keep us from being boring!)

Let's look at a sample of what's coming up and see if you know what I mean by diversity:  

Spring: I am doing two weddings: one for Chariti Law and one for Tyler Dulaney. These are both precious young ladies that I've known since they were kids They both grew up with our girls so they are like my 3rd ... and 4th daughters!

June/July - Camp Whatever counselor. I think Chris, David and Mel just ask me along so I can keep in touch with what it used to be like to be young! Actually, it is always an incredible time worshiping, encouraging, teaching and yes, counseling these kids.

July - Denver, CO -Selma and I are speaking at what is called the "International English Consultants Seminar". (Are you impressed, yet?) I think this is a group who distributes books world-wide. We spoke to them on Extraordinary Marriage 3-4 years ago. This time it's The Parent Adventure.

July  - LifePoint's Marriage Cruise to the Caribbean. This is a wonderful opportunity for marriage enrichment. We meet as a group each morning. Then, you can be on your own as a couple or spend time with other couples. It worked out great last year. NOTE: There is still availability if you are interested. Call Sabrina at just Cruisin' Plus for more info (833.0922, ext. 303).

August I am speaking on several family ministry seminars at a Texas Church Leadership Conference. It is somewhere in TX!(?). (Don't worry, I have a contact person, I'll find out where!)

September will find us leading Real Marriage at our church along with Selma and me hosting a one-day marriage conference called Marriage Design in Scottsdale, AZ.

October I will be back in TX for the LifeWay National Kids Conference.

Whew!

There are actually a few more states and events but you get the picture. Just look at the myriad of places, locations and topics we'll be doing. Oh and by the way, I still plan to do some work counseling and teaching at Lifepoint Church while Selma plans to continue as Associate VP at LifeWay, too!

Please do not let this come across as boasting, except in the Lord for His providing such opportunities for us. And for a wonderful church and LifeWay that support us in these "outside" activities.

Consider this listing as an "advance prayer concern" offering to you: for travel safety, strength, wisdom in preparing, and for articulation & confidence in delivery and any follow up counseling that may arise. We cannot do any of these alone. As Christ said in John 15: "Apart from me you can do nothing." That ought to keep any of us humble. It certainly does the trick for us. So please pray for us as this year unfolds.

So thanks for letting me "vent" the tsunami of events coming our way. As always, let me know what is going on with you that we can pray about.

South Bend Quick Trip

What a joy to get to be on the campus of a school that I've heard of all my life -

NOTRE DAME!

When we did the tv interview last week in South Bend, Indiana about The Parent Adventure, we had the cab driver take us through the campus. Here are some of the sights we saw. (Note that we saw most of these from inside the cab as it was 8 degrees outside with a wind chill of -5!)

Beautiful campus - cold but beautiful!

Cold I said!

I am sure that dome was cold!

This is lovingly referred to as "Touchdown Jesus". The football stadium used to be open and the Fighting Irish would strive to score toward this beautiful work of art. It's about 7-8 stories high!

Okay, for about an hour, I was a Notre Dame fan! So, for just a fleeting moment in time, I will say ...

GO IRISH!

Harvest TV Experience

Thanks for praying for us. The trip to South Bend was ... interesting, but the TV interview was a wonderful experience of God's hearing and answering your prayers. Kelly and Stefan was awesome along with the rest of the staff. Please feel free to view the 10 minute interview by going to harvest-tv.com. It is truly humbling to feel the clear and strong presence of the Lord as you try to answer questions about a book you've written. As usual, Selma carried me, completing thoughts or rounding out answers. We aactually worked together as a team well. We ought to. We've been doing it for 32 years now!

Please also pray for me today - Wednesday - as I have shoulder surgery this morning. Will keep you posted on that.

To our Lord be all glory! Have a good Wednesday!

New England ... by Way of Florida?

Selma and I had a rather unique (for us) travel schedule last week. We first went to Orlando for a LifeWay Kids Conference. Selma gave the opening keynote address at this national event held at the Orlando Marriott Hotel. She did awesome - she was great! And she held everyone's attention - for an hour! Selma is always aware of her audience and makes connection with them an absolute priority. Thus, she is one of the few who can talk for quite a while and not lose an audience. I think our pastor Pat is another one who can do the same (although I do sometimes give him a hard time when he is long on Sundays).

We also had the opportunity to lead a workshop there on our new book, The Parent Adventure. I also had the privilege of sitting in on a special workshop on the emotional needs of children. It was led by a couple of excellent counselors who operate right here in the Nashville area.

Orlando was a good leg on our journey.

  

We then hopped a plane to take us to Hartford, Connecticut, for a couple of days of travel around New England. Our adventures took us to Mystic, Connecticut. Selma's brother was stationed near there when Selma was 16. She spent a summer there with her brother and his wife. Years ago. Beautiful village by the Connecticut coast. We visited a state park on the coast known as Harkness Memorial State Park. This was an amazing mansion/estate on a penisula of the coast. And here's the cool thing: Selma and I had the place to ourselves! It was all but deserted.

(Just like when we went to see Fireproof in Orlando - we had the entire theater to ourselves! We went to see it at 4:00PM, so it wasn't exactly prime time, but I'd never seen a movie by myself - except in my home!)

Now I've got a thing about visiting "new states". I love new states. (New to me.) So, while we were in Mystic, Selma allowed me to drive a few miles to cross over into Rhode Island - another new state.

On Friday before the Beth Moore event that night, we headed north. We drove through Massachusetts and into Vermont. At the Vermont Welcome Center we asked about a place to eat and grab some New England calm chowder. The guy told us about Amy's Bakery Arts Cafe in Brattleboro, VT. Honest. We found it and had an incredible lunch at this hole-in-the-wall. Don't miss it if you're ever in Brattleboro!

If you can see them, we ate lunch in Vermont under the blue window coverings on the right, overlooking the river. New Hampshire is left of the river.

Then, (are you asleep yet?) we crossed the river we overlooked at lunch and went into New Hampshire for new state number four for me. One thing Brattleboro told me is that the five-and-dime, local bookstore, hardware shop, bakery, etc. is alive and well in some places. Not all of the country has gone to the chain stores. It was reassuring to see that.

Then, the Beth Moore event was in Hartford last Friday night. What a joy to be one of the "few brave men" in that church full of 3500 women! I felt protected because my wife was beside me the whole time!

Beth's message was amazing. It is always fresh. No, I mean fresh. For example, this was her 100th event with LifeWay, and it was the first time she had ever, ever spoken from the passage she shared from. It came to her from the Lord that afternoon. She had spoken four times in New England that week with four new messages. It was also a proud moment when my wife went down to counsel women at the end.

Back at the hotel, LifeWay had a reception for Beth recognizing her 10th year, her 100th event and that evening in Connecticut was her 50th state she had done with LifeWay. It was good to be around her team that simply loves Jesus like crazy. Selma and I even got to take Beth to the airport the next morning. That was a special treat. When we asked Beth how we could pray for her, her answer did not surprise me. She thought for a moment and replied: "just pray that I will love Jesus more and more".

Thank-you. Lord, for a wonderful trip of speaking and visiting some places new to us. It was just incredible in New England with the trees in bloom. You'd think Selma had never been to the Smokies before the way she went on and on about the color! It was indeed astounding.

As an extra treat (among many on this trip!) I got to run in the Bushnell Park in front of the Conn. state capitol. See below. The park was like a small Central Park of NYC. Such a nice place to run even if it was 30 degrees.

If you stayed with me till the end of this posting, thanks for reading. You obviously have the gift of long-suffering! As you know with this blog, it's either feast or famine in terms of my entries and my wordiness. And no, I haven't forgotten about the animals while running. Some of you have actually asked about that! It's Ridgecrest, North Carolina, this weekend, and then I think we will be back in pocket for a while. The animals are coming, trust me. All in time ...

Coming and Going

Have been out of touch for quite a while with the blog scene. It seems like this is an every other month apology, so consider this paragraph this month's installment.

This is not an excuse for not writing, but Selma and I have been speaking a lot - A LOT - this fall with a ways to go yet. Also, my home computer crashed. I mean CRASHED! So, with a new computer, getting up to speed - it has been ... interesting.

Here is where Selma and I have been lately and where we are going, speaking wise:

September 26 - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY MINISTERS - Nashville. We led two workshops - one on parenting and one on building a marriage ministry in your church

September 27 and 28 - REAL MARRIAGE at FBC Smyrna - Along with the super help of many, MANY people, we did the teaching part of those two marriage evenings.

This is dangerous, but it's a blog so I can try to thank everyone. If you don't want to read it, skip to the next event. Thanks to:

Susan Garland - Such a hard worker - thanks for your able assistance

Joy Conklin - Best cell phone cookie I've ever had, but the stain is still in my mouth!

Gary and Melody Henderson - Such creativity and energy!

Jana Gibson - You have the gift of service and our marriage ministry is better for it!

Al and Lisa Bell - The epitomy of servant hearts

Phil and Natalie Wilson The Bob Eubanks of the 21st century and his lovely wife

Danny and Karen Smith - the "Kiss Cam" specialists - great pics!

Nicole Williams and Tammy Bright - Thanks for helping greet the couples as they entered

Eric and Amy Massengill - You continue to amaze us with your writing and acting talent

Eddie and Megan Gonzalez - My Missouri partner and his lovely wife! You two are awesome!

Lloyd Boner - Sound was right on target

Linda Sutton - You make our messages come alive with your CG talent

Justin Crutchfield - So much behind the scenes stuff. So helpful, man

David Cox - What a band! And so much help in so many other ways

Jason Stewart - Thanks for everything, man

Michael Sullivan - The Sully Man! A huge role you played again.

Al Ward - Always a mean guitar

David McCaman - What pressure? You've got a great marriage!

Pat Hood - Your support is so amazing ... and so needed

The X People - These are the people that worked as hard as any of the above, but I failed to mention. Please forgive me if that is the case. I do thank God for the wonderful and HUGE number of people who always help in so many ways.

I'll make a deal with you X People: feel free to let me know if you helped and I didn't list you above. I will be happy to do so in a later blog. Also, if I remember you myself, you will be listed in a later blog whether you say anything or not.

Above all, of course, is our Lord. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. This was not a perfect event, but wow, it sure was good again for marriages! It's from Him and for Him, and He gets the credit and glory once again. Glad to give it to Him.

Now, back to the speaking schedule:

October 2-5 - Selma and I gave three keynote messages at the FESTIVAL OF MARRIAGE - Glorieta, New Mexico. We also led two workshops there.

October 12-15 LIFEWAY KIDS CONFERENCE - Orlando, Florida. Selma is keynoting for this conference on Monday while I will lead a workshop with her based on our new book, The Parent Adventure, set to come out December 1.

October 15-18 BETH MOORE CONFERENCE - Hartfort, Connecticutt. This will be Beth's 100th event with LifeWay and her 50th state - a very big deal! It's called Deeper Still and will also include Priscilla Shirer and Kay Arthur. We are privileged to be part of it.

(No, we are not through yet) October 24-26 - FESTIVAL OF MARRIAGE - Ridgecrest, North Carolina. Selma and I will be leading workshops there on marriage and parenting.

November 16 and 23 - MARRIAGE MOMENTS - FBC Smyrna. This is a fun one. A good one to end the year on. We'll just be leading a couple of Sunday morning sessions on marriage. This will be interactive. Like Real Marriage, we will be facilitating, not "preaching". It will be held at 10:45AM in the new Cafe ONE room, in the CrossWalk area.

So, as I boast in the Lord for the opportunities, I wanted to show you what we are in the middle of - so you can pray for us. Please pray for our stamina. Selma has an incredible full-time job at LifeWay while I still do the counseling and events for marriage and family at the church. Understand that the above fall schedule is a total of something like

* 18 speaking events

                    * in five states

                                    * in less than two months

Praise to God for the opportunity - - -

Praise Him for His faithfulness - - -

And praise Him for friends who lift us up in prayer support. We feel you. Please continue, for our survival - but more importantly for His glory.

Catching Up Just a Bit

Hey there. Been a while. Been a lot of miles since we talked. And lots more to go, Lord willing. Here's what's gone on lately, with elaboration to follow in subsequent posts:

* Went on a fabluous marriage enrichment cruise to Alaska! (Hey, somebody's gotta do it!) Thanks to Pat for suggesting this wonderful idea. I'll speak more about it later, but just know (and I'm actually serious about this part) that a cruise is an excellent format for a marriage enrichment event. Selma and I were able to counsel with several of the couples who went. The cruise gave us session time each day with group. We also had time to counsel with another couple. Plus there was lots of time for us alone. Praise God for an awesome group and for an incredible trip to an incredibly beautiful part of His creation.

Look for info this fall about another one - perhaps south of here, for next summer. We want you on that one with us!

* Finally got over the motion sickness from the trip around Tuesday! It was a 7-day cruise. (Don't think we'll do one that long again!) Got off the ship in Seattle on Friday morning. Major hangover, but then, I have my own special brand of motion sickness anyway. Glad the hangover's over.

* Couldn't believe Big Brown did NOT win the triple crown. What's with that? Selma actually saw the last triple crown winner - Affirmed - run at the Kentucky Derby. (Don't tell them at the seminary in Louisville or they might try take away my degree!) That was 1978. We were just kids then.  

* Sad to hear that Jim McKay died. The voice of ABC's Wide World of Sports was my hero growing up. He was a class reporter. I remember watching in a dorm at Florida State in 1972 when he announced that the Israelis were "all gone" - killed by terrorists. Sports will miss Jim.

* And another huge loss - Tim Russert. Coming home from the cruise, we came off the plane in Minneapolis and looked at the airport TV's to hear of his death. I almost lost it right there. Tim was my favorite political commentator. I've taped and watched everything I could about him these past few days.

* Immediate prayer needs, please ...

-- Mom. She's in the hospital. Pray that those who care for her will do a good job. And that we have wisdom on how to handle her housing situation afterwards.

-- Thursday and Friday - Selma and I are shooting the rest of The Parent Adventure. It goes with the book we are writing. It will be a long day of shooting many different scenes, each introducing the viewer to the next session's content. We are not professional actors by any means and it can be intimidating trying to remember your lines n front of a crew of 10-12 people who are professionals.

Long blog. Pardon any typos. Sorry. As my daughter Jennifer used to say when she'd talk and talk, then stop just long enough to take a breath, "I've just got a lot to say." Will try not to wait as long to catch up next time!

San Antonio Bound

Selma and I are in San Antonio for the Southern Baptist Convention through Wednesday. It's a romantic city so it's nice to share it with my wife. For a few days, we're actually "Getting a Room"!

We tried for years to get together there and it just wouldn't work out. Years ago, I was on business there and Selma was supposed to join me. At the last minute, one of the girls got sick and everything was off.

Then she was there on business and something came up with my work in TN and couldn't meet her there.

Then, we were BOTH set to speak in SA. It was the weekend after 9/11 and EVERYTHING was cancelled.

Finally, we got there together when we spoke at a marriage event. In all, it took about 10 years for us to be in one of the most romantic cities there is. We've both been there several times, but only once as a couple besides this time.

Sunday night, Game 2 of the NBA Finals is right there in San Antonio. We might pick up a couple of tickets and take it in! We've never seen an NBA Finals game. Or ANY NBA game for the matter.

(By the way, does anybody out there have $3000-4000 lying around you could give us so we could pick up a couple of tickets for Game 2?)

Talk to you after the convention.