WEiRD

C3 just finished a series called "weird: because normal isn't working". It was a great series and made me think.

I think others think I am weird. I am sure u can insert a lot of really great & funny statements but spare me and keep reading.

I absolutely LOVE spending time with my family. That is weird to some people. I love it so much that I create adventures out of ordinary routine tasks.

Yesterday my younger girls wanted some daddy time so I built it up like we were gonna have the best day ever & it was a great day. We did absolutely nothing but errands but we did them together.

We went to Target to get Rae some t-shirts, I picked up some deodorant, laundry detergent, goldfish crackers and other boring stuff. But u know what made it fun- I ran down the aisles with the cart. I "accidentally" bumped into stuff (without messing anything up), I let them touch stuff, I let them decide which isles to go down & even let them eat the goldfish crackers without paying for them first. I know - I live on the edge.

Then I let them decide to have lunch at Sam's club (or so I let them think they did). I needed stuff from there so we made a plan to have a hot dog and get a free cookie then they could have all the samples they could eat.

My point: the fun was spending time together. What we did is not important. Fun is an attitude not an activity.

I had to choose not to text or check my email because I had 2 little girls that wanted my time AND attention. I will never regret spending time with my family.

If making routine errands fun makes me weird, if actually enjoying time with my kids makes me weird, if loving my wife makes me weird - I'm ok with that.

Lets talk about sex

This past Sunday our pastor talked about Sex.
It was a really good message about what's "normal".

That message started a conversation after service when a guy said I must be glad that I have all girls so I don't have to have the "sex talk" with them because their mom would do it. 

I said "are you crazy" (or some variation of that). I consider it a priviledge and right to talk to my daughters about sex. It is my responsibility to let them know where there dad stands on morals and values - especially when it comes to sex. 

I have never shyed away from the tough or awkward conversation with others so I will definitely not avoid them when it comes to the most precious gifts I have been given - my daughters. 

I know he said it without thinking but it really made me sad that he probably speaks for many others. Sex can be an awkward topic but it doesn't have to be. I would rather my girls know where I stand then for them to have to wonder and be wrong. 

My point: My children have been entrusted to me and it is my responsibility to speak truth to them because Lord knows there are enough people lying to them. Sex is probably one of the most important things we need to make sure the truth is clear and I will not leave that to anyone else. 

I love my girls and they will know the truth. They may feel awkward at first but they will learn there are no "off limit" topics when it comes to their dad. 

so, in the words of Salt n Pepa - lets talk about sex... 

Some good grass

Because of very little rain this year our lawn looks awful but it is also full of weeds.

TruGreen has been servicing our yard so I called them and asked them if they wanted me to put a sign in our yard letting everyone know they were treating our yard.

When they came out they agreed it was not at a standard they are proud to showcase. The manager explained that the best way to keep weeds away is to have a very healthy lawn full of good grass.

Good grass takes all the nutrients and water so the weeds have a harder time surviving. Now that ur bored I guess I should share the parallel to life.

If we surround ourselves with good - the bad (weeds) stand out but they also have a hard time surviving.

Have u ever tried to be negative in a room full of positive people. Have u ever had someone being irresponsible while hanging around responsible people. Even trying to be unhealthy and eat a bunch of junk while with people who eat right and train or workout.

It's hard to totally go against the patterns of people you hang out with.

My point: if u don't like who you are maybe u need to hang out with different people. If u don't feel right about being around a certain group of people maybe its time to decide if ur grass or if ur the weed.

your mom

I saw "your mom" today.

I often wonder what the heck goes thru peoples minds when they pick out a personalized plate.

I can't even think about something that I would want on my plate enough to pay for it. I am too cheap to pay to make a statement on my car.

I also know when I look at the plate or most bumper stickers, whether it is intended or not, an image and opinion is formed in my head. I am not sure it the image you want me to have but I guess that is the risk you take when you personalize a plate or put stickers on your car.

My point: there are enough ways that people form opinions of us so I just choose not to give em another one. There is also other things I would rather spend that money on - I guess you can form an opinion of me for NOT having a personalized plate.

What do you think when you see this plate?

If you had a personalized plate, what would it say?

If you could personalize a plate for me, what would it say?

Have fun...

My girls

Not much brings more joy to my heart than seeing my girls play together.

I guess it doesn't matter what they are doing - I just love seeing them together.

With Shayna now working on top of all her other activities, it is sometimes hard to get em all together but she has been putting "play with the girls" in her calendar.

Reminded me if the principle that if we just want to do it - it may or may not get done. If we put it on our calendar - it will get done.

My point: we make time for what's important. My family is important to me and u love that they are important to each other. I am a blessed man.

What have u been putting off by not scheduling it - go schedule it or it probably won't get done.

Just start

I have realized that stress leaves when you start.

When I have a lot on my "to do" list, I start feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Yesterday I started a few of the bigger things that need done and immediately it took the power away from the stress.

When I sit and worry or complain about all there is to do or how busy I am, I am in a defenseless - victim posture. When I make a plan to handle all the projects, the stress is lessened but when I start them the stress is pretty much gone.

I find I only get stressed or overwhelmed when I don't have a plan or haven't started.

My point: no one manages your time but you. Other people may want to or think they do but you ultimately stay in control of your time or you give it away. When I look at people as an interruption, I can get stressed but when I look at them as a worthy investment of my time - I choose to make them a priority over my task list.

I am in control of my time - PERIOD!

Take away the stress of the task by starting. What is the one thing that is stressing you out - make a plan and start it. Let me know how that works for you.

don't be a parrot

I was thinking about how some people will say things and have absolutely no intentions on following up or doing what they say.

Sometimes we may say we believe things that we don't necessarily believe. We may think we do - but our lives say differently.

I was listening to a podcast and it reminded me of the verse "they honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me"
(Mt 15:8).

That hit me a little different because of some things I am dealing with right now. It is hard to see actions that don't line up with the words. There is a clear message - and that message is "inconsistent".

This brought an image of a parrot to my mind. We can train a parrot to say just about anything but their hearts are not necessarily in it.

A parrot can say "I love you" but they still crap on your floor. They can say "I'm hungry" and we train them by rewarding them with a cracker. They learn to say things to get the result they want - so do we.

I think people are parrots when they use their words but their heart doesn't line up with the words. We learn what to say to get what we want just like a parrot. It is all about us. As long as we get what we want, we will say just about anything to look a certain way or to get others to believe we are something we are not. You can say you believe something or are something but your actions are a totally different message.

My point: don't be a parrot. We live what we believe but we don't always live what we "say" we believe. An inconsistent message only leads to mistrust. No relationship can be built on mistrust.

Don't be a parrot

judgement free

I go to a gym called planet fitness and they call themselves the "judgement free zone". 

I thought that was a pretty cool phrase because who wants to be judged? Then the more I thought about it, the more I wished the church was known as the "judgement free zone". 

Unfortunately the church has a different reputation but we are trying to change that at C3. 

We want people to feel welcome no matter where they are from or what they have in their past. I remember overhearing a conversation of 2 ladies talking. One said "it seems like people here at C3 have more problems than other churches I have been to". I was really sad to hear that until I heard the other persons response. She said "no, they are just more honest about their problems here".

After hearing that, I was very excited and realized that she was right. People here are just not as worried to be open and honest about life and the struggles they encounter. The reason - they feel safe, we try our best to be a "judgement free zone". 

My point: we can't stop other people from judging but we can stop ourselves from judging. If you want people to feel safe and be honest, they can't fear being judged. 

I pray the reputatation of C3 is what planet fitness claims to be - a Judgement free zone