Biking

Got up early to go for a 25 mile bike ride while it was sprinkling. After that the family went for a  bike ride in the sunshine. 

It was a great day. I love getting out and riding but the coolest part of my morning ride was who I got to ride with. I am getting to know a neighbor who lives down the street. Riding was a great way to spend about an and a half talking and getting to know each other better. 

The family bike ride was beneficial for many reasons. The whole family was together, we were doing something as a family, it was physical activity instead of sitting in front of a tv and it made memories. 

My point: it really doesn't matter what ur doing, what matters is enjoying the journey. Make intentional efforts to have conversations. Invite people u don't know well and use it as an opportunity to get to know them better. 

I want people to be able to trust me and spending time together really helps allow that to happen. 

Super Sunday

So another Super Bowl has come and gone. It was a good enough game but not sure there is gonna be one great thing about the game that I will remember for years to come.

What I will remember are the super people that I spent time with on this day. We had 3 super full services at C3 this morning. Then lunch with super friends and family. Then a meeting with super partners in ministry then finally the game with more super friends.

My point: life is about relationships and the rest is just details. If ur gonna have relationships u may as well make them super.

I am a blessed man to have such super people in my life.

Go bucks!

Finally

Our new student pastor Tony is staying with us until he finds a house to buy. We are really enjoying him being here - but we have different reasons.

My younger girls love clinging to his legs and being pulled across the floor. They like being chased and they enjoy being his weights when he does a triceps workout.

Shayna likes having her friends over to talk about how they can have an impact in their schools for Jesus. She also enjoys dreaming about what the student ministry will become at C3.

I, on the other hand, like having some testosterone up in this joint. Tony appreciates the finer things in life. By the finer things, I mean my stupid humor, laughing at my old jokes, remembering stories from when I was a youth pastor and he takes naps while watching football.

My point: We knew it was going to be an adjustment to have someone stay with us but this is a very pleasant adjustment. He is only staying with us until he finds a house of his own but when he finally finds one I hope he is ready for lots of company.

C3 finally has a student pastor and I FINALLY have some testosterone in this house to attempt to level out the estrogen.

Even if its only temporary, it's nice.

excited and appreciative

It is pretty exciting around C3 these days. It is never dull but there are some great things in the works. As easy as it is to be excited about the future, we need to take time to appreciate where we are.

We meet as a staff and we take time to talk about LifeChange and just have fun. We talk about the future and what it will take for us to get there and we talk about the present and make sure we enjoy what is currently going on.

We are in a season of transition. Our staff will never be what it is today. There are going to be people added and some will be leaving. All that is not bad, it is just different. When I look at what got us here, it is not necessarily going to get us where we think we will be. That calls for personal growth, staff growth and more space. All that is change and we all deal with change differently.

My point: It would be easy to focus on the excitement of the future but we also need to take time to appreciate where we are. We are not where we were and we are not yet where we are going.

Take some time to dream and be excited but also take a moment to reflect and be appreciative.

rEVOLution

Today I am in Michigan with my best friend and my daughter. THEY are speaking at the Michigan youth convention: Love Revolution.

I say THEY because Konan, one of the best speakers I have ever heard is sharing the stage for a few minutes with Shayna.

This man connects the Word of God with practical everyday life in a way that you can't help but be moved to change. No matter how many times I hear the same stories - they are still funny. That's just a gift.

Konan is giving part of his session to my daughter to share her heart and passion. She is only going to support one of his main points but she will be on stage with a great man of God.

I believe God is giving this young lady a platform to be a change agent for her generation. With that platform comes tremendous responsibility. She has to guard it because it can be gone as fast as it came.

My point: Everyone needs someone to believe in them. As a parent of course I believe in my children but it is a humbling honor when someone else sees in them what God wants to accomplish in them and gives them opportunities to achieve their passion.

Shayna shared what she will communicate and I already cried. That's just the first time today and I am sure many more are on the way.

When the opportunity was given to her, I said: Shayna I want to say this is a once in a lifetime opportunity but I think for you this is just the FIRST of many opportunities.

Where are the tissues...