Weddings

I'm off to be in the wedding of one of my college roommates. Fun.... I get to dress up like a fancy penguin and stand still in front of a bunch of people I don't know. I hope I don't trip walking down the aisle.

Disney photos part 3 (final)

If you want to see more photos you'll have to check out my facebook page.

Disney photos part 2

Disney photos Part 1

Home sweet home

After a week at Disney World it's good to be back home. I am so thankful that I got to share this experience with my boys. They were fearless. They rode every roller-coaster that their height allowed them to ride. Matthew was upset that he couldn't ride more rides. Most of the coasters we rode twice or more. We'll definitely go back, but not for a couple of years. We need to wait until Levi can join in the madness. I'll post some pictures soon.

Off to Disney

Today we are off for a week at Disney World. I am so excited about spending this time with Liz, Nathan, Matthew and Levi. Liz's parents and her sister and brother-in-law are going too, which is good because with three kids I'll take all the help I can get.

My goal on this trip is to create some life-long memories with my family, so since that is the case, I'm going to be fasting from technology until I get back. That means no e-mail, no blogging, no business cell phone (I'll have my cell in case I get lost from my family wandering around "Mickey-land"), no facebook. I'm leaving my computer at home. If I take it with me I'll be tempted to check e-mail, read blogs, miss time with my family, etc.

I was really challenged by Mark's blog to leave this stuff. I challenge you to do the same when you go on vacation. I'm the only husband to Liz and the only dad to my boys, so I want to maximize my time with them.

The world will go on without little ole me. I will post some pictures when I get home from our trip so that you can join in on our fun. Until then... Adios.

Now in Theaters

I was looking through the paper this AM and noticed that Bella is playing at Spartan 16. This is a movie you need to see. I had the privilege of screening it back in April and was deeply moved. So get a date, take a group and go see Bella. You can watch the preview here.

New posts to Hub City Underground

I just posted a bunch of nitty-gritty stuff to Hub City Underground. Be sure to check it out.

I love the idea of using a blog for our new churches web site for now. It is interactive, easily updatable and free. Just like our new church, it is always a work in progress. I would love to hear your thoughts about it, how we might improve, what I should add, etc. I also want to make a shameless request to any bloggers who read this to post a blog with a link. I want the google bots to swarm this thing so that it's easily searchable. Thanks.

Proud dad

Nathan's doing this interactive devotional called "a child's time with God." It's pretty cool. He did day 4 today. It said: Because God is great, he can do anything! There is nothing you can ask that is too big or small. Draw a picture of something you want to ask God to do. Nathan wrote: Grow our church and drew a picture of me outside of a church. I was moved and pretty emotional. I want to see God do that too.

Survey says...

Tracy Turner (who is a great guy) let Frankie and I survey the college students at Sunago last Thursday. I really appreciate him letting us check the pulse of those students. Our goal is to get a picture of young adults who are both Christian and non-Christian. Out of 46 surveys from the other night 13 people wanted more info about what we're doing (remember, you can go here to find out more info).

Here's the deal, I want to survey your group. Leave me a comment or e-mail me and we'll get together.

Be my friend

That's right, I need friends. I just signed up for a facebook account and now I have all these friends, but I don't know if I have you as a friend (you know who you are). So be my friend so I won't be lonely.

Seriously, this facebook thing is amazing. I've contacted with people I haven't seen or talked with in years. I feel like I did when I tried avocados for the first time: I didn't know what I was missing until I joined the cult. Now I want avocados all the time.

I've just got to figure out how to use all of the cool stuff that goes along with being a facebook junkie.

Sweet new blog

Rumor has it that a new church is going to be planted in Spartanburg. It's going to be a church that young adults want to be a part of. Oh wait, that's the church that we're planting! Well, instead of a website we've created a blog to keep you informed and get the word out about what's going on. So, you get to hear it first here: Hub City Underground is now LIVE. Click here to check it out. Pass the link on to everyone you know. Join the revolution.

One more thing real fast... to all of you who said it would be easy for me to set up a facebook account... well, it's not working!!!!!! For some reason it won't register my e-mail, so I've got a e-mail into their tech people. Is God trying to tell me something about facebook, or am I just an idiot who can't figure it out?

I survived

Yesterday was a long day. Speaking at SCC was a lot of fun. I really appreciate Hub's invitation and am glad I could help him out. Frankie, Chris and I left yesterday afternoon to check out Midtown. I love what those guys are doing in Columbia and appreciate their willingness to help us.

I have to say that a road trip with Chris and Frankie needs chaperones. Their wives have to come next time to keep those two crazy guys in line! I felt like I was on a Middle School trip. :) Seriously, I really appreciate their willingness to be out late, go on a field trip and learn so that we can be better prepared for launching a new church for young adults in Spartanburg.

Now I've got to go create a Facebook page. I know, I'm slow and behind the times, so it's time to catch up. Any pointers?

Hangin'

Yesterday I got to hang out for a couple of hours with Dustin, Lee and Adam from Midtown Fellowship in Columbia. Those guys were great to let me pick their brains. They gave some great advice that we'll be putting into practice in what we're about to do (which I know I haven't blogged about yet, but I will). We're taking our team down on Sunday to check things out, get inspired and have fun.

The only problem with the whole day was the parking ticket I had on my windshield after our time at Starbucks. I think the city of Columbia must have gotten a discount rate on those parking meters. They are everywhere. The city must be rolling in the dough from all those meters and all the tickets from the expired meters. I'm thankful for Spartanburg and Greenville's free parking! There's another reason to not like Columbia!

Quote

I heard this quote today and thought it worthy of reflection. The church has been the most powerful when it’s had the least. - Dallas Willard

Speaking gig and prayer request

One of the big reasons we're able to do what we're doing in Spartanburg is because of the gracious gifts and support of Spartanburg Community Church. I can't say enough about Hub's kingdom mindset. Found out last week that Hub's dad had a heart attack. He had open heart surgery this morning and it looks like he's recovering well. Please pray for Hub Sr. as he recovers.

With things up in the air about his dad Hub asked me to speak for him next Sunday. I'm honored that he would ask me and am pumped about the opportunity. I had the privilege of speaking there about six weeks ago and just found out today that you can watch the message online here.

Now I've got to figure out what to say!

My little Ramone

Matthew's been dying to get a Mohawk, so when we got his hair cut today we asked the stylist to spike it up. He looks like a little punk rock start. He really wanted to shave the sides of his head and just have hair down the middle. I don't know where he gets this stuff from!!! Let's just say he got more looks than a supermodel at Sam's.

Finally, it's free!

For months Nathan's front tooth has been loose and finally it was able to break free! Pulling this thing was a bit traumatic for the entire family, but now it's out and the world in getting back to normal (last night Nathan stayed up for about 45 minutes trying to pull it himself, but instead ended up making himself nauseous with the blood and slight pain... he's just like me!).

On a completely different note I was quoted in the paper this AM. I have to relish my one sentence claims to fame. The quote's pretty lousy, but it's kind of fun seeing your name in print. Thanks to Kim Kimzey for quoting me! You can read the article here.

What's a disciple?

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about what's a disciple. I'm trying to develop a discipleship process for the new church we're going to launch in Spartanburg (more about that later), but I came across this post from Dave about Spiritual Maturity. I love what their three points about Spiritual Maturity:

• Spiritual Infancy = Getting Fed
• Spiritual Adolescence = Feeding Yourself
• Spiritual Adulthood = Feeding Others

Using this leads to this question: What stage of life are you in? Most Christians never make it out of Spiritual Infancy. That's sad, pathetic, shameful, etc. Let's grow up (Isn't this what the writer of Hebrews meant here). Let's not be satisfied with just getting fed, but let's learn to feed ourselves and then to feed others.

Something I hate

I know that hate is a strong word, but I've got to share something that I really hate. I hate being sick. I've had this cold hanging around for for weeks. I thought it was going away but yesterday and today it's come back with a vengance. Unfortunately, Liz has been struck too, as well as Levi and Matthew. I guess we could look at it as a shared family experience. Pray that this thing will go away! There's too much to do to feel like you've been hit by a semi.

A ninja, Jack Sparrow, and Winnie the Pooh dressed like a pumkin