Tag: Blogging

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Sharing Life Through Difficult Times

I was contacted a couple of months ago by Samantha, an editor, writer, and representative for Bluefish TV, about contributing to their new website, The Small Group Exchange. I was really blown away & honored that they would be asking me (a nobody) to write something for such a well known ministry resource company.

My article, Sharing Life Through Difficult Times,  went live today. The article focuses on how huge of an impact our small groups had during the devistation caused by Hurrican Katrina. The other day, after Hurricane Ike, I posted a little bit about my former churches involvement surrounding Hurricane Katrina and posted two videos to show a little bit of what we did and what we saw. You can check those videos and that post out HERE.

Go read my new article on the Small Group Exchange and come back here and let me know what you think.

Join the Conversation: How have small groups impacted your life or your church?

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Politics and Blogging

I am not blogging today. I just don’t have it in me. There is a lot on my mind, but its a friday off.

I am excited about Sarah Palin being selected as John McCain’s running mate. I think there is more excitement about her than there is for John McCain himself. Anyway, I am working on some political posts. I have remained silent for most of the political season here on my blog. I am not in a position where I cannot promote my political ideals, so I am going to, because I am tired of not saying what I believe. I would much rather blog about what actually makes a difference in people’s lives and that is Christ’s church, but its election season so I am going to make a few brief detours.

So, if you are looking for some blog fun today and want to express some of your political thoughts, go to the Waxy One’s Blog and share what your one platform would be if you were elected President. Click HERE to go there.

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Sunday Fun: My First Survey Ever

Here is a little survey for some Sunday fun! Truthfully, this is the only survey I have ever filled out on the internet, even with all of the temptation (not really) to do them on MySpace, I have never given in. However, I got called out by Dan…so this is only because I think Dan is a great guy. So if you have ever sent me a survey and I did not fill it out…get the hint, I did not think you were a great guy/girl…just kidding 🙂

1. Do you like blue cheese? No

2. Favorite T.V Series? 24, Lost, Office, Psych, Monk

3. Do you own a gun? Yes, a 9mm handgun

4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? None

5. Do you get nervous before a doctors appointment?  Yes.

6. What do you think of hot dogs? I love them. Turkey dogs are the best because they have less calories, but I love a beef hot dog when I am cheating. The best hot dog I have ever had was from Pink’s in L.A. Cali.

7. Favorite Christmas movie? The Christmas Story

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Unsweetened Tea, sugar free lemonade, or Pibb Zero

9. Can you do pushups? Yes, but not a lot, I have a permanently injured neck.

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My Wedding Ring is the only jewelry I wear, unless you count the nipple piercings…just kidding 🙂

11. First boyfriends name? I plead the 5th I’m not out of the closet yet.

12. Favorite hobby? Sports, Blogging, Watching Sports, Fantasy Football, Traveling, hanging w/ my family

13. Any Birthmarks? Yes, on the inside of my right arm, its very small, looks like a med. freckle.

14. Do you have A.D.D.? I am told as a child I had symptoms of such, but I think my dad cured it with his belt and paddle.

15. What’s one trait you hate about yourself? I hate my ‘love-handles’ they won’t go away despite how much weight I lose, grrr!

16.. Middle name? Mark

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment – What can get rid of my ‘love-handles’, I wonder who won the Braves game?, How long is this survey?

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday: Gas, Lunch, Dinner – That’s it!

19. Do you like your job? %&#!$ NO!!!! (Hopefully it will be changing soon)

20. If you had a night off, what would you do? Have a family night.

21. Current Dislikes? Cost of Gas and Dishonest People.

22. Favorite place to be? The Mountains or California.

23. How did you bring in the New Year? At home with my wife…she was sick from pregnancy and asleep.

24. Where would you like to go? Aspen Colorado, Ireland, Israel, Hong Kong

25. Name three people who will complete this? Billy, Shane, Trevor.

26. Do you own slippers? No!

27. What shirt are you wearing? T-Shirt from Abercrombie

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Yes.

29. Biggest Pet Peeve? People who do not wash their hands in the bathroom, dishonest people, loud/obnoxious people

30. Favorite color? Blue

31. Would you be a pirate? Heck No…A Ninja!

32. What songs do you sing in the shower? Don’t sing in the shower!  However, some of my best thoughts come from there. – Ditto, I totally agree with Dan’s answer!

33. Kids? Two awesome boys and a beautiful but cranky newborn little girl.

34. Favorite boy’s name? Chance, Gavin, Tristan – I did not win with Chance, thus our boys are Gavin & Tristan

35. What’s in your pocket right now? Nothing.

36. Last thing that made you laugh? Something I cannot say, but I laughed for about 10 minutes straight.

37. Favorite girl name? Jordan & Hailey – Lost on this one too, our girl is Hailey, but it was not my #1.

38. Worst Injury you have ever had? In H.S. I punched an old fire extinguisher box that had a glass door and the inside of my hand got sliced from one side to the other and small pieces of glass got lodged into my hand, I did not go to the ER to get stitches, I wrapped it up and went to play a soccer game, when I got home we had to steri-strip it as it was really bad.

39. Do you love where you live? Yes, born and raised here, but not against leaving either!

40. How many TVs do you have in your house? Three.

41. Who is your loudest friend?  No comment, since I said that was one of my pet peeves, Ha!

42. How many dogs do you have? None, no more dogs for us since our German Shepherd got lost.

43. Does anyone have a crush on you? My wife, she can’t keep her hands off of me!

44. Favorite Candy? Peanut M&M’s, but I don’t eat candy…never really have, but if I did, it would be these.

45. What is your favorite book(s)? The Bible, Barbarian Way, Messy Spirituality, Chasing Daylight, Soul Cravings.

46. What is your favorite store? AE, Abercrombie & Fitch, Buckle, Wal-Mart, Target, Rue 21, Sports Authority

47. Favorite Sports Team? Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons, Duke Blue Devils (college basketball), Atlanta Braves

48. What song(s) do you want played at your funeral? I don’t want a funeral I want a party. ‘You Are My Joy’ – David Crowder Band…Anything Hillsong or Passion, upbeat, not dead.

49. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping, which is rare, I would usually be watching TV, blogging, or anything but sleeping.

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I don’t want to get up this early, mmm blueberry pancakes!

Ok, so I survived the 50 question drilling about all the personal details of my life. I called out Trevor, Shane, and Billy…so lets have it…post this survey on your site and lets hear about your every little secret!

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Kingdom Day – Living Out the Gospel

I had an idea the other day, but now it has grown into a massive dream. What is it? I want to inspire student ministries all across the world to participate in the largest single day service project ever! Why? To live out the Gospel to our disconnected communities. Will this dream happen? I don’t know, that will require the body of Christ working together and being willing to unite under the banner of Christ, putting aside personal preferences, styles, denominations, number, and everything else that divides us in order to flesh out the faith we claim to follow. Here’s how this idea became a massive dream and where I would like to see it go…

I am a part of a local youth workers network that works together to promote and to host several annual activities and events for the students in our communities. One of the events we coordinate as a network is a city wide D-Now (Disciple Now) where each church coordinates a weekend of small groups that meet in homes and group activities with the students of their ministries. On Saturday evening of the D-Now all of the students who participate in the D-Now come to a central location to participate in a concert and a guest speaker. Basically it is a ‘feed me’ type atmosphere where students do no more than ‘come and watch’ a show. Our D-Now’s can bring in anywhere from 700-2,000 students depending on what band we bring in and who the speaker is, so I made a suggestion (the idea) that my buddy Shane was all about too because we have the same heart on a lot of issues…

Why don’t we (the network) capitalize on the opportunity we have on this weekend with these students to do more than ‘come and watch’ to mobilize them to ‘go and invest/serve’ in our community? 700-2,000 students from 30 + churches is an awesome time for the CHURCH to unite to make a difference in the life of those who live in our communities. So I have contacted the Mayor of Augusta to see if there is a park that needs renovating in a poor neighborhood, as well, we are looking at partnering with a local mission and/or community center to help repair, clean, and freshen up with paint and other services that can be accomplished by students. We have also discussed finding some elderly people, who are disabled or in need that needs work completed on their private homes. In one day, a whole community will feel and experience the impact of Christianity, under the banner of Jesus Christ, as represented by 30 + different churches.

So my idea blew up into a massive dream as I was taking a shower the other night. It was almost as if the Lord questioned me, “Why stop with 30 + churches and why focus locally….why not globally?” – And I personally was inspired and could not sleep, so I shot a few emails off to people who may can help get this ball rolling, if it is meant to be. My dream is this…I believe with the combination of bloggers and a few major networks of youth pastors this thing could become a reality. Each youth pastor who desires for their ministry to participate would partner with at least 1 other youth ministry and youth pastor in their area. Together these youth pastors would plan a major or a small project for their ministries to accomplish together on one day, while thousands of other ministries and students are doing the same in their communities, Saturday, April 25, 2009. In one day, youth ministries all across the globe would act out the single largest service project ever in the worlds history, all for the cause of Christ and to futher the Gospel through the example of our service.

The logo may change, some details may change, this is about 24 hours old, but my question is, why can’t it be done? I read in Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) today and it blew my mind…“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish “INFINITELY” more than we might ask or think.”

So, are you in? What can you do? What do we need to do? I need help!!! We have less than a year, but together it can be done. We may need a website, bloggers, logos, t-shirts?, I don’t know, but maybe you do. If you have ideas or want to join in and help push this forward email me HERE or leave a comment. Kingdom Day (name may change), Saturday, April 25, 2009 (Date is Firm 🙂 )