tuesdays used to be meeting days all day. with new WRC structure I now have some free time on tuesday (coffee anyone?) but i didn’t get a chance to stop today to breathe deep and think the thinks i can think.

but i would rather be busy than be sitting thinking of things to do. got to meet and have lunch with last years intern Lloyd Owens. he is starting a serving revolution in the O4W in the ATL. starting small but gathering steam. got some folks to serve along side of him and it will grow. good story of connecting over coffee, guy gave some money, not a believer, but a seeker who is willing to meet regularly and learn about Lloyd’s faith. cool. pray for God’s provision. he’s a pretty cool web designer if you need some help, he could use the money. give me a call i’ll hook you up.

hearing from some church planters today. new grand opening in Ringgold, GA this weekend, if you’re in the area check out Origin Church (Shane Craven). Launch this weekend in Chattanooga, Awaken Community Church, (Justin Deweese), check them out if you’re in that area of the world.

keeping it real: same ole same ole. i am a fantasy football dud, ( i wish it was dude, but alas) drafted the team last nite, got my pairing for this week, i’m a 28 point underdog. oh well, welcome to my entrance fees dudes. and btw the DAWGS are not dead, they lost to a team that was picked to beat them. still my team!

second keeping it real: diet’s been slow, stayed the same the last couple of weeks. got to get better.

Peace!

just want to give a short shout out to my guys at Revolution Church. if some of you are wondering – God is alive and at work. in the last several weeks the band has released a smoking cd (it’s number one in my cd list in my truck), baptized a bunch of people, held together and watching God do some amazing things. Satan thought he was gonna get ‘em, but they have made this a spiritual battle and God is blessing them. shout out to tim, preston, chad, and thad, and the other staff. you are making us proud. hang in there the best is yet to come. (kevin and i will be there tomorrow, see it’s getting better already .)

it’s easy to lead when things are going smooth and the church is growing, people are cheering you on, giving you props, and the bills are being paid. it’s a whole new ballgame when you’re thrown the curve these guys were thrown. thanks guys and girls for not giving up. they deserve our prayers and support. if you read this and know these guys, give them a shout. heck take ‘em to lunch.

so here’s the “spiritual” encouragement, “Consider it all joy, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have it’s result that you be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.” James ljap (little jim akins paraphrase )

quiet time this morning was about friendship. Jesus, called us friends. imagine Jesus as a friend. i don’t mean spiritual but a physical, right here, right now guy that you could hang out with, go to games with, watch tv with, imagine fishing with Jesus, having deep theological conversations about life, love, and liberty. imagine.

i have had some significant men in my life over the years. i grew up without a dad so when a man took some interest in me i did whatever i could to make sure i got his approval. i have a friend Alan, kinda brought me to Christ when I was in high school, no matter where i have gone i knew Alan was a phone call away, he has been my friend that sticks closer than a brother. my pastor, Dr. Price, got me out of jail as a teen and loved me to Jesus. i always admire his ministry of the Word and the integrity with which it was carried out. his book “I’ve Got to Play on Their Court” was the forerunner of most of the public servant ministry of today, he was a man ahead of his time in reaching a community with the gospel. Jerry was my campus pastor in college. Jerry and i butted heads more than once over stuff. i was a young believer, passionate, and ALWAYS right. truth was he shepherded me through some tough learning experiences both life and ministry. three guys that got me through the most difficult time of my life, Hank, Bob, Tim. these guys took care of me when i was at my absolute lowest. Hank and i loved college football, while deacons at a little Baptist church in New Orleans (i was also a seminary student), we would sneak into a sports bar to watch UGA or LSU play football, in those days deacons had to sneak into bars to maintain their standing - imagine that. Bob, would come and pick me up and take me to the movies on a free afternoon so I could get out of the house. Tim, was my pastor, he took me to the doctors, he counseled me, he was my friend.

each of these guys have carried me from time to time. time when i spiritually, physically, or emotionally could not get up, these guys picked me up. i’ve pretty much lost contact with most of them. i still follow Dr. Price’s ministry but it’s been a long time since we talked. but Alan, is still there. we meet a couple of times a year. talk on the phone a good bit. he is my friend that sticks closer. thanks Alan.

who do you need to thank today for their friendship, their loyalty, their love, their influence on your life? do it!