Men's Retreat Update

The retreat at Lake James was great. David Willis did an awesome job bringing the Word to the guys. We had nearly 50 guys (including many first-timers) there. It was fun, challenging, encouraging, and motivating.

Last Sunday's Intro

/><

Luke Playing Guitar

Whatcha Talkin' 'Bout Willis?

I'm looking forward to having my old friend David Willis in town this weekend. He's going to speak at our Men's Retreat at Lake James Christian Assembly and preach at Cedar Creek on Sunday. We always have a lot of fun when we are together.

Here's a photo from way back in the day:

Young and Old Ferris

Ferris Bueller -- 23 Years Later

Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of my favorite movies. Many children of the 80's (like me) have seen the movie many times. I was reading Mark Oestreicher's blog today, and he had a link to a "Where Are They Now?" kind of thing. He said that Jennifer Gray had changed the most, but my vote goes to Mia Sara (aka Ferris' girlfriend Sloane Peterson).

President Obama

I watched the Inauguration coverage. I agree with what my friend Danny Dodd said: "Now President Obama will begin to find out what it is really all about. My guess is- that once he is completely immersed into all things president, he will start to see that W was not quite the arrogant idiot he was made out to be. I think he will discover that it is one thing to be on the outside calling for change and be on the inside realizing that is ain’t that easy. But I wish him well. I do hope he can be the agent to turn our economy around. A lot of hopes are riding on him."

Get Rid of Your Crap!

Last month I read a blog post by Perry Noble and I immediately knew I wanted to develop it into a lesson for the Men of the Word (a group of guys from Cedar Creek that meets each month for a prayer breakfast and Bible lesson). In Deuteronomy 23:12-14 God tells the Israelites to bury their crap outside the camp. I have been digesting Perry's thoughts, and I have come up with something to share with the guys. A good lesson to start the new year:

Five ways to get rid of your crap:

1. Dump toxic thoughts.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

2. Flush foul fellowship.
Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character.

1 Corinthians 15:33

3. Bury stinky attitudes.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

4. Purge putrid behavior.
Ephesians 4:1-3; 29-32

5. Wipe out whining.
Philippians 2:14-16

What God is Teaching Our Leaders

Earlier this week, we had the privilege of hosting the Area Ministers Meeting. I put some thoughts together regarding What God is Teaching Our Leaders. I came up with five areas that I think are important to any group of church leaders.

Compatibility
Compatibility with each other AND the people. Jesus said, "I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” People won’t follow leaders they don’t like or respect.

1 Thess. 5:12-13 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work Be at peace among yourselves.

Teachability
We must sharpen the saw. Learn, grow, stretch, etc. Be challenged. What is your plan for personal growth? What are you doing to feed your soul?

Accountability
To each other. To the church. To the Lord.

Flexibility
What needs to change? How can we make it better?

Predictability
What doesn't change? Commitment to prayer, the ministry of the Word, evangelism, faithfulness, excellence, etc.

American Idol

A.I. returned tonight. The kids love it, but I'm growing tired of it. The funniest parts are the auditions during the first few epsiodes. The people are different, but the train wrecks are all-too-familiar.

Jack is Back!

What's Happening?

I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a while. What has been going on?

I’ve been on Facebook for some time now, but I haven’t been very active with it. But it seems like a lot of my friends and family have discovered it recently, so it has been fun to re-connect with people.

New Year’s resolutions are going well. I have started running regularly again. Thanks to Trey Morgan and Perry Noble for the motivation.

I’m enjoying the new sermon series that I’m preaching this month: One Month to Live (inspired by Kerry Shook’s book).

I’m looking forward to the end of the month when my old friend David Willis comes to teach at our Men’s Retreat and preach at Cedar Creek.

Happy New Year!

Weird Weather

I think we have had a little bit of everything this December. Last weekend we were experiencing sub-zero temps and frigid wind chills. Today I think we reached a high of 68 degrees. But we are also getting a lot of rain, so it's not too enjoyable.

Tomorrow is the last Sunday of the year. I'm looking forward to preaching (especially since I didn't get to preach last Sunday because of the power outage).

Have a Blessed Christmas

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

Luke 2:1-15

Enjoy

This dude has some pipes, eh? Wow!

The Heat Is On!

Hunkered down under a bunch of blankets on Saturday night, but woke up to 48 degrees in the house. Brrr! Spent the day with some friends. Came home to check the house, then the juice came back on. Kudos to those guys working round-the-clock to restore power.

Still no power at the church building. Cancelled services (duh!). It's COLD in there. But really COLD outside (zero, with a minus 10 windchill). Worshipped at the Auburn Church of Christ today. Enjoyed hearing my friend John Scott preach.

Now I'm drinking coffee, watching football, blogging, and thanking the Lord for a warm house.

Ice Storm

We got a nasty ice storm this morning. When the weatherman predicted a half-inch of ice, I thought he was exaggerating, but it turns out he was right. Ice everywhere. The tree limbs are groaning with the weight. We lost some very big branches. Limbs and power lines are down all over town. We lost power about 9am and the house is getting COLD. They say power might not be restored until Sunday. Wow. We are getting warm at Starbucks now.

A Liberal's Christmas Nightmare

Send your own ElfYourself eCards