New Wine Skins?

In one of Jesus’ many arguments with the Pharisees, Jesus throws out this kinda strange remark about not putting new wine in old wine skins, or not sewing a new patch on an old garment. When you look at the context of the passage you think, “Wow, Jesus was like schitzo! That makes no sense.” But then you [I] realize that he makes perfectly good sense. He has argued with the Pharisees so many times that he is slightly exasperated. It’s like he says, “Ya know these guys are never gonna get it. They are too stuck in their old mindsets.” They [Pharisees] wanted the Messiah. They wanted new fangled things. New spiritual insights, but they wanted them to fit into their mental and theological boxes.

Don’t you find it interesting that we read the passage in Isaiah where God said, “I’m doing a new thing….” And we jump on the soap box and talk about embracing the freshness of the Good News, and all the new things that God is doing……..as long as it fits into our current structure of beliefs. Don’t believe me? Really? Think about it…….Go on, think for just a second. How often do you purposefully hang out with and spend time with people of other belief structures than you? I’m not talking Muslim and Buddhists. Let’s start with easy ones……..If you’re Baptist, how often do you purposefully hang out with Methodists? If you’re Pentecostal how often do you hang out with Catholics?

Let me shock you a bit…….If all we ever do is hang out with people of our own makeup [spiritual belief structures] then how do we grow? How do we learn? How do we become bigger, better, and stronger? Of course if you go into all of these relationships in order to force change in their thinking then you will never learn anything, nor grow. But when we go into it not to change the other, but to actually engage in a meaningful dialogue then two things happen: We become more aware of what we believe, and our spiritual ‘tank’ is enlarged through compassion and understanding for the other.

Let’s be honest, as long as you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal savior, then we should be able to call each other brother. That’s easy to say, hard to walk out. In Proverbs we are told that iron sharpens iron. Last time I checked that is not a feel good situation. But if I want to sharpen my leadership skills, if I want to grow, if I want to be able to receive the new things of God then it might just get uncomfortable for me. I might have to endure some things that are just not easy. I think it’s time for “mature” Christians to grow up and enlarge their borders. Allow themselves to be sharpened and challenged. Be around others that are…….well……..different. Who knows, we might just learn something. Our boxes of theological oddities might begin to dissolve. We might just be able to receive some new wine, in some new wine skins.

Ministry Musings

Our first Newcomers was a huge success! We had just shy of 100 people show up at McAllister's. Wow! I was yelling over everybody and I'm not sure if the people in the back heard a word I said, but it was a phenomenal turn out, and time together. It was so nice to actually get to talk to people and say more than, :"Welcome to SouthPoint."

The team has been working their fingers to the bone and the results have shown. [no I was not planning o that rhyming.] Some of our team members have still not even been in the main service once. They have sacrificially given and given. They have worked to make it a memorable experience for others. AND it's working! We have had just under 30 people get saved since we've started. Now is that crazy cool or what? I saw the above picture on Flickr and it arrested my attention. The fact that I didn't take the picture amazed me. Also that i didn't even know the picture was being taken, and I'm not in the picture. No I'm not some ego-maniac, I'm merely saying that it is so awesome that all this stuff goes on without a hitch b/c we have the greatest team in the world. Trailers get unloaded, people get saved, lives are transformed, a community is given hope, and God gets the credit! YEA GOD!

So now we step into our influential roles in the community. We're here, now what? Now we influence. We change the culture of our community, not by pointing out flaws......any moron can do that.....but by living Life. I mean living life in a Life-giving way. See it's like this, obedience to God is great, but for leaders that's not enough. Leaders need to obey, and influence others in a godly way. Leadership is not a plaque on the wall, or a name plate on your desk. Leadership is not a backstage pass, or company car. leadership is not the corner office, or even the infamous title that goes with it. Leadership is influence. Influencing others is what Jesus did. It's what Moses did. Wait let's do a random list of influencers: Abraham, Isaac, Jonah, Nahum, Nehemia, Rudolph Guiliani, Adoni Bezek, Saul, David, Solomon, Nathan, Deborah, Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Samson, Gideon, and the list goes on and on. All of the above are leaders. And all of the above are influencers.

So what now?
Influence.
It's not dragging people. It's not debating people.
Influence.
Just live the life of Christ. Share truth. Share love.
Influence.
Trust God. Trust the Holy Spirit that's in you.
Influence.

Desoto Appeal Article

A newspaper team came to service Sunday, and I woke up with my ugly face on the front page of the paper. Wow! Memphians must be scared today! :)

Check out the article here: http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local
/article/0,2845,MCA_25340_5345441,00.html

Bread, TP, and Jesus

What does sliced bread, toilet paper, and Christianity all have in common? At first glance you laugh, and then you’re slightly offended that those three things are even compared. We climb up on our high horse and say, “How dare you compare Christianity to toilet paper!” We go off on a tirade and tell everyone we know how horrible that comparison is. Of course if you do that, you would only be helping me make my point that much stronger.

Sliced bread, toilet paper, and Christianity are all practical things, things that are used on a regular bases. (I know Christianity is lived not used, so take a deep breath and follow my analogy for a moment.) We use items everyday and they become a natural part of our lives. Yet some how Christianity, Jesus Christ, is something so special we only experience it on Sunday morning. Like fine China, or mom’s good silver. Is that really how Jesus is supposed to be taken? Did he really do all that he did to only be experienced once a week, maybe twice? Last time I checked the bible it talked about Jesus being a life change not just an addition. We are not supposed to make the Christ and addendum in our lives, but an integral part of everything we live and do.

Living for Christ is truly a life change decision that not only changes our schedules on Sunday morning, but should inevitably impact every area of our existence.

The latest Article

Check out the link here for the latest article about SouthPoint that was in this Saturdays paper.

http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2007/01/29/news/news05.txt

Have You Thought About it?

Working with people is the most invigorating thing I have ever done. It is so cool to watch people step into different roles and stretch their abilities and talents to serve the Kingdom of God. It is truly one of the things in life that puts a smile on my face. Of course the counter to that is seeing people at the wall. That wall of, "If I go forward I will have to change. I will have to face difficult things, and I will have to change some of my thinking. Or, if I am not willing to change, then I must stay where I am: Socially, Emotionally, Economically, and Spiritually."

We are all given a choice. A choice to move on or stay the same. See I have this firm belief that leaders are not born, but are raised up. God makes leaders, it's just up to each individual to overcome certain "walls" in their lives and grow into that leadership role. Yes, for some it may be harder than for others, but never impossible. Each person is loaded with potential. Loaded with gifts, talents, and skills that God wants to use in the Kingdom of God, we just have to make the choice.

"That's Easy! Of course I wanna move forward and upward." Did I mention that to do that we many times have to let go of old mindsets? Let go of old thinking? The problem with old mindsets is that we don't realize that they are old mindsets, they're just our thoughts. That's why the bible says we need a vision. It says in Proverbs that without a vision the people perish. We have to get a vision for the things on the OTHERSIDE of the wall. It doesn't come by guessing, it comes by tapping into God and allowing him to open our minds and hearts enough to dream......Dream into a vision......Vision into a climbing expedition to get over that wall.

You can do it.
Lay down the extra heavy thoughts.
Open up your mind.
Get a dream.
Get a vision.
Let's climb.
I believe that God has some awesome things on the other side of the wall for all of us.

Day in the Life.

Well, our first official service seems like a distant memory. I can barely remember.....NOT! This week has been filled with awesome phone calls and meetings with awesome people. Everyone I talk to seem so excited about this new style of church. The adjective I've heard the most is. "Fresh." Now I know we get in trouble if we just start believing our own press, but it is reassuring to know that people do think our services are fresh. I mean after all that is one thing we strove to accomplish, a fresh [new] way to do church.

I read in a book the other day [I'm a book junkie] that even the deepest rooted traditions in the church started out as a revolutionary idea. That made me think. Thinking is good. That means if we are not careful the very things we find being cutting edge-revolutionary today, holds the potential to be a deep rooted sacred cow in 20 years. Yuck! Could you imagine our kids telling their kids, "No we do it that way b/c that's how it has always been done! You have to put the words on the screen, we cannot read them out of a book!" Funny huh?

I think one of the challenges is continuing to keep services fresh and in tune with what God is doing today. Not yesterday, and not even tomorrow. We can also be in danger of trying to be the 'future' church. well, the problem with that is that we would be so future that we wouldn't be relevant to today. Yea, I think God is really in to relating today.

It Worked!

Tons of planning.....hours of prayer......lots of people joining with us and supporting us.....and it worked! Today we launched SouthPoint! It was an incredible experience. Our team preformed flawlessly. Things were set up without a hitch, they were broken down and loaded up in time, and on top of all that, we still had time to pull off one incredible service. I can't just tell you how awesome it was, you would almost have to experience it. Everyone that came was so friendly and nice it was great! Ya know it's awesome that SouthPoint has so many people in our corner. My phone started ringing at 6AM this morning with people calling to tell me they were praying for us and thinking of us. Three churches interrupted their services to pray for us! Tree of Life in Naples, FL., Mosaic, in Charlotte, NC., and The Life Church in Atlanta, GA. How awesome is it that other churches are supporting us, and then on top of that we have the support of ARC! [if you don't know ARC then go to our website and find out.]

I'm looking forward to this coming Sunday to just see what God is gonna do. He definitely rocked the house today!

Our Band:
Patti - Lead vocals
Marco - Lead guitar/vocals
Sara - Vocals
Tyson - Bass guitar
Matt - Drums
Camaron - Keyboard
Allister - Electric guitar

Attendance: 173
Re-committed their lives to Christ: 6

HERE WE GO!

We've been building a team to launch a church.....now:
3
2
1
HERE WE GO!

The stuff is in place. The relationships have been formed, and the equipment has been purchased. We've put out signs, bought ads, talked until we are talked out. Now, all that work will reap dividends! I am so excited to be serving with all of you. You are the greatest team on planet earth and I know that God has Great and awesome things in store for SouthPoint! This Sunday is gonna rock our worlds, and it's going to rock the enemies world as well, but in a totally different way!

Whatever you do, make sure that this Sunday you have fun! Enjoy every moment. Enjoy every smile, frown, giggle, and chuckle. Our first Sunday only happens once. Many times we are so excited to look forward to the next new thing that we often miss the moment. The moment that we worked for. The moment. Just the moment. So this Sunday, enjoy. Enjoy the new friends you will meet. Enjoy the people. Enjoy the smells, the sights, and the touches. It will only happen once. It can't be repeated, or duplicated. It is a one time event that will change our lives forever.

I look forward to living it with each and everyone of you!

Phenomenal Give Back!

Phenomenal is the right word for our gas give away! It was simply spectacular. The workers at the gas station were wonderful and friendly and the people from the community were blown away. They couldn't believe that a church would simply give gas away! No strings, no catches, no surveys to fill out, no sinners prayer being said. Simply a church giving back to the community. The smiles on peoples faces, and the excitement in their voices was so much fun. I mean seriously, let's be honest, it was only ten bucks a car. In the scheme of life that is but a small drop in the bucket. But I think it was just the fact that we were giving something free. No strings. No catches.

One guy that pulled up asked, What's the catch?" I replied, "No catch, just free gas." He said, "Oh come on nothings free!" I said, "Well, normally that's true, but today, gas is free." He smiled really big and said, "Wow, now that's' cool."

Isn't it just flat out fun to make people smile? To share the love of Christ with them in a practical way is just easy and fun! Wow! I know everyone that volunteered to stand out in the rain and hold signs, and to pump gas will honestly say it was worth it. Daniel [team member] said that it was the best time he had in a long time. Dawn [team member] said that she had a blast! Trevor, Wendy, and Ida were the bombs standing out on the road with a sign in one hand and an umbrella in the other.....YOU GO TEAM!

In case you were un aware, SouthPoint has the GREATEST TEAM EVER! You guys ROCK my face off!

Team Members Present:

Cory
Lee
Craig
Daniel
Mike
Jenna
Ida
Trevor
Robin
Wendy
Dawn

GO TEAM!

I Got Gas

With our first practice service behind us [barely], we look forward to this coming weekend. It's not just another practice service on Sunday, oh no it is that plus more!

We have partnered with Schnuks gas station and are giving away free gas! Are we crazy or what? Yea I know, we are. But absurdity aside, this Saturday is gonna be off the charts fun! How many churches do you know of that just allow people to pull up and get $10 free gas? no surveys, no questionnaires, no 10 steps to salvation, not even a prayer! Just a simple, "Hey Thanks for being a part of our community!"

So this Saturday in Southaven on Goodman road, we will be giving away GAS! It all begins at 10PM unless you are a member of the SouthPoint team and then you need to be there at 9AM so we can get organized.

First Practice Service

Simply astounding! When you bring a team of 40 people together to unload a trailer they have never seen, unpack equipment they have never seen, and to set up in a theatre that few had seen.....you expect certain moments of utter diaster however, we had none! Everything went excellent! I have decided that SouthPoint has a team of the most gifted leaders ever. Now if you're on the team and you say, "I'm not a leader just a worker." WRONG! Everybody on the SouthPoint team is an increbily creative leader. I am humbled by the fact that everyone is following this idea.....this growing passion. A passion to make a difference. A concept of being part of a community that strives to be activly involved in their surroundings. Not running from darkness, but facing it as a soldier.

Let me simply throw out a million kudos to the SouthPoint team! I am stoked to serve side by side with you guys.

Click on the Flickr side bar to view more pictures of our first Sunday in the Malco.

It fit!

Yesterday we pulled out all the stuff we bought for the church. It was a ton! The whole time I kept thinking, "it ain't gonna fit! It ain't gonna fit!" Some ladies organized all the bins. Labeled everything, and got it all divided up into the children's bins. [Hey did I mention we have a thump'n sound system?] Anyway, we worked all day and finally got everything organized and crammed into our 32' trailer.
When we bought the trailer i thought, "Wow that's huge!" Then we accumulated all of our gear and I thought, "Wow, I hope this trailer is big enough." But it all fit and all is good. Today we get to hook up the sound system and plug our rock'n band into it for the first time. YEA BABY!
We also got our mailer in. Question.......have you ever seen 43,000 pieces of mail? I haven't. It filled the back of my pickup, and was stacked up to the top of the cab. That my friend is ALOT of mail!
Also today we start our fast. [did i mention there is alot going on right now?]
We are fasting for the next 14 days. We need God. Like it says in Proverbs 21, do everything you can, prepare for every bad thing, and then you still have to step back and trust God to bring the victory. With out The presence of God everything is just......well.....its just stuff. It takes God to change lives, and that is what we're after; Changed lives.
So whether you are a part of the Southpoint team or not, join us in prayer for this exciting launch of a brand new church in Desoto county! It's now only days away!
January 21! Wow, that's close.

Fasting tips and helps

Since we are beginning our fast this Saturday I thought it would be good to post some tips and helps on fasting. These are copied directly from billbright.com/ and are very good. You can also go to his websight and gleen other useful information there if your would like. But I thought this would give us all something to chew on for a while.....yes pun intended.

How you begin and conduct your fast will largely determine your success. By following these seven basic steps to fasting, you will make your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritually rewarding.

STEP 1: Set Your Objective

Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, for guidance, for healing, for the resolution of problems, for special grace to handle a difficult situation? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His leading and objectives for your prayer fast. This will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.

Through fasting and prayer we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our churches, and heal our land according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Make this a priority in your fasting.

STEP 2: Make Your Commitment

Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14,15) For Him it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would do it. Before you fast, decide the following up front:

How long you will fast - one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days (Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts.)
The type of fast God wants you to undertake (such as water only, or water and juices; what kinds of juices you will drink and how often)
What physical or social activities you will restrict
How much time each day you will devote to prayer and God's Word
Making these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life's pressures tempt you to abandon it.

STEP 3: Prepare Yourself Spiritually

The very foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart:

Ask God to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins.
Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4).
Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15.
Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master; refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2).
Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others (Psalm 48:9,10; 103:1-8, 11-13).
Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).
Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit (Galatians 5:16,17).

STEP 4: Prepare Yourself Physically

Fasting requires reasonable precautions. Consult your physician first, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic ailment. Some persons should never fast without professional supervision.

Physical preparation makes the drastic change in your eating routine a little easier so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer.

Do not rush into your fast.
Prepare your body. Eat smaller meals before starting a fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods.
Eat raw fruit and vegetables for two days before starting a fast.
Your time of fasting and prayer has come. You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider:



Avoid drugs, even natural herbal drugs and homeopathic remedies. Medication should be withdrawn only with your physician's supervision.
Limit your activity.
Exercise only moderately. Walk one to three miles each day if convenient and comfortable.
Rest as much as your schedule will permit.
Prepare yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety.
Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the second day. You may have fleeting hunger pains, dizziness, or the "blahs." Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches. Physical annoyances may also include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness.
The first two or three days are usually the hardest. As you continue to fast, you will likely experience a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually. However, should you feel hunger pains, increase your liquid intake.

STEP 5: Put Yourself on a Schedule

For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside ample time to be alone with the Lord. Listen for His leading. The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be.

Morning

Begin your day in praise and worship.
Read and meditate on God's Word, preferably on your knees.
Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you to will and to do His good pleasure according to Philippians 2:13.
Invite God to use you. Ask Him to show you how to influence your world, your family, your church, your community, your country, and beyond.
Pray for His vision for your life and empowerment to do His will.
Noon

Return to prayer and God's Word.
Take a short prayer walk.
Spend time in intercessory prayer for your community's and nation's leaders, for the world's unreached millions, for your family or special needs.
Evening

Get alone for an unhurried time of "seeking His face."
If others are fasting with you, meet together for prayer.
Avoid television or any other distraction that may dampen your spiritual focus.
When possible, begin and end each day on your knees with your spouse for a brief time of praise and thanksgiving to God. Longer periods of time with our Lord in prayer and study of His Word are often better spent alone.

Next Phase

It’s Christmas morning and I’m still pondering the impact of our last Preview service. It was Saturday night and we had a great Christmas gathering. It was also our last preview meeting in our home. Wow! This coming Sunday is New Years Eve and we are doing “Party With a Purpose.” Then the 7th is our first practice service in the movie theatre. Yea that’s the schedule but its neat to see us move into the next phase of this church plant. We had a lot of people gone for the holiday weekend and still had a room full of people. I remember when it was just me and a couple of people only a few months ago. Now…..When we ALL gather, we no longer fit. Nice.

Each phase of planting is so different and I’m really enjoying each step. Each step is planned, yet full of surprises. It never goes exactly like we plan, but it always ends up with God’s hand in it. I like the last verse of Proverbs chapter 21. In the Message it says,

“Do all you can, prepare for the worst, and trust God to bring the victory.”

Yea now that’s what I’m talking about! So here we are. A church plant that is moving from one venue to the next. A church plant that is moving from “building a team, to launch a church.” To “Working the Team Make a Church.”

Yup next phase. It’s time to kick it into 4 low and climb the mountain that’s before us. I hope everyone has a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Oh by the way……Launch team…….We start our fast on January 6th. Eat well this Christmas.

Be inspired

I can't believe it has been so long since I've blogged. I enjoy it so much it's wierd that it's been so long. You can probably tell though that I've been slightly busy. Okay, Xtremely busy. But in the busyness I've been having a blast.

The other day I was listening to a podcast and I heard about this guy named Kevin Caroll. He was inspiring. And then he told about a book he wrote called, "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball." I bought it.



It is not like any other book I've read. You can sit and read the whole thing in about 20 minutes, but it will take you months to digest it. It is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. The podcast is even more inspiring. Check it out at Catalyst on itunes.

So if you get a chance to read a little book in the next few weeks, give the red rubber ball a go!

Our Mailer

Check out our cool mailer that will be going to print soon. Leave a comment. Tell me what you think!

Committed

The summer of 1999 I found myself in the Central American Rain Forest climbing an indistinguishable mountain in 100+ temperatures. It s was tough. But I had with me some of my closest friends, and a trusty Honduran guide. It was an adventure that I will never forget. Although we were all panting, sweating, scratching, and mosquito slapping, we were having a blast. The friendship and the adventure ahead motivated us through the tough parts.

This week in Bible study we have been covering Matthew chapter 5. As I read it I was captured by one simple statement. Now before I tell you, let me preface it by saying that I read it in the Message translation. So if you are from certain parts of the U.S. of A and belong to a certain undisclosed denomination, you will immediately discount me as a Bible believer. If this is the case then you really have not read my previous posts now have you? So anyway, I read in the Message translation in Matthew 5:2

“the committed climbed with him.”

WOW! That statement is as strong as 10 acres of garlic! Think about it. Jesus was climbing the mountain to a secluded place. We know he was gonna give the great diatribe that we now call the beatitudes. But if you wanted to hear the deep nuggets of truth you had to be committed. He didn’t speak in parables on the mountain [one of the few times that he did not], but he spoke plainly. But you had to be committed to hear it.

As I am climbing this mountain of church panting I find that it is not always easy. Wait…….it is NEVER easy! In fact this is the hardest I have worked, in my entire life. I have invested every ounce of every thing I have in this puppy. And When I look around I smile. I smile b/c God has entrusted me with a team of INCREDIBLE people that are committed, and the committed climb with me. NO I’m not saying I’m Jesus Christ! There is no red Kool-Aid, and there is no compound, just a growing group of top-notch people that have committed themselves to making a difference.

Anybody can follow.

Any moron can follow somebody else, that’s easy. Give me a break! I mean my 2 year old can follow me down the street, but he can’t climb…..not yet.

Climbing takes skill.
Climbing takes dedication.
Climbing takes patience.
Climbing takes desire.
Climbing takes commitment.

Don’t tell me who you are following. Tell me if you’re climbing.

Same Story Different Year

It seems like every year when the holidays role around, things get exponentially more busy. Is it just me or does it seem like work stays the same, yet life seems busier? How many holiday parties do we really need? Wait I’m sorry was I supposed to say Christmas parties, or can I say holiday parties? Maybe that’s part of the added stress too, we have to now have the proper word usage for things that happen in December.

I know, Christians freak out when anybody says “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” But what do you say when it’s not Christmas and you really are in the holiday season? I mean if it is in between Thanksgiving and Christmas and a store clerk says, “Happy Holidays” do we go pick up our picket sign and beat them over the head with it in a truly Christian manner? Or is it possible, slightly plausible that there truly is a HOLLIDAY time and then there is a CHRISTSMAS day? I know and believe that Christmas is Christ’s B-Day and it should be celebrated like that, but rarely do we begin celebrating our children’s B-Days a month out now do we? So I guess the point [yes I do have a point] to all of this is could it be plausible that we could reduce our Christmas/holiday/winter solstice season, if we would just put down our defensive attitudes and enjoy? Enjoy life – enjoy the falling leaves – enjoy the smell of peppermint, pine cones, and egg nog – savor the moment. Don’t make everything a fight. Don’t make everything your soap box. Just enjoy.

Mary could have easily picked up a picket sign and picketed every Inn in Bethlehem and talked about the legal housing act of 10 BC. But she didn’t. I think she humbly sat in that stable holding her new baby and simply enjoying the sweet moment in time where everything was okay.

Look around today, What can you enjoy? Don’t count the number of “Holiday” signs in direct comparison to “Christmas” signs, just enjoy the moment. The moment when everything is okay.

Thankful

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and it was great. We spent the day with Patti's family in Huntsville, AL and we really had a great time. While we ate, my niece handed out pieces of paper that said, "I'm thankful for..." and then we were all told that we were suppose to write down what we were thankful for. It was cool. We all read them out loud, and when it came around to Patti she said, "I'm thankful for the adventure." That made my wheels turn. Life was created to be an adventure. Full of surprises, full of action, and full of heart thumping fun. Of course, the mundane can never be mistaken for adventure. Check out this scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (The Message)
7-9Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

Many people are on an adventure, but rarely stop in the middle of the adventure and give thanks. We are too preoccupied by the need, or the hunger, or the danger, or the adversity. But really aren't those things the very essence of an adventure? Without danger, adventure could not exist. Without adversity could there really be an effectual fervent prayer?

So, I have to stop this year and look at the adventure I'm in and say thank GOD! Thank you for the problems. Thank you for lack, thank you for situations that are yet to be resolved, and thank you for making life an adventure! If we stop in the middle and say thank you, then we might just enjoy the journey a little more.