Home Court Advantage

I LOVE sports! In fact I was home last night...working on soccer camp stuff and listening to my Cavs win on their home court. The Q is the greatest NBA arena...and that is just fact! Do you notice that teams play differently when they are at home...they play with more passion...they seem to be more comfortible. I was thinking about that and how it relates to the church...I have to say that when Grace gathers at Movies 14 on Sunday mornings...I feel that home court advantage. I see people that have "my back" as we live life together...I LOVE cheering on people and seeing them walk deeper in their walk with Christ. I know that we can take a risk...step out into the unknown...and this group of people will be RIGHT THERE stepping out with me! When we go against "the enemy," I know that the "owner and general manager" of my team is going to give us the best chance to win...In fact WE HAVE ALREADY WON...cause he took care of that on the cross and then rising again!! Then for me, as coach...I get to lead the best team on the planet!! There is a passion that come out in me, as I serve God and the people of Grace...there is a comfort level knowing that God has already run out ahead of me...that he is right there with me...AND that I have a team that is ready to do some battle! It is good to be at Grace! Good to have Home Court Advantage!

That's why we do this...

I started our Soccer Camp meeting tonight by asking the question..."Why do we do this?" Why do we spend all of this time? Why do people give up HOURS and HOURS and HOURS of time to put on a soccer camp?

Chloe answered first..."Because people need to hear about Jesus."

Then Sharon simply points to Kim W...Kim came to camp last year...then showed up on a Sunday and has been with us ever since...

Why do we spend this time? Because we love Jesus...AND love our community! We want people to hear about Jesus AND see him through how we serve them...I LOVE DOING THIS!

THEN, in the middle of our meeting a person in our group was interrupted by a phone call...it was some tough news...So, we stopped and prayed for the situation. THAT is church! THAT is why we met tonight...so we could pray for each other...We can make all of the plans we want...AND when the time comes...we MUST remember, this is about PEOPLE not PLANS!

We must keep learning...

I'm getting creative this year...every year I try to attend at least 1 conference a year...to make sure that I'm continuing to grow and learn. This year I made it a goal to "create my own conference." To look for an area of my ministry that needed to be amped up and to find the man to work with me. I FOUND THE MAN! Bob Combs is a pastor in Norton, OH who I did an internship with back in '95. He is a passionate leader...just LOVES people...and is very gifted at counseling people...I want to learn from him! I enjoy investing myself in people...counseling them, so I wanted to learn from the best so I can grow in this area.

Ron Boehm is another man that I am going to be meeting with...he has been a coach/mentor for me for years. He has invested A LOT of his life in me and the questions that he asks really shape how I lead. I look forward to connecting with Ron!

I also like to connect with guys who are doing what I'm doing...My Aunt attends a church in Ohio that is a 2nd campus and doing services in a theater. I am trying to connect with the pastor there so we can "talk shop." See what they do...learn from him...I LOVE talking with campus pastors and church planters! I think that campus pastors are the GREATEST men in the world. (No bias of course!)

I'm excited about this "conference." AND my family and I will get to hang out with "grandma and grandpa!" It is not often that my family gets to come to a conference with me...AND I'll get to spend some quality time in the Buckeye State!

I sure appreciate these men taking some time to pour their lives into mine...I can't wait!

Reflections...

I was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nervous 13 years ago today...it was the night before my wedding and I was about to marry the love of my life...Kelsey Krynock...I mean LOOK AT THAT PICTURE...she is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Now here I am 13 year later remembering that night...remembering my questions of what married life would be like...wondering what kind of husband I would be like...dreaming of having children with Kelsey...And simply trying to survive the night before with my "loving" brother and my "friends"...ANYWAY...

I couldn't wait to marry Kelsey...BUT, I had NO IDEA how much I would love her 13 year later! I love her more now...the struggles and the fun...having kids together...job changes...surgeries...home owners...STUPID mistakes...GREAT vacations and some pretty good thunderstorms while camping...I sure love this woman and pray HARD daily that we will go even deeper and love each other more 50 years from now...(WHOA...that would make me 86 years old!) Kelsey, I love you and LOVE living life with you..."Thanks God for picking Kels for me!"

OH YEAH BABY!!!!

What an amazing shot by King James last night! My Cavs are alive in the playoffs thanks to his game winning shot with 1 second left...Soooooooooooooooooooooo glad that I get to think of that shot now, instead of the one of Jordan over Craig Ehlo!!!! THIS is THE Shot!

Moving Experience...

Today, I had the AMAZING honor to attend Grace College's graduation at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. My dad in law is the site coordinator and prof at ISP and led the ceremony. I was in tears as I watched these guys graduate...their heart...their love for Jesus...their love for my Father in law...his passion for them...It really left me in tears. These men really see this as something that will help to change their lives...I am GLAD for this program that gives these men hope...and not just hope of a shorter prison sentence, but hope in JESUS CHRIST...and it give them hope that they CAN accomplish things that no one thought they could!

GREAT JOB MEN...GREAT JOB DAD...AND GREAT JOB GRACE COLLEGE...I was proud to be a child of God...and proud to be a Grace alum today.

YES!

We got our first win tonight in softball! We did enough to win...hit well early (Batted around in the first inning) then held on for the win...FELT GOOD! I sure enjoy this group of guys...love being out there. AND I'm glad it rained last week...cause I wouldn't have been able to play...So, tonight was the make up game...BEAUTIFUL night...Great win!

NOW...if the Cavs will just put the Magic away it would be a perfect evening!

Pastor's Update...

Click on the pic for this weeks video update...

Ugh...

Ugh!

I went for a run today for the first time in MONTHS! I hurt my ankle back in January...then my knee was giving me problems, so I haven't run in FOREVER...I have been without pain for 2 weeks and figured I had no excuse...so off I went...beautiful day...not a cloud in the sky...I took off...pushing Luke in our bike-stroller...AND MAN WAS I SLOW! I think I could have run faster running through water last year! It was the slowest 2 mile run EVER for me...19 minutes 50some odd seconds...(NO IT WAS NOT a 20 minute 2 mile run...nay...that didn't happen!!) I think Kelsey would have beaten me today with her hurt foot! So, I have a long way to go...today is the day you just have to say..."I'm just glad I got back out there."

Ugh!!

What if?

What if Jesus were to come back today? Are you ready? Are your friends? Family? Well...what are we going to do about it?!?!