Ah, the NCAA tourney.  I love this time of year.  I'm in 4 bracket pools and getting killed in 3 of them.  I guess that's what happens when you go with your gut.  The only one I'm doing any good in is the one against my wife.  But that just means I get to pick the restaurant for our next date night.  I'll take that.  Texas Roadhouse here we come.  I can already taste the rolls with honey butter...I think I just put those 2 pounds back on.  Well in honor of my wife I must say, GO JAYHAWKS!

Got to leave in a few hours for Waterloo and the car will be fully stocked with Kleenex (thank you to the person that figured out how to put aloe in those things so my nose isn't ripped to shreds).  Enjoy the weekend.

2.  Leading can be hard sometimes.  Just this week I was thinking about how many things that I lead and wondering if that is a good trait of leadership or not.  I've got to rethink that and put some more time into seeing if that's really what I should be spending my time with.  But at the same time, I'm excited for the new leadership endeavor I have for the next 8 weeks.

3.  This is the best time of year to be a college basketball fan.  I love it and I have to admit--Go Drake!  I'm on the bandwagon.  I don't think you'll make it far in the tourney but it's been nice to have something other than Iowa or Iowa State taking up the airwaves.  I'm excited for March Madness.  Can't wait to fill out a bracket.  It's been such an up and down year I'm excited to see who comes out on top. 

4.  Ignite is this weekend.  Wow!  It's gonna be a long and hopefully fruitful week.  It's a rush but at the same time it's very draining.  Can't wait.

That's it for now.  Enjoy the randomness of your life.

The sad thing was when students were saying "hi" to inmates, not because they were being nice but because they knew them.  One student, when we got there, told me his brother was in juvenile hall and he knew his way around the jail.  One student, has a dad who was there for a year and then got moved to prison.  It was a good experience and just opened the eyes to see things that I've never seen.  Pretty uncomfortable. 

It's been 1 week since the first workout of the new year.  So far it hasn't been a problem to get up at 5:45-6:00 every morning to work out.  I do feel better and have lost 8 lbs. since starting. 

Yesterday was Jenise's birthday so we spent some time together.  I beat her in bowling again, 116-99.  Yeah we bowl like once a year or two.

Pretty uneventful blog but that's how life is sometimes.

1.  Health -- No it's not a joke.  I need to get healthier.  Therefore I have been trying to eat healthier and will be spending money to exercise starting today.  I've lost 3 lbs. since the weekend so it's hopeful.  I remember 3 years ago this time I was 65 lbs smaller.  Just trying to be healthier for me and my family.  If you feel like working out together I'm available from 6:30 am to 7:30 am at Anytime Fitness.  Feel free to encourage, I'll need it to get up that early 5 mornings a week.

2.  iPod -- Yes, I'm finally current.  I'm moved into the 2000's.  I don't have to carry around 30 CD's in my car anymore.  I now just have my iPod.  Trying to get new and updated stuff on there.  If you have any favorites you'd like to pass on my way please do.  It'll be even better if I don't have to buy them.

3.  Desire -- I read Psalm 42 over the holidays (scheduled reading for my personal reading time) and the first verse has stuck with me since the Friday before Christmas.  "As the deer pants for water, so my soul longs for you, O God."  Thirst, desire, longing, the feeling of not being able to live without.  Do I desire God that much?  That's a tough question for me.  I desire to spend time with my family.  I desire to play video games.  I desire to update and get new songs on my iPod.  But do I desire God like I desire those.  Therefore I'm trying to make a committment to spending more time with God.  I'm not sure how "desire" looks yet but it's still marinating in my mind. 

4.  Family Togetherness -- I really want to spend time with family.  It's so easy for them to get robbed of my time so I'm planning on making a concerted effort to "date" my wife again (if you'd like to babysit, let me know) and just be home.  Already thinking about where to go for vacation and taking family on trips and retreats...we'll see how it goes.

5.  Ministry Weaknesses -- In the past 4 months I've seen some of my weaknesses larger than life in ministry.  I'm doing my best to work on those.  They would include...Volunteer Recruitment, Volunteer Training, Delegation, Study Time for Wednesday Night messages.  God has even blessed me with 7 new volunteers since September.  I'm very thankful and see now that God desires of me to train, recruit and actually do it. 

So there are the 5 things for the new year that I'm focused on.  Hopefully you've thought of some things for yourself.  Enjoy 2008!

But that's what I love about him.  He knows it's a celebration.  He's not really sure what we're celebrating yet but he knows something is different.  It simply reminds me to celebrate.  This is the time of year we (tradition) celebrate Christ's birth.  That's what I need to remember so God not only sent His Son but he also gave me my son to help me remember that no matter what I hear (Happy Birthday or Merry Christmas) to remember that it's a celebration of Christ and not trees, decorations, lights, presents, time with family, vacation, snow, ice, good food and all those other extra things.  Take some time to celebrate this season.  Happy Birthday!

Just listened to a podcast and wondering what it would take to get our student ministry Wednesday nights available for podcasts.  I don't really know so if you do let me know.  I think that may be cool.  That way I could listen to myself and practice what I preach.

Reading a good book about communication.  Yes, students I am reading it because I see the need to always be working on it.  Yes, students I am trying to practice what I'm reading but I don't know if it's working.  I'm trying.  Yes, I love you all.  Good enough book, I'm buying it for 2 of my friends.  I was a bit skeptical at first because I assumed it would say the same thing every other book does but it's got some great content and is an easy read.  Hopefully we'll all reap the benefits soon.

It's supposed to be nasty weather this weekend.  Guess we'll be shut up in our house that smells like urine.  Anyone want to come over for some board games?

Wednesday night was really fun.  Thanks Jr. Highers.  It was great to be back and your interaction was a blast.  Thanks for playing along and studying your bible.  I appreciate it.  Just remember you can't believe everything you see on TV or hear.  Be a mythbuster.  Study.  Learn.  Grow.  Don't just assume and believe.  I'm sure this didn't happen at your house but after I showed the video of the water heater blowing up my wife got concerned and wanted me to check our water heater to make sure it wouldn't blow up.  So I looked at it and told her no.  That based on my amazing knowledge of water heaters.  It would be like asking Bill Clinton what it was like to be president (he couldn't because Hillary ran the country then...HA!)  Sorry that is not an endorsement for a political party. 

All right enough reflections for me.  Have a great weekend and seriously if you want to play board games at our house let us know.  I just got "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" and let me tell you...I am!

Monday -- leave Atlanta and drive 40 minutes south to my cousin's house.  Chill out, play video games, sleep, play cornhole, eat some good food, good conversation, sleep.

Tuesday -- wake up, play at the park with family, eat some lunch, play some more video games, go over to my Aunt Lucy's house and eat with extended family, get some Cubs (Matt Murton paraphenalia -- baby, gonna be worth millions one day). 

We fly out tomorrow.  I'm glad for the last two days to be ready for a plane trip home to snow while we've been enjoying 70 degree weather the last two days.

Happy Thanksgiving all.  I'll be home tomorrow.

Today I took some time to spend with the family and we walked around and went to Chick Fil A for supper, checked out Olympic Park all lit up and had a great time.  Caleb will never cease to make me laugh.  I have joy almost every moment I'm with him. 

Chris Tomlin has been given a gift.  He just invites you to worship right along with him.  It was an amazing thing to see.  I think he has just created an atmosphere and name for himself so that when he leads worship people are drawn to it and to worship God.  It was cool to see and experience. 

Well the food's been great, I've walked about 2-3 miles each day (thanks to the distance to the sessions), been encouraged and can't wait to spend some time with my extended family Monday. 

Sorry this one hasn't been to interesting, it's 11:00 and we have to leave in 10 hours for church.