OKLAHOMA!!!

This weekend I will be at First Baptist Church of Mustang just outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I’ll be speaking, teaching and doing some comedy for junior high and senior high students from several area churches at a conference called “Something Huge.” You can get more info at http://www.somethinghuge.org. The band Dutton will also be there (duttonband.com) so it should be a great weekend. I perform Friday night, speak twice on Saturday, teach once (straight from “Go Be Jesus”) and speak Sunday morning before heading back to the igloo that is Westfield. Pray for me for safety and for Laura and the girls as they try to survive in the elements of Indy while Daddy is out of town. Pray for Steiner as he leads in my absence at Central Sunday morning. Thanks Paul! Pray for my sanity as I drive back while the Steelers and Cardinals duke it out in Tampa. Pray for the students I will come into contact this weekend that they might be convicted by the Word and moved by the Spirit.

SHOVELING SNOW IS NOT MUCH FUN

After living in the south for the duration of my adult life, my family and I recently moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. Last night we were hit with more snow than I have seen in the last 20 years of my life. Snow is beautiful. No one can argue that. However, it isn’t as pretty when ten feet of it is staring you down saying, “Leave the house? No, no, no, you’re not going anywhere.” In order to go to work (yes, that’s right, they actually go to work up here even when there is a plague from the heavens), go get milk and such I knew I would have to shovel. This is a picture of my driveway after I finished. Sure, it may look like the polar ice caps separating, but it is my driveway. I’m kinda tired. I think I’ll go to sleep now. Shoveling snow is not much fun.

A LITTLE WAKE UP CALL

“Say hello to my lil’ friend!!!”

BROOKE’S 5TH BIRTHDAY

Yesterday our family celebrated Brooklyn’s 5th birthday. The day started off with a huge scare. Adrienne, now 18 months, decided to dive down our stairs. It didn’t go so well. She bounced numerous times head over heels to the floor below. Luckily, babies are made out of rubber and Jell-O. She was fine. If I did something like that, I’d be in the local ICU. She has done wonderful adjusting to having stairs in the house but I will be installing a safety gate tomorrow just in case. We planned a day for the girls at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. They loved it! From carousels to dinosaurs to fun play areas, the Children’s Museum is a ton of fun. It didn’t hurt that they had a Dippin’ Dots (a place the girls loved when we lived in Tennessee) ice cream vendor on the way out.

We came home and had cheese pizza and a Hannah Montana birthday cake followed by the opening of presents. Brooke’s Uncle Frank sent her a very generous gift card so she was able to go shopping the day before. I hope he sends me one for my birthday! As we were cleaning up, Brooke looked at me and said “Daddy, this was the best birthday ever!” We parents love hearing things like that! “Happy Birthday sweetheart,” I said. Brooke (as she did all day) replied the same way, “Happy Birthday to you Daddy.” Thank you to everyone who sent her a birthday wish; we read all the emails to her and played the answering machine messages for her. She liked it a lot.

“DIRTY SAUCE”

Today we went to Skyline Chili in Noblesville on our way to start looking at a new swing set for the girls. Brooklyn had been to Skyline before and always orders a coney with cheese and nothing else. We couldn’t figure out why Brooke never wants to eat the chili. Laura said to Brooke, “Honey, would you like to try Mommy’s noodles and cheese?” Brooklyn pointed to the chili and said, “No way Jose, it has ‘Dirty Sauce’ on it!”

CHIMPANZEE RIDIN’ ON A SEGWAY

Thanks to my old college friend Gerrard, I now can’t stop singing this stupid song!!! Thanks a lot G-Man.

BOY OR A GIRL … YOUR PREDICTION?

Calling all guessers, analysts, forecasters, wizards and mom’s with strong intuitional abilities!!! As most of you know, this summer (either late June or sometime in July) we will be having our fourth and final baby. Laura went to the doctor yesterday and everything looks great. We will find out if it’s a boy or a girl in about five weeks. We have three beautiful little girls and are anxiously awaiting finding out if this one is a boy or a girl. I have no preference. I absolutely love my girls and would really like another. At the same time, having a boy would be cool too. So what’s your gut tell you? Will we have a pink nursery or a blue one?

A CD RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU

One of the best CD’s I’ve purchased in the last year or so is Rick Altizers’ “Scripture Memory Pop Symphonies.” It is incredible. If you are a fan of groups like ELO, the Beatles, Elton John or John Lennon, you will absolutely love this CD. “Think About These Things”, “Turn My Eyes Away”, “Trust In The Lord” and “For I Know The Plans I Have For You” are my favorite tracks. You can get it on iTunes or at his site; http://rickaltizer.home.comcast.net/~rickaltizer/home.html. You can also listen to all of the tracks on his site. Each song is straight scripture. Rick is one of the most talented people I came into contact with during my 7 years in Nashville. On this album, he plays every instrument and sings every vocal. It is fantastic and headlines my CD changer in the old Corolla! If you get it or even listen to it, let me know what you think.

My 2009 Wish List

2009. Can you believe it? It doesn’t even sound right. As a kid back in … um … I think it was the 1950’s … we used to attach years like “2009″ to space stories, strange futuristic inventions and the Senior Citizens discounts that we looked forward to. When I graduated high school in 1986, the year 2009 would conjure up images of where I might be, what I might be doing, marriage and kids and such. Now it’s here and there is no way I’m 40, is there? I can’t be balding, portly and forgetful, can I? Well, since I can’t remember where I was going with this, here are a few things I am hoping for in the New Year (in no order of significance. 

A Dolphins playoff win (or two) would be phenomenal! After thirty years of unmatched success from 1970 till 1999, the last decade has been hard to watch. Until last weekend, I had forgotten what it is like to root for the Dolphins in a meaningful game. There is a strange Bermuda Triangle thing happening here for me in Indianapolis. Growing up in Maryland, I remember the Colts being in Baltimore, Johnny Unitas, Bert Jones, Memorial Stadium. In 1995 I had a ministry less than an hour from Baltimore and managed season tickets to the Ravens first season. Now I’m in Indy, reunited with the Colts, watching the Ravens take on my beloved Dolphins!!! So, I am pulling for Miami. If they can’t get in, I’ll root for the Colts. If they both lose, I’ll pull for the Ravens. If all else fails, we might still have the Titans (we just moved from Nashville) to pull for! GO FINS!!!

Unto us a child will be born! In late June or early July we will add our fourth and, God willing, final addition to our family. We don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet, but we’re pretty certain it’s a baby! I am torn. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my girls. It would be awesome to have one more. We have girl clothes and toys, experience with girls and we inherited a pink nursery in our new home. It was a model home and, for what ever reason, they painted the nursery pink. Maybe it’s a sign. At the same time, a boy would add a bit of diversity to the mix. And while my girls all like sports, it’d be cool to have a son who might like to throw the baseball in the backyard some times. Does that make sense? Either way I’ll be tickled … “pink?” I have a feeling we will have another girl!

I plan to start dating again! Don’t worry, I’m only going to ask Laura out (and possibly Steiner, Pete or CJ in situations where Laura says “no”). For five years in Nashville, we struggled to find a reliable sitter (until the likes of Jenny P and “Grandma Freezy” came along), so our dates would consist of outings like this; Kids eat free night at Applebees, skee ball and arcade games at Chuck E Cheeses or flicks like “Space Chimps” at the local Regal Cinema. Romantic? Not so much. Bonding? Mostly not for Laura and I. Enticing? Ha ha ha ha ha ha. That’s funny. We love every fun night we have with the girls, but we are looking forward to attaining a roster of sitters soon so that we can have some time together again.

Pizza. Hate to be shallow. I wish I was above putting this on the list. I’m just not. Living in a new area presents the opportunity to try new things and see new places. Wherever there is New York or Chicago Style pizza, that is where you will find me.  I will also set a personal record for Skyline Chili consumption this year. We have those all around up here.

 

Hunger for God, Heart for people. Our church is using this simple phrase (which encapsulates Jesus’ words when He was asked which commandment was the greatest) as it’s rally call and mission statement currently. It’s a new direction for them, for us. I want to help them which is part of why I came here. But, more personally, I want to adopt the mentality myself. Loving God and loving people. Jesus made things so simple. He really did. He made it more about the people and less about the rules, rituals or institution. I thought Graham (our Generations Pastor) did a great job of forecasting that idea last week in Richard’s (our trusty leader) absence. I am looking forward to helping Central and the people around me too but I think it starts with me. And with each of us.

Other 2009 expectations would include;

Travel – I plan to do between 35 and 50 performances this upcoming year as well as committing to a missions trip (hopefully Nepal). 

Writing – songs, dramas, comedic material and starting another book.

Exploring Indy – opening up all of the things that Indianapolis has to offer for my wife and kids will be really exciting (Children’s Museum, AAA Baseball, malls, parks, zoos). Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville are all nearby as well.

Artwork – When we finally get unpacked, I’d like to start drawing again. People here are Colts crazy, so I’d like to do a few more football pieces.

Chinese checkers, underwater welding, Mary Kay meetings, snake slinging, accordion lessons, fencing, studying the national deficit … all the things that “go without saying.” I could go on and on. I wish you all an incredible 2009!!!