Quick Trip

Thanks to a full 64 ounces of iced coffee, I stayed awake long enough to drive to my home town after preaching 3 times Sunday.  Dad’s been struggling health-wise a bit since his first chemo treatment last week and this was my one chance to get away until June. 

I got to spend about an hour with him Sunday night and a little more time this morning before driving back.  Also got to see my niece and nephews, brother, sis-in-law, mom and grandmother so the trip was totally worth it, even if I was there for less than 18 hours.  Just wish gas was $1.49/gallon.

One cool thing…Jack had a ton of stuff going on today so he couldn’t come, but I did bring Abby.  She and I had a great time and Jack and Jenny got some good time togehter.  When I called back Sunday night, they were playing Connect 4.  I love it.

Weekly Suncrest Update

Just a brief note this week…I feel like I’ve already written a lot to you, but it was in a church-wide letter you’ll get next week in your real mailboxes.  There’s some great info in there that brings us up to date on finances, projects around here, etc.  From my office, I have the perfect view of the second entrance being constructed on our campus…gravel is going down right now!  Get the full update in that letter, including some neat news about our neighbors donating some land to us. 

Sunday’s beginning to the “Pause” message series was challenging wasn’t it?  It was to me.  I know I’ve had a lot of feedback including some very delicate and some very powerful struggles with temptation.  I got an email last night that I’ll share in part, preserving his/her anonymity… 

“…You see, I am a ‘minimizer’.  If I can think up some of the, what I call, “really huge sins” that people commit, it can make some of my sins seem much smaller.  It’s really a great tool and I use it quite often.  After the sermon on Sunday, with much meditation and self examination,  I came to the conclusion that the sin which I chose to focus on during this series and with God’s help remove from my life, that I have always considered not so huge,  is very, very huge.  And the reason that I finally came to confess that it is so huge is because it owns so much of me.  I know it’s going to take time, and much prayer and trust in God to believe that it can be removed from my life, but I am going to put my faith to great testing and truly believe that with God all things are possible.” 

This Sunday we will have a candid interview within the message about the obvious and not-so obvious effects that come from our falls to temptation. 

On a more upbeat note, it’s both Father’s Day and a Baby Dedication Sunday with about 2 dozen babies dedicated over our three services.  Benjamin Gamble, Gibson Mehrle, and our own daughter, Abby, will be among them (our staff is just trying to do our part to help this church grow!).  Sunday is also Abby’s first birthday, so we have plenty to celebrate…and a lot of family in town! 

See you Sunday…

A quiet entrance to blogging

I’m giving in to the pressure…to begin blogging.  But I’m not announcing it.  I probably will at some stage, but I first need to see how it really will go and if I actually do it with consistency.

 A lot of people have suggestted I do it…as a way to stay connected with Suncrest (as it grows), other leaders (as we collaborate). 

Some friends and family can stay in touch better too. 

So, we’ll see…