We do not have internet at home right now so the blogging has been a little slow. Just thought I would post some thoughts that normally would have turned into a full post into some quick hits this morning. 

• What expectations do you have for yourself when you go to church? If you don't have any expectations what are you doing there? If you don't go expecting to leave different, why go? It's up to the pastor to preach and up to us to implement. Maybe you don't have a bad preacher, maybe you are a bad hearer. (i think i made that word up) 
• Were starting a new young adult ministry and I had a thought that motivated me big time. I need to be the pastor to the young adults that I hope my daughter has when she graduates college and moves to a new town. 
• If you like good design check out these guys:

• Got a busy week ahead, church tonight, Steve Fee & Charlie Hall tomorrow night, Dinner with Friends Friday and my brother and BRAND NEW sister in law will be her Saturday and internet at the new house on Monday. 
• Also have 2 incredible Jonathan Projects to update you on once I get some internet! 

Gary Hague the founder of the IJM once said "if you want your leadership to matter, lead things that matter to God." 

If you were to die would people be disappointed that the things you were working for were not going to be finished or continued? Would people say "who is going to continue to ______" 

What that mattered would end if you were to end?  

Think about who is going to care if you:

• never own a beach house
• never have enough money to "retire" 
• never travel all over Europe for 6 months
• never have that car/boat/jewelry etc...

Think about who would care if:

• That orphanage you were almost done raising money for never got finished? 
• The group of widows that you cook for once a week were not going to get that great meal? 
• That tutoring center you were working on in the inner-city no longer had a patriarch to oversee it
• Those babies at this place 20 minutes from Montgomery didn't have anybody to hold them. 

God has called us all to fulfill his great commission. What are you doing? What is stopping you? 

Set yourself up to be missed. 

Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1

Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2

Live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10

Here is how I know that my wife thinks about adoption nearly all the time. 

Last night she say's "if Caroline ever has a big brother or sister!" 

Seriously how many people just walk around assuming that the odds of our daughter having an older sibling or younger sibling in the future are the same. 

I love how God has been shaping her and changing our hearts over the past two months.

I have been really working and praying about how to use my time over the past few weeks and have a few observations and a new plan. Here are some thoughts:

• I have a 30 minute block set aside for Prayer/Study before my "early morning" starts
• For a long time I have sat down in the morning and laid out my schedule in about 30 minute blocks. I would fight all day to stick to that schedule in my new schedule I am cutting the day into five parts.
• • early morning
  • late  morning
  • lunch
  • early afternoon 
  • late afternoon
• I have taken all my main responsibilities and given each one a block of time. For example "Visitor Follow Up: Monday Early Afternoon" If I finish early then I can squeeze some less important things in. This is forcing me to put the "big rocks" in the jar first.  
• It was hard for me to plan for the future when I had something to do looming 30 minutes ahead. It's easier to get engaged in a task when I don't have anything to do until "late afternoon" 

I have really been feeling convicted about "seeking God first" the past few weeks and I hope this helps me to do just that. To me part of seeking God is working. Colossians 3:23 say's "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if working for the Lord, not men." Work is spiritual and it deserves the right amount of time. After all God did have Adam working in the Garden before sin entered the world. 

I realize there is nothing very earth shattering here but if you don't control your schedule your schedule will control you. 

If my schedule controls me Rachel and Caroline seem to be the first one's to lose out. If your schedule controls you who is the first one to lose out? Is it worth it?  

There is something so profound about the memorization of Scripture. I really never feel more in linewith God then when something happens and a specific scripture immediately comes to mind. To be totally honest I never feel more out of line then when somebody say's something and a "that's what she said" joke pops into my mind. 

When we memorize Scripture we do not do it for legalistic reasons. We do it so that God's word is written on our heart as we move through this world. So when we respond to life, all that is going through our head is the word of God not a lame line from a song or movie. Quotes die and fade but God's word brings life, energy and hope. 

For those of you that think it is too hard to memorize scripture here are a few thoughts: 

• It is hard to memorize the book of John. Start with John 3:17
• Read the verse 10 times then close the Bible and say it 10 times. 
• Repeat until you have it. 
• Memorize verses that speak to you. Verses that inspire you and bring you peace. 
• Don't quit if you forget. 

What verse are you memorizing today?

I have had a lot happening lately and it’s starting to come to an end. Rachel has passed 3 or her 4 CPA tests. (All 3 on the first time!) My part time job in the home building industry is also coming to an end. My time has been stretched to say the least.

A few weeks ago I was stressed to the max, burning out fast and simply just not having enough time in the day to get things done. I had to call an audible. Things had to change. I had not been prioritizing things the way I should have. I have learned that simple adjustments can have a huge impact so I started running 30 minutes a day and listening to a sermon a day for two weeks.

God really spoke to me in many ways during those runs but one day was huge. I was listening to a talk by Bill Hybels and his main point was to simply seek God first. Seriously, the whole sermon!

How profound, right? I needed to hear it, and I needed to hear it bad.

I know it seems obvious but it has completely refocused me. I have just been trying to get into the groove of spending time praying in my car before I get out. Before Caroline and I get out the car at school I pray. Not just a “God help me” prayer but a few good minutes of asking God to guide me. Praying for a few minutes before I go to lunch, before I walk in on Rachel at the end of the day.

To paraphrase CS Lewis he says that we need to be reminded more then instructed. That could not have been more true for me the past few weeks.

If you are in a rut, put God first. It’s really that simple. 

Not sure if this going to work if you are getting this on a feed but I think you should be able to listen to any of David Crowder Band's new album, Church Music,  in the box below for free. Sounds good so far, exactly like DCB. It's ok though because nobody in the world sounds like them!

David Crowder Band

Rachel and I are heading to Highlands NC with some friends this weekend. I can't wait. For some reason Rachel and I have not been out of town with or without our sweet Caroline in a looooong time. 

Hiking, reading and just hanging out. 

I have been a little heavy on the internet the past couple weeks so I am checking out until Monday. Still trying to figure out how to shut off the email on my blackberry but still use the phone. Good thing I have 5 hours in the car. 

Hope you all have a great weekend!