New Set of Downs

Now that the 2011 NFL season is over, every team gets a fresh start. Think about it, the 2012 Colts, Bucs, Rams, and Browns are all undefeated! Its no longer about that dropped ball. No one cares any more about the offsides penalty in week 4. That blown out knee, yeah, it will heal. All that matters now is tomorrow.

With Christ, you don’t have to wait until the end of a season to get a fresh start. His grace is free, his love never fails, and his mercy is new every MORNING. Say yes to Jesus right now and get a “new set of downs”.

“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3:19-24)

Sunday Thoughts

1. Last Sunday we announced that on February 5th we will move to 2 services (9am and 10:45am). Today we tied our record attendance. Expect BIG things!

2. Please pray for the folks at Food Lion who are losing their jobs. We did some ministry over there after our service and it is clear that the employees are hurting. We believe that God will provide!

3. Our kids church ran out of chairs today. I love good problems like that!

4. I am really loving the NFL playoffs this year. Especially because Atlanta and N.O. are eliminated.

5. Thanks to everyone who stayed after today and prayed circles around our shopping center. We are expecting the miraculous!

6. I know this is random but I really want to see this movie…and this one.

7. As of now, the best thing about the Ravens Texans game is the awesome 90s rock soundtrack playing in the stadium (Eeeeeeevenflooooow!) I hope it gets better. Wait, it just did.

Sunday Thoughts

1. I can’t believe Christmas is next week!

2. I also can’t believe that the Titans are getting beat by the Colts! Worst.NFL.Season.Ever.

3. We had our final leadership meeting of the year today. I’m so thankful for the great team that I get to serve with and I can’t wait for the BIG things that are coming in 2012 for Xtreme.

4. This is totally random, but have you ever unfriended someone on FB because you finally realized that they are a jerk? Me neither, I was just asking ; )

5. Our Christmas @The Movies series has been a blast! I’m going to miss the smell of popcorn every Sunday morning.

6. In all seriousness, I thank God for how He has used these services to bring change in the lives of people.

7. It’s a wonderful life because in Christ we have life, peace, and purpose.

Sunday Thoughts

1. This has been a great weekend!

2. Last night we had a great crowd come and hang out at our Christmas Concert. Our team put on an excellent experience!

3. Today I got to juxtapose one of my favorite Christmas movies with Matthew 2. I’ve been planning this particular service off and on for a year.

4. I heard several stories today of how God is working in the lives of people. I love it!

5. Today we announced our New Year’s Eve service. It. Will. ROCK.

6. I really want the Titans to win big today. Not just because I’m a fan, but because I’m a saints hater. (yes I purposely used a lowercase “s”)

7. 14 days until Christmas!

Sunday Thoughts

1. Wow. What an amazing day!

2. About 15 minutes into worship our leadership team surprised me with a pair of tickets to the Bucs/Titans game.

3. They literally told me to hit the road and enjoy the game. Ted and I had a great (also cold and wet) time!

4. Thanks to my friend Jonnie W. for preaching this morning for us.It seems like everyone was in on the surprise.

5. The good news is that the Titans won. The bad news is that their win came at the expense of my Bucs.

6. I am truly humbled that I get to serve such great folks! I love our church!

7. Next week we kick off Christmas at the Movies! We’ll have the place decorated like a theatre with movie posters, there will be free popcorn for everyone, and we will have a blast. Don’t miss December at Xtreme!

What’s the Deal?

Our nation is at a crossroads. I don’t know what will happen if these 2 sides don’t stop all of the politics and flip flopping. Now, more than ever we need these leaders to step up and do what’s right for the good of our nation. I for one am tired of all of the meetings and talks that seem to go nowhere. I’m tired of the name calling and blame-shifting. Bottom line:

I hope the NFL lockout ends this week so we can have pro football this fall!

Go Bucs!

Sunday Thoughts

1. Thank God for another great Sunday at Xtreme! Don’t miss next week!

2. We had some technical difficulties at the start of of service. Thankfully we overcame them quickly!

3. I was overwhelmed this afternoon as I thought about all of the great things God is doing in the lives of His people. He is so good.

4. Don’t forget to submit questions for our God.Love.Sex. Q&A. It’s going to be a fun…and hopefully not too awkward ; )

5. My stomach has been doing its crazy thing this weekend. Thanks to the team for praying for me this morning. Please keep praying. I want to enjoy some Superbowl food!

6. Speaking of The Superbowl, I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned the game yet! I’m stoked! I’m hoping for a Steelers win. The last 3 Superbowl’s have all been great games and I’m hoping for more of that tonight.

7. We haven’t been able to enjoy a Superbowl as a family for about 6 years. My sons are pumped about hanging out and so am I!

The Gossip Fence

I loved reading the Snuffy Smith comic strip as a kid. Snuffy’s wife, Loweezy, would always end up at “The Gossip Fence” with her friend Elviney. The Gossip Fence was this central location where they would gather daily to dish the dirt and do what bucket mouths do…spread rumors. Call me crazy, but the Gossip Fence sure sounds a lot like sports radio and tech blogs.

Steve Jobs announced that he is taking a medical leave of abscene and the entire tech world has gathered at the Gossip fence.

Brett Favre submitted his retirement papers and the sports world is once again at the Gossip fence.

Isn’t it interesting that we hate when people get in our business and speculate about our personal lives, yet we love getting the latest, hottest, juiciest….”news”? Anyway, I have to run. Macworld and NFL.com just posted some more news at the Gossip Fence ; )

You’re Fired!

Being fired sucks. If you’ve ever been let go, laid off, asked to leave, and/or been forced out of a job you know exactly what I’m talking about. The other day  I found myself taking too much pleasure in the disaster that is the Dallas Cowboys season.Then God beat me up with this:

“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.” – Proverbs 24:1-18

Okay, so maybe the Cowboys aren’t my enemy. Still, why do so many of us enjoy seeing them suffer? I mean seriously, they suck right now. Be that as it may, I can’t find it in my heart to enjoy watching a dude get fired. I ‘m not the best husband, father, or pastor that I could be. I have good days and bad days. I would hate to think that my family, friends, or church would start calling for my job because things weren’t going to plan. I hope they would have  a little more grace than that. I believe in accountability and all of that jazz, but it still sucks to get fired. Just a thought.

 

Football Fever!

My friend Kevin wrote a great spiritual post about balancing Sunday worship and football. Read it here.

My post will be VERY unspiritual : )

I can’t believe I haven’t had a football post yet! I’m so glad life is back to normal. My Bucs and Titans are unbeaten! My fantasy football team is unbeaten! I love this time of year! What’s that you say? It’s only week 2? Shut it! I’ll take my victories where I can.