²Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi)."

 ³Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.2 Chronicles 20:2-3

I love reading this story! Many times the Lord will use it to gently rebuke me and ask, "where are you facing?"

Often times, I find myself allowing the things coming against me to gain my attention.  It's easy to do! You know what I mean. Life happens, it throws you off, and you begin to focus on the "stuff" ... Read More »

• I am absolutely, 100% jacked about this weekend!!! I haven't taught in 2 weeks and I'm ready to go. The worship is going to be great! And we have a great announcement about our future!
• Easter is going to be incredible! The creative team has been working for months on the details and it is really going to be cool! I love their hearts to use their creativity to honor God!
• Don't forget we are adding 2 worship experiences at the North Campus on Easter weekend! We need as many people possible to attend Saturday night, instead of Sunday, to make room for guests!
• Talking about guests - who are you bringing Easter weekend? Don't make excuses! Just trust the Lord to move in their hearts and get them here.
• We are fasting next Monday through Friday for the Easter Worship Experiences. Join us! Allow the Lord to speak to you what to fast (I suggest a Daniel fast) and go for it!
... Read More »
Comments (2)

One of the more impressive people I met on our Spring Break trip was Brandon. At first appearances, Brandon is an 11 year old punk, just like many other kids his age. He likes to play outdoors, ride his 4-wheeler, fish, swim in the lake, etc.

But there is something starkly different about Brandon than most 11-year-olds. He is a taxidermist! Yes, you read that correctly!

Not only is he a taxidermist, he is the "region's" best! Anytime some "adult" kills something that he would like to have a trophy of, they call Brandon!

Isn't that amazing? I give it up to Brandon's parents for teaching him that he is never too young to be the best. I love that in the middle of a small, small town in Missourri, they are raising an entreprenuer that isn't waiting for "adulthood". I love that when all the old, beer drinking, cigar smoking men are sitting around telling their stories, they end up calling an 11-year-old ... Read More »

While we were at the ranch, in Missouri, for Spring Break we did a lot of 4-wheeling! The boys each had their own 4-wheeler, I had my own, and Robin and Caitlyn shared one. We went through paths, across lake beds, up hills, down hills, through water, and (the most fun) through tons of mud!

The first day we were riding through the mud, purposely splashing everywhere, I had the tendency to yell, "Stop". It wasn't what we were used to doing! Purposely riding through mud, seeing how dirty you could possibly get? The boys went "muddin'" for a couple of hours and you could barely see the top of their wheels they were so deep!

The second day we were riding the paths and I decided to try a new path. It was on the side of a huge hill, so we got half way down, looked at its steepness, and I said, "Stop!"  Did I really want to take my family down a hill Evil Knievel wouldn't have tried? (Okay, maybe not that bad.) So we played i ... Read More »

This past week we did something for Spring Break that we had never done before! We headed off to a friend's ranch in Missouri for a few days. But here is the kicker -- we stayed with people we had never met before!

I know for many of you that seems like no big deal, but for a borderline, recovering control freak like myself, it was a stretch beyond imagination! The truth be told, I get nervous staying with people I know, much less, people I don't know at all! Sleepover's are just not my thing!

So the outcome? We had the privilege of staying with a couple that I hope to be like when I grow up!

They welcomed us into their home. They made us feel like it was our home. They helped us however they could. They left us alone. They were the perfect hosts!

As we got in the car to head home I had to ask myself, "Do I make people feel that way when they are guests in my house"? Do people feel welcomed? ... Read More »

Hope everyone has a great spring break. I look forward to catching up with you next week!

It seems as though one of the new millenium leadership statements is - "I'm a consensus builder". Okay, great! But what in the world does that really mean?

Does it mean you are finding out what people want, getting in front of them, and taking credit for what they are already doing?

Or, does it mean you are taking a truth into a culture that doesn't even value the truth yet, helping them discover it, showing them how to apply it, and seeing their lives changed for the better?

When I look at our culture I see a lot more people interested in impacting our culture than transforming it. I don't blame them! Impact is much easier and quicker than transformation.

As I look at the life of Christ I don't see him as one that was trying to impact the culture by rallying consensus. I see him as trying to transform the culture by helping people discover, apply, and live into the truth.

In today's culture it seems as though every time you flip through the news stations there is a continuous conversation about profiling. The TSA is profiling. The CIA is profiling. TMZ  is profiling. The Republicans are profiling. The Democrats are profiling. The Church is profiling. EVERYONE is profiling! Including you!

So the big question is - who should you really be profiling?

There are a lot of options! It takes about 30 seconds at the mall, or Target, or Wal Mart, etc. and the profiling begins! But here is my suggestion - begin profiling immediately! I did! Whom am I profiling? ME.

Here are some of the tough questions I began with:

1. When people see me, who do they really see?
2. Is my behavior suspicious? Do people see me being nice when I could have been mean?
3. As people eavesdrop on your conversations (and they do) are they intrigued by what they are hearin ... Read More »

When Robin was pregnant with Caitlyn she began having contractions at 13 weeks!!! She would spend the rest of her pregnancy on complete bedrest to protect the precious child that God had concieved, and birthed.

As I reflect on my life one of my shortfalls is premature labor. I get so excited about what God is creating, birthing, and doing, that I want to share it with everyone! How can that be bad?

I have found out over the years that it is bad! When you get to heaven ask Joseph how it worked out for him. He was so jacked up about the dream, but he birthed it prematurely. He went running out sharing what God was going to do, and it created some pain.

There is no doubt in my mind that God is doing some truly miraculous things at, and through, Journey. There is no doubt in my mind that God desires to do some miraculous things in you. And there is no doubt that sometimes we run ahead of God and give birth to the dream prematurely.& ... Read More »

Yes, I know the title is probably a little offensive, but it is so true!!!

I can't tell you how many times over the years I have done marriage counseling with people and one of the complaints is, "My wife is boring and mean". Okay, I hear you, but here is my question - was she mean before you proposed or did a devil just jump in her one day and make her mean?

My observation is that most mean people, men and women, are selfish in their teen years. They were probably mean to the Mom, Dad, brother, and sister, but you were the new hero, the love, so they wouldn't dare be mean to you. Selfishness drives their whole mentality and when they decide you are not meeting their selfish needs anymore, watch out! The mean little devil is about to come after you!

My suggestions: Don't marry a mean woman, or man! Don't date them, don't flirt with them, don't think you can change them, simply run from them! I don't care how hot you t ... Read More »