Life Here and There

So why the delay between my Day 3 post and this one? Well, I had to leave Radicalis early on Friday to catch a flight. I found out in Orange County that my connecting flight in Atlanta had already been cancelled (becuase of the forecast of snow). No biggie – my wife booked me a room in Atlanta. The next day? Mayhem. My second flight out was cancelled and my third flight out I missed because I was standing in line for seven hours to get a boarding pass.

Did I complain? Nope. And I’m not complaining now. I got to know a few cool folks standing around me. I had time to think about the six hours when Jesus hung on the cross (which makes standing in an airport cake) and the fact that I really deserve hell anyway which also makes standing in line a pleasure. (When I shared this latter lesson with a lady behind me, she looked at me like I was totally nuts.) So finally, some takeaways…

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Yesterday we heard from Pastor Rick, from Mark Driscoll and from Ed Stetzer in the general session. It was a powerful morning!

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Today was gorgeous – slightly chilly but otherwise what I was expecting from southern California. I have had the privilege of meeting some great people this week who happen to have online identities.

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Today was pretty awesome in a variety of ways. I woke up in southern California, had some quiet time and then hopped on a van with Andy Stanley and Jeff Henderson and headed over to Saddleback. Once there I heard three tremendous messages by Rick Warren, Andy, and Perry Noble. Here are some of the notes I wrote…

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I flew out of northwest Arkansas yesterday, one half hour late because of the 1 inch of snow on the grass around the runway… landed in Atlanta and had 25 minutes to get to my terminal – T-03. After taking the subway to T-03, I saw that the flight had been moved all the way back to B-31. Both of these gates are at the far ends of their respective terminals. Needless to say, I arrived at the gate just in time to see my plane take flight.

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We’re almost to the 30-week mark of Angie’s pregnancy. I get to feel Samuel kicking, turning cartwheels, and giving me high-five’s when I put my hand on her stomach. Last night we painted the nursery. The bedding is in. We’re slowly stockpiling diapers and getting ready for the big day.

While painting last night, my mind began to wander and I started asking myself questions that can only be answered as time unfolds.

• What’s Samuel going to look like?
• Will he sleep through the night?
• Will he like his room?
• Will he play baseball?
• Can I convince Angie to let him play football?
• Will he be an introvert like the rest of us?
• Will he have bright blond hair like I did?
• Will he be born with hair at all?
• Will he be crafty and creative?
• Will he hate sweet potatoes like I do?
• Will he like me? Will he want to hang with his Daddy?
• Will he be godly?
• Will he find a godly wife?
• Will I be a good Dad to him?

I don’t have answers, just questions, but it’s fun asking them right now. I’m getting a little nervous, a lot excited, and quite giddy. I can’t wait to meet you Samuel David! We’re gonna have an awesome time!

I’ve told some friends about this amazing opportunity, but haven’t said much publicly. I am now beginning to get very excited about where I’m headed next week. Early Monday morning, I’ll fly out to Orange County, California to attend Radicalis.

The circumstances surrounding the reason I’m going are a pretty neat story, perhaps best reserved for another time, but I’ll tell you that it has something to do with something more and more people are beginning to “get,” social media… and online publishing… and a love for Pastors and conferences.

I’ll be blogging all week about the things I learn. I’m going to miss my girls terribly, but I’m stoked about going!

Disclaimer: “Stoked” is not profanity… it’s just a term for “excited” I learned from my friend Bobby who is from southern California. This disclaimer is issued so that none of my Arkansas or Kentucky friends or family misunderstand… ;)

Just a quick note of thanks to OnlineChristianColleges.net for mentioning my blog in their post on the top 55 Pastor bloggers. I have a few other friends on the list and they’ve collected some great blogs together. Definitely worth checking out!

Top 55 Pastor Bloggers

Recommended Books:

The following are affiliate links to books I recommend:

• Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World’s Top Bloggers
  by Michael A. Banks

This is the second Sunday in a row that we’ve cancelled services at Bethel. Last week the choice to do so was obvious – everybody in town cancelled. This week, we cancelled because our parking lot was a solid sheet of ice. Canceling the second week in a row was a tougher choice – one that has bummed me out today.

I really miss my church family, and being away from everybody two weeks in a row feels like six months. I also really miss preaching. I’m beginning 1 Samuel in our journey through the Bible and have been anxious to preach this first message about how God remembered Hannah in giving Samuel to her. There’s an amazing meaning behind that word “remembered” and it pops up multiple times in Scripture.

Study that word to see how God purposely involves Himself in our affairs, and stay tuned – I’ll write about it as soon as I preach the message next week. The sermon may be three times as long – I feel like I’m on fire in a pressure cooker – ready to explode! I can’t wait till next Sunday!

What do you do when your church on a hill is snowed in? You gather a congregation and have church at home. Our congregation was quite diverse today including elephants, cats, a dog, a kid (there was no separate children’s church offered) and even a duck.

Ella played “O Come Let Us Adore Him” and “We Fall Down” on the piano and I “preached” from Philippians 3:14. Angie led a prayer and Beau was supposed to take up the offering, but refused at the last minute (he needs to re-dedicate His life…).

Can’t wait to be back with the Bethel family, but it sure was sweet to worship with my own little household church today!