26 Cents and a Skinned Knee

At the end of the day many times we will look back to see what we have to show for it and looking back on yesterday, I can honestly say that all I have to show is 26 cents and a skinned knee.  However, results don't always show in the way that we would like them to and often the intangible exceeds the tangible.  We are on vacation with my family in Myrtle Beach S.C. this week and it has been fun doing a whole lot of nothing.  Fun stuff, like sitting and staring at the ocean, and overeating, and watching movies we have already seen.  Boogie boards were on the to do list for the morning which explains the skinned knee, and yesterday Andrew and I went treasure hunting with a metal detector we borrowed from Intern Brandon.  I have never been so excited to find a quarter in my life, well, as far back as I can remember that is.  On Saturday I will hop a flight to O-town and be back in time for church. (as long as Bertha behaves)  But in the mean time, I have a deep discussion on some obscure topic to have with my dad, some small talk with my mom, and further attempts to gain the graces of a snobby 9 month old neice on today's list.  I will try to let you know how it goes.

Electrified

I am up in Nashville today with Gabe and Camp Electric.  All I can say is it is electrifying 24/7!  With 1,000 students and over 100 artists, it is non stop.  I am having a blast working with some of the top names in Christian music, and talking with people that people pay big money to hear.


             Five thoughts...

1. Gabe is amazing.  He not only has the best voice in Christian music, the dude is incredible on the business side.  I love to watch him work.
2. The Christian Artists here are more excited than the kids.  I think I even saw one ask a student for an autograph. :-)
3. These guys are real.  Christian Musicians often get a bad rap, but these are some of the most authentic and deeply spiritual people I have ever been around.
4. I don't work well on 5 hors *of sleep at night and the intensity of camp the other 27 hours of daylight.
5. The weather has been amazing.
6. The typical camp has one band and one speaker.  Camp Electric probably has 20 instructors, and 2 dozen bands. The logistics alone are mind boggling.


* Ironic how my typo ended up as exhibit A so I left it in and decided to show you.

Good Bye Bartletts

Today I say farewell to Mike and Susan Bartlett.  Our best friends from college will be moving back to NC after moving to FL 6 years ago to help us launch Cornerstone.  Our families have become so intertwined over the last few years that the idea of them moving still leaves knots in our stomach.  I know that they are following God's will for their individual lives and that make all the difference.  My son Andrew had a friendship with Brady that can only be compared to Jonathan and David.  There was a level of friendship achieved in the first six years of life that will no doubt last a lifetime. Abby and Bailey had a friendship that survived the rocky terrain of being girls and all the emotional ups and downs.  In their words "BFF."  We will miss you guys and are so thankful that you have placed yourselves strategically between both sets of grandparents.  God Speed Bartlett Clan, God Speed!

Camp Electric

The sign of a great leader is how well he leads in his absence.  Our worship pastor, Gabe Dunlap is at Camp electric in Nashville TN checking 1,000 students into their specialized worship band camp.  I am looking forward to spending a few days this week at the camp as well.  Last night Shane Gillespie, who usually plays bass, led worship and then rocked the house with Clay Crosse's "I Surrender All."  Wow!  it was a great service.  In addition we launched a small group Bible Study for Saturday nights that will meet at 5:45 p.m. and following the service one young lady told me she received Christ.  God is so good, and it is 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, and we get to do it all again at 8:15 with Ray Kness, and then at 10:45 with Shane leading. Please pray for me as I catch a red eye to Nashville tonight to meet up with Gabe.  Take some time to check out the website for Gabe's camp too and pray for the instructors and speakers.  It is going to be... (Scratch that) It already is an awesome week!

Disney Closes Nightclubs

The Orlando Sentinel has an article today announcing that Disney will close six clubs in Pleasure Island.  As a parent and a pastor in "West Disney" I could not be happier.  I have always wondered why the clubs existed smack in the middle of Downtown Disney and we would often have to choose where to go either to the Lego side, as my kids called it, or the Disney Quest side.  Rumors still float about the future of Disney Quest, but I applaud Disney for cleaning up its act by getting out of the club biz.  My friend Mark often reminds me that our goal is that one day Orlando becomes better known for Jesus than for Mickey Mouse, and thanks to Mickey, we are one step closer to letting all that "other stuff" stay in Las Vegas.

Getting Things Done

My friend Ben suggested this book to me and I may be late to the parade, but this is one of the most helpful and easy to read books on organization that I have read. I like it so much that I went out and bout copies for all the staff, then ended up giving my copy away. I wish that they had built task management software to accompany the book's systems. You can find it here.

Update from Jeff and Heather Blum

Many of you will remember Jeff and Heather Blum, (They were our original singles ministry until they decided to turn it into a young married's class) Here are some pictures and an excerpt from an email.

Hello everyone, Just wanted to pass on a few quick photos of the kids and give an update from Missouri! Austin is almost 6 months now, sleeping for 10 hours at night now (so I'm feeling quite rested these days!) and rolling around lots! Maranatha now officially sleeps in a 'big girl bed' and we are working on the potty training. She has progressed passed the 'terrible twos' stage now and is so much fun to be around (oh, she still has her moments though!). I have been working on painting the house and it is begining to feel more like home. We like the area so far and are excited to get to explore it in the off season. Jeff's job is going well, although he is not near as busy so he is a little bored. It has not been to bad, time wise. He doesn't go in to work till 1pm on most game days, but gets home around midnight. Unfortunately, the schedule doesn't not allow him to have Sundays off, so that has been a bit of a challenge for all of us, we miss that day together! We did make it to one road game with him (St. Louis), I think I'll wait till they are a few years older to try that again! This country girl doesn't drive in big cities so well! We miss our Florida 'family' tremendously, you are were such a blessing to us, thank you! I am able to travel to see family here though, and that has been wonderful! Maranatha loves, loves, loves her grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles, it is so wonderful to see. So, on those days (and there's many) that I miss my friends, that keeps me going and reminds me why we left FL. Jeff has a few days off soon for All-Star break, we will probably stay close to home and enjoy some time as a family. We miss you all and hope everyone is doing well, would love to hear from you! Love, Jeff, Heather, Maranatha, Austin

So Amy and I painted the house...

Dad

Let me tell you about my dad. He did not grow up in the same kind of home that I grew up in. His parents did not take him to church and pray with him and read the Bible. He came to know Christ as a kid, and proceeded to win his family to Christ. I am pretty sure he was not the best kid in Sunday school. He would probably tell you he was that kid the teachers prayed would stay home sick. He failed third grade, and once told me he spray painted his name on a neighbor's house. (Clearly not the wisest thing to do.) But, those failures have turned my dad into the greatest student I have ever met. His thirst for knowledge coupled with his love for God and personal integrity are amazing. Every morning, in fact probably right now as I write this he is studying God's word. We groan when he brings his books and laptop to the beach for vacation, but deep down we would have it no other way. His greatest joy in life comes from knowing just a little more about God and his word. He holds a Master's degree in Religion, and writes text books for fun. I can't begin to tell you how awesome he is. I am so proud of my dad, and all that he did for us kids growing up. I thank him for his unparalleled integrity, and honesty that he modeled for me. I thank him for turning our family heritage into a godly one, and now my kids know that their Papa, loves Jesus more than anything in this old world.

Lucky Number 13

Amy and I have been married 13 years and last night we went out to celebrate. The funny thing is that neither of us got each other a card. What we have learned in 13 years is that cards don't mean too much to each other and that our primary love language is quality time. Disaster was averted as we dodged tornadic activity on our way to the Polynesian Resort for dinner. It stopped raining just as we arrived and after a little window shopping sat down to Disney's Best Waiter, Ratana Morrow. We started with the Hawaiian bread and Macadamia nut butter and shrimp curry soup. Then he brought out their famous sticky wings followed by Macadamia nut & Chive Crusted Mahi Mahi and then Beef Teriyaki. He gave us both Leighs made with real flowers, and brought four different desserts White Chocolate Cheese Cake, Kilauea tort, chocolate dipped strawberries & Vanilla Ice cream. From there we went and sat by the water for the electric parade, took a boat ride over to the Grand Floridian for a walk, then back to our bench at the Polynesian to watch the fireworks over the water. What is the only thing that could have made the night better??? I guess Amy getting me a card. ;-)