Five Dangerous Faults
Yesterday I started reading Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" which is from the 6th century BC. I have wanted to read it for some time, but it is not my typical genre. I am half way throu…
Topic: personal
Vomiting
The 2008 election has reminded us of a valuable lesson. Politics is sickening! Last night President-elect Obama won the election by making no apologies for being the most liberal p…
Partisanship is Key to Leadership
After we were married and before we had kids, Amy and I went out one Friday night. Our plan was to try out this place we had never been, but when we got there it was obviously not …
Political Fatigue and the Separation of Church and State
Lifeway, a branch of the Southern Baptist Convention is out today with an opinion poll on how political pastors should be in view of the upcoming election. According to the poll th…
Fantasy Football
We had our FFL draft last night and I won. You see for the last two years I have been the very last pick and this year I wasn't the very last pick. I moved up 3 spots to #9! I feel…
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 sk…
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 …
So Amy and I painted the house...
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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…
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 …
Ever Google Your own name?
I know it is a bit egotistical, but this morning I was reading some blogs and typed my own name into the search box. I always thought Joel Johns was a bit of a unique name but mayb…
Truckin
Got a truck. It's a 2005 F-150 with 4 doors. I bought it because trucks are cheap right now due to the price of gas, and without a commute I don't put many miles on. Also, as a chu…
Day with Amy
Today Amy took a personal day and we will be spending the whole day together without the kids! We will be going to IKEA in Orlando. It opened several months ago and neither of us h…
Good News and Bad News
I really don't know why people begin conversations this way. Especially auto mechanics who are holding your car hostage. But, after putting the mini-van in the shop for A/C work, I…
Random Friday Thoughts.
Got slammed this week. Behind on everything. Today does not look good. Up at 3: 4 5 a.m. on Friday, awake at 2 . Writing a paper on the Holy Spirit as God . Still digging out. coul…
Wii Got a Problem
After Wii saw the cousins and their new Wii in action, and Wii did a little math Wii discovered that Wii could pool all our Christmas cash for the hottest toy of the season. Until …
Christmas Under Repair
This Christmas it seems that we will be fixing things that we got previous Christmas seasons. I guess that goes to show that the more stuff you have, the more stuff has you. Right …
Me being Thankful
Here is my new neice Pressley happiy asleep in my arms. Now that I think about it I have an uncanny ability to put people to sleep. Maybe it is my spiritual gift! My dad is out in …
Fieldmarshal
So my brother Justin had a link to the Myers Briggs Personality test over at his new blog , and it has provided hours of fun for our family as we look at the deeper confines of our…
Thanksgiving Potpurri
GREAT FALL - We had a record day yesterday at church with the highest fall attendance on record. The best I can tell is that we are quickly filling up the space created by adding t…
Tooth Fairy
Well, I'm no tooth fairy, nor much of a dentist, but I did get this one out for Andrew. I think he looks quite handsome, don't you?…
Pressley Chapman
I think she looks like her daddy!…
Uncle Joel
On a personal note, I became an uncle again yesterday. My youngest sister Jessica gave birth to little Pressley Chapman at 7 pounds 5 ounces and has a full head of brown/auburn hai…
Michael Vick and the Fantasy Draft
Well, Sunday is the draft for our fantasy football league. Last year I got to pick 12th so it can't get worse. Just to put it in perspective my star player last year was none other…
Just call me coach
Every year our church sponsors Ridge Youth Soccer. Last year I coached my son's Under 6 team and really loved it. I don't know a lick about soccer except for that the ball with the…
The Time of My Life!
Life is a clock. Clocks measure on the small daily scale but in reality, the same principle can be applied to life. The Bible teaches that our life is like a vapor that appears for…
When the machines take over the world
We have all seen the sci-fi movies where computers and robots end up taking over the world. I am here to say that if it ever takes place that I will be your hero. Single handedly I…
Back from Vacation
Last week we spent time with family in the mountains of NC. My sister and her husband live in the smokies and we had to drive our van literally through a creek to get to their hous…
Joel made me eat a live iguana
So last Sunday I said in my message that we all need to live like pregnant women in reference to the immanent return of Christ. However, this is one exception. Today I read this in…
Christmas Wish in July
I saw these online tonight and just have to get a pair. I guess if I saved a dollar a week for two years then I can run barefoot and free for the rest of my life since my feet have…
So the police knock on my door at 10 p.m.
Actually it was 10:10 and I had already given up on the rerun of Friends where Chandler proposes at about 9:45 and was well into my REM. When the door bell rings that late at night…
John Deere Green
Andrew got a new room for his birthday. Turning 6 means that the hand painted dinosaurs on the wall were covered with hand painted tan. Thanks to Uncle Mike for the all the John De…
Too Late for Gardening
I told my kids that we would have to wait until after camp and vacation to plant a garden. They have been wanting to do something for years and now I will do my fatherly duties of …
Before tractors were born
My great-grandmother Nellie Burr died yesterday at the age of 102. For someone who has spent the last 8 years in a nursing home, Independence Day was an appropriate time to be free…
Somebody's shooting!
Last evening the kids came running into the house yelling that someone was shooting. This led to a conversation about our freedom and fireworks. Abby (9) mentioned that she did not…
The beard debate, Vote Now!
Many of you have shared your feelings on my recent mid-ministry beard crisis. After two months on, should the beard stay? for those of you snow birds and family, I have included a …
Goin' Home
Chris Daughtry has a great song that was used as the exit for this year's American Idol called "Goin' Home." In the song he states that after a while all these faces and places get…
Tubing
Today we tube! In a few hours the family will wake up and we will go down to the river to tube. If you've never tubed down a river, it is a whole lot like sitting on a tire for two…
6 Years Ago
6 years ago this week God rocked our world. Today is Andrew's birthday and his birth marks a monumental shift for our family. I guess the birth of any child can rock your world, Ab…
Random thoughts from Vacating Pastor
A working vacation - Ministry stops for no man (or woman). I am taking a break with the family, but still getting a few hours in every day. With camp coming next week, I will be ou…
Just for Fun
Ever imagined me as a 5 year old, not just acting like one? My sister emailed me this old photo today that I will share. That is me in the groovy pants.…
Space Shuttle Launch
I almost drove to Titusville yesterday to see the space shuttle launch. I have never been that close and usually settle for going out in the yard. I have determined that the next t…