Simply, this is a great blog — evotional.com.  It is by Mark Batterson of National Community Church in our nation’s capital.  Mark and his church are a innovative and helping set the pace for churches in the nation.  The church owns the largest coffee house in the DC area where they have services, hold seminars, and are open all week to the community…incredible.

I share this blog because it is a great read, especially for those in full-time ministry.  Also, after hearing him speak at a recent conference and getting to have a short hallway conversation, I was encouraged again to start blogging.

Finally, Mark has just released a great new book called In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.  I am reading it now and so far so great.

I have stumbled across a new software in the last month that is pretty sharp.  It is called MindManager and is available for Mac and PC.  I have started using it for meeting notes, creative planning, sermon series brainstorming, and even my To Do Lists.  (Don’t you love To Do Lists, you make this big fancy list with priorities marked and little places for check marks and then you never look at it again or lose it…or maybe that is just me).

MindManager creatively, visually, and easily organizes information and ideas.  I have just ran out the 21-day trial and about to purchase a license, which you can buy a non-profit license and save a little money.  From what I understand, too, the PC version can sync tasks and other features with MS Outlook, pretty snazzy.

Excited to tell you about some friends who just released their first national label album.  The band is Spur58.  They have a few of indie recordings and have already had tons of success in ministry and music.  Last week they released their new album Sleepwalkers.  The guys of Spur58 are incredible guys who love people and Christ.  I have enjoyed partnering with them in weekly ministry and events…each time their character and talent shine through.

Their music is original & rockin’ and their lyrics are full of the glory and majesty of Christ.  Check out their myspace and buy their album at itunes, Christian bookstores, and more.

Plus, they are in concert this Friday night at FBCSmyrna.  With the purchase of a ticket you get a copy of the new CD.  You can’t beat that.

Here is a short vlog of our second daughter Emery.  After watching the movie "Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses" and a trip to the Disney Store and a purchase of a Belle Costume, my three year-old daughter has been transformed into Dancing Emery.

If you have any trouble viewing this video, you might need the latest version of Quicktime installed on your computer.  Click Here to install the free program.

I read this on Kem Meyer’s Blog yesterday.  Enlightening and defines a better strategy on how we can get the attention of the people we are trying to reach…and make it last.

We remember…

    10% of what we read,
    20% of what we hear,
    30% of what we see,
    40% of what we do and
    100% of what we feel.   

        — Dr. Karl Pribram

How are you  (or your church) making people feel?

I am heading to the BEACH.  Of course I am not bummed for heading to my favorite locale in God’s creation, I am bummed that my momentum might slow for several days as I get the new blog going.  Not sure of Internet access at the beach, yet.

Orange Beach/Gulf Shores in Alabama is the specifc spot.  I realize no place better than sitting in a beach chair at the ocean’s edge with a book in my hands and listening to the waves crashing.  Even when I am in the condo, I crack the door to the outside so I can hear the ocean.  I am already beginning to sink into a little realization and craving a some Bob Marley tunes.  This will be the third or fourth time for the family.  Love the area, beaches are pretty good, and any golf played is only icing on the cake. 

Praise our incredible, creative God for the beach!  What a gift.

Parker and Emery have been counting down the days and can hardly contain themselves that they get to spend a whole week in the squishy sand, swimmin’ in the pool, and spending time with Kelly, me, and my in-laws.  It is going to be a great week.  I am going to attempt my best Alison Bynum tricks on the photos while at the beach and will post a few for you.

After some decent research, some spastic pondering, and a big bowl of Cocoa Pebbles…I have begun the world of blogging.  I hope that just like my bowl of Cocoa Pebbles, this blog will get better the longer it soaks.  Man, the chocolate milk at the end of the pebbles is good stuff.

My desire is simply for me to get to know you, you get to know me, and for ideas to be shared on life, relationships, ministry, and how we can be catalysts for change and transformation in our little corners of the world.

Time for another bowl of cereal and to begin this journey!  Welcome!