Before you read this blog post, make sure you watch the youtube video above - the post will make much more sense. I realize this video is geared toward youth, but I hope we don’t miss the message. (more)

I remember my first date with Leah, who is now my wife. We attended a speech recital (long story) together at the college from which we both graduated. There was a lot of nervousness, uncertainty, potential, and anticipation before that first date. Prior to that first date, I had picked up the phone to dial her room number many times before chickening out and quickly hanging up before I finished punching in the last number. Finally, I mustered up the courage to ask her out and the rest is history. We have been married almost eleven years and have two wonderful children. I have always viewed dating as a risk, but one you must be willing to take if you desire to be married. Now, I’m going to make this transition carefully…yesterday I had the same type of feelings - nervousness, uncertainty, potential, and anticipation. This time it was not out of love for the most wonderful woman in the world, but rather a love for a group of people who were gathered together for a common purpose - reaching the lost with the gospel. It was kind of like that “first date moment” minus the relationship factor (or do I give her a kiss on the cheek at the end of the night). (more)

Usually Friday night is “Family Night” in our house, but last week we were able to have “Family Day” because both of my kids had no school. We had a great time together! We went to a few stores in the morning and then to IHOP for lunch. Tyler ate the “Who Cakes” in anticipation of our future visit to the movies to see Horton Hears a Who. From IHOP, I checked the show times from my phone for the Regal Theater (where The Summit will be located) and I thought it said the movie started at 12:35pm, but when we got there we discovered that the next showing was not until 2:30pm. So, we made stops at Target and Wal-Mart to do the shopping we were planning on doing later in the day. A few hours later, we were able to see Horton Hears a Who - it was a pretty good movie.

After the movie, we drove around Green exploring the area where our church’s second campus will launch in September 2008. Green is a wonderful, growing community with much to offer. Our final stop of the day was Boettler Park, an awesome, kid-friendly park in Green (we never had parks like this when I was a kid). The park includes a playground which is 30,000 square feet and boasts an award labeling it the “best new recreation facility in Ohio in 2004.” Our kids had so much fun riding the zip line, crawling through the wooden structures, scouring the climbing wall, and sliding down the numerous slides. I got tired just watching them! As were getting ready to leave, some idiot pulled up in his customized truck/van into the parking lot…you might know him as (more)

Have you checked on the kids? This question is literally asked in our house every night after our kids are asleep. Leah and I check on our kids several times each night - I think this routine is just built into a parent. I always find myself going into their rooms while they are sleeping and placing my hand on their chest or listening for the sound of breathing just to make sure they are okay. I find myself uttering a prayer everytime I leave their room...something like "Lord, please watch over their little life." Sometimes I find myself sticking around a couple minutes in their room just to watch them breathe and thanking God for blessing me with these wonderful kids. With each breath they take, they look so innocent and peaceful. During these times I am reminded about how much I love them. (more)

Most ordinary people do not know (or do not care) there is such a thing as 5 o’clock in the morning. I happen to love mornings, especially since the weather has gotten nicer here in Ohio. Better weather means we can turn down the heat, quit cutting firewood, forget about shoveling snow from the driveway before work, and finally open the windows at night. Spring is a great time! I have to admit that I have enjoyed not waking up to the local classical music station, but rather being jolted out of sleep by noises (coming from my open window) in the back yard. No…we do not live on a farm and our neighbors do not own a rooster. We have a huge natural area covered by trees behind our house and in the early morning these trees are filled with chirping birds. I guess they are God’s natural alarm clock. What is unusual about these sounds is that there is one noise which towers above all others…a woodpecker. This marvelous bird starts around 5:30am and continues for about an hour. (more)

On my way home from work yesterday, some young “whippersnapper” pulled up beside me and revved his engine indicating he wanted to race. Of course, I did not even dare look over and catch his eye for fear that I might be tempted to do it! Eventually, he sped up ahead of me, but I kept my eye on him the whole time looking for the right opportunity to blow past him. It never came. I’m not quite sure what that would have proved other than I find superficial fulfillment in being first place. What is it about people which causes them to lose all sense of discernment when it comes to winning or being the best? Some desire to be the smartest in the class, the most talented on the team, the top employee in the workplace, the best church in the area, the most beautiful in the school, and the most recognized in the community. Now there is nothing wrong with trying to excel, but there is something terribly wrong when winning or being the best is the motivation. Jesus’ disciples had a problem with wanting to be the best until He straightened out their thinking. James and John privately discussed their desire to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus in His kingdom. Selfishly, they viewed this position as a place of recognition and prestige and they wanted to be in it. The other ten disciples caught wind of James and John trying to weasel their way into a position of power so they got pretty ticked (Matthew 20:24). (more)

I’m sitting in Mo Joes Coffee House and Café and they are playing one of those radio stations which conjure up memories of my childhood. I don’t have to explain it to you because you are well aware of the power of music to be able to take you back to a place in your past. For me, the song playing was James Taylor’s “How Sweet it is to Be Loved by You.” My brother, Tim, was a big fan of James Taylor while we were growing up and I used to make fun of him because the music was not my style. As time went on (and after hearing James Taylor over and over from the walls of my brother’s room) listening caused me to slowly fall in love with his music. (more)

I really struggle with being a parent. Don’t get me wrong…I love being a parent and I love my kids with all my heart, but I often wonder if I am making the right decisions as a parent. Am I being too strict? Am I being to lenient? Am I allowing them to eat too much junk food? Am I setting the proper boundaries for them? Am I protecting them from harmful influences? Do they know I love them? Do they think I am a good dad? I could go on. I guess I feel so insecure as a parent because I know I am not perfect. How can I set the right example for my kids when there are so many things in me that need to change? I guess when I think about it, I feel the same way as a pastor. Am I setting the right example for my people? Do they know I care? Am I giving them the right content? If I am honest, I feel the same way as a husband. Does she know she means more to me than any other woman in the world? Am I providing the security she needs? Does she get the respect from me that she deserves? (more)

I just finished reading the book of 1 Timothy today and I have to say that I was personally challenged. The Apostle Paul was writing to the young pastor, Timothy, who had taken leadership over the church at Ephesus. Even though Timothy was young, Paul knew he could handle the leadership which had been entrusted to Him. Being young in the ministry carries many challenges, mostly because trust has not been established nor has experience been observed (I guess I still consider myself young, even though I am 33). So, do the youth of this world sit back and wait until they get old to lead? (more)

My five year old daughter comes into our room this morning and says “I had a dream last night.” I ask her “what was the dream about?” She responds “someone stole my shoes.” I said “really…what happened?” This question must have been too loaded because she did not answer, but she did say “I had to open my eyes to see if it was real.” Dreams are pretty confusing because they totally feel real until you wake up and sometimes, even then, it takes a while to convince yourself otherwise. If all dreams were true, I’d be dead. We’ve all had dreams where we die…we wake up sweating, shaking, and scared. In fact, our middle school pastor’s wife came up to me Wednesday night after church and said “I’m glad to see you here.” I was confused until she went on to inform me that I died in her dream the previous night. I may need to watch my back!!!! (more)

For many years, the leadership of Canton Baptist Temple has been contemplating the possibility of a second campus. Launching a second campus would provide another outlet to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ whom we are not currently reaching at our main campus. After being exposed to the need north of the main campus, our leadership staff and finance committee unanimously agreed to prayerfully as well as financially support this endeavor. Boasting close to 300,000 un-churched people in Summit County and many more attending churches without sound, biblical teaching, the leadership team explored the possibility of planting a second campus in Green, Ohio. This location is ideal even being recognized in 2007 by Business Week as the 16th Best Place to Raise Kids (November 2007). As a growing community, Green also needs a church which meets the needs of its residents and boldly proclaims the truth about Jesus Christ. (more)

As I have mentioned in a previous blog, our entire family was sick for a week in March. Arrogantly, I had commented to someone a few weeks earlier that our family had avoided being sick during the winter months…I even knocked on wood when I said it, but the flu made an unwanted visit to our home. The thing I hate about being sick is that it usually comes without warning and leaves no time to rearrange schedules. One day I was feeling fine and the next day I was in the doctor’s office reading a fishing magazine! I’m not sure about you, but when I get sick I’ll do anything to feel better, including going to the doctor, taking medications whose names I cannot pronounce, and shelling out insane amounts of money. No one wants to be sick but I assume most individuals would go to great efforts to be made well. The question must be asked: “Why will we take any measure necessary to secure physical health but ignore our spiritual health?” There is a writing in the book of Proverbs which says “keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” The writer is giving a warning to guard the heart (the center of all our passions and desires) because the things we allow to captivate it will be reflected in our attitudes and actions. (more)

Several years ago, when I was a huge basketball fan and thought I could play in the NBA, I was invited to a sneak preview of a movie called The Pistol. At the conclusion of the movie, some guy came walking down the middle isle spinning a basketball on his finger. I’m thinking…this is weird, a guy got so pumped about the movie that he is going nuts right here in the movie theater. The lights came up and that guy was the star of the movie. He was making appearances in certain theaters where the movie would be showing. I have to admit, it was way cool. I’ll never forget that sneak preview. Well, I had another chance to get a sneak preview today but it was not for a movie, although I would like to meet someone from Horton Hears a Who. My sneak preview was about getting a glimpse of where our second campus in Green would hold their first gathering in September 2008. For an hour this morning I had the chance to walk around the theater and brainstorm about logistics and stuff; however, I couldn’t help but thinking about the empty seats which will soon be filled with people. (more)