And one of the myriad revelations that I have been shown during this time is just how blessed I am.  God has allowed me to spend the rest of my life with the woman of my dreams, He’s shaping perhaps the coolest little boy in world in my son T.J., He is currently forming another blessed son of mine in the womb (we’re looking for a launch in late January ‘09), and He has called me to lead an awesome assemblage of people known locally as Iron City Church.

He has also been showing me all over again the value of my TIME.  My time with Amber and TJ during this painful period has grown both of those relationships like crazy – especially between TJ and me.  I am reminded once again of the resounding, truthful words of Paul in his letter to the Romans: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.   – Romans 8:28

We just finished week #2 of our Dirty Little Secrets message series at ICC.  It’s based on one specific secret, that we’re all created with a need and desire for relationships but we all suck at making them work.  That’s how God created us, to live, grow, and thrive in the context of relationships.  This series is all about sharing some of the “dirty little secrets” to help us make our relationships work. 

Yesterday’s topic was marriage, titled “Fairy Tales are for Children (not your love life).”  The love we hear about in fairy tales, movies, and pop songs is all about infatuation, but God-pleasing love (the kind required to make marriage work) is hard work.

Here are some resources to help:

• Movie – Fireproof
• Book – The Love Dare (Kendrick & Kendrick)
• Book – The Five Love Languages (Chapman)
• Book – Sheet Music (Leman)
• Book – Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (Parrott)

I felt that it was time to break the silence because this post  from Steven Furtick hit me right where I am a lot of the time.  This, incidently, is one of the major areas of my life that God has been re-shaping/re-framing my perspective.

No promises on how often I’ll be posting, but the above is a must read.

I just thank God that He’s never far away when I’m going through a time like I am coming out of . . . That He’s always there when I come to my senses and focus on Him.

We’ll be attending The Whiteboard Sessions tomorrow. My friend Ben Arment and the gang have put together a conference experience that is bound to be like nothing I’ve seen in the church world.

Ben has asked 8 of the most influential leaders in the church today to each come and share what’s on their heart for 30 minutes apiece. What a concept!

What is most exciting to me is that the speakers weren’t selected because they all think alike, speak alike, dress alike, or agree about everything.

On the contrary, from the looks of it some of these guys may only agree about one thing – the most important thing – that Jesus Christ and His Bride (the Church) are the hope of the world!

Can’t wait to see what God has in store…

I started a new coaching network with Nelson Searcy in New York City today. It isn’t cheap or easy to get away and get there once a month, but it’s much like the flight in tonight. As a leader, I have to be intentional about making time to look at Iron City Church from a fresh and different perspective.

Thank you God for giving me the opportunity to push away, learn from and with like-minded church leaders, and ultimately to try to see ICC the way You see her – as a force in your hands to redeem people’s lives through Christ for eternity. Help me to lead her to fulfill Your dreams for her.

There’s the “life is kicking my butt and I’m totally overwhelmed and I don’t have time to think” kind of tired.  We can call that “bad tired.”

Then there’s the other kind of tired.  Good tired.  Good tired is more like “there is a lot going on and I’m extremely busy and could use a little extra sleep at some point, but God is working in such a big and real way right now that I don’t particularly care how tired I feel.”

I’m good tired right now.

All the excitement of (and preparation for) Easter, coupled with starting a new part-time job last week, has left me low on the energy gauge. Thankfully, its a good drained feeling.

I’m so excited about the coming days at ICC! We just revisited and set the message calendar for the upcoming months and its going to be a blast.

I’d love to tell you more, but…

so…

Tired…

Need sleepy…

Thursday we went to the Unleash Conference at NewSpring Church in Anderson. I’ll try to post some of my learnings from Perry Noble and the gang later.

Then last night I flew to NYC for my monthly coaching network meeting today. I think Nelson (who leads the group) has been having me followed based on what we talked about today. Again, I’ll share some of the specifics later.

Now I’m about to get on an airplane and head home for a deep, slobber-inducing night’s sleep in my own bed. Can’t wait for that!

• time alone with God
• time alone with Amber
• time with Amber and TJ
• riding the motorcycle (not in the snow however)
• spending time with certain people
  • This is a big one.  It’s taken me years of my life to realize this, but I need to be intentional about making time for the people who recharge me.
  • I spent years letting other people (often the people that drained me) dictate who I spent the bulk of my time with and then I wondered why I was wiped out all the time.

I say all this because I just wrapped up a meeting with a friend of mine and thought about how much better I felt after we got done.  That marks about three different times this week that I had the chance to sit and catch up with someone who fires me up.

What a difference it makes!  Here’s my advice for the day: find your rechargers and stay engaged….