http://www.tommyduke.com adventures in becoming... Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:26:11 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en We had the distinct honor of welcoming Dakota Ray Duke into the world today (January 21, 2009) at 5:49 PM.  Both he and his mom are strong and healthy (and my wife is a champ).  (click picture for more photos) DAKOTA RAY DUKE Height: 22" Weight: 8lbs. 9oz. Join us in praising God for this ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2009/01/21/welcome-to-the-world-dakota/ Quick update: I injured my back a little over a month ago and I have been really slowed (almost to a grinding halt) with constant pain.  In the midst of this mess, I find myself oscillating between two positions: 1) the downtrodden, depressed "poor, pitiful me" syndrome, and 2) the ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2008/12/27/an-amazing-life/ I have never been prouder of the Iron City family than I was yesterday afternoon.  I had the joy of helping Ami M. and six or seven other servant-leaders from ICC distribute and wrap all the toys that we collected over the last few weeks.  As a part of our Christmas Conspiracy, we ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2008/12/22/never-more-proud/   I have had the privilege over the last few weeks of inciting a group of people to do some crazy, subversive things.  In fact, we're all conspiring together to celebrate Christmas differently this year.  Our plan is aggressive, but viable, and the wheels have already been turning to return the JOY ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2008/12/22/the-conspiracy/ 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 ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2008/10/27/dirty-little-secrets/ The Stillers are 5-1, the Pirates completed their 16th straight losing season, the Penguins are back on ice, and the leaves have turned all sorts of beautiful colors and begun to fall from the trees.  In other words, it is autumn in the 'Burgh.  We just celebrated (last Sunday) Iron City Church's 1st Birthday.  ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2008/10/21/catching-up/ There has been so much going on lately.  Most of it inside of me.  God is still hard at work (can you call it "hard" if God's the one doing it?), shaping me into the man He created me to be. I felt that it was time to break the silence ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2008/07/14/breaking-the-silence-2/ God has really been showing me some things in the last few weeks.  I feel like my spiritual life gets so stale from time to time that I need Him to show up and shake me up.  That's been going on in a big way lately.  I know this is ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2008/05/25/overload/ The Catalytic one and I are cruising down the highway, headed for Reston, VA, this afternoon. 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 ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2008/05/21/uh-oh-better-go-wibo/ We had another pretty good morning at ICC today.  Our numbers have been down for a few weeks, and today was no exception.  However, the folks that were present were fired up, the band was rocking, and we even had a couple of first time guests.  I am enjoying our current ... http://www.tommyduke.com/2008/05/18/weekend-update-2/