Another year, another Turkey Trot. And the saddest part is that it will be 12 months before we get to do it again. And some of you are saying, “That’s great. I’ll log that away. Just one question…What in the world is a Turkey Trot?”

You don’t have to get snippy about it. I’ll tell you.

Each year we have several families over our home for Thanksgiving and—little do they know—a trek out to the great unknown for a scavenger hunt of sorts. Actually, we just split the whole group into two teams and each team (camera in hand) has to complete the 10 bizarre events. The team to get back to the house (picture evidence in hand) first wins. They are the annual Turkey Trot winners, safe and secure in their championship status for a full 12 months.

Until next year!

Anyway, here are some shots from (one of the 10 events—the ugy face) the legendary event. Consider them carefully (especially if you’re from Southbrook Church)—you might be next! Our team won…

Or, wait, maybe that would be considered losing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Pictures… Read the rest of this entry »

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In no particular order

• A wife who doesn’t think I need to “bring sexy back” because I still am to her
• I have 2 kids who genuinely love the Lord above all else.
• Another year where hundreds and hundreds have come to know Jesus at Southbrook Church (the most awesome church family on earth!)
• Our brand new worship facility!
• The outreach and campus at Southbrook Monroe. We’re gonna turn that city upside down for Jesus!
• The Southbrook Kid’s Beach Trip with my entire family this year!
• Southbrook Lifegroup’s who, comforted, shared, sacrificed for others and grew closer to Jesus.
• Bear — an early Christmas present that will give love and laughter, loyalty and adventure for years to come!
• My favorite time of year (Christmas) is fast approaching and hundreds will come to know Jesus!
• My Lord and Savior, Jesus!

7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 2 Cor. 5:7–9

What are you thankful for this year? We may be in a global meltdown but Christians always have something(s) to be thankful for because we know how this whole thing ends!

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Something doesn’t feel right this year.

I can’t even put my finger on it—not completely. Maybe because it’s something that looks perfectly fine on the outside—maybe even good.

Scratch that.

GREAT.

On the one hand churches are popping up all over the place claiming to make the Bible hip, happening and the latest craze since…well, whatever the latest craze is. It seems we want to be so far on the cutting edge we move before we even figured out what we were doing on the previous razor’s precipice. If the latest fad seems ahead of us, we’ll move just to stay in front—whether it’s godly or not.

I say, “we” because it’s so easy to get caught up in this junk and I’m sure I’m guilty of it too. But you know what I’ve been drawn to lately? And what the Lord is drawing out in me?

Just preach the Word.

Powerfully, unapologetically, straight-forward.

And very, very importantly—the way I alone am shaped to preach it. I don’t have to be Rick Warren or Billy Graham or anyone else—just me.

Now don’t get me wrong. Some of you who have been to Southbrook Church might be ready to judge me down to size because we use multimedia out the ying-yang (ß not sure exactly what that is but hopefully I didn’t just cuss for no reason) but you’d be ignoring one very important thing.

That is how I’m shaped. To present the word any other way would be a betrayal for me.

So this isn’t a call to put on a robe and start chanting Monte Python style.

Unless that’s you!

It’s just a sadness, I guess. Because I’m hearing more and more about the newest/latest, or so and so, the upcoming, Mac daddy preacher! and less and less about Jesus.

Maybe more of us need to heed the words of John the Baptist who was quite the rock star in his day—when he said of Jesus,

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

I think the church and a lot of leaders could use a heavy dose of decreasing.

That might not be ‘religiously correct,’ but it sure feels right.

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