Christmas Music

I love Christmas music. Normally, I start pulling out the Cd's and begin playing them about the first of November. Unfortunately, Leah and I have misplaced ALL of the Christmas music we had packed away. We have searched the house high and low, but have come up empty handed.

Fortunately, I have found a few website online that will stream nothing but Christmas music. I heard this son today, and I thought I would share a little Christmas cheer. Enjoy.

Listen - click here!

Savannah Is On Her Way

Leah is right at 18 weeks pregnant. We found out today that we are having a girl. I think Leah is a little happier than she thought she would be. I am pretty excited as well. We had originally wanted a little boy so Landon would have a brother to grow up with...but now he gets to be a big brother for his little sister...Savannah.

A Funny...Sad Video

Unfortunately I know too many people who would sing this song with all their might! I have seen many families crash and burn because of the "situations" in this video. FORTUNATELY, I have an unbelievable father! Growing up as a PK (pastor's kid) I can honestly say I did not experience the neglect that many kids feel because of their parents involvement in full time Christian ministry. Thanks, Dad! You have been a great role model for me...at home, and at work! You have done both well! I love you!

This Is A Good Commercial

So What About the Next 4 Years?

I like what Perry Noble had to say today in this post. It kind of sums up how I feel about the election. I have had several student ask me over the last couple of days what the world is going to look like in the next four years. I tell them the same thing every time, "I do not know!"

I do tell them that Scripture is clear that we are to pray for our leaders...and we are to obey government as long as they are not contrary to what Scripture teaches. I don't know what the next four years are going to look like. I do know this, I have prayed for President Bush on a regular basis over the past eight years. We have prayed for President Elect Obama the last two days in each of the classes I teach. I am sure throughout the next four years I will pray for him on a regular basis as well!

iPray - pt. 3

Here are a few quick thoughts from the last night of the iPray series I did at Fuel.

• Jesus could have talked about any facet of prayer, but He focuses in here on these three things... 1. Declare God's Greatness. 2. Get Your Will in Alignment With His. 3. Acknowledge Your Dependence On Him. Then He launches into this story in Luke 11 about that thing that frustrates us more than anything about prayer, and I am so glad He did. He begins to talk about what happens when you don’t get what you want from God. He could have said anything about prayer right here, but He chooses this area because He knew the frustration we would feel.
• Jesus tells a parable about a man who asks his neighbor for some bread...at midnight. The man tell his neighbor to go away...it is late and he doesn't want to wake his family. The man finally gets out of bed and gives his neighbor some bread...not because the man is his friend, but because he is tired of his neighbors consistent and persistent knocking.
• The moral is kind of clear…if you want something from God just keep banging on the door and eventually He will get up and do something for you. Not because he loves you, but because you just bother him to death.
• This is not as weird as we might think…Remember a time when you just bugged your parents to death and they gave in just so you would shut up! Your parents don’t love you any more or less when that happens. Really it has nothing to do with love or your relationship with them. Sometimes you go ask your parents for something and they say no...and you say, “Yes sir” and walk away…and your parent says, “Hey common. Let’s go!” Your response to them caused them to change their mind because you had such a good attitude.
• God is not bothered by your persistence asking, sometimes he is moved by it. The parable could not be any clearer: tell God how great He is, align your will with His, and tell Him what you need…and oh yeah, DON’T QUITE ASKING!
• Your persistent prayer has the potential to move the heart of God. You have that kind of potential!

iPray - pt.2

Last night was the second installment of the iPray series at Fuel. Here are some quick thoughts from last night:

• Matt. 6:9 - We are told when we pray we are to start with God! I know there are times when I bypass this and head straight to me. Declaring God's greatness is vitally important in prayer. Why? It puts into context who it is we are talking too and who we are. You see, THE MORE TIME WE UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZING WHO IT IS WE ARE TALKING TO, THE LESS CONCERNED WE WILL BECOME ABOUT ALL OF THOSE UNRESOLVED ISSUES WE CAN’T WAIT TO ASK HIM TO RESOLVE. Declaring God's greatness gives us confidence in God and who he is!
• The second part of the "Lord's prayer" in Matt. 6:10 is this issue of surrendering our will to God. THIS IS THE WHO ISSUE OF PRAYER. Before we get to our needs, wants and wishes, we need to tell God that no matter what the answer may be, we do not want our will for our lives, we want His! This is very difficult to do IF we are lacking in the first area. It becomes a little easier to surrender your will to His once we get a solid picture of who He is!
• Lastly, we get to the part of the prayer that we are pretty good at, "Give...". Matt. 6:11-13 tell us to acknowledge our dependency on God for our daily provision, daily pardon form sin and daily protection.

You see we start with God, end with ourselves and it is the middle where the issues arise...whose agenda, will and purpose is going to take control? What about you? How are you doing with that second part? Do you have anything you aren't giving to God? He is begging you to come and talk to Him about this issue that you are not trusting him with. God doesn't want what you are holding on to, He can take that anytime he wants...He is God! He does want you heart. Will you give it to Him?

A Letter About Sex

Last Friday I sent an e-mail to each of the high school parents. The email informed them that on Thursday, Oct. 23 we will be talking about sexual sin in chapel. I have to admit, I was blown away by the response. The POSITIVE response. I must say that I thought most of the feedback would be a little hesitant on the parents part. After all, we are covering the issues of pornography, oral sex, masturbation and homosexuality. These are not easy topics to discuss...but the students did ask for it. If they are already thinking about these issues, why doesn't someone address them in a Biblical way?

There are always a couple, no matter where you are, that think there child does not need to be a part of such discussion. That is fine. I am sure the parents think they know what is best for their child...and most of the time they do.

I would appreciate your prayers on Thursday around noon. Pray for the student body here at GCA. Pray that the others who have not been involved in sexual immorality can continue to make the right choice to exercise self control. Pray for the student that have been caught up in this mess of sexual immorality will be set free. There is HOPE in JESUS!

Helping the Elderly Transition To DTV

This video post from Todd at Monday Morning Insight was funny! I had to share it. Perhaps we (the church) should help them out. This would be a good service project!

glumbert - Are Old People Ready For The Digital Conversion?

iPray - pt.1

Here are a few quick thoughts from my talk last night with the students at South Harriman Baptist Church about the subject of prayer.

• What if we have been praying wrong all along? What if prayer isn't about us getting stuff from God?


• Matthew 6 is the only place in the Bible that I can find where someone asks someone else how to pray. (The disciples were pretty smart. They saw that Jesus was praying differently than them and they wanted to know how to get it right! Great lesson for us!)


• The first point that Jesus makes about prayer in Matt. 6:5-6 is that location is important!


• We can talk to Go the rest of our lives and not feel connected to Him because we do not spend intentional, intimate time with Him in our room with the door shut.


• The reward mentioned in Matt.6:6 is that we will know...no matter if the answer is yes, no or nothing...that God is with us!


• Matt. 6:7 lets us know that words are important. We do not have to impress God. The pressure is off.


• Matt. 6:8 really messed me up when I first understood what it was saying...God already knows what we need before we ask Him...Most of the time our prayers are telling God the stuff He already knows. Obviously we have missed something.


• The most important thing in the world is your personal, intimate realtionship with God because everything else in life flows from that one thing.

We pick back up next week with verse 9 of Matthew 6. I'll post some thoughts about it next Thursday.

iPray

I will be teaching a series on prayer to the students at South Harriman Baptist Church for the next three Wednesday nights. I am excited about this opportunity. Just wanted to share a little video promo I made for the series. I'll post some updates tomorrow.


iPray from Craig Price on Vimeo.

This Is What Happens When You Are Bored...

I had some free time on my hands today so I made a little video of Landon playing in the yard. Enjoy!


Landon playing in the yard. from Craig Price on Vimeo.

Sticky Talk

I am at an ACSI convention in Greensboro, NC. We are required to go to six different workshops while we are here. The first workshop I attended this morning was by Dr. Phil Johnson. His session was on making what you teach stick with your students. Here are some quick thoughts:


Things that we (teachers) want to stick with our students:

• Jesus loves me and wants to be my friend.


• God has a purpose for my life.

Things that end up sticking with our students:

• Melissa farted in class today.


• Mr. Henley said, "sut the pissors down" instead of "put the scissors down".

The point is this, the unusual sticks. Not the mundane, everyday occurrences in the classroom...the unusual.

The same can be said about church. I was thinking throughout the entire session, "Man, all of this applies to the church as well". How many times have I sat in church and the sermon did not stick. It didn't even reach me to have the opportunity to stick. I vividly remember the sermons that have "stuck" and made an impact on my life. They were unusual, out of the ordinary and out of the box. Is it a challenge to make our lessons (and sermons) stick? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Definitely.

I'll have more thoughts on this tomorrow...

Laughing Workout

This may be one of the dumbest things I have ever seen. What do you think?

glumbert - Laughing Ab Workout

Random Thoughts This Morning

My mind has been pretty active this morning. Here are some things I have been thinking:

• I am glad we have "fall break" coming up for the next 5 days! It is much needed...for teachers and students!
• I am not looking forward to attending this ACSI conference for the next 3 days. I would rather spend time with Leah and Landon...or at Catalysts 08!
• My mother in law put a rocking chair together for us last night. She did an excellent job. Leah said I probably would have cussed if I had attempted to put it together myself. She may be right. I HATE putting things together!
• I would chose Rick Flair, aka "The Nature Boy" as my wreslin partner!
• I am excited that I get to speak to students 4 times over the next 3 weeks!
• Tennessee may get demolished by UGA this weekend. It is possible that we will lose by 3 touchdowns or more. It is also possible good Ole Phil will pull some magic out of his hat and we will win. I am betting the latter does not happen...but I hope it does.
• I feel sorry for Jonathan Crompton. I know he had to be trying as hard as he could...he just couldn't get it done. Reminds me of some people I have coached...
• Jesus has been praying for me today! Man, that is awesome!
• Over 600 people were baptised at Newspring Church in South Carolina this past Saturday! That would really be something to see...Maybe we will one day here in Knoxville!

That's all for now...

What They Were Really Saying

I thought Perry Noble hit the nail on the head with this post. :)

Top 5 Restaurants

I thought I would share my top 5 restaurants with you...just in case you would like to purchase a gift card for someone...

5. Famous Dave's - Can't beat the "rib tips" there. Over 1lb. And the sweet cornbread muffin is really good!

4. Amigos - This is the best Mexican restaurant I have been to...unfortunately it is in Chattanooga. We try to make a stop by there anytime we are back there for a visit. You will not go wrong with the "steak nachos".

3. Chili's - Yeah, I know...most people would probably not agree with me on this one, but I haven't been there when I though the food was sub par. I have been satisfied with everything every time.

2. Cheesecake Factory - We do not have this restaurant in Knoxville either. To be honest, this one makes the list simple for the "Spicy Cashew Chicken"...and ALL of the unbelievable cheesecakes!

1. Dreamland BBQ - Again, we do not have this one in Knoxville either. I have only eaten at this place a couple of times...but the ribs are the BEST I have ever had...and I have had quite a bit!

Is it ok for a Christian to drink alcohol?

We are doing a series in our chapel services called, "You Asked For It". The students have complained on more than one occasion that our speakers in chapel do not talk about things that are interesting to them. So, I borrowed an idea from Perry Noble. He is the pastor of Newspring Church in Anderson, SC. A couple of months ago they asked their congregation what they wanted to hear. I thought, if they can do it, so can we.

Today, the other Bible teacher here at GCA, Mr. Pointer, had the task of tackling the issue of Christian's and alcohol. This issue came in as the 3rd most popular issue among our students. Here are some of the highlights from his talk:

• We have a responsibility as Christians to live our lives with purpose.
• There are over 10 million alcoholics in America. 3.3 million of them are teens. That is %19 percent of all teenagers.
• We know that Scripture is clear that we should not become "drunk"...But how does one know at what point they become drunk?
• It is illegal for anyone under 21 to drink. (Remember, we are talking to HS students)
• Drinking wine today is not the same as drinking wine in the Scriptures.
• Entire philosophy for drinking today is different from Biblical time. We drink today for pleasure, popularity, etc. People used wine in the Bible for medicinal purposes...to help purify the drinking water.
• Wine in the Bible was 3 parts water and 1 part wine. The lowest alcohol content you can find today is %4 and that is in beer. Wine has bewteen %7-11.
• Christians have to consider what effect his drinking has on other Christians and non believers.

I thought he hit a home run. Was the wine actually "wine" in the Bible? Yes. It was not grape juice. The entire purpose for the use of wine was vastly different than the purpose we have today. Plus, we have so many more options for beverages (I'm talking non alcoholic) today than they had in Jesus' day. So why do we need to tempt ourselves with something that could potentially mess us up?

I know a lot of good people on both sides of the fence...some say social drinking is okay, some say it is not. We need to search the Scriptures for ourselves and draw our own conclusions. For me, it all comes down to his last point today, we have to consider what effect our drinking may have upon other people, Christians or not. I'll have water.

Feeling the PUDGE

I hate washing my jeans. I hate feeling a little pudgy when I put on a washed pair of jeans. I had to wash 3 pair this week. I had to wear a pair last night for about an hour. It was probably the worst hour of my week.

Is anybody with me?

One of My Favorite Movie Scenes Ever

This scence is from the movie, "Master of Disguise". He is doing a paradoy Jaws!

You Asked For It

We are begining a new series in chapel called, "You Asked For It". I asked the students what they wanted to hear in chapel. After a couple of dirrerent surveys, here was their response:

1. Is it OK for a christian to drink alcohol?
2. What is sexual sin?
3. Can I lose my slavation?
4. How can I enjoy culture, movies and music and still be a Christian?

Here is a little video I made to intro the series.


You Asked For It from Craig Price on Vimeo.

Serious Joy

I have been taking Landon to the park most evenings. Leah has not been feeling well recently, so I have tried to help her out and give her extra time to herself. Landon and I LOVE going to the park. He likes to climb the stairs and go down the big slides. He doesn't even fool with the small ones any more. There is pure joy on his face going down the slides and swinging on the swings.

There is pure joy on my face as I watch him. It is so much fun to watch him step out and try such "big" tasks on his own. Every now and then I catch him looking over his shoulder just to make sure I am there. Once he sees me, he is back to climbing and sliding once again.

I imagine God feels the same towards us. There is pure joy on His face when we step out and finally get it and try the "big" tasks on our own. And every now and then, we look back to make sure we have His approval, and there He is, encouraging us and cheering us on to do great things for Him...with pure Joy on His face.

I can't wait to take Landon to the park this afternoon!

TGIF and MMAG

I work with high school students on a daily basis. It is my job, and I love it. Teenagers crack me up. I am giving a test to all my classes today, and I guarantee this will happen...Someone(s) will use the abbreviations on an answer that they would use in a text to their friend. Instead of writing out the words, they will write the first letter of each word and expect me to understand what they are trying to say.

One student this morning came up to me and said the following, "He Coach Price, TGIF". (For those of you who do not know TGIF stand for Thank God It's Friday.) I guess now they are speaking the language of the text as well! I looked right back at her and said, "Yeah Whitney, MMAG". I stunned her. Not only did she not expect to hear something like that from me, she does not know what MMAG means. Neither do I. I just made something up. I did tell her that if she could tell me by the end of the day what MMAG means I would giver her $5.00. To tell you the truth, I am looking forward to her answer.

Landon with Family

Here is a little video I made. It is a few pics of Landon with different family members. I hope you enjoy.


Landon with Family from Craig Price on Vimeo.

Ah, Yes...Some Good Fundy Humor

My friend, Brad Raby, sent me this link earlier in the week. I thought I would share it with you. This list really brought back some good, and funny memories!

This Guy Fires Me Up For Some Football

High school football starts tonight. Literally EVERY team in East TN will be on the field at 7:30 this evening. I found this amazing video and I thought I would share. This guy makes me want to take the field! Take a look.


Funny Videos

Dr. Memory

We have had the privilege here at GCA for the last couple of days of hosting basketball great Jerry Lucas. Mr. Lucas is now known as Dr. Memory. Yes, he conquered the basketball court over 30 years ago. He was a household name. If he were playing today his fame would be comparable to Lebron James or Kobe Bryant.

Mr. Lucas isn't as widely known today as he once was. He shared his story with us. His team had just won the NBA title. He was named the MVP of that years All Star game. He was on top of the basketball world. "Something wasn't right inside" said Mr. Lucas. He went to a friend for help. That friend pointed him to Jesus. He had 3 years left on his NBA contract with the NY Knicks...and he walked away.

He has since devoted his life to God, and education. He has developed a system to teach people how to learn and memorize information better that what they were taught. I am sold. His method works. He spoke in church this past Sunday and I can still tell you all 10 points of his sermon. That is amazing.

It has been good to have him here. If only the kids at the Academy knew who they were listening to. What a story of true success! Thanks Mr. Lucas.

I Do Not Belive The Athiest

We are studying the doctrine of God in the 10th grade bible class that I teach at GCA. Today's discussion was called "The Atheist Dilemma". We were trying to figure out what makes an atheist an atheist. Personally, I do not believe there is such a person who believes that there is no God. Romans 1:19-21 tell us that all people have an inner sense of God. The short answer we discovered in class today is this, atheist claim they deny the existence of a god.

We came to this conclusion: they only way anyone can prove that no God exists is to be a God himself. What?! We discovered the reason why...

The total amount of information anyone can amass is infinitesimal compared to the vastness of the universe and the immeasurable amount of information it contains.

Based upon this fact, the qualities or attributes a person would have to possess in order to attain all information necessary to prove God does not exist would be OMNIPRESENCE and OMNISCIENCE. These very attributes are part of God! Therefore, since no finite human being can prove God does NOT exist because God may exist beyond one's comprehension or experience.

I don't believe the atheist.

I belive in GOD!

Courage + Belief = Life

I posted this story on Wednesday June 25th. It was a story of hope. It was a story of courage. It was a story of a young man fighting for his life. John Challis lost that fight today, but I am sure his story will live in the hearts of the people he touched. His message was profound, yet simple..."Live each day as if it were you last." Good advise, John...and thanks for the reminder.

A thought From My Dad

My Dad is the pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church in Lenoir City, TN. I thought I would share what he recently had this to say in their August news letter. Good thought, Dad.

Random Thoughts

Here are just a few things I thought about today:

* Tennessee football starts in 34 days!

* Where am I going to watch the game? (It is on ESPN and we do not have cable)

* We had a good time with Leah's sister and her husband this past week while they were here visiting.

* God isn't interested so much in how we pray, or how much we pray. He enjoys the process of us getting to know Him through prayer!

* I need some new pants for the school year.

* School starts in just over a week! Man this summer has flown by.

* We are looking forward to spending time with friends and family this weekend in Chattanooga.

* I have heard that statistics show that over 75% of Knox county did not attend church anywhere this past Sunday. Something needs to be done about that.

* Churches/Christians aren't doing their job. (See thought above)

* Looking forward to watching an episode or two of Everwood with Leah tonight!

Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear

I have students tell me all the time that the music they listen to is for entertainment only and it does not effect them in any way. Really? I do not buy it. I came across this article the other day and I thought I would share. Just take a minute and read it...maybe you will change your mind about the effect that music has on a ones thinking.

Burning Heart

Leah is out of town. She is in Panama City with the student ministry for camp. Landon and I have the wonderful opportunity to chill all week together (so far so good). While Leah is away, I am taking some time to watch some of my movies. You know guys, the movies that you have at the house that you watch when the wife is away. Ladies, you do the same thing. Personally, I have chosen the Rocky movies. Not only do you get a great underdog story, you get comedy, a love story and perhaps some of the greatest 80's music of all time. What you don't believe me? Watch this.



Ok, time for Rocky 4!

Reading Update

I have finished reading When God Builds A Church by Bob Russell. I think it is a excellent read and any Pastor, staff member or volunteer of a local church would highly benefit from picking up this book. It is an easy read. Pastor Russell is very pratical. The 10 principles that he suggests God uses to build a great church are without a doubt paramount for church growth.
I have failed to listen to all of the audiobook Leadership By The Book by Ken Blanchard, Bill Hybles and Phil Hodges. I assumed it would take a little longer to listen to a book, but I did not plan on taking this long. Once I have finished it, I will give you and update.

Summer Movies

Just thought I would let you know that the summer movie season is upon us...just in case you live under a rock. Leah and I are finding it a little harder to get away to see as many movies as we would like. (Landon has a ADD...like most 17 month old babies.)
About a week ago we were able to see Get Smart. I love the tv show. You just can't find quality like that on TV today. The movie has its funny parts. I really like Steve Carrell's sense of humor. There were a couple of times I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.
This weekend we are going to WV. to visit some of Leah's extended family. We already have an evening planned with her cousins to see Hancock. I have heard mixed reviews about it so I'm anxious to watch it. To be honest, the movie I am looking forward to seeing the most this summer is Wall-E. I have heard nothing but great comments about the new Pixar film.
I'll be back next Wednesday. Have a happy 4ht of July!

Guest Post From Leah

This past Saturday marked the first day of summer. Here in Knoxville summer often brings high humidity and unbearable heat. In an effort not to complain about those I thought I would focus on the many things I love about summertime.

I love when the days are long and it's light until bedtime. I love it when people sit outside on their decks talking and laughing until the fireflies come out. I love lazy days spent by the lake or a pool. I love summer picnics with juicy watermelon for dessert. I love fireworks on the Fourth of July. I love spur-of-the-moment trips to Brewsters for cake batter ice cream. I love the sound of crickets singing late at night. I love grilled corn on the cob. I love the smell of rain on hot pavement. I love the unexpected breeze that blows in the middle of a steamy afternoon. I love how the mountains are so green that they look like giant heads of broccoli. I love summertime fairs and festivals. I love fresh summer strawberries. I love wearing flip-flops every day. I love going bare foot in the grass. I love the sight of kids running through the sprinkler, and have to admit I love to do the same. I love lying on my back and watching fluffy clouds float by in an impossibly clear blue sky. I love the extra dose of sunshine that summer inevitably brings. For all of these reasons, and many more, I love summertime.

Books I'm Reading Now

I try to read often. Admittedly, I do not read as much as I should. I plan on having a better reading schedule. There is no reason why I can't read 3 books a month. Especially during the summer. So, I'm going to use this blog to keep me accountable. Here are the books I would like to finish before the 4th of July rolls around:

When God Builds A Great Church by Bob Russell. My Dad just finished this book and really liked it. He passed it on to me to read. I was in it for a couple of hours today. So far...great!

Leadership By The Book: Tools To Transform Your Workplace by Ken Blanchard, Bill Hybles and Phil Hodges. I am listening to this book on tape. I have never attempted this before so we will see how it goes. Just getting started.

I'll let you know what I think of them when I am finished...by Friday!

Speaking Sharply

It is interesting to note the words that Jesus used in Matthew 23. He refers to the Pharisees as "vipers" and "white washed tombs" and even "dead mans bones." Those are really strong words from Jesus. He is calling them out on the spot and letting the Pharisees know what He thinks about them.
Can we talk like that? Should we speak sharply as Jesus did? When it is right to use tough language, even raw language like Jesus sometimes did? I have to admit this something that I struggle with. I often do not hear speech like this. Most, not all, of the pastors/communicators I listen to do not "speak sharply" and call people out like Jesus did the Pharisees in Matthew 23.
What do you think? What are the boundaries and guidelines for speaking in this manner? When is it right to speak sharply?

Who Says I Can't Dance?

It is a well known fact I am not a dancer. I have never claimed to be. Leah...she can dance a little bit. (At least more than me. I don't think that is saying much though.) I did happen to stumble across this video of us "busting a few moves" and I thought I would share. Enjoy!

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Good Reminder For All Of Us

Maybe you are having a bad day. Maybe you are a little down because of something someone said. Perhaps someone hurt your feelings. Maybe someone in your family is having serious health problems. We have those days that we would like to forget don't we? I know I do. I'm not taking away the "thing" that you are going through right now, but I do want to show you this video. Life is hard. God is good. Hang in there and keep fighting...for one more day.

Piety vs. Immorality

I spent the last two weeks on the campus of Lee University for basketball camp. Coach T Championship Camps are designed to give basketball players a couple of things: 1.) A LOT of basketball. From 8:30am to almost 12:00am. 2.) Spiritual emphasis. Three times a day the campers hear a testimony/challenge for a coach or a college player. The head men's coach at Lee, Tommy Brown, made this statement during his "Coach 'em up" time last Tuesday:

"I believe as Christians, we sin more because of our piety than we do because of our immorality."

What do you think? Which would be true for you? Do you sin more because of your piety? Or do you sin more because of your immorality? Do you think this statement is even true? Let me know.

Happy Fathers Day

Tomorrow is Fathers day. In honor of my Dad, I wanted to share something with you. You see, I can't tie a tie. All of the ties hanging in my closet were tied by my dad. Some of my ties have NEVER been untied. I think I have one that dad tied when I was 20. That was 7 years ago. He has tried several times to teach me how to tie a tie. He is a pro at it. If I was to get a tie for fathers day tomorrow, I would make sure I would have it with me next time I see my dad so that he could tie it for me. I depend on him to tie my ties. Here is a funny clip trying to teach a guy how to tie his own tie. Dad, I'm glad I have you to help me. I love you! Happy Fathers Day!

Living In The Dark Ages Pt. 2

It was about a week ago that I said at times Leah and I feel like we are living in the dark ages. Why? Because we do not have 2 of the modern conveniences that most married couples our age have: the Internet and cable TV. Well, now there is only one that we are missing, cable. We have the Internet at home now. (We got a great deal) Anyway, I finished that blog by saying this:

We do not think that the Internet or cable is wrong. We just do not have the funds to have those conveniences at this point of our marriage. We can do better things with the money God has given us. What about you? More on this subject next time!

I would like to take the liberty and elaborate on that for a minute. We have some friends who wonder how Leah and I do it? How do we live the way we do with the (lack) of income that we have. (I'm a christian school teacher. We aren't making BIG money.) It is quite simple really. There is no magic formula or big secret that we aren't sharing with them. Leah and I have been blessed. There is no way, other than God, that we could live in a house like we live in. That is a God story that maybe I could share at another time.

The bottom line is this: We have worked hard to be where we are. We have sacrificed some material things in order to have the material things we do have. We do not have cable. We do not wear designer clothes. (I never understood that anyway.) We do not have car payments. We have bought cars that we could pay cash for. They may not be what we want, but they are all we need. We keep our windows open in the spring and fall. That may not sound like it is a big deal, but we literally save $200-$300 a year just by opening the windows in our house. We do not eat out often. We do not have school loans. I worked hard while I was in high school and was able to obtain a sizable basketball scholarship. My mom and dad were gracious enough to pay for the remainder of schooling that basketball did not cover. We save for months before we make a big purchase. We do not buy things that we cannot pay for in cash. To borrow a quote from Dave Ramsey, "We are trying to live like no one else right now so that later in life we can live like no one else." Sacrifice now so that you can be rewarded later. That is what we are trying to do. With God's help, and hard work, you can do it too!

Feels Like Summer

I don't know what the tempature is like where you are, but here in Knoxville, it is HOT. We have a heat index of 101 today. That is crazy for the 7th of June. To help beat the heat, we took Landon to see his Grammy and Grandpa (my mom and dad) and his cousins Brevin and Allie and do a little swimming. We didn't get to go to the pool we were hoping for, so we improvised and bought them a $20.00 blow up pool at Walmart. Here are some pictures of them today.




Brevin was happy!

Allie wasn't very happy!

Landon was having a blast!

Landon wants to do EVERYTHING just like his cousin Brevin!

Landon even got to ride the VROOM today!

Read NOW

Is God good all the time? Let's face it, we like to say that, but do we really believe it? I want you to stop what you are doing and read this blog from a pastor in Florida. Have a Kleenex handy.

Interesting Facts

OK, first of all let me say that all these examples do NOT imply that gasoline is cheap; it just illustrates how outrageous some other prices are. I was really shocked by the last one on this list. I know that these prices are a little skewed because...let's face it, it takes a lot longer to use a gallon of Whiteout than it does a gallon of gas. Just for fun...

Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ... $10.32 per gallon

Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ..........$9.52 per gallon

Gatorade 20 oz $1.90 .. $12.17 per gallon

Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 ......... $10.00 per gallon

Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ...... $33.60 per gallon

Vick's NyQuil 6 oz $8.35 ... $178.13 per gallon

Peptobismol 4 oz $3.85 .. $123.20 per gallon

Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ....... . $25.42 per gallon

Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 .....$84.48 per gallon

Evian water 9 oz $1.49..$21.19 per gallon! (It is interesting to not that Evian spelled backwards is Naive.)

Just a little humor to help ease the pain of your next trip to the pump, although I wasn't laughing or thinking of this list yesterday when I filled my car up. It cost me $52.00.

Living In The Dark Ages

I feel like Leah and I are living in the "dark ages" sometimes. Why? I guess because we do not have two of the major "conveniences" that most married people our age have at their home. They are cable TV and the Internet. (Thus the reason my posts on here are often days apart. I can only post when I have time while I am in my office. Otherwise I would try to be on here daily.) I must confess that not having cable TV isn't that big a deal. Yes, I do get annoyed when people ask, "Dude, did you see that game last night?"... and for the 15th time I have to tell them, "No, we do not have cable." Then I receive this look of pity like my dog has just died. I do miss watching college football on Saturdays during the fall on ESPN and college basketball in the winter; however, I can't think of another thing on cable TV that I would want to see. Maybe, that is because we do not have it, and we do not know what we are missing. I seriously doubt that is the case.
Of the two, I would pay to have the Internet at the house. Is there a simpler and easier way to keep of with friends and family than the Internet? I don't think so. Plus, you can get all the news and highlights of any game or show or randomness from the day that you have missed because you do not have cable TV. Leah is going out of town this weekend to watch her cousin graduate from high school. I wanted to surprise her with a little flower garden around the mailbox. I had no idea how to plant a flower garden until just a few minutes ago. I typed the words "how to plant a flower garden" into the search bar and had over 300,000 results to pick from. You can't do that with cable TV.
We do not think that the Internet or cable is wrong. We just do not have the funds to have those conveniences at this point of our marriage. We can do better things with the money God has given us. What about you? More on this subject next time!

What Might Have Been

Do you ever wonder what might have been? What if that deal would have closed? What is SHE didn't dump you for your best friend? What if you hadn't bought that car that you knew was just right for you...now five years later you are wondering how could you have been so stupid, and how can I get rid of this payment? Sometimes I think about what might have been...

It was three years ago around this time that we were candidating at a church in Louisiana. The church was awesome. The guy I would be working directly under was awesome. Even though it was 12 hours from my home, and 20 hours away from Leah's family, we had made up our mind that if they offer the position, we were going. I still remember the phone call I received telling me that they did not think I had the experience necessary for the position they had open. We were crushed. I struggled for a couple of weeks after that call. I was hurt.

Three years later now I am teaching at Grace Christian Academy in Knoxville, close to home. Leah's parents have moved from WV to Knoxville to make their home here as well. I can't tell you how happy we are to be here. Things are not the same in the awesome church in LA. We live in an incredible house here that was a gift from God. When Landon was born I was working for an insurance company. It's a good thing, his hospital bill was over $30,000.00. We paid a $100 copy to cover the whole thing. I could go on and on.

Sometimes it is fun to think about what might have been, but who wants to live in the past? I can't wait to see what the rest of today is going to bring.

The Art Of Thankgiving

We live in a society that does not say "Thank you" often. I work with high school students everyday. I pour my life into theirs trying to teach them not only about History and Bible, but life as well. I have received 5 "Thank you" notes/emails from parents/students this year.

I often wonder how God must feel. How often do I fail to say "Thank you" for all He has done for me. I do not want to live a thankless life towards Him and others. I read this article, "The Art of Thanksgiving" this morning and I thought I would share it with you!

The art of thanksgiving is thanksliving. It is gratitude in action. It is applying Albert
Schweitzer’s philosophy: “in gratitude for you own good fortune you must render in
return some sacrifice of your life for other life.”

It is thanking God for the gift of life by living in triumphantly.

It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by accepting them as obligations to be
invested for the common good.

It is thanking God for all that men and women have done for you by doing things for
others.

It is thanking God for opportunities by accepting them as a challenge and achievement.

It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy.

It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration to others.

It is thanking God for the creative ideas that enrich life by adding your own creative contributions to human progress.

It is thanking God for each new day by living it to the fullest.

It is thanking God by giving hands, arms, legs and voice to your thankful spirit.

It is adding to your prayers of thanksgiving, acts of thanksgiving.

So, who do you need to say "Thank you" to today?

Greater Things Are Still to Come

Leah and I are active in the student ministry at our church. Last night, as we were worshiping along with the students we sang the song, "God of this city" by Chris Tomlin. Here are the lyrics:

You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are
You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are
For there is no-one like our God
There is no-one like our God
Greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done here
You’re the Lord of creation
The creator of all things
You’re the King above all kings
You’re the strength in the weakness
You’re the love to the broken
You’re the joy in the sadness
Greater things have yet to come
Greater things have still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for You and
Love for you in this city

I couldn't help but shed a tear. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in Knoxville in the next 5-10 years! I know He is going to do "Great things in THIS city" through people who are willing to follow Him and do what He says! Are you going to be a part of His great movement? My prayer every day is that God will allow me to be part of the next GREAT movement for Him in this city, my city...Knoxville!

Tim Tebow...And Jesus

Tim Tebow is the quarterback for the University of Florida Gators. I am a University of Tennessee Volunteers football fan. The two schools, and their fans, don't like each other...especially in September when the two schools meet on the gridiron. Normally, the winner of this game ends up in Atlanta for a chance at the SEC football championship. There has been more than one occasion when the Gators have shattered our dreams of ending up in Atlanta. Tim Tebow is good. He won college football's most prestigious trophy...as a sophomore. That is impressive; however, I am not a Gator fan.

After reading THIS article, I am now a HUGE Tim Tebow fan. Why is this? Just click on the link and read for yourself. It is a wonderful article about how Tim uses he free time and, now fame to spread the good news of the Gospel. And for that I stand, clap my hands and say, "Way to go Tim. You da man!"

No Need To Be Nervous

The following is a note that Leah posted on her Facebook page before Landon was born. I think she is handling her son just fine! :)

I have to say that while I am SO happy and excited to be having a little boy in March, the fact that it's a boy is starting to make me nervous... For those of you who don't know, I grew up with one sister. No boys in our house except for my Dad. So I'm kind of wondering now...what am I gonna do with a little boy? I've saved all my My Little Pony, Care Bears, and dolls...but those aren't exactly gonna work out for Landon, now are they? I've also got all my childhood favorite movies: "Annie", "Beauty and the Beast," (and of course every other Disney movie made) and "Charlottes Web." Somehow I doubt that Landon will be as emotionally moved when Charlotte dies as I was as a little girl. So it's time for me to start learning some new games and brushing up on...boy stuff. (See I don't even know what it is!) I'm sure Craig will put a ball in his hands and teach him all about that (Lord, let him have Craig's ability and not my lack thereof.) But I'm sure that Landon and I will have our special moments too. After all, boys still like to color pictures, take walks on beautiful fall days to collect cool leaves, stir the batter and eat half of the cookie dough before you get any chocolate chip cookies in the oven, and be silly while dancing around to crazy songs. And those are just a few of the things I dream of doing with this, my firstborn child...my son.

God Was Up All Night

Let me give you some encouragement with my reading this morning from Psalm 121:2-3, "My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber." The one who gives us help NEVER sleeps. He stays up all night! Do you need help? I know I do. Isn't it encouraging to know that God has an eagerness to work for us? He is looking high and lo for opportunities to help those who trust Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). He is not just waiting for us to get His help, He is seeking ways to give us help (Jer. 32:40-41)! With all His heart and soul He works for those that trust in Him. What a truth! God is up all night and day working for those who wait for Him!

Get Away...Alone

A couple of post ago, I spoke briefly about our family vacation that Leah and Landon and I just returned from. In that post I mentioned that, while it was fun to get away for a few days, Leah and I did not have the same connection on this vacation as we have had in vacations past.

We loved watching out first born test the ocean waters for the first time in his life. The day at the Magic Kingdom was unforgettable...he enjoyed everything except for the Philhar Magic show with Donald Duck. His face showed the awe of an innocent child as he watched the birds fly above us. Who would have guess that his favorite thing to do all week was ride the elevator? Watching him trying to get the sand out of his mouth was one of the funniest things he has ever done (I wish I had a video of that). Our time with him was priceless. I can't wait to do it again next year. However...

I missed time with Leah. Yes, she was there, but she and I were more occupied with Landon than with each other. As far as our time together goes...the ride there and back was my favorite. Landon slept most of the time in the car and Leah and I were able to just, talk. It was nice. Conversation like that, for some reason, rarely happens at home. That time is filled with questions like, "How was your day? Did Landon take a good nap? Did you see the phone bill? Who were you talking/texting with?" I think it is important that we make it a priority to take time away with just our spouse...without the kids! It provides a wonderful time of refreshment and energy for a marriage. It is a MUST! Leah, I can't wait to get away by ourselves. I promise...soon!

Killing the Video Game

Grand Theft Auto 4 was released this week. The forth installment of the Grand Theft Auto series reportedly had $400 million in sales on the FIRST day! This is a video game that allows you to shoot people, drive drunk, run people over, and even pick up prostitutes. The effects of Grand Theft Auto games have been debated since its initial release. Some people claim that because the violence isn't real, it has no lasting harmful effects on those who play the game. Others think it is unhealthy for people to play such games that promote the outlandish activities mentioned earlier. I tend to agree with the latter of the two.

There is no way that a game filled with such violence and sexuality can be good for people to play. I believe the numbers ($400 million) from the first day gives us a great indication where this world is at and where we are headed. Am I going as far as to say that because a person plays this game, they will be a rapist or a murderer or drive the streets of their town drunk...no. I do believe that what enters our minds has the POTENTIAL to be fleshed out. I have heard stories time and time again how the affair started because of pornography. How the alcoholic started with just a glass of wine at dinner, and now he has lost his family. How the gambler started with a simple night of poker with the boys and now he is thousands of dollars in debt.

I was amazed how many students in class today thought that the video game could have a negative effect on a person's thinking, yet they said they would still play when given the opportunity. The number was well over 70%. Maybe, just maybe, it is time for parents to STEP UP and get involved in their kid's lives. Then, maybe, just maybe, the culture would change. Just a thought.

Thoughts about vacation

We got back from our vacation on Sunday afternoon. We had a good time. It was nice to get away from the job/responsibilities for a week. I do feel refreshed and ready to wrap up this school year. I was reflecting on our time away last night and came up with these random thoughts about our vacation:

• I hate the drive home. Why does it seem like it takes so much longer to get home than it does to get to your destination?
• I ate too much ice cream! I am glad, and kind of sad, we do not have Treats on the Beach here. :)
• Ted Dekker's new book, ADAM, is very dark...but true.
• Sometimes, being around family stresses me out.
• I love being around my family.
• Landon liked the sand more than the water. We were surprised by this.
• The Magic Kingdom was too crowded!
• I may never take another time share tour as long as I live, no matter what the gift is!
• Leah and I need to take a vacation without Landon. Just the two of us. (More on this later)
• We stayed in a nice condo at this place.
• I want to go back!

Kid's Rock

Leah and I are leaving for New Smyrna Beach, Florida later today. We are looking forward to a needed vacation. (I'm not going to post this week, see you when we get back!) It has been a whirlwind year for us...namely trying to raise our 16 month old son, Landon. He is such a ball of energy. He is old enough now to respond to what we ask him to do. This, of course, is good and bad. He has been on the receiving end of the wooden spoon on his rearend quite frequently lately, but he is learning to listen and obey.

Landon loves to ride in the car. (That is a blessing. I have seen many kids go in the car seat kicking and screaming.) He does not mind getting in his car seat and going for a ride...most of the time. There are times when he gets bored from sitting still for so long and becomes a little cranky. (Me too!) When this happens, we pop in the one of the 4 children's cds that we have bought and he usually calms down. They all sound the same. A children's choir singing today's most popluar christian music. I can take about 1 hour of this music befor I start going CRAZY.

Comedian, Tim Hawkins, had a brilliant idea. One that I like anyway. Here is his video. Let me know what you think. I'll be back on the 28th.

New vs. Old

I was listening to sports talk show yesterday and I heard these words, "New and exciting trumps old and recovering every time." The host then gave a great example about Tennessee football. His point was clear. Three years ago UT had a 5-6 record on the football field. For most people in these parts, that is not acceptable. People were calling for Phil Fulmer's job left and right. They said it was an embarrassment that Tennessee football would sink to such lowes. This years team finished 10-4 and won the SEC Eastern Division and their bowl game. People still want Coach Fulmer gone. That was not good enough.

The host of the radio show then proceeded to make his point. What if three years ago UT had hired a new football coach. His first year he was 5-6. Three years later he had won the East and his New Year's day bowl game. People would be ecstatic. They would be talking about how our football program is on the rise and Florida and Alabama better watch out next year. His point was well made.

The parallels of the truth, "New and exciting trumps old and recovering every time." can be carried over into just about every are of our life. If we are not careful we will become complacent with life's most important things because they have become familiar to us. How is your marriage? Your relationship with your kids? What about your involvement in church? How about your walk with God? Is it time to make a few things in your life "new and exciting" once more? Just a thought.

Because I am the Mom!

Today is my Mom's birthday. I love my Mom. She is wonderful. She has always been there for me. I am sure there were times that I drove her crazy. She has told me so. I know there were times when I filled her eyes with tears of joy, and there were times when I caused her pain as well. I know she has spent many hours on her knees praying for me. I have seen and heard her.

My Mom loves to laugh. She has a contagous laugh. There are times when no one in the room is laughing but her, but she doesn't care. Usually, her laughter makes others laugh out loud as well. I thought I would post a video fo you that I hope you enjoy. I know when my Mom sees it she will be laughing out loud...and, chances are that if you had the opportunity to be in the room with her as she watches this, you would be laughing out loud too!

Carrots in her eyelashes...

My wife is an amazing person. Not only does she take care of me and our son, Landon, she has now taken on the responsibility of watching a beautiful 7 week old baby girl, Emma. Honestly, she is amazing. She has to be one of the most thoughtful people I have ever known. She is constantly volunteering her time, skills and knowledge for others. She is a terrific mom, and she is HOT! Landon is extremely lucky to have a mommy that cares so much for him. I am extremely lucky to have a wife that cares so much for me. I wanted to share with you something that Leah posted a while back on her Facebook page. It is a note about, "carrots in her eyelashes" and it shows a little bit of her character.

Today I was feeding Landon carrots when he had the sudden urge to make that razzing noise with his lips that he loves so much. The smelly, slimy, orange stuff went flying everywhere and I patiently set about cleaning it up. Wipe Landon's face, his chair, tray, shirt, my shirt...you get the picture. A while later I got annoyed when every time I blinked I saw something in my eyelashes! What was that?! You guessed it...carrots. When I realized it, I laughed out loud. It was a laugh at myself, at Landon, and most of all, just a laugh of pure joy. In that silly moment I realized (again) how much I love being a mom! It is the greatest joy that I don't even know how to explain. Sometimes Craig and I just look at each other and shake our heads in disbelief at how blessed we are. I recently saw a video diary entitled "99 balloons" on www.sermonspice.com that broke my heart and made me realize again that Landon is really a gift from God and I am SO BLESSED. (Take the time to watch it and you'll be reminded of how everything we have is only by God's grace!) I wanted to say THANKS LORD! This is a testimony from a happy mommy who can't wait to see how green beans will look with her outfit tomorrow...

Leah, I love you!

I Ain't As Good As I once Was....

Toby Keith had a hit song a couple of years ago. The lyrics summed up what happened to the Fab Five from Oak Ridge Fabricators this past weekend in Clinton High School while participating in a basketball tournament. One of my friends asked a couple of weeks ago if I would want to play in an upcoming tournament April 11-13. My calender was free so I told him I would play. The tourney format was set up so that we would play 3 games in pool play before the single elimination tournament began. We were guaranteed at least 4 games.
Our team was undefeated in the pool play so we had the #1 seed entering the tournament. We had a good team. Four of the seven players on our roster played high school ball together. Now, 12 years later we were lacing them up again to have some fun.
We made it to the championship game Sunday afternoon. We were playing the 1 seed from the other pool. It was a good match. They had superior players. We had superior heart. Three of their players were on the floor of Thompson-Boling Arena for four years at the University of Tennessee not even ten years ago. They were good.
Thy lyrics of Toby Keith's song go something like this, "I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once, as I ever was." Could we win? I believe we could have. Old(er) age and injury hampered us from bringing home the 1st Annual Big Ten Championship. Were we as good as we once were? Probably not. Were there times during this tournament that we were as good as we ever were? Definitely. It was a blast for all of us. I hope we get to do it again sometime soon.

The Best Question Ever?

I have to admit, I love listening to Andy Stanley speak. I believe he is one of the best communicators of Biblical truth that we have today. I decided about 7 weeks ago that I would show one of his series on Friday's in the two Bible classes that I teach. The series I wanted to show totally revolutionized my decision making. It is called, "The Best Question Ever." Basically, Andy suggests that the best question ever is, "What is the wise thing for me to do?" This is a principle found in the passage in Ephesians 5:15-16 which encourages Christians to walk as wise people. This simple question, this simple truth has revolutionized all of my decision making in the past 2 years. I hope it had the same effect on my students that it had on me. I guess only time will tell.

Here I go

I have been reading several different blogs for a few months now: perrynoble.com, edyoungblog.com, bradraby.blogspot.com, Monday Morning Insight, Mark Driscoll, and a few others. I have decided to do a little posting myself. So, here we go...off into the wonderful world of blogging. This should be good. I'll see you tomorrow.