One day as I was making rounds at the child care center I worked at, I witnessed my 4 year old son on the pre-school playground with one pretty (older pre-k) girl on one hand and another pretty (older pre-k girl) on the other, playing tug of war and shouting adamantly, “no, he’s my husband!”

“No, he’s miiiiinnnnne.”

“Cameron, who do you love more?”

He just giggled, grinned and stumbled along drunkly, willingly allowing himself to be drug about like a favorite rag doll.

I knew that day, given the fact that he is a boy (duh)… and given the fact he is a very handsome boy (I know – but it’s true) – that I had better start figuring out how to set him on the right path to prepare for his future relationships. He’s 7 now and has shared with me often how he looks forward to a wife and kids. Man, that starts early! I feel behind… already. I so want him to have a better time navigating the relationship waters than I did.

I saw the other day Craig Groeschel wrote a book titled, “Going all the Way - Preparing for a Marriage That Goes the Distance“. I immediately wanted to read it. First, because I loved the title (that’s sooooo important), and second because Craig Groeschel is pretty much just awesome. I saw him speak at the C3 conference earlier this year. His topic – - “You’re an Idiot”. (did I mention that titles were imporatant?) Here are some sound bites from my notes…

“Don’t ever become good – good is the enemy of what is great.”

“God uses insecure, risk taking, pain enduring idiots.”

“If our goal is comfort, convenience and safety we are serving a false god.”

“The difference between where you are and where you want to be is the painful decision you are unwilling to make.”

“You have to learn to play hurt.”

“Your ministry will never grow beyond your threshold for pain.”

That’s good stuff. You can order the book here. I can’t wait to read mine. Might as well subscribe to his blog while you’re at it… it’s good reading.

Only a few more days left for the early bird rate of $45. What a bargain!!!!!!!!!! You can register here.

We spend a lot of time and resources during the course of our lives training ourselves for what we do. Think about it… 12 years of primary school, college, training seminars, reading, networking… that’s a lot of energy! But how much of our time and resources do we pore into who we are – who God created us to be? I know it’s during the week…I know you’ll have to use vacation time… But, come anyway. I guarantee you will come away with a renewed excitement about that other part of your life. You know…the one that happens when you are not at work. And, you will have a blast! Because there’s a whole lot of really cool people going!

Need a little more inspiration? Perry Noble is the pastor of Newspring Church who is hosting the conference. I love reading his blog. Check out this post – What Would You Be Willing To Attempt For God If You Knew You Could Not Fail?

Coni Andress left a comment on Pastor B’s blog today about Sunday’s service.  I read it and just couldn’t let it sit in the comments section  where it could so be so easily overlooked.  This is what she wrote…

“What a great message Sunday. Worship was awesome and Ed and I left the Rock, encouraged and enthusiastic about what God is doing in our city. I put our light sticks in my purse after church. When we got to the restaurant I put them on the table. The waitress never mentioned them but she did ask if we were coming from church.She practically invited herself to church. God was all over that. Ed left her a 50% tip and today, I dropped her off a card with our map. I hope we see her next Sunday.”

I have goose pimples.  That is sooooooo awesome!!!

(the photo was taken by Pastor Matthew and was borrowed from Pastor B’s blog – he has more posted… go check em out.) 

See, now this is the type of weirdness you are required to blog about. It’s a law. So, here we go…  top 10 reasons why this guy is… well, i don’t know what he’s doing.  ANYWAY…

1. he had beer, beans AND cabbage for lunch
2. this is a parent’s sick idea of “alternative correction”
3. his wife won’t allow taxidermy in the house
4. the driver is trying to one up his buddy’s gun rack
5. he’s testing his new superman flight simulator
6. the doors don’t work and he got stuck getting in
7. he was way too chicken to sky dive
8. he’s in charge of making sure the toolbox doesn’t fall out
9. he’s on the way to the doctor to get a tetanus shot (ouch!)
10. he’s trying to get someone to blog about him

Have some more??? Give em to me in my comments!!!  Come on – - it’s fun!!!!!

(Photograph taken by Abbye Printy with her blackjack while driving Angela Wilhite and me to lunch last week while I was frantically rallying from the back seat – Take a picture! Quick – Take a piiictuuuuure!!!)