Thank You Memphis!

Donna and I just enjoyed a little road trip. Several years ago I preached in Memphis, TN for my friends Matt and Shannon Anzivino and enjoyed the sights and the sounds of the city so much,  I've wanted to bring Donna back there ever since. After months of hard work preparing for our Joi de Vivre Women's Conference and our huge Easter weekend, we felt like it was time for a break to go recharge our batteries and get some R&R! 

The week began after a six hour drive up I-55 with some good old Memphis barbecue! Barbecue is one of Donna's favorite cuisines and Memphis has some of the best! Our first taste of the smokey goodness was at Central Barbecue just around the corner from Beale Street. It was delicious! Ribs, pulled pork and brisket with potato salad and baked beans - Yum! We also enjoyed Corky's later in the trip. Corky's is now a national chain but it all started in Memphis and they didn't disappoint! Lafayette doesn't really have a great barbecue place. Our people pride themselves so much in their own barbecue mastery that restaurant fare just doesn't measure up. I guess what we need is for one of those barbecue specialists to open their own place! (I'm talking to you Beau Roy!)

Another reason to go to Memphis is to get a musical history lesson. It is known as the birth place of the blues, but it's also really the birth place of what we think of as rock-n-roll today. In the early 1950's country, blues and gospel met up in a little studio called Sun Records owned and operated by the legendary Sam Phillips. He recorded unknown artists who would go on to be musical giants. People like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Ike Turner and B.B. King! It was the country music of artists like Elvis, influenced by the blues of the African American community in Memphis that forged the sound of Rock-n-roll. The amazing story is included in a tour of Sun Records and was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I really wish someone would make a movie about it - I find it facinating! Here's a picture of me standing at the mic that all those legends sang into back in the glory days.

When we started planning our trip, I contacted Matt and Shannon. One of the things they told me I had to see was the Memphis Bass Pro Shop. I thought, "Really?" Now I know why they insisted! AMAZING! It's HUGE! The former arena for the Memphis Grizzly's has been converted into 535,000 square feet of outdoor consumerism. It comes complete with a hotel that overlooks the entire floor of the complex including the lazy river that runs throughout with live alligators on the bank. Yes, really. Walking through the place I thought, "I have friends in Lafayette that would think they have died and gone to heaven. I actually held a Browning shotgun valued at $80,000.00. What? 

Of course a trip to Memphis isn't complete without a visit to Graceland. I'd heard all kinds of reports on what to expect - Most of which included disappointment, so I guess I was prepared. I understand where those people are coming from - Compared to today's mansions, Graceland isn't much to write home about. But when you consider the times in which it was acquired by Elvis - At age 22 mind you - It is much easier to feel impressed by the estate he put together. There is a certain sadness you feel looking at the joy and elation of the pictures and film of his earlier days knowing where it would all eventually lead. The music business works so different today. Recalling the story of his overnight success makes you realize this young man was simply in the right place at the right time and tapped into a cultural eruption of social change that made his rock-n-roll dynasty possible. Here's a picture of me with one of his famous jumpsuits considering a different approach toward my Sunday morning fashion! lol. 

The Loraine Motel is where they tried to element the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It has now been transformed into the National Civil Rights Museum - A powerful reminder of this nation's ugly past and the struggle African Americans have endured to secure civil and equal rights. Growing up in the 1960's, so much of what is included in this tribute felt like deja vu. We also visited the Rock and Soul Museum and it may seem odd to compare these two homages but the Rock and Soul Museum tells the story of the struggle that blues music was birthed out of. Being the grandson of an Arkansas share cropper and the son of parents who grew up during the years of the great depression in the deep south, I felt a familiarity with that story that seemed haunting in some way. After winding through the Civil Rights Museum's tour of suffering and brutality, documenting the small wins and major set backs the movement soldiered through, you finally end up staring into the carefully preserved room Dr. King stayed in at the Loraine Motel the night before his murder. The faint melody of "Take My Hand Precious Lord" is playing through the Museum speaker system and time just seems to stand still. It's hard to explain how I felt, but the best word to describe it is grateful. We have so far to go as a culture to truly see the dream realized, but we have come so far thanks to the determination of people like Dr. King.

What was intended simply be a few days off turned out to be a pilgrimage of sorts that touched me deeply and inspired me to do more with my life. Thank you Memphis! 

Kentucky

Donna and I joined Scott and Kara Holmes (Scott is the District Superintendent of the LA Assemblies of God) and Eric and Annabelle Treuil (Eric is the Assistant Superintendent of the LA Assemblies of God) in Louisville, KY last week for the 2016 General Presbytery meeting. Annually, representatives from each district convene to do business on behalf of the nation-wide fellowship. I have the privilege of serving along-side Scott and Eric as a General Presbyter for the Louisiana District.

We had a good meeting. Some important decisions were made including the choice to stand by our 100-year ethic of abstinence concerning the consumption of alcohol. Go to the PE News website to read the position paper  that was adopted by the Presbytery in order to get an understanding of our stance on this issue. 

While we were there we got to enjoy a little leisure time. It's always a blessing to get to mix a little pleasure with business. Donna's love language is traveling, you know! Who knew there is so much to do in Louisville, Kentucky? (It was our first time to visit Louisville.) The city of Louisville itself is known mostly for horse racing, baseball bats, bourbon and basketball. (Not necessarily in that order.) The state of Kentucky celebrates some of it's favorite sons: Mohammad Ali, Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Boone and Colonel Sanders. (Not necessarily in that order.) It is an impressive city that has done a great job preserving it's rich history while embracing the ever-changing culture of modern-America. 

Here's a picture of Scott and me in front of the Louisville Slugger baseball bat manufactory where they've been making baseball bats for over 100 years! 

We got to take in the newly opened Ark Encounter. It was incredible. The true-to-life-sized structure was mesmerizing and the three decks of exhibits and strong apologetic material arguing for the validity of the Ark and the great flood was impressive! Christian scientist and Historians make the case for a young earth and do a great job explaining a lot of questions skeptics have had concerning the story of Noah's Ark. They also have a nice exhibit on the preservation of the Inspired Scriptures and a petting zoo that includes camel rides! The Ark Encounter is a little over an hour-and-a-half drive from Louisville, but is well worth it! 

We also enjoyed the Mega Cavern and it's trail of underground zip lines. This was some of the most fun I've had in a while! I highly recommend it! 

Back to Uganda

We put Robin on a plane back to Uganda this week. You might recall she spent five months there in 2013 working with the Watoto orphanage. That season captured her heart for the nation of Uganda and she is returning for a nine-month stint this time around. 

She will be laying the groundwork for a new ministry called The Wajumbe Initiative. A ten month immersion program for aspiring young missionaries. The concept is, before one commits to four years of Bible College and Language School, they can spend ten months immersed in a third world country daily doing the things missionaries do. This year Robin will connect with all the established missions organizations that Wajumbe will work in tandem with once it's started. She is also writing curriculum. Next year she will travel and recruit students for the school that we hope will begin in January of 2017. 

We are very proud of Robin and can't wait to see how this will all turn out! God has been so good, providing everything she needs for this year of preparation. 

Son travels, dad prays!

Yep, that's Chase. And yep, that's Stonehenge!

Chase and one of his best friends, Konner Arnaud, are on a two-month backpacking trip across the British Isles. When he first told us his plans, I was instantly elated and terrified all at the same time. 

Chase turned twenty-one in February. When I was his age, I would have never dreamed of taking such a trip. We grew up in two different worlds. I took my first international trip when I was thirty-six. He took his first international trip when he was thirteen. 

He checks in with us daily and sends us amazing pics of Castles and other iconic landmarks. He seems to be having the time of his very young life. I'm excited for my boy - And doing a lot of praying! 

Winter Park

Last week Donna and I enjoyed a wonderful vacation with friends in Winter Park, CO. Our trip began with a visit to our Crossroads Connection in Highland's Ranch where I preached the Sunday morning service and got to catch up with our church family there. Shawn and Amy Reine are doing a wonderful job pastoring the connection and it was so fun to meet new people and catch up with old friends.

After service, we headed north to Winter Park to get settled into what turned out to be the nicest condo we have ever rented in over twelve years of trips to Colorado! We shared the home this year with our dear friends Scott & Kara Holmes and Paul & Cindy Burke (who have skied with us the past three seasons) and new ski buddies Gary and Sandy Bentley. What a great week we shared with these friends! 

Monday dumped 4-6" of fresh powder on us and created ideal conditions Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday when the sun came out and temperatures soared up to 28 degrees! However, a snowstorm blew in Friday, eventually dumping another foot of snow on the Rockies. We were blessed to be able to get out and get back to Louisiana! 

On Wednesday we enjoyed a new mountain experience - Snowmobiling along the Continental Divide! Snowmobiling is a blast! Donna declared it her new favorite sport! The views were absolutely stunning! We will definitely include snowmobiling in future trips! 

On Thursday night we all headed out to do a little snow tubing. This activity turned out to be one of the highlights of the week. Several of the Burkes friends who were also vacationing in Winter Park last week joined us and helped us form a 25+man chain, sliding down the mountain at break-neck speeds! What fun.

One of the things we enjoy each year is Chef Scott & Kara's amazing breakfasts they get up and make each morning! Pancakes, French Toast, eggs & bacon, home-made biscuits - You name it! Each couple also takes turns cooking dinner one night. This not only allows us to save money, it also gives us more time to relax and enjoy the company of some of our favorite people in the whole world! 

The Extended Vacation of 2014

Donna and I have just returned from a four week vacation. We have never taken an extended leave like this before, but it was an incredible blessing and we made some wonderful memories and actually checked a couple items off my bucket list.

The vacation began to take form when I was invited to participate in an all-expense paid golf tournament at Pebble Beach to raise money for Fire Bible - An organization that prints a powerful Pentecostal Study Bible in the language of unreached people groups around the world. It is often the only Bible training the indigenous leaders of these people groups will have access to! Playing at Pebble is one of those bucket list items I mentioned, but the thrill of playing such a prestigious golf course pales in comparison to the thrill of helping place this incredible training tool in the hands of those reaching the unreached. Earlier this year, Crossroads gave $10,000.00 to Fire Bible! Here's a pic of my dear friends Scott Holmes, Gary Sapp and I at Pebble Beach. Scott and I placed 2nd in the Grand Champions category! The tournament included a round at both Pebble and Spanish Bay!

After I accepted the invitation to participate in the Fire Bible Summit at Pebble Beach, I received another invitation to enjoy an all-expense paid Alaskan Cruise with another incredible organization called Convoy of Hope. Convoy is the Christian equivalent of the Red Cross, coming to the aid of disaster victims around the world. We had always supported their work, but when we saw it up close and personal a few years ago in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it became one of the ministries we support most as a church. They do incredible work! Alaska was another bucket list item, so Donna and I immediately accepted the invitation to go on the Cruise. The Pebble trip was the first week of July, the cruise was the last week - So it just made sense to make a month-long vacation out of it!

After leaving Pebble, we drove down the Pacific coastline on Hwy 1 and took in the beauty of Monterey Bay, Carmel by the Sea and Big Sur. The scenery is breathtaking! We also enjoyed a visit to the Monterey Aquarium with all of it's amazing sea critters! Next, we struck out for a visit to the Sequoia National Park. The big trees are absolutely amazing! The one named after General Sherman is the largest living thing on earth! 

After enjoying the beauty of the Sequoias, we headed to San Francisco. I've got to be honest with you, I've never really had any interest in visiting the Bay area, but after spending three days there, I can absolutely see what all the fuss is about. It truly is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever visited. We did all the tourist stops: The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Pier 39, riding cable cars, etc. We enjoyed a lot of good food including a stop in China Town for some of my new favorite cuisine: Dim Sum!

After taking in the sights and sounds of San Francisco, we were off to see more Redwoods - This time the towering giants of Northern Cal. We made our way to see these beauties by the scenic route called Napa Valley. Gorgeous vineyards and orchards line the landscape there and Donna and I decided we definitely could live there. It is almost as pretty as my beloved Colorado! After reaching the Redwoods National Forest, we discovered it is as spectacular as everyone says it is. The enormity of these legendary trees leaves you in awe.

Our next stop was in Redding California so we could spend Sunday morning at Bethel Church, home of the renown Worship Groups Bethel Live and Jesus Culture. They had just hosted their annual School of Worship and Martin Smith, formerly of the group Delirious was there leading worship. It was a powerful service and we were so glad we made it part of our itinerary. An added bonus was a stop at McArthur/Burney Falls, a beautiful cascading waterfall that was as peacefully tranquil a place as I can ever remember visiting. 

From Redding, we made the long drive to Seattle where we would board the cruise ship. We arranged our timing so we had a couple days in Seattle before boarding and took in all the tourist attractions of this great American city as well: The Space Needle, The Market, The original Starbucks, The EMP Museum, etc. We even visited Seattle's Chinatown for, you guessed it - More Dim Sum! 

We enjoyed our cruise with some of our very best friends, Doug and Rachel McAllister. Alaska is as marvelous as everyone says it is. We had great weather and enjoyed two Port stops in the 49th State, one in Juno and one in Skagway. In Juno, we did a Whale Watching excursion that was amazing! We got a rare glimpse of 18 Humpbacks bubble feeding. Together, they blow out underwater, forcing an upward jet stream that sends fish to the surface of the ocean where they arrive with mouths open for feeding. The big pod of whales surfaced not more than ten to twelve feet off our starboard bow! In Skagway we took a raft down the river to an eagle preserve where we saw twenty-five to thirty bald eagles. What a thrill it was to see our national symbol of strength there in their native habitat. So majestic! Our last port stop was in Victoria, B.C. where we enjoyed beautiful gardens in this old historic Canadian city. 

I don't know if we'll ever get the chance to do another extended vacation like this one, but we sure enjoyed it and we are so thankful for it. I've figured out that one of my wife's primary love languages is travel and this trip said "I love you" loud and clear! 

From Skiing to Scooter

Every year, for the past twelve years, we've gone up to Colorado for a week of snow skiing. It's one of my favorite things to do! For twelve years, I've learned to ski better and better, progressing each year to more difficult skiing, even enjoying the black slopes the past three years without ever getting hurt! I was one run away, down a sweet little black slope, from another year of injury-free skiing and then it happened! Quickly and unexpectedly, my buddy I was skiing with (Paul Burke - Who is a very accomplished skier) and I collided and - boom! I broke my Fibula! Ankle Surgery and twelve weeks of recovery! 

Now, I mentioned how much I love skiing but did I also mention how much I love golfing? Twelve weeks of recovery during the peak golfing season! Was it worth it you ask? Absolutely! Can't wait to ski again next year!

We enjoyed the skiing at Winter Park this year instead of Steamboat Springs. It's a great resort and I highly recommend it! Donna and I enjoyed hanging out with the afore mentioned Paul Burke and his wife Cindy as well as Scott and Kara Holmes. Love these dear friends! 

Donna is being extremely patient and is taking great care of me and I am extremely grateful to Robert and Maggia Gordon who lent me this scooter to get around with. It's a lifesaver!

Marathon Man

Well, half marathon that is!

I couldn't sleep tonight and while preoccupying myself, I realized I've got some serious catching up to do on my blogging! So here's the first of several entries that highlight what's been going on in 2013.

It takes a lot of discipline to blog regularly, but even more discipline to train for a 1/2 Marathon. By the grace of God I did just that and entered the Rock-N-Roll 1/2 Marathon in New Orleans back on February 24!

My good friend Scott Holmes (pictured with me here) ran with me and we finished with the remarkable pace of a 9.5 min/mile! (Remarkable for me that is - Much better than I had hoped to do!) Daphne Gaspard, Laura Menard and Jaclyn Garcia also participated and Donna and I enjoyed getting together with everyone in NOLA to hang out before and after the race.

Upon returning home I took some time off from running but I've recently started training again and I hope to run a full marathon in 2014. Running is great for me, it was a lot of fun to compete and the discipline required to train helps me stay disciplined in other areas of my life - Like blogging!

Uganda

Last week I took my first trip to Uganda. You may recall that our family visited the neighboring African country of Kenya a little over a year ago which turned out to be one of the highlights of my life! That experience set the bar high for Uganda, but this wonderful African nation did not disappoint! What a warm, welcoming group of people I came in contact with!

My friend Scott Holmes has an orphanage in Uganda. Crossroads has contributed to assist in the expansion of their facilities. I got the chance to see the work in progress and visit the existing home as well. I was delighted to see what God is doing in the lives of these precious Ugandan children and the adults that care for them. Grace Home has 50 children that they are currently taking care of. They house, feed and educate them and provide them with healthcare. In addition to these children, the home also provides an education for another 350 children who would have no access to school otherwise. Simply amazing! The new facility will house 150 children and introduce Christ to a village that is primarily Muslim!

My primary purpose in visiting Uganda was to tour the Watoto Children's Home that my daughter Robin will be working at starting from June - November of this year. Watoto is an incredible ministry rescuing and caring for children who had been sold into human trafficking. Robin will be working in their nursery. Dad was thrilled to find a home that is run with complete excellence, taking every precaution to ensure the safety of those that volunteer with the ministry. I've got to be honest, I wanted to gather up all 48 of those precious babies in the home and bring them back to Louisiana with me!

The Things We Love Bring Us Together

This past February, Donna and I enjoyed skiing with some really good friends. Fellow pastors Scott and Kara Holmes and Paul and Cindy Burke joined us as well as two wonderful young couples from Crossroads, Mike and Jaclyn Reale and Daniel and Joanna Bergeron. Every  year, because we share a common passion, we are joined by different friends and family members as we ski in beautiful Steamboat Springs, CO.  Isn't it interesting how things we love bring us together? 

Those things are not always as pleasant as a ski trip. Many times it is the death of a loved one that brings together those who haven't seen each other in years. It's as if the final achievement of that one we cherished was putting is all back in touch with one another. Let me say again, it's the things we love that bring us together. 

That's what I love about the church. When we come together on the weekend to sing our songs of worship and learn from God's Word, it is our love for Christ that has brought us together. He is the ultimate common denominator and whether it's a funeral, a worship service or a ski trip, it's always best when we come together and celebrate our love for for Him! 

So what brings you together with the ones you love?

Africa

On the morning of my fiftieth birthday, my family and I, along with seven other team members from Crossroads Church left for a missions trip to Kenya. It was my first visit to Africa and the most authentic mission experience I've ever had.

We stayed at a base camp, miles from civilization in the bush of the Maasai Mara. We were surrounded by African wild life - Zebra, Giraffe, Elephants, Gazelle, Wildebeest, you name it! We slept and dined in house tents, spent our mornings and evenings around a blazing campfire and used the bathroom in a cho (My least favorite part of the trip!)

Every morning we packed into our vans and traveled across the Savanna to visit the Maasai in their bomas (several dung huts in a circle where the families live). We spoke with people who have never heard the Name of Jesus or been presented the Gospel before. We met children who had never seen white people before and they tried to wipe the color off our arms! We would share the gospel with them through the most simple presentation and they received it with gladness. Dozens were saved!

We visited an outreach in Nairobi where every day, our tithe dollars from Crossroads Church feeds children and give them an education. Many live in the orphanages because they have been left on the trash heaps to die in the slums of Nairobi. The children are beautiful and I can't get their faces out my mind!

We did an open-air crusade in the slums, setting up a stage and a sound system, preaching the gospel in one of the poorest places on the earth. Many responded, some literally hanging out of the window of the block they lived in to pray with me.

We were allowed to share the gospel with hundreds of children in the schools. Every child who could read was given a New Testament! They were so excited to receive those Bibles!

In addition to all the incredible outreach, we got to visit one of the largest game reserves in existence. God gave us favor and we stayed in the hotel where US Presidents stay when they visit the reserve! He also blessed us with the opportunity to see what the Africans call the big five: Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Rhinos (which are endangered and rarely seen) a leopard (again - rarely seen because they are nocturnal) and lions! Going on safari was such a wonderful treat!

The scheduling of this trip was totally out of our hands and arranged by our missionaries, Mike and Marigold Cheshier. It just so happened that they booked us to leave on a Tuesday (I've never left on a Tuesday for a missions trip before) and that Tuesday was my birthday. The Sunday before our trip the Lord reminded me we were leaving on my birthday and He told me He arranged that. He said, "I wanted you to spend the first few days of your fiftieth year in one of the most exotic places on earth so you would know that this next era of your life will be a great adventure!"

How exciting!

Converge

con·verge

[kən-ˈvərj] - (of several people or things) come together from different directions so as eventually to meet.

This is a perfect description of what happened last Tuesday night in Romania at our very first Master's Commission Romania graduation. Seven young people - four Romanians and three Americans - received their diplomas as two distinct happenings in time converged.

You see, in 1989 a revolution took place in Romania as the people of that nation shook off the chains of Communist oppression and became a free country. The same year, Donna and I traveled to Phoenix, AZ where we were introduced to a program called Master's Commission. At that time there was just one program located there in Phoenix, but I knew it was the kind of program we wanted here in Lafayette, so I came home and launched the very first Master's Commission program outside of the original. Many more would follow and now Master's Commission programs exist all over the world!  Thanks to one of the graduates of that first extension program here in Lafayette - Shawn Marcell (pictured here with Donna and I) - that list of nations with Master's Commission programs now includes Romania! The stage was set in 1989 by two events that would pull me in and allow me to experience their impact and last Tuesday, Donna, Shawn and I had the joy of watching those two worlds converge! 

Colorado Connections

We just returned from an awesome vacation in Steamboat Springs, CO. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, a   wonderful family in our church blessed us with accommodations at one of Steamboat's premier properties: The Sheraton Steamboat Villas with ski-in, ski-out access and plush amenities. Several friends from the church joined our family and my sister Holane's family for a terrific time skiing, tubing, dog sledding, eating, hanging out and playing Spades!

After our dates had been scheduled, I discovered that Shawn was planning a midwest tour for Master's Commission that brought them as far as Denver - 3 1/2 hours from Steamboat Springs the very weekend we would arrive for vacation! (That had to be God!) I got on the internet and found a great Assembly of God church in Steamboat Springs and called to see if they would be interested in hosting the team at one of their services. I knew God was in it when the receptionist picked up and said, "Jeff Ables? I'm from Franklin!" (She is from my friend Brad Bullock's church and knows our church very well.) She put me in touch with the pastor and it turns out he is a Master's Commission alumni who loves the program and understands the whole touring/promotion process. He invited our students to perform their production at his Wednesday night youth service and it was incredible! They put the MC students up at the church for three days and let them enjoy the exciting attractions that Steamboat has to offer. The youth group at the church responded in mass the night XMC performed and I feel like I've made a life-long friend in Pastor Troy Lewis from Steamboat Christian Center! What a thrilling experience it was to get to introduce the XMC team to one of my favorite places on earth!

Another highlight on the trip was watching my nephew Jeremy propose to his girl friend Stephanie! He had arranged with the staff of one of the restaurants on the mountain to have their outdoor camera (which provides live steaming on the Steamboat website) to have it focused on the place he proposed, which allowed many of their friends and family to watch it happen live around the country! The good news is she said "yes!" Now that's a Colorado connection!

Our vacation reminded me of how wonderful the connections God gives us are! Our connection with the family in our church who blessed us with our condo, the connection with that family and others who accompanied us on the trip, the connection with Pastor Troy and our new friends at SCC, the connection made between Jeremy and Stephanie through their engagement: Thank God for the way He connects us! (Especially in Colorado!)

My little Missionary

Robin just got back from an 11-day missions trip to Africa. She had an incredible time reaching out to the Masai people in the African Interior of Kenya. She and six other Master's Commission students were deep in the bush working with our life-long friends Mike and Marigold Cheshier. They led somewhere around 400 people to Christ! She came home with tons of pictures and a journal full of memories but she left a big piece of her heart behind with the children of that remote land.

We weren't able to hear from her the entire time she was gone and it was pretty tough on her mother and me. We knew God would protect her and bring her home safe and sound, but it sure would have been nice to hear from her every couple of days or so!

Robin's dear friend Lahti Arsement is in Australia on a missions trip as well. A few weeks ago our families got together for dinner before the girls left for their missions trips. Lahti's dad, my good friend Spanky said, "You know - We prayed all their lives that these girls would be world changers. We can't change our minds now and ask God to keep them at home!"

Hotlanta

This week I traveled back to our former home, Atlanta, Georgia. I went there to pick up a replacement vehicle for Robin. Most of you know she totaled her 2005 Ford Escape a few weeks ago when a lady pulled out in front of her. (You can read about the original vehicle I purchased for her here or about the accident she was in here.)

A lot of you have been asking me why I would travel all the way to Atlanta to buy a used car. My logic is this - I shop for used cars online, willing to travel to another city to purchase them because I can get what I want instead of settling for what I can find locally.

We found the vehicle Robin wanted with all the options she wanted on it with low milage at the right price! ($3,000.00 less than the Blue Book value - Thank you Jesus!) It's a very clean little 2005 Mercury Mariner (which is really a Ford Escape with a little more stylish exterior). Robin was determined to get another vehicle like the one she had. She originally chose it because she felt safe in it and after the accident she felt so even more! Driving home from Atlanta gave me a chance to really test drive it and it seems to be a solid vehicle that should last Robin a good while. It's loaded - complete with a moonroof and CD changer and it even has four-wheel drive! (No mud-digging Robin!)

Purchasing the vehicle in Atlanta also gave me the chance to visit with some of my favorite people in the world! On Friday night I had dinner with the Rhoades family: (Bill & Helen, Jason & Amanda and their girls, Rhonda & Reece Carter and their boys and Carrie & Zach Brinegar and their little boy). Erin and Derrick Dunagan and Kristin and Keith Tressel also met with us. What wonderful friends! It was so good to see everyone and check out the cutest kid contest!

On Saturday morning I traveled down to Macon to visit with my dear friend Roger Brumbalow, whom I served at The Assembly of God Tabernacle in Decatur back in the late nineties. On the way down I stopped at the south perimeter and had coffee with Adam and Jamie Farley and their three adorable children! (That's right more fare for the cutest kid contest!) Pastor Brumbalow lives with his daughter Claire and her husband Clint and their two children. They have a beautiful home and Pastor has a very elegant suite with a nice back porch for sipping coffee. Pastor had a stroke a few years ago that left him paralyzed on his right side and took away most of his ability to speak. Despite those challenges he gets around extremely well, communicates effectively with limited words and hand gestures, still has his strong sense of humor and remains the remarkable man of character and integrity that he's always been. It's obvious he misses Becky - his best friend and partner in life and ministry - very much. (Read about this incredible woman here.) We had such a wonderful visit and then met up with Pastor's son, Keith and his family for lunch. (Alas - more cute kids!) I am so thankful that God put Roger Brumbalow in my life so many years ago. I owe so much to him!

I stayed over Saturday night so I could attend Northpoint Community Church in Alpheretta, GA. Andy Stanley's church is not only one of the largest in the nation, it is one we aspire to emulate here at Crossroads. I first heard Andy speak at Ed Young's C3 conference back in 2004 and it really changed my life and ministry forever. The service was awesome there at Northpoint and I even got to meet Andy before service!

I know all this sounds like a marvelous time in Hotlanta but here's what was really cool - I even had time to stop and enjoy a strawberry milkshake from Steak and Shake while I was there! (Why can't we have Steak and Shakes here in Louisiana?)

She said "Yes"

Donna and I celebrate twenty-nine years of marriage today! Twenty-nine wonderful years with the woman I love! I am truly a blessed man.

To celebrate we went to New Orleans for a weekend away. We dined at John Besh's restaurant August. John is a Top Chef Master who is known all over the world! We enjoyed a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting. I love the architecture of downtown New Orleans.

After eating, we had tickets to see Brian Regan at The Mahilia Jackson Theater. Brian is one of our family's favorite comedians so needless to say, Robin and Chase were a little sore when they found out we were going to see him without them! Regan did not disappoint - what a funny guy! All of his jokes were new material we had never heard before. I'm thinking Comedy Central has to be doing a new live recording soon. Just a sample: What happens when you have second thoughts about making an appointment to visit with Native Americans? You have reservation, reservation reservations! (LOL!)

This morning we got up and went to the French Quarter. After breakfast we strolled around and enjoyed the work of local artists then went to the National WWII Museum and watched the 4-D Documentary produced by Tom Hanks called Beyond All Boundaries. If you haven't seen it, you should.

It was a great weekend, it's been a great twenty-nine years! I'm so glad that so many years years ago she said "Yes."

No Oil Spill Here!

I am definitely a mountain guy. I don't care much for the beach at all. I have a lot of friends this time of year who are leaving for vacations on the beach. In Louisiana, that typically means the gulf coast of Mississippi, Alabama or Florida. Sometimes it means Galveston or if you're looking for a much less expensive option - maybe Holly Beach. (LOL!)

This year my beach-loving friends are all meeting with some complications due to the BP Oil spill. To me, it's all the same. If you're going to lay there miserable in the sweltering heat and humidity of the gulf of Mexico with sand sticking to your sweaty, sunburned body while lots of fat people with way too much skin showing walk around you, what difference does a few tar balls make? Give me the Rocky Mountains any day of the week! Doesn't matter what time of the year - Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall - It's beautifully picturesque and there's plenty to do (without the afore mentioned sweat and sand and fat people hanging out of their swimsuits!)

Yesterday we learned some good friends have purchased us a week's accommodations in Steamboat Springs, CO this coming February for a nice skiing vacation. We are SO excited! Come February we'll enjoy the scenery and the snow, the friendship and the fun and guess what - No tar balls!