The New (Used) Car

This week Robin and I drove over to Lake Charles and picked up her new (used) car. It's a 2005 Ford Escape. She loves it! She test drove this vehicle and a Mustang and preferred the Escape. She said she felt 'safer' in it. (What a smart girl!) God really blessed us with a great deal.

Since the kids were born, one of our goals was to bless them with a good car in their Senior year of High School that they can drive while in college. I am so thankful that God helped us to meet this goal with Robin. She's such a good girl and has been such a good student and I'm so glad we can bless her this way.

I know those who are reading will remember your first car. It's a really cool experience and Robin responded in typical fashion. She was giddy. Giggling the entire time. The truth is, I was too. Driving home from Lake Charles, I kept looking back in the rearview mirror and it seemed like Robin's smile took up the entire windshield of that car. My heart was so full I asked God, "Is this what you feel when you get to bless your children?" I think it is.

The Place They Tried To Kill The Dream

This past weekend I spoke for a pastor friend of mine in Memphis, TN. Pastor Matt Anzivino and his family were such gracious hosts and I had a wonderful visit with them. One of the things we did was drive by the Lorraine Motel - The place where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The motel was converted to the National Civil Rights Museum in 1991. I didn't get a chance to go through the museum, but I will next time I visit Memphis. We stopped at the motel on Saturday night and just stood outside for a few minutes. I can't explain it, but a great sadness came over me as I looked up at the balcony where this great American hero was killed. Growing up in the deep south during that period of extreme civil unrest, I have a great appreciation for the accomplishments of Dr. King. As I gazed up at the wreath that marks the spot where Dr. King paid the ultimate price for the cause he believed in, I had a keen awareness of the fact that the election of our first African American President a year ago is directly linked to that sacrifice. They tried to kill the dream - but they failed!

Pies

I love a good piece of pie! Pie is such a great social food. We get together with our friends over a piece of pie and a cup of coffee and have a wonderful visit. Pie is such an everyday part of our lives, we have adopted a number of pie metaphors within our conversations. We call each other sweetie pie and cu-tie pie, we teach using pie charts and when we come into some money, we refer to it as a piece of the pie.

In the early 20th Century, Americans were struggling. There were pockets of extreme poverty across the country. God responded by raising up organizations like the Salvation Army, whose members would wade into that human suffering providing food and assistance while preaching the gospel. They reminded the poor and the downtrodden of the promises of God. Around the same time, labor unions were forming and they didn't appreciate the work of the Salvation Army. They felt they were offering false hope to people and they even coined the phrase "Pie in the sky" about the Salvation Army's theology. The term stuck and today, when we think of something that seems too good to be true, we call it "Pie in the sky."

This past weekend we kicked off a new message series at Crossroads called "Pies" by reminding everyone that God's promises are not 'pie in the sky.' God is trustworthy and His promises are reliable!

One of our families favorite restaurants is Marie Calendar's. We love it because their Pie menu is as large as their regular menu! As it relates to His promises, God has a menu. It's called the Bible. On that menu you'll find salvation, healing, provision, protection, peace, direction and comfort - just to name a few. Those promises can be relied on! 2 Corinthians 1:20 says they are in Him, 'Yes' and 'Amen' to those that believe! God is ready to serve us up a big piece of what we need right now!

Cousins

This weekend I got to spend some time with my cousin Greg Ables who pastors in Jenks, OK. He brought me in to speak at his church and we enjoyed catching up on old times, hanging out watching football and talking shop (ministry stuff). His wife Tina and youngest daughter Hayley were wonderful hostesses (his oldest daughter Whitley is away at college) and they have a beautiful home.

Greg's staff is a great group of guys that I felt an instant connection with. His church is made up of wonderful people and they are getting ready to plant a new church in a town a few miles away. I got really excited talking about church planting. It's something we hope to do soon at Crossroads.

Mostly, we talked about family. He shared with me how important my dad was in his life and in his father's life. (My dad was his father's oldest brother). We talked about what a joy our own families are to us and how much we hope to stay more closely connected to one another in the future.

Here's a picture of Greg and I in his office before the Sunday service. (Yes, that's a picture of General Lee hanging on the wall behind us. He's from Arkansas and no one ever let him know the South lost the war!)