Talk Is Cheap

Last night, about 50 volunteers/key leaders of our church had a great night worshiping, celebrating what God has done so far in '08 (and He ain't done yet!), and anticipating what He'll do in '09. It's an honor to serve with such dedicated people. Their hearts for God are so evident in the sacrifice of time, energy, and emotion they pour into the vision of Lifepoint Church - reaching people who are far from God.

Something Jeremy shared really stuck out to me. He talked about about various stages of commitment (and this applies to anything, not just the Church): understanding, embracing, communicating, and defending. Each is a step is one of deeper and truer commitment.

In short, we can understand something, but not embrace it. We can embrace something, but not communicate it. We can communicate something, but not be willing to defend it (with our lives, reputations, etc.). The truest test of commitment is one's willingness to defend the vision.

Vision is such a buzz word in today's lingo, especially in the Church, but how often do we plod through life without it? What visions do you have for your life? For your health, finances, family?

• I understand, embrace, and even communicate my belief in eating right and exercising regularly, but I don't always defend it by my actions.

• I understand, embrace, and even communicate my belief in living within my means and saving for the future, but I don't always defend it by my actions.

• I understand, embrace, and even communicate my belief being a godly leader to my wife and children, but I don't always defend it by my actions.

You see, it's not enough to rest on principles and conviction; they must be consummated by action. I've experienced many lofty visions (both personal and corporate) that have ended up littering the graveyard of good intentions because they were not defended by action. The vision may have been understood, embraced, and communicated, but it wasn't lived out. As they say, "Talk is cheap."

What area of life are you doing a lot of talking?

Conventionally Unconventional

Above is a phrase I've used countless times over the past nine years of my life. Why? As of today, I have spent those last nine years married to my amazing wife, Lindsay.


Happy 9th, Linds. Here's to 90 more! Although my words and actions often fail, I love you more than I could ever hope to show you. You are truly the other side of me.

From the beginning of our story together, God has seen fit to make sure we never do things in a conventional fashion. In fact, we do so many things unconventionally, it's become conventional (if that makes sense). While I won't bore you with every detail, suffice it to say we've got some great stories whenever we get around to writing our autobiographies. Lindsay has long said she wants to write a book, and I don't doubt she will (I'll no doubt serve as her proofreader. Snicker, snicker...). I've never thought seriously about it, yet with each passing year it seems I have more than enough experiences and material from which to draw.

So, without further adieu, here are some chapter titles I've come with. If you know us well, some may sound familiar, others not so much. If you don't know us well, please don't think any less of us...

1. How Not to Remember the First Time You Met
2. Pop Tarts, Mello Yello, and Other Gifts of Affection (and Occasionally Bribery)
   
3. Dating with Daughters
4. Gas Pains in Birmingham
   
5. Long Distance Relationships Are Not For Wimps
6. Taking the "Big" Out of "Big Wedding"
   
7. First Night Honeymoon Suggestions: College Football & Japanese
   
8. How to Buy Stock in U-Pack, U-Haul, and Budget Rent-A-Truck
9. Morning Beer-Drinking Neighbors and Other "Fredneck" Adventures
   
10. Fort Worth, Texas - So Far From Home, Yet So Close
    
11. "And They Came Two By Two..."
12. The Joys of Home Ownership
13. Virginia Is For Lovers. Maryland Is Not. (Sorry, MD friends! Don't take it personally...)
    
14. As the Church Turns
    
15. No Guts, No Glory
    
16. Livin' on the Edge
    

The rest is yet to be written. Linds, as unconventional as our life together has been, I wouldn't trade it for anything because it's been with you. We've overcome a lot, and we will surely overcome more...together.

God, thank You for the precious gifts of my amazing wife and the children You have blessed us with. On this special day, we commit again to honoring You with our marriage and our family. Continue to watch over us, protect us, and guide our path as we follow You. Amen.