Eden Mercy Reed - July 16, 2007

Eden Mercy Reed was born July 16, 2007 at 7:49am at Tanner Medical Center in Villa Rica. She weighed 7lbs 8oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. Mama is doing well and Eden's big sisters are excited to welcome her to the world. To see more photos of Eden, check out the following link:

http://adobe.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=2e6sf0tp.6nn1ulyl&Uy=8r511n&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=144658107112_729684808109

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Life is Discipleship

Have you ever said, "If I can only make it through this week," or "I'm just trying to make it through the day!" I can't tell you how many times I've said those kind of things. But I think when we say those things, we are living unaware of what God is doing. Could it be that when we are focused on the daily grind or the rat race or whatever you call it that we miss important opportunities for God to develop us? Could it be that God's discipleship process is more than a Bible study or a church service (not that I'm against those things!)? Maybe "life" is God's discipleship process. Jesus discipled 12 men by experiencing life with them.

So the next time you find yourself saying, "that's life," maybe its not just part of "life." Maybe its God's discipleship process for you. Maybe He's trying to make you more like Jesus. Maybe there's more going on than "life."

Ignorance is Bliss

The bliss of not knowing has come to a halt. Yesterday, I had my cholesterol checked. And, as no surprise, its a little high. I can't believe all those cheeseburgers haven't helped to get it down! So the doctor told me to go on a low cholesterol diet. Its not looking good. It seems most of what I eat regularly is in the "Avoid" category - bacon, sausage, cheddar cheese, butter, doughnuts, icecream, potato chips, chocolate, hot dogs, "prime" grade fatty cuts of meat...Man, I'm getting hungry. Fortunately, my doctor pointed out the positives - I am allowed to have low-fat jelly beans! You've got to be kidding me.

6/8

Today marks eleven years since Wendy became my wife. It's also fourteen years to the day since I first told her that I was madly in love with her. On one hand, I can't believe that it has been that long. It seems like only yesterday we were standing up there saying our vows. On the other hand, I can barely remember life without her! It is so awesome to be in this adventure of life and family and ministry with someone so captivating. There is no one else I'd want to go through life with, no one I'd rather have beside me. I love you, Wendy!

Risky Business

I'm certainly no thrill seeker. The thought of plummeting toward earth in a skydiving adventure really freaks me out (I've seen to many movies where chutes didn't open!). I don't really like to travel that fast or jump off things. Waterskiing is about as adventurous as I get - and last time I did that I strained my rotator cuff. But God seems to be speaking to me about risk. Our current sermon series The Great Escape...breaking free from the things that keep us in chains! is a study through the Exodus where Moses comes back to Egypt (after being chased out of town 40 years ago) to convince a king to just let all his slaves go! No armies. No secret weapons. Just the call of God on his life. Pretty risky, I'd say. I just finished reading The Big Idea from Dave Ferguson. Part of the premise is that we've got to take risks in our churches. The mission is too critical to just maintain the status quo. Besides, in eternity, what else should we risk more than connecting others to God? Then I read Perry Noble's blog this morning and he talked about the importance of taking risks as a pastor to advance God's kingdom. God is definitely working on me in that area. I'm not really sure where all He's taking me, but it's going to be a great ride. I just hope He doesn't lead me out of a perfectly good airplane!

Is it just a guy thing?

Our new church building is coming along. Its so exciting to see things being done. Its probably a guy thing, but I love to go over to the building site and just watch the heavy equipment work. We don't have a lot over there - an excavator, a skid-steer, and a small dozer. But I could sit over there for hours and just watch them move dirt around. Odd, I know!

"6"

Yesterday, my oldest daughter, Annabeth, turned 6 years old. Where does the time go? It was only yesterday she was a helpless baby - now our third is on the way! Annabeth is growing up so fast. She no longer needs our help for every little thing (and thinks she needs less help than she actually does!). She can read and write and do a little math. She is really amazing. She will be a great leader. She's smart and stubborn and passionate. I pray Wendy and I can just teach her to love Jesus. If we can do that, she'll do great work advancing the kingdom of God.

At her Kindergarten graduation last week, her teacher gave her the "Debra" award. That suits her because Debra was a leader and a warrior for God. I am looking forward to see what God will do through Annabeth. But I can wait. I'm fine with her just being my little girl a while longer! They grow up too fast.

Daddy loves you, Annabeth!

nowhere to hide

This morning I read Proverbs 15. Verse 11 really jumped out at me. I'm not sure why. The truth in it is not something I don't know or haven't heard - it just stuck out.

"Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord -- how much more the hearts of men!"

A scary thought. Even the very mystery of Death is no mystery to God. He knows the inner workings of the process. And in his infinite knowledge, just as he knows all about Death, he knows every part of me. Sometimes I wish he didn't. Sometimes there are things in there I'd rather him not see. I can hide from my wife. I can keep things from my kids. I can put an image out there for my church to see. But God sees it all. He knows. Nothing is hidden from him. Just like Adam, my soul is naked before him, no matter how I may try to put leaves on top of it. I'm an introvert anyway, I don't like being that open, and its frightening.

But its also empowering! God sees all the gunk in there and yet he still wants to use me in his kingdom and has gifted and enabled me to do so. While I don't like that he can see all that is not right with my heart, I think he can probably see some good stuff in there that I haven't even seen yet. Things that he put there when Christ came to live in me. And he put those thing there because he had a plan for me - and he will complete it. That's exciting!

May God reveal our hearts - both the evil we need to purge and the good we need to grow in.

Testing

Testing. Testing, 1...2...3...
Is this thing on?
Can anyone hear me?