Random Thoughts

• I had a blast in Williamsburg with my family. We just got back a little while ago - it went too fast. I'm a lucky man!
• I think Lana and I may retire in Williamsburg one day.
• Lana and I will never retire!
• I love crablegs - I ate too many yesterday. But, I could eat them again tonight.
• Our dog, Copper, was thrilled when we got home.
• I have a poodle named Copper and drive a minivan - I'm a family man.
• I loved speaking at Forest Park yesterday morning - I looked forward to all three services.
• The iced coffee in the lobby was incredible - great job Kate!!
• I have the best team of people around me that any pastor could ask for - pray that I lead them well.
• I love my wife - she is beautiful, smart, talented and a woman of God - no, I'm not trying to earn points with her (of course, I will take whatever I can get), she really is that good!
• I'm excited about staff meeting tomorrow. In fact, Tuesday is my new favorite day.
• Forest Park is blessed to have T.J. on staff.
• I just started to read a new book that I didn't want to put down - Missional Renaissance - I think I will have our staff read it together - it's outstanding.
• My son, Evan, is growing up too fast - he's already 2 inches taller than me and much better looking.
• I'm drinking a really good cup of coffee right now - I made it too!
• I'm thinking a lot of Ecuador lately and wondering what is our next level of ministry - I want to do what will make a difference long after I'm gone.
• I'm dreaming some big dreams right now - I dream of the day that FPC reaches 2,000 people in E.C.! I dream of the day that 2,000 kids in Ecuador have their present and future changed as a result of what of FPC does there. Yes, we need a bigger building! Yes, we need more services! Yes, we need more staff! Yes, we need a lot more money! But, we have an incredible God!!
• The series, Beautiful, has impacted a lot of women. No doubt many discussions between husbands and wives have followed each week.
• Next week is going to be amazing - I'm already pumped.
• I haven't got into Face Book just yet. I have an account, I just don't post anything - not sure why.
• Cold Stone is great! The founder's favorite is mine too - great minds think alike.
• Pray for me.
• I love my computer - it's the best one I've ever had.
• I wish I could text as efficiently as my kids.
• I think I'm just now beginning to understand the implications of Jesus' life and teachings - I guess some of us are just slow to learn.
• I have a lot of decisions to make about where FPC should go next and how we should get there.
• Now that I'm almost 40, my staff seems younger everyday.
• I need some really good sleep.

Liberty and Tyranny - get it, read it!

If you get a chance to pick up and read Mark Levin's book, Liberty and Tyranny, do it! In fact, whatever you're doing right now is not that important (or you wouldn't be reading my blog), so as soon as you're finished with this, go get Levin's book and read it. In fact, snatch a few extra copies and give them to your friends and family. (Here's the audio version, if you want that one instead.)

I picked up Liberty and Tyranny a few weeks ago, after it was recommended to me several times by a few people. After I got it, I left it on my desk for a few days until I finished a few other projects. Eventually, I decided that I would give it a shot - when i did, I couldn't put it down!

Here's a summary of his book, taken from the inside flap, ". . . in a series of powerful essays, Levin lays out how conservatives can counter the liberal corrosion that has filtered into every timely issue affecting our daily lives, from the economy to health care, global warming, immigration, and more--and illustrates how change, as seen through the conservative lens, is always prudent and always an enhancement to individual freedom."

I especially benefited from Chapter 3 (On Faith and the Founding), Chapter 7 (On the Welfare State) and Chapter 8 (On Enviro-Statism). Each of these chapters confirmed several of my convictions and upturned a few others.

Anyway, every person (liberal and conservative) would do himself a great service if he would get a copy, read and discuss Levin's book with others.

If you do, please let me know what you think.

Scott

Once You Go Mac . . .

My computer crashed last week.  I came into my office and the black screen read, "Operating System Not Found".  I wasn't surprised; I had a feeling that it was going to crash soon (the smoke and the burning smell was not my first clue, I had several throughout the last few weeks).

I'm not sure why, but I have always been a PC fan.  Someone back in 1994 recommended to me that I buy a Gateway2000 (that's what Gateway was called until 1999/2000) so ever since I have owned either a Gateway or a Dell.  Until last week!  Believe it or not, I bought an Apple (not the one that falls from a tree, but the kind that sits on my desk and does anything that I want WITHOUT LOCKING UP, NEEDING TO BE RESTARTED OR CAUSING ME TO SERIOUSLY DOUBT THE EXISTENCE OF GOD! 

As you can probably tell, I'm a little emotional from the years of frustrating reboots, computer stores that either did not know how to fix my ailing computer or had to order a part from overseas and was hopeful to get the part in "soon".  In the meantime, the store would recover as much information as possible from my computer and place it on several DVDs.  If that's not all, my emotional scarring also comes from hours of conversation with people in India who may know a lot about computers but do not know enough English to explain it to me.

Even after all of that, I still would have never considered purchasing an Apple computer had it not been for Bob Chambers (who suddenly knows everything there is to know about an Apple since he now has one behind the Tech Console at church), T.J. Long Jr. (who is just plain arrogant about his Apple) and Jeff Clark (who basically promised that if I bought an Apple it would make me coffee in the morning - I think he meant to say tea!).  

Anyway!  I love it.  It is fast, powerful, lightweight, does everything that I need it to do and even seems to know what I'm thinking (very intuitive).  Needless to say, I'm happy.  I think maybe the saying is true - once you go Mac . . . you never go back.

We'll see. 

Great Day Sunday!

To those who greet our members and guests, to our singers and musicians, to those who manage the lighting and sound, to those who rock our babies, to everyone who makes Sundays a blast -- you're the best!  

Every Sunday when I walk out of Forest Park, get in my van (the one with the dark windows and pimped-out hubcaps!) and start my journey home, I am grateful.  I cannot imagine doing life and ministry with a different team.  Thanks for giving, serving, loving and making me so much better. You guys are incredible and it is an honor to serve with you.

Next week we will continue our series, Beautiful, you do not want to miss it - trust me.  Ladies, have you ever wondered, "Why is it that no matter what I say, he doesn't hear me?"  Guys, have you ever wondered, "Why is it that she keeps talking?"  We'll answer it next week.  Don't miss part 3!

See you next week!