Everyone needs community especially mothers of young children.

I hate the guys over at the Lifechurch.tv swerve blog.  They keep stealing all of my best blog post ideas and posting them before I do.  I’m not sure how they are hacking into my pile of blog drafts but I’m going to find out and nip this whole thing in the bud.  ;)

All Americans have a big decision coming up very soon.  We have the wonderful right/opportunity to vote for our next president and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

I don’t think pastors or churches should endorse specific candidates.  I do, however, think that every pastor and church should be sure to teach people the civic responsibility of voting.  I also believe that we should do whatever we can to help educate people so that they can make informed voting decisions.

This post from Tim Stevens is very eye-opening to me.  I think giving is very important.  When and where you give shows a lot about what’s going on in your heart.  Check out the post here.

I just uploaded a bunch of new pics on picasa.  You can check them out here.  Enjoy.

Fusion folks, let me say this as clearly as I can…Do whatever it takes to get your friends, co-workers, family members and neighbors to Fusion this weekend!  I promise you that you’ll be glad that you did because I am going to be presenting the Gospel with everything I’ve got. 

If you have been praying for one of your family members or friends to receive Christ, make sure they are there.  I can’t promise that they’ll give their lives to Him but I do promise that they will hear the Gospel in a very clear and compelling way.

Stephen and Stephanie Lowe had their new little girl today!  I’m so excited for them.  You can follow Stephen’s posts here. 

Here’s a great little blog post from Bil Cornelius.  Check it out.

The Emmys last night were awful and I think that was due in large part to the fact that there was no clear host.  When will these organizations learn that groups of hosts don’t work?  That has never worked…not once.  It didn’t work for the Oscars or the Grammys or the Tonys either.

The truth is that group leadership sounds good on paper but it just doesn’t work.  Somebody, some individual, needs to be clearly in charge for any project or effort to succeed.  You’ve got to have a lead person that, well, leads.  You’ve got to have a single point of vision and direction as well as an ultimate decision maker.

Don’t get me wrong.  A leader by himself can get very little done.  You need teams of great people working together to achieve anything of any real significance in this life but, at the end of the day, there simply has to be one point person.  One person to make the tough calls.  One person to answer the tough phone calls.  One person to lead and inspire and challenge the group.  One person that’s in charge of the whole effort.  There has to to be one vision or you have di-vision and a diluted mess.

God doesn’t appoint committees.  He calls leaders first.  Then, He calls a team together to work with that leader.  With those two components in place, He then proceeds to change the world.

Every year, I emcee a charity event to benefit the David Livingstone Foundation.  This remarkable foundation helps orphans around the world.  The benefit is called Elvis and Friends because it showcases all sorts of talented folks singing in character songs from the 50’s and 60’s. 

I usually end up humiliating myself in some way each year as I ad-lib between the acts.  Seth White is also a big part of the show and he sings as everything from James Taylor to the Beatles.  It’s a good time for a good cause.

The event is in Franklin Springs, GA, this coming Friday night.  If you’re interested in getting tickets please contact the church office at 770.614.6152. 

• We had a very good day at Fusion today.
• I felt physically weak during worship and while I was preaching but God helped me through.
• The worship team did a great job!
• I love all our fusioneers.  You guys rock!  You honestly inspire me.
• We had lunch with Ben and Ainsley Arment (plus kids) this afternoon.  It was great to get some time to hang out.
• I really want one of these.
• I think I might have come across as anti-TV today.  I’m not.  I just think that we’ve got to be careful how we spend our time.
• I don’t know if the rock and sand illustration worked today or not but I had fun doing it.  :D
• I’m very pumped about next week.
• Darwin Hobbs’ He’s Able is rocking my world this afternoon.
• I’m really enjoying photography.  I think it may be the perfect hobby for me during this season of my life.  (More on this later.)
• I love hearing our church sing out during worship.  It just does something to me.  Very inspiring.
• Danice Eaton is amazing.
• I’ve been watching a lot of football lately.  I’ve always enjoyed watching it a little but this year I can’t seem to get enough.
• I love being a pastor.
• I got to see the Bucklands for a bit today.  I never get enough of those guys.  I truly miss having Angela around the office.
• We took my mom out for her birthday Friday.  It was good to connect.
• I feel like I’m turning major corners in my life. 
• I quoted The Office today by screaming out, “That’s what she said.”  I think some folks didn’t have a clue what I meant by that.
• The Word of God is coming alive for me these days like you wouldn’t believe. 
• I may not be the greatest preacher in the world but I love preaching.
• The new NLT Study Bible looks very strong.  I may have to get one.
• I need a lot of wisdom right now.
• I’m back on Facebook.  I’m not sure how long I’m going to stay on there though.
• I feel like God’s getting me ready for something.
• It’s rough at times being an introvert in an extrovert world.
• My wife is just incredible.
• I LOVE the Fall. This is my favorite season of the year and, although I’m sure it’s going to get hot again, I’ve really been enjoying the last few days.
• I made a quirky desktop wallpaper that you can download here (1680X1050).  I’m not sure why I did it but there you go.
• Just five days to the Elvis Benefit!
• Got to run.