Today I was thining a lot about what I could praise God for. Our media world spends most of its time pushing negativity and reasons to be fearful. As believers, the DOW closing, flooding, gas prices, tomato recalls, presidential campaigns, home values, heat index, and stimulus packages should all remind to count our blessings. Evaluate the amount of time you think about social dilemmas versus spiritual inheritance. If your like me, I don't think about nor talk about what is faithful, true, and eternal.
Here are a few things I thought of today:
-My family is healthy
-Andy has not had a seizure in a month..(a late record)
-Zack is excited about going to camp
-Both cars are running.
-A great church
-A job I love
-The mountains
-The future
-Dinner with the family
-The opportunity to see old friends this weekend.

Take time to share with someone your thoughts on what is good. What things are praiseworthy? What do you love most about what God has done for you?

just say'n

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I'm loving this week! Our Worship Pastor, Eric Peters, is gone so I invaded his office. I will be hanging out there all week. I usually have to take my portable office out of a closet in the little kids classroom at the end of the hall each week. This is great, I almost forgot what it was like to have an office all to myself. Word on the street is that once we move into our new worship facility, there will be a remodel project in our existing kids classrooms, that will provide offices for the pastors. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy this week.

Last night was our last STarting Point LIFE Group. We talked through the idea of eternity and how it impacts the decisions we make now. Afterwards we all went to FATZ for some serious dessert. The time together was very kool. Our group truly grew together. We experienced biblical community and made significant steps spiritually. I enjoyed hearing everybody's story and how God at some point always gets our attention.

If you have never really been part of a community group and have lots of questions about the Bible, make sure to register for our next Starting Point this fall.

just say'n

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This is weird, but interesting!
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotui t a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Reminded me of when Jesus spoke to John on the Isle of Patmos in Revelation 21, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

In life, we will struggle, we will fall. We will slip and sometimes fall short. In many of those times, we will get hurt and have only scars to bare our past. BUT, just like Christ formed us and was with us in the beginning, He will be there in the end. The in between stuff may sometimes cause us to doubt, but be of good cheer. We are overcomers! The final chapter has been written and guess what...you WIN!

just say'n

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I got to visit one of our new LIFE Groups the other day. This LIFE Group was created in response to what I believe is a very important LIFE Stage-Blended Families. Blended Families have unique challenges and emotions known only to those who are in or part of one. Here are some things I came away with:

* we need to provide several new Blended Family LIFE Groups for this fall.
* meaningful relationships provide eternal benefits
* community is happening at Foothills
* you can laugh and cry all in the same minute
* everybody has a story
* community is the best antidote for fear, guilt, regret, and pain
* community reflects a heart of worship... vulnerability, honesty, sacrifice, love, support
* the hosts, Kyle and Malissa Stephens get the best food & coffee provided by a LIFE Group award

The downside? Well, time flies when your having fun. This LIFE Group, like most, is over now and will pick back up in the fall. One of the biggest upgrades for Foothills this fall will be Community LIFE Groups. There will no longer be an emphasis on short term groups that split when the study is over. The standard expectation for those in a Community LIFE Group will be long term spiritual and relational growth environments. All Community LIFE will happen in the context of a small group that meets in someone's home. GET READY!!! Your opportunity to engage LIFE is just a few weeks away. Stay tuned.

just say'n

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Is this anybody's cat?

just say'n

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Top 10 Things Pumping Me Up Lately:
1. $1200 from Uncle Sam. Oh yea, baby!!!!! Time for new golf clubs. (..suddenly awakened from bad dream...) I mean flowers for Jeannie.

2. New Book. I've started reading a new book, "The Connecting Church".

3. Apple TV. Wasn't sure at first, but l can't get enough of it. No more blockbuster late fees. It will pay for itself.

4. DIY TV channel. Don't know why. I have nothing to remodel right now.

5. Going to Anderson tonight to eat at Chili's. Total fun for the mouth.

6. Zack passed 7th Grade.

7. Andrew got accepted to summer camp.

8. Zack is going away for summer camp. (sorry Zack, but I'm kinda glad your leaving. Love you very much dude)

9. My Starting Point LIFE Group.

10. THIS KOOL Place

just say'n

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Met with Rich Butler the other day. Rich is the connection pastor at this church. It was awesome to hear how God is using this church in the Simpsonville area. Although it has taken quite a bit of time, people are connecting in many ways. One way of connecting is their home group environment. People who want to be connected will be when it comes to small group environments. His church is much like Foothills when it comes to "what do we want people to do". We want them celebrating corporately on Sunday morning together, connecting to meaningful LIFE Group relationships, and volunteering for a SERVE Team. If people commit to those three things, they will experience the community God has wired us up to have.

I love the excitement and energy change can bring to the table. I actually see it as irresistible upgrading. Every phone, computer, software program, banking system, and car that I have owned is the result of an upgrade. Somewhere out there, there are fanatics in all these departments that can't sleep at night because the next upgrade could revolutionize a product. Irresistible upgrading causes people to think creatively and take risks. No guts--no glory.

The glory at stake in our commitment to fulfill the vision of Foothills, is God's. The relentless pursuit to reach people in our community should be the edge of irresistible upgrading when the stakes are that high. The difference for us isn't digital clarity or faster processing, but is the very lives that are lost in our complex world.

I'm part of a team that is dedicated to taking those risks, a team with a 'whatever it takes' attitude, a team even willing to break something to make it better if that is what it takes. Whether you call it "change" or "irresistible upgrading" it is the certain-uncertainty that energizes me. Noah, Abraham, Joshua, Esther, Mary, the 12, and the early church martyrs never "settled". They had hearts of pioneers. And, it was that heart that revolutionized the way our world experiences the most important change of all.

just say'n

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Arabian Rooster Update:
Had an awesome time last night with some great friends of ours from FCC. I have to say, eating Arabian Rooster seemed illegal or something. Maybe that whole Michael Vick deal through me off. Bottom-line, I don't think I'll be back for awhile.


My Favorite:
It's back! My favorite reality show, "The Mole", is back. And not the ridiculous celebrity version, but the real deal. To me, the show is a great concept and seems to put many elements on the table. I would love to be on this show if I had my choice of any reality show. Anybody else out there Mole fans?


Late Night:
The best part of the show "LOST" being over is that I now get to start watching it. It is sort of a family tradition to watch the seasons together on DVD. I can't keep up with it from week to week during a regular season. Last night we couldn't stop watching them. I think it was 12:30am before we pulled the plug. Lot's of fun.

Make sure to take time with your family. Brainstorm potential family traditions....be creative....don't tell anybody about it. Figure out ways to connect as a family this summer. Do things or go places you have never thought of.

just say'n

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Last Sunday night I had the opportunity to speak for Greg here at Foothills. Had a blast. The hardest part is making the transition from student ministry. Although I spent a year planting a multi-site church and have on many occasions spoken in 'big people church', student ministry is still in my blood. It's like there is an entire vocabulary that cannot be accessed during a talk. I love the challenge and look forward to possibly speaking again.

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I haven't been running and I'm starting to feel it. It's hard being 28 years old, I mean 30 something.

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KINDA WEIRD #1
I was at a construction site this week and I met a guy who had his Pit Bull. The rope was wrapped twice around his waist with a choke collar and iron prongs digging into the dogs neck, to help control it. So check this out...he asks me to go ahead reach down and pet it so it won't jump me if I make a sudden movement. What would you do?

KINDA WEIRD #2
I'm going to Walhalla to eat Arabian Rooster. Um, never-mind. Just sounds weird to me. I'll let you know how that goes.

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Looking forward to Thursday. Josh and I will be going to Greenville to meet Rich Butler at Panera Bread. It's not so much that I'm looking forward to talking with Rich who does a great job here, but the "Cinnamon Crunch" bagels at Panera rock my world. (just kidding R.B.) One of the things we try to do as pastors here at FCC is visit with pastors of other churches who are doing a great job reaching people. Rich is the Connections Pastor at Crossroads and I will be picking his brain to hopefully bring back some ideas.

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My wife Jeannie just got word that she will be working part time for the new Foothills bookstore. I look forward to seeing her more throughout the week. We meet sometimes for lunch but I'm incredibly guilty of not listening well because my mind stays at the church. WELCOME ABOARD JEANNIE!!

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That's about it for me. Just "living the life". God is always great and gracious, but it seems like He has given us an extra dose of much needed favor this past week. Although, like most of us, we question the decisions we have made throughout life and sometimes ponder regret, I am still confident that this very life I'm living is a great journey uniquely mapped by God for His glory. Are you living the life God intended for you?

just say'n

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