Random Thoughts

Hello World, please forgive the lack of communiqué on the forefront of all that is both good and beautiful…….
Today, two years ago Shari, Bo and I along with some sad but willing attendants drove a very full Uhaul to Mary Esther Fl. to embark on a journey seemingly so well planned and thought through. We were so excited yet very unsure of our future. As I have said before going in, I so was sure of what we were doing and months later I thought “what was I thinking”? Leaving lifelong friends and a solid position at a cool church!
Two years forward and adjusting daily we have the joy of still having precious friends and memories that represent almost 25 years of living well. Today we have additions in our life who maybe living proof that maybe we were supposed to embrace this next chapter and leave a lot of security and head smack into the unknown.
Here is what two years have taught me.
-never under estimate the power of having the investment of friends
-plan all you can but be ready to make adjustments ( life gets in the way of plans)
-never too old to learn
-never too old to make mistakes
-I have a great wife
-family is cool, especially when you have new baby in the mix
-If you live on the gulf your old friends stay in touch ( wonder if we had moved to say..Kansas, would we have the “do-drop inn” ratio be the same)
-Being humble is good, getting humbled is hard
-Change is good, but it cost
-No replacement to the past- never try to replicate the past, let it be memories and wisdom but it is the past.
-Nothing more secure than having an old friend and nothing more exciting than adding new ones.
We are right now enjoying the ride, and seeing possible the next big step in getting a grove for the Mangos! Please pray for wisdom and direction.

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan
Not sure where I stand on that quote, but I can say 2009 was one for the books! I had a range of experiences and emotions that I never dreamed I would be involved in. I have met some new and incredible people this year and have missed being with people I love greatly at the same time.
We have an empty nest and that is weird for sure. Cadence is married now! Bo has decided to be on his own. Oh wait the nest will be empty for two weeks…Michel and Jake will move in while they find a nest of their own.
Building a church from scratch (that means 0 or zero) and creating a new business has made this year very challenging as well. We are so blessed to have some great people around us now on both fronts and are so looking forward to seeing the next steps completed.
This unstable crazy world we live in demands two things from us! One, a complete trust in God and secondly a sense of humor goes along way.
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

Jeremiah 31:17
"There is hope for your future," declares the LORD,"And your children will return to their own territory.

Ecclesiastes 7:14
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.
Had a great weekend and I hope you did as well! Here is what I discovered this weekend.
1. The weather this weekend here on the gulf coast was amazing!
2. Always buckle your seat belt. Click it or ticket!
3. Promotion is a good and a God thing, way to go BO!
4. There are great opportunities even in this economy you just have to seek and knock.
5. Shari is a great friend and partner!
6. I am in the bonus factor now. Every good thing that comes my way now is just icing on the cake.
7. The beach wedding business is good but it sure can get in the way of college football.
8. The church project is doing fine in spite of me!
AND I MISS MY GIRLS! Looking forward to Thanksgiving! There will be some true giving of THANKS!!!!

Over the last few days this is some stuff that pierced my skull and I thought I would try to remove it!
I learned that yesterday (09/09/09) will be that last time we experience single digits calendar dates that match for another 1001 years and I will just be 1052 years old!
Once I arose from the bed of slumber yesterday and became aware of the “09” calendar thing, I remembered in scripture the number 9 represented “judgment” so I did not say a WORD to nobody and tried to fly under the radar from any judgment all day. I hope you made it as well.
Did you know last year in just 2 counties here on the coast there were 5,200 wedding performed! That would be 100 per week for those scoring at home.
Did you know there are 3 basic elements in a binding contract; Offer, Acceptance, and Consideration.
Most of you know me a “quote” aficionado, so try this one out…
"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have
never been in the dark with a mosquito." That ought to kick start your day!
Did you know.....
that today is the birthday of Gunsmoke? Gunsmoke, the
longest-lasting TV western, premiered in 1955.
Thanks for enduring the all this useless information.
Peace and Love

I had the honor to share with a group of wonderful people in Griffin Ga, last night and wanted to pass the notes on just in case you missed it! Watch your Step!!

• Proverbs 16:9 NIV
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

“I seldom end up where I wanted to go, but almost always end up where I need to be.”

Douglas Adams

• Jeremiah 10:23 NIV
[Jeremiah's Prayer] I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

Three things I have learned since living on the gulf coast!
1. Mostly, you get what you fish for in fresh water, but fishing in salt water you never know what you pull in! We never know who God will bring our way!

2. Never quit telling your story. It is the greatest evidence we have to prove a personal life filled with faith for our security, a love to be enjoyed, and hope that holds us as prisoners.

3. People are the key in all we do!
-They are our great source of energy and creativity.
-They will not come to you!
-People are scrambling for security; we need accept our daily steps and tell our story of a peace that passes all understanding!

Heads up, you may not know this, but today is .........lefthander day! Yep, check this bit of info out:

... that today is International Lefthanders Day? This day
acknowledges the special needs and frustrations of
lefthanders. Also celebrate some of history's greatest
lefthanders: Picasso, Alexander the Great, Michelangelo,
Babe Ruth, Jimi Hendrix, and Leonardo da Vinci. Trivia buffs:
According to SAT results, left-handed students have higher
math scores than right-handed students.

I hope you have set aside time for all the lefthanded peps you know! How did this day slip up on me? Top that information buffs! Google your eyes out , you cannot top International Lefthanders Day!

Peace and Love!

• Psalms 71:17 NIV
Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
It is amazing to me how we can get an education though life. I know we often associate wisdom with years lived and rightly so. But only the ones paying attention to their surroundings know that “class is in session” and we can learn something today! Our new wisdom maybe about ourselves, or a relationship, or how we see God, but we are being taught daily.
I had a professor in college who made this statement many times,” a word to the wise is sufficient, and to the rest it does not matter”. Learning life comes easy for some and is a chore for others. I try to pay attention so not to repeat a class but there are some subjects I have had to redo.
Here are a few nuggets (sorry Ralph I borrowed your trademark expression) I got this weekend.
The responsibility to worship is on me not the mode or vehicle. The true leader of worship is within.
The older I get the more patient I need to be.
The Corp of Discovery (Lewis and Clark expedition) is a good read and reminds me to be bold and trust those around you.
Having a form of Godliness but denying the “power” is simply understood in the terms of knowing “of” God like stuff but not willing to change. It is odd how we think our knowing of something is the same as being shaped by something.
I learned Harry Potter’s writer has one imagination.
I learned never do a job without payment on completion.
And My mac-daddy nugget for the day is ……..”If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving is not for you.”
What did you learn this weekend!

Sitting here this morning overlooking the Santa Rosa Sound slurping my Java I have a few things to share before I start a busy weekend!
One, I miss "bankhunter" (Phil P.) always leaving me encouraging comments on my blogs. How you replace a man like that is beyond me. I am forever a Poppi P fan!
Two, I look forward to next Tuesday meeting, it is getting energy every week now.
Three. glad Michel is coming, I wish Cadence could come as well.
Four, I miss the EWC staff and congregation always!
Five I am out of coffee, and will cut this short so I can refresh.

Have a great weekend, and embrace your passions and tell your loved ones how much they mean to you!

Last blog I posted promised a busy weekend and it was as advertised. I completed a full weekend of work, fellowship and activity for sure! I was so glad to climb up those stairs last night and find some rest. But a great five days away for sure! Here is what I brought back to Mary Esther Fl.
- Bo kept the house in shape for the most part!
- One week traveling in a compact car is not the best plan
- EWC is looking good and has lots of good stuff ahead!
- If I could bottle the enthusiasm Phil Purser has and sell it we could eat crab cakes more often.
- Some friends I missed this visit and that was my only downer.
- So glad to see the girls on father’s day.
- I told you Phil Michelson would almost win the US Open. Man I am good!
- By the way I was honored to play golf in a tournament this weekend and made two eagle putts!
- Teaching at EWC is like sitting with family and sharing your day with them.
- So glad to have Mark and Addie joining Shari and I in the Griffin trip.
- A visit to Tee’s new home reminded me of old times with the boy! You want walk a marta track Tee?
- Driving through south Ga. Made me aware that some people are not sure the war is over and I am not speaking of a foreign conflict either. I never saw so many “stars and bars”.
- As my buddy Timmie Boy says, “Home is where you hang your hat”, I have hung the hat for sure here and this place is home now and that is a good feeling indeed!
- Last night’s meeting was great and June 30 is expected to be a next step kind of meeting!

Peace and Love!

There are times when the cares of this world weigh heavy on your shoulders and you must look forward to things that matter! COLLEGE FOOT BALL IN 88 DAYS!!!!!
Now that ought to get your day off to an excellent start! Now it may not, but do think about this one thing; we all need things to look forward to for balance in this crazy world! It may be an anniversary, birthday, dinner out, or whatever, but get that calendar marked with a few fun things to lighten the load!
I am looking forward to college football because it gives me a break from the other “life” stuff that can be heavy at times. What are you looking forward to?

ROLL TIDE!