This Little Guy...

This little guy turns 3 months old today. Hayden came into our world on April 28th and our lives forever changed. You here people talk about how much they love their kids, but you really can't understand until you experience it...it is amazing. Happy 3 Month Birthday Little Man!

For a ton more pics of this little fella, check out his website.

A Little Link Love...

It's been a while since I've shared some link love here on the blog. Check out the following blogs and websites for some fantastic stuff!

• Tony McCullom has a message for men...and I couldn't agree more! Check it out here.
• Ben Arment has some ideas to help your improve your preaching. Seriously, if you preach or teach God's word, this is a MUST READ. Check it out by clicking here.
• I was completely honored and humbled by this blog from my wife, announcing a recent change in our lives. I get to serve God with the most amazing woman in the world as my partner. Wow.
• In case you missed it, my brother is now blogging. He is one of the funniest people I know, but instead of devoting his blog to humor, his site is focused on his life and lessons as a basketball coach. If you work with youth, coach sports, teach, or need some great life lessons, check it out.
• Tony Morgan consistently challenges me with his thoughts on leadership. He did it again with this post on the Four Stages of Leadership.
• Pastor Steven Furtick shares Elevation Church's church growth strategy here. I like the simplicity of it!
• Perry Noble shares 5 Questions Every Husband Should Ask His Wife. Great post for men looking to make the most out of their marriage relationship!

Making My Marriage Great Before It Even Starts...

Since I preached on how God can make marriages great this past Sunday at TCC, I thought it would be appropriate to share some marriage resources on my blog this week. While doing that, it hit me that many marriages seem doomed even before they begin. With that in mind, I thought I'd provide some links to great resources for those who are single and dating, single and waiting (for Mr. or Mrs. Right), or just not at a place in life where marriage is a now-thing, but hope it will be in the future. If you fall into one of those categories, then check out these resources:

• Devotions for Dating Couples by Ben Young & Samuel Adams
• 100 Answers to 100 Questions Before You Say "I Do" by Amy Hammond Hagberg
• Before You Plan Your Wedding, Plan Your Marriage by Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley
• Before You Get Engaged by David & Brent Gudgel
• The Ten Commandments of Dating by Ben Young & Dr. Samuel Adams
• When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric & Leslie Ludy

Making The Most of My Marriage...

As some of you know, I spoke on God's Proposal for A Great Marriage at The Connection Church this past Sunday. I wanted to follow that up by providing some resources for couples who are wanting to take their marriage to a whole 'notha level. Check out these sites for some great tips on making your marriage the most it can be!

• Focus on The Family - This website has a ton of resources for married couples on everything from communication and challenges in marriage to dealing with conflict and sex and intimacy. While some of the resources are for sale, this Christian organization offers an enormous amount of marriage helps on there website for free.


• MarriagePartnership.com - Marriage Partnership is an arm of Christianity Today's publishing that is dedicated to helping couples grow their marriage through Biblical principles while living in the real world with real issues. This site is stocked full of marriage advice from some of the leading marriage counselors in America.

You also might want to check out the following books:

• His Needs, Her Needs: Building An Affair-Proof Marriage by Willard F. Harley Jr.
• Every Man's Marriage by Stephen Arterburn
• Every Woman's Marriage by Shannon Ethridge
• Love & Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
• Your Time-Starved Marriage: How To Stay Connected At The Speed of Life by Les & Leslie Parrott
• The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

God on Film - The Proposal...

At The Connection Church we're in the middle of our summer series God on Film. Our Lead Pastor, Cole Phillips, was out Sunday, which meant that I got to preach Sunday's message. We used the movie The Proposal to talk about God's Proposal For A Great Marriage. You can check it out below...And join us this Sunday as we conclude God on Film by looking at Transformers 2.



Be sure to check the blog again later in the week for some great marriage resources for couples!

Thanking Away The Blues...

Last week, through a series of crazy events, we put both our blue Chevy Blazer and our Nissan Sentra in the shop. In the past couple days I've found out the fuel pump is out on the Blazer, which is estimated between $350-$450 to fix, and the Sentra has a blown head gasket, which could end up costing around $1500. Needless to say, we hadn't expected to spend $2,000 on car repairs this week. And anytime I have to spend money fixing one of our cars, it always gets me down. So, in an attempt to fight off the blues, here's a list of things I am thankful for and things I am blessed with. It's a lot harder to be down and out when your giving thanks! Here's what I'm thankful for these days:

• I'm thankful for my incredible family. I have a loving, supportive wife and the most adorable baby boy on the planet. I'm also surrounded by the best parents, brother, and extended family that a guy could ask for. I am blessed.
• I'm thankful for the church I get to serve and the team I get to work with. The Connection Church and the TCC team are phenomenal and God allows me to be a part of it all. I am blessed.
• I'm thankful for the people who support my family financially so that we can serve in a place that is doing whatever it takes to reach those who are far from God. I am blessed.
• I'm thankful that I have a job in a time when the economy is bad and so many people who want to work can't. I am blessed.
• I'm thankful that my parents gave us their Trailblazer a few months ago so that we have at least one dependable, running vehicle! I am blessed.
• I'm thankful for the incredible friends God has placed in mine & Johanna's life. We have great friends who love us and support us. I am blessed.
• I'm thankful I live in a country where my biggest complaint can be, "I've got two cars in the shop, but I still have one to drive." I am blessed.
• And if you're reading this, I'm thankful for you...especially if you know of a great deal on a good used car! :)

Just One More Reason...

Tonight I was given yet another reason why Johanna is an incredible wife and an amazing mother. On the way home from running a few errands and grabbing some dinner, Hayden started to get fussy. I was driving and Johanna was in the back seat sitting by his carseat trying to calm him down. Here is the conversation that ensued:

Johanna: "Can you hit #5 on the programmed stations on the radio and turn it up?"

Me: "Yeah. (then hearing the music that was being played...) Wow. This is country music. Does Hayden like country?"

Johanna: "Yeah. This is what I listen to and sing to him when it's just us in the car."

Me: "Awesome."

And that, ladies and gentelmen, is a great mother. Some children get lullabies and my son gets to cut his teeth to greats such as George Strait, Willie Nelson, and David Alan Coe and new blood like Aaron Watson, Randy Rogers, The Zac Brown Band and Kevin Fowler. My wife rocks.