Now THAT'S a good question

I've been carrying a scrap of paper around with me for about 6 weeks now. It is a simple list of questions. But there is something about these questions that cuts right to the core of my being. They are good questions... and they cause me to pause and reflect.

I picked them up one Sunday morning when I was visiting my church away from home, Apex. Pastor Rob lifted them from the pages of [Nehemiah], as he led his church through the book earlier this summer. I think a good question is dangerous... it can expose you. This set has proven dangerous for me... I hope you benefit as well.

1. What is it right now that requires courage from you to act on? [1]
2. Do you feel like you are meeting with the people of God or building with the people of God? [2]
3. How do you deal with conflict and do you realize how important your response is? [4]
4. Are you pursuing self advancement so much that you are desensitized to hurting people around you? [5]
5. Is prayer a regular part of your fight of faith or is it a last resort? [6]
6. Is having to be known by others more important to you than being known by God? [7]
7. Is your pursuit of joy in God the primary pursuit of your life? [8]
8. Is it hard for you to admit your wrong or take responsibility for sinful actuions? [9]

May you be so fortunate as to hold company with people who ask good questions.

Who checks your calendar?

I learned a lesson from the world's richest man today. You see... I recently took an IT sales job to support my family. So at the job I'm perusing CIO Magazine and stumble upon this article... Why CEOs Don't Get More Value from Their "Human Capital" (a.k.a. People). Here are the first two paragraphs.

"At Microsoft's CEO Summit this May, Bill Gates took a few moments to talk about time management. He noted that, somehow, his calendar seemed to be filled with commitments that—upon reflection—only seemed like a good idea at the time. In retrospect, he had been foolish to make them.

Things changed for the better, he said, when he began sharing his calendar with his colleague—and now Microsoft Chief Executive Officer—Steve Ballmer. "Steve would ask me why I would want to schedule that and I would look at his calendar to review what he was spending time on," Gates recalled. This peer review, he observed, made both of them more efficient, more effective and more collaborative time managers."

How amazing is that? Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, has realized that he might not even be the best at managing his own time. So he invites a trusted friend to challenge his calendar. How much better might we manage our time and resources if a trusted friend, a mentor, our wives or even a mentoree had the freedom to review our calendars?

The Meaning behind EVERYTHING

God in my laughing...
There in my weeping...
God in my hurting...
God in my healing...
...Be my everything.

Just a few lines from the worship song "Everything" by Tim Hughes. I've been honestly living with this song for past few months. I absolutely love it. It is quite simple yet has moved me with its profound message. I've really come to respect Tim Hughes for his heart, his musicianship and his gift for writing and leading good worship. I've even had the pleasure of sitting under his worship leading at Passion'06.

Here's a bit of the song... with some explanation behind it... from some random English worship TV show... I think.



Maybe life is up... your job is good, your family is healthy, your ministry is growing, your team is winning, your account is growing, your flowers are blooming, your kids are obeying, your shots are falling, your relationships are growing... but who is your everything?

Maybe life is down... your health is failing, your clients are leaving, your basement is flooding, your car is leaking, your collectors are calling, your kids are leaving, your ministry is fleeting, your friends are ignoring, your life seems boring... but who is your everything?

More Arley

(Sorry for the previously random slideshow... not sure what happened)

Here's my flickr slideshow of Arley

Oh Happy Day!!!

On Monday, November 5 at 6:30 PM... Arley Christine burst into our world. She came in at 6 lbs 15 oz and 19 1/2 inches.

I don't know how to say it... other than our entire family is head-over-heels in love with her. She has brought an entirely new level of joy and love to our family.

I have noticed that, having babies makes your babies grow up. Our boys have in one sense matured over night. They love to hold her... and help mommy with her diapers... and are fascinated with her feeding.

Christine is recovering amazingly well. She had a great delivery and is ready to hit the gym when Dr. Greco gives her the OK. She is filled with joy and happiness. This might be the happiest I have ever seen her. What a gift from God... this joy we have.

And me... well I'm sitting back and enjoying the ride. This little girl has definitely awoken the tender warrior within me. I have a renewed desire to intimately connect with and be present and accessible to my kids. I'm wrestling with Griffey one minute... building Lego's with Caden the next... and quietly holding Arley after that.

At the same time I am on my toes ready to fight for my girl, my wife and my boys. I am ready to defend them and fight for them... because my joy is wrapped up in their joy and health and well-being. Thanks for sharing in our joy.