do you ever feel

do you ever feel like your week has been one serious of absent-minded mistakes after the other? I'm pretty sure that if my head were not attached, I would have left it behind this week. One day this week I got that wretched ticket. Another day this week, I locked my keys in the car while out shopping. grrrr (I must at least say that this is the first time I have done such a thing since having kids, but dang it, it sucked!) The battery went dead in my car remote, so until I replace it, I've gotten in the habit of manually locking it. So, there we were with fish in hand outside of Petsmart, 25 minutes from home, with a storm rolling in. Jeremy wasn't due to come home for another couple of hours from Tarboro, and wasn't answering his phone. We returned the fish so they wouldn't die. I kicked into my desperate Mom turned McGuiver mode and scoured the shopping center for a drycleaners. Walked us down there, and obtained a classic wire hanger from a really nice guy. There I am battling my minivan with my kids in the stroller, hoping that the heavens won't unleash their fury before I can get in. I couldn't believe how many guys just kind of shrugged and passed by. After a few minutes of struggling, two different kind strangers came by to give me a hand. Not just strangers, but everyday heroes really. Just as they showed up, it started raining and I got the kids under the awning. They worked for about 10 minutes to unlock the van, getting soaked in the process. I can personally say that chivalry is not dead. So here's to you guys-who help stranded moms with kids out of the rain! You rock! I thanked them over and over, and we were on our way. Let's hope that Monday will be a better start to a better week! :}

I've Moved

I've moved my blog to http://navigationuncharted.wordpress.com/. See you there.

Goofy Picture of Me @ Work

So this week my staff has pretty much avoided me. I've been a bit on the 'i'm not going to hold your hand and be your bathroom buddy, get your job done' mood. Normally, I'm pretty fun loving, laid-back, cool, hands on manager. I think it will return by end week. But here's a taste of what they get...

Kudos to my Wife's New Profession!

First, I think any stay-at-home mom ROCKS! Well not any. Those of you who are truly lazy and really to sit on the couch and just watch TV and let your kids watch themselves, then take your kids to the local Chick-fil-lia and let your kids play in the playland while you suck down a big cookies n' cream shake, but don't really watch them and let them beat up on the little kids...well, you don't rock. Either become the mom you are suppose to be, or go get a job and at least be productive for the rest of society.

However if you are my wife, who not only runs are amazing household, raising to beautiful kids, somehow keep up with all our friends, volunteer at church, and still be nice to your husband, well you ROCK! And now Christie is in a new profession which is just over and beyond. I swear she is superwoman in disguise. She has been doing it for sometime now but is getting ready to expand her services as a personal assistant to buisness executives that don't have time to get their personal things done. I can't believe people actually pay for this, but they do.

Her services have been so good that others are now getting in line for them. I'm really proud of her! Way to go Christie!

HRC Open House

On Wednesday we had our Business Open House for Headway's National Recruitment Center. We had around 75 people attend with wine tasting and great food. Headway's CEO, JP Sakey and Suzanne Kinkel, EVP spoke about the company and the HRC. Also David Snyder, author of How to Hire a Champion spoke and had a book signing. My favorite feature was the banners that I got made. The HRC team did an outstanding job! The event made the front page of the local newspaper.

Owner's Work Day

Authentic Community

We had some really great conversation tonight at thegathering. It's exciting to listen to how people are experience a place where they are being accepted and authentic. We have prayed hard that rH will be a place where people can come as they are, where truly no perfect people are allowed. It amazing to be a part and to watch a group of people come together and be the church. We are growing and our space is starting to become tight and we are not sure where God will lead us next but know that great things are beginning to take place.

On Saturday we had an Owner's work day (pictures to follow). Honestly it was the most fun I'd ever had at a church work day. Normally, I would have been like bored and wish it wasn't happening. I guess it was just nice to be around people who didn't put up any pretenses and we all just pitch in and worked together. Maybe its because together we know we are making an enviroment where life change can really take place.

Ok, so this week is a busy one for me! Tuesday we go hear Jessica sing with her choir. Then she's staying with us for the rest of the week. Wednesday is the HRC big Business Open House (expecting around 100 people) town council members, mayor of Tarboro, representatives for the senators, lots of community people, lots of food, lots of wine, geez I just hope it goes off without a hitch, and then Friday, Good Friday service - 7 PM. Saturday, church pinic with Easter egg hunt at the park behind the church, and then Easter. Hope to see some of you there!

Time Management

I listen to a really good talk by Tyler at Vintage 21 on reverse engineering. It was a challenging talk about time managment and how you decide to spend your time and resources for the Kingdom. I realized, really this just confirm what I was feeling, but I needed to really take control of my time. There are a lot of things and people who could monolopize my time without me even realizing it or them even meaning to do so. So I sat down the other day and begin mapping out my days:

6:30-8 Commute to work which is time for message prep and time with God.
8-8:30 Prioritize my day, respond to high priorty emails and items, walk the recruitment floor, complete morning reporting, check my calendar for the day's meetings.
8:30-9 Mondays- Operations meetings, Tuesday - Check in with the boss, Wed - Team lead individual meetings, Thurs - Team Wrap Up Meeting, Friday - Plan Monday's Op meeting
9:30 - 10:30 Marketing & Business Development
10:30-1:30 HRC process & procedures
1:30-2 Follow up, check email and respond to high priority items, and walk the floor
2-4:30 Reporting and billing
4:30 - 5 Planning time, hold additonal meetings, plan next day, target next steps for recruitment center, outline meetings for next day, check the dang email again, and send updates out
5-6:30 Commute home, calls for headway, and call prospects for realHope
6:30-8 Family time!!!!!
8-8:30 Tues, Wed, Thurs - Message Prep, Friday - date night with Christie!
8:30-9:30 Blow off time
9:30-10 Reading and research, Saturdays, realHope Sunday prep

Saturdays are family day, and Sundays obviously are filled with realHope. I felt like the past few weeks I've been meeting myself coming and going and had to take control of my time and resources. I look at all I do above and think, geez know wonder I feel so tired! So, I'm off to bed, to begin a new day!

realHope event's

Ok, so some great things happening around realHope. We keep growing and that is really exciting. Honestly we are going to have to consider knocking down a wall or something, I'm not sure what we are going to do. This is a good problem to have!

We had a guys night out on Monday, which I highly enjoyed. We went and shot pool for the evening at which I completely suck, except for one game where I looked like a professional. But really good fun and one to become a traditoin. Nothing like kicking back and enjoying a relaxing evening.

Coming up we have an Owner's work day this Saturday, Good Friday service on the 21st, Spring Cook Out on the 22nd, and of course Easter on the 23rd. The month finishes out with a Ladies Craft Night and a Management Team meeting. It is a busy month but lots of good stuff!

Focus

So by Sunday night I felt like I got some focus back. I was starting to feel really down about nothing particular but about everything particular. It was like I couldn't shake it. I work constantly, off to Tarboro each day, and then prepration for Sunday on Saturday's and church on Sunday. So by this Saturday I was just exhausted! Christie finally made me take a nap and all I got to say is that I believe naps are key to true focus.

Sunday we had a great service and great owner's meeting. And today I had a great meeting at Raleigh with the EVP's and CEO. Then the CEO, JP Sakey (a master genius in staffing, used to be chairman for monster) took Suzanne, Paulette, and myself to lunch to the Capital Club, downtown Raleigh. When I went through church planting assessment one of the things they said I need to work on was assertiveness. It's crazy how God decides he wants you to learn things. Working in Corporate America is teaching me assertiveness and my boss is a great teacher (although I could pass on being kicked under the table during meetings!)

I'm really excited this month at realHope. We are beginning to plan out small groups and hope to have 2-3 groups going this Spring. Next Monday we have a 'guys' night out at a local joint, kick back play some pool, and just hang out together. Christie's got a 'ladies' craft night at the end of the month. We are also planning a Good Friday service and of course Easter (Jessica will be back to led worship).

Also, we have an owner's work day plan before Easter to get some things spruced up. Most exciting the kid that held up my mom a couple weeks ago in the church parking lot will be there to help us out. We got put in charge of his community service hours and it really is just an amazing story that comes out of realHope.

So all this stuff has been going on but honestly I just felt so tired I don't think I could focus and even enjoy the good stuff. We are planning to go to Georgia the first weekend in April for some R&R. In the meantime, I going to try some more of those naps because they really help!

14 Reasons I Love You

1. Your passion to believe in everyone

2. Your patience to raise two kids

3. Your support in my crazy ventures

4. Your great dinners after a long day

5. Your smile

6. Your sparkling eyes

7. Your company in the mall parking lot

8. Your talent for knitting and sewing

9. Your laugh

10. Your gift for language

11. Your adventure to travel

12. Your taste in music

13. Your "cute" moments

14. Your intellect (thanks for helping me spell that too!)

Sweet dreams...

Worship @ realHope

Today Jessica Newton (not related to the Sir Isaac Newton, but related to an Isaac Newton) and Chelsea McCartney (not related to Paul MacCartney but talented nontheless) arrived from Knoxville, TN. Jessica will be coming in May to begin leading worship for rH on regular basis. Until then she is coming once a month and will be back with us on Easter Sunday. I'm really excited to have such a talented sister-in-law who truly has a heart for worship and wants others to experience that same heart for the way of Christ.

Tomorrow morning we have two talented chic's leading us in worship. So if your near and searching we hope you stop by to little place we call realHope, a place where you can come as you are, a place we like to call home...until we all get home. Worship - 10:30 am.

What's Tougher Than the Super Bowl?

My MOM! So yesterday my mom was great and took Luke for the day and to spend the night with them. That in itself makes her pretty tough. But after three boys of her own who would expect anything less, right?

So, they went to work over at church with Papa, and as mom and Luke were getting ready to leave my mom got held up! A young kid came right up in her face and told her to give him money or he was going to kill her! So my mom, looked him in the eyes and put her arms on his arms and said, "Luke, go get your Papa inside."

The young kid told her to get her arms off him and not to touch him. Then he took off running!

The police came, found the kid, and my mom felt so bad for him getting arrested. All I got to say is my mom is tough, and this is exactly why I never gave her too many problems growing up! Way to go mom!

A Weekend Too Short

Seriously, why are weekend only two days. I have so much more I need to get done around the house. Christie has created a 'honey-do' list and I only got one thing crossed off! (And this is not because I just wasted away my weekend) Between church and two active kids, everything else sometimes feels like mission impossible to complete. I'm just thinking we've got it backwards. Maybe it should be more like Monday - Friday off, work Saturday and Sunday. Awe, well Monday is here before you know it...hope your week turn's out good!

rH's REVEAL 2008

realHope Christian Church (rH) continues to take bold steps forward and anticipates 2008 to be a year of significant growth both spiritually and numerically. rH’s mission to reach people with real concerns and provide real answers to live a real purpose as Christ followers focuses us on our missional purpose as a church.

rH’s growth strategy will be supported with strategic outreach events, beginning of home groups, addition of leadership, and leveraged with new marketing techniques through mass emails, traditional mail, and web-site enhancements. Growth will rely on owners committing to spiritual growth with renewed focus on personal and corporate prayer life. Our vision to respond and release people into God’s freedom will continued to be reached with people becoming new devoted Christ-followers.

Strength in our current ownership (our word for members) will help increase our community awareness and outreach opportunities. Together rH will become a leading church in the community that provides a culture where people can come as they are and find life change in the body of Christ.

Our milestones will include:

Grow ownership to 50 people; average attendance 100.
Discover and develop community partnerships.
Complete building changes to facilities by end of Q1.
Recruit worship leader to start by Q2.
Participate in Fuquay-Varina spring festival (Q1) and fall festival (Q3).
Develop leadership infrastructure with new management team members and additional staff members.
Establish annual growth budget with support plan.
Revise vision plan to reflect current position and support future plan.
Develop guest connection process to ownership connection process.
Simplify administration data and communication processes.
Develop outreach events for Q2 & Q4.
Redesign prayer and supporter communication lines.
Design online giving web portal.
Simplify website to support current needs.
Develop and initiate home groups (Q1).

Join us this Sunday night at 6 PM for dinner. Come dream, plan, and pray with us as we seek out God's direction. All of the above will be discussed as we being a new year.

The Good News

Ok, sorry it took me a little longer to get the good news out. Many of you already know and if you are a reader of my wife's blog she already blogged about in our Christmas letter to family and friends. Yesterday I formally signed on to be the new Operations Manager for the recruitment center at Headway Corporate Resources. I'm really excited about this opportunity to lead such an outstanding team that is at the HRC. I also get to continue to work with Paulette who was the former Operations Manager - she's now moving to Directer of Recruitment, but her office will still be at the center. The HRC has had its bumps in the road, but I'm confidant we can take it to new levels in 2008. My boss, Suzanne will continue to give great leadership as we move forward. I truly work with some great people!

And...we broke another attendance record at church. This Sunday night is our first Owner's dinner & meeting of the year where we are kicking off our 2008 theme and plans for the year - Reveal. I truly believe this is a year where God is going to reveal some amazing truths to our church and reveal His way to our community through rH.

And...my dad comes home Friday. I cannot tell you how much I've missed his encouragement and support and love. He never stops giving it even through dealing with his own things and far away, but his presence on a Sunday morning when I feel like quiting or the moment I'm going crazy trying to balance the bivocational life of work, family, and the church - well, he keeps me going and it will be good to seem him home.

And...our church sign should be done and up on the building in about two weeks. We have to get a building inspection but it should be no real big deal (please pray that it does not become a real big deal. Friday - Inspection - Prayer)

And...I'll have some other great news by the end of the month. It's even better than all the above! Really, I mean it!

So, reader, if close by come be my guest on Sunday at 10:30 am at rH. Come as you are...and don't worry, we don't allow perfect people.