I was on a mission for my wife. She sent me to Wal-Mart with a list to pick up five items. I need lists because I forget stuff. Simple mission, right? Not really. I guess everybody shops early Saturday evening, so by the time I arrived at the checkout area, the lines were ginormous. People were ticked. Because I am awesome and stupid at the same time, I decided to use the self checkout lane where only two people were ahead of me. The guy in front of me had the biggest bag of dog food I've ever seen and then there was a group of three ladies checking out in front of him. Of course, the three ladies had some sort of problem so we had to wait for the floor manager to straighten it out so they could continue checking out. They were taking forever. I noticed that the self checkout lane beside me now only had one girl in it and she had one item. I Dale Earnhardted my cart into the next lane and waited patiently for the girl with only a pair of windshield wipers to finish. I felt sorry for all those losers in the line that I abandoned. Whaaaaa? Dog food guy is now checking out. What's this? He is now finished. Windshield wiper girl is still fumbling with her money. What in the world? People who were behind me in abandoned line are now checking out.

I guess the grass isn't always greener on the other side. It may look green from where you are standing, but it is guaranteed to have its own set of problems.

As most of you can tell, I've been on a long hiatus from blogging. I just thought I'd give you a quick update on my life and why I've taken a break from writing. During the months of November and December, I was able to take a couple weeks off for vacation, which I really needed. Things seemed a little out of control with my schedule over the last several months, so it was nice to "withdraw" for a couple weeks.

Over New Year's weekend, I was able to speak at a youth retreat in PA. It was awesome in every way and I believe God used that time to revitalize me. While I was at the retreat, I also began a plan to read through the Bible in 90 days, which is why I have not been blogging through the Bible over the last few weeks. After the 90 days are up (at the end of March), I plan to finish blogging through the New Testament in 2010. I only have two more books to go - 1 and 2 Corinthians, and I will have logged over 500 posts with more than 800 hours invested since April of 2007.

Another contributing factor to my crazy schedule has been the location change of our church's second campus, the Summit in Green. I have served as the campus pastor at the Summit since September 2008, while also continuing my role as high school pastor at the main campus. As of January 17, 2010, the Summit moved from Regal Cinema to the Green YMCA. It was a GREAT move for us with numerous benefits. We were excited to see almost 100 people attend our first gathering at the YMCA.

Last, but certainly not least...I have been attempting to eat right and exercise in 2010. Although I'm only two weeks into it, I've lost 5 lbs. and feel better already. It's probably all mental. I have been using an iPhone app called Lose It to keep track of my calories. Talk to me in April to see if I have reached my goal weight!

Other than this, I have been enjoying my family. Leah is an awesome wife who works hard and takes care of our family. She is my biggest fan. My kids are the best. They both started their own blogs - we are encouraging them to write, even though I think Lexi has written more than Ty. Stop by their blogs and leave a comment - they giggle like schoolgirls (and boys) when someone leaves a comment. Of course, I like comments too, but I'm pretty sure I don't giggle like a schoolgirl when someone leaves me one, at least I don't think so.

Peace out.

I spoke at a retreat for a youth ministry in PA this past weekend and they sang a song I'd never heard before called How He Loves (it is written by John Mark McMillan and is performed by David Crowder Band). The lyrics are powerful.

Listen to the song (track 10) while reading through these lyrics.

Having grown up in the south, snow was only a periodic occurrence which sparked a buyout of bread and milk in the grocery stores and shut down every school in the county; however, over the past eleven years of living in Ohio, I have become accustomed to snow. No pandemonium. No rushing to the milk and bread aisle at the local store. No school closings unless the depth of the snow exceeds the height of high school seniors.

Regardless of where snow falls, it is still beautiful. This morning when I looked out my bedroom window (pictured here), a fresh blanket of snow had covered the ground and trees in our backyard. Moments like this always make me aware of God's interest in beauty and His great power displayed through creation. "God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of his power. He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power" (Job 37:5-7).

I've stopped working so I can watch. Have you?

Recently my wife and I were walking through the mall just browsing when a watch caught her eye...not for her, but for me. Most of my watches have been purchased at garage sales, so I wasn't too keen about spending $23.99, especially on a watch that was much larger than my usual wrist wear. Leah noticed my hesitancy to purchase it, so she started using phrases like "it would look good [aka sexy] on you" and "you need a new watch." After listening to her persuasive words and promises of it making me cool, I left the mall with a new watch on my wrist. It took me several days to adjust to the sheer weight of this watch (pictured left), but it has developed larger muscles in my left arm. Two months have passed and I must admit that I hate this watch. Although it keeps great time (and looks good), I cannot read the layout of the numbers - it takes more than a quick glance to decipher the time.

So...why am I still wearing the watch? Personal appearance often overshadows personal benefit. Dying relationships are prolonged because of how it makes us look around others. Once productive ministries/projects are continued because we fear what people would think or say if we shut it down. Outdated models and systems are embraced because of what they used to do.

I may need to start looking for a new watch.

Traffic is always crazy around here during the holidays, so I'm not sure why my wife sent me out to pick up a few things two days before Christmas while she stayed at home. I must have done something horribly wrong to be subjected to that type of insanity. After fulfilling my husbandly duties, I carefully planned out my route back home. Although there were several options, I chose the shortcut but the shortcut turned out to be a big mistake. Cars were backed up and people were NOT spreading Christmas cheer. While waiting in this line of cars I came to the conclusion that shortcuts are rarely worth it.

Shortcuts are my attempt to find the quickest path with the least resistance, which will ultimately help me arrive at a destination before or alongside everyone else. The problem with taking the fast track is that a person often misses valuable wisdom which is only gained through time and trials. In my opinion, faithfulness and endurance are more desirable than timing and placement.

There are no real shortcuts to parenting, friendships, marriages, church growth, business success, godliness, health, financial freedom, or whatever else you can insert here. Shortcuts are only an attempt to minimize the work between a dream and a destination. "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time" (Galatians 6:9).

I'm very comfortable with organization and structure. Throughout my life people have told me, "I wish I could be as organized as you!" I used to absorb this as a compliment, but in some aspects of my life I hate structure, especially when it concerns my relationship with God. Don't get me wrong, discipline and following routine has allowed me to accomplish many things, but I've discovered that God doesn't always operate in a humanly structured atmosphere. Embracing structure is my way to prevent losing control.

Certainly, I cannot be alone in this struggle. Maybe you share my love for the familiar, the routine, the comfortable, and what is easily known...let's determine to invite the spontaneity of God into our lives this coming year with the knowledge that He often works outside the confines of human reason and delights in the faith of His children. We must realize that familiarity will never produce faith.

Faith begins where the familiar ends.