Day Light Savings Time

This Sunday is Daylight Savings time... I hate darkness. That means it will be Dark 1 hour Earlier!!!!! Are you kiddin me? It gets dark too early now. Good news though... you get 1 more hour of sleep!!!!! Anyway... Don't forget to turn your clocks back this Saturday night before bed.

My Last Sermon...

Tomorrow will be my last sermon. Still working on the content... and probably will still be working on it when I preach it. See You In the Morning!

31 Days to Live - Stories

OK time for some stories. I will be putting in some stories that I am hearing about the 31 Days to Live. I gave you one of mine yesterday... today I begin giving some stories from other people.

This first comes from Janet Inkellar. She works with a local Hospice organization. This is the email she sent me.

"There is one story I would like to share that occurred with a nurse that I work with. We had a young male patient (30's) dying of AIDS. He was extremely restless and we were having difficulty in controlling his pain. We had tried multiple interventions, the nurse finally asked if she could pray with the patient. When she did he began to cry and said he was scared to die because God would never forgive him. The nurse adamantly prayed with patient and explained that it is never too late to ask for forgiveness. The patient accepted GOD that day and died a few days later with a calm acceptance and his pain and symptoms well controlled.

I have used my bracelet several times this week--talking with my patients about their impending death. It has been a good lead in. I asked one of my patients what he would do differently if he knew his time would have been this short--it was awesome to hear him say only to leave his family a little more prepared. I hope that will be my only regret!"

I would like to hear your stories. Please email me any stories at pastor@northrockhill.com.

What if my list kills me before the 31 days?

Last week I went fishing with a friend. (One of the things on my list.) When we got back it was late and dark and I went to my car and while in route I stepped in a hole and face planted on the concrete. Knocked me out cold. I woke up hearing a voice saying, "Call 911... I don't think he's breathing." I knew for some reason he was talking about me. Weird thoughts went through my head... "Wow! I am going to die before the 31 days to live is over." Fear came over me and I jumped up and told him I was OK... don't call 911. (I have a fear of needles and did not want to take a chance they would give me a shot.) I stumbled into his house and convinced them to not call 911. I was scratched up and bleeding. Dizzy and very sleepy. After a while we all decided it was best if I stay at there house and sleep it off. The bad thing was having to call Holly in the middle of the night and tell her what happened. I decided to not make a big deal about it. I did not want her to worry and I would give her details in the morning.

Well I am still alive and the wounds are finally starting to heal up. However, It did give me reason to pause. That happened in a flash and the consequences has impacted me for days. It is strange but it truly was a great reminder in the middle of the 31 days to live that things in our lives can change in a split second. The question is... am I making the most out of the other seconds?

Oct 26th - Final Sunday of 31 Days

You do not want to miss Oct. 26th which will be our final Sunday of our "31 Days to Live." We have some really cool stuff planned including doing Baptisms during the service. This should be a lot of fun. If you have not yet been baptized and are interested in participating make sure you contact the church office, fill out the response card, or see Ryan Allred at the Information Booth.

Hope your 31 Days to Live is going good... Are you meeting your goals? I know this has been harder than I ever expected. I will be sharing how my 31 Days to Live was almost cut in half... stay tuned.

31 Days to Live - What Would You Do?

We have completed two days of the 31 Days to live. How are you doing? I am still trying to make the most of each moment. Trying to stay on top of my goals. However, today I want to do something different. I want to include you in this blog discussion. I want to share with you a couple of the things on my list of things I want to do in my last 31 days. Also, I want to know what would you do?

Here are a few things on my list. I am not sharing everything. However, during month I will share different ones as I accomplish them. Here a couple of highlights:

1) Food: One thing I want to eat during my 31 days is a good steak and baked potato. I want to wash it down with a big glass of Dr. Pepper. (Mmmmmmm)

2) Going to hang out with my grandmother. I love her. She is 94 and she is very sick with Cancer. I am hoping she will help me understand better what it means to "number your days."

3) Laugh more with the people I care about. I have a lot under this category. Game time, dates with my wife and a date with my daughter, a party with family a couple of close friends, and quality time with each of my boys.

These are just a few of the things on my list. I want to know what is on your list. click on the comments button below and let's start sharing with one another what we would do if we only had 31 days to live.

30 Days to Live - "What are You Waiting For?" (DAY ONE)

This past Sunday we started a new series called "31 days to Live." We are challenging everyone to live as though October was their last 31 days. During the message we gave several challenges. Memorize Ps 139: 4-5, make a list of what you would do if you only had 31 days to live, live in the moment... not for the moment (there is a difference), and embrace Christ as Lord (That's what matters most.) You can check the message out here.

DAY ONE: How was your first day? Mine was not too good. Starting Sunday afternoon I got busy with meetings. I have been on a retreat Monday and Tuesday and did a poor job prepping for my first day. Then I spent most of the first day worn out, catching up, and unfocused. I still have made no progress toward my goals. Here is the kicker... I only have 30 days left! 720 hours! Wow! What am I waiting for? I have to truly determine what is most important. Today... I get back to work. I am determined to make this the best 30 days of my life. After Soccer tonight I think my family will play a game together. (Don't tell them. It is a suprise.) One of the things I want to do in my last 30 days is laugh more. Especially with those people I love the most. So even though I am busy training church planters today, planning meeting with some world changers late in the afternoon, and taking my kids to soccer... I still plan on laughing a lot. Nothing is more fun or funny than me whipping my family in a game.

If you did not start well... it is OK. Start NOW! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?