So I got the results of my MRI back and there are no tears in my shoulder – Thank you Lord!!!  Instead I have evidently sprained my shoulder - never knew that was possible.  Anyway, now I have 2 weeks where I’m supposed to rest my shoulder and not lift anything.  It’s already driving me crazy not being able to do anything with my arm.  I mean really, how are you not supposed to use your right arm?   But, I’m really thankful it’s only 2 weeks instead of 2 months if it had been a tear.  Thanks for your prayers!!!

I’ll see you Sunday night at the Shane and Shane concert.  Don’t forget to invite everyone you know. J

We took the boys down to grandpa’s this weekend.  Grandpa lives on a finger canal to the Indian River in Stuart and it’s always fun to get away to grandpa’s.  We do a ton of boating, fishing, swimming and just all kinds of stuff in the water when we’re down there.  This weekend, however, grandpa surprised the boys with a tube to pull behind the boat.  Needless to say we all had a blast skimming across the water and getting flung all over the place.  Sandi even got out there and gave it a try - and loved it.  But I got to say, I was really impressed with my dad.  He is almost 71 years old and he was out there bouncing around on the tube with the boys.  Can you say IcyHot night!?  Of course at the rate I’m going lately, I’m just praying I’ll still be able to move when I’m 71. J

I am so love’n this One Prayer series that we are in on Sundays.  It has been awesome to hear from pastors around the country and their prayers for the church.  This past Sunday was phenomenal and it is so cool to think about the things that we as Christ Followers can accomplish if we would unite together under our common purpose.  One thing that really stuck out to me is when Craig said there is strength in our differences.  It’s so true.  I think about how God has brought together so many folks from different church backgrounds, denominations, nationalities, and so on here at C3 and how we have accomplished so much by coming together under one purpose.  Things like feeding 400 families for a week, building wells in Africa and seeing friends and neighbors come to Christ.  God has really been doing some amazing things.  Also you don’t want to miss this coming Sunday as we finish up the one prayer serious with a “dangerous” message.   

Did you ever have a time where you just felt like your falling apart?  This morning I spent almost 2 hours at the dentist as he replaced two lose fillings and filed a cavity.  Then yesterday I went to see the Doctor about my shoulder.  I actually hurt my shoulder while I was working-out a little over a month ago, but as usual, I just down played it and worked through the pain.  I know, not smart, but I really just don’t like going to doctors.  Anyway, the doc says he thinks I’ve torn a couple muscles in the rotator cuff.  So, he scheduled me for an MRI on Monday.  Until then I’ll just have to keep myself together with duct tape and superglue.  Of course Sandi keeps reminding me that I’m not 20 anymore, but I still feel like I’m 20, so I guess I’m just going to have to up my insurance. J 

Thanks for the prayers!!! See ya on Sunday at C3.  Remember invite some friends. 

So Sandi always finds the coolest toys for summer.  This year she found the Bonzai super slide.  It’s kind of like a slip and slide, except it holds in the water and you can skim board across it.  The boys had a blast and of course even though I’m a little over the manufacture’s height and weight recommendations I had to give it a shot as well.  It’s a lot of fun and I haven’t broken anything yet so this is definitely a good toy for the summer.

Yesterday officially started our summer Crave events by taking the students out to Aquatica.  We had a blast and the Lord blessed tremendously.  No one got hurt, except for me, but that’s to be expected.   The lines were not as bad as everyone told me they would be and we didn’t get a single drop of rain even though it was suppose to storm during the times we were there.  Of course we all came back a couple shades “red’r” then when we started, but overall it was a really awesome day.

A few folks asked me to report back on how the park is.  So, here is my humble, but I think accurate opinion.  Aquatica is a pretty cool water park and has some unique features, like; two wave pools (one calmer than the other), a rapids ride (looks a lot like a lazy river but the water moves really fast) and then of course the ride through the dolphin pool (which 9 out of 10 people don’t see a dolphin when they ride it anyway).  All in all I think Aquatica is definitely worth checking out at least once, especially if you have kids.  However, the park is way over priced for what you get.  If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck then Wet’n Wild is probably a better bet or one of the Disney parks when they run their specials. 

Cravers don’t forget; ice skating in 2 weeks!!!

14 years ago today, Sandi became my wife.  It’s amazing how much my love for Sandi has grown over these years.  I just so enjoy doing life with her, she makes everything better when she’s around.  While life, of course, is not always easy and we’ve experienced some major bumps in the road over the last 14 years, she has always believed in me.  She also puts up with having 3 kids in the house some times.   I love you baby, Happy Anniversary!

Another cool part of today is that 7 years ago today, Luke came into our lives.  He is one awesome boy and has always had sweet personality.  I love you buddy, Happy Birthday!!! 

Yesterday was an extra special day as I got to baptize my son Luke.  It was just one of those awesome tender moments.  Luke was very excited, he asked me all day; “are you going to baptize me tonight” and when it was all over he could just not stop talking about his baptism and following God.  What made it extra special was he was able to be baptized with a couple of his close friends, Emily and Wes.  It was really cool for me as well since Sandi and I really view Emily like part of the family.  Luke was also really excited to be baptized at Pastor Byron’s home.  It was just a really great setting for baptism and Luke said he’ll now be calling the Pastor’s pool the baptistery from here on out. 

Another really cool part of the night was that we were able to baptize all but one child who had just finished our Great Adventures class that same Sunday morning.  I love teaching the Great Adventures class.  It’s a really sweet experience where I really get to spend time with kids who have usually just accepted Christ and I get to dig into God’s word with them.  This class is offered for any child who is finishing up 1st grade through 5th grade.  If your wondering why we make sure the child has finished 1st grade - well, as you probably have figured out, we here at C3 are not into legalism at all or just making folks attend a class just to attend a class.  But with Great Adventures it really allows us to make sure each child fully understands and comprehends what it means to be a Christ Follower and what baptism is all about.  To do that effectively we have them do some reading and writing that’s at a 1st grade level.  - I don’t know if you really wanted to read all that about Great Adventures, but now ya know.

There are just so many awesome things happening at C3 right now.  Last Friday night we had a kick’n dinner to honor our volunteers here at C3.  It was a great time and it was just so cool to have a time to honor these folks who give so selflessly to C3 and the cause of Christ.  Thanks guys for all you do!!! 

Then Sunday was one of those “off the chain” kind of Sundays.  Pastor Byron did his message for the one prayer series on “make us love.”  It was phenomenal!!!  I pray that God burns that message in the hearts of all of us at C3 so we can go “eat with” and not “point at.”  Also, this Sunday we had Discovering C3.  I love DC3, it is such a cool time to hang out with folks who just have a heart for being a part of what God is doing at C3.  Then to top the day off, despite the pressure of early movie times, our Crew broke down the theaters in record time!  You guys rock!!!   

This Friday is the C3 food drop.  This is going to be an awesome event where C3 is partnering with Feed The Children to provide food and basic necessities for 400 families here in Central Florida for an entire week.  If you would like to come out and help or if you know of a family that would benefit from this event, we’ll be at the OURM Food Warehouse from 8am until around 1pm.  The food distribution starts at 10am.  OURM’s address is: 3250 Old Winter Garden Rd. (exit 408 at John Young - take immediate left at Old Winter Garden Rd. The building is green and white and NOT MARKED - you’ll see the address on the fence surrounding the property).

Ya know, just thinking about the food drop, I want to thank everyone who is participating in 90 for 90 here at C3.  One of the reasons Sandi and I are participating in 90 for 90 and enjoy giving is that we love to see how those gifts can turn into changed lives.  We love that our gifts can be a part of things like; feeding families, supplying a children’s ministry where kids actually like coming to Church, helping our youth stand for Christ - really the list is endless.  Thank you for being a part of what God is doing through C3.  

Dude, what is up with the gas prices?  I just got done filling up and I’m watching my son’s college fund go into the tank.   I think I’m going to convert my vehicles to Flintstones power.  Ya know, cut a hole in the floorboard and have everyone’s feet move us a long.  Seriously, I think the next stimulus package the government puts out should be gas cards.   Thanks for listening to my venting.