From the Tips

snow angel

2009-01-20T14:33:00.009-05:00

Grayson wanted to make snow angels today.

I guess we could make leaf angels.

Turn on the lights

2009-01-06T11:16:00.002-05:00

Hey guys,
Last night I was carrying Grayson to bed and the funniest thing happened. Well, it's funny now but was painful last night. I stepped on his toy truck in his room and my feet came flying up and we both took a tumble. I held him up and took the brunt of the fall with my elbow and knee. My wife Jocelyn came running in to see what had happened. There I was lying in the floor hurting and what does she ask?, "Grayson are you ok?" What about Daddy? The lesson learned is never enter a child's room and assume the floor is clear, especially in the dark! Lesson number two- Moms care more about their children than husbands, Ha!

Moving with the times

2008-09-09T14:22:00.003-04:00

I heard a recent conversation where two Christians were discussing whether or not it is right to entertain kids at church. One person said, "I don't want to do this. I think the Bible and Jesus is enough". I've given this some thought and have concluded several things. First, Church is about teaching people the Word of God, not entertaining them. But, shame on us if we continue to do so in a dated fashion. Every generation has had their primary way of communicating. At one time in history it was oral. At another time it was written. In our day computers seem to have replaced even the phone! I think the best teaching can be a bit entertaining, and certainly not boring. There are ways to teach other than standing at podiums and lecturing. I think what we resist is making the church a "dog and pony" show. I agree! I also believe the "dog and pony" can be used for some real creative ways to teach. Just a thought?

You Forgot!

2008-06-25T11:25:00.005-04:00

My son Grayson did the coolest thing the other night. After I put him to bed I heard him yelling, "Dad, Daddy, Dad..." I went into his room and said, "Grayson what do you want?" He said, "Dad you forgot". When I saw him reaching for me I knew what I had forgotten - a good night kiss.

We shouldn't forget these things and enjoy these precious moments becauseI know that these times quickly pass and they grow up so fast.

"Smokin"!

2008-05-13T15:31:00.006-04:00

I just wanted to share with you my feelings about our printed material and our website. I looked at one of our Creekside newsletters this week and came to a conclusion. It is "smokin"! It is one of the best church newsletters I have ever encountered.

Also, I used to be ashamed of our website, but now I encourage people to visit it. Our website is "smokin"! There has been such a dramatic improvement to our newsletter and website that I must say to all those involved THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. IT REALLY HAS PAID OFF!

Recovering Pharisee

2008-05-08T16:00:00.009-04:00

Have you ever found yourself not liking the Pharisees when reading about them in the Bible? Why do we not like them? I believe the main reasons are their "showy religion" and lack of compassion for others. They are religious people but very cold and mean spirited toward others. They also strike me as the type people who would always have to be right. Does this sound like some "Christians" you have met?

I believe the Pharisees are in the Bible for at least 2 reasons:

1. To show us what living for God does not look like. Jesus said He came to "give us life..." and He uses the Pharisees as examples of what this life is not.

2. To remind us that on our best day there is a Pharisee in us all.

I confess, I am a Pharisee to the Pharisee. I am angered so easily by their hypocrisy but fail to see my own. All joking aside, I struggle being around "religious" people. It's easier for me to hang out with people who's lives are full of sin that realize it than people who look at others condescendingly because they are self-righteous. This is why I am spending the next few months blogging about the life of Jesus. As much as we dislike the Pharisee in the Bible, we will like, yes even love, Jesus when we see Him for who He really is.

Fascination

2008-04-10T14:43:00.006-04:00

I went to the practice round at Augusta National on Tues. The Masters truly is the "super-bowl" of golf. I imagined what it would be like to hit a shot from those fairways or putt on those greens. I guess for now it will remain a question. Who knows, someone may invite me to play some day. I could become the head coach at USC and have a membership there. Maybe I'll keep improving my game and make the senior tour and receive and invite. I think I'll just go with the hopes someone will invite me.

things have changed

2008-02-28T09:28:00.003-05:00

I've noticed one big change in my life that has occured within the last 6 months. I typically sleep about six hours each night. This has been the norm for me for years. But lately I can go to bed at 9:00 pm and sleep until 8:00 am with no problem. I inquired a Dr. friend about this and he said I'm sleeping well because I am at peace within. I hope he's right! So peace out!

joy, joy, joy

2008-02-11T13:25:00.000-05:00

I really enjoy leading worship in the 10:45 service. I am working with the best group of people you could imagine. Everyone is "low-maintenance". Seriously, they are very flexible. I look forward to the times we will meet together and worship. Jocelyn has wanted me to do this for a long time, so here you have it girl.

now I understand

2008-01-25T12:38:00.000-05:00

OK so I lied! But it was an honest lie. I said i was finished blogging until Angela Carter informed me of what blogging really is. The other day I mentioned several things to staff members that I had been thinking about. Angela said, "David, why don't you just blog about these things and we can selectively hear what we want to from you. This way we don't have to listen to all the stuff you want to talk about." So this is what I will do! I'll write down what's on my mind instead of sharing it verbally with everyone. Thanks Angela, I understand blogging.

About the Santa Thing

2007-12-18T14:57:00.000-05:00

Many wonder if they should teach their kids about santa. Jocelyn and I are by no means "anti-santa". We would never criticize others for having fun by teaching their kids the whole santa thing. Jocelyn and I have just chosen not to make a big deal about santa. We would like to spend this time teaching Grayson the true meaning of Christmas. We buy him stuff throughout the year and do not feel the need to saturate him with stuff as we celebrate the incarnation. I wrote about this because others ask, "What do you do about the whole santa thing?" the short is we are not going to highlight santa. We are going to hightlight Christ.

Puritan

2007-12-04T14:06:00.000-05:00

I just got an old set of BenHogan Apex2 blades. I have been looking for this set for some time. They are supposedly harder to hit, but I'm not sure all the technology stuff is not just hype! All I know is they are the bomb. I'm anxious to see how I like them once warm weather is back.

Over-thinking it

2007-11-26T14:09:00.000-05:00

I am the world's worst about over-thinking things. This is one reason I was such a bad test-taker in school. I would talk myself out of the right answer. It happened again to me this past Sunday night. I prepared to preach a sermon from the book of Hebrews last week. Sunday afternoon, as I was rehearsing it in my mind, I eventually talked myself out of preaching this message, because I felt as though it was too elementary. So what did I do, I prepared another message at the last minute. I was nervous and felt unprepared while preaching Suunday night. After looking back, it would have been better to stick with what I had originally prepared. That's what happens to people who over-think things. Can you identify?

lions, tigers & bears

2007-11-14T14:15:00.000-05:00

My three year old Grayson loves to "camp" in the living room. We put a blanket over the couch and two chairs, turn the lights off, and turn on the flashlight. There you have it, we are camping. I love to watch him pretend a bear is on the outside of the "tent". We have fun going out to look for bears. We have even more fun running from them while they are chasing us! I just bought us a two-man tent. I can't wait until we can camp outside.

Caught in a Trap

2007-11-07T13:55:00.000-05:00

I finally know how Elvis feels! I'm caught in a trap because Saturday I have to monitor my screaming. I'm preaching Sunday morning at Crossway Community Church as well as singing. Everything in me will want to scream for my "Tigers" as we ROLL the "Deacons"! Pray for me that I'll be able to save my voice.

"I'm caught in a trap, because I love my Tigers too much, baby!"

my first blog

2007-11-01T16:03:00.001-04:00

Alright, I'm a blogger. For those who don't play golf, my blog title doesn't register. "From the tips" is the set of tees that golfers play when playing the course at its longest available yardage. I'm not necessarily a long hitter, I just like to play from the tips to feel like a Big-Dog.