"Thanks"...I think...

Thank You! I think I am supposed to say “Thank You” – I am sure you would prefer that I would WANT to say “Thank You” – SAY IT, FEEL IT, LIVE IT – WOW!


What would a “thank you” be like if it were lived out? Would it look like a bow or a curtsy? A bent knee or folded hands? Would it come with a gift or a bouquet of flowers? OR would it look like someone who didn’t care if they were noticed, recognized, congratulated or even appreciated? Would the “thank you” be in response to what I have been given or what I expect to receive? Will it be about things or will it be about You? Will the appreciation be for the Gift or the Giver? Or in this case are they one in the same?

I have a hard time receiving thanks – is that because I have a hard time expressing the same? Am I truly grateful for I have received or is it something I expected? I don’t want to hear my children say “thanks” as much as I want to see them live out that spirit of gratitude. I guess that’s how it is with you. Can I live my life so that I am always aware of what I have received from Your hand?

Lord, may my gratitude not be tied to the obvious, but help me to see and recognize those things that would go undetected to the one who cares more about the getting than the giving. May I not live a moment without the full appreciation of YOU in my life!

DUTY-FREE  ????

I think Diane said it best (she usually does): "It wasn't a cruise, vacation or concert - it was a retreat!" That's precisely the most accurate depiction of our 2010 Music Boat experience.

The concerts, the speakers, the worship, the fellowship and unexpected opportunities for ministry brought a much needed time of refreshing. The venture has allowed me a renewed appreciation for God's calling of my life, my family and my service for Him.

Great concerts featuring the David Crowder Band, Mandisa, Jeremy Camp, Third Day and more...Morning worship with Matt Maher...Devotions from David Nassar...Josh Hamilton, 321 Improv, the Bello Nock tightrope walk across the deck of the ship...and the emergence of the Triad's own 10-year old Emily Christopher as the musical sweetheart of the cruise!

How do I process all this? All in all, when I piece together the experiences of the past 2 months, I see God's hand in giving me some sort of perspective...His perspective - an eternal one. You see, we're on this boat for a short period of time - during which we can indulge or invest. Either way, at the end of the voyage, we will give an account for how we have spent our time, talent, energy and money. Hopefully, when the Captain says "Thanks for cruising with us", it will sound something like "Well done, good and faithful one."

MUSIC BOAT 2010

{in 10 pictures}

In the middle of all this was that trip to the Middle of the Earth…


The whirlwind of the past few weeks have left me feeling like a bewildered man who can’t see past the end of nose and has no idea where he spent last night. This hangover, however, has been more emotionally, spiritually and physically induced than anything chemical.

Meanwhile, back in Ecuador, while on a radio tour with HCJB Global, I had the privilege of being a guest on the TELARANA radio show. Interpreted as “the spider’s web”, this was a fitting description of this venture. You see, it was on this trip that I gained a fascinating new appreciation for my own life and the web, matrix or tapestry that had been divinely interwoven.

Standing in an arid jungle on another continent, God allowed me to see how He had used the lives of those who had intersected my own. Some directly and some I’ve never met. Nevertheless, things I had invested in were paying eternal dividends in ways I’d never imagined.

Why does this matter? Look around you. First of all, look at those that God has used in your life. These are usually not the ones you would have hand-picked or expected to be impact players on your team. Yet, God placed them in our path to mold our character, plot our plan or smooth the rough edges. Unknowingly, these people were the answers to our prayers.

As you take a second glance at those within your scope of vision, imagine the doors that God will open for the people in your life right now. In obedience to divine direction, these are the feet that will bring Good News to the waiting hearts that God has prepared.

In the midst of this web were college friends, former business associates and ministry partners. I thank the Lord for wisdom in choosing to support church and para-church organizations that are actively involved in Kingdom work and spreading that to the world.

We would probably all love a sneak peak behind the tapestry to see what the Divine Weaver is designing. But, you never really grasp its’ beauty until you are fortunate enough to take a few steps back and discover what each stitch has accomplished.

The untimely death of my close friend and coworker a mere two weeks after my return has given me the opportunity to see this handicraft in a more eternal perspective. God’s work is so great and His plan so perfect…it is my greatest privilege to be able to have any participation in the masterpiece.

Hopefully, it won't take a "journey to the center of the earth" for me to see it next time....