Check out the welcome video for our Sunday service yesterday. What ya think?

We’re coming to the final month of the school year here at SpringWell, and I was thinking back about what changes we have made this year. It’s been a good year, and I am pumped to see what all will happen in the coming year. Here’s some highlights of this past year (thus far):

* We combined our middle school and high school ministries to one service on Wednesdays.
* In our texting nights, we have received over 500 text messages.
* We will have over FOUR TIMES the number of students going to camp this year compared to last year.
* Seeing students learn to truly worship (and even crowd surf)
* Our sex series, “Lessons from T-Pain.” (Hey….it’s great to be at a church that allows us to actually discuss issues. I would have fired in some places for talking about everything from kissing to masturbation and oral sex within a sermon).
* New coffee shop!!
* Seeing our awesome worship leader, Robin Hunt, take charge of the music and beginning to work with Planning Center.
* New Sound Equipment for youth worship center
* Seeing some small groups start to truly do life together
* SO MUCH MORE. Wanna add anything?

Patty and Isaiah are coming back into town today. We’ve only been apart for a couple of days, but he missed me and sent me this pic.

Yesterday, I had one of the biggest rushes that I have had in a long time. For the first time in my life, I went to a public auction. It was nuts! It was a bigger rush than eBay. I almost bought a little table just to buy something. Unfortunately, buyer number 685 left empty handed.

I just received an updated page for my 2007 South Carolina Baptist Convention Annual. I can now sleep soundly at night since I have the updated information about the amount of giving and number of members of churches in the Charleston and Chester Associations. How could I have missed this error in my 364 page book of fun!?

Being a student pastor at a church, people assume that the greatest “calling” in my life is being a minister at a church. However, I can say with 100% confidence that my highest calling isn’t my ministry. What is it? Hands down…my highest calling is my relationship with my wife and son.

In Ephesians 5, I am commanded to love my wife “as Christ loved the Church” (Eph 5:25). What does that mean? I am to lay down my life for her. I should live a life of sacrifice towards her, being willing to give up anything that hinders our relationship.

Marriage is an unbelievably important aspect of the gospel. God created it, not simply as a symbol, but to literally show us his love for us. If you do not love your wife and family and support them above ALL else, you are giving others a skewed picture of God’s love towards us. If she isn’t first, you are going directly against the Gospel that you claim to believe in and teach.

I know, I know…God should be our first love. That’s right. But God has taught us in Scripture that our family comes first. It comes before my church ministry.

If my ministry ever gets in the way of my relationship with my wife and son, I will quit immediately. My relationship with them is a picture of God’s love for us. I can’t lead if that’s not in order.

Men…love your wives more than anything. You may need to give up the Xbox, sports, or maybe even a ministry so that she can have the attention and love that she needs from you. Others will take notice, and they will see the clearest picture of the Gospel that they will probably ever see. That’s what ministry is all about.

Looks like some changes are going to be made to the "It’s a small world" ride at Disneyland.  Looks like people are getting too fat for the boats to hold the weight.  It reminds me…I need to lose weight.  Check out the article here.