I’m sure we’ve all heard or said those words at some point in our lives.
And…let’s face it.  It’s a cover-up.
We usually don’t think that the problem is us.  THEY are the reason it’s not working.
We just like to wear our false humility.  And we all like a good excuse.

How often do Christian’s have an “it’s not you…it’s me” mentality with God?
Stay with me for a second.
We say that things aren’t going well in our spiritual life because “it’s me.”
But do we really believe that?
Do we really think that the problem is us?
Or could it be that…a lot of times…we truly feel like God’s the problem?

Why didn’t He answer my prayer?
Why didn’t He give me what I wanted?
How could He let that happen?
Why don’t I feel like God even cares?

Let’s face it.  We really don’t have faith in Him most of the time.
We feel like God’s not fulfilling MY needs or MY desires.
We don’t really think that we’re the problem.
Because if we did….we would change.

I wish we truly meant it.
It’s not You…It’s me.

I’m convinced that some foods are going to have to be in heaven.  They’re just too incredibly tasty not to be.  And…I’m sure they won’t make us fat in heaven either.

Here are 10 foods, in no particular order, that I expect to eat in heaven.  What would you add to this list?

1. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.  Few things can make my mouth water more than when I see that “Hot Now” sign on.
2. S’mores Chocolate Fondue from The Melting Pot.  Milk chocolate, melted marshmallows, and graham crackers…ready to to be enjoyed with strawberries, cheesecake, Rice Krispie treats, brownies, pound cake, bananas, and more marshmallows.
3. Ovaltine (Not the malt kind, though…although the malt variety may be offered in hell)
4. Malai Chicken that they had at Foliage (that’s for all of you Lawrenceburg peeps)
5. Mom’s Meatloaf.  I don’t even like Meatloaf typically, but my mom must have borrowed her recipe from Jesus.
6. The cheddar biscuits from Red Lobster. (Which, by the way, is the most searched for clone recipe on the internet)
7. Sweet Potato Souffle from Wade’s.
8. Fresh crab legs.
9. Homemade crepes.  All they need is some butter & powdered sugar.
10. A steak from Ruth’s Chris. Sure it’s expensive…but it will melt in your mouth.

There are so many opinions out there about churches, both good or bad.  Out of curiosity, in an ideal setting what do you think church should look like?  What characteristics, ministry, etc…do you dream of seeing in a church?

Tell me what you think works or would work below in the comments.  (Leave out the things you wouldn’t do).

Here are some links for you to check out from this week:

1. Amazing.  That’s how I would describe the analogy in this video by Francis Chan. (via Catalyst)
2. In case you missed it, we made this video and song this week for a contest for the Melting Pot.  And….WE WON!!!  Free fondue for a year!
3. Intriguing post asking the question, “Is SEO the future of evangelism.” I’m thinking that this is an incredible idea.
4. Mountain Lake Church is throwing a FREE mass wedding.  What do you think about it?  I think I like it.
5. I pray that the church that we plant can be a dream factory like Mark Batterson talks about in this post.

Is there something inside of you that you’ve always dreamed to do?  Maybe even something that makes you say, “there’s no way that will ever happen?”

I have some dreams that make me shudder.  Dreams bigger than I could ever accomplish on my own.
But…I’m still going to attempt at making them happen.  I cannot truly live without putting my best attempt at it.

2010 is my dream year.  Heck…I’ve even got a dream coach to help inspire and prod me towards making them happen.

I think that great things happen when audacious dreams become reality.  What are your audacious dreams?  What’s stopping you?  Take the risk.

I’m going to be sharing my dreams with you this year on this blog.  Perhaps you can even join me in making it happen.

A couple of days ago, I saw that the Melting Pot was having a contest in honor of National Chocolate Fondue Day.  They wanted users to submit a 30 second video & explain which type of chocolate fondue best represents you: dark, milk, or white.  The winner will receive free fondue for a year ($1,200 worth).

SO…we decided to enter.  Here’s my family’s entry for the contest.  We’ll find out if we win on Thursday.  Everything in the video (footage, music, singing, etc…) is completely original and is me, my wife, and my little boy, so hopefully they’ll think it’s creative!

We’re calling it Like Milk Chocolate.  We’d love to hear your thoughts about it!

Here are links to five things that caught my eye this week:

1. This video cracks me up.  I would have probably joined in the cheering as well. (Disclaimer for those that are ultra-sensitive: there is one cuss word)
2. If you’re like me, life is way too busy most of the time.  Here are 43 simple ways to simplify your life.
3. For all of the Christians out there that struggle with things not feeling spiritual all the time, this post by Brad Ruggles is right on.
4. I love the Melting Pot.  I’m definitely making a video for this contest.
5. “What if we through the Buts out?” is an awesome post about radical grace.  We all need to give and receive more of it

I always joke that I’m going to run for president in 2016.  It would be the first election that I would be old enough to run.

So…I have officially taken my first step.  I have officially been named a Mayor!  Well…Foursquare says so.  I am the mayor of Starbucks in NE Columbia!

I don’t know what my platform will be during this term.  Coffee I guess.  I may even expand my role to other locations soon.  Next thing you know I will be winning the Nobel Prize.

Brickey- 2016

I have a variety of people that come to this blog so I thought I’d fill you in on some random facts that you may or may not know about me:

• I was a batboy for the Kingsport Mets.  I am even on two minor league baseball cards, although I missed the picture day for the card from 1990, so only my name appears on that one.  I may have to upload a pic of the 1989 card sometime for your viewing pleasure.
• I don’t wear my Puma’s when it rains.  I have a hole in them.
• My favorite drink at Starbucks is the White Chocolate Mocha.  I’ve actually tried all the drinks on the menu because…
• I worked for about 7 months for an online high school as a Community Outreach Director.  I had to visit a different Starbucks for 15 days to help people process paperwork.
• I’ve played in a professional basketball game but never got in a game at college.  Technically, I played in two exhibition games against a professional team in Poland just before college.  I was on the team at Sewanee my first semester of college, but I was injured for most of it.  In the only game that I had 100% health, I was sitting at the scorer’s table waiting to check in when time expired.
• I’m a perfectionist.
• I used to drive limos in Louisville, Kentucky.  The highlight may have been driving a man, woman, and the woman’s two kids to a DNA testing facility because they were going to be on the Maury Show.  I never saw the results.
• I was voted “best all around” in high school.  In other news, I’ve gained about 40 pounds all around since that time.
• I have a print and graphic design business, JW Printworks, but I really don’t enjoy graphic design.
• I play guitar and used to be in a band that played almost 100 times in one year, but I only have one guitar now and it’s broken.

What is something random about you?

His family was all still there and had just moved to the country’s capital: Port-au-Prince
He is from Haiti.

Like most of you reading this, I have kind of been left numb when I see what has happened in Haiti.
The devastation.  The lives lost.  The despair.

I immediately thought of Johnny and my heart sunk even further when I thought…
Is he ok?
Is his family ok?

I decided to email him to check on him.  It had been a while since we had been in contact but I prayed fervently that he was ok and that I would hear back from him.  Less than 24 hours later, I got a response.  He was ok because he was in the Dominican when the earthquake hit.  The day after he rushed to Port-au-Prince to see about his family.

What he saw was devastating.  He said that his home was destroyed and that saw things that he had never before seen in his life.  His family was “not bad but not good.”  A couple of siblings are battling injuries.  Another brother was at work at the time of the earthquake and they do not know if he is even alive.

Then he said something that rocked me.  He said this:

“Life is not good in Haiti but i think because of all those things, God has a plan for Haiti.”

Because of all those things, God has a plan for Haiti.
In the midst of devastation.
In the midst of the lives lost.
In the midst of despair.
God has a plan for Haiti.

Johnny’s faith and perseverance is incredible.  His wisdom in a time of anguish is inspiring. I’m not going to add anything to it because I think nothing could add to it.

God has a plan for Haiti.