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• We won our first all-star game today 12-0 over Woodbridge.  It was a great game.  Zac went 1-2 with 2 walks and played a great game at 2B.  Tomorrow we play Fort Hunt at 1 pm.
• Looking forward to tomorrow’s service.  Josh and the band will be back.  I’m concluding The Movement series...which I have thoroughly enjoyed.  The Apostle Paul was an amazing guy…he has impacted my ministry paradigm through this series.
• Aquafina is my favorite bottled water.  Now that’s not something we talked about 20 years ago.
• Can’t believe it’s July tomorrow.
• I still don’t have an iPhone and I’m still feeling pretty happy about life.

We took our family to the mid-afternoon showing yesterday at Pot Mills.  This is a great family movie.  I have to say I was surprised at how non-offensive it was.  Steve Carell and Wanda Sykes are hilarious.  Lots of laughs…  This is a great modern day Noah story.  I’m sure we’ll be using some of the Morgan Freeman (God) clips in our services.  Great stuff.  Make sure you stay at the end for the credits…some funny stuff.

Around 5 pm yesterday my son and i were strolling through the mall on our way to Sports Authority to get some new batting gloves before All-stars begins today….and there was this mob of people in the middle of the mall.  Then I realized who they were…the insane people who have to spend $500 on the first day it’s available to get this phone that has god-like powers.  The At&t store had closed at 4:30 and was reopening from 6-10 pm for this deal.  Actually there were about 40-50 people in line - all ages, shapes and sizes.  I asked the guy in front of the line (he looked about 25 yo) how long he had been there…he said since 6 AM.  And I asked him if it will be worth it?  DEFINITELY!  was his answer.  We’ll see.   I have to admit the commercials have sold me….but $500???…I can wait til they come down!

I’m trying to analyze myself on something.  I have this huge administrative task that needs to be done…and because of its’ nature…it really needs to be done by me.  And Administration is one of my gifts…yet I keep fighting it.  I am having trouble making myself work on it.  I find it odd, because I usually go after these types of tasks with vigor…but for some reason I just don’t want to do it.  I even ran an errand to Wal-mart yesterday just to avoid working on it.  I am normally not a procrastinator.  Am I crazy?  Is it summertime blues?  Burnout?  I cannot figure myself out on this one!  Any psychologists out there??? 

I heard a sport talk radio guy talking yesterday about coaches changing jobs…or NOT.  He went on a rant about how some guys stay at lower level colleges or sport programs because they are already HAPPY.  They make a good living, they have roots, their wife and kids like it…why leave for the bigger and better?  To try to become happier than happy?

I’m not saying we shouldn’t try to improve ourselves and pursue better jobs, etc…but if you are happy, making a good living, and your family is happy…maybe you found something that few find…and maybe you shouldn’t mess with it!

1 Timothy 6:8 “So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”

Imagine trying to plant a church without a set of wheels?  Church planting is challenging enough, but that is what our church planter, Allen Timothy is trying to do. 

Allen is from Pakistan and he and his wife Doris are planting a church in Northern Virginia to reach their people group.  We are their sponsor church in conjunction with the SBCV.  A few months ago, Allen was in a car accident that destroyed their car.  Thankfully, he is fine physically.   The insurance did not cover the cost of replacing his vehicle.  He has had some friends drive him around, but this is becoming difficult.  What he needs is for someone to step up and donate a vehicle that is in running condition so that his ministry can continue.  Spread the word…let’s meet this need!

Here’s my review…

Much better than expected!  This morning I bought the Medium Vanilla Iced Coffee for $1.59.  It was pretty good…not too sweet and quite refreshing.  Of course not as good as a Starbucks Frap, but it didn’t cost me 4 bucks either.  So give it a try and tell me what you think.

It’s time for my Sunday night blog….

• I think we had our lowest attendance day at church in a year…boy the summer vacations didn’t take long to get started!  Still a good service…but we missed everyone!
• Brian Shifflett did a great job filling in leading worship for Josh today.   Brian (like Josh) came up through my youth ministry days at Calvary Road.  I can’t believe these guys are in their mid-20’s now.  It’s great to see guys you mentored serving God!
• Josh and his family were on vacation at the Outer Banks.  It was the first Sunday he’s missed since March of 2006…how’s that for healthy?  I have missed one in that time frame…so I guess I’m much healthier?  Anyway, we need to do a better job of missing a few Sundays each year.  My family vacation is a month away!
• Ahhh…the trials of renting a school.  We found out today we had to move the nursery because of the new gym floor being installed this summer.  OK…we were warned…BUT then we find out the school is not going to let us back in their when it’s done because of fear of us messing it up.  Ok…so we need to find a permanent new place for our nursery and preschool.  Back to the drawing board!
• Did I mention I have a headache right now?
• The weather has been awesome the last few days!  But temps in the 90’s are on the way..
• Heard from someone today that Evan Almighty was really good…want to take the family this week…
• Lots of hurting families right now in our church…several dealing with deaths in their families…it sure does weigh on your heart as the pastor.
• I think I’m gaining weight this summer…my wife being off from school means she is doing more baking.  She made some awesome Lemon Sugar Cookies…email her: sherri.markle@lifecc.us for the recipe!
• We just finished watching Season 4 of “24.”  We are now addicted Jack Bauer fans.  Bring on Season 5…and 6.  We just need to get caught up before season 7 starts in January.
• I’m working on the process of incorporation for our church.  Lots of paperwork to get ready for our attorney.  I just need to really buckle down this week and get it done…it’s just not very much fun…but worth it I am sure.
• Check this out…an great report from a Friend and Church Planter in Northern Virginia.  His church got a tremendous anonymous gift from an elderly lady of $116,000.  Is that not unbelievable???  They are currently meeting on Sunday nights and this should definitely help them in their desire to acquire space on Sunday mornings.  God is good!

my friend Donald sent me this sick video…

My opening verse for this Sunday’s message is from Acts 20:24.  I love Paul’s passion for working for Jesus:

“But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.”