God Moments

I just got back from a retreat with some terrific leaders and it is amazing to see what God is doing in us. While we were there I had multiple opportunities to see God work in ways that many people fail to realize. God is in the details of planning a church calendar, God is in the details of giving us safe travel, God is in the details of people becoming friends, God is in the details of things that we fail to realize. I was standing on the beach with a new found friend and as we talked we both kinda of stood in awe of a God that could create the ocean and beach, and we both realized that we have our faith placed in a God that is bigger than we can truly imagine. How is it possible to KNOW God created that vast expanse of water and life, yet fail to believe in Him for the “smaller” things? Here is the problem with that line of thinking. God is limitless. There are no small miracles and big miracles. There are just miracles. God sees so size of His power, it is limitless. We need a new understanding that God works in our lives when we stop trying to do the small things and let God have the big ones. Why not let Him have all of it?

            May you be immersed in realization that God is bigger than you know, a God that loves you unconditionally and irrationally. May that love permeate the moments of loneliness, pain, happiness, celebration, and everyday life. Drown in it. Allow the current of God’s love pull you in the direction of grace. And in those moments when life seems out of control, and chaos surrounds you, may He allow you to have the faith to stop swimming against Him, and swim in Him.

Sunday Rewound

Week 2 of Deal or No Deal is in the books, and boy am I glad. This week I took on the topic of financial matters and God’s plan. Why is it some people can talk about giving and have no problem, and others have such difficulty with it? I am in the latter. I struggle with teaching it because I am always afraid that people will just think I am another “preacher” after their money. But got through it, and now we will see how the people will respond. Here are some more highlights…

·      We did some filming today and that seemed a little odd. We have some videos being produced and we needed footage from one of our experiences. People always act funny in front of a camera.

·      Was great to see new faces, and see those who are coming back. I like drawing a crowd, but I like seeing people come back even better. Not everyone is going to like our style of “church,” but it is rewarding to see those come back and say they want more of what they got last week. One comment someone said to be was “It is obvious God is here.” What a great comment!

·      Worship was intense again. God is moving on us as we move in Him during worship. The church really came alive during “Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone.” I think it is a great bridge between the old and new.

·      I taught about finances. Don’t like it, but I committed to God to teach all of His word. Doing it inside a series like “Deal or No Deal,” makes it a little easier and lighter.

·      We launched “Elevate Encounter.” This program is designed to raise funds throughout the summer. We are dedicated to the place God is taking us and it will take cash and commitment to make it happen. I hope you will go on this journey with us, as we seek to allow people to encounter God in a personal life changing way. More details will be on the website soon.

·      Arron and I will be out of town for most of this week. We will be going away to seek direction and the future of our church. This retreat will be us and a few other leaders with a purpose of seeking how we can bring influence to Tallahassee. Be in prayer for us as we go, and if you need to get us, you can email us as we will be checking it while we are gone.

 

 

Have a great week…go and take on the world!

My Tallahassee Quest Has Begun – Barnaby’s Family Inn

So I have decided that I want to begin to check out all the local establishments that native Tallahasseeians talk so much. For those of you who know me well, you know that I eat very healthy so this will be a little difficult and may require more workouts to be added, but I want to truly experience the city God has placed me in. I have begun to research some places that locals claim to be the “best” in Tallahassee so I can try them for myself. So tonight it began…

Brenda and I took the kids to Barnaby’s Family Inn. I was told by some that it was a local classic, and that it is family friendly. The Liles clan, numbering five now, loaded up for a night at a classic. When we pulled in we were talking in the parking a lot to our kids that we had not been here before, to which a lady responded, “Order anything it is all great!” She went on to tell us she had moved to South Carolina, but makes trips back to Tally just for Barnaby’s. Let’s just say my expectations went through the roof! As we entered it was apparent we were out of place. A sign told us to be seated, fill out our menu card, and take it to the cashier. Kinda different, but hey now problem for us. We dodged tons of kids running around, and found a table. Let me let you know this place is not like Chucky Cheese where kids running around is to be expected. It was a normal restaurant setting, but kids definitely ruled the roost. We filled out our menu; I took it to the counter and then was told I had to go to another counter to order drinks. We ordered a couple of pizzas and then waited. I took the girls to the game room only to find out that half the games did not work, and the other half either involved killing mutants, killing terrorists, or running over stuff in cars. Not exactly allowed for my 7 and 5 year old so back to the table we went.

The man on the microphone, who obviously did not know he did not need to place the microphone into his mouth for it to work, called our number and it was pizza time. The pizza had a great taste, but the crust on the bottom was very “crunchy.” Okay lets be honest it was hard. Flavor was great but the bottom was a downer. The pizza is cut into little squares instead of normal slices, but that did not bother me either.

Will I go back? Sure. I will not recommend it for a romantic dinner, one you need to talk through, or one if you expect the calmness of a normal restaurant. I saw a couple of sandwiches that looked amazing and the next time I will probably try one of those. It is the perfect place for a little league team, or a bunch of guys wanting to grab a pie and watch a game.

 

So now I am on the lookout for the next Tallahassee local classic. I would love some recommendations, but here are the guidelines:

1.      No national chains. There can be more than one, but local only.

2.      No bars. I don’t care how good the drinks specials are. I will go to a sports bar if the food is good.

3.      No places where the waitresses attire is the main draw. Don’t give me that line about how good the wings are! I will be taking my family most of the time.

 

I am on the lookout for the best bbq, burgers, seafood, pizza, or whatever specials there are out there in Tally. Let me know!!!

Gracen is a year old!

Gracen is one year old! His birthday was mother’s day so it was a double celebration. We had lunch with some wonderful people at Mori Japanese Steakhouse and he slept the whole time. (Which was nice so we could enjoy lunch with everyone!)

Looking back, it seems that this first year of his life was so much quicker than the first year of Mackenzie or Cadence’s first year of life. Having a boy is different than girls, more basketballs and better toys! The bad thing is that now he is at the age when he cries for me and there are times I can’t pick him up and play. Breaks my heart, but it happens.

Happy birthday Gracen, daddy loves you!

 

 

Sunday Rewound

I love Mother’s Day, and yesterday was no exception. We had a great day at ECC and here are some highlights…

* Our first impression team handed out fresh carnations to all the moms as they walked in the door. Seeing all those moms with a smile on their faces was great. Amazing how small acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Try it sometime other than special days, we will.

* New lighting this month to match or series “Deal or No Deal.” I liked it a lot. More gameshow stuff this week. Who said church can’t be fun.

* Worship was amazing! There was a very tangible presence of God in our experience. Arron did a great job leading, and many people responding to the tugging God had on us. It is much easier to speak after an intense time of worship. If you have been missing the worship set, you should make a point to be there, it is very intense.

* We started a new series “Deal or No Deal.” It revolves around us selling our destiny for the promise of something in another “case.” It started well, and will only get better. Bring someone out for this fun and challenging series.

* A lot of new people with us yesterday. It is great to see people finding us as God continues to unveil our story.

 

 

Love you guys now…go and take on the world.

            

It’s Almost Over…

So my two weeks of being a single parent is about over. Brenda is on her way home, and I really am counting the minutes. She has been taking care of her dad during his first stint with Chemo, so it was a very legitimate reason. During these two weeks, I have had my oldest daughter Mackenzie and have been a “single parent” for the whole time. Here are some valuable lessons I have learned.

·      Kids love cookies for breakfast! Okay so it is not the best for them, but once in a while won’t kill them. Break the rules and give your kids a much needed surprise.

·      Kids are fast learners of routines. Mack’s routine had to be changed because my schedule is not the same as it is when Bren is home. She is much more adaptable than I thought, and she is able to basically take care of herself in the mornings. At times I loved it, but then I realized that she does not need me anymore. Except to get her cookies. (I put them on the top shelf so he couldn’t reach them!)

·      Days are much longer emotionally when you have to do it all. I would work hard all day, pick up Mackenzie, work out for an hour or so, and then have to make sure dinner is cooked, Mack takes a shower, and gets to bed on time. Emotional stress galore!

·      Brenda make my life easier…enough said.

·      A crazy thing happens. As much as it is to have one kid with me, I really want my other two to be here too. It would triple the work and there is no way I could do it, but I really want them with me.

 

I love my family…even more when we are together 

You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Until It’s Gone.

I have used that phrase myself so many times I can’t even count them, but now I am living it. I am having to deal with the fact that I do not have something that is not only a luxury to have, but a necessity. It is like eating peanut butter without jelly, Oreos without milk, or ham without the burger! It is like Batman without Robin or Abbot without Costello. What would Jerry be without Elaine, Kramer, or George? Some things are just supposed to be together and when they are not, the world does not seem normal. Things are not in the right place and chaos ignites.

For the past two weeks, I have been without Brenda. She will not be home until Friday, and to be honest that is not soon enough. For those who do not know, she is in Gainesville helping with her Dad as begins a long series of Chemo treatments. The reason she is gone is noble and it is the right decision, but that does not make my pain go away. I am not in the same kind of pain as Dr. Kuschel, but I hurt in a different way. I am not right without her. She is what keeps me going, and it is difficult without her. My world is in a state of chaos. No, not the chaos you are thinking. Mackenzie and I are doing everything right. She is eating veggies at dinner, taking daily showers, and going to bed on time. Those things are easy. It is after she goes to bed that chaos begins to happen. How do I define chaos? Things being out of control with no clear way to stop it. When I get Mack to sleep, it is just me. I try to read, write, work on my Doctorate, and even watch TV, but it never works. It is not just about being alone. If there were five people in the room, I would still be alone. No one knows me like her, and the feeling of not being known is scary. No one loves me like her, and the absence of that love is devastating. No one moves me like her, and the only thing left in the void of her is a stagnate life…no movement. Many people have made fun of the now famous line from Jerry Maguire that says “You complete me,” but I am learning the truth behind that statement. I am only complete with her. Please do not give me the religious line that says God completes me because you are right, but I am talking about something different. God completed me the moment we were married, and He truly understands what I am feeling.

Why do I tell you all this? Why do I write a blog that is possibly this depressing? There are so many people out there that do not know how great they have it. I didn’t until this week. I did not realize how much I depended on someone for things that are not tangible. I never realized how much of me was made up entirely of someone else.

 

Appreciate what you have. Cherish the people in your life. Love the life God has given you.

Sunday Rewound

Another edition of Sunday Rewound…

 

·      It was a little strange teaching outside of a series. Without a series tying the entire Sunday Experience together, I always feel fragmented. I know we all have to get outside our comfort zone…but it does not make it easy.

·      We were a little low in attendance due to a number of things, but there was still a lot of energy and excitement. I always like the feeling right before the experience starts. Anticipation is great.

·      Arron led us in a song that he wrote called “I Will Be Your God.” Amazing is about the only word I can say. It was beyond what I can write about. I should stop being amazed at how God uses Arron on so many levels…Arron was made to do what he is doing and we are privileged to have him.

·      I spoke on the mission, values, vision, and process of ECC. It is good to hear it often so we do not forget what we are trying to accomplish together. I hope that many of you will get involved with what we are doing because without you, this whole thing will not work!

·      Next week is Mother’s Day and we start our new series, “Deal or No Deal.” So why not make a deal with your mom to be at ECC for our Sunday Experience!

 

 

Until next week…go and take on the world!