faithrunner

As part of an all-day pastoral staff planning session, we took in the new movie, Bella this afternoon . A great story of true love that demonstrates how our mis-takes and accidents can be redeemed by greater acts of love . I highly recommend it! Two thumbs up and all that. Check out the website and make plans to go . Yes, guys, the plot will call you to be a real man; and, women, you'll need tissue. Pass the word. This is a good story for everyone.

As some of you know, we held Kidzapoloosa at Legacy as part of our celebration of 40 Days of Community. It was a great day of worship and opening our campus to the community. We had every kind of blow up game known, a climbing wall, concession booths, and we topped it all off with Chagy the Clown . To promo the event in the morning service, Markus Lloyd offered me a part in the video. Of course, I accepted given my dance skills. Here it is. (It's only a minute long. The rest are out takes.) Yes, I am the white man...I took one for the team on this one .

Yep! The picture says, "I love my Nana and Pop!" Storey is a little over six weeks pregnant, and the Wilkes family is floating on clouds! Looks like the baby will be born at the end of May or first of June--just in time for Nana to get out of teaching and head to Waco to help with the newborn. We are so proud of Graham and Storey and can't wait to have him or her for a night, weekend, or week! Okay, we won't get too carried away. I hear the best part of being grandparents is getting to give the child back to Mom and Dad when you are finished spoiling him. Thanks for your prayers as we wait to greet this new one into our lives!

Certain days exemplify what I envision Legacy to be. Yesterday was one of those days. Our community project for 40 Days of Community was a church-wide baby shower for the Student Age Parent Program of the PISD . As usual, Legacy blew away all expectations with all the items they brought for the students. (The picture is one half of what was on stage!) The Director of the program, Wanda Pieterz , was present, and she, too, was amazed at Legacy's generosity and service to the students in the program. Legacy has always stepped up when asked to respond to a need, and I am humbled to be part of such a group. The other part of the morning was Bruce Walpole's FaithStory of how God led him to start hockey chapels with the team he coached, the Aces , and how that has connected with a larger group, Hockey Ministries International . He struggled as a Legacy Church Leadership Team member whether or not he should give up coaching to be "in church" every Sunday until someone rem...

Brian McLaren launches another look at Christianity this week with his new book, Everything Must Change . McLaren has helped my faith grow and challenges my theology. I've wrestled with him many times, but have grown every time we have. I love McLaren for his writings and musings--many of which I would not consider on my own. I have not suffered the ridicule or attacks he has for his efforts to address a changing culture with the gospel, but I have a sense of some of what he is trying to do and why some people don't like him doing it. I got my email newsletter from Allelon today , and Alan Roxburgh interviews his friend Brian McLaren about what it is like trying to lead people to faith and getting beat up by those who say they follow Jesus already. It's about 20 minutes, but worth the watch to get an insight into both men's hearts. You'll like the prayer McLaren shares at the end of the interview. I'll get the book and let you know what I think about it. Che...

We traveled to Waco this past weekend to perform the wedding of Freeland Ackley and Brooke Chisum . Brooke is David Chisum's daughter, and we have been friends since the mid-80's. Storey and Brooke went to school together at PSHS , and Summer is in Tri Delta at Baylor , where Brooke was a member while at Baylor. One of the greatest joys of being a pastor is being part of the family events of friends. The ceremony was special because Freeland and Brooke's first love is Christ and then each other . Their friends are great people, and love them deeply. It was an outdoor wedding and Freeland's Great Danes were the ring bearer and flower girl--and it still worked! It was hot, but the setting was beautiful and worth the sweat. We got to spend time with our kidos , which is always a bonus. Storey and Graham continue to work on their fixer upper, and Summer is full swing into her student teaching. I even got a run in at Cameron Park, my favorite training spot for trail runn...

This past weekend five Legacy Cyclists rode in the 64-mile tour of the Cotton Patch Classic in Greenville , TX and surrounding towns. Our goal was to cross the finish line together and to finish before noon. We rode as a team , the faster riders resisting their usual speeds and the slower riders cranking it up to keep the average speed higher than they would normally ride. We rode in a pace line most of the way and only stopped once to refuel (and make room for more liquids if necessary). We crossed the line together and only missed our time goal by minutes. I am always amazed at the power of team. When you share the lead position, take turns drafting on other team members, and crank harder than you would on your own to keep the team's goals you discover you are better together than on your own. I was glad I was riding with my team as the day got warmer, the hills longer, and the wind picked up in our faces. I've been the lone rider we flew by many times that morning, and I d...