DC was awesome. Dara and I had so much fun. Yesterday we put on our tourist caps and walked all around the city taking in the monuments, museums and sights of our nation's capitol. Our favorite place was the World War II Memorial (built in 2004) in between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. What an amazing marriage of art and remembrance.We have returned to Florida with a new level of excitement for all the things that God is going to do in and through Hope Church in Charlotte. God is releasing dreams and vision so much bigger than us. So very excited...

Dara, Mike, Sam and I met with Mark Batterson this morning. During the course of our 1.5 hour conversation the synergy of the Holy Spirit was so evident. He is doing some pretty amazing things in DC that are worth checking out. Meeting new people with a like heart and a like spirit is so energizing!I love thinking outside of the box and dreaming. Mark opened a coffee shop 2 years ago called Ebenezers Coffeehouse right in the heart of Capitol Hill. Awesome location. Awesome idea. He has two church services there on Saturday nights. He made a statement that was really cool - In the New...

Dara and I are headed to Washington DC tomorrow to meet with Mark Batterson. More than anything, I just love it when my world gets a little bit bigger by meeting new people with a like heart and like spirit. Should be fun.We are so excited to be actively planning and preparing for Hope Church. This is a dream come true. I'd appreciate any prayers that you can pray over us this week. Mike and Sam will be meeting Dara and I in DC tomorrow and we'll meet with Mark on Thursday morning. It will be nice to connect with the guys again...looking forward to a great couple of days!

I think I might be a racing fan.I know...I know...I am sorry to all of you who I chuckled at and said racing was dumb and boring. The bottom line is that once you feel those race cars go by at 190mph something weird happens and it all makes sense.Wow. I can't even believe I'm writing this. To all you race fans...I've got a lot to catch up on...help me...

Our Master's Commission team is doing a fundraiser this week at the Daytona 500. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Let's just say these people LOVE their racing! I am brushing up against a whole world that I have never known, but am about to get to know ALOT more (moving to Charlotte...race country)...I worked on Thursday at the qualifying race and will be returning for the main event on Sunday. They said over 250,000 people will be there for the race. I have a pretty cool job as a Master's Commission director that takes me to new, random places every year...I love it!

I am a representative of Christ to this world.I found something really interesting in Scripture today that really got me thinking about being a representative. My senators are in Washington “speaking on my behalf” (that's kinda scary)...or so they are supposed to be anyway. I saw Charlie Wilson's War with Dara (should've walked out in the first 2 minutes but chose to close my eyes and hope for the best). He was a representative of the people in Texas. He spoke to other politicians on their behalf. He also was a raging alcoholic and a womanizer and a generally perverted soul. The people in...

So the other day I was putting Mary to bed and we went through our typical 9pm routine. She changed into her adorable little princess pj's...got her "milkie" in her purple Clifford the Big Red Dog sippy cup and hops into bed with her favorite blanket. I looked down at my beautiful little lady and said "you're so pretty, Mary." She looked back up at me with those big brown eyes and said, "thanks Dad...you're handsome." Melt me.I love being a daddy. I love my little girl. I will forever remember this moment.

Over 4 years ago, God placed a dream inside of Dara and I to plant a church. Along with that dream was a clear call to stay faithful at our current church, Calvary Assembly (Winter Park, FL). Over the past 4 years we have learned so much. About life. About ministry. We have loved our church and the people that God allowed us to have in our world.In December of 2007, I met Mike Field. He was making a move to Charlotte to plant a church. We connected really well right off the bat, and before I knew it, Dara and I were in Charlotte talking to him about the possibility of partnering with him.The...

We just got back from an amazing week in the mountains of North Carolina. Thanks to Jeff and Sheryl for allowing our family to get away for a week in their amazing cabin 3,000+ feet above sea level (and above all cell towers!). No phones or internet all week at the cabin...a MAJOR adjustment for us! We had such a great time and God really refreshed us while we were away. This was such a timely gift for our family. We spent long, lazy days relaxing and exploring the mountains with the kids. I even got to take Max skiing for the first time (4 years old!). He did a great job and we had some...

Dara and I just had two couples come in today for marriage counseling. We have another couple scheduled for tomorrow night. The other day one of my closest friends asked me to do his wedding and for Dara and I to do their marriage counseling, as well...Let me just express how much we LOVE marriage counseling. There's just something about looking across at a couple that is so in love...so naive to the amazing things ahead...and knowing that they've trusted us to help prepare them for the future. What a great privilege and responsibility.If you are one of these couples...please know that WE...