Today is my first day "in the office" in 2010 as the pastor of Center City Church. In many ways, it feels like my first day on the job. We have spent the past 4 months meeting regularly with an amazing group of 25 people that have come together with a common vision to start this new church in Uptown Charlotte. Today feels different, though. We are moving forward with specific vision and direction. This vision now includes a new venue, start dates, plans, etc. 2010 promises to see structure begin to form around the DNA that God has created at Center City Church. As I navigate these thoughts...

Dara and I are spending the next couple of days in Asheville, NC. So great to just get away, spend time together and relax. It's fun to look back on 2009 and all that God has done in our lives. It's so exciting to look ahead to 2010 and know that so much is about to happen with our family and Center City Church. Dreams are coming true in 2010!As for the next couple of days...random shops, lots of unique food experiences and simply time spent together. And we are ringing in the new year with The Avett Brothers at the Asheville Civic Center :-)Happy New Year to all our friends and family. We...

I am partially through reading my blog posts from 2009. I think of it as an online road map that I've written about over the past year. So encouraging to see the journey after the story has unfolded. God is so faithful. I am cracking up, though, because I just found a post from last January. I was waxing on about how much I love the NFL and how unexpected it was to see the Cardinals vs. Steelers in the Super Bowl. My next sentence wasn't quite an accurate prediction of the coming season for my beloved Tampa Bay Bucs: Monday, January 19, 2009:Each year can be a new, unexpected team. Last year...

I have just started reading Mark Batterson's new book, Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity. I have made it through about thirty pages and I had to put it down for a bit. Don't want to fly past all of the things that I feel like God is doing in me right now. I can easily say that the first 30 pages of this book have challenged me more than any other (non-Bible) reading I have done this year. In a good way. I can feel myself really digging deep to try to get to the core of who I am in Christ. I'll write more about this book in the coming week, but for now, I need to put it down...

I was talking with a friend recently that has been exploring his faith. He has been around church for a long time, but never actually took the step of inviting Christ into his heart as Lord and Savior. I'll never forget when he looked at me and said, "David, I guess you can't kinda be pregnant. You either are or you're not. So, no, I've never asked Christ to come into my heart." "You can't kinda be pregnant. You either are or you're not." So true. The moment that my friend text messaged me on Christmas night is burned into my memory forever. He had accepted Christ into his heart! You can't...

A huge nod to Kip from Napoleon Dynamite here as I say over and over again, "I love technology..."Dara and I got on Skype tonight with my family in Florida to let them see the kids open their Christmas presents. It was so much fun to use (free) technology to let our babies feel like they were with my family even though we're 500 miles away. It's hard being away from them during the holidays, but it sure was fun sharing those moments as the kids got so excited opening their presents.I love technology!

One of the things that I have been challenged by lately is the fact that one of my roles as a husband and father is to creatively think about making memories as a family. I want my kids to grow up with traditions that we look forward to each year. One tradition that we have is getting together with Dara's extended family on Christmas Eve each year. It's always so much fun to get together with family. So comfortable. We started another tradition today that we plan on keeping every year: Cracker Barrel with the kids on Christmas Eve morning. We all love Cracker Barrel and it's just fun to get...

We woke up this morning to find that Jack (two years old) had woken up before us this morning, snuck downstairs and opened up one of the newly wrapped presents under the tree. Only problem? He opened my dad's present!

While getting ready to go Christmas shopping today, I had this interaction with Max. Consider it a glimpse into the conversations between a daddy and a very imaginitive six year old: Max: Dad, please don't double knot my shoes today. Me: Why, Max? Max: Because when you do that it makes my feet itchy. Me: Itchy? I don't think that's possible Max. Max: Yes it is, Dad. It's called Itchy-itis. Me: Itchy-itis? Max: Yes. When you double knot my shoes it makes my feet itch and it's called Itchy-itis. Me: Ok, Max.

I am so humbled and amazed by the generosity shown to us by so many. We have seen the beautiful reflection of the generous heart of God through so many people in the last few weeks. Yesterday afternoon, Dara was praying and asked God to provide enough money for us to be able to finish our Christmas shopping for our family. Later that same afternoon, a family gave us $250 specifically for Christmas shopping. They said God put us on their heart and they wanted to bless us. Mission accomplished. Wow. So humbled by their generosity. So amazed by the way that God hears our prayers and knows...