I took a trip north of the border for the weekend to officiate the wedding ceremony for Jeff and Jess Senechal. I flew in to Toronto, Ontario yesterday. This is my first time I've ever been to Canada. Loving it!Jeff was one of our students while I was pastoring a college ministry in Orlando. He is a great friend and I'm so proud of the man he has become. Back to Charlotte immediately following the ceremony. Crazy weekend!My welcome sign:Downtown Toronto:

I made a decision before moving to Charlotte that I would never again allow myself to let ministry eat away all my time. I had gotten to a point in my life that I was letting what I loved to do (ministry) get in the way of what I loved the most on this side of Heaven (my family).There are so many things to get done this week, but I am taking today off to spend with my lovely bride and kiddos. I don't even know what we're going to do, but we'll be together. I am about to hit a 5-day stretch of non-stop movement that is going to burn the candle at both ends, so today is set aside to simply be...

I spoke on Psalm 119:105 last week at Hope."God's word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."Click here if you want to check out the audio podcast. Talked about the fact that sometimes the detours of life actually might be divine destinations.

I have waited 14 years for the Orlando Magic to return to the NBA Finals. I went to the very first game 20+ years ago. I lived through horrendous seasons that led to Shaq and Penny leading the charge through the mid-90's. I lived through Nick Anderson's four missed free throws that could have sealed game one of the 1995 NBA Finals. Instead, he choked and we got swept. I lived through Shaq leaving, Penny blowing up (in a bad way), T-Mac's drama, Grant Hill's ankle surgeries and finally drafting Dwight Howard. Being a Magic fan is synonymous shows great commitment and faithfulness in a person...

I am home today with the kiddos while Dara is out with Ginny Gum eating sushi and enjoying some good conversation free of kid-interruption.I love the fact that Dara and I are in this together. She is home a majority of the time with the kids so that I can do my part of what God called us to do. I love it when we are able to flip that role she is able to get out of the house and spend time with her friends.We're in this together. Forever. I love my wife.

I love the pictures that are painted in the New Testament of the apostles going to the town square and defending their faith. This is inspiring to me as I seek to know, learn, understand and grow in my faith. I want to be prepared to answer questions when they come my way.One of my core convictions is that I don't want to simply proclaim what I believe, I want to share why I believe with anyone who might ask. It is in these moments of defining and defending my faith that I find more confidence, resolve and assurance that God is alive and living in me.Where is your town square? Where is the...

Fenton Jones was an amazing man of God. He may not have a famous name like Billy Graham or John Wesley, but he is absolutely a hero of the faith. He was also a wonderful and loving grandfather to Dara. We affectionately call him Granddaddy.Granddaddy passed away almost three years ago. During his time with us, however, he modeled a life of faith in Christ Jesus that will live on in our lives for generations to come. I find so much strength in hearing his stories. I remember one story that was so gripping, so compelling, that it brought me to tears.Granddaddy was a pastor and church planter...

Our fundraising for the month of June came up several hundred dollars short. This is the lowest we had been since moving to Charlotte. I have become very comfortable with the reality that even if the full amount did not come in by the time our paycheck came, God would provide another way.In keeping with God's absolutely true promise of provision, I got an anonymous contribution today for $300. Totally amazing. God's creativity in the way that he provides for us is so amazing.Thanks to all of you that have invested in our lives financially and become shareholders in this vision to bring hope...

Yesterday marked our one year anniversary of our final day on pastoral staff at Calvary in Orlando, FL. This was an amazing season of life for Dara and I. We got married during our time there, had three of our four children there, worked with teenagers and college students that changed our lives forever. We were a part of a staff of pastors that genuinely loved each other and believed in each other. Some of my best friends and closest relationships came from our 7 years at Calvary.I can look back and see that God used this season of life to build a rock solid foundation for what we have done...

If you have not checked out RELEVANT Magazine yet, you definitely need to take a look. RELEVANT covers God, life and progressive culture. It's a great read for those of us who love God without turning a blind eye to the world around us. They have a great way of responding to what's happening now and introducing us to what's about to happen.