30/30: Favorite Vacation Memory

I write this under protest this morning, as my house has no AC and I await the repairman. It's August and I live in Florida. May I please get an "UGH!" from the audience? Here's #29 on the 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge. And I'm cheating...

My family never took exotic vacations when I was growing up, but we did always take a vacation. Me camped a lot, went to Myrtle Beach a lot, and often visited national historic sites in Virginia. I saw Williamsburg, Monticello, Jamestown, Washington's birthplace. Birthington's washplace and many civil and revolutionary war battlefields. And I loved them all- those trips made the history buff I am today. We traveled to Atlanta once a summer so I could see the Braves play, and one summer we even camped our way through Ohio and visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. We also made it to Canada on that trip. I have no idea what my favorite memory of family vacations would be. But the most memorable trip we ever made was the last one before I went to college. And that is the tale I will share with you today.

My Dad was an adventurous soul, forever taking up new hobbies and getting new obsessions. One of the best ones was whitewater canoeing. We bout a canoe. He also actually BUILT his own canoe (Old Ragbottom) from a kit. We often took weekend trips on the New River. He subscribed to magazines and plotted trips to some of the more famous whitewater rivers in the country. He and his buddy Cleo Denny decided on a trip with both families to the scenic Buffalo River, which according to some magazine was one of the most scenic whitewater rivers in the nation. I had 3 major problems with this idea. One, I didn't like the Denny's very much. Two, I would have much preferred to spend another week volunteering at Quaker Lake Camp. And finally- and I cannot stress this enough- I had zero desire to go to Arkansas, home of the Buffalo River. But off we went.

To tell you the full story of this adventure would take hours and make me sick to my stomach all over again, so I will just give you some of the "highlights." On the way from NC to Arkansas my Dad saw a sign for Sam Houston's Schoolhouse, a national historic landmark. So we drove 3 hours out of our way to see a one room building that you were not allowed to go in. Strike one. We spent one night on the west bank of the Mississippi River, just across the Arkansas state line from Memphis. It was there that we encountered the largest mosquitoes I have ever seen in my life, killing dozens of them on the blood splattered walls of our little camper until we had to give up in the middle of the night and check into a motel. Strike Two. All of my fears about the Dennys were coming to fruition; they were obnoxious and whiny. But that was about to get worse. You see, the Buffalo River may be known for it's scenic beauty and exciting rapids, and I am sure in the best of times those things are true. But on this particular occasion, Arkansas was in the midst of a severe drought. And the Buffalo River had no water in it. We carried our boats more than we paddled. I had many talks with God about why I was being punished. There is more whitewater in your average water fountain than we saw on that trip. I wound up taking Russell Denny's one-man kayak  so he could ride with my Dad and not have to paddle after his whining reached a point of no return.  Walking a whitewater river carrying our canoes as a big old Strike Three. This trip was toast. I remember almost nothing about the trip home, except the happy moment when we got separated from the Dennys and there was GREAT rejoicing.

They say that without the bad we often don't recognize the good, and I guess that is true. A few years ago, after my Dad had passed, my Mom suddenly began to apologize to me that we never took fancy vacations when I was young (Footnote: The went to Italy and Ireland after I moved out. Go figure!). I told her that I loved those trips, loved the beach and the historic sites and the camping. The only apology I needed was for dragging a 16 year old to Arkansas for summer vacation. Which I am pretty sure is now against the law. Have a great weekend!

Because of Jesus,

30/30: Immeasurable Impact

Youth group beach trip, circa 1974. Steve is 2nd from left; I am far right.

Today the 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge offers the following prompt: Write about one person (NOT a family member) who has had an influence on your life. There are so many people, so many influences, so many possibilities. But after a few minutes of just sitting and thinking, the choice was easy. And it goes back a long, long time...

For about as long as I can remember I knew about this guy named Steve Semmler. We began going to school together in 1st grade, and even though we were never in the same class I knew of him. In the 4th grade I had his mom as a reading teacher and I heard stories about him quite often, but I still didn't really know him. In 6th grade we began having some classes together and we got along well. In 7th grade he ran for student body president and I ran for VP, and we talked about how cool it would be to run the school together. He won; I lost. But a friendship was born. In the 8th grade we had most all of our classes together, and along with Darryl Richards (Pee-Wee) really had our run of Guilford Middle School. Just as a quick example, the principal (Howard Cross) once pulled the 3 of us out of classes for an entire day so we could was the school activity bus. Things like that happened all the time. We began to hang out outside of school and discovered a shared love of "different" music (such as Hurricane Smith, Neil Diamond, Gilbert O'Sullivan and the Beach Boys) and mutual tastes in many things. As time went by his home became my second home and his family my second family. We shared dreams and struggles. I helped him sort through the plethora of females trying to gain his attention. Our families went to the beach together in later years. We were often inseparable. But there were 2 things he did in those earliest days- 2 very important things- that set Steve apart from the other great influences in my life. 

Sometime early in our 8th grade year (1972-73) Steve invited me to a roller skating night with his youth group at New Garden Friends Meeting. My family had quit going to church a number of years before and I had no real connection to any group. He told me lots of great things about the leaders and the people, but there was only one selling point needed. You see, there was this girl...  She would be there, and so I was going to be as well! That group and that place changed my life forever. They loved and supported me through high school and beyond and are still doing it today. My spiritual foundation was built there. My love of that group led directly to my own career in youth ministry. That invitation was the beginning of a new life for me that might otherwise have never happened. That invitation and that girl. We never dated, by the way...

In the summer after 7th grade Steve had invited me to go to summer camp with him at a place called Quaker Lake. I couldn't go because of baseball commitments, but when he asked again after 8th grade I was in, along with several other members of our youth group. If you have read this blog or know me even a little bit, you know what Quaker Lake means to me. My years a a camper taught me so much about God and about faith; my years as a staff member were the backbone of my student ministry days. It was Steve who got me there; it was Steve who kept me going those first few years. For that I am forever grateful. 

Those two acts of simple invitation literally made me who I am today. Over the past few weeks I have visited with two other members of that old New Garden youth group, and we are all in agreement that it there is no way to overvalue what that group meant to our lives. We have all found ourselves praying as the years past that our own children would encounter a group of friends that are anything like the ones we had. Without Steve I would not have been a part of that family- and I would be much the worse for it. Without Quaker Lake I might have never realized God's call to youth ministry in my life and had 28 wonderful years trying to give back to students the love and support I had felt as a teenager. Two simple invitations. Two life changing experiences. God is so often in the small stuff.

Steve Semmler changed my life forever over 40 years go, and he is still doing it today. That is the very definition of "influence." I am so honored to call him my friend. Long live Hurricane Smith!

Because of Jesus,

30/30: One Surprising Truth About Me

Week number 27 of the 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge is a bit of a toughy for me. I'm supposed to tell you a surprising truth about myself. If you know me or are a regular reader of this blog then you know I keep very little about myself a secret. I have shared my happiest moments, my deepest sorrows and much personal trivia in these posts, and I am very much the same way in person. So what can I tell you that will surprise you? I am just not sure. But here goes...

Most of you know of my love of music and my somewhat eclectic tastes. You also know that I have, for MANY years, loudly proclaimed that I do not care much for country music. This was true when I used to be forced to watch Buck Owens on Hee Haw back in my childhood. I never cared for the classic country artists like Conway Twitty, George Jones and Loretta Young. When the kids in my youth groups began listening to people like Randy Travis and Garth Brooks I made fun of them. On my i-Pod there is no Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill or any of the other current country artists (Exception: I have one song by the Zac Brown Band, but that's as a tribute to a special friend- so you can't hold that against me!). I love bluegrass, folk, pop, rock, Christian, classical and whatever Weird Al is- but country is not my thing. But you already knew most of that. So what's my surprising truth?

I love...LOVE...the music of Willie Nelson. I find him to be a brilliant songwriter and I love to hear him sing. There is such passion and emotion in that scruffy old voice. I love On the Road Again, Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys and so many other classics. And his version of You Were Always On My Mind is one of the best songs ever recorded. As Will and I made the 12 hour drive from Elkin to Tampa on Wednesday night we listened to a LOT of music. At some point when we were pulling out after a bathroom break he began to sing On the Road Again. When I told him I had that on my i-Pod he was surprised but immediately began to search for it. We wound up listening to all of my Willie Nelson songs and my son was impressed by what he heard (Sorry Steve, but Willie was much better than Hurricane Smith in Will's opinion). I do love me some Willie Nelson. And that is my surprising truth.

So tell me...are you surprised?  Have a wonderful Friday and a blessed weekend.

Because of Jesus,

30/30: My Worst Job

This week's prompt for the 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge is pretty basic: What's the worst job you ever had? Most of you know that I spent a lot years in youth work serving 8 different ministries, and I would never count any of those experiences as the worst- although the time spent working for The Pastor Who shall Not Be Named in 1999/2000 does get honorable mention. But I did have other jobs earlier in life, and like with most young people some of them were pretty crappy. I spent several weeks the summer after high school graduation shoveling horse manure out of stalls. I worked as both a waiter and cook at Pizza Inn. I drove for Road Runner Express Delivery, driving 300 miles a day picking up and delivering film and photographs (WARNING: extinct job!) at express drops from Greensboro to Shelby. I sold leather goods, knives and belt buckles at a Christmas-time kiosk at a mall during the hours I was not the mall Santa Claus. From 1983-1984 my job was in a yarn warehouse- 3rd shift -at a hosiery plant. I even trained to be a door-to-door salesman of family portrait packages- but never sold one so that doesn't really count that as a job. Like most of you, I had my share of misery for money. But none of those are the winner. None of those are the WORST.

The winner is the year I spent working for Color Tile in 1985. For those who don't know or don't remember, Color Tile was (is?) a retail chain that sold all types of flooring, ceramic tiles and carpet to both contractors and the general public. Employees were also trained in helping customers install the items they purchased. It was a large chain that was flourishing at the time, with three stores in Greensboro, NC. When I was first hired I was very excited. I would be a salesman, making both a hourly wage and commissions. Given my communication skills and sunny personality I was certain to be successful in sales. Right?

Circumstances never really game me chance to find out if that personal assessment was accurate. The Color Tile that hired me was located just outside the Carolina Circle Mall. That mall was known for 3 defining characteristics in those days. It was the new mall in the area with some trendy stores. It had an indoor ice skating rink, which was a big deal in Greensboro in the early 80s. And it was situated in a rough part of town that had a constant, powerful and distinct sewer smell lingering over the surrounding area. It was awful. As soon as you stepped out of your car it became difficult to breathe. Needless to say, the mall struggled to attract shoppers. And as the mall struggled, Color Tile was often deserted. The best salespeople in the world cannot make sales if they have no customers. To make matters worse, even though this was a shirt and tie kind of position, several days a week were spent unloading the trucks that arrived with new product. I remember well the joy of awaiting our rare customers while wandering a store - in a tie- soaking wet with sweat. Because business was so bad, the manager would often schedule only one person to close the store each night. In that part of town, being alone in any building with a cash register made anyone nervous. The only redeeming characteristic of the job was the paycheck- and even it was kind of pitiful. It was a long. miserable year.

One of the great moments of my life was being offered a position to serve New England Yearly Meeting of Friends as their Youth & Education Director in late 1985. Moving to Massachusetts to escape Color Tile didn't seem unreasonable. And to complete my end of the year renaissance, I proposed to Marilyn in December just before heading north. None of that changes the fact that my worst job was the year I pent selling DIY home improvement products to invisible customers. I'd love to hear about yours. Have a great weekend!

30/30: Ten Fictional Dinner Guests

My 25th prompt in the 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge (hard to believe we are almost done!) is to invite 10 fictional characters to dinner. To make my life a little easier I will stick with one genre of fiction, so I give you my list of 7 fictional characters from TV shows with whom I would like to break bread. Including characters from films and books would have given me far too many "people" to choose from! If you know me at all, then you know that I would invite a group of strange and wonderful folks, some of whom are among the most bizarre figures in television history- because I want a dinner PARTY! Since I am old and you may not know all of these unique individuals, I will include a word or two of description and the occasional link to a Youtube video. Enjoy! And then be sure to leave your own suggestions as a comment. Here we go:

1. Rev. Jim Ignatowski, Taxi - Played brilliantly by Christopher Lloyd (Doc Brown from Back to the Future) Rev. Jim was a washed out, drugged out hippie who became one of the cabbies in season 2.  His signature moment, and one of the funniest scenes in history, was taking his driving test while his friends tried to help him cheat.  You can see it by clicking  here.
2. Dr. Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory -Jim Parsons is simply amazing in this role. He would no doubt dominate the conversation and make everyone feel like an idiot, but I love him. Bazinga!
3. Phoebe Buffay, Friends -Not only would she provide quirky conversation and refuse to eat most everything I served, but she could provide some after-dinner entertainment.  "Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you?"
4. Dr. Walter Bishop, Fringe- How John Nobles did not won an Emmy for his amazing portrayal of both Walter and the Walternate is beyond me. His love of bizarre foods and eccentric chat would keep things going, plus he would be an intellectual match for Sheldon. As long as we let him take his tapioca pudding and his LSD...
5. Sue Sylvester, Glee -Because no matter how smart or how right everyone else at the table thinks they are, she is smarter and "righter." Just ask her.
6. Cosmo Kramer, Seinfeld -It would be worth it just to see him make his signature entrance in to the room, but Kramer would also be so random with his thoughts that the course of the conversation would keep changing all evening. Plus there had to be a representative from Seinfeld, and I am NOT inviting George...
7. Dr. Johnny Fever, WKRP In Cincinnati -The ultimate radio personality, Johnny once was once fired from a station for saying "booger" on the air. He is usually totally "out of it" and would be a dynamite fit with this cast of characters. Actually, I would take most anyone from the cast of WKRP.  A brilliant if short-lived show.
8. Robin Scherbatsky, How I Met Your Mother - Because we have to invite her if we want Robin Sparkles to perform, and every good party needs a Canadian! Plus. with any luck, Barney Stinson might show up as well...
9. The Church Lady, Saturday Night Live! - Dana Carvey is one of my favorite cast members ever, and this was his signature character. Plus I would LOVE to see Sheldon and the Church Lady do the Superior Dance together!
10. Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek - Because someone will need to be in charge of this madhouse and keep Dr,Cooper under control. And Spock would be boring...

So there's my list. Dinner would never be same. And after dinner, I'm teaching them to play Cocktail, the best card game ever for a group that size. Now ...who's coming to your party?

30/30: Two Friends Who Haven't Met...Yet

Today's prompt for the 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge is one of my favorites on the entire list. I am charged with writing about two friends of mine who do not know each other, but whom I think would become fast friends should life ever throw them together. I think this prompt interests me so much because throughout my 28 years of student ministry in a number of different settings I was constantly making such judgements in my mind. I would find myself thinking that "BlaBla from Whoosawatchie sure would get along well with Whatshisname from Podunk" - or similar things. I elected to limit my thinking to those who were part of one of my youth ministries. In truth, this has already happened in my life a few times over the years. Tim Fountain, from my late 80's youth group at New Garden Friends, later served as my intern at Springfield Friends and met all of those folks. Holly Harward Yandle from Springfield spent a summer with us in Kissimmee and was hit on by many of the guys from FUMC-K. And then in April of 2103 Teresa Reep Tysinger from the Kissimmee group spent sometime with us here in Tampa and met Lisa Jewett, one of my favorites from our time at Wesley Memorial. It was so much fun for me to watch these interactions. Getting to make one up is just a bonus!

The only problem is I had so many old friends to choose from, and so many people who I think would hit it off immediately if introduced. I thought about Keri Vinson Johnston from Springfield and Nina Mock from Wesley. The pair of Ben Thompson from FUMC-K and Charles Freedle from Springfield might lead to total chaos, but it sure would be fun. Terri Johnson Harris from New Garden and Jackie Zimmer from Union Church in Hinsdale would be great partners in crime. The thought of Laura Wheeler from my Quaker Lake days getting to meet the aforementioned Teresa Tysinger might be more than I could handle- Laura knows all the old stories and Teresa the more recent stuff. But they would become fast friends, of this I have no doubt. The list could go on and on, but I have to make a decision and just pick two for the purpose of this post. And so I shall.

Although it feels like they should know each other already, Todd Willis (FUMC-K) and Todd Farlow (Springfield) never met. In my heart, it often feels like they were the same person. When I got Springfield in 1986, things with the youth program were at a low ebb. Many of the youth had bailed out before I ever arrived. Todd Farlow was a sophomore in high school and clearly one of the leaders of the group. Without his support it is hard to imagine that my years at Springfield would have turned out as well as they did. Todd not only gave me his support, he gave me his friendship and his trust, and we had some great times and amazing adventures together. His leadership was crucial in bringing renewed life to that student ministry. Even all these years later he continues to encourage me. All you need to do is change the last name and the location (and the fact that he was a junior when I first met him) and all of those very same things could be said of Todd Willis. At a time when many were giving up on the youth ministry of FUMC-K, Todd kept pushing me to do more and be my creative self. And it worked. I could have renamed either one of these guys Peter- because they were rocks upon which a couple of great student ministries were built.

They also had other things in common. Both were known to occasionally bust out in a rap. Neither had a whole lot of luck with the dating scene despite being being very popular with the ladies. Neither of them were above cheating at any number of youth group games. Both are fanatical college sports fans, Farlow with NC State and Willis with Georgia. Both love baseball. Both come from amazing families and are now married with amazing families of their own. I just can't help but think that if life were ever to make these guys neighbors, they would be the very best of friends. And that's what this prompt was all about.

One final note. Just before I turned in last night I saw on Twitter where Ashley Goad (Springfield) and Teresa had been chatting about the wonders of prayer. They have never met either, but I love them both. There are moments that make me smile in wonder at the blessings in my life. That was one of them. How ironic that it came as I was working on this post. I'm telling you, if I had one wish and lots of money, there would be a reunion of everyone who was ever in one of my youth groups so they could all meet each other. Because I know all the best people. Love you guys!

Because of Jesus,

30/30: Casting Call

The prompt for today's 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge poses an interesting question. If they were to make a movie about my life, who would I want them to cast as the main character? Who should portray me? As I began to ponder this query yesterday I was really clueless as to what direction to go, so I decided to reach out to friends on Twitter and my wife's Facebook and ask for nominations. My friends came through with a number of suggestions- some of which were a little tough on my ego. But I took them all into account as I held my own personal casting call.

Old friends on Facebook quickly suggested fine actors like Jack Black, John Goodman and Edward Herrmann. While Goodman and Herrmann are fine actors, they are much older than me...and I don't want to age that much just yet. My friend Teresa suggested Jeff Goldblum, because of his great timing and because we are both weird. Or quirky. I can't remember which word she used, but in either case I couldn't really argue too much. Then one of my oldest friends, one of the people who knows me best in the world, suggested Fred Gwynne, another brilliant actor, in part because she said that he had a great voice and so do I. Again, I had mixed emotions. First of all, Fred is dead- which Tammy pointed out. He is also most famous for playing Herman Munster in the classic TV show. Picturing myself being played by a dead Frankenstein look-alike just didn't work for me, no mater how sweet she made it sound. Another old friend suggested both Brad Pitt and Eddie Murphy, but both are far too obvious. And finally after I went to bed last night my dear friend Brook suggested Michael Keaton, since he knows me and has a feel for who I am (see The Night I Met Batman). All of these suggestions of older men sent me down a similar path, and I began to consider people like Dan Aykroyd ("It's the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man") or Harrison Ford (he's already played one of the Jones boys!). But no one felt quite right.

Then I turned my attention to Twitter, where my friends Robert and Sarah quickly nominated Tom Hanks for the role. I was thrilled. Being portrayed by a 2 time Oscar winner was something I could live with. He does drama and comedy. He was a Bosom Buddy, he fell in love with a mermaid and he was freakin' Forrest Gump. When this nomination got several votes of support from other friends, I assumed we had a winner. The part of Carl would be played by Captain Phillips.

And then I woke up this morning and had an epiphany. Jason Segel. It was so obvious. Jason doesn't really look much like me, but that's a good thing! He could play me through more stages of my my life because he is younger. He has shown the ability to be funny, romantic, emotional and a great friend- all things I think are true of me. He likes to make up his own songs and sing them, and like me is both a freak and a geek in his own way. He loves Muppets. He knows almost as much about How I Met Your Mother as I do. :) And in case we get a crazy director or the movie takes an odd and unexpected turn, he is fine with nudity. Have you seen Forgetting Sarah Marshall? So despite my reverence for Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford, I'm going younger. I cast Jason Segel in the role of me. It's gonna' be a blockbuster. Maybe he can get Kermit to do a cameo...

Editor's Note: No one suggested anyone to play me as a young adult in the flashback scenes that are bound to be a part of the movie. I assume that is because it is such an obvious choice. Zac Efron is my doppelganger.  Have a great day!

30/30: Three Songs

Today's 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge prompt was to write about three songs that bring back specific memories in my life. I decided as I prepared to write this post that these should also be songs that are still often on my mind. I also came to the conclusion that with the 3 songs I have chosen you really needed videos to help out, because none of these songs are exactly mainstream. So I present to you three songs ands three short stories. Enjoy!

The first song is the 1978 classic My Angel Baby from the ever-popular (Yes, that's sarcastic) band Toby Beau. It takes me back to Quaker Lake Camp, standing around the big industrial dishwasher after meals and singing with Martha Ratledge Farlow while we slaved away on all those dishes. I dearly love this song, but as it is not available on iTunes this video is currently my only way to hear it. And believe it or not, there was once a time when my falsetto could hit the note at the end. Sometimes. :)  So give it a listen...and maybe you'll be "My Angel Baby for the rest of the night..."

My second choice takes me back to my college days. In those days (and maybe still- I really don't know) Guilford College had a big "Spring Fling" weekend every year called Serendipity. One year the big entertainment was a group called The Robbin Thompson Band that none of us had ever heard of- but we went anyway. They were amazing! I bought their album (and now own the CD) that contained this song all about growing up in the 60's and 70's and loving the beach. And girls. Like most guys in their teens and early 20's much of my life revolved around girls, and so does this song. Every time I play it takes me back to Guilford and to many great days and nights spent at Myrtle Beach. I never owned a Candy Apple Red car; my parents did, however, own a Rambler. Not that it ever did me any good...

The final song in today's trilogy is one that I was introduced to by a friend a few years ago and immediately feel in love with. It's another love song, this time a Sister Hazel tune about never giving up hope and having the patience to wait on the people who are special to you. It makes this list , however, for a different reason. This song is a major "character" in the novel I am currently writing, and from this time forward it will always serve as a reminder of how much I have enjoyed the dreaming involved in putting this particular story to paper. Sometimes you just have to wait for the sun to Come Around...

So there you have it. Three great songs, three great memories. And quite possible my favorite 30/30 post to date. I hope listening will stir up a few memories for you as well. Have a great Friday and a blessed weekend!

30/30: One of My Best Days

That's Erin, top right-
 with a bunch of cousins!  1987

Today's 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge prompt asked me to write about one of my best days. There were many to choose from. It would have been easy to pick my wedding day, or the day Will was born, or the day my probation ended. But here's the one that I am remembering today.

Sometime back in the early 2000s Marilyn and I flew to NC to be at the wedding of one of former students from Springfield Friends Meeting. Erin Moran was one of our favorite people and her parents were some of our dearest friends, and we were excited to go. Since many of the youth from those days were in some way related to to Erin, we also knew we would see lots of people we loved at the the event. I had last worked at Springfield in 1994, and so many of the people we had shared life with when they were "youth" were now married with families of their own. It was a wonderful day, and we did indeed get to see a lot of people we loved. After the wedding we all headed downstairs to the Rees Fellowship Hall for the reception, which to us felt a great deal like a homecoming. So many old friends to see and catch up with. Seeing them all was such a wonderful reminder of the 8 great years we had spent in ministry at Springfield as a part of their families and the family of God.

That's Jill in the middle!

But none of that is what made this a day worthy of being called a "best day." That moment was provided by Jill Glbreth, Mandy Beggs and some of the rest of the cousins of the bride. You need to to know that down the hall and around the corner from the Fellowship Hall at Springfield is the dungeon we called a youth room, a place that held so many memories of so many great moments together. Jill and the gang, all dressed for the wedding, many of them with their own small children in tow, came to me with a request. They were joking (sort of) but at the same time it was heart felt. They wanted to know if we could go around to the youth room and play our favorite game, Sardines. And then they wanted to know if I had my guitar. In the middle of a wedding reception, these young adults wanted to go relieve their youth group days. They wanted to play. They wanted to sing. They wanted to worship together as we had so many times almost a decade earlier. We knew we couldn't really go do it (and although it may surprise some of you, I don't actually carry my guitar EVERYWHERE I go!) but the sentiment moved me deeply. It was one of those crystal clear moments when I KNEW that God had indeed used me to make a difference in the lives of the students I had served. And when youth ministry has been your life, that is indeed a great day.

Because of Jesus,

30/30: If I Had $100,000...

OK, so I have to start today with a confession. This prompt- which I must remind myself I wrote back in December so I have no one to blame but me- does not excite me at all. But I have committed to this 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge, and so write this post I must. But my heart is not really in it.  

There are a variety of things I would do if I suddenly came into that much money. Here's a list of things I could do and still stay within the $100,000 limit.

1. Pay off all of my medical bills and other debts.
2. Take my family on a really nice vacation.
3. Rent the Betsy B for a week and invite 40 of my closest friends to join us.
4. Buy Will a car.
5. Travel the country seeing old friends.

Or, if I just wanted to blow it all at once I could hire a high-powered lawyer for a big lawsuit I have in mind. But you can read more about that in the days to come. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Because of Jesus,

30/30: One Question for God

Today's 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge prompt is a classic- What if you could ask God one question- but only one? What would you ask? What is it that really burns a hole in your soul, that you crave knowledge or wisdom about? There are so many questions I have, so many things I want to know about my life, about history and about the future. There are things I want to know about the true nature of God. Choosing one is a herculean task. But here goes...

Over the last 10 years ago it has become clear to me that the Christian church has made being a Christ-follower way too complicated. We make up our own rules for what it means to be "saved." We put our own issues at the top of the list and claim they would also be the priorities of Jesus. When we can't pull that off, we quote biblical writers, famous authors and well-known preachers who often manage to turn the black and white words of Jesus into something grey and foggy that requires a deep and painfully intellectual theology to understand. And the further the church has sunk into what I consider to be a quagmire of our own making, the more I have pushed back. The more complicated others want to make being a Christ-follower, the more simple it becomes for me. Follow Jesus. Understand that his words and his actions should drive our faith, and that his words and his actions were all about faith, hope, forgiveness and love. He came so that the leper, the tax collector, the prostitute, the betrayer and the rest of the sinners would have a place at his table. And so that we might as well. Theology and debate are fun and wonderful things, but I have come to believe that being a Christian should be all about Jesus. ALL about Jesus! It is my passion and my goal to help those of us in the church simplify our faith with those words so that others may be drawn to the One who saves us. If Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, then why are we so often bogged down in so much other crap?

So with all of that said, I have a pressing question that I already ask God most every day when I pray, and that I would LOVE to get a concrete, holy graffiti, burning bush style voice of God answer to someday soon. And here is it. Am I getting any of this right?  There are times when I wonder if all of the people I think are so confused actually have it right, and I am the one wandering in the wilderness. My prayer is that people might see "the real Jesus" through my words and deeds. It would just be nice to hear  "well done, good and faithful servant" as I carry on with my crusade. So that's my question. Am I getting any of this right? 

But if I was (by some stroke of God's grace) offered a second question, I admit I would go old school- What's the truth about dinosaurs? I gots to know!!! Have a blessed weekend, my friends!

Because of Jesus,

30/30: My Top 5 TV Shows...EVER!

Today's 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge is to list my favorite TV shows of all time. And only 5. No ties allowed. I have to admit that this one is like having a day off for me. It's just not that difficult. There are very few television series that I have truly LOVED in my 54 years, and pretty much all of them were situation comedies. For the purposes of this prompt I have chosen to not include any show that is still on with first-run episodes, which is why The Big Bang Theory is not on this list. It will be here someday. The only question is how high up the list it will climb! But for now, here are my top 5 TV shows...EVER! I know my list is unique to me and includes none of the trendy dramas so popular over the last decade or so- because I have never watched any of them! So educate me- what are YOUR favorites?

1. How I Met Your Mother
2. Seinfeld
3. M*A*S*H*
4. Cheers
5. That 70's Show

Have a wonderful weekend!

30/30: One Big Regret

One Big Regret. If you know me or have read along this blog for any period of time, then you know my biggest regrets. I regret ever becoming in Internet chatting. I regret an instant message conversation that changed my life and the life of my family forever. And I regret losing my ministry with youth as a consequence of all that. Those are major regrets. And if you know me at all, you know I have spent the past 7 years trying to move past those regrets and back into living my life. Dwelling on regrets accomplishes nothing. But we all have them.

For today's 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge, the prompt says to share one big regret. Like most of us, I have a long list to choose from. There are regrets from past decisions, relationships and actions- and I would love if they all came with do-overs! But as some wise person once wrote or said, it seems we regret the things we don't do more than the things we do. And my one regret I'll share today is about an opportunity lost; a chance not taken in the days of my youth.

I was never in a band.

Oh sure, I played in praise bands at church for a number of years- but that's not what I'm talking about. I played guitar and sang at clubs, open mic nights and bars by myself when I was younger. I entertained at special events at churches many times over the years. And all of that was very cool. But I never got the chance to stand in front of a real band, with drums, bass and blaring guitars playing for a loud and rowdy crowd in some smelly bar- and just ROCK the house! There were chances along the way, but I missed them- and at age 54 I'm not sure "rock star status" is waiting for me in the years to come. And while there are more serious regrets I could burden you with today, this is the one I am going with for the purpose of this post. I regret never being in a real band. 

And that's all I've got say about that. :) .

30/30: A Favorite Book

The 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge continues today with an easy task. Or at least an obvious one. The prompt and description I wrote back in December says this: "A Book You Could (or have) Read Over & Over Again - "If you could only take one book to that aforementioned deserted island..." The obvious answer, the simple answer and the correct answer is The Holy Bible. I have read it over and over again. It is full of history, great adventure, heroes & villains and of course the story of our faith. It is written in a myriad of styles so it seldom get boring (begots excepted) and it is constantly revealing new truths and new people to connect with to me. I love the scriptures, and the Bible is the clear choice as the answer to this prompt. But that is too simple and perhaps too cliche to just leave my answer at that. So let's go a step beyond. What would be the 2nd book I would choose?

Let's look at some of the books I have read multiple times at as adult (not counting Dr. Seuss, who should get more credit here than he is going to receive!). I have read the 3 books in The Lord of the Rings trilogy at least 4 times since college. I have read Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel and Mike Yaconelli's Dangerous Wonder several times each. I have read a dozen books in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series and could easily choose Jack to be my island buddy. But after giving is some serious thought, I think my #2 choice for the One Book would be The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. I am certain I have read it 6 or 7 times in my life.

Why do I love the Musketeers so much? It is a story of great loyalty and bravery in the face of long odds. There is plenty of excitement and adventure, and a good dash of romance. There is a struggle with theology, particularly through the character of Athos, who has a long history with the Church. But the primary draw to this classic novel for me is friendship. Athos, Porthos and Aramis share a bond like few others in literature, and as this story progresses they add a young D'Artagnan to the mix. Throughout the tale you see the relationships they build, the love they have for one another, and you hear them shout those famous words- "All for one and one for all!" It is inspiring, and it always causes me to remember how blessed I am to have so many friends in this world who have my back no matter the circumstance.

The other reason I return to this book so often is that every few years they make another movie version, and I always give them a try. A number of them over the years have been very good (For me, the best was the 1973/74 films The Three Musketeers & The Four Musketeers in which they split the book in half to be more able to tell the entire story. Not prefect, but very good!) and quite enjoyable- but none of the will ever equal the depth and details of the book. So I return to the source to get my "Real Musketeer" fix nearly every time, and I am always glad I did.

So my task for today is complete, and I'll even throw in a bonus. The Bible wins, The Three Musketeers are second. The Lord of the Rings are third. So tell me...what's your go-to book?

Because of Jesus,

30/30: Fear Not!

I had an amazing lunch yesterday at Disney with my Twitter friend Jenn Ganley and her hubby Alan. It was our first time meeting, but because of Twitter it was like a reunion of old friends. It was a new adventure- but not scary at all! Thanks, Jenn!

One of the most often used commands in the Bible- usually said by Angels- is "FEAR NOT!" But we do fear things, don't we? Being afraid of specific things is quite normal, and not really a problem. Being afraid to really LIVE- that's an issue. Today's 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge prompt is to write about something that scares me. There are no real phobias that haunt me, so I'm going to take a look at some of the things that are common fears and see if they might apply to me. Here we go...

• Public Speaking- This was a fear of mine up until high school when my stuttering stopped. After that, others were in fear that I would never shut up. So nope.
• Spiders- Never really thought about them one way or the other until 1999, when I was bitten by a brown recluse while playing my guitar at youth group in Kissimmee and my leg swelled up to twice it's normal size and I got very, very sick. The effects of that bite can still be seen on my leg. But in my way of thinking, the brown recluse is the most deadly spider in the U.S. and I have already been bitten. What are the odds of that lightening striking the same place twice (unless you are Nina Mock)? So why worry?
• Heights- I love to fly, love the mountains, love the top of the Empire State Building and I've ridden the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Heights don't bother me much. But I am NOT a big fan of falling. Risk taking in high places does make me edgy. As do edges...
• Snakes- Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan of snakes. But I live in Florida. If you can't deal with snakes and bugs you'll never leave the house. Except for when you occasionally run screaming from the house!
• Needles- For many years I hated needles and couldn't even watch a doctor stick me. Then came diabetes- and now I have to stick myself twice a day. You do what you have to do, right?
• Public Embarrassment- So many people live in fear that they will do something to make them appear to be too silly, too stupid or simply too visible to strangers they encounter in daily living. I was a youth pastor for 28 years. I made a CAREER of public embarrassment!
• Failure- I used to be a perfectionist- someone who would rather just not try than take a chance on failing. Years in ministry taught me that progress almost never comes without failure. My personal life has taught me that new life often springs from massive failures. The challenge is to remember as we fail that it's not over until God says it's over. He is always with us, and makes all things new again.
• Death- There are several ways to die that absolutely terrify me. I cannot imagine burning or being buried alive. But I am not afraid of death itself because Jesus died an absolutely horrible death so that we might live forever with our Creator. I am in no hurry to leave this planet. But I know that I know that I know that my eternal life is secured. It's like the old Rich Mullins t-shirt from the Springfield Friends days- "Live like you'll die tomorrow. Die knowing you'll live forever!" Death has no sting.

So what am I really afraid of? At this point in my life, with all I have been through, I think that what I fear most is FEAR itself (with credit to FDR). I want to live the abundant life Jesus came to give us, not to sit on the sidelines because I am afraid I might offend someone by my presence or make someone uncomfortable with my faith. I want to be a radical dispenser of grace, love and forgiveness. I want to be a bold, caring friend who doesn't just enjoy the memories of the past but is out there creating new ones every day. I want to be like my old friend Beth who at only a year younger than me is going to working at Quaker Lake Camp this summer- for the first time!!! I pray that God will give me that kind of spirit. I fear being stagnant and boring. I fear the stinkin' thinkin' that says I have already done the greatest things I am going to do with my life. I want to be open and ready for whatever God has in mind for me in the coming years. I want to be wild, creative, dangerous and unique in His name. So bring it on angels. I'm ready to FEAR NOT! Give me your best shot!

Because of Jesus,

30/30: Twelve Interesting Facts About Me

The 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge returns today after taking a week of for Good Friday, and the prompt is simple- 12 interesting facts about me. Like most people, I don't find myself to be all that interesting, but since that is order of the day I shall attempt to come up with a dozen things that are at least semi-noteworthy. Here we go...

1. Breakfast is my favorite meal to eat out.
2. I would love to try my hand at professional improv comedy. I've been doing it in real life situations forever- it would be fun to give it a try on stage with some experts in the field!
3. I only have 7 toes.
4. As I grow older the thing I fear losing the most is my memory. Not only do I love telling old stories and sharing wisdom from days gone by, but I am often responsible for helping my oldest friends remember what happened to them in their younger days as well. I am so thankful to be blessed with a mind that retains those moments of great joy and sorrow.
5. I have seen the Pacific Ocean in California, Washington, Oregon and Mexico...but I have never been swimming in it.
6. Despite all of my injuries and ailments over my lifetime, I have yet to break a bone. Knock on wood.
7. I play the guitar. I sang in school choruses and ensembles in jr. high and high school. I was in numerous church choirs over the years and led worship at national youth events. I have written close to 100 songs, words and music. And I cannot read a note of music...
8. Aside from loving people in the name of Jesus there is nothing that brings me more joy than making people laugh.
9. Aside from The Godfather Part 2 and The Empire Strikes Back, I believe the greatest true sequel in the history of movies is The Lion King 1 1/2. 
10. I am 54 years old and am still in touch with friends I have known for over 40 years. To me, that's an accomplishment.
11. I am not much of a cook except for 3 things: Sausage Balls, Fudge, & Shrimp and Crab Casserole. 
12. I have been to paradise. It's also known as Spanish Wells, the Bahamas. And I've been twice. That may just make me better than you.  :)

So there you have it- 12 things about me that at least interest me! What do you find most interesting about yourself? I'd love to hear!

Because of Jesus,

30/30: My Earliest Memory

Today's 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge prompt calls for me write about my earliest memory. Many of my very early memories are of times spent with my mother's parents, Carl and Dorothy Clark. I was born in Asheboro, NC, and they lived only a couple of miles away from us until we moved to Greensboro when I was 4. I spent many days at their house and remember them fondly. I remember they had grapevines and I loved to pick (and eat!) the grapes. I remember their neighbors had older boys who would play with me sometimes. And I remember that Grandma always had Lincoln Logs for me to play with. But my clearest and best early memory is of time spent with my grandfather- at work!

Carl Clark owned and operated an American Oil "service station" on Salisbury Street in Asheboro. It was a busy, popular place where folks bought full-service gas (sometimes on credit without credit cards, just paying monthly). There was a drink machine, an ice cream freezer and a constant gab session with groups of men sitting around and talking about life. The station was memorable to me for a few reasons. First, I got to hand out with my grandpa. Just as importantly, I got to help. Even as a very small child the guys who worked for Grandpa would let me help pump gas and clean windshields, and I thought that was great. But maybe the most influential part of spending time at the station was getting to know the men who worked for my grandfather and becoming friends with them. Their names were Roy and Nuddie, and they were both African-American men. This was the early 1960's in mostly rural NC, and trust me- no one ever used the phrase African-American. "Colored" was the nicest thing you could hope to hear. But to my grandfather, Roy and Nuddie were just employees that he respected and counted on. He encouraged me to talk to them, hang out with them and get to know them. When I was at the station they were often my babysitters. I was young enough not to have any built-in prejudices yet, and I believe it was because of my time spent with them that I never really developed any racial fears or stereotypes. Roy and Nuddie were my friends. Their skin color seemed inconsequential to me. Those days at the station as a 3 and 4 year old were important in making me the man I am today.

I stayed close to my grandfather until he died of complications from Alzheimer's many years ago. My grandmother outlived him by many years, partly because (as I discovered much later in life) she was just too mean to die! But I do have great memories of those early years, and I thank God for the presence of family in my life- then and now.  Have a blessed weekend!

Because of Jesus,

30/30: Oh the Places You'll Go!

Sometimes God laughs at us. Of this I am certain. Back in December I wrote out a list of prompts to use in what I called the 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge. My hope was that other bloggers would play along and a group of us would be writing along for 30 weeks on the same topic each Friday. Turns out the group of bloggers is...ME! But I have continued on. So after a rather hectic week I finally got around to looking at the prompt for today, and it was this- If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? Now when I first wrote that prompt, I was thinking I would write about Italy or Ireland or some exotic locale I had never visited. It should have been a fairly easy post to write. But I suddenly find myself actually able to travel after 7 years mostly stuck in Tampa- and that changes everything! For me, this post is now more about "Where do I want to go AGAIN?" And while very exciting for me to think about, it also makes it that much more difficult to write the post. But I shall!

Everyone knows that I am anxious to make a triumphant return to Walt Disney World, but it's close by and that is going to happen, so I'll eliminate it. The same is true for North Carolina- so many old friends to see and favorite places to visit, but that is going to happen in the next few months, as will a return to Myrtle Beach- quite possibly on the same trip! I love Chicago and would love to return there someday, but that isn't the top of my list either. Nashville is one of my favorite places, and I have old friends there and some Twitter buddies I would love to meet. So many options...

There are also a few places I haven't been that still come to mind. I have a standing invitation to visit Hawaii from an old friend with guest house on the beach in Kuai. IF this list were about who I want to go see and not just the location, then Fort Worth would be very high on my list. Sure, seeing Teresa Tysinger and meeting Jason Huffman would be cool, but it's really Emma Grace Tysinger that is the draw there. I can't wait to meet that little dynamo! And after years and years of joking about them, I have still never been to Butte, Montana or Casper, Wyoming. I'm just saying...

But in the end, the list comes down to two places. One is a real long shot. There seems to be little reason to believe life will ever take me back to Spanish Wells (a small island in the Bahamas) for a third time. But a man can dream, and I have more reasons to want to go back than you can possibly imagine. The other is New York City. I have so many great memories of so many adventures, and it's been 10 years since I was there. I know the city has changed a great deal in that time, but there are still Broadway shows, there are still amazing things to do, and there is still Carmine's. I do love NYC. And Will has never been with me. It's something that need to happen.

So what's my pick?  Right now, honestly, I just choose to GO. I can't wait to drive across the bridge to Clearwater or go to a Rays game without having to ask permission. I look forward to visiting my mom more often and seeing Marilyn's family again. There is a weekend with the Hanbery family in our future. I want go anywhere and everywhere. I don't know where the road will take me- and I don't know what the first big trip might be yet. I just know I am feeling blessed and ready to go. And sometimes you simply need to just GO!  As Dr. Seuss wrote in that amazing little book: 

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!” 
- Oh, the Places You'll Go!

 So get your guest rooms ready, my friends. Hurricane Carl may blow through your town at any moment. Have a great Friday!

Because of Jesus,

30/30: Five Friends I'd Love To See Today

Sometimes I look at the list of prompts I put together for this 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge and I think to myself, "What were you thinking?" Today is one one of those days. Here's the prompt I wrote back in December to write about today: 5 Friends You Wish You Could See Today -Five people you love and miss that you would kill to be able to see TODAY. And why them? I have struggled all week with this ridiculous request. There are dozens of people I want to see for a variety of reasons. Limiting the list to 5 was not only impossible, it was unfair both to myself and to a lot of people I care about. So, in true Todd Willis/Jocelyn Sessions Ward (2 people I'd love to see today!) fashion, I'm cheating! I'm changing the rules to make this more fun for me. Instead of 5 people, I have chosen 5 groups of people I'd love to spend time with on this Friday. There will still be mention of some specific names, but please don't think that means those who are not mentioned by name are any less important to me. So here is my list. I didn't include the wonderful Twitter family I have yet to meet at all, and I can't believe this list doesn't include Terri Johnson Harris, Beth Edgerton Bell, Marshall Ratledge, Darek Newby, Kathryn Burris and the rest of my old New Garden Friends youth group. Hey about that- now it does include them!  Judge me for cheating if you must. 

1. The Old Gang- Having Carl and Steve Semmler here last weekend reminded me of how much I miss the company of our group of friends from the 1980s in NC. While they were here I heard from other members of the "gang," like Denise May Langley, Beth Vestal McGalliard, Tammy Doggett Foster and Donna Haynes Myers. We told old stories about many others, including Alan Brown & Tim Vail. We struggled with our memories as we tried to recall who had dated whom and piece together our various beach trips and weddings. It was a blast. And now I want to see each and every one of those old friends- today! Or at least soon. I hope. Very soon...
2. Quaker Lake Buddies- While there is some crossover between group #1 and this group, there is still a whole new list of people I need to see. When thinking of 5 people this week this names of Neal & Susie Thomas were always near the top of my list. I love and miss them both so much. I want to see my dear friends Boom-Boom, Teddy and Leigh Ann, as well as pretty much everyone else I ever served on staff with at QLC. I want to see some of the old camper crew- people like Jay Osborne, Laura Wheeler, David Fields, Jodi Coble, Jay Wilkins and Cynthia Davis and so many more. I was always at my best when I was at QLC. Just thinking about spending a day with all of those folks again makes me smile!
3. Springfield Friends Meeting- It's been almost 20 years since we left High Point and moved to Kissimmee, but there are so many old friends at SFM who still feel like family. One of the names on my 5 person list all week long was Millie Simmons. I miss so much just sitting and talking with Millie. And I owe her a hug- or two. I'd love to eat some Pizza Inn with Jeremy Godwin, Ken Hill, Todd Farlow, Danny MecCorquodale and Jamie Robinson. I want to see my old pal Woodhead and sit and laugh with Kelly Allen Olmeda and Heather & Keri. There are long conversations to be had with Ashley Goad and Marie Allen Duke. And I really, really, REALLY want to go to dinner and a show with Butch & Barbara Moran. I could go on and on...
4. The Kissimmee Krewe- It's been less than a year since our big reunion, but I am ready to see these wonderful people again- and the others who couldn't join us as well!  I already mentioned Todd and Jocelyn, and if you know me at all you know that Teresa Reep Tysinger is always near the top of my "I miss you" list. But there are so many others- too many to list. I'll just say that I wish I could buy Dr. Jill a chocolate cobbler and sit and talk abut life with Nate, Ben, Amber, Lauren, Adam, Josh, Sarah, Connor and Hamp. Great people and great times. It would be a blast to see them ALL today!
5. Marilyn's Family- I have not been able to travel and see much of my wife's family over these past 7 years, and I do miss them very much. her Mom and sister Carol have come down a few times, but I also miss seeing her Dad, her sister Linda and the rest of the extended family very much. Today would be a great day for a visit.

My duty is fulfilled and this prompt is completed, WHEW! And once again I am reminded how blessed I am to have known so many wonderful people and have so may old friends. This list is very incomplete. I'm going to need a longer day...

Because of Jesus,

30/30: First 10 I-Pod Shuffle Songs

Today's 30/30 Vision Blog Challenge prompt is a simple one. I just set my I-pod to "shuffle" and list the first 10 songs. Simple, easy, and perfect for a Friday about to spent sight-seeing with friends here in Tampa. So enjoy your day. Here's how I started mine...

1. National Brotherhood Week- Tom Lehrer
2. Desperado- The Eagles
3. Old Dan's Records- Gordon Lightfoot
4. Ordinary Love - U2
5. Feelin' Stronger Every Day- Chicago
6. The Logical Song -  Supertramp
7. Can't Fight This Feelin' Anymore- REO Speedwagon
8. It's Still Rock & Roll To Me- Billy Joel
9. Hungry - Paul Revere & The Raiders
10. Band On The Run - Paul MCartney & Wings

And yes. I know. I'm OLD!!!