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Bob's Surgery ... Please Pray

Tomorrow, my dad-in-law, Bob, is having surgery on his carotid artery. The surgery is called a carotid endarterectomy ... which means the surgeon will slice it open and take some gunk out. This is all done to prevent a stroke in the future since the carotid artery is the main pipeline that sends blood to the brain.

What I've learned about the surgery is that it's common and pretty routine when it comes to cardiovascular surgeries. So I'm confident in Bob's doctors and their ability to perform it.

Linny has been on edge this weekend and it comes from just wanting to be home in Oklahoma to be with her family. And I don't blame her. It's scary to see people you love go through such an uncertain time.

Please pray for Bob tomorrow morning as he goes under the knife. This may be a selfish request, but more than anything else, I don't want my son, Caedmon, to grow older without having at least 1 grandpa around. I was blessed to have 2 grandpas until age 11 and the other until I was 21. So many stories and so much wisdom can be passed to my Caedmon. And Bob is the perfect person to pass it along.

The video below is not for the squeamish. I searched for video of a carotid endarterectomy on YouTube...

N. T. Wright on Hell

Years ago, I read Brian McLaren's book "The Last Word and the Word After That." In it, he brings forth a profound discussion that I believe many western Christians forget to engage in.

In a historical sense, where and when did the idea of hell originate? And how has it evolved over time and cultures?

N. T. Wright touches on that historical stream of thought in this video as he talks about his encounter with a Greek Orthodox priest in the Sistine Chapel.

HT: Out of Ur

Carlos Whittaker's EP

I'm never one to really hype new music but when I like something, I like telling people about it.

I picked up Carlos Whittaker's EP on iTunes today. It's good. Really good.

His music is born out the community he's built at his blog, Ragamuffin Soul. Carlos isn't the greatest writer and he doesn't have the greatest vocals but what he lacks in those place, he makes up for with authenticity. His music exudes realness and honesty.

Which is hard to find in worship music these days.

Lane Kiffin Billboard in Knoxville

When Lane Kiffin announced his exit to USC, I knew there weren't going to be a lot of people that were happy. My high school friend, Kate, brought to my attention a new billboard that was unveiled recently in Knoxville, TN.

Justin Timberlake & Matt Morris on Hope For Haiti Now

Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris dueted a phenomenal cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah on Friday night. WOW!!

Linny's Rainbow

Tuesday was a hard day. I received some news at work that I wasn't happy about. I can't really talk about it yet publicly. But since then, I've been battling bitterness. It's so hard to choose to be joyful in the midst of a trial but I'm thankful for God's promise that choosing joy will make me a more complete person. (James 1:2-4)

It's also been raining all week. It feels like forever since I've seen sunshine. But every now and then, the sun will peek through and cause what my wife was able to capture.

On Tuesday afternoon, Linny walked out of her office and noticed a FULL rainbow that seemed to stretch from Reedley to Exeter. It actually took two pictures to capture the whole thing and Linny used a some photo editing software to "stitch" them together. It's the first time.

A rainbow is a sign of God's love. And because of Linny's attitude and unwavering support and because of God's promises, this is a week where I've definitely felt His love.

Don't Be Afraid of Death: Another Haitian Survival Story

I am constantly astounded at the strength God gives people to sing ... that's right, SING ... in the middle of the worst circumstances. It's like the first few verses of the Book of James pop out of the page.

He Decided He Wanted Me To Survive

Dan Woolley works for Compassion International. Last Tuesday, he was in the middle of a trip to Haiti to get video of Compassion's projects in Port-au-Prince. When the earthquake struck, he was in the lobby of the Montana Hotel with a colleague. Safe and sound now at a hospital in Miami, he was pulled from the rubble by a French rescue team late last week.

This morning on NBC's Today Show, he told his story of how God gave him strength during the darkest part of his whole life.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Iconic Family Photos

The only picture I have with my dad and me is from the day I graduated high school. The photo means so much to me but it's hardly artsy, just me and my brothers standing with my Dad on the back porch of our home. My dad hated wearing ties. After we got back from the graduation ceremony, he couldn't get to his bedroom quick enough to change.



When I became a Dad, one of the things I wanted to do different is make sure that my son had pictures of us together. And not just that, but photos that evoke emotion. The picture below wasn't planned but something my wife happened to capture as my son and I were tired from riding in a car all day. Call me sentimental but this picture with Yosemite's Sentinel Dome in the background shows me not only the love God has for us, but the love Caedmon and I have for each other. I hope this is a photo Caedmon will love and hold onto for a long time.



Have random family moments like this ever been captured by a simple photo?

What Leaders Must Choose To Do...

Last week, Perry Noble posted a list of choices ministry leaders can choose to follow when it comes to how they, well, lead.

As I was reading the list, my mind went straight to an environment I once worked in and how the leadership was a complete 180 from what Perry wrote about. Every morning, I woke up dreading the drive to work.

#1 – Choose to believe the best about the people on your team rather than always assuming the worst about them.

#2 – Choose to trust them to make decisions that matter without having to run every minor detail by your for your approval.

#3 – Choose to believe that when they ask particular questions that they aren’t being disloyal but rather seeking clarification.

#4 – Choose to believe that they really do love the church and want to see it thrive.

#5 – Choose to lead through inspiration and revelation–NOT intimidation, humiliation, condemnation and manipulation.

#6 – Choose to listen to them before making a decision that will directly impact them.

#7 – Choose to value them as a human being and NOT just a person who can perform a task.

#8 – Choose to take a few extra minutes to coach them through the “why” of a particular decision so that they are equipped/empowered to make the decision on their own the next time.

#9 – Choose to allow them to present the solution to the problem they are telling you about. (A great leader will always have a solution to whatever problem they are bringing to your attention.)

#10 – Choose to point out all of the things they are doing well instead of just focusing on the areas they are messing up.