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Love donuts! Really. They are so good and it's so hard to eat only 1 bite! Giving out the 100 donuts yesterday seemed to verify that statement! Hope you took something out the message yesterday too (not just how good the donuts were - they were from Giant by the way). Here's a quick recap...
Unstoppable Force
1 - Focus
- What matters in life?
- What do you want to do?
- What are God's dreams for you?
2 - Leverage
- Your time, energy, resources and influence
3 - Invest
- In people who invest in people.
When we all start on this journey together, we will be an unstoppable force as a church.
Are you in?
Saturday, we spent the day at the Prince William Fairgrounds making a difference at the Walk For Autism Virginia event. These events always impact me. I will admit, I woke up that morning ready to stay in bed, hang out with my family and to watch lots of college football. I wasn't enjoying driving to the office to pick up the trailer of toys.
And then the event started.
And I saw the kids and families whose lives we were changing and impacting that day. The day flew by as we had a great time making popcorn, sno-cones, cotton candy, handed out ice cream, helped kids on the moonbounces and had conversations.
I sometimes forget I GET to do this. And that each time I do this, I am giving people a glimpse of Jesus. Maybe I should begin the days of these events with a prayer - to remind me this is about Jesus not me. Maybe then I wouldn't have to make an adjustment in my attitude. I forget sometimes.
Kudos to our volunteers that day! 24 total plus help from about 10 kids! Thanks for making this a great event for the Autism Society and for me!
Yesterday, we watched the baptisms of 12 people here at New Life, 11 being from the Haymarket campus. It is so cool to sit down and to watch those videos with your campus. The best part was watching our people get the vision for why we do what we do. We aren't the flashiest, smartest, innovative church in the world - but we impact and change lives! That is what keeps me going! Thanks to all of you who impacted those 11 lives here in Haymarket! Keep moving forward...
Man, I have taken a long break from writing. I must be getting old. I actually turn 36 in a couple of weeks. Hard to believe. Scary to see that number. So let me get back to it...where are my bifocals...
This week we continue our series The Cure. This week we focus on POWER! Tiny Tim Jones will be out at Haymarket yapping about the power.
Plus, loads of fun for our kidz as KidZone blows up the place with a little Back to School Bash. I kind of wish I could be back there this Sunday.
10 am - Battlefield HS - great stuff!!!! And a few surprises...
I don't know if you saw this or not, but it made me laugh.
Did the UF campus police go too far? Did this student go too far? Probably both. But dude, just shut up!
But thanks for the laugh...
This Saturday is Haymarket Day here in the great town of Haymarket, VA. This year they are actually closing down 55 for the day (if I understood correctly).
We will take out the 'ole ice cream truck to participate in the parade and hand out some candy. Come help us out or just check out all the great stuff happening in Haymarket this Saturday!
We started a new series this past Sunday called The Cure. No, it has nothing to do with the band of a similar name. I don't think. The series actually takes a look at the start of the church.
Brett started the series reminding us of our mission - to take Jesus everywhere. A good start. This week, I will be up talking about leadership and the last part of chapter 1.
So come on out and see Tim dressed up as a church - again - this week.
It is funny how you forget how much you don't sleep when there is a new kid in the house. Our other two were just getting to the point of sleeping through the night. Now, no sleeping through the night - again! 2 hours here, maybe 3 there and a lot of 1 hour catnaps.
But I wouldn't change it for anything!
Now, off to see the Urologist.
Kara and I were talking as we headed to the doctor's office today about the miracle of birth. I will be honest with you, I sometimes struggle with the existence of God. Then I experience something like the birth of a child and it blows my mind of all the things that happen to a women's body that just show that God exists. From the interaction of 2 cells that form a human inside the womb to the way breastfeeding helps the female body heal. It is a miracle and if anything, gives me ample reason to know God exists.
Wanted to say hello to the newest Simpkins' kid - Jake Chapman (no, Jake is not short for Jacob). Why Jake? Kara wanted one name I wanted another and the girls started calling him that in the womb. Kara and I talked and said sure!
Jake was born on Tuesday at 1.12 pm and weighed 8 lbs 10 ozs and was 21 inches long. He and mom are doing well (just tired).
We'll introduce him to the world soon. Thanks for all your calls and emails!
(Chapman was my grandfather's middle name)
Tuesday is a HUGE day for the Simpkins' family. Savana goes to kindergarten and we go to the hospital to have Kara induced. Woo-hoo!
Then today happened.
I took the girls to the playground in our neighborhood to wear them out so they would sleep well tonight. I also had our dog - Myrtle - hanging out with us. Some boys came over to pet her so I'm chatting with them and the next thing I hear is Savana screaming! I turn around and she is laying on the ground beside the slide writhing in pain. She had fallen off the slide while walking down it.
We spent 3 hours at the emergency room and found out she broke her arm (a 'small crack' as the doctor calls it). Now her right arm is in a splint. Wednesday we go in for the cast.
As I said, Tuesday Savana starts school and won't be able to write for a few days nor be able to play for a week or so outside. Plus because of the baby, I won't be able to see her off to her school bus on Tuesday morning (I'm bumming).
I told Kara, just go ahead and go into labor tonight. Let's just make it happen all at once...stay tuned to our saga!
We finished up our series Don't Quit this morning. Ole wasting away Tim Jones (Tim has lost 60+ pounds) came out to talk about Hope. He did a great job! Well, we gave out 10 cd's so we base great on the amount of cd's that are gone. With Tim, maybe they just didn't understand what he said and needed to hear it again. (He did do a great job!)
Next week we start up a new series The Cure. The whole focus is the church and its early beginnings. Looking forward to it!
