Happy Leap Day!

How does it feel getting an extra day this year?

Macy and I had an interesting conversation yesterday about Leap Year and Leap Day. She was very concerned for those people who may be born on February 29. Her conclusion, it's just not fair so why even have a Leap Day. I tried to explain the reason they needed to add an extra day every four years. But I don't think it helped her overcome the concern for people who might be born today and not really have a birthday every year.

Here's what Wiki says about Leap Year: February 29 is a date that occurs only every four years, and is called leap day. This day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365.000 days. Leap year is a year containing one or more extra days in order to keep the calendar year synchronised with the astronomical or seasonal year.

So what to do about those Birthday celebration for those born on February 29? Here's an article from yesterday's The Arizona Republic that addresses many of Macy's concerns about Leap day births. I would love to find someone who was born on February 29 - do you know anyone?

Happy Leap Day!

We Put Another Man on the Moon!

My friend Thom does local TV commercial here in Southwest Florida. And in this one he's doing his part to help turn around the construction industry in SW Florida. Thanks Thom!

What Did Mark Do Today?

It started early this morning. Actually it started last night...for some reason, I could not go to sleep. Spent all night blowing my nose, watching 6 episodes of How It's Made in HD, catching up on reading blogs, looking over my lesson and trying to go to sleep.

6:00am...Got an early start at church, going over a few things and getting ready for the morning.
8:00am...Taught this week's session of our New Member Class. My part is the Spiritual Maturity part - and I love teaching this material.
9:30am... I was the host pastor for the 9:30am Worship in the Hall service today.
11:00am...Taught my Bible Study class.
12:30pm...After class our church had a big party/picnic out in our Fellowship Park area. Ate Sonny's Barbeque and hung out with friends. Good time but wish it could have been a little cooler.
2:30pm...Got home, took a shower and got ready to relax. And for me, the best way to relax is to make a cappuccino. After drinking our cappuccinos, it was time for our nap. Remember, no sleep last night!
5:00pm...Started watching NASCAR, Auto Club 500. It took forever to get the race started with the rain delay. I'm watching now as I type this post. Watching NASCAR is a great finish to a great day.
9:15pm...Will this race ever finish?! Now it's raining again! And I'm starting to get real sleepy...

4 Weeks = 4 Months

I'm not sure this is entirely true, but it sure feels like it when it comes to running. I took off exactly 4 weeks to let my foot heal from an injury. Today I completed my first full week running again. Wow. It almost feels like I'm starting over.

My mile time is anywhere between 45 seconds to 1:15 slower than before the injury. Also, building back my stamina is a slower process than I thought it would be. I ran 2 3/4 miles today, almost making my 3 mile run. Before the injury I was running 3 to 4 miles a day 4 times a week.

Quick observation: We never stay the same. We are either growing and going forward or we are declining and moving backward. And I would say that's true for all of life, especially our walk/run with God. Are you moving forward or backwards today?

Update to MacBook Air vs Lenovo X300

Lots of interest in both of these computers based on the comments from my last post. If you would like a little more info on the X300 click here.

Apple Air vs Lenovo X300

Lots of hype over the last few weeks about Apple's new ultra-portable MacBook Air. Well, Lenovo has introduced some stiff competition of its own in the ThinkPad X300. Take a look at the comparison below.

Blogging in Word 2007

Did you know that you can use Microsoft Word 2007 for writing your blog post? I finally got around to giving this feature a test run this past weekend. It's pretty cool. And it's very easy to set up, if you use one of the major blog hosting sites like Blogger or WordPress.

Click on "new" under the Office button. Instead of starting a "blank document" click on "new blog post." You will then be prompted to set up with your existing blog account. And then your ready to start typing your next post. And you'll have all of Word's formatting tools at your disposal. Give it a try.

Finally Running Again!

It's been exactly 4 weeks since I was able to run. But today, for the first time since I injured my foot, I ran. And it felt really good.

This morning I took my usual 3 mile course. I ran the first mile. Didn't know how far I would be able to run, but was hoping to get a mile in. The foot felt really good. I walked the second mile. And then decided to run the third mile. The foot still felt good. Yeah!

It's feels real good being able to run again!

Ultimate Valentine

I am blessed!

I know, I'm suppose to write nice things about my wife on Valentine's Day. But for me, I can, and often do, write or say nice things about my awesome wife Macy.

She is the most beautiful woman I know.

Her beauty is deep. It starts with an incredible physical beauty that attracted me over 20 years ago and still keeps me mesmerized. But Macy's beauty is much deeper than just physical. She is beautiful through her very core. Her personality is incredibly beautiful. Still to this day there is no person I would rather hang out with and enjoy life together with than my wife Macy.

But the secret to Macy's beauty comes from how close she walks with Jesus. She loves the Lord. And that love is evident in everything about her.

I am so blessed.

Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes; instead, it should consist of the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes.
- 1 Peter 3:3-4

MEGA Sandestin

Macy and I are spending most of the week up in Sandestin, Florida for my annual MEGA Conference. We drove up Sunday after church, arriving very late Sunday night. The conference ended yesterday (Wednesday) and we'll head back Friday morning.

I really enjoyed my time with friends who serve in other churches around the country. This is an awesome time of encouragement and ideas from each other. The atmosphere of our meetings is somewhat of an incubator for my mind. I hear others share what they are doing in their churches and it sparks ideas in my mind. I love this atmosphere.

Last night my mom and dad drove down from DeFuniak Springs, FL to stay with us today. I am looking forward to hanging out with them today.

Hear Their Stories...Part 3

Oh, the power of a story. I have heard some incredible stories this week. First, let me say I am very grateful for the men and women who participated in our GIC missions week. Each and every one of them inspired and challenged me. Saturday night's banquet was so cool because we were able to hear from each missionary and a short story of God's work in their ministry area.

Yesterday morning during all of our worship services we were challenged to be a "willing witness." It was unbelievable to see literally hundreds respond to the challenge and come forward during the commitment time. God really moved in an incredible way.

Also Sunday in my Bible study class, we were able to hear from Melissa, one of our GIC missionaries. Her courage to share Christ in a difficult environment was an awesome challenge to me personally.

I'll say it one more time...it was awesome to hear all their stories!

Blogs...in Simple English

I am still often asked "what is a blog?" or "what's the big deal about blogs?" Recently I came across a web site called CommonCraft who produce short videos explaining things in simple terms. They say "Our product is explanation. We use a simple format and real-world stories to make sense of complex ideas."

Anyone who communicates could learn from CommonCraft. Simple is good. Simple is powerful. Take a watch as they explain blogs...

Hear Their Stories...Part 2

Hearing missionaries tell their story is both inspiring and convicting.

Last night Macy and I had dinner with one of the missionaries participating in our GIC. She serves somewhere in the Middle East (she can't tell us exactly which country). Her ministry is to the Kurds in that country. By law she must live in the Capital city. But the Kurds she is trying to reach with the gospel live outside the city, up in the mountains. So, once or twice a week, trying to avoid suspicion, she travels to where they live. Imagine, having to live in one place, in order to reach a group of people who live somewhere else.

She also told me a story about a small Bible study group she had found among the Kurds. After earning their trust over a period of several months, they allowed her to be a part of the group. This was really awesome to discover this small group and to now be a part of it. She went on to tell me she left the country for a month for a conference and when she came back, the people in that group were gone. Completely disappeared. No trace of them. Her heart was broken. She has a passion for the Kurds and to see this small group who had discovered Jesus and who now were probably in prison, or worse, broke her heart.

Tonight our staff team has the privilege of having dinner with all of the missionaries. I'm sure I'll hear more of their inspiring and convicting stories!

Hear Their Stories

Tonight we kick off our GIC Missions Week at McGregor.

I love our GIC week because it exposes me to people who are lion chasers. These are men and women who have jumped way out of their comfort zone and directly into a pit to fight a lion. Many have done what others told them they shouldn't do. They have chase their dream. They have maximized their opportunities. They have been willing to sacrifice and trust God. And I get to hear their stories this week.

This afternoon Macy and I will be having dinner with a young lady who is a missionary called to serve and reach the Kurds in North Africa. I can't wait to hear her story!

Tax Relief

For the first time in forever, I have our tax stuff completed by February 2 and ready to go off in the mail. A personal record! (Usually it's in the end of March, pushing the April 15 deadline.) Boy do I feel good!

Proud of My Wife

Yesterday Macy jumped in her own "pit with a lion" (see earlier post Challenging Read & Challenging Read...Pt 2).

Yesterday she drove her dad to St Petersburg to the VA Hospital. That might not seem like a pit with a lion in it for most of us, but for her, this was a very big deal (pit). She does not like to drive anywhere out of Fort Myers (actually she doesn't even like to drive anywhere in Ft Myers). When we travel somewhere outside of Ft Myers by car, I do all the driving. So I was really proud of her for doing this.

Why did she do this? This is why I'm really, really proud of her. She is trying to reach out to her dad. She is trying to show unconditional love to him. You see, her dad left her mom and the kids when Macy was very young. It would be easy for Macy to be bitter. But she forgave him a long time ago, and although at times it is awkward, she is trying to show the love of Christ to him.

I love my wife. And I am so proud of her maturity in Christ and her willingness to follow Christ, even when it's uncomfortable for her. Way to go babe!!!!