Joy in the Journey

Life is more than just arriving at the intended destination.

We often get so busy and so consumed with achieving that we miss the fun along the way. I believe the journey is as important as the destination. Now, don't ask Macy if I live this out when we're traveling, because I tend to be consumed with getting from point A to point B as fast as possible. I also have this tendency in life. But I am learning to slow down more and more, on the road and in life.

It's in the slowing that we can really enjoy all that God wants to bless us with. This past weekend I have purposefully slowed down and enjoyed the journey a little more. Macy and I took a meal to someone who was moving this weekend, we stopped by for a quick visit with some close friends, I called and talk with my Dad, and we spent time doing some projects around the house together. (The exciting part the weekend for me was having a black snake some how fall directly onto my feet while working in yard. I screamed like a little girl! As funny as that was, seeing Macy face when I told her what happened was even funnier. You had to be there.)

I am grateful for the many relationships God has blessed me with. Slowing down allows me to enjoy them. I don't want to miss that. No matter how busy I get, or how stressed out I feel, I want to take time to enjoy God's greatest blessings.

Challenge today: Take time to slow down and enjoy a little bit of the journey. I promise you, it will be worth it.

Question: What are some ways you have personally learned to slow down and enjoy the journey?

How Do You Get Your Blog?

What are you using right now to read this blog post? Are you coming directly to my site? Did you receive this via an email? Or are you using what's called a blog reader or news reader? I hope you are using a news reader of some type. These are handy applets that allow you to monitor your favorite blogs and be notified when anything new has been published. It's the best way to enjoy the blogosphere.

(If you already subscribe to blogs through a reader, then you're done with today's post.)

So, where do get one of these readers? Glad you asked. The one I use is called Google Reader. It's free, like most readers, and is very easy to learn to use. Instead of listing other popular readers, simply click here to do your own research. Some of the readers reviewed here are free and others have a cost associated with them.

But back to the news reader and how to use it. Let's assume that you decide to use Google Reader. Click here to go to the Google Reader site. The first thing you will need to do is set up an account with Google (you probably already have one with them). After you set up the account you are ready to start telling the reader what blogs you want to subscribe to. The easiest way to subscribe to a blog is to go to your favorite blog and click on the "subscribe to" button on the blog site. Most blogs all have this on their site. On my site you'll see it on the right hand column and it says "Subscribe in a reader." You simply click on this and you're set. Google Reader will give you one other step, you choose between Google News and Google Reader. Simply click on Google Reader and you're set to go.

Now the cool part starts. Simply open Google Reader every day and see which of your favorite blogs have new postings. And, you can read the blog posts straight from the reader. You don't even have to go to the blog's web page! Pretty cool!

So get out there and start reading more blogs. And let me know about your favorite ones.

Thanks to Vanessa for sharing her PF Chang's experience on my last post. Anyone else been to the new Ft Myers Chang's?

PF Chang's Has Arrived

We have tried to be patient. But for those of us who claim the Chang as one of our favorite places in the world to eat, it has been hard. Sure, there's been a Chang's just down the road in north Naples, but that was not good enough. We wanted our own Chang's, in our own town. Today, that becomes a reality.

And without wasting any time, the Millers and the Brickers headed south to Gulf Coast Town Center for the opening night for Fort Myers very own PF Chang's. We were not disappointed. While the layout was different than most Chang's I had been in, the service and the food was the same as usual, outstanding. And perhaps the best part of it all, it is about 15 minutes from my house.

What a great way to start off the week!

Weekend Ramblings

As I get half way through the weekend, I slow down enough to realize this has not only been a great weekend so far, but it has also been an awesome week. Some thoughts...

• We started the weekend on Friday evening with a very nice dinner with friends at our house.
  
• Saturday morning I completed my 2nd 5K race over in Cape Coral and enjoyed running it with Geoff and Sam Campbell. My official race time was 26:40 and I finished the 3 mile mark at 25:37. The last .1 mile was on the sandy beach! How crazy is that!
  
• Tod and Deb Tanner are now officially in town and we went by to see them Saturday morning as they are getting settled in to their new home. (Tod is our new Married Adult and Discipleship Pastor at McGregor.) Tod starts Monday in the office.
  
• Looking back even further it was a great Christian Home Week. I loved the extra time spent at home hanging out with the bride of my youth. Thanks Macy for a great week.
• I got to run five time this week (one more than my normal four).
• Completed several Sudoku puzzles (keeps my mind sharp).
  
• Biggest mistake: Discovering the web site ancestry.com at 9pm on Saturday night. This thing is unbelievable!

All in all, an awesome week and an an awesome weekend so far. I almost think I am ready for Monday!

Hamburgers, Volleyball and Team Building

Nothing brings people together like a little competition.

And that's exactly what we had this afternoon at our annual Team Spirit Day for the employees of McGregor. Every year we take half a day for a time of fellowship (read food) and a friendly volleyball tournament with the staff.

This year was really cool because we held the entire event in the new Studio G building. We got to play our tournament in the new gym, and while being much cooler than last year's outdoor sand pit match, it provided the back drop for some serious competition.

Of course, none of that competition came from my team (the QBQ!). We went 0-2 and were eliminated early on. But that doesn't mean we didn't have an awesome team. It just wasn't our day, or week, or whatever. Thanks to Jeremy, Steven and Erica for hooking us up with our team shirts and thanks for everyone on the QBQ! team that "gave it there all" and "left it all on the court." Remember, there's always next year.

Today's Highlights:

• Virgil (after almost being electrocuted a couple of weeks ago) kept his team, the Geriatrics, in the hunt.
• David and Gerald calling the game on the PA.
• The Blocking Nerds for staying in it so long - way to go Captain!
  
• And finally - props to Rob's Hokies (P&W ministry) for coming in first place!
• A fun afternoon of hanging out with people we work hard with every day.

Bricker Beach Blast '07

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing. And friends were gathering for a wonderful time of fun and even a little adventure. My Sunday School class had its first beach party this past Saturday and it was a blast.

Neil helped set the whole thing up for us, providing us with an awesome location on the Ft Myers Beach with chairs, umbrellas, jet skis, parasailing, and many other ammenities. Thanks Neil for providing us with the perfect environement for our party.

I had a really great time at the party. It was cool to watch folks in our class go up 500 feet in the air with a parasail. It was a blast to race around on a jet ski (I'm still sore on my back side). But the best part was simply enjoying the day with friends. I love my SS Class and the relationships that come with being a part of a small group. I can't wait for the next party!

Christian Home Week Update: Last night was awesome. We did much of nothing. We did of course watch AI! To hear my commentary on the show, listen in later today to the Mark & Miller Show podcast.

American Idol & Family

I love Christian Home Week at our church. It's a chance for Macy and I to reconnect a little. Like most couples today, we stay pretty busy. And I'm not complaining. I love the pace, most of the time. But Family Week gives us both a chance to slow down just a little and to spend some quality time in the evening together. I try and keep our relationship a priority all the time, but this week gives me a chance to be even more intentional.

Now, to be honest, we're not off to a great start this week. Macy attended a baby shower last night, so we didn't get the full impact, yet. But tonight - I can't wait! Nothing says family like watching "American Idol" together and breaking each contestant down with our own profound and expert commentary. Should be fun.

So what about you? I challenge you to be intentional in spending more time with your family this week.

So, what are you going to do as a family this week?

Running On A Hot Day

I feel kinda bad. I have been encouraging a couple of friends to start running and this is really not a good time of the year to start. As I was running yesterday in the SW Florida sun and heat, I was very thankful I started back in January. It was extremely difficult just completing my run. A couple of times I almost stopped running and started walking. I know there would have been no way I could ever have made it if this was early on in my training. It sure is easier to build up stamina when conditions are nice.

That's true of our spiritual lives as well. If we are faithful and obedient in the good times, we will be ready for the tough times. It doesn't mean we'll avoid the tough days, but we'll be better prepared for what comes our way. Question: Are you building spiritual muscles in your training, preparing you for the hot long days of summer?

By the way, I'm running in my second 5K this coming Saturday. And I ran 3 miles this morning in 26:02!!! Bring it on summer!